Straight From DC

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The federal government is on track to reach the debt ceiling in January. Trump said he'd work with Democrats to end it. Getty Images

Trump says he supports abolishing the debt ceiling

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Republicans should not fear a government shutdown, with the deadline to pass funding approaching. Getty Images

Gingrich: GOP shouldn’t fear gov’t shutdown, next election is 2 years away

Congress wants to close loopholes because some influence campaigns are legal. It also wants to strengthenCongress wants to close loopholes because some influence campaigns are legal. It also wants to strengthen laws that are easy to break.Congress wants to close loopholes because some influence campaigns are legal. It also wants to strengthen laws that are easy to break. laws that are easy to break. Getty Images

Foreigners legally influence US elections, Congress wants to close loopholes

Could Elon Musk be the next speaker of the House? Multiple lawmakers on Capitol Hill say he should be and the rules would allow it.  Getty Images

Congress members say Musk should be next House speaker, and it’s allowed

Congressional leadership released a 1,500 page spending bill to keep the government funded and open through March 14. Straight Arrow News

Government funding bill gives Congress a raise, sets new rules on ticket sales

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s past statements on vaccines could hurt his chances of being confirmed as the secretary of the HHS. Getty Images

Republicans skeptical of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s views on vaccines

Congress wants to create a time capsule that won’t be opened until July 4, 2276, when the United States of America turns 500. Straight Arrow News

Congress wants to bury time capsule to be opened in 2276

As government funding hangs in the balance, Congress will leave Washington by the end of the week and isn't scheduled to return until 2025. Reuters

Congress has a big to-do list before it leaves for holidays

Congress is ordering Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores by Jan. 19 to comply with a soon-to-be-enacted law. Getty Images

Apple, Google told to be prepared for TikTok ban on Jan 19

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and said it’s the most comprehensive law he’s ever written. AP Images

Meet the man who wrote the law used to prosecute Diddy and Epstein

A former judge who received millions in kickbacks for sending children to for-profit detention centers had his sentence commuted. Getty Images

Biden commutes sentence of judge who sent children to jail for kickbacks

As mysterious drones continue flying over New Jersey, frustrated members of Congress are calling on the federal government to take them down. Getty Images

Senator calls for New Jersey drones to be shot down

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill to create a civic education program to teach high schoolers in the U.S. the dangers of communism. Getty Images

House passes bill to create anti-communism education for high schoolers

Chief Tom Manger said his department still needs more resources as it deals with more than 8,000 threats per year. Getty Images

Members of Congress received more than 700 threats last month

The JUDGES Act would create 63 new district level positions to help with an increased workload, with Trump allowed to fill 22 of them.  Getty Images

Biden threatens to veto bipartisan bill that would let Trump appoint more judges

New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith requested Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin provide tools needed to take down mystery drones. U.S. Navy

Mystery drone sightings: New Jersey requests assistance from Pentagon

The Senate is scheduled to be in session five days a week in 2025, uncommon for lawmakers on Capitol Hill who typically work 3 to 4 days. Envato

Senate scheduled to work 5 days a week in 2025, a big increase in workload

Sen. Richard Blumenthal opposes President Joe Biden's consideration of preemptive pardons for President-elect Donald Trump's rivals. Straight Arrow News

Democratic senator opposes Biden’s preemptive pardons. Here’s why.

The board game game, First Monday in October, will take players through the history of the Supreme Court from 1789 to present. Talia Rosen

New board game lets players change the Supreme Court’s philosophy

A number of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are interested in working with DOGE to trim down the government.  Getty Images

3 places DOGE could make the biggest difference, fix government

A new report from Iowa Senator Joni Ernst highlights inefficiencies and money lost due to federal work-from-home policies. Getty Images

Bubble bath on duty: Ernst report details federal employees’ abuse of remote work

The Congressional hearing on the assassination attempts on Donald Trump devolved into a screaming match regarding this year’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Getty Images

USSS chief says lawmaker politicized 9/11 during Trump assassination hearing

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday on a Tennessee law that bans the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors. SAN

SCOTUS hears case on Tennessee transgender care ban for minors

Airlines are exploring ways to implement customer specific pricing using AI and algorithms, according to new testimony made during a Senate hearing. Getty Images

Airlines may use algorithms, AI for ‘customer specific’ pricing