How a routine spending bill turned Washington upside down
2 days, 19 hours ago

How a routine spending bill turned Washington upside down

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—There was much to celebrate when House Speaker Mike Johnson walked into Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Donald Trump just after the November election. Attendees in the private box with the lawmakers said Trump and Musk didn’t voice major concerns about the pending spending package. Republican lawmakers contacted Musk and Ramaswamy to voice their own concerns about the original bill’s spending proposals, according to people familiar with the matter. For hours, lawmakers waited for Trump to say something, wondering if Musk and Ramaswamy’s angry social-media rants reflected the president-elect’s position. Shortly after the Trump-backed spending bill failed Thursday night, Trump’s ally Steve Bannon took the stage at a rally of the president’s supporters in Phoenix.

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History of this topic

Elon Musk brings his messy way of doing things to Washington
20 hours, 9 minutes ago

Elon Musk brings his messy way of doing things to Washington

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—The first test of Elon Musk’s attempt to rein in Congress and its prolific spending threatened to shut down the government. In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s surprise collapse, Democrats began calling Musk the co-president—seemingly a coordinated jab aimed at sowing discord between Trump and Musk—while some Republicans suggested that Musk replace Johnson as speaker of the House. Until this …

What the spending fight portends for the next Congress and the Trump administration
1 day, 5 hours ago

What the spending fight portends for the next Congress and the Trump administration

NPR  

What the spending fight portends for the next Congress and the Trump administration The federal government remains open for business. That's because Congress managed to avoid a government shutdown on Friday evening that would have hit families right before the holidays. SPRUNT: That's right, after his top advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, trashed the bill on social media. SPRUNT: Well, we …

'Blindsided' and 'furious' Trump turned Elon Musk loose on House leadership: insider
1 day, 16 hours ago

'Blindsided' and 'furious' Trump turned Elon Musk loose on House leadership: insider

Raw Story  

According to a deep dive into how House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to get most of his caucus and Donald Trump to agree on a budget package that kept the government working until March, the Washington Post is reporting that Johnson "blindsided" the president-elect by also negotiating with Democrats. That, in turn, led Trump to prompt billionaire adviser Elon Musk …

Trump rejects taunts that Elon Musk is real power behind US president-elect
Trending News
2 days, 5 hours ago

Trump rejects taunts that Elon Musk is real power behind US president-elect

Al Jazeera  

Statements come amid criticism of Musk’s involvement in budget negotiations, outsized role in Trump transition. United States President-elect Donald Trump has pushed back on the notion that he has “ceded the presidency” to billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken an outsized role in the president-elect’s transition into the White House. “He wasn’t born in this country.” The South African-born Musk …

Government shutdown: It's Elon Musk's world, and we're just living in it.
2 days, 18 hours ago

Government shutdown: It's Elon Musk's world, and we're just living in it.

Slate  

This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become. “This bill should not pass.” —Elon Musk writing on X about the stopgap government funding bill H.R. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, as Congress was scheduled to pass a bipartisan spending bill that …

US House Of Representatives Passes Legislation To Prevent Government Shutdown
Trending News
2 days, 21 hours ago

US House Of Representatives Passes Legislation To Prevent Government Shutdown

ABP News  

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives passed legislation to prevent a midnight government shutdown on Friday, defying President-elect Donald Trump's call to approve trillions of dollars in new debt. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X that he is “confident” the Senate will vote to avert a shutdown and hopes “to get it passed as soon as possible.” The legislation …

Senate passes 11th-hour stopgap spending bill to avert holiday shutdown
2 days, 23 hours ago

Senate passes 11th-hour stopgap spending bill to avert holiday shutdown

Raw Story  

The Democratic-led Senate passed an 11th-hour stopgap funding bill to avert a holiday shutdown of the federal government. The GOP's first attempt at a spending bill collapsed Wednesday, with tech billionaire Elon Musk and Trump coming out against it. "We are excited about this outcome," House Speaker Mike Johnson said, calling it "America First legislation" and particularly celebrating how it …

