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The House of Representatives on Wednesday evening approved a spending package to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, despite opposition from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and most House Democrats.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers voted 222 to 209 to reopen the government, with six Democrats breaking ranks to support the measure. The White House said President Donald Trump will promptly sign the bill into law.<\/p>\n
The Democrats who voted in favor were Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Adam Gray of California, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Don Davis of North Carolina, and Tom Suozzi of New York,\u00a0<\/p>\n
the Daily Caller reported.<\/p>\n
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a fiscal conservative, voted against the government funding package. He was joined by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who opposed the bill due to a provision allowing senators to sue the federal government if their phone records are seized without prior notice.\u201cI\u2019m not gonna send [Republican South Carolina Sen.] Lindsey Graham half a million dollars,\u201d Steube told reporters before he voted.<\/p>\n
The 43-day government shutdown left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay while still requiring them to cover their bills, disrupted access to federal food assistance for low-income Americans, and caused widespread travel delays across the country.<\/p>\n
The Senate passed the spending package Monday night, ending weeks of gridlock after Democrats delayed action on funding the government for nearly seven weeks.<\/p>\n
The funding agreement notably excludes Democrats\u2019 top demand \u2014 a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits \u2014 which Republicans had rejected as a nonstarter.<\/p>\n
Both Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the measure, which ultimately passed both chambers after several Democrats broke ranks to support it.<\/p>\n
While Jeffries has largely avoided criticism over the party\u2019s handling of the shutdown, Schumer has faced sharp backlash from progressives for failing to maintain unity within his caucus and for allowing the government to reopen without securing key Democratic priorities.<\/p>\n
The deal will keep the government funded through the end of January and includes tens of millions of dollars in new security assistance for all three branches of government. It also requires the Trump administration to rehire roughly 4,000 federal employees laid off during the shutdown and prohibits additional reductions-in-force (RIFs) until Jan. 30, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended that aspect of the deal when she was asked about it on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at that [the recent layoffs] in comparison to the reduction in the federal workforce that this administration has done since January \u2026 to reduce the size of our federal bureaucracy, we\u2019ve done a lot of great work on that front. And we will continue to,\u201d she told the Daily Caller.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe president\u2019s main priority was to reopen the federal government and get people back to work,\u201d Leavitt added.<\/p>\n
Jeffries and nearly all members of his caucus voted against a stopgap spending bill on Sept. 19 that would have averted the government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the chamber in recess throughout the funding lapse until the Senate approved a similar measure Monday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe long national nightmare is almost coming to an end now,\u201d Johnson told CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper on Monday. \u201cThe irony is it really was a shutdown about nothing\u2026what we\u2019re voting on is effectively exactly what we offered them several weeks back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think Chuck Schumer got anything out of this other than a political show,\u201d Johnson continued. \u201cAnd sadly, I think that\u2019s what he was after the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
said Tuesday\u00a0that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) \u201cnever\u201d spoke with him about the ongoing government shutdown, adding that \u201cno one really knows\u201d who is leading Democrats in Congress.<\/p>\n
The Obama Presidential Center, a project long heralded as a transformative development for Chicago\u2019s South Side, is now mired in controversy. What was once pitched as a symbol of civic pride and cultural investment has instead become the subject of fierce debate and mounting concern over a $470 million endowment fund that was promised to safeguard taxpayers.According to newly surfaced tax filings, the foundation has failed to deliver on its commitment, leaving the city vulnerable to potentially devastating financial liabilities.When the Obama Foundation secured approval in 2018 to build the Obama Presidential Center on 19.3 acres of Jackson Park, a condition of the deal required the creation of a $470 million reserve fund.<\/p>\n
The endowment, officials said at the time, would protect Chicago taxpayers if the project faltered. The idea was straightforward: an endowment generates income through investment, covering annual operating costs and shielding residents from unexpected burdens.Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama ceremoniously broke ground on the project in September 2021.<\/p>\n
At the time, confidence in the initiative was high.The center was touted as not just a presidential library but also a cultural and educational hub meant to revitalize the community. Yet, even then, filings revealed that the foundation had deposited only $1 million into the supposed endowment \u2014 barely 0.21 percent of the promised figure.Fast forward to the present, and the numbers remain unchanged. The foundation\u2019s endowment balance is still $1 million, and no additional contributions have been made.Meanwhile, construction costs have ballooned. Initial estimates of $330 million have soared to at least $850 million, raising alarms that financial instability could sink the project or saddle the public with massive debt.<\/p>\n
