WASHINGTON—As lawmakers spend Thanksgiving with their families in their home districts, they’re also taking the opportunity to highlight the accomplishments they’re most grateful to have delivered this year.
House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole’s office released a Thanksgiving “menu” of the year’s “deliverables,” highlighting accomplishments — such as ending what they called the “harmful Democrat-led shutdown.”
“The House Appropriations Committee has been resolute in completing our work, line by line. No shortcuts, no stuffing – just steady FY26 stewardship,&#8221; the menu said. &#8220;No matter the challenge, tight calendar timeline, or work ahead of us, our members delivered through discourse, targeted funding, and America First priorities.&#8221;
Leaning into the Thanksgiving theme, the committee said they have “carved out” a path to regular order, “restored accountability,” and “set the table” for the remaining fiscal year bills.
“I’m thankful that American families can look forward to a more peaceful and affordable holiday season with the government back open and running on all cylinders,” Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science said in a statement.
Rogers said families can “breathe a sigh of relief” at the Thanksgiving dinner table this year and credited the “historic tax relief” that they passed into law this year.
This month, the Ways and Means Committee <a href="https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/11/17/big-beautiful-success-story-2026-tax-refunds-projected-to-be-largest-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Americans could see an extra $1,000 increase in their tax refund next year — which may be a “record-breaking tax refund season.”
Additionally, the White House shared the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/11/good-news-you-may-have-missed-everyday-proof-the-trump-agenda-is-delivering/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news</a> that prices for Thanksgiving meals are down over last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The “menu” included other deliverables, such as all 12 of the House appropriations bills advancing through committee, with three of those bills already signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The three-bill minibus was part of the shutdown-ending deal.
Attention now turns to the remaining bills in the regular appropriations process, which were delayed by the longest shutdown in American history.
“With every FY26 bill reported out of committee, sixty percent of discretionary spending advanced across the House floor, the first conference committee in nearly a decade, and three full-year appropriations bills signed into law by President Trump — we have real, proven momentum,” Cole said in a statement.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) previously <a href="https://x.com/CurtisHouck/status/1973754821858533633?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it was their goal to complete the normal appropriations process — something Congress has not done “for many years now.”
Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) said in a statement that passing individual spending bills is “not only the responsible way to govern, but it also restores transparency, stability, and accountability to the budget process.”
He said he was thankful for the work of the committee to “ensure Congress returns to regular order.”
Additionally, the Appropriations Committee reported having “steadfast conservative stewardship amid a 406% increase in Democrat amendment attempts and 228% increase in roll call votes, protecting Republican priorities while advancing FY26 progress.”
Lawmakers highlighted additional items they were grateful for this year from their specific subcommittees.
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Judge Carter said he secured a $1.4 billion investment in “major construction projects for VA hospitals and cemeteries so our veterans receive the care they deserve and a final resting place worthy of their sacrifice.”
Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman David Valadao said he was grateful that Congress is getting back to “regular order” and was proud that their Legislative Branch bill “strengthens security across the Capitol complex, supports the hardworking sworn officers and staff who keep this institution running, and ensures the Capitol remains open.&#8221;
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann said the energy and water bill makes “historic investments in improving our energy independence, strengthening our nuclear security, improving waterways infrastructure nationwide, and securing America’s place as the preeminent global scientific leader.”
He said he believes a “new Golden Age is dawning on America,” and predicts “the best is yet to come.”
“Let us all come together and be thankful for all the blessings God has given America,” Fleischmann said.
Lawmakers also expressed gratitude for service members, veterans, homeland security personnel, firefighters, first responders, staff, constituents, and others.
Many said they’re looking forward to getting back to work after the holiday and watching as the rest of the funding bills make their way across the finish line.
But first: time for some turkey and family.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA)

