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.
Read More
A petition demanding the suspension or reduction of congressional salaries during the government shutdown has gained significant traction, with over 97,000 signatures. The petition argues that lawmakers should not receive pay or benefits while the government is closed, proposing a daily salary reduction. This movement arises due to the fact that while essential workers are working without pay, members of Congress continue to receive their salaries. Several members of Congress from both parties have also supported similar measures, although the likelihood of these changes succeeding is slim.
Read More
A significant portion of U.S. Congress members traded stocks from 2019-2021, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest, which has prompted strong public support for a ban on such trading. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the No Stock Act, a bill that would prohibit senior government officials, including members of Congress and their families, from holding or trading stocks and certain other financial assets. This bill aims to eliminate conflicts of interest by fully restricting stock trading for high-ranking officials, building upon the existing STOCK Act, which barred insider trading.
Read More
The U.S. government officially shut down at midnight due to the inability of Congress and the White House to agree on a funding extension. The Republican-controlled Congress, needing Democratic support in the Senate, failed to reach a bipartisan agreement, leading to the shutdown, the first since 2018. Federal employees will face furloughs and potential delayed pay, while essential workers will continue to work without pay. The two parties are fundamentally at odds over healthcare funding and government spending, with no clear path to a resolution and blame being placed on both sides.
Read More
Congress is facing a potential government shutdown as Democratic and Republican leaders remain at an impasse over funding negotiations and expiring health care subsidies. Democrats are pushing for an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and the repeal of cuts to health care programs in exchange for their support. President Trump has signaled a potential shutdown, warning of the possibility of federal worker firings and program eliminations. The standoff could result in delays in government services and unpaid federal workers.
Read More
The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court for an emergency order to maintain its hold on billions of dollars in frozen foreign aid. President Trump employed a pocket rescission, which effectively cut the budget without congressional approval. The central legal dispute revolves around $4 billion in congressionally approved aid that Trump stated he would not spend, citing a rarely used authority. The administration argues that the lower court’s injunctions harm the executive branch, while the opposition claims the funding freeze violates federal law and hampers critical international programs.
Read More
Trump Didn’t Notify Congress About a High-Stakes SEALs Mission. That Could Be an Issue.
So, the headline says “Trump Didn’t Notify Congress About a High-Stakes SEALs Mission. That Could Be an Issue.” And honestly, that’s the understatement of the century, isn’t it? You know, the whole idea behind checks and balances is that the President doesn’t just get to operate in a vacuum, especially when it comes to military actions involving highly trained special forces. We’re talking about potentially life-or-death scenarios, and the fact that the Commander-in-Chief allegedly kept Congress in the dark about such operations is, well, it’s a pretty big deal.… Continue reading
The Epstein estate will provide the House Oversight Committee with the 2003 “birthday book” and other documents, according to Rep. Robert Garcia. This comes after the committee issued a subpoena for documents related to the Epstein and Maxwell cases. The book is relevant to a defamation case filed by Donald Trump, who denies writing a message in the book, against the Wall Street Journal. The committee will receive the documents on September 8, and survivors of Epstein are expected to speak with lawmakers next week.
Read More
As Congress prepares to reconvene after recess, lawmakers are gearing up to revive the Jeffrey Epstein case. Democrats and some Republican members are strategizing press events and issuing subpoenas to refocus attention on the matter. The forthcoming actions aim to bring the Epstein case back to the forefront of the legislative agenda. Further discussion and analysis are expected upon Congress’s return.
Read More
As Congress prepares to reconvene, the issue of Jeffrey Epstein’s files is resurfacing, with Democrats eager to re-examine the scandal. Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie plan to introduce a vote to force the Justice Department to release all investigation documents. Republicans may be reluctant to vote against transparency, potentially causing division within the party. Additionally, the House Oversight Committee is seeking further information, including a subpoena to Epstein’s estate and a transcribed interview with Alex Acosta, while also considering testimony from Ghislaine Maxwell.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood