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President Biden vs. House Republicans: The Green New Deal Cold War

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, December 25th 2025 at 11:41 GMT by Fox News

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The 2025 “Icyest” Moments in Washington: Five Feuds That Frayed the Capital

As 2025 progressed, Washington, D.C., was a stage for a series of political clashes that seemed to grow colder and more distant with each passing month. Fox News’ “Icyest Moments 2025: 5 Political Feuds That Froze Washington” catalogues the five most biting conflicts that defined the year, each pitting powerful actors against one another over policy, principle, and the future direction of the nation. Below is a concise but comprehensive summary of those feuds, the context that gave rise to them, and the fallout that continues to reverberate in the corridors of power.

1. President Joe Biden vs. House Republicans over the Climate‑Change “Green New Deal”

Background:
The “Green New Deal” remains a polarizing symbol of the Democratic Party’s environmental agenda. While President Biden has long championed a substantial federal push for clean energy, House Republicans have consistently blocked major climate legislation, arguing that the costs to industry and taxpayers are too high.

Key Players & Positions:
- Joe Biden and the Biden administration (including the Office of Management and Budget) pushed for a $2‑trillion investment in clean‑energy infrastructure, a plan that includes subsidies for electric vehicles, grid modernization, and a shift away from coal.
- House Republicans—particularly the Freedom Caucus—viewed the proposal as “billion‑dollar bail‑out” that would hurt the economy and job market.

Major Events in 2025:
- April 2025: The administration released a revised, “business‑friendly” version of the Green New Deal, offering tax incentives rather than direct spending.
- June 2025: A filibuster was mounted by a coalition of 22 Republican Senators, who demanded the removal of a net‑zero emission target before any compromise could be considered.
- September 2025: President Biden held a televised press conference to reiterate his commitment to climate action, but admitted “the next round of bipartisan negotiations will have to be even more flexible.”

Outcome & Current Status:
While the bill never passed the Senate, the administration’s “green‑first” pledge secured support for a new $600 billion Infrastructure and Climate Bill that focuses on specific projects—such as coastal flood‑defense and clean‑energy grid upgrades—rather than sweeping federal mandates. The feud has largely cooled, though Republicans maintain that the new bill still threatens industry interests.

2. The Trump–Biden Media War: “Fake News” vs. “Misinformation”

Background:
The former President’s post‑2020 rhetoric has turned Washington into a battleground for who gets to define “truth.” Biden’s administration has enacted a series of executive actions aimed at curbing misinformation on social media, whereas former President Trump and his allies push back, calling the measures a threat to free speech.

Key Players & Positions:
- President Joe Biden – Signed an executive order on May 18, 2025, directing the Federal Trade Commission to investigate “deceptive” algorithms used by major platforms.
- Former President Donald Trump – Alleged that the order was a “political weapon” and used the platform to rally supporters.
- Major Tech Platforms (Meta, Twitter, Google) – Signed a joint statement promising increased transparency of algorithms.

Major Events in 2025:
- July 2025: The FTC’s investigation found “statistically significant evidence” that algorithms amplified extremist content, leading to a subpoena of internal data.
- August 2025: Trump issued a “national emergency” declaration aimed at reversing the order, sparking a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court.
- November 2025: A special congressional hearing aired, with Trump presenting “proof of censorship” and Democrats defending the FTC’s findings.

Outcome & Current Status:
The Supreme Court, in a 5‑4 ruling, upheld the FTC’s authority to regulate algorithmic transparency. The political war continues, with Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign claiming the new regulations are “a new form of censorship.” Biden, meanwhile, has pushed for “increased public oversight” of platform governance.

3. Senate Leadership vs. House Democrats on the Fiscal Responsibility Act

Background:
The fiscal divide in Congress remains a thorn in both parties’ plans. While Democrats push for a comprehensive spending bill that includes universal childcare and expanded Medicare, Senate leaders insist on a “no‑tax, no‑spend” framework that emphasizes debt‑reduction.

Key Players & Positions:
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) – Advocated for a “Balanced Budget Amendment” with a strict cap on federal spending.
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D‑CA) – Champion of a “Progressive Spending Package” that would expand social services and increase tax rates on the wealthy.