Here’s What Top Republican Lawmakers Are Grateful For This Thanksgiving

Congress

House Republicans

Mike Johnson

Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene caused a stir on Saturday when she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-to-resign-from-congress?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Marjorie+Taylor+Greene+To+Resign+From+Congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> her plans to resign effective January 5. Now, with Republicans struggling to hold on to a barely-there majority, the question is: what will happen to her seat?
A special is slated to happen sometime in February or March. And with just 219 seats, Republicans can&#8217;t afford to lose it. There are <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_current_members_of_the_U.S._Congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">currently</a> three vacancies in the House: two seats left open by Democrats, one by a Republican, and Greene will with be the fourth when she resigns. The seven-seat margin means Republicans can afford no more than three defections on measures they want to pass without Democrats.
Greene, who rose to prominence as one of President Donald Trump&#8217;s most vocal allies, announced her resignation amid a very public fallout with the president over his resistance to releasing information related to the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In a video <a href="https://x.com/mtgreenee/status/1992035608387039359?s=20">announcement</a> posted on Nov. 21, Greene outlined the reasoning behind her decision and addressed her decision to support releasing the Epstein files.
“Standing up for American women who were raped at 14, trafficked and used by rich powerful men, should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the President of the United States, whom I fought for,” Greene said.
Greene also pointed to other frustrations, saying she believes Americans are being “used” by the &#8220;political industrial complex&#8221; on both sides to “elect whichever side can convince Americans to hate the other side more.”
This week, Greene confirmed she is <a href="https://x.com/mtgreenee/status/1992586669204070761?s=20">not</a> running for president, or <a href="https://x.com/mtgreenee/status/1993127035498045564?s=20">joining</a> &#8220;The View,&#8221; as many people online have speculated in recent days since her announcement.
Paulding County Republican Party Executive Committee Chairman Richard J. Hess told The Daily Wire there will be a special election to fill Greene’s unexpired term for 2025.
The timeline, however, is a little tricky.
Hess said the special election to replace the conservative firebrand will likely fall “somewhere between mid-February and March, but ultimately that decision is up to the governor.” Once Greene resigns, the governor will have 10 days to issue the call for a special election, formally known as a “a writ of election,” according to the Secretary of State’s office<a href="https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/Qualifications_and_Disqualifications_through%20current%20-%20CandHandbk2024_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> website</a>.
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A spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told The Daily Wire that once this happens, a special election must be at least 29 days from the call being issued. Hess said their hope is that the special election “doesn’t interfere with the primary or the qualification period, because we’re looking at very tight timelines.”
Hess explained that there will be a special election and “potentially” a runoff election, followed by the regular primary cycle for the seat. Greene’s seat is up for election in November 2026, meaning the winner of this special election would have to run again if they want to retain the seat.
The general primary for the 2026 election is scheduled for May 19 with a potential runoff June 16, according to the Federal Election Commission’s <a href="https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2026pdates.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>. Georgia is one of the seven states that requires a runoff election if none of the candidates receive a majority of the vote (50%+1), according to the <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/primary-runoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Conference of State Legislatures.</a>
This means the process could take longer if a runoff election is required, depending on how many candidates enter the race and the election results.
“It’s going to be a very hectic, fast-paced period, and we’re just hoping the transition moves as smoothly as possible,” Hess said.
Georgia’s 14th Congressional District is a solidly Republican district in the state’s northwest corner. In the 2024 race, Greene <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_14th_Congressional_District" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> secured around 64% of the vote, compared to 35% for her Democratic challenger, Shawn Harris.

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Resigning. Here’s What Happens Now.

Donald Trump

Georgia

House of Representatives

Jeffrey Epstein

WASHINGTON—Ambassador Richard Grenell is pushing back after Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse “attacked” President Donald Trump&#8217;s Kennedy Center leadership team with “outrageous” claims.
Grenell, the acting president of the Kennedy Center, joined Fox News&#8217;s &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures&#8221; with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the Rhode Island Democrat&#8217;s recent<a href="https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f/c/fcde86a8-1e5c-43fa-b663-12d143185012/33B264C9696E107872FBA05FB351F3327F37ED399108A5D74F00762B56EDA498.11.20.25-letter-to-amb-grenell-re-kennedy-center.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> claims</a> that the Center was “being looted to the tune of millions of dollars in foregone revenue, cancelled programming, unpaid use of its facilities, and wasteful spending on luxury restaurants and hotels —an unprecedented pattern of self-dealing, favoritism, and waste.”
“Contracts, invoices, and facility use agreements reveal that you operate the Center for the enrichment of your friends and acquaintances, to dole out political favors, and as a playground for the President of the United States and his allies,” Whitehouse wrote in a letter earlier this month.
Grenell told Bartiromo that Whitehouse, &#8220;who&#8217;s on the Kennedy Center board, should show up for some of these meetings. He hasn&#8217;t been to a single meeting. If he had gone to the meetings, he would understand that President Trump has saved the Kennedy Center.&#8221;
Whitehouse&#8217;s most explosive claims include that Trump allowed FIFA, the international soccer organization, to use the campus for &#8220;free&#8221; from November 24 through December 12, 2025. Whitehouse also claimed that Trump and his Kennedy Center team had awarded “contracts for personal friends,” and provided “lavish meals and entertainment, luxury hotel accommodations for friends and staff,” and “discounted rentals to political allies.&#8221;
Grenell <a href="https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/1991631276659667080?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed</a> Whitehouse&#8217;s attacks in writing earlier this month, saying that the Democrat&#8217;s claims &#8220;did not undergo basic fact-checking” and were “filled with partisan attacks and false accusations.”
“Your staff relied on anonymous sources, inaccurate gossip, and allegations from partisan reporters who never had access to the data or facts I’m happy to provide below,” Grenell wrote.
Grenell explained that the FIFA has given them “several million dollars, in addition to paying all of the expenses for this event in lieu of a rental fee.”
“Your focus on simple rental fees is no way to run an institution as diverse as the Kennedy Center,&#8221; Grenell explained. &#8220;A simple rental fee would not have been enough to cover the magnitude of the event.&#8221;
The ambassador elaborated on that point to Bartiromo, noting that what Democrats attempt to smear as corporate handouts is really the administration&#8217;s attempts to use corporate sponsorship to get the center back in the black — a heavy lift, considering how the Biden administration left things.
&#8220;The books were a mess when I walked in. We were paying staff with debt reserves,&#8221; Grenell told Bartiromo. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t have money in the bank. It was chaos when it came to programming. What President Trump said was &#8216;let&#8217;s clean it up.'&#8221;
“FIFA is giving the Kennedy Center multimillions of dollars — much more than what a rental’s revenue would have been — plus they are covering all expenses,&#8221; Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi told The Daily Wire, adding that it&#8217;s “no surprise that democrat Senator Whitehouse and his team purposely shared misleading information with the New York Times and Washington Post — and none of them cared if any of it was true.”
“The press and the Senator should be ashamed of the lies they print and reprint — we want a cultural center for all Americans but they push lies to sow division amongst Americans for their selfish moment in a headline,” Daravi said.
Whitehouse did not respond to a request for comment.
Grenell stressed that he takes financial responsibility “extremely seriously” and said that when he took charge, they were paying a “bloated staff” and there were 94 people in the development department, which they’ve now reduced down to 16. This saved the department $4 million in one department alone, Grenell<a href="https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/1991637181270786154?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> said</a>.
He said his predecessor was making over $1.2 million a year and the “deferred maintenance” of the building was “quite literally making the building fall apart.”
For the first time in decades, Grenell said the Kennedy Center has a balanced budget — and highlighted ways they have cut costs.
Grenell outlined items such as food and beverage costs and meetings that are now a “fraction” of their previous costs under previous leadership. He also noted that they had rolled back some of the &#8220;woke&#8221; programming in rotation under the Biden administration, in a bid to boost profits and make the Kennedy Center a place where every American could enjoy the arts.
&#8220;Of course they cry when we try to bring it to the middle,&#8221; Grenell told Bartiromo. &#8220;They&#8217;re losing their woke programming.&#8221;
The Kennedy Center has repeatedly made headlines since Trump took office. The president made reforming the Center a top priority and dismissed the Center’s board, appointing himself chairman. In March, The Daily Wire’s Tim Rice exclusively<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-kennedy-center-is-40-million-in-debt-will-make-major-cuts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> reported</a> that the Kennedy Center was $40 million in debt and preparing to “reduce expenses” to address what it called a “difficult” financial situation.
Speaking to Bartiromo, Grenell stressed that his approach was different to his predecessors&#8217;, noting that he was committed to radical transparency. Whitehouse and others &#8220;can see exactly what we&#8217;re doing,&#8221; he said.
Daravi issued a<a href="https://x.com/romadaravi/status/1991628366752149521" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> statement</a> last week noting that the Kennedy Center team raised $58 million in 35 days and since then has been raising even more money with events. The next day, Grenell  shared a<a href="https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/1991875975525855741?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> report</a> noting that the Democrat Party has raised $75 million so far this year, while the Kennedy Center has brought in more than double that amount — over $117 million.
“People are giving more to the Kennedy Center than the Democrat Party,&#8221; Grenell said. &#8220;Say it louder for the reporters in the back.&#8221;

