Lobbyists Rise, Trust Falls

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A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown. President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation’s debt limit—something that his own party routinely resists—be included in legislation to avert a government shutdown.

WASHINGTON — A day before a potential government shutdown, the House resoundingly rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s new plan Thursday to fund operations and suspend the debt ceiling, as Democrats and dozens of Republicans refused to accommodate his sudden demands. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] In a hastily convened evening vote punctuated by angry outbursts over the self-made crisis, the lawmakers failed to reach the two-thirds threshold needed for passage—but House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared determined to reassess, before Friday’s midnight deadline. “We’re going to regroup and we will come up with another solution, so stay tuned,” Johnson said after the vote.

The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who was originally hailed as a savior by MAGA when he replaced ousted Kevin McCarthy, is being raked over the coals by the same people for trying to pass a CR before the government shuts down. Bannon originally loved the Bible-thumping Christian nationalist, but now he is calling Johnson a Democrat holding that Bible. BANNON: Hell.

Sen Ron Johnson, anti-vaxxer and snake oil salesman, went on Newsmax and couldn't control his gushing over the damage that he and RFK, Jr. want to do to this country: We need to find out what is causing this explosion in chronic illness in autism. That's something the American people certainly agree with and while they're doing that, they're also demonstrating to America how you heal and unify a very divided nation.

At least a dozen senators are pushing to see the FBI’s background check on Pete Hegseth, a sign that the former Fox News host still faces hurdles in the Senate. Via Politico: “It would be helpful, given the allegations that have been lodged against Mr. Hegseth, to be able to see the FBI background check,” Sen.