The House of Representatives rejected a bill on Thursday, Dec. 19, that would have kept the government open. The vote came ahead of a potential shutdown starting at midnight on Saturday, Dec. 21, when lawmakers head home for the holidays.
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The bill fell short of the needed two-thirds majority to speed up its passage, with 38 House Republicans joining 197 Democrats in voting against it. Republicans split with each other on how the bill handles government spending.
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“Three hundred and thirty billion dollars. Congratulations. You’ve added to the debt since you were given the majority again on Nov. 5,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who voted against the bill, said while addressing his fellow Republicans.
Roy added, “It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. Yes, I think this bill is better than it was yesterday on certain respects. But to take this bill, to take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it’s shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion, is asinine.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said on the House floor, “The deal on the table will keep the government open for the American people and if you guys so choose to shut it down, it will be on you but not the Republican Party.”
She added, “We will not be going back to the table. This deal stands as it is. So let you go back home on Christmas and explain to your people why you shut down the government because we won’t be doing it.”
The latest spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, is a quickly amended bill tailored to the liking of President-elect Donald Trump and his top ally Elon Musk.
Musk posted repeatedly on X condemning the original bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., worked on it with bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats.
However, when both Musk and Trump opposed the bill, that guaranteed most House Republicans would vote against it and forced Johnson to craft a new bill.
Now, there are two conflicting interests. Musk wants major government spending cuts, and while Trump agrees, he also wants to permanently suspend the debt ceiling.
The new plan lifts the debt limit, leading President-elect Trump to support the bill in a Truth Social post.
“Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,” Trump posted.
But Democrats have attacked the bill over what spending Republicans chose to cut.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it’s laughable,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown.”
The bill also removed funding for a bipartisan program for pediatric cancer research, research into diseases such as Down syndrome, and options to treat and detect sickle cell disease, as well as breast and cervical cancer.
It will be on Johnson to craft a bill that would secure votes from the majority of the House.
However, Johnson may not have the political leeway to rely on support from Democrats. He’ll need nearly every returning member of the House Republican caucus to vote for him next month to remain speaker. The new Congress takes office in the new year.
Tags: Debt ceiling, Donald Trump, Economy, Government Shutdown, House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, National Debt, U.S. Congress
Rep. Marc Molinaro – (R)-NY: On this vote the yeas are 174, the nays are 235, 1 voting present. Two thirds not being in the affirmative, the rules are not suspended and the bill is not passed.
LAUREN TAYLOR: The House of Representatives rejected a bill that would have kept the government open and avoided a shutdown.
The bill fell short of the needed two-thirds majority to speed up its passage ahead of a potential shutdown that would start at midnight Saturday morning.
38 House Republicans joined the vast majority of Democrats in voting against the bill, with a rift among Republicans about how it handles government spending.
Rep. Chip Roy / (R)-TX: “$330 billion dollars. Congratulations, you’ve added to the debt since you were given the majority again on November 5th. It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. Yes, I think this bill is better than it was yesterday on certain respects. But to take this bill, to take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it’s shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion dollars, is asinine.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna / (R)-FL: The deal on the table will keep the government open for the American people and if you guys so choose to shut it down, it will be on you but not the Republican Party. We will not be going back to the table. This deal stands as it is. So let you go back home on Christmas and explain to your people why you shut down the government, because we won’t be doing it.
LAUREN TAYLOR: The latest spending bill, known as a “continuing resolution,” is a quickly amended bill tailored to the liking of President-elect Donald Trump and his top ally Elon Musk.
Musk posted repeatedly on X Wednesday condemning the original bill, crafted by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to win bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats.
Both Musk and Trump opposed the bill, guaranteeing most House Republicans would vote against it and forcing Johnson to craft a new bill.
Now, there are two conflicting interests. Musk wants major government spending cuts. And while President-elect Trump agrees, he also wants to permanently suspend the debt ceiling, America’s limit on its ability to borrow for government spending.
The new plan lifts the debt limit, leading President-elect Trump to post on his social network platform Truth Social in favor of the bill.
“Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,” Trump posted.
But Democrats have attacked the bill over what spending Republicans chose to cut, as it removes more than the much-discussed pay raise for members of Congress.
The bill also removed funding for a bipartisan program for pediatric cancer research, as well as research into other diseases, including Down syndrome, and options to treat and detect sickle cell disease, as well as breast and cervical cancer.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries / (D) NY and House Minority Leader: “The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it’s laughable, extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown.”
LAUREN TAYLOR: It will be on Speaker Johnson to figure out a bill that would win the support of the majority of the House.
But Johnson may not have the political leeway to rely on support from Democrats, as he’ll need nearly every returning member of the House Republican caucus to vote for him next month if he hopes to remain Speaker in the new Congress getting sworn into office in the new year.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.
And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.
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Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, continue to kill tens of thousands of Americans annually. In 2023, an estimated 74,000 people in the U.S. died from fentanyl overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That figure is slightly down from 2022 when the CDC recorded more than 76,000 deaths.
Now, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is looking to crack down on China’s involvement in the United States’ fentanyl crisis.
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In 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) declared China the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked into and throughout the country.
Fentanyl precursor chemicals are manufactured in China before being shipped to the U.S., Mexico and Canada, where the final fentanyl product is ultimately produced.
Lawmakers introduce bills to hold China accountable
Lawmakers have introduced three bills aimed at holding China accountable for illicit drug manufacturing. The bills are the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2024, the [Chinese Communist Party] CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act, and the International Protection from [People’s Republic of China] PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act.
The Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2024 would create a task force to tackle synthetic drug trafficking, like fentanyl. It would bring together key federal agencies for joint operations, disrupt trafficking networks and enforce sanctions.
The CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act targets fentanyl producers by expanding sanctions against those involved in fentanyl trafficking. It would grant the president the authority to block foreign financial accounts linked to individuals involved in the trade.
