WTF Just Happened Today

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

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• Editor’s note: WTFJHT is currently on Infrastructure Week holiday. This will be the last edition of WTFJHT until Monday, January 4. (There will also be a members-only update on the state of WTFJHT next week, so if you want in on that, be sure to become a supporting member). In the mean time, I hope you all have a safe and happy New Years, and – please! – don’t forgot to watch your distance, wear your mask, and wash your damn hands. I’m glad you’re here.

1/ Mitch McConnell blocked a House-passed bill to increase stimulus checks in the coronavirus relief package from $600 to $2,000, saying instead that the Senate would “begin a process” to consider bigger payments. The Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (Cash) Act passed the House with a bipartisan 275-to-134 vote. Trump, responding to the Senate developments, tweeted for McConnell to act unless he and other Republicans have a “death wish.” (Washington Post / New York Times / NPR / CNBC / Politico / Bloomberg / Washington Post / NBC News / The Guardian)

2/ The House voted to override Trump’s veto of the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act – the first time a chamber of Congress has agreed to override a Trump veto. In a string of tweets, Trump wrote “WE NEED NEW & ENERGETIC REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP,” calling them “weak and tired,” and the override vote “a disgraceful act of cowardice.” Mitch McConnell said the Senate would vote Wednesday on the military policy bill. Bernie Sanders, however, promised to filibuster the override vote of Trump’s veto unless the Senate holds a vote on providing $2,000 direct payments to Americans. (New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / Politico / Axios)

3/ Trump signed the coronavirus stimulus package and spending bill to avert a government shutdown, but not befor...

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