The Hill Articles: December 18, 2024

Bernie Sanders blasts ‘President Elon Musk’ for derailing spending deal Vance meets with Johnson after Trump torpedoes spending bill South Dakota rep says Johnson will ultimately get good spending deal with Trump’s help Giuliani ordered to appear in court over asset relinquishment Lawmakers caught off guard by Trump debt ceiling demand Ocasio-Cortez pokes fun at Trump’s suggestion to ‘keep trying’ to lead Democrats Republicans from hurricane-ravaged states warn against stripping disaster aid from spending bill McConnell on funding turmoil: ‘Oh, this is the way it’s going to be next year’ Wisconsin assembly to set up DOGE-inspired committee called ‘GOAT’ White House blasts Trump, GOP over spending threats Live updates: Trump rejects CR as Johnson considers backup spending plan; NDAA clears Senate Ex-Post editor Martin Baron: Trump team will do ‘everything to undermine public confidence in the press’ DOJ files lawsuit against CVS alleging controlled substances violations Trump: Republicans who back spending bill without debt increase should face primary McConnell urges Supreme Court to reject TikTok’s bid to delay ban Every DOGE has its day Trump suggests Ocasio-Cortez ‘keep trying’ to lead Democratic Party Health Care — California declares emergency over bird flu Biden envoy: Ukraine’s future in NATO now in Trump’s hands  CR blows up on Johnson Top GOP appropriator ‘surprised’ by Trump debt ceiling demand: ‘Don’t know his rationale’ Jeffries suggests Democrats will oppose a ‘clean’ funding bill after Johnson’s plan falters Senate passes annual defense bill Hawley: RFK Jr. open to mifepristone restrictions British PM Starmer urges Trump to stand with Ukraine LA deputy mayor allegedly made bomb threat to City Hall Montana Supreme Court upholds youth climate activists’ victory Evening Report — GOP spending bill hangs in the balance Trump, Vance call for clean CR, debt ceiling hike, urge GOP to sink Johnson compromise California declares state of emergency over bird flu Hope on the horizon for cross-border sewage crisis  Dow loses 1100 points after Fed projects fewer rate cuts Johnson considers plan B amid Trump World opposition to spending deal Supreme Court to hear South Carolina’s attempt to defund Planned Parenthood Officials declare victory over ‘murder hornets’ Michigan man pleads guilty to plotting mass shooting against gay community More than half of Americans optimistic about coming year: Marist survey Paris Hilton on future political bid: ‘I can maybe see that happening’ Senate Democrats launch probe into Trump IRS nominee Massie says he won’t back Johnson for Speaker 51 percent oppose Trump tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China: Poll Social Security bill clears first hurdle in Senate  Montana Supreme Court upholds youth climate activists’ victory Biden slips to lowest approval rating since taking office: Survey Romney: ‘Confusion reigns’ on CR as Trump’s direction ‘absent’ Andy Kim reveals surprise after opening Senate floor desk drawer 6 in 10 want social media ban for children in US: Survey Paris Hilton-backed youth welfare bill passes House, heads to Biden’s desk Elon Musk: Anyone who votes for spending deal should lose reelection Rand Paul: Spending bill shows Johnson a ‘weak, weak man’ Kenyan prisoner released from Guantánamo after 18 years without charges Trump allies work to sink government spending bill Hawley blasts exclusion of RECA expansion from government funding bill Fed cuts interest rates by quarter point despite firmer inflation Trump Jr. knocks CR over provision on subpoenas for House data Rand Paul blocks bill to authorize local, state authorities to track drones Massie dubs himself ‘NostraThomas’ over ‘massive’ Christmas spending bill House braces for possible early CR vote amid GOP complaints Comer: Trump should be transparent in business dealings, but not divest Watch: Powell gives remarks on expected interest rate cut, Fed’s 2025 outlook NCAA president says there are ‘less than 10’ transgender athletes in college sports  Senate Dem snaps at CNN reporter over lawmaker pay raise question Rising: December 18, 2024 House, Senate conservatives back 2-step process to enact Trump agenda Senate passes $895B Defense bill; some Dems defect over transgender fight 3 steps for the Trump administration to target Uyghur forced labor  Maine Democrat opposes CR deal over raises for Congress Democratic senator says Trump’s plan to ‘cripple our democracy’ underway 12:30 Report — House debates next steps in shutdown fight DOJ alleges ex-congressman acted as unregistered foreign agent of sanctioned Venezuelan businessman Ramaswamy opposes spending deal: ‘Like showering cocaine on an addict’ CDC confirms first case of severe bird flu Disney removes transgender storyline from animated series: Reports Anti-deepfake porn bill included in funding deal Florida filing new charge against alleged would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh How worried should the public be over the mysterious Northeast drones?  Pressley, Markey demand resources for victims of police brutality  FDA warns companies over unapproved weight loss drug sales  Ethics Committee votes to release Gaetz report in massive reversal Watchdog warns credit card companies over devaluing, canceling reward points, miles The ICC’s Israel arrest warrants have backfired  Latino Victory names new leadership team Gaetz defends ‘embarrassing’ past behavior, fires shot at Ethics report Senate to act on drone-tracking bill empowering state, local authorities Trump attorneys claim evidence of ‘grave juror misconduct’ during hush money trial Supreme Court takes up challenge to TikTok ban Watchdog hits shadowy group with ‘straw donor’ complaint CEOs expecting ‘Trump Effect’ to boost increased hiring, greater investment: Survey How Ukraine can help accelerate US defense technology More than 500,000 winter tires recalled due to poor traction in snow Young Americans richer than ever, sense ‘economic fragility’: Report Biden administration grants California waiver to ban gas car sales in 2035 Judge violated code of conduct with critical Alito op-ed: Ruling  Postal Service warns of ‘smishing,’ other holiday scams Seizing the moment: A US strategy to outmaneuver Russia in Syria  Chris Hayes: ‘Genuine madness’ for Democrats not to take ‘age issue seriously’ Trump: ‘Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble’ Watch: House convenes hearing on combating foreign interference in elections China’s corruption problem has blunted military modernization efforts, US says Democrats have learned nothing from their election loss  Chuck Todd: Settlement between Trump, ABC a ‘gut punch’ Cruz, Klobuchar share a laugh over voting on Trump’s nominees Speaker Johnson speaks to Musk after he suggests torpedoing spending bill Musk says House GOP shouldn’t pass stopgap funding deal Trump will turn America’s justice system into a tool of political revenge FBI: Pilots of aircraft misidentified as drones hit by lasers How to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine directly Trump warns Senate GOP not to fast-track Biden nominees Trump: Canada becoming 51st state ‘great idea’ Electoral College formally votes to confirm Trump’s win Zelensky’s ‘blink’ could be Trump’s chance to end the war Musk’s favorability similar to Trump’s: Survey Instead of justifying murder, Democrats could do this to make health care better Scientists find ‘forever chemicals’ lurking in certain smartwatch wristbands Tom Cruise awarded highest Navy honor for a civilian Blame Joe for Kamala’s loss Rep. Carlos Giménez: ‘Drones pose a threat,’ feds don’t know anything Violence begets violence: Living in Donald Trump’s America  Morning Report — Congress tries to keep the lights on GOP battle erupts over Social Security bill Republicans butt heads on daylight saving time after Trump directive Here’s why Trump’s hush money judge rebuffed the immunity claim  Judges punt retirement plans after Trump win, raising ethics questions Trump backs dockworkers as costly strike looms before inauguration