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October 24, 2025
The GOP expected Democrats to relent on the shutdown by now. That isn't happening.
(NBC News) For the 12th time, Senate Democrats blocked the Republican Party's government funding legislation this week without a single senator switching his or her vote. Republicans are still five votes short of the 60-vote threshold to ensure passage of the bill, just as they have been since before the government shut down 23 days ago. Democrats have used that “leverage” to push Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies that will expire at the end of the year. Failing to do so would lead to increased health care costs for millions of people. Republicans say Democrats must first reopen the government, but, so far, the party hasn’t budged. The Democratic Party’s hardened resolve in the shutdown battle seems to have left the Republican majority without answers.
Go to discussionTrump Gags White House Wrecking Crews as Backlash Mounts
(Daily Beast) Construction workers involved in the demolition of the East Wing of the White House have signed non-disclosure agreements and are not permitted to speak to the press. Workers who did respond to press inquiries told reporters, “We’re not allowed to answer questions” and “Everything has to go through the White House press office,” CNN reports. Others said they had signed NDAs that legally prevent them from sharing confidential information. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump says all trade talks with Canada are terminated
(Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that all trade talks with Canada were terminated following what he called a fraudulent advertisement in which former President Ronald Reagan spoke negatively about tariffs. "Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump has used tariffs as leverage on many countries around the world.
Go to discussionTop House Democrats accuse Trump of illegal scheme to pilfer $230m in taxpayer money
(The Guardian) Top House Democrats have accused Donald Trump of orchestrating an illegal scheme to pay himself $230m in taxpayer money, demanding he immediately abandon claims they say violate the constitution. “Your plan to have your obedient underlings at the Department of Justice instruct the US Treasury to pay you, personally, hundreds of millions of dollars – especially at a time when most Americans are struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, and afford health care – is an outrageous and shocking attempt to shake down the American people,” the lawmakers wrote.
Go to discussionJack Smith asks Congress and the Justice Department to allow him to testify publicly
(CNN) Former special counsel Jack Smith is requesting that Congress and the Justice Department allow him to testify publicly, according to a new letter he sent Thursday to the leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees. Smith says he wants to testify “in open hearings” because of “the many mischaracterizations” around his investigations that led to criminal charges against Donald Trump in 2023 for alleged mishandling classified records and actions related to the 2020 election results.
Go to discussion'Chilling': FBI shocks with visits to homes of innocent protesters under Trump's orders
(Raw Story) In one case, special needs teacher Miles Serafini, 26, told independent journalist Ken Klippenstein that agents visited his home after he participated in a June protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Arizona. The two agents, who only identified themselves as "James" and "Keith", were recorded on Serafini's security camera. Serafini said the agents that visited his home "were trying to figure out the shadowy entity behind the protest." "What a waste of their time to go after s—t that doesn't exist," he added.
Go to discussionWhite House Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law
(Political Wire) “Since he returned to office nine months ago, President Trump has sought to expand executive power across numerous fronts. But his claim that he can lawfully order the military to summarily kill people accused of smuggling drugs on boats off the coast of South America stands apart,” the New York Times reports. “A broad range of specialists in laws governing the use of lethal force have called Mr. Trump’s orders to the military patently illegal. They say the premeditated extrajudicial killings have been murders — regardless of whether the 37 people blown apart, burned alive or drowned in nine strikes so far were indeed running drugs.”
Go to discussionTrump: "I think we're just gonna kill people. We're going to kill them."
(Daily Beast) Trump has issued a terrifying threat to keep ordering deadly strikes against his enemies with absolutely no legal authority. Asked whether he would seek congressional approval or a formal declaration of war in order to give plausible legal cover for the assassinations, he said: “We’re going to kill them. They’re going to be, like, dead.” Speaking to reporters during a news conference at the White House on Thursday, the president continued: “I don’t think we’re necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war, I think we’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country,” Trump said.
Go to discussionTrump plans land strikes against alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela
(The Guardian) Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration could soon expand its military attacks on alleged drug smugglers from Venezuela and also begin pursuing them on land. Trump, who has faced questions over whether he has the legal authority to use lethal force against the people in boats from Venezuela, said during a press conference he was not sure whether the administration would seek approval from Congress to attack people from the South American country over land.
Go to discussionIllinois Governor Says Trump Will 100% Try To 'Steal' 2026 Election
(Huff Post) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is among his fellow Democrats who believe President Donald Trump will try and “steal” the 2026 election. Appearing on Stephen A. Smith’s SiriusXM show “Straight Shooter” Thursday, Pritzker and Smith discussed Trump’s move to deploy National Guard troops and ICE agents into Democratic-led cities, including Chicago, in recent months.
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