It was a violent weekend around the globe, with an attack that killed 16 at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, the death of two Brown University students due to a shooter on campus and the murder of two US Army soldiers and a US interpreter in Syria.
“i just want to pay my respects to everyone,” President Donald Trump said at the White House yesterday.
In an address to the nation on Sunday evening, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting on Bondi Beach “a targeted attack on Jewish Australians” and “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.”
On Syria, Trump signaled the US will do “big damage” to those behind an attack that he blamed on the Islamic State.
“It was ISIS,” Trump said. “The Syrian government fought by our side. The new president fought by our side.”
And in Rhode Island, officials said they had a suspect in custody but were not detailing any motives in the shooting..
Further Coverage:
- Bystander Who Tackled Bondi Gunman Praised by Trump, Ackman
- Anger Simmers at Bondi Over Missed Warnings on Antisemitism
- Brown University, Reeling From Shooting, Sends Students Home
More Health Care Votes Lined Up
House Republicans plan to vote this week on a slew of policy proposals to address rising health costs, but an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies is conspicuously absent, Erin Durkin and Maeve Sheehey report.
The proposals released Friday include changes in regulations for pharmacy benefit managers, expanded access to health savings accounts, and measures to increase hospital price transparency.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and several key Republicans emerged from talks Friday without a final decision on whether to allow an open (or open-ish) amendment process — which could allow Rep.
“I would be willing to do a short-term extension of the premium tax credits for those people with higher premiums if they will concede that we’ve got to do something for the $6,000 out of pocket,” Sen.
Meanwhile, House Republican appropriators are insisting they can pass full-year funding bills before they leave town for the holidays at the end of the week, but they face almost insurmountable odds, my colleague Ken Tran writes in BGOV Budget.
See the full House Agenda for this week here.
How Well Do You Know Washington — Campaign Edition
Heading into an election year with 36 contests for governor, those statewide offices are tempting members of Congress who are used to running every two years.
How many current members of the House are saying no to re-election in the pursuit of occupancy of a governor’s mansion?
A) 6
B) 9
C) 12
D) 15
Scroll down for the answer.
Fed Candidate Defends Independence
National Economic Council head Kevin Hassett said he’d consider Trump’s policy opinions if picked to lead the Federal Reserve, but that the central bank’s interest rate decisions would remain independent.
Trump on Friday said that he should be able to make recommendations on rates. On Sunday, he said he will soon have “a good head of the Fed who’s going to want to see interest rates go down.”
The president “has very strong and well-founded views about what we ought to do,” Hassett said on CBS’ Face the Nation. “But in the end, the job of the Fed is to be independent and to work with the group of people that are on the Board of Governors, the FOMC, to drive a group consensus on where interest rates should be.”
Hassett is one of two Kevins reportedly in the final rounds of consideration to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The other is former Fed governor Kevin Warsh.
Presidential Pardons
A recent string of high-profile pardons is prompting bipartisan interest on Capitol Hill for reforming the longstanding, and occasionally controversial, presidential power, Mica Soellner reports.
Republicans and Democrats say they’re open to changing the way presidential pardons work — a tall order that would require amending the Constitution.
Despite the high hurdles, lawmakers are beginning to talk like any fight for reform would be worth the effort.
“If you care about good governance and want to root out corruption, you have to put reforming pardon power on your list of priorities,” said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio).
What Else We’re Reading
A Shadowy Global Network Helped Trump Make Millions in Memecoins
No one wants to claim credit for helping the first couple launch cryptocurrencies that plummeted more than 90% from their peak.
Banks Slam OCC’s Initial Blessing for Crypto Trust US Charters
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s decision to grant limited banking charters to cryptocurrency companies is likely to face legal challenges from banks and even state regulators.
Trump the Builder Shows Democrats How to Run Over Permit Norms
President Donald Trump has fulfilled his promises to get mines and infrastructure built faster by speeding up permit processes. Democrats could use the same tactics to muscle through EV charging stations and offshore wind farms the next time they win the White House.
Punching In: Democrats Want to Supercharge Employer Penalties
House Democrats push for higher penalties on employers that violate labor laws and states eye stricter enforcement of standards to protect workers from inhaling dangerous silica dust.
Senator Tim Scott’s Former Chief of Staff Joins Holland & Hart
The chief of staff for Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has a senior role on Holland & Hart’s lobbying team, the latest in a string of GOP-friendly hires at law firms since President Donald Trump took office for a second term.
Ukraine and US to Resume Peace-Plan Talks, Focus on Security
Ukraine and the US are due to hold a second day of talks in Berlin on a plan aimed at ending Russia’s war, with allied security guarantees for Kyiv a central focus of the negotiations.
Tata, Infosys to Bear Brunt of Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Worker Fee
President Donald Trump’s $100,000 price tag for new H-1B workers hired from outside the US will have punishing effects for the IT outsourcing and staffing industries that have long been a target of both parties.
Did You Ace the Quiz?
Give yourself a star if you chose Option C — 12 House members have announced candidacies for governor. As Greg Giroux reported, that’s in addition to the 13 House members trying for the Senate.
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