Richard Grenell, Donald Trump

Kennedy Center President Rebuts Dem Senator’s Attacks: ‘They Can See Exactly What We’re Doing’

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump signed a bill into law Wednesday night requiring the release of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The move follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in both the House and Senate earlier this week.
And now, the countdown begins.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has 30 days to publish “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ&#8217;s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein,” according to the bill <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summary</a>.
The DOJ is also required to release any materials related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ghislaine-maxwell-reveals-whether-she-believes-epstein-committed-suicide">associate</a> and convicted sex trafficker.
This includes flight logs, travel records, and individuals named or referenced — including government officials — in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Epstein.
The published information must be released in a “searchable and downloadable” format, the bill said.
However, the release may not be comprehensive.
The bill allows the attorney general to withhold or redact certain records, including victims’ names, as well as materials that could jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution.
Earlier in November, Trump asked Bondi to investigate Epstein’s “involvement and relationship” with individuals, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, and financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase, to “determine what was going on with them, and him.&#8221;
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) previously appeared on CNN and <a href="https://x.com/SwampyUniparty/status/1991201166793797736?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they wrote the legislation that way “so that if it did pass, things would be on a fast track.”
He noted there could be delays if investigations are underway.
“It is true that if they start investigations in one sort of silo of area of these Epstein files, they could block or delay — it won&#8217;t delay it forever, but they could delay releasing those files there. But here&#8217;s the thing, there are 1,000 victims and there are so many perpetrators, they can&#8217;t open enough cases to block all of the Epstein files,” Massie said.
Additionally, the DOJ will have 15 days after publishing to report the categories of information withheld, a summary of redactions, and a list of all “government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials.”
“Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115579394833948106">said</a> Wednesday night.
The Department of Justice has already released 50,000 pages of documents, Trump said.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has been <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/chairman-comer-subpoenas-banks-for-epstein-records-seeks-information-from-usvi-attorney-general/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conducting</a> its own review of the federal government’s investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. This week, the committee issued subpoenas to JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank for Epstein’s financial records.
More is coming, but just how much and when remains to be seen.

Trump Bondi Press

Trump Signed The Bill To Release The Epstein Files. What Happens Next?

