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Send us Fan MailThe Architecture of Empire: Walter L. Hixson on the Israel Lobby and the Machinery of Endless WarPart Two: The Nakba's Blast Radius and the Capture of U.S. Foreign PolicyEpisode DescriptionSeventy-eight years ago, the Nakba dismantled Palestinian society. Today, we are living inside its blast radius.What began in 1948 with the violent mass displacement of over 700,000 people has metastasized into a sprawling, multi-front geopolitical fire. We are now watching the Middle East get swallowed by a disastrous and widely rejected regional war with Iran—a conflict fueled by corrupt demagogues desperate to trade human lives for their own political survival.How does a republic repeatedly bankrupt its moral standing and its treasury to underwrite conflicts its citizens actively despise? It doesn't happen by accident. It is engineered.In Part Two of our historical deep-dive into the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship, host Jeremy Rothe-Kushel reaches back to a profoundly relevant late-2021 conversation with diplomatic and cultural historian Walter L. Hixson.Stripping away the polite fictions of Washington double-speak, Hixson exposes the actual plumbing of imperial power. We break down the modern Israel lobby in plain daylight: the massive flow of capital, the ruthless political coercion, and the organized infrastructure of silence that captures U.S. foreign policy and locks the American public into a perpetual cycle of militarism and repression.If we are ever going to extinguish the fire, we must first understand exactly who built the furnace. Step beyond the walls with us.Guest Bio: Walter L. Hixson is a diplomatic and cultural historian, a contributing editor of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and the author of numerous vital books, including Architects of Repression: How Israel and Its Lobby Put Racism, Violence and Injustice at the Center of US Middle East Policy and Imperialism and War: The History Americans Need to Own.Listen & Explore Further:Walter Hixson's Bio & Work: University of AkronExplore the Show Archives: Listen to past episodes, including Part 1 with Grant Smith, at the KKFI Understanding Israel Palestine archive: kkfi.org/program/understanding-israel-palestine/Beyond the Walls Substack: beyondthewalls.substack.com
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Khaled Al-Qershali is a writer and journalist from Gaza, focusing on personal narratives and reporting on the humanitarian impact of conflict. He has published articles and essays in outlets such as The Electronic Intifada, The Washington Report of Middle East Affairs, and The Independent. His work highlights stories of resilience, survival, and the lived experiences of civilians under occupation. He joins us from Gaza City to share his story and his hopes for the future. The case for Community Wealth Building Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-156362917 NERI's Tom McDonnell on the Energy Crisis and Solutions Pod:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-156099307 The Hind Rajab jersey for Dignity for Palestine is available here: https://spicebagmerch.com/
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Khaled Al-Qershali is a writer and journalist from Gaza, focusing on personal narratives and reporting on the humanitarian impact of conflict. He has published articles and essays in outlets such as The Electronic Intifada, The Washington Report of Middle East Affairs, and The Independent. His work highlights stories of resilience, survival, and the lived experiences of civilians under occupation. He joins us from Gaza City to share his story and his hopes for the future. The case for Community Wealth Building Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-156362917 NERI's Tom McDonnell on the Energy Crisis and Solutions Pod:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-156099307 The Hind Rajab jersey for Dignity for Palestine is available here: https://spicebagmerch.com/
House is out, Senate is in, with just five days to go until funding runs out for much of the government — will the Senate be able to pass funding bills in time? Senate Democrats say not on their watch, not unless the DHS funding bill is amended to restrict ICE — a shutdown showdown is imminent … President Trump goes to Davos and declares victory over Greenland … all this and more.
House is back, Senate is in recess, with less than two weeks to go to fund half the government … President Trump warns the Iranian mullahs, but holds off on a military strike … President Trump wants to acquire Greenland, and Europe hasn't figured out yet how to respond … prospects for a bipartisan deal on healthcare seem to be shrinking day by day … all this and more.
House and Senate are back for one more week before Christmas … NDAA looks set to be passed for the 65th year in a row … House GOP leadership plans to bring a GOP healthcare bill to the floor; will it pass? Will moderate GOPers get the amendment vote they want?… NY AG Letitia James survives another indictment attempt … all this and more.
