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18 hours ago

Trump backs newest Republican spending deal that would prevent a government shutdown if passed: Live

The proposed continuing resolution, championed by GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, would have kept agencies running at current funding levels through to mid-March 2025

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad,Gustaf Kilander
Thursday 19 December 2024 22:42 GMT
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Donald Trump says ‘something strange is going on’ with drone sightings

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Donald Trump celebrated a deal he claims was reached in Congress that will keep the government open and push the debt ceiling deadline back two years in a Truth Social post on Thursday. Despite his praise for the alleged deal, some reports have suggested Democrats have not agreed to anything and have been left in the dark on the agreement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s previous bipartisan deal would have kept agencies running at current funding levels through to mid-March 2025 but the president-elect and his deputy issued a statement complaining the bill does not address the nation’s statutory debt ceiling. The new deal Trump referenced reportedly includes a delay on the debt ceiling deadline.

Democrats have meanwhile mocked tech billionaire Elon Musk’s undue influence over the incoming administration, with Senator Bernie Sanders ironically praising “President Elon Musk” on X.

While Trump told Fox News Digital Johnson will “easily remain speaker” he added a caveat reiterating his earlier statement. Among the names floated as potential replacements for Johnson is Musk, with Senator Rand Paul noting the role is not limited to members of Congress.

Meanwhile, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been removed from Trump’s sprawling election interference case by Georgia’s Court of Appeals which ruled her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade was a conflict of interest.

1 day ago

Watch: Losers of shutdown will be the American people, says Rep Brad Sherman

California Democratic Rep Brad Sherman says: “I don't know who is going to win this shutdown, but I know who loses and that's the American people.”

He adds: “We know who caused it. We had a deal. We negotiated a deal. And then Musk decided to change the deal. Do I call him President Musk?”

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 16:07
1 day ago

U.S. economy grows at 3.1% pace in third quarter, an upgrade from previous estimate

The American economy grew at a healthy 3.1% annual clip from July through September, propelled by vigorous consumer spending and an uptick in exports, the government said in an upgrade to its previous estimate.

Third-quarter growth in U.S. gross domestic product — the economy’s output of goods and services — accelerated from the April-July rate of 3% and continued to look sturdy despite high interest rates, the Commerce Department said Thursday. GDP growth has now topped 2% in eight of the last nine quarters.

American voters were unimpressed by the steady growth under Democratic President Joe Biden.

Read on...

U.S. economy grows at 3.1% pace in third quarter, an upgrade from previous estimate

The American economy grew at a healthy 3.1% annual clip from July through September, propelled by vigorous consumer spending and an uptick in exports, the government said in an upgrade to its previous estimate

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 16:00
1 day ago

Marjorie Taylor Greene open to supporting Elon Musk as speaker

Firebrand Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is open to supporting Elon Musk as speaker of the House — a position that does not require the holder to be a member of Congress.

Here’s what she wrote in response to Senator Rand Paul’s earlier tweet:

I’d be open to supporting @elonmusk for Speaker of the House.

DOGE can only truly be accomplished by reigning in Congress to enact real government efficiency.

The establishment needs to be shattered just like it was yesterday.

This could be the way.

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:44
1 day ago

Watch: ‘Billionaires are running the show here’ says Rep Becca Balint

Congresswoman Becca Balint of Vermont says Elon Musk wants a tax break in the next administration and that is why the spending deal has been nixed and the debt ceiling is now on the table: “That’s what this is about folks. It’s about a big freaking tax break for billionaires. That’s what it’s about. Don’t be confused about what’s going on.”

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:34
1 day ago

Defense bill clears Congress — with ban on gender care for minors buried inside it

The Senate has passed a divisive new defense spending bill that directs $895bn towards the Pentagon for the coming year, despite Democratic objections to a provision buried within it that blocks the transgender children of servicemen and women from receiving health coverage to treat gender dysphoria.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed through the House of Representatives last week and the upper chamber of Congress on Wednesday by 85 votes to 14 and will now make its way to President Joe Biden’s Resolute Desk in the Oval Office to be signed into law.

But while the NDAA includes such positive measures as pay rises for both junior and senior enlisted members and authorizes $33.5bn for new battleships, $17.5bn for military construction projects and $143bn for research, development and weapons testing, its anti-trans clause, reportedly added at the insistence of House Speaker Mike Johnson, caused disquiet.

Joe Sommerlad has the details.

Defense bill clears Congress… but also includes ban on gender care for minors

Senate passes National Defense Authorization Act, which includes clause blocking healthcare for trans children of American soldiers buried amongst its more positive provisions including pay rises and military investment

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:30
1 day ago

...and she’s not alone

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:27
1 day ago

Eilzabeth Warren agrees with Trump (no, really)

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:24
1 day ago

Progressive caucus chair Greg Casar suggests Trump hand Musk Oval Office or Johnson turn over gavel

New Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar of Texas was asked by CSPAN about the status of the continuing resolution ahead of Friday’s midnight deadline: “Republicans just seem to be going nuts and we’ll see what it is they decide to do to the country.”

“If Elon Musk is kind of cosplaying co-President here, I don’t know why Trump doesn’t just hand him the Oval Office, or Speaker Johnson should maybe just hand Elon Musk the gavel if they just want that billionaire to run the country,” he added.

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:16
1 day ago

Elon Musk now ‘fourth branch of government’ says Raskin

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 15:03
1 day ago

BREAKING: DA Fani Willis booted from Trump’s election interference case in Georgia

A ruling from Georgia’s Court of Appeals removes Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting a sprawling election interference case against Donald Trump and more than a dozen of his allies, upending the ongoing criminal case against the president-elect weeks before he returns to the White House.

Alex Woodward is reporting on this breaking story...

DA Fani Willis booted from Trump’s election interference case in Georgia

Appeals court ruling determined her relationship with special prosecutor warrants dismissal

Oliver O'Connell19 December 2024 14:55

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