Ghislaine Maxwell

News

Trump Administration

WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation Republicans say will roll back what they <a href="https://x.com/HouseGOP/status/1991324124505870643?s=20">describe</a> as “anti-police” measures in the District of Columbia.
The CLEAN Act aims to repeal the D.C. Council’s <a href="https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/laws/24-345">Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022,</a> which imposed sweeping restrictions on law enforcement in Washington, D.C.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has led the fight for the CLEAN D.C. Act, introducing it in September. This week, his legislation, shepherded by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) passed the House.
The House bill passed by a vote of <a href="https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-1/299">233-190</a>, with 20 Democrats crossing the aisle to side with Republicans. The Senate version remains in the committee process.
According to <a href="https://clyde.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3291">Clyde</a>, the D.C. Council&#8217;s act weakens law enforcement by “banning longstanding and proven police tactics,” “stripping legal protections and due-process rights from officers,” “threatening officer safety by authorizing the public release of certain records,” and “imposing new limits on protest policing and the use of non-lethal crowd-control tools.”
In 2023, Clyde attempted to pass a resolution to block the Act, which President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/message-the-house-representatives-returning-without-approval-legislation-disapproving-the#:~:text=On%20May%2025%2C%202023%2C%20President%20Biden%20vetoed,training%20on%20de%2Descalation%20and%20use%20of%20force">vetoed</a> at the time.
The Daily Wire’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/author/llemahieu">Leif Le Mahieu</a> exclusively reported this week that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget endorsed the legislation. It was also <a href="https://clyde.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3291">endorsed</a> by the D.C. Police Union and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Clyde’s legislation would reportedly “reverse unnecessary and detrimental restrictions placed on officers of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).”
Restrictions include “removing all officers and police union representatives from the Police Complaints Board, requiring juries to consider whether an officer consulted with mental health, behavioral health, or social workers before using deadly force, and imposing approval hurdles for the use of riot gear and less-lethal projectiles.”
The letter of support from the administration said removing these restrictions would “help restore the effectiveness of the MPD and maintain law and order in Washington, D.C.”
Following its passage, Clyde said in a statement to The Daily Wire that he was “incredibly pleased” that his legislation passed with bipartisan support and he looks forward to a “similar outcome” in the Senate.
“For years, the D.C. City Council’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act has prevented our men and women in blue from effectively protecting Americans in our nation’s capital, hindered the MPD’s ability to recruit and retain officers, and exacerbated Washington’s crime crisis,” Clyde said.
He added that the CLEAN D.C. Act “strengthens and codifies President Trump’s successful efforts to restore law and order in Washington.”
On the floor Wednesday, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-KY) spoke in support of the bill and said the law “stripped law enforcement officers of many tools needed to execute their duties safely and without fear of retribution, as well as limited their options in situations of life or death.”
Comer said it also “created new opportunities for anti-police activists to harass law enforcement officers and added many undue burdens and requirements to officers in the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.”
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However, not all lawmakers were on board, with several Democrats pushing back against the measure ahead of the vote.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said he “strongly” opposes the bill and believes it would “damage the trust between D.C. police and the communities they protect and serve.”
“In D.C., these measures increased accountability for &#8216;bad apples&#8217; with independent civilian oversight, clean disciplinary process, and mandatory reporting for over use-of-force incidents. It also prohibited the hiring of officers with prior misconduct, and it prohibited choke holds. It improved training for officers,” Garcia said.
“By repealing this anti-police law, we will make our nation’s capital safer,” Comer said.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told The Daily Wire that Americans “deserve a safe and beautiful Washington, D.C., and President Trump and House Republicans are making that a reality.”
“Cashless bail and a weakened police force only empower dangerous criminals to continue to wreak havoc on visitors and residents alike. By passing these bills, we are ensuring that DC finally puts law-abiding citizens over repeat violent offenders. It’s common sense,” Emmer said.
Cruz told The Daily Wire that he urges the Senate to send it to the President “expeditiously.”
“Violent crime has become endemic in Washington, D.C. due to specific, deliberate decisions made by Democrats. The CLEAN D.C. Act would strengthen police morale, improve officer retention, and reverse the decline in public safety caused by those decisions,” Cruz said.
The Senate bill has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The bill must now pass the Senate before it can go to the President’s desk.