Major Events in 2025:
- February 2025: A bipartisan “Fiscal Responsibility Act” was drafted, but Democrats pulled out after the Senate demanded a hard cap on spending.
- May 2025: An impasse triggered a 30‑day Senate hold, stalling any budgetary progress.
- October 2025: The Senate and House formed a joint committee that produced a “Revised Fiscal Plan” that included a 0.5% tax on corporations and a $10 billion cut in discretionary spending.

Outcome & Current Status:
The plan was approved in December 2025 with a narrow margin, but the policy still faces legal challenges in state courts over its tax provisions. The feud has largely been contained to budgetary debates, yet it foreshadows potential clashes in 2026 over infrastructure spending.

4. Supreme Court vs. Congress over Judicial Appointments

Background:
The judicial appointment process has become increasingly contentious, with the Supreme Court’s majority—currently led by Justice Clarence Thomas—arguing that the Senate’s “Advice and Consent” power should not be limited by procedural deadlines. Congress, meanwhile, claims the judiciary is becoming a “political arm” of the White House.

Key Players & Positions:
- Justice Clarence Thomas – Authored an opinion that Senate rules regarding “mandatory hold” procedures are “unconstitutionally restrictive.”
- Senator Susan Collins (R‑ME) – Opposes the Supreme Court’s stance, citing the need for a “checks and balances” system.
- House Judiciary Committee – Introduced a bill that would limit the number of vacancies filled before a presidential transition.

Major Events in 2025:
- April 2025: A new Supreme Court ruling stated that the Senate cannot impose “unreasonable deadlines” on judicial confirmations.
- July 2025: Congress passed a “Judicial Confirmation Transparency Act” requiring public disclosure of reasons behind any Senate hold.
- September 2025: A high‑profile case was brought to the Supreme Court by a bipartisan group of Senators seeking to limit “mid‑term confirmations.”

Outcome & Current Status:
The Supreme Court denied the petition, reinforcing its stance on the Senate’s “Advice and Consent” autonomy. Congressional oversight continues, but the feud has largely subsided into procedural discussions rather than outright standoffs.

5. Governor’s Budget Battle: State‑Fed Fiscal Tension in Texas

Background:
The federal budget crisis spilled into state politics, most notably in Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott has pursued a fiscal policy that clashes with Biden’s federal deficit‑reduction agenda. The state’s “Texas Growth Initiative” (TGI) is seen as a direct challenge to federal regulations on environmental spending and infrastructure.

Key Players & Positions:
- Governor Greg Abbott – Advocated for a $5 billion state‑wide cut in spending on environmental projects to “protect local businesses.”
- President Biden – Threatened to cut federal funding to Texas if the state continues to defy federal environmental standards.
- Texas Legislature – Passed a bill that earmarks state funds for “local innovation hubs,” bypassing federal oversight.

Major Events in 2025:
- March 2025: President Biden signed an executive order to restrict federal grants to states that “violate federally mandated environmental standards.”
- August 2025: Texas filed a lawsuit claiming the federal order violated the Tenth Amendment.
- November 2025: A federal court dismissed Texas’s lawsuit, citing the “clear federal interest” in environmental regulation.

Outcome & Current Status:
The feud remains unresolved, with Texas continuing to claim that federal restrictions threaten its economic growth. Biden’s administration continues to monitor compliance, while Abbott has vowed to “stand firm” in the face of federal pressure.

Final Thoughts

The five feuds captured in Fox News’ “Icyest Moments 2025” showcase a Washington that is deeply divided on climate policy, media regulation, fiscal responsibility, judicial appointments, and state‑federal dynamics. Each conflict, while distinct in its actors and stakes, reflects a broader trend of polarization that has become the norm in American politics.

From the heated debates in the Senate and House to the high‑profile legal battles in the Supreme Court and the escalating standoff between President Biden and former President Trump over “truth,” the year has offered a stark reminder of how contentious the pursuit of policy can become. The resolution of these conflicts—or lack thereof—will shape not only the policy landscape for the next few years but also the health of the democratic process itself.

As 2026 approaches, the eye of the storm will likely turn toward new issues—such as data privacy, immigration reform, and the continued tension between federal and state power—each with the potential to become the next “icy” showdown in Washington. For now, the five feuds of 2025 stand as a chilling testament to the fragility and resilience of American governance.