Following the shutdown of the federal government at the end of December, politicians have been scrambling to keep up with the increased strain of running a government that has been brought to a halt. With the Senate and House at odds over negotiations, and the president refusing to re-open the government without a deal for his border wall, many on both sides of the aisle are struggling to find a swift and effective bi-partisan resolution to the issue.
Stick with Temple Update for the latest news on the shutdown and its growing impact on local and national affairs
Day 33, 1/24/2019: Proposed Border Wall Funding Struck Down in Senate
Following weeks of polarizing views on both sides of the aisle and Congress, many are now optimistic that the Senate may be looking to negotiate a deal with House Democrats after the Senate majority’s recent strike down of proposal by the White House to fund a wall along the U.S. border.
Despite having been told previously by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell not to vote on any bill that would likely be vetoed by the president, the Senate moved ahead on voting on the White House‘s latest proposal which would have provided 5.7 billion dollars in federal funding for the proposed “border wall” that the Trump administration seeks to construct.
Today’s vote marks the first time that the Senate has moved ahead on legislation since the shutdown and Senator McConnell’s statement of solidarity with the Trump White House.
In response, House Democrats have reportedly been working on a proposed bi-partisan agreement that would see 5 billion in border funding as a whole, but no dedicated funding for a border wall or resource allocation specifically for those purposes.
Trump had previously stated on the campaign trail for the 2016 election that Mexico would pay for the wall, a statement that was wholeheartedly rejected by the Mexican government and later retracted by the Trump administration.
Democrats have still maintained, however, that before negotiations on a border wall are to commence the government must re-open, a provision that the Trump administration has denied so far.
Tensions also rose today amongst Democrats in the Senate, with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado attacking Senate Republicans, stating that “How ludicrous it is that this government is shut down over a promise the president of the United States couldn’t keep. And that America isn’t interested in having him keep.”
The president has also not ruled out calling a national emergency over the shutdown and immigration at the border.
Stay with Temple Update for further Daily updates on the shutdown as they become available.
Day 34 1/25/2019: Pressure on Trump Mounts Following Arrest of Close Advisor
The Trump White House is once again facing media, political, and legal pressure following the arrest of Trump’s close confidant and former campaign advisor Roger Stone.
Stone was awoken at his Ft. Lauderdale home when FBI agents arrived to serve a warrant and arrest Stone.
Indicted as a part of the Mueller investigation into collusion with the Russian government during the 2016 election, Stone is accused of having lied to Congress about his role in the 2016 leak of documents pertaining to the DNC and Hillary Clinton.
Stone’s arrest marks the 6th arrest of a Trump aide in the investigation by the special counsel into the Trump administration’s illegal influencing of the 2016 election and Russian meddling.
Speaking to the press, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders stated that the arrest of Stone and ongoing investigation does not directly concern the president.
Trump on Twitter reiterated his belief that the special counsel investigation is a “witch hunt” perpetrated by Democrats to smear him and undermine his administration’s goals.
Roger Stone is a well known Conservative political advisor both in and out of Washington. Known for his often dirty tactics, Stone portrays himself as a Washington rulebreaker and dealmaker.
Stone previously served as a lobbyist for many casino industries, including working with Trump directly in the late 90s and early 2000s. Stone would later go on to serve as a campaign advisor during the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.
Stone has also been linked with various alt-right pundits, appearing frequently as a guest on the radio show Infowars hosted by Conservative conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, as well as being alleged by many to have ties with the alt-right hate group “The Proud Boys”.
Stone’s arrest also comes following claims by former campaign advisor Michael Cohen that he is afraid to testify before Congress due to threats from the president and his lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Stone is expected to testify in court Friday.
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