Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned Congress that the US will reach its debt limit on January 19th, and urged them to raise the limit to avoid a potential default. This sets up a major battle on Capitol Hill, as the government must take “extraordinary measures” to avoid a default. Yellen has warned of serious economic consequences if the debt limit is not raised in time.
Posts published in “Politics”
Three Michigan electors have filed a lawsuit in Kent County Circuit Court against 16 Republicans for allegedly plotting to replace "duly elected and qualified" electors in an attempt to overturn Donald Trump's 2020 defeat in the state. The suit seeks to have a judge declare that the "fake elector scheme was illegal under Michigan law" and that the three plaintiffs are the "duly elected and qualified electors" for the state of Michigan. The lawsuit is a reminder of the importance of the electoral process and the need to ensure that all votes are counted and respected.
A New York judge has ordered the Trump Organization to pay a maximum penalty of $1.6 million for running a decade-long tax fraud scheme, the first criminal conviction to come close to former President Donald Trump. The judge noted the "sheer magnitude of the fraud" and said the maximum fine was necessary, despite its minimal impact on the multibillion-dollar company. Prosecutors said top executives at the company orchestrated the fraud out of pure greed. It is unclear if the Trump Organization will appeal the decision or accept the fine.
President Joe Biden is facing a political crisis after the appointment of a special counsel to investigate his handling of classified documents. This controversy began when Biden's lawyers discovered a secret vice presidential file in his former office, and was further complicated when a second batch of classified material was found in a different location. The appointment has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, and Biden's legal team may have spared him criminal exposure by swiftly cooperating with the National Archives.
Michael Schmidt's book "Donald Trump v. the United States" reveals previously unknown details about the former President's administration, including his suggestion to use a nuclear weapon against North Korea and his refusal to heed John Kelly's warnings about the potential consequences of such an action. The book provides an extensive examination of Kelly's life and tenure as Trump's chief of staff and offers a unique insight into the inner workings of the Trump administration.
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) interviewed Representative George Santos (R-NY) on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, defending Santos for embellishing his résumé and making up parts of his life story. Gaetz and Santos discussed their shared experience of being victims of the “lamestream media” and the calls for Santos to resign from some of his Republican colleagues. The interview has sparked controversy, with people questioning why Gaetz was so lenient on Santos.
On Nov. 2, the White House confirmed the discovery of roughly 10 documents from the Obama administration at the Penn Biden Global Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to investigate the classified documents and determine their implications. The documents were found after President Biden's lawyers searched locations where files from his vice-presidential office may have been shipped.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has refused to call for the resignation of Rep. George Santos (R-NY) despite calls from New York state and local Republicans, as well as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). The allegations against Santos involve lies and fabrications in his biography, sparking a debate about the prevalence of embellished resumes among politicians. Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and it remains to be seen if Santos will resign or remain in office.