Johnson, Luna make deal to let young parents in Congress to vote remotely
Representatives reached a deal to settle the ongoing dispute over remote voting for young parents in Congress. The deal would allow members to “pair” their vote if they cannot be present.
Pairing allows members to have their votes recorded but not counted in the final tally so they can have their support or opposition to legislation on the record.
The deal is the culmination of a year-long effort to let new parents vote remotely while they are home taking care of an infant.
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Members of the House of Representatives reached a deal to settle the ongoing remote voting dispute that shut down the chamber for nearly a week. The final agreement, which is still being ironed out, will ultimately be available to any lawmaker who cannot be physically present due to an ailment, bereavement or emergency.
Pairing is a process that allows an absent member who is voting “yes” on legislation to find someone who is voting “no” or vice versa. The member who is present and casting their vote announces they are pairing with another lawmaker, at which time their vote is removed from the tally but kept on record.
There is also a process called “dead pairing,” which allows two members on opposing sides who are both absent to announce how they would have voted. While their votes are not included in the final tally, it is included in their record.
Vote pairing does not change the outcome, because it’s a 1-for-1 swap on a yes and no vote.
Has vote pairing ever been used before?
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mon., did this during Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Murkowski opposed Kavanaugh, and Daines supported him, but he had to attend his daughter’s wedding during the final vote. So Murkowski announced she was voting “no” but pairing with Daines, who would have voted “yes” if he had been present. As a result, Kavanaugh was confirmed 50-48 instead of 51-49.
How did we get here?
This agreement is the culmination of a more than year-long effort to let young parents in Congress vote remotely while they are taking care of an infant. The bipartisan resolution had more than enough support to be approved, but Johnson wouldn’t bring it forward because he believed it was unconstitutional.
The resolution’s sponsors started a petition allowing the rank-and-file to overrule the speaker and force a vote. Johnson tried and failed to squash that, too, which ultimately led him to shut the House down for legislative business on a Tuesday.
Moms in Congress who wanted the ability to vote remotely while caring for a newborn may have reached a deal to make that happen. It appears they may keep a controversial proxy voting rule for new mothers with serious medical conditions.
President Trump endorsed the measure, which had been causing a battle between Republican leadership and rank-and-file members.
Those opposed to remote voting for parents say it’s unconstitutional and that members must be at the Capitol building in person.
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Moms in Congress may finally have a deal to allow lawmakers who are caring for a newborn to vote remotely. The deal came together after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called President Trump asking for his endorsement of the measure, and she got it.
“I’m gonna let the speaker make the decision, but I like the idea of being able to if you’re having a baby, I think you should be able to call in and vote,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
Luna announced she spoke with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and they discussed limiting proxy voting to new moms who cannot physically travel in the event of an emergency.
What will the proxy voting resolution allow new moms to do?
The original resolution applied to new members who have given birth or whose spouses have given birth. It also applied to pregnant members who are unable to travel safely due to a serious medical condition.
Under those conditions, members would be allowed to designate another lawmaker to cast their vote on bills and resolutions on their behalf.
This bipartisan resolution was quite controversial, even leading Speaker Johnson to end legislative business and send the House home for the week on Tuesday, April 1.
Why is proxy voting controversial?
Johnson believes allowing members of Congress to vote remotely is unconstitutional.
“This is a deliberative body. You cannot deliberate with your colleagues if you’re out somewhere else,” Johnson said. “Here’s the problem, if you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and the fathers of those situations, then where is the limiting principle?”
Because he opposed it, Johnson would not bring the resolution up for a vote. That led Luna and her bipartisan co-sponsors to start a petition that allows rank-and-file members to overrule the speaker. They got 218 signatures from every political leaning, which is more than enough to force a vote.
Johnson tried to squash the petition and failed, which gave Luna the upper hand in the dispute. Once Trump took her side, it forced Johnson to settle. It appears they will now bring forward the new version of the resolution that applies only to new mothers sometime next week.
‘Don’t f— with moms’: Proxy voting for young parents kept alive in Congress
Young moms in Congress kept their proxy voting resolution alive Tuesday afternoon when they successfully stopped House Speaker Mike Johnson from burying the measure. The controversial resolution would let parents in Congress vote remotely while caring for a newborn.
