Good Thursday evening. In this edition: Longest government shutdown in history ends after 43 days.
Plus, California map, pennies, Jackson, foster care, Fetterman and Cheney.
Government Shutdown
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended after 43 days with President Trump signing a funding package into law on Wednesday night.
The funding lapse left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay, disrupted services and flights across the country, and created uncertainty for Americans who rely on government assistance.
President Trump slammed Democrats for the shutdown, claiming it "cost the country $1.5 trillion," while maintaining the U.S. "has never been in better shape."
"We went through this short-term disaster with the Democrats because they thought it would be good politically. And it's an honor now to sign this incredible bill and get our country working again," he said in the Oval Office, flanked by Republican lawmakers.
The Senate approved the measure Monday night on a 60–40 vote, with eight Democrats voting in favor. The House followed on Wednesday night with a 222–209 vote.
Six Democrats — Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Don Davis (NC), Adam Gray (CA), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Jared Golden (ME) and Tom Suozzi (NY) — voted in favor, while two Republicans — Rep. Greg Steube (FL) and Thomas Massie (KY) — voted against.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) ripped Democrats after the vote, accusing them of using the American people as "leverage" to try to achieve a policy outcome and warning that voters would remember.
"They're going to remember that they did this for their own selfish purposes so that they could look tough to the radical elements of their base — and real people suffered because of that game," he told reporters.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Democrats would continue pushing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year, which he warned would trigger steep premium hikes.
"This fight is not over. We're just getting started," he said on the House floor ahead of the final vote, using his "magic minute," which allows party leaders unlimited speaking time.
"Either Republicans finally decide to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits this year, or the American people will throw Republicans out of their jobs next year and end the speakership of Donald J. Trump once and for all. That's how this fight ends."
After the vote, Speaker Johnson also took aim at Senate Republicans for the "out of line" 11th-hour inclusion of a provision in the bill that would allow GOP senators whose phones records were seized as part of the Jan. 6 probe to sue the federal government.
"I was very angry about it,"he told reporters. "A lot of my members called me and said, 'Did you know about it?' We had no idea that was dropped in at the last minute. And I did not appreciate that."
The speaker said he plans to bring legislation to the House floor next week to remove the language, though it remains unclear whether the Senate will consider it.
"We will be bringing that up. We'll probably pass it on suspension early next week, and we'll send it over to the Senate," he told reporters.
Additionally, Speaker Johnson said he intends to call a vote next week on the release of the Epstein files, rather than waiting until early December, when a successful discharge petition would otherwise require action.
The speaker opposes the measure, but Reps. Massie and Ro Khanna's (D-CA) discharge petition hit the 218-signature threshold on Wednesday after Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) was sworn in, forcing his hand.
Both chambers of Congress are scheduled to return Monday.
The Justice Department filed suit to block California's newly approved congressional map, which voters passed in last week's off-year elections. "California's redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "Governor Newsom's attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand." The map, which was drawn in response to Republican gerrymandering efforts, seeks to flip five GOP-held districts. "These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court," Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D-CA) office said in a statement.
The U.S. Mint has officially stopped producing pennies, ending more than two centuries of circulation for the iconic one-cent coin. The final batch was struck Wednesday at the Philadelphia Mint by Treasurer Brandon Beach, who cited rising production costs and the shift toward digital payments as reasons for the discontinuation. The last coins minted are marked with a special omega symbol and will not enter circulation. The final pennies will be auctioned off as a historic farewell to America's smallest denomination.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, the 84-year-old civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, has been hospitalized and is under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). "He has been managing this neurodegenerative condition for more than a decade," the Rainbow PUSH Coalition said in a statement. "He was originally diagnosed with Parkinson's disease however, last April, his PSP condition was confirmed. The family appreciates all prayers at this time."
President Trumpsigned an executive order aimed at strengthening the U.S. foster care system. The order is part of first lady Melania Trump's "Fostering the Future" initiative, within her broader "Be Best" campaign launched in 2018 to focus on youth well-being. The initiative includes a $25 million investment to support housing, education, scholarships and career resources for foster youth.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was hospitalized Thursday after he fell near his home in Pennsylvania. "During an early morning walk, Senator Fetterman sustained a fall near his home in Braddock. Out of an abundance of caution, he was transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh," his spokesperson said. "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."
Former Vice President Dick Cheney's funeral has been scheduled for next Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral. Former President George W. Bush and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) will be among those delivering tributes. Mr. Cheney died Nov. 3 at the age of 84.
For your radar…
Former Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) and former Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) join host Dasha Burns on the latest episode of C-SPAN's "Ceasefire," airing Friday. Republican strategist Hogan Gidley and Democratic strategist Ashley Etienne also join the conversation. Watch on C-SPAN at 7 & 10pm ET.
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