Government shutdown ends temporarily
After 35 days, the Senate has passed a bill to temporarily open the government. The bill, a short term spending bill, which will reopen parts of the government until Feb. 15, 2019.
The president has agreed to sign the bill, urging that “the Democrats and Republicans will operate in good faith” over the next three weeks. The bill does not involve the $5.7 billion for border security which would include a wall.
This bill, however, is not a permanent solution. The debate surrounding border security will continue while the government is open and the Senate is expected to regroup on the Feb. 15 when the government is meant to close again.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer seems optimistic about this compromise and said, “We in Congress will roll up our sleeves and try to find some agreement on border security.”
The government shutdown has been the longest in American history, spanning 36 days. But this is not the only record broken by the shutdown. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued an unprecedented statement in which she asked the president to postpone the State of the Union address until the government reopened.
Now, it is unclear as to what will occur regarding Pelosi, the president, and the State of the Union. What is clear is that the thousands of furloughed workers will return to work and receive compensation for their labor during the shutdown, to quote the president, “as soon as possible.”
Roger Stone arrested
Roger Stone’s Florida house was raided by the FBI, leading to his arrest. Stone, a longtime ally of President Trump, was arrested for lying under oath. However, he was released in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on $250,000 bond and was indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Stone has maintained a close relationship with the Trump administration and his arrest could mean subpoenas for White House staffers and potentially the president himself.
Rapper DMX released from prison
DMX, a rapper known for songs such as “Where the Hood at” and “X gon give it to ya,” was released from prison on Jan. 25. DMX is infamous for his multiple stays in prison, having over a dozen incarceration records as of 2010.