Screen Shot 2022-05-24 at 4.11.38 PM

House Passes CLEAN DC Act to Repeal ‘Anti-Police’ Legislation

WASHINGTON—Congress may have reopened the government, but it still has to decide what to do with the Obamacare subsidies at the center of the shutdown fight. Senator Bill Cassidy thinks they should go straight to American families — not health insurance companies.
Cassidy, who chairs the Health, Education, Labor &amp; Pensions Committee, told The Daily Wire this week that he was working with Republicans and Democrats alike on a proposal that would give Americans money to pay for care directly, which he says would empower patients and lower costs.
&#8220;There&#8217;s things you have to work through,&#8221; the Louisiana Republican said about his colleagues across the aisle. &#8220;Some think, ‘wait a second,’ that the preconception is, consumer-driven health care — it has to be funded out of the paycheck. I&#8217;m saying, ‘no, it&#8217;s going to be pre-funded with money that would otherwise go to the insurance companies.'&#8221;
Cassidy explained that the enhanced premium subsidies, which were extended during the coronavirus pandemic and are set to expire at the end of this year, would be deposited into Health Savings Accounts controlled by patients.
During the shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed a plan to extend ACA subsidies for one year. Republicans called the plan &#8220;dead on arrival.&#8221;
On November 8, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke on the Senate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF6vZPmcvlo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floor</a> and said he believes Americans “deserve quality, affordable health care.”
“And they haven’t gotten that with Obamacare. Reforms are needed that actually lower costs, that protect the taxpayers,&#8221; Barrasso said. &#8220;The American people deserve a full debate about the unaffordability of Obamacare. Senator Schumer’s offer does nothing to address the cost of health care, does nothing to lower premiums, does nothing to reassure the American people.&#8221;
Barrasso said Schumer’s proposal makes “insurance companies richer and taxpayers poorer.”
In a shutdown-ending deal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) promised Democrats a vote on a healthcare proposal by the second week of December. However, it is unclear what that may be.
On Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) held a press conference and <a href="https://democraticleader.house.gov/media/press-releases/leader-jeffries-affordable-care-act-tax-credits-expire-next-month-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slammed</a> Republicans for their refusal to extend the tax credits and said “tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically increased premiums, copays, and deductibles.”
Jeffries previously said he wouldn’t support a one-year extension and was pushing for a three-year extension for the subsidies. However, given that the Senate wouldn&#8217;t even vote on a one-year extension, there&#8217;s little to no chance this would pass.
Cassidy spoke about the proposal on the Senate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RwcNIRxjBY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floor</a> last week and proposed the idea to give credits directly to patients and empower them to manage their own health care decisions.
He said Obamacare has “tried to make health insurance affordable” by “throwing billions at it.”
“The problem with that — that doesn’t make healthcare affordable, it just makes the health insurance premium less expensive for those who are on exchanges,” Cassidy said at the time.
“Let’s fix health care, and let’s give the patient the power,” he continued.
President Donald Trump has also <a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1987176209936232807?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoken</a> in support of giving money directly to the people, most recently in a Nov. 8 Truth Social post.
“We were so totally in sync,&#8221; Cassidy told reporters of the president on Monday. &#8220;He wants to take dollars that would go to an insurance company and send them to the individual.&#8221;
Initially, Cassidy pitched his proposal through flexible spending accounts — but he said he believes Health Savings Accounts would be the better route.
“As it turns out, it&#8217;s more practical, and I can tell you why, to do it through the Health Savings Account, which he proposed, but it&#8217;s still the same thing,&#8221; Cassidy said. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s a melding of a vision, and to say it&#8217;s a melding implies they were different beforehand. This is exactly what he&#8217;s expressing, exactly what I was expressing.&#8221;
The proposal has publicly received support from Sen. Bernie <a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1987244986044158318?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moreno</a> (R-OH) and interest from Sen. Maria <a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1987670490031554716?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cantwell</a> (D-WA).
“I think this has got a lot of appeal to conservatives,&#8221; Cassidy told reporters. &#8220;I love it, but I think it&#8217;s got a lot of appeal to people who are left of center, too.&#8221;
While the bill text has not yet been released, Cassidy is confident that if the Senate were to pass the idea, the president would ask House Speaker Mike Johnson to consider it on the floor, and the president will sign it because “it&#8217;s consistent with the policy that he has put forward.”
The Senate Finance Committee is <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/the-rising-cost-of-health-care-considering-meaningful-solutions-for-all-americans">holding a hearing</a> on the enhanced Obamacare subsidies on Wednesday.

Sen Bill Cassidy

‘Give The Patient The Power’: Cassidy Says Subsidies Should Go To Families, Not Insurance Companies

bill Cassidy

Health Care

Health Insurance

Obamacare

WASHINGTON—The Senate on Tuesday unanimously voted to release documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, just hours after the House of Representatives passed the same bill.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on X that he &#8220;received unanimous consent to approve the Senate bill to release the Epstein Files.&#8221; Once the House sends the bill to the Upper Chamber, it will immediately go to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Just hours before Schumer&#8217;s call for unanimous consent, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act by a vote of 427-1, with only Louisiana Republican Rep. Clay Higgins voting no. Epstein survivors were in the House gallery crying and cheering when the bill passed, The Hill&#8217;s Emily Brooks <a href="https://x.com/emilybrooksnews/status/1990869445242237363?s=20">reports</a>. The bill, which requires the Department of Justice to publish &#8220;all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ&#8217;s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein,&#8221; now heads to the president.
Schumer pledged to fight Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) had he attempted to block the resolution. But by the time the House took up the vote, the bill&#8217;s passage already seemed a foregone conclusion. Over the weekend, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115562626931599548">urged</a> House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files and <a href="https://x.com/RoKhanna/status/1990577070204719582?s=20">pledged</a> to sign the bill if passed.
Republicans had initially opposed releasing the files as Democrats pushed to do so, claiming the files implicated Trump. Trump on Monday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-democrats-were-epsteins-friends-trump-said-he-is-all-for-release-of-epstein-files?author=Lynden+Blake&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98The+Democrats+Were+Epstein%E2%80%99s+Friends%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+Said+He+Is+All+For+Release+Of+Epstein+Files">said</a> he was tired of the Epstein saga overshadowing his administration&#8217;s accomplishments, and claimed that releasing the files would hurt Democrats more than Republicans.
Trump&#8217;s about-face turned the tide among Republicans, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/18/mike-johnson-epstein-files-discharge-petition-vote">including</a> House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who had previously urged his party to oppose the release.
Higgins said Tuesday that he voted against releasing the files because &#8220;as written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc.&#8221; Higgins pledged to vote for the bill if the Senate amended it to &#8220;properly address privacy of victims and other Americans, who are named but not criminally implicated.&#8221;
The bill requires the Justice Department to release materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ghislaine-maxwell-reveals-whether-she-believes-epstein-committed-suicide?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu+and+Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=16&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Ghislaine+Maxwell+Reveals+Whether+She+Believes+Epstein+Committed+Suicide">reported</a> associate and convicted sex trafficker, as well as &#8220;flight logs and travel records,&#8221; and &#8220;individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.&#8221;
The Justice Department is permitted to withhold certain information, such as victims&#8217; personal information and materials that would &#8220;jeopardize an active federal investigation,&#8221; the bill summary noted.
The bill summary said 15 days after the required publication, the DOJ must report &#8220;all categories of information released and withheld, a summary of any redactions made, and a list of all government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials.&#8221;
This story has been updated to reflect the Senate&#8217;s passage of the bill.

