Tag: Holy Wednesday

Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • President Trump declared that he was “not happy” about the bipartisan compromise on border security, but said he did not think the government would shut down on Friday. The deal includes just $1.375 billion for new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, much less than in the proposal he rejected in December. Here are five takeaways. • A number of women are running for president, but Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is the only one making feminism the central theme of her candidacy. • A government audit found that because of the recent shutdown, fewer taxpayer calls to the Internal Revenue Service were answered, wait times grew longer and the processing of 87,000 amended tax returns was delayed. The issue was especially acute since it followed Mr. Trump’s tax overhaul, which left many people with questions about filing their returns. • Tens of thousands of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were exposed to toxic substances from open-air trash fires, which some believe caused long-term health problems. • The acting defense secretary, Patrick M. Shanahan, arrived in Baghdad for an unannounced visit, amid questions about whether some of the American troops slated for withdrawal from Syria might be sent to Iraq. He said that if the two countries were close to a deal, he could let the issue “slide for a little while” and not impose higher tariffs on Chinese goods.

Good Wednesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today. _____________________ • The Senate will vote on Thursday on two separate bills that would bring an immediate end to the partial government shutdown and allow the State of the Union address to proceed. • One of the bills promoted as a compromise by Republican leaders to pair the president’s border wall with legal protections for some immigrants would also severely restrict migrants’ ability to claim asylum — and it’s drawing fierce opposition from immigration rights groups. • According to a report issued by the union that represents the 13,000 special agents of the F.B.I., the shutdown funding freeze has impeded the bureau’s efforts to crack down on child trafficking, violent crime and terrorism. • Driving for Uber, delivering takeout, substitute teaching and babysitting: Here’s how federal workers are making ends meet during the shutdown. • Mr. Trump’s monthlong impasse with Congress over his proposed wall has all but frozen the rest of his policy agenda. • The Supreme Court revived the Trump administration’s policy of barring most transgender people from serving in the military by temporarily allowing the ban to go into effect while the case moves forward in court. • In another case, the court agreed to hear a challenge to a New York City gun ordinance that limits residents from transporting their guns outside their homes. It is unlikely to hear the administration’s challenge to the program in its current term.