House and Senate return to another ticking clock on funding — they'll need to pass 9 appropriations bills by January 30, or some combination … a review of what's coming in the Supreme Court … will the GOP work on health care? … the USPS has a new procedure on postmarks that may impact mail-in ballots … Trump says he doesn't believe Putin … all this and more.
Today on Tea Party Patriots Action's Washington Report: House and Senate wrap up work for the year and head off for a two-week holiday break … House GOP leadership succeeds in passing its healthcare bill, but four renegade Republicans sign Jeffries' discharge petition and gum up the works — what does it all mean? … all this and more.
House and Senate are back for one more week before Christmas … NDAA looks set to be passed for the 65th year in a row … House GOP leadership plans to bring a GOP healthcare bill to the floor; will it pass? Will moderate GOPers get the amendment vote they want?… NY AG Letitia James survives another indictment attempt … all this and more.
House and Senate are back in session … GAO releases a bombshell report on Obamacare fraud, but does it matter to Democrats? … DOJ stumbles in its James and Comey re-indictment attempt … the Supreme Court has several cases of interest to conservatives … will Indiana join the mid-decade redistricting rush? … Adm. Frank M. Bradley, who ordered the “second tap” strike in Venezuela goes to Capitol Hill, and reactions are mixed … all this and more.
House and Senate leave town for the Thanksgiving break after passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with just one dissenting vote in both houses … MTG announces her resignation from Congress … chaos reigns over new Russia-Ukraine “peace” proposal that reads as if Russian dictator Vladimir Putin dictated it … could the Comey prosecution be over before it begins? … all this and more.
House and Senate come back for the first time in eight weeks … Trump reverses course on Epstein files, calls on House Republicans to pass the resolution … House prepares to vote to overturn a smelly provision benefiting selected U.S. senators … rare Democrat-on-Democrat violence rears its ugly head, to be seen this week on the House floor … Utah GOP takes it on the chin and loses a seat in the redistricting wars, while Indiana Republicans back off — and get new pressure from the White House … all this and more.
After 40 days in the wilderness, eight Senate Democrats see the light and take steps to bring the longest government shutdown in history to an end … President Trump pardons 77 allies involved in various aspects of the Alternate Electors episode … President Trump keeps pushing for Senate Republicans to nuke the filibuster, but they keep pushing back, just as hard … what is up with Tucker Carlson, Kevin Roberts, and Nick Fuentes? … all this and more.
It's “Groundhog Day” all over again — the House is still out, and Senate Democrats are still voting to block the clean Continuign Resolution that passed the House, leaving us with the question: will this ever end? … The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a landmark case regarding President Trump's authority to levy tariffs … President Trump directs Senate Republicans to nuke the filibuster, but they're not playing along … senior Republicans, including President Trump, are considering holding a midterm convention late next summer … all this and more.
When it comes to John Carpenter's iconic franchise, Halloween, most people may be familiar, in the abstract, with the name Moustapha Akkad as his name is the first to appear in the opening credits for every movie. What fans of the series may not be familiar with is how integral Moustapha was to bringing the story of Michael Myers to life, producing all 8 original movies, even after John Carpenter, himself, left the series. To celebrate Halloween, Brian Santana joins me to talk about the life of Moustapha Akkad, the man born to a customs officer in Syria, who came to Hollywood to bring the story of Islam to life on the big screen. From his movie, The Message, to becoming the silent force behind one of the horror genre's greatest franchises, Moustapha Akkad's life was rich with creativity until his violent death at the hands of suicide bombers in Amman, Jordan. This is the story of his life and his enduring legacy, honoring the man who was so pivotal in making Michael Myers and the season what it is today. Get A Murder On Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case hereCheck out Chapter 91 with Brian and Cameron Santana hereCheck out Chapter 105: Summer's Almost Gone with Brian Santana and J.T. Townsend hereCheck out Chapter 114: The Devil in the Details-The Unsolved Death of Jeannette DePalma w/ Brian Santana hereConnect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comAkkad, Moustapha (1930–2005) | Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/akkad-moustapha-1930-2005Al-Atraqchi, F. (2007, September 2). Halloween producer's epic plan. