Hello, it’s the weekend. It’s The Weekender ☕️
The DOJ is trying to recruit new hires into the immigration court system that it calls “deportation judges,” a branding exercise revealed in a recruiting announcement and on a website the department released Thursday.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
But names won’t get you far. If you are interested in applying, the vacancy is listed under “immigration judge”.
—Josh Kovensky
DC secures National Guard victory as nationwide cases remain in limbo
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The answers are equally blunt and concern the ugly demographic thinking and nods to white nationalist symbolism that permeate current DHS leadership.
But names won’t get you far. If you are interested in applying, the vacancy is listed under “immigration judge”.
—Josh Kovensky
DC secures National Guard victory as nationwide cases remain in limbo
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
But branding goes further. “DEFINING AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS,” “helping write the next chapter” – this poses some obvious questions: How can being an “eviction judge” accomplish this? Why would kicking people out of the country help “define America for generations”?
The answers are equally blunt and concern the ugly demographic thinking and nods to white nationalist symbolism that permeate current DHS leadership.
But names won’t get you far. If you are interested in applying, the vacancy is listed under “immigration judge”.
—Josh Kovensky
DC secures National Guard victory as nationwide cases remain in limbo
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
Part of what this highlights is the position of immigration judge. They are administrative judges authorized to rule on deportation, asylum and other immigration-related cases. They issue final expulsion orders allowing DHS to remove someone from the country; the Trump administration sought to intimidate them earlier this year with mass layoffs, tougher regulations and a broader attack on the concept that an employee of the executive branch — even if it’s an administrative law judge — could be empowered to disagree with the president’s words.
But branding goes further. “DEFINING AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS,” “helping write the next chapter” – this poses some obvious questions: How can being an “eviction judge” accomplish this? Why would kicking people out of the country help “define America for generations”?
The answers are equally blunt and concern the ugly demographic thinking and nods to white nationalist symbolism that permeate current DHS leadership.
But names won’t get you far. If you are interested in applying, the vacancy is listed under “immigration judge”.
—Josh Kovensky
DC secures National Guard victory as nationwide cases remain in limbo
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The ad is full MAGA. It reads “YOU BE THE JUDGE,” urging candidates to “help write America’s next chapter” and, again in all caps, “DEFINE AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS.”
Part of what this highlights is the position of immigration judge. They are administrative judges authorized to rule on deportation, asylum and other immigration-related cases. They issue final expulsion orders allowing DHS to remove someone from the country; the Trump administration sought to intimidate them earlier this year with mass layoffs, tougher regulations and a broader attack on the concept that an employee of the executive branch — even if it’s an administrative law judge — could be empowered to disagree with the president’s words.
But branding goes further. “DEFINING AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS,” “helping write the next chapter” – this poses some obvious questions: How can being an “eviction judge” accomplish this? Why would kicking people out of the country help “define America for generations”?
The answers are equally blunt and concern the ugly demographic thinking and nods to white nationalist symbolism that permeate current DHS leadership.
But names won’t get you far. If you are interested in applying, the vacancy is listed under “immigration judge”.
—Josh Kovensky
DC secures National Guard victory as nationwide cases remain in limbo
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
The ad is full MAGA. It reads “YOU BE THE JUDGE,” urging candidates to “help write America’s next chapter” and, again in all caps, “DEFINE AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS.”
Part of what this highlights is the position of immigration judge. They are administrative judges authorized to rule on deportation, asylum and other immigration-related cases. They issue final expulsion orders allowing DHS to remove someone from the country; the Trump administration sought to intimidate them earlier this year with mass layoffs, tougher regulations and a broader attack on the concept that an employee of the executive branch — even if it’s an administrative law judge — could be empowered to disagree with the president’s words.
But branding goes further. “DEFINING AMERICA FOR GENERATIONS,” “helping write the next chapter” – this poses some obvious questions: How can being an “eviction judge” accomplish this? Why would kicking people out of the country help “define America for generations”?