On Tuesday afternoon, nine Republicans joined every Democrat to oppose the legislative rule Johnson was hoping would end the effort once and for all.
Johnson said proxy voting is unconstitutional. He says the founders intended for the House of Representatives to be a deliberative body that meets in person.
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Young moms in Congress kept their proxy voting resolution alive Tuesday afternoon, April 1, when they successfully stopped House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., from burying the measure.
“We said don’t f— with moms,” Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., said when asked what message they sent to leadership.
So the resolution’s sponsors, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Pettersen started a petition. It would allow them to overrule Johnson and bring it forward despite his objections. That’s when Johnson, his leadership team, and others started playing hardball.
“Remember, leadership’s been threatening, they’ve been whipping against it,” Luna told reporters. “But their arguments fall flat when you realize that they themselves have voted by proxy.”
How was Johnson overruled?
Tuesday afternoon, nine Republicans joined every Democrat to oppose the legislative rule Johnson was hoping would end the effort once and for all.
For the House of Representatives to pass legislation, it must first approve a rule that governs the debate and amendment process which precedes the final vote. If the rule fails, the final vote cannot happen.
In this case, Johnson attached a measure to sink the petition to the rule for another bill. He failed, and now the petition will move forward, and his bill has to wait.
“Let me just make this clear, that rule being brought down means that we can’t have further action on the floor this week,” Johnson said. “That means we will not be voting on the SAVE Act for election integrity, we will not be voting on the rogue judges who are attacking President Trump’s agenda, we will not be taking down these terrible Biden policies with the CRA votes. All that was just wiped off the table. It’s very unfortunate.”
.@SpeakerJohnson on failed Rule vote: " Well, it's very disappointing results on the floor there. A handful of Republicans joined with all the Democrats to take down a rule. That's rarely done…we can't have any further action on the floor this week." pic.twitter.com/lz2imuPQRQ
While votes on bills crucial to President Trump’s agenda are now canceled, a vote on the proxy voting resolution is expected on Thursday, April 3.
Proxy voting’s history and constitutionality
Congress allowed proxy voting for the first and only time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Absent members could authorize another lawmaker to place their vote on their behalf. However, allowing it in perpetuity for young parents was controversial.
“Congress would look a lot different if we had more moms here in Congress, and we’re working to address the barriers that we face to serving,” Pettersen said. “This is an important step forward, but we still have a long ways to go.”
Johnson said proxy voting is unconstitutional. He says the founders intended for the House of Representatives to be a deliberative body that meets in person. Others who oppose say lawmakers would start asking to extend the exception to those sick, injured or caring for a loved one.
“Being a member of Congress is a privilege. You’re serving your district,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said. “There’s lots of seasons of life. I’m a mother. I’ve raised three children. And when my children were babies and were young I prioritized them in that season of life. Now I serve in Congress because I’m not raising children.”
“Yes, we signed up to serve in Congress,” Pettersen said, “but their denial and their inability to adjust to changing times and make sure that they’re addressing the needs of the workforce today makes it so someone like me, when I was pregnant, I was unable to fly on a plane to get here.”
The House rules will not change unless the resolution receives a majority vote on Thursday. More than enough already signed the discharge petition to express their support.
Speaker Johnson ‘blackmailed’ into squashing remote voting resolution: Luna
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said House Speaker Mike Johnson was blackmailed into squashing her resolution to allow young parents in Congress to vote remotely. She resigned from the House Freedom Caucus after stating she was “shattered” by fellow members’ actions.
Luna said her resolution is pro-life and pro-family, saying it’s the closest thing members of Congress would get to a maternity leave.
Johnson said the measure is unconstitutional, and that members of Congress must be present to vote and cannot use a proxy.
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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., resigned from the House Freedom Caucus after accusing some of her fellow members of making threats and playing hardball politics to block her resolution that would allow young parents in Congress to vote remotely via proxy.
In a letter to her former caucus, she expressed dismay and disbelief. Luna also said she was “shattered” that fellow members would try to squash the bipartisan resolution that has the support of a majority of the House of Representatives. She also said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was “blackmailed” into sending the resolution through the rules committee in an attempt to kill it.