The legislation also targets Chinese vessels, ports and online marketplaces that knowingly facilitate the shipment or sale of synthetic narcotics.
The International Protection from PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act targets fentanyl trafficking. They impose civil penalties on PRC shippers that fail to implement transparent practices and safeguards to prevent drug shipments.
Lawmakers respond to the crisis
“For too long, China has profited from the destruction of American lives, and the fentanyl crisis they are manufacturing knows no boundaries,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash. “As we continue our work fighting the immediate threat the drug poses, we are also going after the CCP and their central role in subsidizing, producing, and exporting the precursors that fuel this epidemic.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said, “Fentanyl has taken too many loved ones and devastated communities across America. We owe it to those families to close trade loopholes used by the CCP to ship fentanyl into the U.S. and perpetuate one of our nation’s worst drug epidemics.”
Legislative prospects
It’s unlikely that Congress will pass these bills during this legislative session. They will likely need to be reintroduced when the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025.
Tags: Canada, China, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug smuggling, Drugs, Fentanyl, Mexico, People’s Republic of China
SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL CONTINUE KILLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS EACH YEAR. IN 2023, AN ESTIMATED 75,000 PEOPLE IN THE US DIED FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSE, ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
THAT FIGURE IS DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM THE YEAR PRIOR WHEN 2022 SAW JUST OVER AN ESTIMATED 76,000 DEATHS.
NOW A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS IS LOOKING TO CRACK DOWN ON CHINA’S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES’ FENTANYL CRISIS.
IN 2019, THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DECLARED CHINA THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF FENTANYL AND FENTANYL-RELATED SUBSTANCES TRAFFICKED INTO AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
FENTANYL PRECURSOR CHEMICALS ARE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA AND SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY TO THE US, MEXICO AND CANADA WHERE DRUG MANUFACTURERS MAKE FENTANYL USING THE PRECURSOR CHEMICALS. MANY TIMES, THE FENTANYL IS THEN SMUGGLED INTO THE US FROM CANADA AND MEXICO.
LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED THREE BILLS AIMED AT HOLDING CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ILLICIT DRUG MANUFACTURING. THEY’RE THE JOINT TASK FORCE TO COUNTER ILLICIT SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS ACT OF 2024, THE CCP FENTANYL SANCTIONS ACT, AND THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTING FROM PRC FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS ACT.
THE JOINT TASK FORCE TO COUNTER ILLICIT SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS ACT OF 2024 WOULD CREATE A TASK FORCE TO TACKLE SYNTHETIC DRUG TRAFFICKING, LIKE FENTANYL. IT WOULD BRING TOGETHER KEY FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR JOINT OPERATIONS, DISRUPT TRAFFICKING NETWORKS, AND ENFORCE SANCTIONS.
THE CCP FENTANYL SANCTIONS ACT TARGETS FENTANYL PRODUCERS BY EXPANDING SANCTIONS AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN FENTANYL TRAFFICKING AND WOULD GRANT THE PRESIDENT AUTHORITY TO BLOCK FOREIGN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS LINKED TO INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN TRAFFICKING.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO TARGETS CHINESE VESSELS, PORTS, AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES THAT KNOWINGLY FACILITATE THE SHIPMENT OR SALE OF SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS.
THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FROM PRC FENTANYL AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS ACT TARGETS FENTANYL TRAFFICKING BY IMPOSING CIVIL PENALTIES ON PRC SHIPPERS THAT FAIL TO IMPLEMENT TRANSPARENCY AND SAFEGUARDS TO PREVENT DRUG SHIPMENTS.
“FOR TOO LONG, CHINA HAS PROFITED FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN LIVES, AND THE FENTANYL CRISIS THEY ARE MANUFACTURING KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. AS WE CONTINUE OUR WORK FIGHTING THE IMMEDIATE THREAT THE DRUG POSES, WE ARE ALSO GOING AFTER THE CCP AND THEIR CENTRAL ROLE IN SUBSIDIZING, PRODUCING, AND EXPORTING THE PRECURSORS THAT FUEL THIS EPIDEMIC,” SAID REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DAN NEWHOUSE (R-WA).
“FENTANYL HAS TAKEN TOO MANY LOVED ONES AND DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA. WE OWE IT TO THOSE FAMILIES TO CLOSE TRADE LOOPHOLES USED BY THE CCP TO SHIP FENTANYL INTO THE US AND PERPETUATE ONE OF OUR NATION’S WORST DRUG EPIDEMICS,” DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN RO KHANNA (D-CA) SAID.
IT’S UNLIKELY CONGRESS WILL BE ABLE TO PASS THESE BILLS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION – THEY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE TO REINTRODUCE THEM WHEN THE NEW CONGRESS IS SWORN IN ON JANUARY 3.
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China is developing a mode of transportation that could transform the travel industry. In about a decade, developers expect a “floating train” that can reach speeds of more than 600 mph to be the next way to get around the country.
Chinese developers are now testing their “T-Flight” train, a mode of transport that shoots through a tube-like system designed to reduce air pressure and propel it forward. Simply put, the “hyperloop” technology eschews the need for wheels.
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The project has already set a world record speed of nearly 400 mph, overtaking the Shanghai maglev, the world’s fastest passenger train in operation. While the train hasn’t reached its full capacity, developers expect it to accelerate to 621 mph.
Advocates for the train said it will make commutes for China’s booming population faster as they navigate the sprawling country. Developers also project that the high-speed network will connect China’s government to neighboring countries.
China isn’t alone in conducting trials using hyperloop technology. Switzerland, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Canada are among the countries looking to compete. India has also shown interest and said that its research will start in 2026.
The United States, once considered a leader in designing the rail system, has now fallen behind other countries.
