Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed bill aimed at reopening the Department of Homeland Security and ending the 27-day shutdown. The motion to proceed failed due to Democratic opposition, as the bill included funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agencies Democrats argued require reform. Despite attempts by both parties to find a compromise through short-term funding resolutions for specific agencies like the TSA and Coast Guard, disagreements over the inclusion of ICE and CBP funding prevented progress.
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Negotiations to end the government shutdown are stalled as Democrats and Republicans remain divided. Senator Mark Kelly asserted that the shutdown could be resolved this week if Republicans would negotiate on health care subsidies, citing the need to address rising insurance premiums. Republicans, however, are insistent on reopening the government before any discussions on extending the expiring health insurance tax credits. Senator Katie Britt emphasized that Democrats should prioritize reopening the government, criticizing the political posturing and its impact on the American people.
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Despite White House claims of imminent success, President Trump’s “90 deals in 90 days” trade initiative yielded zero results, mirroring a broader pattern of unfulfilled promises. Numerous assertions portraying Trump as a master dealmaker, repeated by administration officials and media personalities, directly contradict his lack of significant legislative achievements. This persistent myth of Trump’s negotiating prowess ignores his consistent failure to broker major deals, even on issues he prioritized. Ultimately, his record reveals a stark disconnect between self-proclaimed abilities and actual outcomes.
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John Q. Hosedrinker