A bipartisan US congressional delegation visited Copenhagen, Denmark on January 16th to express solidarity with Denmark and Greenland following President Trump’s suggestion of acquiring the Arctic island. The delegation, comprised of eleven members from both parties, engaged in discussions with Danish and Greenlandic leaders, as well as business representatives. This visit followed a prior meeting where Denmark and the US revealed their fundamental disagreement over Greenland’s future. The show of support comes as a response to the President’s statements, with Denmark and several European countries deploying troops to Greenland as well.
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The Trump administration has reversed course on its decision to cut over $2 billion in funding for mental health and addiction programs. Following the initial announcement, which came in the form of termination letters sent to various organizations, a bipartisan political outcry emerged. The Department of Health and Human Services will now be sending out letters restoring the grant money to over 2,000 organizations. Public health advocates and officials have expressed relief while also noting the widespread panic and disruption caused by the abrupt funding changes.
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A bipartisan group of House members, including progressives and conservatives, employed a discharge petition to force a vote on a bill banning congressional stock trading, a move similar to one used to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. The legislation gained urgency due to concerns about insider trading by lawmakers, with previous attempts to address the issue, such as a bill from Rep. Chip Roy and Abigail Spanberger, stalled under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The current Speaker, Mike Johnson, has faced criticism for restricting votes and aligning with Donald Trump, prompting more frequent use of discharge petitions by frustrated members. While the House vote is now secured, the bill’s passage through the Senate, particularly given former President Trump’s opposition, remains uncertain.
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The recent federal government shutdown, the longest in history, caused significant hardship for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including missed paychecks and financial strain. Federal employees like Jessica Sweet, a Social Security claims specialist, were forced to make drastic cutbacks to make ends meet during the shutdown. The resolution involved a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government, provide back pay for furloughed workers, and reverse dismissals. Despite the end of the shutdown, many workers expressed feelings of betrayal and frustration, as their livelihoods were impacted by political disagreements.
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John Q. Hosedrinker