Patrick McMullan Archives

Senate Unanimously Votes To Release The Epstein Files, Sending Bill To Trump’s Desk

John Thune

Meta promoted its artificial intelligence&#8217;s new “free AI creator tools” on Instagram with a piece of content that appears to show an AI-generated video of President Donald Trump kneeling before a demon.
A screenshot of the AI-generated video, showcased in an advertisement for the tool, showed what looked like Trump shaking hands with a Satan-like figure before kneeling before it, according to a video captured on the platform that was reviewed by The Daily Wire.
The promotion read: “Meta AI: Try free AI creation tools” and featured a “Get app” button. Meta AI launched “Vibes” in September, which the company describes as “a new feed in the Meta AI app and on <a href="http://meta.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meta.ai</a> where you can create and share short-form, AI-generated videos.”
A Meta spokesman told The Daily Wire that the video in question was &#8220;user-generated content&#8221; that &#8220;has been removed from this recommendation surface as it violated our protocols for promotions.&#8221;
It is unclear how user-generated videos are selected for the promotion, nor if there are any safeguards in place to ensure content that violates &#8220;protocols for promotions&#8221; is weeded out. The Meta spokesman told The Daily Wire that the company is &#8220;taking additional steps to prevent this from happening moving forward,&#8221; but would not specify how.
<div id="attachment_1001683" style="width: 952px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-of-Instagram-.tiff"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1001683" class="wp-image-1001683 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Screenshot-of-Instagram-.tiff" alt="" width="942" height="877" /></a>Screenshot of an ad promoting Meta AI via The Daily Wire</div>
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump at the White House in<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/09/president-trump-tech-leaders-unite-american-ai-dominance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> September</a> to discuss “harnessing artificial intelligence to propel the U.S. to the forefront of global innovation.” During the meeting, Zuckerberg told reporters the company is investing at least $600 billion in the United States through 2028.
The Daily Wire uploaded a screenshot of the image to the Meta AI app to ask it who appears in the ad and what is happening in the image.
The response said the image depicts a “manipulated photo of Donald Trump kneeling and adjusting his tie while interacting with a large, black horned creature, likely a satanic or demonic figure.”
Although the image captured only a screenshot of the AI-generated video, the response added that the image is “likely a satirical or humorous representation, rather than a real event.”
<div id="attachment_1001611" style="width: 411px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1001611" class="wp-image-1001611 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/signal-2025-11-13-195705-401x576.jpeg" alt="Screenshot of The Daily Wire's conversation with Meta AI" width="401" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/signal-2025-11-13-195705-401x576.jpeg 401w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/signal-2025-11-13-195705-209x300.jpeg 209w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/signal-2025-11-13-195705-768x1102.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/signal-2025-11-13-195705-1070x1536.jpeg 1070w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/signal-2025-11-13-195705.jpeg 1179w" sizes=" (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" />Screenshot of The Daily Wire&#8217;s conversation with Meta AI</div>
“The ad is from Meta AI, promoting their free AI creation tools,” the response from Meta&#8217;s AI read.
The Daily Wire asked Meta to clarify which specific protocol the imagery may have violated; whether the material was user-generated content incorporated into the promotion; whether it was deliberately selected or randomly populated; and whether Meta has systems in place to prevent protocol-violating content from appearing in this manner. The company did not provide further details.
Meta and Trump have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. The company “indefinitely” suspended the president after the January 6 Capitol riots in 2021, but Facebook&#8217;s Oversight Board reinstated his accounts in 2023, Business Insider<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-comments-about-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-feud-history-2024-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> reported</a>.
The president accused Zuckerberg of undermining him in the 2020 election, and ahead of the 2024 election, he wrote in a new book. “We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election,” the New York Post<a href="https://nypost.com/2024/08/28/us-news/trump-warns-zuckerberg-could-spend-the-rest-of-his-life-in-prison/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> reported</a>.
Zuckerberg congratulated Trump on his win in 2024 and Meta donated $1 million to his inauguration fund. The pair have had at least two meetings since the election, including Zuckerberg&#8217;s participation at the White House dinner in September.