Luna introduced the resolution along with Reps. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo. Supporters said there are more young parents than ever in Congress, and if they’re going to grow their families, they have to be able to keep working with an infant.
Johnson wouldn’t bring the bill up for a vote because he believes it’s unconstitutional. So, members started a discharge petition, which allows the rank-and-file to overrule the speaker and force a vote. They got 218 signatures from every political leaning, which is more than enough.
What did Luna’s statement say?
On Monday, March 31, Johnson sent Luna’s petition through the rules committee, which, on the surface, made it appear as though he was using the power of his gavel to stop it.
“In the Speaker’s defense, he is being blackmailed into doing this… but this behavior to force someone into doing something is categorically wrong and everything we are supposed to stand against,” Luna wrote in a letter to all House Republicans.
NEW — ANOTHER LETTER from @realannapaulina to the House Republican Conference.
This is in regards to @SpeakerJohnson using the Rules Committee to kill her discharge petition to force a vote on letting new and expectant mothers use proxy voting.
“I cannot remain in a group that would smear me as being against election integrity and extort the Speaker to derail a just cause,” Luna continued. “This is a disgraceful betrayal, a return to the manipulative tactics we have condemned, and the 119th Congress aimed to leave behind.”
Based on Luna’s account, Johnson was pressured into stopping the resolution in the way that he did. But he still opposed it and actively worked to prevent it from being approved.
Proxy voting began during COVID-19. Absent members were allowed to authorize another member to enter their vote on their behalf. Johnson said that should not happen again.
What is Johnson saying?
“The Republican Party is pro-family. We want to make it as easy as possible for young parents to be able to participate in the process. But proxy voting, in my view, is unconstitutional,” Johnson stated. “This is a deliberative body. You cannot deliberate with your colleagues if you’re out somewhere else.”
“Here’s the problem, if you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and the fathers of those situations, then where is the limiting principle?” Johnson continued.
Luna had hoped to bring the resolution up for a vote as early as this week. Now, its future is uncertain, and despite a majority of the chamber signing a petition to support it, it may never get a vote.
Speaker Johnson moves to stop young parents in Congress from voting remotely
House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to squash a resolution that would allow young parents in Congress to vote remotely. There’s a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill to let young parents vote via proxy so they can be home with their infant, it’s the closest they can get to a Congressional maternity leave.
Johnson opposes the measure and says proxy voting is unconstitutional.
Republican leadership is being accused by members of their own party of making threats and playing hardball politics to stop the resolution.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is wielding the power of his gavel to squash a bipartisan resolution that would allow new parents in Congress to vote remotely. Johnson is sending the resolution through the rules committee in an attempt to stop rank-and-file members from bringing it up for a vote despite his objections.
The resolution was introduced by Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo. Supporters contend there are more young parents than ever in Congress, and if they’re going to grow their families, they have to be able to keep working with an infant.
Johnson opposes the bill, and he and his leadership team are being accused by fellow Republicans of making threats and playing hardball politics to keep it from being approved.
“They are threatening members right now, and that is unacceptable,” Luna told reporters. “But I understand his concern, and I also understand that there were frontline members that wanted to support this, and they were also threatened. So you are going to threaten the majority because we are trying to advocate for us to have a voice in Washington, I would call the question, what does that say about your leadership?”
Johnson won’t bring the bill up for a vote because he believes it’s unconstitutional. So, members started a discharge petition, which allows the rank-and-file to overrule the speaker and force a vote. They got 218 signatures from every political leaning, which is more than enough.
What does Johnson think of remote voting?
Proxy voting began during COVID-19. Members were allowed to authorize another member to enter their vote on their behalf. House Speaker Mike Johnson says that should not happen again.
“The Republican Party is pro-family. We want to make it as easy as possible for young parents to be able to participate in the process. But proxy voting, in my view, is unconstitutional,” Johnson stated. “This is a deliberative body. You cannot deliberate with your colleagues if you’re out somewhere else.
“Here’s the problem: if you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and the fathers of those situations, then where is the limiting principle?” Johnson continued.
