Democrats Reopen Government, Misplace Their ACA Bargaining Chip
Sen. Chris Murphy says Democrats blundered by reopening the government without securing an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire in January, a choice he argues could invite sharp premium hikes. Translation, they reopened the doors and left their leverage on the curb, right next to the looming rate increases. Congressional strategy by vibes, premiums by sticker shock.
U.S. Strike Kills Three on Suspected Narco-Trafficking Boat, Carrier Group Enters Caribbean
The U.S. military says it hit an alleged drug trafficking vessel in international waters, killing three people it described as narco terrorists tied to a designated group. A day later, the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group arrived in the Caribbean, a conspicuous show of force. The deaths are real, the message is unmistakable, and the delivery system weighs roughly 100,000 tons.
Kash Patel Touts China Pressure on Fentanyl, Promises Fast Results as Beijing Tightens Controls
On Sunday Morning Futures, Kash Patel credited Trump era pressure on Beijing and said the U.S. is close to turning off the fentanyl pipeline, calling China the main source of key precursors. He pointed to an FBI director visit to Beijing, he said the first by a bureau chief in a decade, and referenced DOJ and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said, in talks that listed 13 precursors and restricted seven chemicals. Days later, China’s Commerce Ministry announced tighter controls on fentanyl related chemicals, and Trump posted that Beijing pledged to help stem the flow. The stakes are grim, with NIH and CDC data pointing to more than 70,000 synthetic opioid deaths in both 2022 and 2023 and overdoses leading deaths for Americans under 45 last year. Lofty promises meet hard math, now Beijing’s paperwork has to outrun cartel chemistry.
Thousands in Crowborough Protest Plan to House Asylum Seekers as Home Office Scrambles
Roughly 2,000 residents marched against placing 540 single men at a former army camp in the East Sussex town, citing GP shortages, safety concerns near a firearms training site, and what organizers call unvetted arrivals. A previous meeting needed private security after local politicians were chased out, and Wealden District Council blamed a Home Office information vacuum for stoking anger. The Home Office apologized, says all residents will undergo checks and conduct briefings, and argues using military sites will end hotel stays before the next election. The Home Secretary is floating wider reforms like scrapping housing and weekly allowances and a 20 year path to settlement. Translation, jam tomorrow, camp today, and Westminster acts surprised when the crowd shouts Starmer out. Maybe try information first, improvisation later.
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