In 2013, Elon Musk proposed using hyperloop technology to reduce travel time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. That idea became his company, Hyperloop One. However, it ceased operations last year.
While the technology will reportedly reduce greenhouse emissions, it is costly to implement, requiring a significant infrastructure overhaul.
China has spent close to two decades developing a high-speed rail network. Thousands of miles link 93% of the nation’s cities.
Tags: China, Elon Musk, Energy, Netherlands, Public Transportation, Shanghai, Switzerland, United States
[Lauren Taylor]
CHINA IS HARD AT WORK ON A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT COULD TRANSFORM THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
WITHIN A DECADE, A FLOATING TRAIN TOPPING SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 600 MILES PER HOUR COULD BE THE NEXT WAY TO GET AROUND THE COUNTRY.
DEVELOPERS TESTED THE ‘T-FLIGHT’ TRAIN…SHOOTING IT THROUGH A TUBE LIKE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO REDUCE AIR PRESSURE IN ORDER TO PROPEL IT FORWARD.
THE HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY DITCHES THE NEED FOR WHEELS ALLOWING THE PROJECT TO SET A WORLD RECORD SPEED OF CLOSE TO 400 MILES PER HOUR. IT SPEEDS PAST THE SHANGHAI MAGLEV, CURRENTLY THE FASTEST PASSENGER TRAIN IN THE WORLD.
CONSTRUCTION ON THE TRAIN STARTED IN 2022…COMBINING AEROSPACE AND GROUND RAIL TECHNOLOGIES INTO A FINISHED PROJECT LAST YEAR.
ADVOCATES SAY CHINA’S BOOMING POPULATION WILL MAKE THEIR COMMUTES FASTER AS THEY NAVIGATE ACROSS THE SPRAWLING COUNTRY.
THE HIGH SPEED NETWORK ALSO CONNECTS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ITS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES .
CHINA ISN’T ALONE IN CONDUCTING TRIALS…SWITZERLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, THE U-S AND CANADA AMONG THE COUNTRIES LOOKING TO COMPETE.
THE UNITED STATES, ONCE A LEADER IN CRAFTING THE RAIL SYSTEM FALLS BEHIND IN CREATING A MODEL OF THEIR OWN.
ELON MUSK PUSHED THE IDEA OF USING HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY IN 2013 TO CUT DOWN ON TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN L-A AND SAN FRANCISCO. HYPERLOOP ONE SET UP A BUSINESS TO DEVELOP HIS IDEA, BUT STOPPED OPERATIONS JUST LAST YEAR.
CHINA HAS SPENT CLOSE TO TWO DECADES DEVELOPING A HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK. THOUSANDS OF MILES LINK 93 PERCENT OF THE NATION’S CITIES.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR
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Have you ever thought about building a private bunker to live through a catastrophic event? A new report shows that sales for survival shelters are on the rise, continuing a trend that’s been a part of history for years.
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New numbers from BlueWeave Consulting show the market for U.S. bomb and fallout shelters is expected to grow from $137 million last year to $175 million by 2030.
Recently, people have taken interest in building shelters on their property due to the rising threat of nuclear attacks or civil unrest.
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Ron Hubbard, the owner of Atlas Survival Shelters in Sulpher Springs, Texas said he’s continued to see an uptick in sales since the COVID-19 lockdown with his sales more than doubling in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.
“People are uneasy and they want a safe place to put their family. And they have this attitude that it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it, not have it,” Hubbard told The Associated Press.
However, not everyone is on board with bunkers. Critics said they create a false perception that a nuclear war is survivable, arguing those planning to live through an atomic blast aren’t focusing on the real dangers posed by nuclear threats.
Government disaster experts also said bunkers aren’t necessary. FEMA recommends simply staying inside, ideally in a basement and away from outside walls.
History of bunkers
The long past of bunkers started with protecting military members against bombings and nuclear attacks. During World War II, they sheltered troops and civilians, followed by the Cold War era when the fear of nuclear warfare led to building numerous public and private bunkers.
The Sept. 11 attacks then reignited interest in bunkers becoming more modern and providing amenities such as swimming pools, theaters and wine cellars.
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There’s been a significant increase in the number of wealthy people investing in elaborate doomsday bunkers, a trend driven by a growing sense of insecurity about the future.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk and actor Leonardo DiCaprio are all rumored to have private bunkers on their properties.
Tags: COVID-19, Doomsday Clock, Elon Musk, FEMA, Mark Zuckerberg, Nuclear War, Pandemic, shelter, World War II
[Jack]
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BUILDING A PRIVATE BUNKER TO LIVE THROUGH A CATASTROPHIC EVENT?
A NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT SALES FOR SURVIVAL SHELTERS ARE ON THE RISE … CONTINUING A TREND THAT’S BEEN A PART OF HISTORY FOR YEARS.
NEW NUMBERS FROM BLUEWEAVE CONSULTING SHOW THE MARKET FOR U-S BOMB AND FALLOUT SHELTERS IS EXPECTED TO GROW FROM 137 MILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR TO 175 MILLION BY 20-30.
RECENTLY, PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN INTEREST IN BUILDING THE SHELTERS ON THEIR PROPERTY … DUE TO THE RISING THREAT OF NUCLEAR ATTACKS OR CIVIL UNREST.
THE OWNER OF ATLAS SURVIVAL SHELTERS IN SULPHER SPRINGS TEXAS SAYS HE’S CONTINUED TO SEE AN UPTICK IN SALES SINCE THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN WITH HIS SALES MORE THAN DOUBLING IN MARCH 20-20 AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.
People are uneasy and they want a safe place to put their family. And they have this attitude that it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it, not have it.”
HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH BUNKERS – CRITICS SAY THEY CREATE A FALSE PERCEPTION THAT A NUCLEAR WAR IS SURVIVABLE…ARGUING THOSE PLANNING TO LIVE THROUGH AN ATOMIC BLAST AREN’T FOCUSING ON THE REAL DANGERS POSED BY NUCLEAR THREATS.
