US Shutdown and Trump Controversies Escalate

The US Senate failed for the fifth time to pass spending measures to reopen the government, with both Democratic and Republican proposals falling short of the required 60-vote threshold. The shutdown has resulted in thousands of federal employees being furloughed or working without pay. President Donald Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, while Democrats held out for a funding bill that addresses healthcare concerns, including ensuring health insurance subsidies for lower-income Americans. Republicans are pressing for a 'clean' funding bill without healthcare provisions. The White House warned of permanent firings of federal employees if the shutdown continues.

The article discusses various news stories related to President Donald Trump, including his call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon and Chicago, and the ongoing government shutdown. It also touches on other topics such as protests in Portland, a fire at a judge's home, and a statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall. The article is a compilation of various news clips and interviews, including ones with CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Jake Tapper.

The article discusses the current government shutdown and the role of Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in it. Vought has been instrumental in dismantling federal agencies and spending plans under the Trump administration. The shutdown has led to various controversies, including the deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon and Chicago, and the Trump administration's response to judges blocking these deployments. The article also touches on other news stories, including the Trump administration's trolling of Democrats on social media and the return of a statue depicting Trump and Jeffrey Epstein to the National Mall.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed concerns over President Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops to the city, calling it 'dangerous'. The deployment is part of the White House's efforts to target Democrat-led cities amid weeks of protests against the federal government's immigration enforcement campaign. Mayor Johnson's reaction is in line with other Democrat-led cities and officials who have opposed the deployment of National Guard troops.

The FBI, as part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the January 6 insurrection, obtained phone records of nine GOP lawmakers in 2023 using court orders. Senate Republicans claim this was a 'political weaponization' of the investigation, although it's unclear what exactly investigators were seeking. The lawmakers whose records were obtained include Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, and Ron Johnson, among others. The Justice Department had previously fought a legal battle over accessing lawmakers' communications due to the Constitution's Speech or Debate clause.

The article explains the Insurrection Act, a law that allows the deployment of US troops in certain situations, and its potential invocation by President Donald Trump to address anti-ICE protests in cities like Portland. Trump has suggested that he could use the Act to send troops to cities where governors and mayors don't want them, despite opposition from local officials and some Republicans. The law, first passed in 1792 and last amended in 1871, works in tandem with the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the use of the military inside the US. The article provides historical context, including past invocations of the Act, and examines the potential implications of its use.

The article discusses President Donald Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops to US cities like Portland and Chicago, sparking controversy and potential constitutional crisis. Trump's actions are seen as a test of his 'Make America Great Again' philosophy and his strongman persona. The deployment is opposed by city and state authorities, and has led to legal challenges. Trump's claims of cities being 'lawless' and 'like war zones' are disputed by local officials and judges. The article examines the potential use of the Insurrection Act to justify the deployment and the implications for the balance of power between the executive and other branches of government.

The article discusses the case of Nicholas Roske, a California native who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison. Roske's defense team revealed that he identifies as a woman named Sophie, which was taken into consideration by Judge Deborah Boardman during sentencing. The article criticizes the judge's leniency and the media's handling of Roske's gender identity, arguing that it is being used as a means to secure more lenient punishments. The article also draws parallels with another case involving a biological male who committed a violent act and was referred to as 'she' by media outlets.

President Trump stated he might invoke the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law granting him emergency powers to deploy troops on U.S. soil, to bypass court rulings blocking his efforts to deploy the National Guard in major American cities. The act allows the president to send military forces to quell widespread public unrest and support law enforcement, but its use has profound implications for civil liberties and federal power. Trump suggested he would use it if 'people were being killed and courts were holding us up,' conditions he believes are met in cities like Portland, which he described as 'on fire for years.' Democratic officials, like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, resisted the deployments, accusing Trump of creating a pretext for invoking the act. The last time the act was used was in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots.

US President Donald Trump initially indicated willingness to negotiate with Democrats to end the US government shutdown, stating he was open to making 'the right deal' on healthcare. However, he later backtracked, insisting that Democrats must first allow the government to reopen. The shutdown has entered its sixth day, with Democrats seeking the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies as a condition to ending the shutdown. Senate Republicans have taken a hardline stance, refusing to discuss the subsidies until the government reopens.