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2007/9/2/halloween-producers-epic-planBrayson, J. (2018, October 18). Who is Moustapha Akkad? ‘Halloween' is dedicated to someone who shaped the franchise. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-moustapha-akkad-halloween-is-dedicated-to-someone-who-shaped-the-franchise-12576403CNN.com - Jordan confirms al Qaeda behind hotel blasts - Nov 12, 2005. (n.d.). https://web.archive.org/web/20080527142122/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/12/jordan.blasts/index.htmlCole, J. (2005, November 15). Strange death of Moustapha Akkad. Informed Comment. https://www.juancole.com/2005/11/strange-death-of-moustapha-akkad.htmlDossey, E. (2018, November 6). No Sleep October: The Halloween Franchise - Midwest Film Journal. Midwest Film Journal. https://midwestfilmjournal.com/2018/10/31/no-sleep-october-the-halloween-franchise/Film Comment. (2017, January 19). Keeping the faith. https://www.filmcomment.com/article/moustapha-akkad/Hollywood producer, daughter died in bombing. (2005, November 11). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10002363Mattar, S. (2005, November 5). “Halloween” Producer Akkad Dies in Jordan. Backstage. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/halloween-producer-akkad-dies-jordan-38743/Moustapha Akkad - Arab America. (2015, June 2). Arab America. https://www.arabamerica.com/arabamericans/moustapha-akkad/Nov 12, 2005, page 42 - The Pantagraph at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/75766674/?match=1&terms=moustapha%20akkadO'Scannlain, D. F. (2015). BOYER v. CHAPPELL. In United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2015/07/16/13-99006.pdfPeople v. Boyer - S029476 - Thu, 05/11/2006 | California Supreme Court Resources. (n.d.). https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-boyer-33625People v. Boyer (1989). (n.d.). Justia Law. https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/48/247.htmlSpinner, J. (2005, November 15). Motive Glimpsed in Jordan Attack. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/14/AR2005111400230.htmlTCF Staff. (2005, November 9). Deadly Bombings Hit Jordan. The Street. https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/deadly-bombings-hit-jordan-10252100The Associated Press. (2005a, November 12). Moustapha Akkad, 75, producer of “Halloween” films. Asbury Park Press, A13.The Associated Press. (2005b, November 12). Moustapha Akkad, 75, Who Produced Religious and Horror Films, Is Dead. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/obituaries/moustapha-akkad-75-who-produced-religious-and-horror-films-is.htmlThompson, S. (2020, October 18). Inside the legacy of the Multimillion-Dollar ‘Halloween' franchise as the original returns to theaters. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2020/10/18/inside-the-legacy-of-the-multimillion-dollar-halloween-franchise-as-the-original-returns-to-theaters/Tüfekçi̇, A. (2020, November 25). Understanding Moustapha Akkad through ‘The Message' he left. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/cinema/understanding-moustapha-akkad-through-the-message-he-leftTwair, S. (2009, August 31). Moustapha Akkad (1933-2005). Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. https://www.wrmea.org/2006-january-february/moustapha-akkad-1933-2005.htmlVoa. (2009, October 30). Arab-American filmmaker Mustafa Al Akkad Killed in Jordan Terrorist Attack. Voice of America. https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-11-18-voa23/391281.htmlIf you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line.Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.
It's Day 27 of the government shutdown, and the largest government workers union in the country thinks the Democrats should work with the GOP to pass a clean Continuing Resolution — no word yet from Chuck Schumer … President Trump imposes toughest sanctions yet on Russia'a two biggest oil companies, while the EU, in a coordinated move, prepares a massive loan to Ukraine — using seized Russian assets as collateral … all this and more.
