Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson in the Capitol regarding the delayed swearing-in of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson initially stated Grijalva would be sworn in “as soon as she wants,” but later linked the swearing-in to the end of the government shutdown. Democrats believe the delay is due to Grijalva’s intention to sign a petition forcing a vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The petition requires 218 signatures to force the vote and Grijalva would make that the number.
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A Chicago pastor, Rev. David Black, injured during a protest outside a Broadview ICE facility, is now a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s response to demonstrations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, media organizations, clergy, and local residents, alleging that federal agents used excessive force, including tear gas and pepper balls, against peaceful protestors. The plaintiffs argue that these actions violated First Amendment rights and are seeking to restrict federal tactics at the facility. The court is currently considering a temporary restraining order while the case proceeds.
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Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., has yet to be sworn into office nearly two weeks after her election. During an interview, Grijalva expressed suspicion at the delay, as she has not received any communication from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., regarding a timeline. Grijalva believes the hold-up may be due to her planned signature on the discharge petition for the Epstein files, which would become the 218th vote needed to force a full chamber vote. She also highlighted the negative impact on her constituents, who are left without representation during a crucial time.
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Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns regarding back pay for furloughed federal workers, citing a new White House memo challenging the long-standing practice of automatically compensating them after a government shutdown. The memo suggests Congress must explicitly approve back pay, a departure from the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which was previously interpreted to guarantee reimbursement. This shift has sparked controversy, with Democrats criticizing the move, while some Republicans express uncertainty. The uncertainty surrounding back pay adds tension to the ongoing budget standoff, with an estimated 750,000 federal workers facing an uncertain future.
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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited Portland, Oregon, where she surveyed a small group of protesters, described by some as an “army of Antifa.” Accompanied by conservative influencer Benny Johnson, Noem viewed the demonstration from the roof of an ICE facility, the site of recent protests. The scene consisted of roughly a dozen people, including photojournalists, protesters, and even a man in a chicken costume, prompting mockery from liberal commentators. Despite the administration’s characterization of the protests as dangerous, the actual scene appeared far less dramatic, with critics highlighting the disparity between the described threat and the reality on the ground.
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During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s prepared notes, inadvertently revealed in photographs, offered insight into her strategy for the session. The documents included attack lines, such as accusations of hypocrisy and associations with “dark money groups,” targeted at specific senators like Sheldon Whitehouse. Bondi also had a question prepared regarding potential financial ties between Whitehouse and Reid Hoffman, a known associate of Jeffrey Epstein, indicating her focus on deflecting criticism. These notes, which also included attacks on former special counsel Jack Smith, reveal a preemptive and defensive approach to the hearing, particularly concerning the Epstein files and investigations.
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President Trump recently boasted about utilizing tariffs as a foreign policy tool, neglecting to acknowledge that this power constitutionally belongs to Congress. Furthermore, the White House plans to use tariff revenue to fund the WIC program during the government shutdown, although the legality of this action remains unclear. This approach raises concerns as it allows the president to circumvent Congress’s “power of the purse” by unilaterally allocating funds without legislative approval. While the intention to support low-income families is positive, the underlying constitutional violation of presidential authority presents a significant problem.
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Recent polls reveal a significant decline in President Trump’s approval ratings, with only 40 percent of Americans holding a favorable view, particularly following his controversial statements about deploying the National Guard. The Reuters/Ipsos poll also indicates that a majority of Americans do not support the president’s ability to deploy federal troops into states without the governor’s consent. This comes amidst Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act and send troops into various cities, leading to clashes with state governors and accusations of politicizing the military. Despite these challenges, the president has continued to promote alternative polls, although their accuracy is disputed.
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During a CNN interview, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller raised questions when he stated that President Trump had “plenary authority” concerning the deployment of the National Guard in Oregon before abruptly cutting himself off. “Plenary authority” implies absolute power, conflicting with the U.S. system of separation of powers and checks and balances. Miller’s comment, and subsequent silence, came amid discussion of a legal challenge to the administration’s use of the National Guard, and comparisons to authoritarian rule. The incident led to speculation about the implications of the comment and whether Miller realized the ramifications of his words.
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Former President Donald Trump took to social media to call for the jailing of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, accusing them of failing to protect ICE agents, without providing any evidence. These remarks came amid legal challenges from state and local officials regarding the deployment of National Guard units to Chicago. The lawsuit alleges the president’s actions are “unlawful and dangerous,” while the White House defends the deployment as part of a crime crackdown. Both Johnson and Pritzker have responded critically, with Pritzker denouncing the call as authoritarian.
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John Q. Hosedrinker