GOVERNMENT DISASTER EXPERTS ALSO SAY BUNKERS AREN’T NECESSARY WITH FEMA RECOMMENDING TO JUST STAY INSIDE, IDEALLY IN A BASEMENT AND AWAY FROM OUTSIDE WALLS.
THE LONG PAST OF BUNKERS … STARTED WITH PROTECTING MILITARY MEMBERS AGAINST BOMBINGS AND NUCLEAR ATTACKS.
DURING WORLD WAR TWO, THEY SHELTERED TROOPS AND CIVILIANS … FOLLOWED BY THE COLD WAR ERA WHEN THE FEAR OF NUCLEAR WARFARE LED TO BUILDING NUMEROUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUNKERS.
THE SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH ATTACKS THEN REIGNITED INTEREST IN BUNKERS … BECOMING MORE MODERN AND PROVIDING AMENITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING POOLS, THEATERS AND WINE CELLARS.
THERE’S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WEALTHY PEOPLE INVESTING IN ELABORATE DOOMSDAY BUNKERS – A TREND DRIVEN BY A GROWING SENSE OF INSECURITY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
META CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG, TESLA AND SPACE-X FOUNDER ELON MUSK AND A-LIST ACTOR LEONARDO DICAPRIO ARE ALL RUMORED TO HAVE BUNKERS ON THEIR PROPERTIES.
FOR SAN – I’M JACK AYLMER.
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Days after resigning from her role, the longtime top adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty after prosecutors indicted her on bribery charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought indictments against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, her son Glenn Martin II and two real estate investors.
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“We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in a long running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority as the chief adviser to the New York City mayor, the second highest position in city government, to illegally influence city decisions in exchange [for] in excess of $100,000 in cash and other benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II,” Bragg said in a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 19.
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The indictment says the investors asked Lewis-Martin for help with approvals for projects that included a rooftop bar and a hotel.
They paid $100,000 to Lewis-Martin’s son, who used the money to purchase a $113,000 Porsche last year. The New York Post obtained a photo of Martin when he purportedly bought the car.
Lewis-Martin denied any wrongdoing and says she has been “falsely accused.” However, she has also been at the center of a federal investigation into allegations of corruption in the mayor’s office.
Two previous NYPD chiefs, Edward Caban and Thomas Donlon, stepped aside after federal investigations probed their conduct.
Adams, meanwhile, faces federal corruption charges that the Justice Department brought in September. In the indictment, prosecutors allege he took bribes from Turkish government officials and businessmen.
Adams has a trial on those federal charges scheduled for April 2025. But in his comments, Bragg said the charges against Lewis-Martin do not allege any criminal conduct on the mayor’s part.
“The mayor is not a target of our investigation and we do not have evidence of criminal conduct by the mayor,” Bragg said.
LAUREN TAYLOR: Just days after resigning from her role ahead of schedule, the longtime top adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty after being indicted on bribery charges.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought indictments against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, as well as her son Glenn, and two real estate investors.
Alvin Bragg / Manhattan District Attorney:We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in a long running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority as the chief adviser of– chief adviser to the New York City mayor, the second highest position in city government to illegally influence city decisions in exchange of, in excess of $100,000 in cash and other benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II.
LAUREN TAYLOR: The indictment says the two investors sought help from Lewis-Martin in getting approvals for their projects, including a rooftop bar and a hotel.
They paid $100,000 to Lewis-Martin’s son, who put the money toward buying a $113,000 Porsche last year. The New York Post obtained this photo of Martin on the day he purportedly bought the car.
Lewis-Martin denied any wrongdoing and says she has been, quote, “falsely accused.”
But she has also been in the crosshairs of a federal investigation into allegations of corruption in the mayor’s office.
Two previous chiefs of the NYPD, Edward Caban and Thomas Donlon, each stepped aside after federal investigations probed their conduct.
Adams faces federal corruption charges that the Justice Department brought in September, alleging that he took bribes from Turkish government officials and businessmen.
Adams is currently scheduled to face trial on those federal charges in April. But in his comments today, District Attorney Bragg said the local charges against Lewis-Martin do not allege any criminal conduct on the mayor’s part.
Alvin Bragg / Manhattan District Attorney: “The mayor is not a target of our investigation and we do not have evidence of criminal conduct by the mayor.“
LAUREN TAYLOR: For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.
And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.
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Hawaii plans to remove numerous wind turbines after the implementation of new rules regarding where the state can build these renewable energy structures. The decision has sparked both celebration from locals and concern among officials over how this will impact the state’s clean energy transition.
Many living in Hawaii have long argued that wind energy infrastructure is too close to residential areas. Protests during the 2019 installation of turbines on O‘ahu resulted in over 100 arrests. Locals have voiced concerns about noise, shadow flicker, mechanical risks and potential health impacts, including headaches, sleep disruption and stress.
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In response, the Honolulu City Council recently approved new regulations requiring turbines to be located at least 1.25 miles — or 10 times their height, whichever is greater — from residential, apartment or resort property lines. Previously, the setback was only equal to the height of the turbine.
This means turbines currently in violation of the mandate will be decommissioned once their contracts expire. The first set is on track for removal in 2031, and the remainder will likely occur by 2040.
State officials are concerned the stricter rules could hinder Hawaii’s renewable energy goals. Under state law, utility companies are required to source 100% of their electricity from clean power sources by 2045. Wind energy will likely make up 20% of that total. Right now, Hawaii derives about 6% of its energy from wind turbines.
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Deputy Director Stephen Walls of the Hawaii Energy Office warned that the new setbacks might deter future wind development in the state, but expressed hopes that advancements in solar and battery storage might offset the impact.