We are worried about the situation with Venezuela and the potential for a military operation on that country. Join us for an insightful Global South-to South conversation with Mustafa Fetouri, an award-winning Libyan journalist, columnist, author, and translator, with contributions to major outlets like Middle East Monitor, Al-Monitor, and Washington Report, and a focus on North Africa and the Sahel region. Follow Mustafa Fetouri's excellent coverage and analysis: @MFetouri on XMiddle East Monitor: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/authors/dr-mustafa-fetouri/The New Arab: https://www.newarab.com/author/74695/mustafa-fetouriAl Monitor: https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/mustafa-fetouri.htmlWashington Report on Middle East Affairs: https://www.wrmea.org/other/from-skulls-to-sovereignty-africa-demands-colonial-justice.htmlSíguenos: @Contraelite1 en X, Instagram y Facebook PlataformasYouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnYouTube Apple: https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnApple Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnSpotify Google: https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnGoogle Our breaks music is "Draco" by Yung Kartz (https://www.yungkartzbeats.com/)
The House stays out while the Senate tries, tries, tries again to pass a bill to reopen the government, but Democrats will have none of it, so they'll try, try, try again … Trump defeats a U.N. global carbon tax you probably didn't even know was on the dock … the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case that may overturn a 39-year-old precedent on how to account for race in the drawing of congressional (and state legislative) district lines … NY AG Letitia James and former National Security Advisor John Bolton are both indicted … Trump asks the Supreme Court to okay his deployment of the National Guard … just where is Trump on Russia and Ukraine, anyway? … all this and more.
The federal government shuts down for only the 11th time in history, and you've got a front-row seat to all the action — the House stays out, while Senate Republicans and Democrats blame each other … Bari Weiss joins CBS News as editor-in-chief … President Trump orders the deployment of the National Guard, but a federal district judge HE APPOINTED says no, twice … all this and more.
Senate comes back into session to vote again on government funding bill, but House stays out — for the whole week? … will there be a deal, or not? President Trump meets today with congressional leaders to discuss … Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted last week … SCOTUS rules that President Trump can use a pocket rescission to save taxpayers $4 billion in funding that was previously approved by Congress … all this and more.
House and Senate try to pass a funding bill to keep the government open, and get only halfway there — House says yes, Senate says no — so we're still on track for a government shutdown next week … Just what ARE those pesky “enhanced ObamaCare premium tax credits” the Democrats keep talking about, anyway? … Five weeks after the Alaska Summit, it's fair to say Putin is no closer to ending his war on Ukraine, so what's next? … All this and more
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ahmad Abushawish is a 19-year-old writer and activist from Gaza. He has successfully conveyed his voice and the stories of his people through several prestigious platforms, including Al Jazeera, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Electronic Intifada, Prism Reports, and We Are Not Numbers. He is also an alumnus of the Access 16 program. Ahmad aspires to pursue higher education abroad and earn a scholarship at a prestigious university, where he hopes to further develop his skills and amplify the voices of his community. He joins us from Nuseirat, Gaza, hours after he completed his final high school (Leaving Cert equivalent) exams. What a fabulous young man. May he live to fulfill his dreams. Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ahmad Abushawish is a 19-year-old writer and activist from Gaza. He has successfully conveyed his voice and the stories of his people through several prestigious platforms, including Al Jazeera, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Electronic Intifada, Prism Reports, and We Are Not Numbers. He is also an alumnus of the Access 16 program. Ahmad aspires to pursue higher education abroad and earn a scholarship at a prestigious university, where he hopes to further develop his skills and amplify the voices of his community. He joins us from Nuseirat, Gaza, hours after he completed his final high school (Leaving Cert equivalent) exams. What a fabulous young man. May he live to fulfill his dreams. Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846
House and Senate are in for one more week before government funding expires — can they strike a deal to keep the government open? … Senate invokes nuclear option, prepares to move Trump nominees en bloc … all this and more.
Congress has 22 days left before government funding expires — what are the odds of a shutdown? … the Senate GOP plans to invoke the “nuclear option” to end Democrats' obstruction on confirming Trump nominees … Congress has a sneaky way of getting back pay, and you're not going to like it … all this and more.
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Sara Awad is an English literature student, writer, and storyteller based in Gaza. Passionate about capturing human experiences and social issues, Sara uses her words to shed light on stories often unheard. Her work explores themes of resilience, identity, and hope amid war circumstances. I contributed to The Intercept, Truthout, PRISM, The Electronic Intifada, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and We Are Not Numbers. She joins us from Gaza City to share her story, discuss the most recent events including the "double tap" bombing of Nasser Hospital and her hopes for the future. An absolute must listen. Support our friend Hana Salah's family:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-injured-father-and-younger-siblings-survive-in-gaza
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Sara Awad is an English literature student, writer, and storyteller based in Gaza. Passionate about capturing human experiences and social issues, Sara uses her words to shed light on stories often unheard. Her work explores themes of resilience, identity, and hope amid war circumstances. I contributed to The Intercept, Truthout, PRISM, The Electronic Intifada, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and We Are Not Numbers. She joins us from Gaza City to share her story, discuss the most recent events including the "double tap" bombing of Nasser Hospital and her hopes for the future. An absolute must listen. Support our friend Hana Salah's family:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-injured-father-and-younger-siblings-survive-in-gaza
A New York appeals court tosses the $515 million civil judgment against President Trump as a violation of the 8th Amendment's protection against excessive fines … the FBI raids former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton's home, looking for — what else? — classified documents … President Trump hosts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the White House, along with a whole bunch of European leaders, but Russia's Putin isn't budging on peace talks … all this and more.