Tax returns further highlight troubling patterns. The Obama Foundation has reported inconsistent revenues, volatile fundraising results, and several unfulfilled donor commitments. Such uncertainty has fueled speculation that the organization may be struggling to keep pace with the project\u2019s escalating demands.Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi has been one of the most vocal critics. In a scathing statement, she labeled the situation an \u201cabomination,\u201d arguing that Democrats in Illinois routinely expose taxpayers to financial risk through questionable deals.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocrats in this state, when not going to prison for corruption, treat taxpayers like a personal piggy bank giving sweetheart deals to their political benefactors,\u201d Salvi declared.Richard Epstein, a respected University of Chicago law professor emeritus and current faculty member at New York University, has raised alarms about the endowment for years.Working with the nonprofit Protect Our Parks, Epstein has consistently argued that the city should never have ceded such a large swath of public land to the Obama Foundation without stronger financial guarantees.Epstein views the $1 million deposit as not just inadequate but potentially deceptive. \u201cThey put a million dollars into a $400 million endowment, so it\u2019s endowed. That gets you in jail as a securities matter,\u201d he said.His point is that calling a fund an endowment requires having the pledged money in hand, not merely an aspirational commitment.The implications are dire. Epstein warns that without the endowment fully funded, the Obama Foundation will have to scramble annually to cover an estimated $30 million in operating expenses.<\/p>\n
This approach not only undermines financial stability but also exposes taxpayers to unexpected risks. \u201cThe whole point of an endowment is to avoid that volatility. They just haven\u2019t endowed it. Of that I\u2019m 100% sure,\u201d Epstein emphasized.If the foundation cannot sustain its operations, Chicagoans may be left holding the bag. Costs could include traffic rerouting, environmental restoration, or even the demolition and cleanup of an unfinished structure.Because the city transferred the land for just $10 under a 99-year lease, critics argue that local government has limited leverage to enforce financial compliance.\u201cNobody knows exactly who is responsible for what if the project is abandoned or incomplete,\u201d Epstein explained. \u201cThere is a risk that the public will then have to bear that loss because the foundation won\u2019t have the money.<\/p>\n
\u201dCritics contend that city officials have failed in their oversight role. Despite the endowment never exceeding $1 million, the city has repeatedly labeled the foundation \u201ccompliant\u201d with its obligations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For skeptics, this is a clear sign that enforcement was never a serious priority.Some observers believe political considerations may explain the city\u2019s hands-off approach. With Barack Obama\u2019s name attached to the project, local leaders may have been reluctant to challenge the foundation for fear of backlash. Yet this deference could now expose taxpayers to financial ruin.While representatives for the Obama Foundation and city officials have not responded to recent inquiries, the foundation has previously defended its approach.Leaders have argued that the project will ultimately benefit the community by creating jobs, stimulating tourism, and providing educational resources. Supporters also contend that the center\u2019s long-term fundraising strategy will allow it to cover costs without relying on taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n
Still, the numbers tell a different story. Unless the foundation secures hundreds of millions of dollars soon, the center may be forced to operate on a precarious year-to-year basis. This could jeopardize not only its mission but also the financial well-being of the city itself.The controversy surrounding the Obama Presidential Center has reignited debates about public land use, political influence, and fiscal responsibility in Illinois.Critics have drawn parallels to other costly projects that left taxpayers on the hook after lofty promises fell short.<\/p>\n
For Republicans, the issue is an opportunity to paint Democrats as reckless stewards of public resources.Supporters of the center, however, accuse critics of politicizing the issue and undermining a project that could bring much-needed development to an underserved area.They argue that the benefits of the center will far outweigh the risks, pointing to the potential for new businesses, improved infrastructure, and enhanced cultural programming.The Obama Presidential Center\u2019s struggles highlight a broader challenge in American politics: balancing visionary projects with fiscal prudence. Presidential libraries and cultural centers are often celebrated as legacies of national leaders, but they can also become financial albatrosses if not carefully managed.For Chicago, the stakes are especially high. Jackson Park is a historic and cherished public space.<\/p>\n
Handing over nearly 20 acres of it for a private foundation was a controversial move from the outset. Critics now feel vindicated, insisting their warnings about the endowment were ignored.As construction continues, pressure is mounting on the Obama Foundation to address the shortfall. Donors may face renewed calls to fulfill their pledges, while city officials could come under scrutiny for failing to enforce the original terms of the agreement.<\/p>\n
