Trump demands $230M in taxpayer money
Donald Trump wants the Justice Department he controls to pay him $230 million in taxpayer money. It appears that the payment would have to be approved by top Justice Department officials Trump appointed who at on time served as Trump’s attorneys. Trump claims he’s owned the money as compensation because of the prosecution involving classified documents and other government property that was found at his Mar-a-Lago resort and because of the case that was brought involving an investigation into Russian support to help elect Trump. After Trump won the election the federal cases against him were dropped.
Merkley charges Trump is shredding the Constitution
In a marathon speech on the Senate floor that began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon said the U.S. is facing “the biggest threat to our republic since the Civil War. President Trump is shredding our Constitution.” Merkley said that Trump has made false claims of chaos and riots in Portland, Oregon, so that he can falsely claim there’s a rebellion and he can use that to strengthen his authoritarian grip on the nation. Merkley displayed a large sign declaring that authoritarianism is now a fact here in the U.S. He called on Republicans to join the movement to save democracy in the U.S.
Trump nominee withdraws after texts made public
Paul Ingrassia, who is currently Donald Trump’s White House liaison for the Department of Homeland Security, has withdrawn his name from consideration to head the Office of Special Counsel. Ingrassia lost much of his Republican support on Capitol Hill following the disclosure of text messages he had sent. Politico reported that in text messages Ingrassia described himself as having “a Nazi streak.” He also put out a text calling for the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday to be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.” Senate Minority Leader Church Schumer called for Trump to fire Ingrassia from his White House job.
Trump confirms cancellation of summit with Putin
After having built up the possibility a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin resulting in a peace deal in the war Russia started by invading Ukraine, Donald Trump admitted yesterday that the summit won’t take place and that Putin does not intend to agree to a peace deal right now. Russia launched an air attack on Ukraine today, killing at least six people and causing power outages across much of the country. Explosions jolted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and damaged residential areas. Russia is once again targeting energy facilities to wipe out heat and water for Ukrainians as they head into winter. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says Putin lost interest in negotiating a settlement since Trump refused to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. Zelenskyy argues that Ukraine’s ability to strike deep in Russian territory might be the key to forcing Putin to consider a peace deal.
Tropical storm Melissa churns in the Caribbean
Tropical Storm Melissa could strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend and potentially slam the northern Caribbean with heavy rain and strong winds. Meteorologists have warned of the potential for significant flooding and dangerous mudslides across parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Haiti, while Jamaica is under a tropical storm watch. It’s currently unlikely that Melissa will directly impact the U.S. mainland, although details are still coming into focus. Puerto Rico, however, is much more likely to experience storm effects in the coming days.
Americans are falling behind on car payments
A growing number of lower-income Americans are falling behind on their car payments, new data shows. The percentage of subprime borrowers — those with credit scores below 670 — who are at least 60 days late on their car loans has doubled since 2021 to 6.43%, according to Fitch Ratings. America’s current subprime delinquency rate is at the second-highest level since the early 1990s. While prime borrowers are mostly staying current on their car payments, vehicles are also being repossessed at the highest rate since the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. Since car loans are usually the last payments Americans skip, economists worry this trend signals deeper trouble if the labor market grows considerably weaker and layoffs increase.