The answers are equally blunt and concern the ugly demographic thinking and nods to white nationalist symbolism that permeate current DHS leadership.
But names won’t get you far. If you are interested in applying, the vacancy is listed under “immigration judge”.
—Josh Kovensky
DC secures National Guard victory as nationwide cases remain in limbo
When a federal judge ruled Thursday that the National Guard had been illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court already had all the documents needed to rule on a motion that will affect all cases challenging the incursions.
The District’s victory, against conventional wisdom that DC’s arguments were weaker than those of full states challenging the deployments, found an echo in the void of the Court’s inaction.
The court extended the proceedings last month, after the justices apparently took up an amicus brief asserting that the term “regular forces” in the statute used by President Trump to activate the Guard referred to the military, not civilian law enforcement. Such a distinction is critical as Trump says the Guard deployment is necessary to bolster overworked federal agents and local law enforcement. If the amicus brief is correct, it should first call on active-duty troops — likely under conditions permitting invocation of the Insurrection Act — which the Guard could support if overwhelmed. The justices requested an additional briefing on the issue in late October.
The briefs were both filed Monday. The administration maintains that “regular forces” refers to civilian law enforcement and criticizes Chicago for “flipping” to a “new position” after previously accepting the government’s definition of the term. Chicago adheres to the position of the amicus brief, criticizing the administration for devoting the bulk of its argument to the alleged failure to review the president’s decision to deploy the Guard.
A decision could come any day.
-Kate Riga
Let the censorship wars begin (or end)
The House returned to Capitol Hill for its first full week of work this week, after more than a month away during the government shutdown. But Republican leaders’ hopes for a productive legislative week were short-lived when censorship wars took over the Lower House.
Here’s a quick overview of what happened:
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) has moved to formally reprimand Rep. Chuy García (D-IL), saying the Illinois Democrat deliberately announced his retirement after the filing deadline to ensure his chief of staff was the only Democrat on the ballot.
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) has moved to censure U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over a series of text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a previous congressional hearing.
- Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has moved to censure fellow Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) and remove him from committee assignments over a list of accusations, including allegations that he violated campaign finance laws, engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
- And Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) filed a motion of no confidence — saying he might go so far as to try to expel — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) for allegedly using stolen emergency federal grants to finance her election campaign.
After a week of seemingly incessant no-confidence votes, a bipartisan bill is now gaining traction to try to discourage House members from taking advantage of this once-rare tactic at every turn. This proposal, from Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Don Beyer (D-VA), would require 60 percent of the House — rather than the current simple majority — to censure a member or remove them from committee duty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be “open to having that conversation” when asked about possible censorship reform. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said he was “open-minded about the possibilities of extricating Congress from repeated Republican efforts to censure members.”
-Emine Yucel
CBO: Trump Tariffs Will Reduce Deficit $1 Trillion Less Than Expected
The situation seems to be getting worse and worse with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
On Thursday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised downward its estimate of how much tariffs put in place since January 2025 would reduce the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In August, taxes on international imports are expected to reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion. As of mid-November, the CBO now projects that the deficit will be reduced by $3 trillion.
The downward revision comes in part because the administration has reduced some of its tariff rates on products from China, the EU and Japan since August, and because it has changed its tariff estimates on products from Canada and Mexico. Most recently, Trump removed tariffs on a number of imported food products, including tea, beef, and tropical fruits and juices, allegedly through new “trade deals.” The president is more likely to respond to post-shutdown economic data showing that overall inflation, and that of domestic food, is up from last year and rising. Affordability is declining. And voters are taking notice.
Trump also faces pushback from his party as the president leans heavily on his renewed proposal to send $2,000 tariff checks to Americans. Senate Republicans rejected that idea, saying the deficit is supposed to be used to pay down the debt. This all comes against the backdrop of a looming SCOTUS decision on whether Trump’s tariffs can even stay in place. Justices on both sides expressed skepticism about the legality of the tariffs during oral arguments earlier this month.
-Layla A. Jones
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