[Jack Aylmer]
AMID A LONGSTANDING DISPUTE OVER WIND ENERGY IN HAWAII, MANY TURBINES HAVE NOW BEEN ORDERED TO BE TAKEN DOWN.
SOME LOCALS ARE CELEBRATING THE DECISION, BUT OFFICIALS FEAR IT MAY JEOPARDIZE THE STATE’S CLEAN POWER GOALS.
BACK IN 2019, THE INSTALLATION OF TURBINES ON THE ISLAND OF O’AHU WAS MET WITH MASS PROTESTS RESULTING IN OVER 100 ARRESTS-
RESIDENTS SAYING THE STRUCTURES WERE BEING PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES.
SINCE THEN, MANY HAVE CONSISTENTLY PUSHED FOR LARGER BUFFER ZONES, CITING CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE, SHADOW FLICKER, AND POTENTIAL MECHANICAL FAILURES.
THEY’VE ALSO EXPRESSED FEARS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS FROM THESE TURBINES-
INCLUDING HEADACHES, DISRUPTED SLEEP, AND STRESS.
THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL IS NOW TAKING ACTION-
APPROVING NEW RULES TO REQUIRE TURBINES BE LOCATED AT LEAST ONE-AND-A-QUARTER MILE—OR 10 TIMES THEIR HEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.—
FROM RESIDENTIAL, APARTMENT, OR RESORT PROPERTY LINES.
PREVIOUSLY, THE REQUIRED SETBACK WAS ONLY EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF THE TURBINE.
THIS NOW MEANS THAT TURBINES CURRENTLY IN VIOLATION OF THE RECENT MANDATE WILL BE REMOVED ONCE THEIR CONTRACTS EXPIRE-
WITH THE FIRST SET IS EXPECTED TO BE DECOMMISSIONED IN 2031, AND THE REMAINDER TO FOLLOW BY 2040.
MEANWHILE, SOME IN THE STATE’S GOVERNMENT ARE WORRIED THIS WILL HINDER HAWAII’S RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION.
UNDER STATE LAW, UTILITY COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO SOURCE 100% OF THEIR ELECTRICITY FROM CLEAN POWER SOURCES BY 2045.
20 PERCENT OF THAT TOTAL IS EXPECTED TO COME FROM WIND ENERGY-
WHICH RIGHT NOW MAKES UP SIX PERCENT OF HAWAII’S ENERGY NEEDS.
THE STATE’S ENERGY OFFICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR SAID THE NEW SETBACKS COULD DETER FUTURE WIND DEVELOPERS FROM COMING TO HAWAII-
BUT EXPRESSED HOPES THAT ADVANCEMENTS IN SOLAR AND BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES MIGHT OFFSET THE IMPACT.
TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT CONFLICTS SURROUNDING RENEWABLE ENERGY, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.
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House approves bill to avoid government shutdown
A Georgia appeals court has removed Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who spearheaded the election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump. The court handed down the ruling on Thursday, Dec. 19, serving as a legal victory for the president-elect.
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Willis brought charges against Trump and more than a dozen of his allies last year. The charges stem from alleged attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election results.
The appellate court panel questioned the charges Willis brought forward. The court also took issue with Willis hiring Nathan Wade as special prosecutor.
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Willis and Wade had a previous romantic relationship. The court claimed Willis’ hiring of Wade was unethical.
In the initial ruling, a county judge allowed Willis to stay on the case with the condition Wade was removed. Trump and other defendants appealed that decision, putting the case at a standstill.
Willis and Wade both said their relationship ended before a grand jury indicted Trump and the other defendants in 2023.
A 2-1 vote by the appeals court disqualified her, saying the trial court failed to remove Willis despite her misconduct in bringing Wade onto the case.
“This is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings,” the court said in a statement.
Judge Benjamin Land issued a dissenting opinion against the two other judges. In reaction to the decision, he wrote the appeals court has no authority to reverse the original decision to keep Willis on the case.
“For at least the last 43 years, our appellate courts have held that an appearance of impropriety, without an actual conflict of interest or actual impropriety, provides no basis for the reversal of a trial court’s denial of a motion to disqualify.”
Statement by Appellate Judge Benjamin Land
Trump’s lawyer, Steve Sadow, said the ruling puts an end to a politically motivated persecution against the incoming president.
“The court highlighted that Willis’ misconduct created an ‘odor of mendacity’ and an appearance of impropriety that could only be cured by the disqualification of her and her entire office.”
Statement by Trump’s attorney Steve Sadow
As Trump’s inauguration ceremony draws closer, the likelihood of a criminal case against him seems unlikely. This follows the Supreme Court’s decision this summer granting former presidents immunity from prosecution.
Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith already dropped two federal cases against Trump. A judge put an indefinite hold on sentencing for Trump’s hush money case in New York as the president-elect prepares to take office.
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Willis and her office filed a notice with the Georgia Supreme Court to review the decision made by the appeals court.
The ruling means another prosecutor will have to take over the election interference case.
Tags: 2020 elections, 2024 Elections, Donald Trump, Election, Election security, Fani Willis, Georgia
[Jack Aylmer]
THE PROSECUTOR WHO SPEARHEADED THE ELECTION INTERFENCE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN REMOVED – RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CASE.
FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FANI WILLIS BROUGHT CHARGES AGAINST TRUMP AND MORE THAN A DOZEN OF HIS ALLIES LAST YEAR FOR ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS WITHIN THE STATE.
THURSDAY’S RULING BY A GEORGIA APPEALS COURT SERVES AS A LEGAL VICTORY FOR THE PRESIDENT ELECT.
THE APPEALS PANEL QUESTIONED THE CHARGES WILLIS BROUGHT FORWARD AND **WHO SHE HIRED TO LEAD THE CASE AFTER A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WAS REVEALED.
