Trump and Musk send DC in tailspin with spending bill attacks as government shutdown nears: Live updates
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
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump and JD Vance appear to have guaranteed a bitter showdown with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill after demanding that the House and Senate effectively force the federal government to shut down, rather than pass a stop-gap funding bill championed by GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Johnson’s 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, urging the passage of a “streamlined” alternative version “that doesn’t give... the Democrats everything they want.”
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.
Amid spending deal row, Democrats blast influence of ‘President Elon Musk’ over Trump
Democrats have slammed Elon Musk after his opposition to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed congressional spending bill led Donald Trump and JD Vance to order Republicans not to support it, leaving the federal government hurtling toward another shutdown.
Johnson’s stop-gap continuing resolution (CR) would have bankrolled the government at current funding levels through to mid-March 2025, but the president-elect and his deputy’s intervention now appears to have tanked its chances of passing in its present form before Friday’s deadline, sparking chaos on Capitol Hill.
Joe Sommerlad has the details.
Democrats blast influence of ‘President Elon Musk’ over Trump amid spending deal row
Tesla billionaire derided for undue influence over incoming commander-in-chief after his objections to Mike Johnson’s stop-gap resolution leaves government hurtling towards shutdown
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?”
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
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.
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.”
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
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.
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