Luna hinted to reporters that she was prepared to bring her resolution forward as soon as this week. Now the future of the measure could be decided by Johnson’s effort to sink it in committee.
Republican leadership trying to stop new moms from voting remotely
There’s a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill to let new parents in Congress vote remotely. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is openly opposing it because he believes it’s unconstitutional.
The bill’s sponsors accused GOP leadership of making threats and playing hardball politics to squash the bill.
Sponsors have enough signatures on a petition to bring the bill up for a vote despite leadership’s objections.
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Representatives on Capitol Hill are advancing a bipartisan effort to let new parents in Congress vote remotely. Supporters of the bill say there are more young parents than ever in Congress, and if they’re going to grow their families, they have to be able to keep working with an infant.
Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., introduced the bill.
Where does the bill stand now?
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he opposes the bill. Fellow Republicans accused Johnson and his leadership team of making threats and playing hardball politics to prevent it from being approved.
“I’m not going to back down. I’m not going to be bought. I’m not going to change my position. This is bigger than me,” Luna told reporters Thursday. “You are seeing a majority of the conference, Republicans and Democrats supporting this, and to be told that somehow allowing members and family to or allowing new members of Congress to have families, men and women to vote, is somehow going to destroy the democracy.”
Johnson won’t bring the bill up for a vote because he believes it’s unconstitutional. As a result, members started a discharge petition, which allows the rank-and-file to overrule the speaker. The group got 218 signatures from every political leaning, which is more than enough to bring the bill forward.
Republican leadership allegedly making threats, playing hardball
Luna accused the Republican leadership of trying to convince and even threaten members to remove their names from the petition.
“Let me tell you, they are threatening members right now, and that is unacceptable,” Luna said. “I also understand that there were frontline members that wanted to support this and they were also threatened.”
“So you are going to threaten the majority because we are trying to advocate for us to have a voice in Washington? I would call the question, what does that say about your leadership?” Luna continued.
There are also accusations of Republican leadership playing hardball politics. For instance, a member of leadership allegedly told Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., he could get help on another unrelated piece of legislation if he agreed to vote against Luna’s bill.
“I’ve talked to leadership. I can’t get it up,” Burchett said. “Then they throw me, send one of their emissaries over there to tell me that we can get it, I can get the bill on the floor if you’ll help us with this. This is ridiculous.”
What is the history of proxy voting in Congress?
Proxy voting began during COVID. Members were allowed to authorize another member to enter their vote on their behalf. Johnson said that should not happen again.
“The Republican Party is pro-family. We want to make it as easy as possible for young parents to be able to participate in the process. But proxy voting, in my view, is unconstitutional,” Johnson said. “This is a deliberative body. You cannot deliberate with your colleagues if you’re out somewhere else.”
“Here’s the problem, if you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and the fathers of those situations, then where is the limiting principle?” Johnson continued.
That’s why conservatives who support the legislation said it should not allow anyone else to vote remotely. That includes those who are sick or have another serious issue that stops them from being physically present.
“Childbirth is very different from anything else that somebody’s trying to push for. So if people want to now use childbirth as an excuse to try to expand it, I’m against that,” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said.
Because enough members have signed the discharge petition, Luna can bring the bill up for a vote whenever she wants. She wouldn’t say when she plans to bring it forward, but she said next week will have a good news cycle.
AOC, Luna team up to cap credit card interest rates at 10%
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Anna Paulina Luna introduced a bill that, if passed, would cap credit card interest rates at 10% nationwide. The bill would allow individuals to sue if they’re charged a higher rate.
President Trump promised to cut rates during his campaign. Sens. Josh Hawley and Bernie Sanders introduced the same bill in the Senate.
The average credit card interest rate is 21.47%, according to WalletHub.
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One of President Donald Trump’s biggest supporters and the face of the progressive movement have teamed up in an effort to cut credit card interest rates in half. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., introduced a bill that, if passed, would cap credit card interest rates at 10% nationwide.
What are lawmakers saying about the legislation?
“For too long, credit card companies have abused working-class Americans with absurd interest rates, trapping them in an almost insurmountable amount of debt,” Luna said in a statement. “We need a fair solution — and that means getting rid of the status quo and putting a reasonable cap on interest rates.”