IN THE INITIAL RULING, A COUNTY JUDGE ALLOWED WILLIS TO STAY ON THE CASE WITH THE CONDITION THAT SPECIAL PROSECUTOR NATHAN WADE BEREMOVED, BUT TRUMP APPEALED THAT DECISION PUTTING IT AT A STANDSTILL.
BOTH WILLIS AND WADE SAID THEIR RELATIONSHIP ENDED BEFORE TRUMP AND THE OTHER DEFENDANTS WERE INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY IN 2023.
A TWO TO ONE VOTE BY THE APPEALS COURT DISQUALIFIED HER, SAYING THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO REMOVE THE D-A DESPITE HER MISCONDUCT IN BRINGING WADE ONTO THE CASE SAYING IN A STATEMENT:
“this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.”
JUDGE BENJAMIN LAND, WHO ISSUED THE DISSENTING OPINION, REACTING TO THE DECISION WRITING THE APPEALS COURT HAS NO AUTHORITY TO REVERSE THE ORIGINAL DECISION TO KEEP WILLIS ON THE CASE.
“For at least the last 43 years, our appellate courts have held that an appearance of impropriety, without an actual conflict of interest or actual impropriety, provides no basis for the reversal of a trial court’s denial of a motion to disqualify.”
TRUMP’S LAWYER SAID THE RULING PUTS AN END TO A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PERSECUTION AGAINST THE INCOMING PRESIDENT.
AS TRUMP’S, INAUGURATION CEREMONY DRAWS CLOSER, THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST HIM SEEMS UNLIKELY. ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT DECISION THIS SUMMER GRANTING FORMER PRESIDENT’S IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY DROPPED TWO FEDERAL CASES AGAINST TRUMP WHILE HIS NEW YORK HUSH MONEY TRIAL IS INDEFINITELY PAUSED.
WILLIS AND HER OFFICE FILED A NOTICE TO THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW THE DECISION.
THE APPEALS COURT RULING MEANS ANOTHER PROSECUTOR WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE AS IT HAS YET TO BE DISMISSED.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER
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House approves bill to avoid government shutdown
President-elect Donald Trump said he supports abolishing the debt ceiling, which the federal government is on track to reach in January. During an interview with NBC News, Trump said getting rid of the federal government’s borrowing limit would be the smartest thing Congress could do.
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“The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge,” Trump told NBC.
NBC reported that Trump suggested the debt ceiling, or the maximum amount of money the government can borrow to pay its bills, is meaningless.
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“It doesn’t mean anything, except psychologically,” Trump said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not reveal what he thinks of Trump’s proposal.
“The debt limit issue and discussion is premature at best,” Jeffries told reporters.
The debt ceiling was last raised in June 2023 when then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated spending cuts with President Joe Biden, in exchange for raising it until January 2025.
“I just think it’s common sense, it’s reasonable and it’s rational that we spend less next year than we spend this year. Every household would do this,” McCarthy said at the time.
Fiscal hawks oppose raising the debt ceiling because they don’t believe the government should continue outspending its revenue. The reality is every time Congress needs to give the Treasury Department approval to borrow more money, it does.
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“I’m with President Trump. I do think that the debt limit is this fake sort of a deadline that we’ve never allowed to lapse. One hundred seven years, we’ve never defaulted on the debt. The only thing we have done is continue to increase the debt,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said.
“There’s some Republicans who never voted to raise the debt limit and never will. So that’s just a reality,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. “So you have to get Democrats where you lose Republicans.”
Even if the government hits the borrowing limit in January, the Treasury can use fancy accounting to keep paying the bills for many months before it defaults.
Tags: Debt, Debt ceiling, Donald Trump, Hakeem Jeffries, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis, U.S. Congress
President-elect Donald Trump says he supports abolishing the debt ceiling, which the federal government is on track to reach in January.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump said getting rid of the federal government’s borrowing limit would be the smartest thing Congress could do.
“The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge,” Trump told NBC in an interview.
NBC reported that Trump suggested the debt ceiling, or the maximum amount of money the government can borrow to pay its bills, is meaningless.
“It doesn’t mean anything, except psychologically.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not reveal what he thinks of Trump’s proposal.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY: “The debt limit issue and discussion is premature at best.”
The debt ceiling was last raised in June 2023 when then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated spending cuts with President Biden, in exchange for raising it until January 2025.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy: “So I just think it’s common sense, it’s reasonable and it’s rational that we spend less next year than we spend this year. Every household would do this.”
Fiscal hawks oppose raising the debt ceiling because they don’t believe the government should continue spending more than its revenue. The reality is every time Congress needs to give the Treasury department approval to borrow more money, it does.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC: “I’m with President Trump. I do think that the debt limit is this fake sort of a deadline that we’ve never allowed to lapse. 107 years we’ve never defaulted on the debt. The only thing we have done is continue to increase the debt.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC: “There’s some Republicans who never voted to raise the debt limit and never will. So that’s just a reality. So you have to get Democrats where you lose Republicans.”
Even if the government hits the borrowing limit in January, the Treasury can use some fancy accounting to keep paying the bills for many months beyond that before it defaults.
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House approves bill to avoid government shutdown
The initial government spending package aimed at preventing a government shutdown failed late Wednesday, Dec. 18. The 1,500-page bill was scrapped as lawmakers began to reassess their options.
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The collapse of the spending bill prompted a mix of explanations from news outlets.
Left-leaning media outlets
Left-leaning outlets largely pointed to Elon Musk as the driving force behind its failure.
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MSNBC: “‘Unelected President Musk’: Elon posts 70 times trashing GOP bill, Trump caves.”
Daily Beast: “Democrats Troll ‘Vice President’ Trump as Musk Calls the Shots.”
NBC News: “Elon Musk leads charge to kill spending bill meant to avert government shutdown.”
