Summary
A potential U.S. government shutdown looms after 38 House Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting a Trump-backed spending bill, which included a debt ceiling increase.
Trump derailed Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial bipartisan plan, causing GOP infighting and weakening Johnson’s leadership.
MAGA allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy rallied for a shutdown, angering GOP moderates.
The failure could furlough federal workers and disrupt holiday travel.
Frustration grows within the GOP over chaotic negotiations, foreshadowing future challenges under Trump’s second-term agenda.
A real mess. Happy Shutdown Day.
Washington Post: “One major reason 38 Republicans opposed the bill is because of the last-minute insertion to lift the debt limit. It’s a congressional requirement that is usually necessary every couple of years, but one that no Republican likes to do and many refuse to vote for.”
“Trump had been asking Johnson to lift the debt ceiling before he takes office, two House GOP sources familiar with the request said. But one of the sources said Johnson had been reluctant because he said he doesn’t have the votes.”
because of the last-minute insertion to lift the debt limit
Last minute? Wasn’t that the whole intent?
*Now that I’m reading the article:
Trump threw Johnson a surprise curveball by demanding lawmakers increase the U.S. debt ceiling—an issue that previously had nothing to do with negotiations to avoid a government shutdown.
The original intent was to fund the government. The debt ceiling is a much different thing.
I thought it was funding the government by increasing the debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling does not need to be increased to fund the government at this time. This was a Trump demand to suspend the debt limit 2 years.
A limit increase is different from lifting the limit. The wording is admittedly quite similar, but lifting means removing completely. So this whole song and dance never happens again.
Indeed; the debt limit forces Congress to show up for work and make decisions, including ones that aren’t politically expedient. If it is permanently lifted, the executive suddenly has an unlimited checking account, with limited accountability. Having that limit is what keeps congress in control of what gets done.
I don’t think having that limit realistically affects much other than government employees having to work unpaid for a while, but it is an area I feel like a compelling case could be made either way.
Wouldn’t that be removing the limit? To me “lifting the limit” means increasing it.
I’m only stating what the facts are. Often as it relates to law “lift” has an alternative meaning of to remove. Sometimes you see it with “lifting a ban” or “lifting restrictions”.
Now that I read the article:
Trump threw Johnson a surprise curveball by demanding lawmakers increase the U.S. debt ceiling—an issue that previously had nothing to do with negotiations to avoid a government shutdown.
Thanks for that. The site doesn’t load for me with my current settings, so I figured it was more of this: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-calls-abolishing-debt-ceiling-rcna184820
People know that Trump isn’t going to be there for them in the next election cycle.
And I bet they’re just waiting for the day he finally kicks the bucket. He did what they wanted him to do, namely deliver them a win. As there won’t be another one, he’s no longer useful.
Look at how MLK became a conservative icon after he died.
Ray Bradbury called out Obama for not funding more space flights; after Ray died he was suddenly a life long GOP
He also has little to no loyalty. He’d throw anyone under the bus to make a dollar.
Did you see the pictures of his first wife’s grave?
He planted her on a golf course because you can’t tax a cemetery
• Aaron Bean (Fla.) • Andy Biggs (Ariz.) • Josh Brecheen (Okla.) • Tim Burchett (Tenn.) • Eric Burlison (Mo.) • Kat Cammack (Fla.) • Michael Cloud (Texas) • Andrew Clyde (Ga.) • Eli Crane (Ariz.) • John Curtis (Utah) • Jeff Duncan (S.C.) • Russ Fulcher (Idaho) • Bob Good (Va.) • Paul Gosar (Ariz.) • Andy Harris (Md.) • Wesley Hunt (Texas) • Doug Lamborn (Colo.) • Debbie Lesko (Ariz.) • Greg Lopez (Colo.) • Morgan Luttrell (Texas) • Nancy Mace (S.C.) • Thomas Massie (Ky.) • Richard McCormick (Ga.) • Cory Mills (Fla.) • Alexander Mooney (W. Va.) • Blake Moore (Utah) • Nathaniel Moran (Texas) • Ralph Norman (S.C.) • Andy Ogles (Tenn.) • Scott Perry (Pa.) • Bill Posey (Fla.) • Matt Rosendale (Mont.) • Chip Roy (Texas) • David Schweikert (Ariz.) • Keith Self (Texas) • Victoria Spartz (Ind.) • Thomas Tiffany (Wis.) • Beth Van Duyne (Texas)
Can someone explain this to me I’m not a U.S. citizen… trump isn’t even the acting president yet so this makes no sense to me…
He has no official power, but a lot of current Republican congressmen are spineless little shits who will do anything he tells them to do. And apparently Elon wants the government shut down so bullied trump into pushing for it
Thanks for simplifying it and explaining it to me. How do you feel about Elon musk being involved in politics? It’s a little scary I think
It’s horrific and the logical conclusion of allowing billionaires to buy lawmakers. Now they’re just being completely direct about it instead of hiding behind other lobbyists.
It’s honestly just business as usual in American politics, our leaders have been corporate puppets for decades. The only scary part is that they think their victory is so absolute that they can drop the mask.
Why does Musk want to shut down the gov? Does he gain something from it?
The right wing essentially wants to destroy the government, because they think the free market solves everything.
They don’t think the free market solves everything. They think a weaker government is easier to control and that struggling government workers are easier to buy.
He may want to shut down some agencies that are currently investigating/ prosecuting him until trump actually gets in, like the national labor relations board and the epa.
I don’t necessarily like their reasoning, but I’ll take their votes.
As someone not in the US, I’m hoping someone can explain.
Trump isn’t in office yet. How can he have any say in this, other than just blowing hot air?
99.99% of GOP members are spineless cowards that will do whatever their daddy tells them to.
Translation: They are scared of backlash from his supporters and donors. Figuratively speaking, our legislators are bought, not elected.
President Musk is threatening to use daddy’s money to primary anyone who doesn’t lick Trump’s diaper ring
This is decided by the House of Representatives, which is currently controlled by the GOP. They can’t get their act together to decide to do either what they were working on for months, or do what Trump says (he wants to add a debt level increase), or do what musk says (refuse to pass it).
They could make peace (aka Johnson could shut up and choke down some orange D) but I don’t see Trump and our truculant Speaker really getting along well. Johnson is a principled corrupt shitbag, an actual Christian nationalist, while Trump just uses Xian nationalism as a prop.
People realize trump, elon, and the magat cult want the government shut down? This is exactly what they wanted. They want it shut down until trump is in. Go listen to what Victoria Spartz, one of the 38 repubs that voted no said on fox news. They want Johnson out as speaker and elon in. And every other Republican is blaming the dems for shutting the government down, not those 38. THE CULT GOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED.