“Credit cards with high interest rates regularly trap working people in endless cycles of debt,” Ocasio-Cortez said about the legislation. “At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, we cannot allow big banks to shake down our communities for profit.”
Credit card interest rates have become a bipartisan cause for concern over the last few years. Trump promised to cut rates in September 2024 while campaigning.
“While working Americans catch up, we’re going to put a temporary cap on credit card interest rates at 10%; we have no choice,” Trump said. “Because they can’t afford to pay off their credit card.”
“When large financial institutions charge over 25% interest on credit cards, they are not engaged in the business of making credit available,” Sanders said. “They are engaged in extortion and loan sharking.”
What is the credit card industry’s response?
The Consumer Bankers Association, which represents credit card companies, said price-setting has been proven to harm Americans.
It said individuals who lose access to bank credit are often forced to use even riskier lending methods like payday loans which can charge and an annual percentage rate of 300% or more.
“Research clearly shows that when politicians, rather than the free market, dictate prices, consumers ultimately pay the price through limited choices outside the well-regulated banking system,” CBA CEO Lindsey Johnson stated.
What does the bill actually do?
The bill allows individuals to sue credit card companies if they’re charged more than 10% so they can receive a full refund of the difference.
The average credit card interest rate is 21.47%, according to WalletHub. That’s lower than the record 22.8% set in 2023 but nearly double 2013, when the rate was just 12.9%.
In the final months of 2024, Americans held $1.2 trillion in credit card debt.
Congress wants to declassify UFO, COVID, Epstein files
The House Oversight Committee will look at declassifying materials related to several national mysteries, from UFOs and Jeffrey Epstein’s client list to 9/11. The CIA, NSA, and the Departments of Justice, Defense, State and Energy will also be asked to provide briefings on any information they have about these incidents.
The creation of a task force comes shortly after President Trump signed an executive order declassifying documents about the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK.
Most classified documents are supposed to be automatically declassified between 10 to 25 years after they are created, though some remain under wraps due to their content.
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The House Oversight Committee is creating a task force to examine the declassification of materials regarding national mysteries, including UAPs (UFOs), Jeffrey Epstein’s client list, the origins of COVID-19, and the 9/11 files. The task force wants to build on President Donald Trump’s executive order instructing intelligence heads to prepare for the release of documents regarding the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“For too long, the federal government has kept information of public interest classified, and the American people are demanding greater transparency,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement. “This secrecy has sowed distrust in our institutions.”
To kick off their efforts, Comer and task force chair Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., sent letters to the heads of the CIA, NSA, and Departments of Justice, Defense, State and Energy, asking for briefings on information they may have. The committee will then review the materials and make recommendations for declassification and release.
“The federal government has been hiding information from Americans for decades,” Luna said. “It is time to give Americans the answers they deserve.”
Classified documents are supposed to be automatically declassified between 10 to 25 years after they are created, depending on their sensitivity level. Some records are exempted from automatic declassification if they reveal intelligence sources or methods, secrets about U.S. weapons systems, or information that could harm America’s relationship with a foreign nation, among other reasons.
The FBI announced Tuesday, Feb. 11, that it found 2,400 new records related to the JFK assassination. The documents will be handed over to the National Archives and Records Administration so they can be released according to the president’s order.
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray said the bureau assessed that the COVID pandemic began with a lab leak in Wuhan, China. But he never revealed how they reached that conclusion and what information they had to support it.
All these questions and more could be answered if the government declassifies the tens of thousands of documents related to the cases.
President Trump pardoned 23 anti-abortion demonstrators who were convicted of civil rights violations and other crimes during the administration of former President Joe Biden. Some are still in prison; their sentences range from six months to five years.
The pardons come just ahead of the March for Life, an annual event that draws tens of thousands to Washington.
The demonstrators were found guilty of violating the FACE Act, which prohibits threats and physical obstruction at reproductive clinics or places of worship. When charged as a felony, it carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
To make the FACE Act violation a felony, prosecutors also charged some of the demonstrators with violating the KKK Act, a 19th-century law written to protect newly enfranchised Black Americans.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., asked President Trump to pardon six individuals. That includes Paul Vaughn, who said he was complimented by local police for the peaceful manner of his protest.