Right-leaning media outlets
Meanwhile, right-leaning outlets suggested both Musk and President-elect Donald Trump played significant roles in a broader revolt within the Republican Party.
The New York Post: “Bloated federal funding bill is scrapped after Trump-boosted revolt, Rep. Scalise confirms.”
Fox News: “House GOP leaders scramble for Plan B after Trump, Musk lead conservative fury against spending bill.”
Washington Examiner: “Scalise confirms spending deal is ‘dead’ after mass GOP revolt.”
Musk made his opposition clear, posting more than 100 times on X by the end of Wednesday. The bill had been under pressure as lawmakers raced against a 72-hour deadline to bring it to a vote.
That effort came to an abrupt halt after Vice President-elect JD Vance met behind closed doors with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for roughly an hour.
Musk wasn’t the only one publicly opposing the spending package. Trump and Vance released a joint statement urging Republicans to reject the bill.
Trump also posted his opposition on Truth Social. Both Musk and Trump both posted online that any Republican who voted for the package should be voted out of office when their term is up.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who will partner with Musk in leading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also opposed the bill. Ramaswamy said he read the entire 1,500 pages overnight on Tuesday, Dec. 17, before criticizing it on Wednesday morning.
Prominent House Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., joined the growing list of GOP lawmakers who opposed the bill.
They argued it was too bloated during a time when Republicans had vowed to prioritize reducing government waste, particularly under Trump’s second term.
Musk’s involvement in DOGE has given him a powerful voice in the political sphere, a voice the Republican Party, including Trump, have embraced.
As the shadow Pres-Elect, Elon Musk is now calling the shots for House Rs on government funding while Trump hides in Mar-a-Lago behind his handlers.
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) December 18, 2024
It increasingly seems like we’re in for 4 years of an unelected oligarch running the country by pulling on his puppet’s strings. https://t.co/bVaMuxUPW0
However, some Democrats have criticized Musk’s influence. New York Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman posted on X, calling Musk the “shadow president-elect” for the Republican Party. Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders accused Republicans of being more beholden to Musk than to the American people.
Johnson defended the bill when he introduced it. He told Fox News, that reducing government waste would have to wait until the new Congress in January 2025.
He called the situation an “impossible position” and argued that passing the bill was necessary to prevent a shutdown. However, by late Wednesday, Johnson was back at the drawing board.
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Johnson’s initial support for the bill sparked questions within his own party about whether he was the right leader for the House.
Trump weighed in on this as well, stating that as long as Johnson “acts decisively and tough” and “eliminates traps set by Democrats,” he would “easily remain Speaker.”
Tags: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, House Democrats, House of Representatives, House Republicans, Speaker of the House, Spending
[Karah Rucker]
THE INITIAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING PACKAGE TO PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DIED WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
15 HUNDRED PAGES – SCRAPPED –
AS LAWMAKERS START ANEW.
SO WHY THE COLLAPSE OF A SPENDING BILL THAT REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON WAS ARGUING HAD TO PASS?
THE ANSWER DIFFERED AMONG NEWS OUTLETS.
LEFT-LEANING NEWS OUTLETS LARGELY SAY ELON MUSK LED THE CHARGE TO KILL THE BILL.
WITH RIGHT-LEANING NEWS OUTLETS SUGGESTING IT WAS TRUMP AND MUSK AS PART OF A LARGER REVOLT BY A UNIFIED REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HERE’S HOW SOME LEFT-LEANING NEWS OUTLETS SET UP THE STORY.
MSNBC’S HEADLINE – “UNELECTED PRESIDENT MUSK”. ELON POSTS 70 TIMES TRASHING GOP BILL, TRUMP CAVES.”
THE DAILY BEAST – DEMOCRATS TROLL “VICE PRESIDENT TRUMP” AS MUSK CALLS THE SHOTS.
NBC – “Elon Musk leads charge to kill spending bill”
IN CONTRAST – HERE’S HOW SOME RIGHT-LEANING NEWS OUTLETS HEADLINED THEIR COVERAGE OF THE BILL BEING NIXED.
THE NEW YORK POST – “Bloated federal funding bill is scrapped after Trump-boosted revolt”
FOX NEWS – House GOP leaders scramble for Plan B after Trump, Musk lead conservative fury against spending bill
AND THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER – Scalise confirms spending deal is ‘dead’ after mass GOP revolt.
MUSK DID MAKE HIS OPPOSITION WELL KNOWN – AND PUBLIC –
BY END OF DAY WEDNESDAY – HE HAD POSTED ON X MORE THAN 100 TIMES.
IN THE POLITICAL REALM –
THERE WAS A LOT OF NOISE WEDNESDAY AS LAWMAKERS WERE UNDER A 72 HOUR TIMER BEFORE THE BILL WAS EXPECTED TO BE BROUGHT TO A VOTE –
THAT WAS BEFORE THE BILL WAS KILLED LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT –
AFTER VICE PRESIDENT ELECT JD VANCE MET WITH SPEAKER JOHNSON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
MUSK WASN’T THE ONLY ONE PUBLICLY CALLING FOR AN END TO THE SPENDING PACKAGE.
PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AND JD VANCE RELEASED A JOINT STATEMENT CALLING ON REPUBLICANS NOT TO APPROVE THE SPENDING.
TRUMP ALSO TOOK TO TRUTH SOCIAL IN OPPOSITION.
BOTH MUSK AND TRUMP SAYING IN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT ANY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEMBER WHO VOTED FOR THE PACKAGE – SHOULD BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY, WHO IS PARTNERING WITH MUSK TO LEAD TRUMP’S NEW
“DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY” – OR DOGE – SAYS HE READ THE 15 HUNDRED PAGES OVERNIGHT ON TUESDAY – AND ALSO CAME OUT AGAINST THE MEASURE EARLY WEDNESDAY.
