1. The clock is ticking. We're now very close to a government shutdown and there's no solution in sight. Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over how to fund the government. Without congressional action, the shutdown starts just after midnight. Now we've heard this story before, but this time, it's a bit different. President Trump is threatening mass firings of federal workers. In previous shutdowns, the concern was furloughs, so that raises the stakes. This could also impact airports across the country, with more than 58-thousand TSA workers and 13-thousand air traffic controllers working without pay. Senate Democrats say this is now in the President's hands because they won't support a 'stop-gap' Republican bill to extend federal funding.
2. Don't panic if you don't see your Social Security check in the mail this week. As of today, payments are going out electronically due to modernization, efficiency and speed, security and cost savings. The Prepaid Card Option is for federal benefit recipients who do not have bank accounts. Even if a U.S. government shutdown begins at midnight, the 74 million Americans who collect Social Security will continue receiving their monthly checks, although some services could be disrupted due to a potential halt in federal activities.
3. A new book written by Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride comes out today. The book is titled “A City on the Edge: Pandemic, Protest, and Polarization.” The focus is the unprecedented year of 2020. Back in 2020, he had just been elected Tosa's mayor. He had to navigate the pandemic, protests over racial injustice, a mass shooting at the mall, and a high-stakes presidential race.