Vaughn told Congress about the moment he was arrested 18 months later.
“I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch, staring down the barrels of both a pistol and an automatic weapon pointed at my head,” anti-abortion advocate Paul Vaughn said. “I later learned at the same time, three of my children, ages 12, 14 and 18, were being detained in the side yard on the edge of the woods by a fourth armed man.”
The Thomas More Society, an anti-abortion nonprofit law firm, asked the president to pardon 21 individuals. The group said those convicted are upstanding individuals who were targeted by the Biden administration.
“Only after Dobbs was decided did they begin rounding up pro-lifers, all around the country, for incidents that occurred years before Dobbs was even decided. And they’ve thrown the proverbial book at them,” Steve Crampton, senior counsel of the Thomas More Society, told the House in December.
In a speech in February 2024, President Trump said some anti-abortion activists were found guilty of “outrageous” charges and pledged to review the cases when in office.
Government shutdown looms as House votes against latest funding bill
A government shutdown looms nearer after the House rejected a bill that would have kept it funded into March. And drones are now banned in parts of New York and New Jersey after a spate of mysterious sightings. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
House votes against latest stopgap bill aimed to avoid government shutdown
The House rejected a stopgap bill Thursday, Dec. 19, that would have kept the government running. The vote came ahead of a potential shutdown starting at midnight Saturday, Dec. 21, when lawmakers head home for the holidays.
The bill fell short of the needed two-thirds majority to speed up its passage. More than three dozen Republicans joined 197 Democrats in voting against it. Republicans split with each other on how the bill handles government spending.
“Three hundred and thirty billion dollars. Congratulations. You’ve added to the debt since you were given the majority again on Nov. 5,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said.
Roy voted against the bill.
He added, “It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. Yes, I think this bill is better than it was yesterday in certain respects. But to take this bill, to take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it’s shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion, is asinine.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said on the House floor, “The deal on the table will keep the government open for the American people and if you guys so choose to shut it down, it will be on you but not the Republican Party.”
She added, “We will not be going back to the table. This deal stands as it is. So let you go back home on Christmas and explain to your people why you shut down the government because we won’t be doing it.”
The latest spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, is a quickly amended bill tailored to the liking of President-elect Donald Trump and his top ally Elon Musk.
Musk postedrepeatedlyonX condemning the original bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., worked on it with bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats.
However, when both Musk and Trump opposed the bill, that guaranteed most House Republicans would vote against it and forced Johnson to craft a new bill.
Now, there are two conflicting interests. Musk wants major government spending cuts, and while Trump agrees, he also wants to permanently suspend the debt ceiling.
The new plan lifts the debt limit, leading Trump to support the bill in a Truth Social post.
“Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,” Trump posted.
But Democrats attacked the bill over what spending Republicans chose to cut.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it’s laughable,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown.”
The bill removed funding for a bipartisan program for pediatric cancer research, studying genetic conditions like Down syndrome and treatment options for sickle cell disease as well as cancers.
It will be on Johnson to craft a bill to secure votes from the majority of the House.
However, Johnson may not have the political leeway to rely on support from Democrats. He’ll need nearly every returning member of the House Republican caucus to vote for him next month to remain speaker.
The new Congress takes office in the new year.
New details of accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter’s plan emerge
Newly unsealed court documents put into perspective what led up to the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A federal complaint shed light on 26-year-old Luigi Mangione’s “hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.”
In a notebook found on Mangione when he was arrested, he allegedly wrote of his plans to “wack” an insurance company CEO at its investor conference. Federal prosecutors said he traveled from Georgia to New York to stalk and kill Thompson.
Magione appeared in a New York courtroom Thursday, and four new federal charges were levied against him. The charges included murder with a firearm, which is an offense punishable by the death penalty.
The hearing followed Mangione’s extradition from Pennsylvania, where police arrested him on Dec. 9, to New York.
Armed guards surrounded Mangione as NYPD officers walked him off a helicopter upon his arrival in Manhattan. New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined the walk.