'Bent to the will' of Elon Musk: Not all House lawmakers happy with spending bill
3 days, 5 hours ago

'Bent to the will' of Elon Musk: Not all House lawmakers happy with spending bill

Raw Story  

After a whirlwind of chaos this week that saw tech billionaire Elon Musk threaten Republicans into blocking a bipartisan funding deal to keep the government open, and the GOP failing to pass a stripped-down partisan version after dozens of their own members defected, the House finally passed a funding bill on Friday evening. The finished bill — which now heads …

“Who is in charge?”: Top Democrats criticize Musk’s role in government shutdown drama
3 days, 5 hours ago

“Who is in charge?”: Top Democrats criticize Musk’s role in government shutdown drama

Salon  

Prominent Democrats lambasted Elon Musk’s influence on negotiations to avert this weekend’s potential government shutdown, questioning his behind-the-scenes role in shaping Republican strategy. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said Musk’s involvement suggested he was “calling the shots for Trump and Republicans,” asking pointedly, “Who is in charge?” The criticism followed a turbulent week on Capitol …

Week in politics: The threat of a government shutdown dominated political news this week.
3 days, 5 hours ago

Week in politics: The threat of a government shutdown dominated political news this week.

NPR  

Week in politics: The threat of a government shutdown dominated political news this week. NPR's national political correspondent Sarah McCammon joins us now. Musk called the initial spending bill gigantic and horrible and said nothing should be passed until Trump takes office. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for director …

Musk helped kill a congressional spending bill. But much of what he spread was misinformation
3 days, 7 hours ago

Musk helped kill a congressional spending bill. But much of what he spread was misinformation

Associated Press  

President-elect Donald Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk played a key role this week in killing a bipartisan funding proposal that would have prevented a government shutdown, railing against the plan in a torrent of more than 100 X posts that included multiple false claims. Now there’s a new social media bully in town, pushing the champion social media bully around.” …

US Spending Bill Backed by Donald Trump Fails To Get Republican Support At Congress Risks Govt Shutdown Amid Christmas 2024 Rush
3 days, 14 hours ago

US Spending Bill Backed by Donald Trump Fails To Get Republican Support At Congress Risks Govt Shutdown Amid Christmas 2024 Rush

ABP News  

A spending bill supported by Donald Trump failed in the US House of Representatives on Thursday, as dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect. The vote exposed deep divisions within Trump's Republican Party, which could resurface next year when the party takes control of the White House and both chambers of US Congress. Trump had pressed lawmakers to resolve pending issues …

'Hurts everyone': Finger-pointing takes over social media after spending bill implodes
4 days, 3 hours ago

'Hurts everyone': Finger-pointing takes over social media after spending bill implodes

Raw Story  

The spectacular implosion of the Donald Trump-backed temporary spending bill sent Washington insiders and political observers into a mad dash to explain their position – and in some cases criticize their own party. “The takeover is complete,” Condé Naste legal affairs editor Luke Zaleski posted to his social media feed after the failed vote Thursday. “Trump and Musk told congressional …

New spending bill to avert shutdown fails despite Trump and Musk's MAGA seal of approval
4 days, 5 hours ago

New spending bill to avert shutdown fails despite Trump and Musk's MAGA seal of approval

Raw Story  

An 11th-hour spending bill that would avert a holiday shutdown of the federal government failed to pass Thursday evening, a day before the current funding bill is set to expire. President-elect Donald Trump and close ally Elon Musk on Wednesday helped kill House Republicans' first attempt at a funding bill, which would've funded the government through mid-March. Trump, Musk and …

Trump-backed spending bill voted down as US government shutdown looms
4 days, 5 hours ago