House and Senate are still in recess, so your wallets are still safe for a little while longer … President Trump takes over DC Police and cracks down on crime in the nation's capital … FBI Director Kash Patel releases documents revealing that a whistleblower told the FBI in 2017 that then-Congressman Adam Schiff was deliberately leaking classified intel to make Trump look bad, and the FBI hid it from key congressional committees … Trump meets with Putin in Alaska, and plans to meet with Zelenskyy today … all this and more.
House and Senate are still out … a deeper dive on the announcement by the EPA that it would seek to rescind the “Endangerment Finding” … a closer look at the hypocrisy of Democrat governors in CA, IL, and NY crying foul over gerrymandering … all this and more.
The Senate processes nominations at a breakneck pace, and still leaves town with more than 100 nominees in limbo, awaiting Senate floor action so they can go to work … Senate GOP is determined to move noms in September, even if means going nuclear … new document dump in Russia collusion hoax story reveals a Soros connection … President Trump shortens Russia's 50 day timeline to just 10-12 days … all this and more.
The Epstein Files bring the House screeching to a halt, even as the media drives the narrative forward and a House committee votes to subpoena the DOJ for the files … Trump announces new blockbuster trade deals with Japan and the EU, but says his patience with Russian dictator Putin is wearing thin and he's cutting the 50-day timeline substantially … the Senate has 144 Trump nominees waiting to be confirmed — will Majority Leader Thune cancel the August recess and make them stay to confirm nominees one vote at a time? … All this and more.
House and Senate are back in session, trying to clean up before getting out of town for the loooong August recess … the Senate passed the rescissions package and sent it back to the House amended, and the House passed the amended version and sent it to the president, and he signed it, and we saved $9 billion … the White House Counsel's Office is investigating former President Biden's use of the autopen, while DNI Gabbard says former President Obama's administration “manipulated intelligence” in a “treasonous conspiracy” to create the Russia collusion hoax … the Jeffrey Epstein story won't go away … all this and more.
House and Senate return, with Senate focused on rescissions package — will it pass, and will it pass in time? The House awaits … funding government for FY 2026 doesn't look good — a government shutdown looms… FBI and DOJ say there is no Epstein “client list,” and he wasn't murdered, and top officials aren't happy with each other … Trump decides he's had enough with Putin and agrees to send more weaponry to Ukraine — with the Europeans paying for them! … all this and more.
After BIG DOINGS last week passing the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act through the Senate and then back through the House again (!), the House takes an unexpected break as the Senate returns to work … will the Senate pass the rescissions package? … and lots is going on in the tariff arena, with President Trump's 90-day “pause” expiring tomorrow … all this and more.
The Senate spent the weekend working on the reconciliation bill, and the House will come back from its recess for a special one-day session to try to pass the One Big, Beautiful Bill and get it to President Trump's desk by July 4 — will they succeed? We'll see … SCOTUS gives the President a big WIN on stopping liberal judges from imposing nationwide injunctions … all this and more.
House and Senate are both in session all week, trying to get work done before taking a week-long 4th of July recess … Senate stalls on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act … reconciliation bill moves through the Byrd Bath, with lots of Byrd Droppings … President Trump orders B-2 stealth bombers to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat by dropping multiple 30,000-lb bombs … all this and more.
House is out, Senate is in for a short week … Speaker Mike Johnson Rabbit-out-of-a-Hat Alert: The House passes the rescissions package and sends it to the Senate … President Trump calls out the National Guard in CA, even as CA's senior US Senator interrupts a DHS press conference and gets handcuffed in the process … reconciliation is still moving through the Senate, setting up votes when they come back next week … all this and more.
