Trump throws another (final?) wrench in the machine
Asks for $2000, Pelosi agrees, what will Mitch do?
ONE LAST EXPLOSION
Trump’s last minute pocket veto threat on COVID relief leaves DC in tailspin
POLITICO
Just as everyone was settling into the Christmas holiday cursing congress for waiting until the 11th hour to do the bare minimum… Big Chungus from OUTTA NOWHERE!
His video missive slamming the Democrats for dragging their feet over the summer, the spending bill for having too much foreign aid and everyone in congress for not giving more than $600 per citizen was well… something. Usually the wishes of the president are conveyed through private channels but Trump decided to get a head start on his life outside of authority and just throw bricks in public.
But he still has one bullet to fire. He needs to sign the bill and he could punt this to the next congress if he refuses to.
In response, Nancy Pelosi immediately got over her anger about Trump “wanting to the have his name on the checks” and back the new ask of $2000 per citizen and $4000 per couple.
Yesterday she called for Trump to urge Senate and House GOP to make the $2000 in direct payments a reality. Unfortunately for her, I don’t know if that is a two way street anymore.
Will Cocaine Mitch bend?
Yang files NYC mayoral run paperwork
NBC
Trump vetoes defense spending bill, congress expected to override
AXIOS
It’s too late but Trump is finding out that an awesome way to boost your popularity is to annoy congress.
Why Nancy deserves an F for her COVID negotiation
In the last episode of Px3 before Christmas remember the abosoulte disaster that was Nancy Pelosi’s paper tiger posturing in 2020 over COVID relief. She bluffed on a $4 trillion dollar bill that was never going to see the light of day and rebuffed Trump’s desire to separate stimulus.
Then she caved on her initial number and after this was published, enthusiastically backed a Trump inspired separate stimulus push.
US considers closing Iraq embassy after Iranian rocket attacks
AXIOS
What’s one last international incident on the way out the door?
US buys 100 million more vaccine doses from Pfizer
POLITICO
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As much as I loathe and detest Pelosi and Feinstein... I genuinely fear how far left the pendulum would swing under the leadership of these “New democrats”.
Let’s not roll those dice, eh? - SCALE
Both of them are on the way out either way. The question is who fills the void. As the progressives seem to be at war with each other right now I don’t think it’s a lock that one of them would take the reins. Either way, nothing is likely to happen until 2022.
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I watched Zappa by Alex Winter recently and it reminded me that this song exists. Released in 1981, it's called The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing, and contains this verse:
'Cause what they do
In Washington
They just takes care
of number one
And number one ain't you
You ain't even number two
- SEAN W
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You didn't mention *why* the Israeli government collapsed and they're now holding new elections. If their congress doesn't pass an annual budget, they are automatically dissolved and new elections are held.
Can you imagine if our own congress was held to a similar bare minimal standard of doing their jobs in order to keep them?
CAN YOU IMAGINE? - MATT
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The GOP has to figure out if they want to be on Trump's enemy list. This guy has never really committed to anything or anyone, what are the chances he can commit to an enemy list? I'd be more careful of being in another Borat movie, that guy is committed to being all up in elected reps butts. - JUST ANOTHER PILOT
It’s easy to say from afar but if an effectively retired Trump is solely focused on watching TV and flaming people he thinks wronged him it could be a massive headache. Then again, he’s apparently taking advice from Bannon again whose career he effectively torched a few years ago so being a Trump enemy is a fluid state.