Untitled design (68)

Instagram Promoted New AI Creation Tool With Video Of Trump Kneeling Before Satanic Demon

Artificial Intelligence

Facebook

satanic

WASHINGTON—If you’ve ever received a text message claiming to be from the United States Postal Service about an undelivered package — or from E-ZPass demanding payment for an unpaid toll — you may have been targeted by a Chinese phishing operation.
Lighthouse, a China-based Phishing-as-a-Service operation, has targeted over a million victims through its elaborate text message scam, Google alleges in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The company says Lighthouse’s scheme “swindled innocent victims out of millions of dollars.”
“Defendants have affirmatively directed actions at the United States, including the Southern District of New York, by creating fake websites mimicking the New York City government website (nyc.gov) and New York E-ZPass website (e-zpassny.com), among many others, for use in these phishing schemes,” the complaint said.
According to the filing, the software used by the defendants allowed cybercriminals to send mass text messages to large numbers of victims simultaneously.
Google says it was also harmed by the misuse of its trademarks and services.
“In facilitating and executing these phishing campaigns, the Lighthouse Enterprise preys on the public trust in Google, a leader in the technology space, by misappropriating Google branding, including by using Google logos on fraudulent websites,” the complaint said.
Google’s logos were used on spoofed websites to trick victims into providing personal and financial information, according to the company.
The court this week granted Google a temporary restraining order against Lighthouse, which has since gone dark.
“This shutdown of Lighthouse’s operations is a win for everyone,” Google General Counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado told The Daily Wire. “We will continue to hold malicious scammers accountable and protect consumers.”
The company said it had devoted “substantial resources to investigate and combat the Lighthouse Enterprise’s criminal activity.”
An investigation by <a href="https://www.secalliance.com/blog/the-evolution-of-chinese-smishing-syndicates-and-digital-wallet-fraud" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SECAlliance</a> revealed that between July 2023 and October 2024, the platform was used to launch fake USPS phishing websites and said somewhere between 12.7 and 115 million credit cards were estimated to have been compromised across the nation.
The texts claim that the victims have an “undelivered package” and lead them to a fake website, which steals their information.
While the full scope of the enterprise remains unclear, the complaint said the Lighthouse Enterprise includes “several connected threat actor groups.”
Google’s efforts to fight cybercriminals don’t end there.
This year, the company <a href="https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/how-google-protects-against-scams-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> new features, including using artificial intelligence to flag common scam messages.
The company is also announcing the endorsement of three bipartisan pieces of legislation targeting cyber scams.
This includes the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, and the Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization (SCAM) Act.
“From the courtroom to the Capitol, we are taking action to stop these attacks. But this is a shared fight. While we take on criminal networks and advocate for stronger laws, we are also building smarter, AI-driven tools to help you spot and avoid these scams,” Prado said.
The company says it hopes to “make the digital world a much harder place for criminals to do business.”

Symbol image hacker

Those Fake E-ZPass Texts? They’re Coming From China.

China

Crime

Cyberattack

Google

Senator John Fetterman suffered a fall Thursday morning and is currently under observation in the hospital.
The Pennsylvania Democrat fell near his home in Braddock and he was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital, his spokesman <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1989026864862507493?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote on X</a>.
“Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries,” the post said.
Ventricular fibrillation is a type of irregular heart rhythm, according to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ventricular-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20364523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a>.
The spokesperson confirmed he is “doing well” and decided to stay so doctors can “fine-tune his medication regimen.”
Fetterman has a history of heart-related health issues. He was reportedly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-democrat-john-fetterman-to-end-absence-from-campaign-trail-two-months-after-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017</a> and suffered a near-fatal <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/04/john-fetterman-ignored-heart-condition-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stroke</a> in 2022.
In a lighthearted statement following the incident, Fetterman said in the statement: &#8220;If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!&#8221;
“Senator Fetterman is grateful for the EMTs, doctors, and nurses who are providing his care,” the spokesperson said.
Fetterman traveled back to Pennsylvania this week after the Senate passed the resolution to reopen the government. Fetterman was one of the few Democrats who sided with Republicans, voting with them 15 times to reopen the government.
The Daily Wire’s D.C. Bureau Chief Tim Rice interviewed Fetterman on November 3. The senator discussed his opposition to the government shutdown, the Democrat Party&#8217;s extremism problem, and why he no longer gets invited to appear on MSNBC. You can read the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-daily-wire-sits-down-with-john-fetterman-who-doesnt-hear-from-democrats-anymore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full story here</a>.

