Dear Pope Francis: Stay Out Of Politics

In a complete reversal, Elon Musk, who barraged the initial spending deal with a torrent of criticism on X, just posted on the platform that Johnson “did a good job here, given the circumstances,” the New York Times reports.

After days of uncertainty and Republican infighting, the House easily passed a spending bill to keep the government funded through March. Democrats feel they defeated both President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk with this bill. There is no extension of the debt limit, though Republicans have agreed to address that in the new Congress.

“Speaker Mike Johnson will try yet again to pass a short-term funding bill this afternoon, just hours before a government shutdown is set to begin. But this time it seems likely to work,” Punchbowl News reports. “Johnson is now pushing a short-term funding bill that keeps federal agencies open until mid-March.

“I cannot believe the Republicans are extending the debt ceiling — I am a Republican and I am embarrassed!” — Donald Trump, in January 2013. “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.” — Trump, earlier today.

Elon Musk is questioning whether the spending bill that Republicans are bringing to the House floor later today is a Republican bill or a Democrat bill.

The bacon in your BLT now costs nearly twice as much as it did 15 years ago, but inflation is only part of the reason. Broadly speaking, food and drink prices only grew by about 50 percent during that time. So, what’s up with the meat? The answer may have to do with Agri Stats, a small data venture based in Indiana.