President Joe Biden and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) recently met to discuss the debt ceiling and federal spending, with Thompson proposing adding and tightening work requirements for those who receive entitlements and benefits. Democrats are pushing for "clean" legislation, while Republicans are holding out for spending cuts and other provisions. Negotiations are ongoing and the outcome is yet to be seen.
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House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) has announced that the House of Representatives will vote on a motion to refer a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) to the House Ethics Committee. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has expressed a desire for the Ethics Committee to move quickly on the resolution, which seeks to expel Santos due to allegations of misconduct. The vote on the motion to refer the resolution is expected to take place Wednesday, with the decision of the Ethics Committee yet to be determined.
President Joe Biden expressed confidence Wednesday that a deal will be reached to raise the nation's debt ceiling before the deadline, cutting his trip to Japan short to address the issue. He said talks with congressional leaders have been "civil and respectful," and that he will not accept anything that would "undermine the core values of the country." All parties have come to the table in good faith, and Biden believes an agreement can be reached because "there is no alternative."
Timothy Parlatore, former President Donald Trump's lawyer, has stepped down from his role representing the former president in the Justice Department's investigation into his handling of classified documents. The investigation, overseen by special counsel Jack Smith, is looking into whether anyone unlawfully interfered with the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 presidential election. It is unclear who will replace Parlatore on Trump's legal team.
Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the issue of gun ownership in America, calling it an "ideological" and "partisan" issue. The Supreme Court has declined to block a new law in Illinois that bans assault-style weapons, and a federal judge has blocked a similar law in Illinois. Obama has urged Congress to pass "common-sense gun safety laws" and called on Americans to come together to find common ground on the issue of gun violence.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were involved in a two-hour long car chase with paparazzi in New York City, accompanied by Meghan's mother. The couple has been vocal about their disdain for paparazzi and the media attention they receive, and the incident has brought back memories of the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997. No comment has been made yet on the incident, and it is unclear if any action will be taken against the paparazzi.
Elizabeth Holmes, former CEO of Theranos, has been denied her last-ditch attempt to remain free while appealing her conviction of defrauding investors. She must now serve her 11-year sentence and pay $452 million in restitution to victims of the fraud. The conviction is the result of a blood-testing hoax that brought Holmes fleeting fame and fortune, and she is being held jointly liable for the restitution with her former partner.
Ten teenage hikers were rescued from the Santa Paula Canyon in California after using Apple's Emergency SOS feature on an iPhone to send a text message containing their location to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Upper Ojai Search and Rescue Team. The hikers were not prepared for their climb and were stuck in the canyon for three hours without proper supplies. The Emergency SOS feature enabled the phone to call a local emergency number and share location information, which was "valuable information" that helped the search and rescue team locate them. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office reminded people to be prepared when going on hikes and to always carry the necessary supplies, and to use the Emergency SOS feature on their phones if they find themselves in an emergency situation.