Just what is the Byrd Rule, anyway? You'll understand it after watching today's broadcast … House and Senate are in — the House will consider a rescissions package to claw back already-approved spending, while the Senate will consider more Trump nominees … major moves on the illegal immigration front, including riots in Los Angeles as both the mayor and the governor refuse to allow police forces under their control to help assist federal law enforcement authorities do their jobs; President Trump responds by federalizing the California National Guard … all this and more.
House and Senate come back for a work session before the July 4th recess with a big agenda — passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill through the Senate, and passage of a rescissions package through both houses … and Senate Dems are trying to block Trump nominees from confirmation, and it's time for Senate GOPers to step up … all this and more.
House and Senate are back for one more week before taking a short Memorial Day recess … it's all about RECONCILIATION — which committee was at its markup for more than an entire 24-hour day before it finished up its work? Which committee held a meeting at 10 PM on a SUNDAY night? Find out the details and more...
Think about this — Qatar may be about to gift a $400 million Boeing airplane to the U.S. Government … the U.S. and China may have come to a trade deal that ends the trade war between the world's two biggest economies … Ukraine may have turned the diplomatic tables on Russia … the U.S. Government may have figured out a way to lower drug prices, or maybe it hasn't … and the latest on the budget reconciliation fight … all this and more.
House GOP leadership, still in search of consensus on its “Big, Beautiful Bill," holds up markups on reconciliation … Pentagon IG expands investigation into Signalgate … Trump ousts National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, replaces him temporarily (?) with Secretary of State Marco Rubio … Trump releases 2026 budget, with $163 billion in cuts to domestic discretionary spending and a whopping 13% INCREASE to national security spending … all this and more.
House and Senate return, and take up the task of actually drafting legislation on the reconciliation bill … Pentagon Chaos, Week Two unfolds, but President Trump thinks the Secretary of Defense is doing just fine, thank you … Just what, exactly, did President Trump say about raising taxes on high earners? … a Milwaukee judge helps an illegal alien evade arrest by ICE and gets arrested herself by the FBI … George Santos sentenced … all this and more.
House leadership releases reconciliation committee markup schedule … what's going on at the Pentagon … will Putin get what he wants just by waiting out Trump? … White House prepares a spending cuts package for Congress' return … all this and more.
The House follows the Senate in passing a budget resolution to unlock the magic of the reconciliation process and then gets out of town for two weeks … we're in Week Two of Liberation Day, and the world is still reeling … DOGE has new numbers on how many MILLIONS of noncitizens were granted Social Security numbers during the Biden administration, and it's not a pretty picture … all this and more.
Senate passes a budget resolution and sends it over to the House for action this week … President Trump reveals worldwide, across-the-board tariffs on “Liberation Day” — what are they? … Can President Trump really serve a third term? Some smart lawyers around him seem to think so … TikTok gets another 75-day lease on life … Proxy voting? Paired voting? What are they, and what happened in the House last week? … All this and more.
House and Senate are in, with the House slated to vote on the SAVE Act and the Senate maybe considering its budget resolution … Iran says no to direct negotiations with the US over Iran's nuclear program … President Trump signs a new executive order requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote … Speaker Johnson will get two more members of Congress this week — will they both be Republicans? … the Signal chat thread read around the world … all this and more.
Congress is back for a three-week work period before heading out for the Easter Recess … a district court judge is unhappy with the Trump administration's actions to remove criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela, and is unhappy with the administration's response to his unhappiness, and now a three-judge panel will hear oral arguments today on just what's going on … the Trump administration decided to shut down the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Institute of Peace didn't want to go peacefully … Trump signs EO dismantling Dept of Education to the greatest extent possible … all this and more.
House and Senate pass a government funding bill over Democrats' objections, then go into recess … Trump asks Supreme Court for help on birthright citizenship rulings, and Supremes appear to consider his request … Senate confirms Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Secretary of Labor, and that means every one of Trump's cabinet nominees has been confirmed … SAVE Act coming back to House floor in a few weeks … EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces he's reconsidering the 2009 “Endangerment Finding” that declared greenhouse gases harmful pollutants that could be regulated by EPA — this is BIG STUFF … all this and more.
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