House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has proposed a bill to avert a government shutdown, which would extend funding for some agencies and programs until January 19th and for others until February 2nd. The proposal has been met with mixed reactions from within the Republican party, and it remains to be seen whether it will pass in the House and Senate. The bill is expected to be voted on in the coming days.
Posts published in “Politics”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is being investigated by the FBI after they seized electronic devices from him and his chief fundraiser's home. Adams has not been accused of any wrongdoing and is cooperating with the investigation, though the public is still waiting for more information. Adams has promised to continue to cooperate with the investigation and follow the law.
The Council Bluffs Police Department in Iowa has arrested 25-year-old Dominic M. Henton in connection with the alleged sexual assault of former Senator Martha McSally (R-Ariz.). McSally reported the incident on Wednesday, saying that she had been grabbed from behind while jogging near Omaha, Nebraska. Surveillance footage released by police showed the suspect following the former senator on a paved pedestrian walkway, and McSally chased the suspect into the brush before calling 911. The police department is continuing to investigate the incident and is asking anyone with information to contact them.
A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump's request to postpone the May 2024 trial date in the special counsel's classified documents case. The Justice Department argued that the trial should not be delayed due to the "public interest in the prompt resolution of this case". The trial is expected to focus on the handling of sensitive government records by Trump and his administration, and the judge left open the possibility of pushing back the trial date at a later date.
President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet next Wednesday in the San Francisco Bay area for a summit of Pacific Rim nations. The two leaders will discuss a range of issues in the U.S.-People's Republic of China bilateral relationship, including trade, human rights, and the South China Sea. The summit will be closely watched as it will be the first meeting between the two leaders since President Biden took office and the first since increased tensions between the U.S. and China began.
Sarah Silverman, guest host of The Daily Show, praised former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for her composure during the debate, which featured businessman Vivek Ramaswamy attacking her daughter. Governor Ron DeSantis spoke out against the use of children in political warfare, saying it is "out of bounds" and that he keeps his own conduct "out of it for sure."
David DePape is on trial for attacking Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a hammer in October 2022. Defense attorney Jodi Linker argued that DePape was driven by conspiracy theories and intended to go after multiple Democratic officials. Paul Pelosi is expected to take the stand next week, and the trial is expected to last several weeks.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has expressed concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process for the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, which was announced by the General Services Administration (GSA) on Thursday. Wray has raised questions about a potential conflict of interest in the final stage of the process. The GSA has said that the selection was conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, and is expected to be completed by 2026, featuring a state-of-the-art security system, conference center, fitness center, and cafeteria.