PROMINENT HOUSE REPUBLICANS – LIKE MARJORY TAYLOR GREENE, ERIC BURLISON, CHIP ROY, MIKE LAWLER – ALSO WERE AMONG THOSE WHO EXPRESSED EARLY DISDAIN OVER THE SPENDING BILL.
THESE G-O-P LAWMAKERS ARGUED THE BILL WAS TOO BLOATED AT A TIME WHEN THE PARTY IS VOWING TO PRIORITIZE “CUTTING GOVERNMENT WASTE” UNDER TRUMP’S SECOND TERM – INCLUDING HELP FROM DOGE.
MUSK’S ROLE IN HEADING DOGE – HAS INSERTED HIS VOICE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA – WHICH TRUMP AND THE GOP PARTY HAVE LARGELY EMBRACED.
BUT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE SUGGESTING THE BILLIONAIRE’S VOICE – IS OVERPOWERING.
DAN GOLDMAN OF NEW YORK –
POSTING THIS MESSAGE ON X –
the shadow PresIDENT-Elect, Elon Musk is now calling the shots for House REPUBLICANs on government funding while Trump hides in Mar-a-Lago behind his handlers.
It increasingly seems like we’re in for 4 years of an unelected oligarch running the country by pulling on his puppet’s strings.
https://x.com/BernieSanders/status/1869542400059899957
AND BERNIE SANDERS OF VERMONT SAYING ON X –
The US Congress this week came to an agreement to fund our government.
Elon Musk, who became $200 BILLION richer since Trump was elected, objected.
Are Republicans beholden to the American people? Or President Musk?
This is oligarchy at work.
SPEAKER JOHNSON DEFENDED THE BILL WHEN HE INTRODUCED IT, TELLING FOX NEWS CUTTING GOVERNMENT WASTE WILL HAVE TO START WITH THE NEW CONGRESS IN JANUARY –
CALLING IT AN “IMPOSSIBLE POSITION.”
JOHNSON ARGUED THE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO PUSH THE BILL THROUGH TO ENSURE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT REMAIN FUNDED AND DON’T SHUT DOWN FRIDAY IF NO DEAL IS REACHED.
BUT THAT WAS EARLY WEDNESDAY.
NOW –
JOHNSON IS GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
AND HIS SUPPORT FOR THE ORIGINAL BILL –
HAS SOME WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY QUESTIONING WHETHER HE’S THE RIGHT GUY TO LEAD THE CHAMBER AS SPEAKER.
TRUMP – ALSO WEIGHING IN ON THOSE WHISPERS.
SAYING AS LONG AS JOHNSON “ACTS DECISIVELY AND TOUGH” AND “ELIMINATES TRAPS SET BY DEMOCRATS” –
THEN JOHNSON WILL “EASILY REMAIN SPEAKER.”
AS FRIDAY REMAINS TO BE THE DEADLINE FOR CONGRESS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING TO AVERT A SHUTDOWN –
STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL DEVELOPMENTS BY DOWNLOADING THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MOBILE APP OR VISIT US ONLINE AT SAN DOT COM.
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Nick Jonas is facing online criticism after a social media exchange with Elon Musk went viral. The unexpected interaction has left the internet buzzing with opinions.
It all began when Musk replied to a post by Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, celebrating Tesla’s stock up 100% since President-elect Donald Trump’s election win. Musk responded with a GIF of the Jonas Brothers moving a table, captioned, “My how the tables have turned.”
Jonas tweeted back with a playful reply. He posted a photo of Musk pointing, accompanied by the text, “Take us to the year 3000,” referencing the Jonas Brothers’ iconic hit song.
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Social media backlash
The exchange quickly went viral, garnering nearly 30 million views. While some fans praised the humor, others criticized Jonas for engaging with Musk, a controversial figure in recent months.
One user commented, “Tweeting at Elon was definitely a choice…” Another welcomed Jonas “aboard.”
Celebrities and Musk connections
Jonas isn’t the first celebrity to spark backlash for appearing to support Musk. Last month, Kim Kardashian posted a video featuring Tesla’s humanoid robot. The next day, she followed it with a series of Instagram photos posing with her Tesla, which also drew mixed reactions online.
Jonas’s tweet remains online, but its timing has raised eyebrows. In June 2024, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Jonas would return to Broadway in spring 2025 for a revival of “The Last Five Years.”
With the entertainment industry still recovering from the Hollywood strikes, some commenters have speculated whether Jonas’s viral moment could affect his box office appeal. The heightened scrutiny of public figures’ political views only adds to the ongoing debate.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
It’s the social media exchange that no one saw coming… but certainly has the internet talking – Nick Jonas and Elon Musk.
It all started when Musk replied to a post by ‘Tesla Owners Silicon Valley’ saying Tesla is up 100 percent since President-elect Donald Trump won the election.
Musk responded with a GIF of the Jonas Brothers moving a table, captioned “My how the tables have turned.”
Then, Jonas fired back with a photo of Musk pointing and the message, “Take us to the year 3000” … a nod to the Jonas Brothers’ hit song.
The interaction went viral – with nearly 30 million views – as comments flooded in speculating the musician’s apparent support of Musk. While some users celebrated the humor, others were critical of Jonas for engaging with Musk.
One user wrote, “Tweeting at Elon was definitely a choice…”
And another welcomed Nick Jonas aboard.
Nick Jonas isn’t the first celebrity to face backlash for seemingly showing their support for Musk. More recently, Kim Kardashian posted a video last month promoting Tesla’s humanoid robot.
Followed by photos posing with her Tesla that ignited similar debates.
As for Jonas, his post remains up, but the timing has raised eyebrows for a few. In June, we heard he was returning to Broadway for a revival of “The Last Five Years.” With the industry still reeling from Hollywood strikes and heightened scrutiny of public figures’ political views, some commented wondering if this viral moment could impact his box office appeal.
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