Observers will be watching closely to see whether the foundation makes significant progress toward funding the endowment. Without such progress, the specter of financial disaster will continue to loom over the project.The Obama Presidential Center was envisioned as a beacon of hope and renewal for Chicago\u2019s South Side. Yet behind the soaring rhetoric and symbolic groundbreaking ceremonies lies a troubling financial reality.With only $1 million deposited into a $470 million endowment, the foundation has fallen far short of its promises. Rising construction costs, inconsistent fundraising, and a lack of oversight have only deepened concerns.For critics, the situation is nothing less than a public calamity \u2014 one that could saddle taxpayers with enormous costs for decades to come. Supporters insist the project\u2019s long-term benefits will justify the risks, but without immediate action to secure financial stability, those assurances ring increasingly hollow.As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the Obama Presidential Center\u2019s legacy is no longer just about preserving history. It is also about accountability, responsibility, and the enduring question of who ultimately pays the price when promises go unfulfilled.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0MD-11 plane<\/strong>: A UPS freight plane\u00a0crashed shortly after taking off\u00a0from the Louisville airport, leaving a fiery trail of destruction through businesses and roads where a massive plume of thick black smoke now stretches for miles, videos from CNN affiliate WAVE show.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Reported fatalities and injuries:<\/strong>\u00a0Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said there are at least three fatalities reported and he believes \u201cthat number is going to get larger.\u201d At least 11 injuries were confirmed, some of them \u201cvery significant.\u201d Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg\u00a0said\u00a0shortly before the governor\u2019s news conference there were \u201cmultiple injuries and the fire is still burning,\u201d adding the city has \u201cevery emergency agency responding to the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Status of crew unknown:\u00a0<\/strong>Beshear said the status of the crew on board the plane is still uncertain and they are working to reach impacted families as soon as possible. \u201cAnybody who has seen the images in the video know how violent this crash is, and there are a lot of families that are going to be waiting and wondering for a period of time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Crash investigation:\u00a0<\/strong>The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash of\u00a0<\/strong>UPS flight 2976. The NTSB will lead the investigation, the FAA said Tuesday.<\/p>\n A UPS cargo plane has crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport shortly after takeoff on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The Federal Aviation Administration said UPS flight 2976, which had three crew members on board, crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time. Flightradar24 data shows the plane, which was headed to Honolulu, crashed a minute after takeoff into an area past the runway.<\/p>\n Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a press conference that three people were killed and 11 were injured, and he expects those numbers to grow.<\/p>\n “We do not, at the moment, have the status of the crew,” he said.<\/p>\n He said there was “no specifically hazardous cargo” on the jet, but the fire is burning and there are hazards in the area. An ongoing mass response is being conducted by local and surrounding fire and police departments.<\/p>\n Louisville Fire Department chief Brian O’Neill said the aircraft had about 38,000 gallons of fuel on board. “So we’re talking about a very, very dangerous situation,” he said.<\/p>\n Beshear said at least two businesses were hit, including Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts.<\/p>\n The auto shop said two employees are unaccounted for, and it is unknown how many patrons were at the business at the time of the crash. The governor added that a nearby Ford plant was not hit.<\/p>\n Officials said the shelter-in-place was adjusted from “anything north of the airport to the Ohio River. That includes South Louisville, Old Louisville, and the downtown area.<\/p>\n The airport is closed, and the FAA\u00a0issued\u00a0a temporary flight restriction within a five-mile radius of the airport and up to 10,000 feet until 7 a.m. on Wednesday. It said “only relief aircraft operations” can fly within the parameters.<\/p>\n UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate.\u2026<\/p>\n The MD-11 involved, tail number N259UP, is a 34-year-old tri-engine widebody jet that was first delivered to Thai Airways in 1991, before being acquired by UPS in 2006.<\/p>\n This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.<\/em><\/p>\n In a political shake-up that few saw coming, two of Texas\u2019 most well-known Democratic lawmakers \u2014\u00a0Representative Al Green<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Representative Jasmine Crockett<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 have lost their seats in Congress. The double defeat is being hailed as a victory for conservatives and a clear message that Texas voters are demanding change.<\/p>\n For years, Al Green has been a familiar face in Washington, known for his relentless efforts to impeach Donald Trump and his reputation as one of the most liberal voices in the Lone Star State.<\/p>\n But after decades in office, voters appeared ready for fresh leadership. His ouster signals the end of an era for Texas Democrats.<\/p>\n Jasmine Crockett, meanwhile, had only recently entered Congress but quickly made national headlines with her fiery speeches, sharp rhetoric, and combative style. While admired by progressives, her critics accused her of prioritizing TV appearances and political theatrics over real solutions for Texas families. That perception may have cost her dearly at the ballot box.<\/p>\n Republicans are celebrating the outcome as proof that Texas is rejecting \u201cwoke politics\u201d and shifting toward a more conservative, results-oriented agenda. Supporters argue that this is just the beginning of a broader realignment in traditionally Democratic districts.<\/p>\n For Democrats, however, the back-to-back losses of Green and Crockett raise serious questions about strategy, leadership, and their ability to connect with working-class Texans. With the 2024 elections looming, the party now faces an uphill battle to rebuild trust and regain lost ground in a state that is increasingly hostile to its progressive agenda.<\/p>\n One thing is certain:\u00a0Texas politics will never be the same after this stunning shake-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The House of Representatives on Wednesday evening approved a spending package to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, despite opposition from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and most House Democrats. 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