Trump-backed spending bill voted down as US government shutdown looms

Al Jazeera  

US House of Representatives rejects spending bill as US edges closer to partial government shutdown. The United States House of Representatives has rejected a spending bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump, raising the likelihood of a partial government shutdown as millions of Americans prepare to travel during the holiday season. The Republican-led bill was a last-ditch effort to avert a …

House fails to pass Republican bill to avert shutdown after Trump sinks bipartisan agreement
Trending News
4 days, 5 hours ago

House fails to pass Republican bill to avert shutdown after Trump sinks bipartisan agreement

China Daily  

The US Capitol building is shrouded in haze in Washington, DC, the United States, on June 7, 2023. WASHINGTON -- The US House of Representatives failed on Thursday to pass a new Republican spending bill after President-elect Donald Trump sank a bipartisan stopgap bill, leaving lawmakers just one day to approve new funding to avert a government shutdown. The vote …

The picture that tells you everything you need to know about what DOGE will do to the federal government
4 days, 6 hours ago

The picture that tells you everything you need to know about what DOGE will do to the federal government

Daily Mail  

It appears Elon Musk's mandate from Donald Trump to eliminate the government bloat is already well underway. Speaker Mike Johnson scrambled to craft a last-minute spending bill to avoid a government shutdown after Trump and Musk tanked his initial plan. Musk posted a photo on X of the stack of pages in the legislation showing 'Yesterday's bill' versus 'today's bill' …

‘Hell no!’ New ‘extreme MAGA’ spending plan draws chants from outraged Democrats
4 days, 6 hours ago

‘Hell no!’ New ‘extreme MAGA’ spending plan draws chants from outraged Democrats

Raw Story  

A closed-door meeting of Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill spiraled into a raucous revolt of the new GOP spending bill that influenced repeated chants of “Hell no!” “This is not serious. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown.” Jeffries’ comments came as members of the House Democratic caucus huddled in the Capitol basement to weigh their options …

'It costs money!' Some Republicans push back at Musk's pressure to shut down government
4 days, 10 hours ago

'It costs money!' Some Republicans push back at Musk's pressure to shut down government

Raw Story  

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk’s dumb for a smart guy — at least according to Republicans questioning why the man promising to save the government trillions is on the glide path to costing it billions. “And then it costs money to open up the government.” Some Republicans on Capitol Hill fear Trump’s now following Musk’s lead — a move that has …

'President Musk' trends after Trump's top oligarch torpedoes federal spending deal
4 days, 11 hours ago

'President Musk' trends after Trump's top oligarch torpedoes federal spending deal

Raw Story  

Congress is careening toward a government shutdown after U.S. President-elect Trump, egged on by billionaire Elon Musk—who helped bankroll Trump's reelection campaign and is slated to help oversee cuts to government spending and regulation in the new administration—torpedoed a federal spending bill that would have kept the government open for the next few months. These sorts of remarks continued Thursday, …

Democrats blast influence of ‘President Elon Musk’ over Trump amid spending deal row
Trending News
4 days, 14 hours ago

Democrats blast influence of ‘President Elon Musk’ over Trump amid spending deal row

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Democrats have slammed Elon Musk after his opposition to House …

Report shows Musk and Trump pushed GOP to kill the bill to keep government open
4 days, 17 hours ago

Report shows Musk and Trump pushed GOP to kill the bill to keep government open

Raw Story  

President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have succeeded in getting House Republicans to kill what was expected to be an easily-passed continuing resolution that would keep the federal government open and avert a costly and confusing shutdown just days before Christmas. "And just like that," observed NBC News' Garret Haake, "we’re teetering on the edge of a government shutdown, as …

Musk draws first blood with spending bill bombshell
4 days, 18 hours ago

Musk draws first blood with spending bill bombshell

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—With a 4:15 a.m. ET social-media post on Wednesday, Elon Musk declared that a must-do spending bill “should not pass." Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said it wasn’t difficult to see why Musk and Ramaswamy would object to the spending proposal, saying it “circumvents the very principles of how we are supposed to …

Musk's outrage spurs Trump to block bipartisan budget, government shutdown looms
5 days, 3 hours ago

Musk's outrage spurs Trump to block bipartisan budget, government shutdown looms

Hindustan Times  

President-elect Donald Trump delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations on Wednesday, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition. “Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X as …

Trump was gliding into his inauguration. Now he’s facing a big mess.
5 days, 5 hours ago

Trump was gliding into his inauguration. Now he’s facing a big mess.

