Spending Deal Reached to Avoid Shutdown, But Border Funding and Conservative Backlash Endanger Fragile Agreement
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House Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Schumer reached a spending deal, avoiding a potential government shutdown. Bipartisan negotiators also making progress on border talks related to White House request for security supplemental funding.
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Major hurdles remain that could derail the negotiations, including unhappy conservatives who view the spending deal as a "total failure", pressure on Johnson from the right flank, the tight legislative calendar, and political theatrics like the Mayorkas impeachment push.
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Fallout continues over Defense Secretary Austin's secret hospitalization, with new details emerging about which senior leaders were kept in the dark. Questions linger about the lack of transparency.
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House Republicans shifting impeachment focus to Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas instead of President Biden, believing they have the votes to advance articles through the Homeland Committee.
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Tensions rising in Middle East with Iran launching attacks through proxy groups, putting them in conflict with U.S. forces. At the same time, Iran has dramatically increased nuclear program enrichment.