Democrats Talk Shutting Down the Government Over Border Wall and More in Politics Today
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It’s difficult to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in this country and to break through the clutter, so we’re here to make it easier. Here’s what we at Countable are reading today:
1. "It’s Democrats’ turn to hint at shutdown, over border wall funding"
Democrats pilloried Republicans for irresponsibly shutting down the government when Barack Obama was president, but as a minority party struggling to show resistance in the era of President Trump, they are now ready to let the lights of government go dark.
A group of prominent Senate Democrats on Monday raised the specter of a shutdown over the funding of President Trump’s proposed wall along the border with Mexico. They also signaled a series of protracted budget battles in Congress over a larger force of immigration officers, what they call a deportation force, and funding for Planned Parenthood. They warned that these would also be "poison pills" that could kill any potential deals to keep the gears of government running normally this year.
Read more at The New York Times.
2. "U.S. carrier joins South Korea drills, North Korea warns of ‘merciless’ strikes"
As the USS Carl Vinson plowed through seas off South Korea on Tuesday, rival North Korea warned the United States of "merciless" attacks if the carrier infringes on its sovereignty or dignity during U.S.-South Korean drills.
F-18 fighter jets took off from the flight deck of the nuclear-powered carrier in a dramatic display of U.S. firepower amid rising tension with the North, which has alarmed its neighbors with two nuclear tests and a series of missile launches since last year.
Read more at Reuters.
3. "CIA ‘given new authority to conduct drone strikes’ as Donald Trump rolls back restrictions"
The Trump administration is pushing ahead with plans to loosen restrictions on drone strikes, removing the "near certainty" requirement of no civilian deaths outside war zones, according to US media reports.
It has already given the CIA new authority to launch its own strikes against militants, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Read more at The Telegraph.
4. "Democrats paralyzed as Gorsuch skates"
Democrats can’t seem to land a punch on Neil Gorsuch — and it’s not even clear they want to.
President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee has breezed through more than 70 meetings with senators. Opponents who’ve scoured his record have found little to latch onto. And some Democrats are privately beginning to believe that Gorsuch — barring a blunder at his Senate confirmation hearings next week — will clinch the 60 votes he needs to be approved without a filibuster.
Read more at Politico.
5. "Trump set to visit Detroit area for auto-related event"
The White House said President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday will visit the Detroit area, where he will talk up his priorities of bolstering the manufacturing industry and taming the outsourcing of American jobs.
Trump is expected to visit visit the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run in Ypsilanti Township around mid-day to announce the reopening of the mid-term review of fuel economy standards, according to two sources familiar with the plans. Chief executives from major automakers are expected to attend, the sources said.
Read more at The Detroit News.
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Harris & Ewing, photographer / Public Domain)
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