Politico  

Two shocks to the system this week have cast Washington into chaos as Republicans scramble to avoid a self-created looming government shutdown and weather a market slide at the peak of the holiday season. “As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR, Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view,” incoming White House Press Secretary …

Facing government shutdown, Trump and Republican allies scuttle budget bill
5 days, 5 hours ago

Facing government shutdown, Trump and Republican allies scuttle budget bill

Al Jazeera  

Trump was one of several prominent Republicans in the incoming administration to denounce the bill on social media. But Trump has shown little aversion to political brinkmanship, and his opposition to the current stopgap bill — or “continuing resolution” — is poised to avoid another government shutdown early in his second term. “We don’t normally like what’s called a continuing …

Trump, Musk wreak year-end havoc in Washington: Early signs of a volatile Trump 2.0?
5 days, 5 hours ago

Trump, Musk wreak year-end havoc in Washington: Early signs of a volatile Trump 2.0?

India Today  

US President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk have apparently unleashed chaos at the Capitol, with the duo seeking to derail a short-term spending compromise crafted by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, according to a CNN report. This bill should not pass https://t.co/3y7rZ23K4Z — Elon Musk December 18, 2024 Musk's criticism prompted Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance …

Trump attempts to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk's help
5 days, 6 hours ago

Trump attempts to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk's help

Associated Press  

▶ Follow live updates on federal funding negotiations as a government shutdown looms. AP AUDIO: Trump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk’s help AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports President-elect Donald Trump has sunk a deal to keep the government funded days before a shutdown deadline. “The people who elected us are …

GOP mulls killing stopgap funding bill after Musk sends 'shockwaves' through Capitol
5 days, 7 hours ago

GOP mulls killing stopgap funding bill after Musk sends 'shockwaves' through Capitol

Raw Story  

Lawmakers are considering killing a stopgap bill that would fund the federal government through mid-March — and avert a holiday shutdown — after an Elon Musk X post sent "shockwaves" through Capitol Hill. Chad Pergram, senior congressional correspondent for Fox News, reported on air that lawmakers may try to "pull this interim spending bill off the floor." "Here's what happened …

Who answers to who? Fox News demands Speaker Johnson defend spending bill to Elon Musk
Trending News
5 days, 11 hours ago

Who answers to who? Fox News demands Speaker Johnson defend spending bill to Elon Musk

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself cornered live on Fox …

Elon Musk fueled backlash to spending plan with false and misleading claims
6 days, 5 hours ago

Elon Musk fueled backlash to spending plan with false and misleading claims

Politico  

Among the 100-plus tweets Musk sent as part of his campaign were a number of misleading or outright false claims — a possible preview of the mogul’s new role as co-leader of a Trump-blessed effort to slash government funding. We will be fine for 33 days.” Another Musk post said a shutdown “doesn’t actually shut down critical functions.” But while …

"It’s clear who’s in charge": House GOP scraps funding bill after Trump, Musk tirades
6 days, 5 hours ago

"It’s clear who’s in charge": House GOP scraps funding bill after Trump, Musk tirades

Salon  

A proposed bill to fund the federal government beyond this Friday is dead in the water after it was objected to by President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. "There's no new agreement right now," Scalise said, admitting that the original agreement was a no-go among House GOP hardliners. Scalise told CNN that "there's no new agreement right now" and …

"Call their bluff": Trump, Vance urge GOP lawmakers to vote down emergency government funding bill
6 days, 5 hours ago