“Police Commissioner [Jessica] Tisch and I all want to send a very clear and loud message that this act of terrorism and the violence that stems from it is something that will not be tolerated in this city,” Adams told the press at the site of the helicopter arrival.
Mangione already faces state-level charges in New York. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought charges against him Tuesday, Dec. 17, including for murder as an act of terrorism.
However, Mangione also received a hero’s welcome from protesters outside the courthouse. Thompson’s killing sparked backlash against the health insurance industry and its coverage policies.
While judges have not set any dates yet, Mangione will face state-level charges first. A federal trial will follow.
New York abolished the death penalty, meaning it’s not an option for Mangione in the state-level case. However, the death penalty can still be exercised in the federal case.
FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New York and New Jersey
Drones are now banned in parts of New York and New Jersey — at least for the time being. It comes amid an investigation into multiple mysterious sightings over the last month that set off fear and speculation.
In a statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the Federal Aviation Administration’s bans are “purely precautionary.” Meanwhile, the FAA’s restrictions in New Jersey are largely aimed at limiting drone flights over power stations and infrastructure.
The FAA implemented emergency flight restrictions across New Jersey, prohibiting drone operations until Jan. 17, 2025, for “special security reasons.” Unless operators obtain special government clearance, the directive bans uncrewed aircraft within a one-nautical-mile radius of designated areas and up to 400 feet in altitude.
The FAA designated areas such as Camden, Jersey City, Elizabeth and South Brunswick as “National Defense Airspace.”
Violators may face severe penalties, including interception, detention, certificate revocation and potential criminal charges. In extreme cases, authorities are authorized to use “deadly force” against drones posing an “imminent security threat.”
These restrictions follow a surge in unexplained drone sightings across New Jersey and nearby states that began in mid-November. Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Defense (DOD), received over 5,000 reports of drone activity.
Dow Jones snaps worst losing streak in 50 years
The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped its worst losing streak in 50 years Thursday. The losing streak lasted 10 days.
During the losing streak, the market wiped out all of its post-election gains. The Dow ended Wednesday down 2.5% from when Trump won the election.
Also on Wednesday, Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, had its second-biggest percentage spike in history. The VIX shot up 74% after the Federal Reserve shared its outlook for the coming year.
On Wednesday, the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate for a third time in 2024, which was widely predicted.
Feeling the holiday blues?
The holidays are often called “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the season can bring about sadness and stress for many. This -emotional shift, commonly known as the “holiday blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can affect millions of people across the country.
Licensed adult psychiatrist Dr. Patrice Mann said the holiday blues are due to several factors. They include social pressures, disruptive routines and financial strain.
“Things like having a bunch of holiday events on the calendar, not to say we don’t look forward to them oftentimes, but they take a toll on us,” says Dr. Mann. “You’re up late, interacting with a lot of people, and that’s not everyone’s nature.”
Grief and seasonal depression can also complicate these feelings. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, seasonal depression affects millions of Americans every year, but many may not even realize they have it.
Symptoms of holiday blues and seasonal depression can include a persistent low mood, loss of interest in activities and changes in eating or sleeping habits. If these symptoms last more than two weeks, Dr. Mann said it could indicate a more serious depressive episode. In such cases, seeking professional help is important.
Dr. Mann recommended several self-care strategies to help manage both the holiday blues and seasonal depression. She suggested getting tested for vitamin D deficiency and taking supplements during winter. Vitamin D plays a vital role in mood and energy levels.
She also advised getting as much sunlight as possible during the shorter winter days. Light therapy boxes can mimic outdoor sunlight if natural sunlight isn’t available. Using them for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning can help trick the brain and improve mood.
For those experiencing grief during the holidays, Dr. Mann encouraged reflecting on personal needs and communicating with trusted friends or family members. She also recommended incorporating new social activities into your routine and checking in with yourself after attending events.
For those supporting others through grief, it’s important to recognize that everyone processes emotions differently. Dr. Mann suggested engaging in activities with those less open about mental health, such as cooking or playing games, to help create a comfortable environment for them to express themselves.
While the holiday season brings unique challenges, small steps can make a big difference. Prioritizing self-care, maintaining routines and reaching out for support are important practices to help manage holiday stress.
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that professional help is available. The National Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day by calling 988.