Sen. John Fetterman

John Fetterman Hospitalized After Cardiac Incident And Fall

John Fetterman

Pennsylvania

Senate

WASHINGTON—The Senate passed a bipartisan agreement Monday night to reopen the federal government, which, if it passes the House as expected, will bring an end to the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history.
As the shutdown reached day 41, lawmakers passed a final package including a continuing resolution until January 30 and three bipartisan full-year appropriations bills — also known as a &#8220;minibus.&#8221;
A big hurdle was cleared late Sunday night when the Senate voted 60-40 on the House-passed continuing resolution, officially reaching the 60-vote threshold needed to pass.
Lawmakers extended the resolutions expiration date — originally set for November 21 — so the regular appropriations process could continue after the prolonged shutdown.
On Sunday, after 14 failed votes to reopen the government, Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin (IL), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Maggie Hassan (NH), Jacky Rosen (NV), and Tim Kaine (VA) flipped their votes to side with Republicans.
The group that previously sided with Republicans voted with them again: Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Angus King (I-ME), and John Fetterman (D-PA).
For nearly 40 days, both parties held firm. Democrats said they wanted to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits — which expire at the end of the year — among other demands. Republicans said they’d discuss health care, but demanded the Democrats vote to open the government first.
While Republicans did not give Democrats an extension of the tax credits, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said on the floor Sunday night that he guaranteed Democrats a vote no later than the second week in December on their health care proposal.
The deal also reinstates reductions in force (RIFs) that occurred during the shutdown.
The “minibus” includes full-year funding for agriculture appropriations, military construction-VA appropriations, and legislative branch appropriations.
On November 7, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) proposed a one-year ACA extension in exchange for immediately ending the shutdown.
The proposal was swiftly rejected as a &#8220;non-starter&#8221; from Republicans.
Thune said on Sunday that he was &#8220;thankful to be able to say that we have senators, both Democrat and Republican, who are eager to get to work to address that crisis in a bipartisan way.&#8221;
&#8220;These senators are not interested in political games – they’re interested in finding real ways to address health care costs for American families. We also have a president who is willing to sit down and get to work on this issue,&#8221; Thune said.
Thune said he is looking forward to seeing &#8220;what solutions might be brought forward.&#8221;
Schumer, in a <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1987710257053790574?s=20">post on X</a> Sunday night, vowed to &#8220;keep fighting&#8221; and said Dems &#8220;have been fighting for months to address America&#8217;s healthcare crisis. For the millions who will lose coverage&#8230;&#8221;
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem <a href="https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/1987665600731103513?s=20">Jeffries</a> (D-NY) and <a href="https://x.com/RepMcGovern/status/1987686691411272130?s=20">several</a> <a href="https://x.com/DorisMatsui/status/1987741459316105554">House</a> Democrats took to X to oppose the Senate’s proposal.
Jeffries said he will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that “fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.&#8221;
The House is expected to vote on the resolution as early as Wednesday.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Dems Finally Crack, Vote To End 41-Day ‘Schumer Shutdown’

Democrats

Government Shutdown

Politics

Republicans

WASHINGTON—Senator John Kennedy says he’s introducing two bills that would withhold paychecks from members of Congress for the duration of the government shutdown.
On the Senate floor Wednesday, the Louisiana Republican said he has “heard a lot of rumors” about being close to an agreement but doesn’t believe they are close.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJohnKennedy</a> said he’s bringing 2 shutdown related bills to withhold Congressional paychecks.
He believes we’re going to be in a shutdown “a while longer.”
&#8211; First bill that says as long as we are shut down, members of Congress can’t be paid and they WON’T be… <a href="https://t.co/VkFXT835JM">pic.twitter.com/VkFXT835JM</a>
— Amber Jo Cooper (@AmberJoCooper) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmberJoCooper/status/1986166517143326730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Senator said he was hopeful they are, but said he thinks “we&#8217;re going to be in shut down a while longer.” The shutdown hits Day 37 on Thursday.
In the meantime, he filed two bills: the “<a href="https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/b/e/beb75d63-916c-4e57-8f1e-2195e5a1c87c/93E308F7D0DD8CA7FC401D74C99AB562F4E869F662D0E6B5746A4EE32C24E954.no-shutdown-paychecks-to-politicians-act.pdf">No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act</a>” and the “<a href="https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/6/a/6aa27778-56b0-40b8-b5ac-dd239c55d24f/299BB68CC4F995B9B3C878D1C2629A6C03DA3FDC6BF2235C8C6BFDD621634984.bills-119s3057is.pdf">Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act.&#8221;</a>
The first bill would cut pay for members of Congress during a government shutdown — with no back pay.
The second bill would withhold their salaries during the shutdown by placing the funds in escrow, allowing full payment to be released once the government reopens, he explained.
“Some may say, &#8216;well, this violates the 27th Amendment.&#8217; I don&#8217;t think it does. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m offering two different flavors of bills,” he explained.
In 2013, President Barack Obama supported similar legislation during a previous shutdown that said &#8220;if you don&#8217;t open up government by this certain date then you&#8217;re going to lose your paychecks,&#8221; according to Kennedy.
“And guess what — members of Congress had an epiphany and they found religion…and they opened up government,&#8221; Kennedy said.
Kennedy previously filed other bills to require the federal government to pay both <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00585.htm">federal employees</a> and <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00575.htm">military personnel</a> during the shutdown. All were rejected.
On the floor, he said federal workers have &#8220;had to borrow $365 million so far during this 36-day shutdown in order just to pay their rent.&#8221;
“If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck — plain and simple,” Kennedy said in a statement.
He said he, unlike his Democratic colleagues, doesn&#8217;t see missing paychecks or empty dinner plates &#8220;as leverage.&#8221;
&#8220;That’s why I’ve been working to make sure that only members of Congress feel the pain of a shutdown,&#8221; Kennedy said.
Kennedy was referring to a previous FOX News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-republican-slams-katherine-clark-saying-dems-have-leverage-shutdown">report</a> where House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) admitted suffering families are &#8220;leverage&#8221; in the shutdown battle.
&#8220;I mean, shutdowns are terrible and, of course, there will be, you know, families that are going to suffer. We take that responsibility very seriously. But it is one of the few leverage times we have,&#8221; Clark said at the time.
Kennedy said his bills “ensure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay – our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers.”
We will continue to monitor Kennedy&#8217;s bills if they advance.

Sen. Cotton Holds Capitol Hill Press Conference To Discuss Ongoing College Campus Protests

GOP Senator Moves To Withhold Congressional Pay, Believes Shutdown Will Go ‘A While Longer’

John Kennedy

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