"Call their bluff": Trump, Vance urge GOP lawmakers to vote down emergency government funding bill

Salon  

President-elect Donald Trump is urging members of his party to vote down a resolution that would fund the federal government into March. In a joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance shared by Vance on social media, the incoming executives said that Republican legislators should "call bluff" of congressional Democrats and push for a new resolution that doesn't include spending …

Elon Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his
2 weeks ago

Elon Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his

Associated Press  

DES MOINES, Iowa — A week after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would “play a significant role in primaries.” The following week, the billionaire responded to a report that he might fund challengers to GOP House members who don’t support Trump’s nominees. Purchasing Twitter, truly making it a free speech platform, I think, was …

'Disaster': Senior Republican aide predicts what will get Elon Musk 'bounced by Trump'
2 weeks, 4 days ago

'Disaster': Senior Republican aide predicts what will get Elon Musk 'bounced by Trump'

Raw Story  

X CEO Elon Musk is scheduled to meet with congressional Republicans to pitch his drastic budget-cutting plans, and it's already causing concern for some on Capitol Hill. An unnamed Republican Senate aide who spoke with Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman on Thursday predicted that Musk and fellow Department of Government Efficiency leader Vivek Ramaswamy would create massive political headaches for Republicans …

GOP lawmakers try to draft DOGE leaders to their side of the spending war
2 weeks, 5 days ago

GOP lawmakers try to draft DOGE leaders to their side of the spending war

Politico  

“They’re just gonna have to shame my colleagues into cutting spending,” Massie said of Musk and Ramaswamy. Roy said he told the duo during the GOP’s widely attended meeting Thursday afternoon that “you’re looking for the problem, and the problem’s in that room.” “They’re just gonna have to shame my colleagues into cutting spending.” Rep. Thomas Massie said of Musk …

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term
1 month ago

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term

LA Times  

President-elect Donald Trump walks with Elon Musk before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket last week in Boca Chica, Texas. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy …

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘budget cuts’ could spark constitutional clash in Trump presidency: Report
1 month ago

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘budget cuts’ could spark constitutional clash in Trump presidency: Report

Live Mint  

When Elon Musk first proposed a new initiative to reduce the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea But now that Trump has won the election, Musk's fantasy is becoming reality, with the potential to spark a constitutional clash over the balance of power in Washington, reported AP, citing Elon …

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term
1 month ago

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive …

Trump taps Musk to lead a 'Department of Government Efficiency' with Ramaswamy
1 month, 1 week ago

Trump taps Musk to lead a 'Department of Government Efficiency' with Ramaswamy

NPR  

Trump taps Musk to lead a 'Department of Government Efficiency' with Ramaswamy toggle caption Andrew Caballero-Reynolds and Alain Jocard/AFP via Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head what he's calling the "Department of Government Efficiency" — an acronym that is an apparent wink to the dog-themed cryptocurrency by the same name that started …

Musk's Spending Cuts Plan: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Musk's Spending Cuts Plan: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility

Live Mint  

Elon Musk outlines his plans to reduce federal spending if Donald Trump is re-elected. Musk proposes drastic budget cuts, aiming to eliminate $2 trillion from the budget and ensure long-term economic prosperity. He emphasizes the need for fiscal responsibility and believes that everyone will have to take a haircut to achieve this goal.

Democrats call for Elon Musk to be investigated over his 'dark money' $1M giveaway to swing state voters
2 months ago

Democrats call for Elon Musk to be investigated over his 'dark money' $1M giveaway to swing state voters

Daily Mail  

Democrats have called for an investigation into Elon Musk after the tech heavyweight said he will be giving away $1million every day to anybody who signs his new petition supporting the first and second amendments. Josh Shapiro joined the symphony of voices calling out Musk - saying that the $1million gifts are 'dark money' that law enforcement ought to investigate …

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