1 Democrats Say They've Reached A Deal To Avoid A Long Federal Government Shutdown
Senate Democrats voted unanimously yesterday to block a package of six funding bills that would fund large portions of the government through September, meaning a partial shutdown could still happen at midnight tonight. The bill failed to advance by a vote of 45-55, falling short of the 60 votes needed to proceed, with multiple Republicans also voting against the package. If a deal is reached, Democrats would eventually need to vote yes on advancing the six-bill package, and Majority Leader John Thune retained the right to call up the same vote if progress is made. Negotiations are centered on temporarily extending DHS funding through a short-term bill, giving both sides more time to discuss policy changes. Even if a deal is reached, a short partial shutdown is likely since any changes would need House approval, and the House is in recess until Monday.
2 Man Arrested For Allegedly Posing As FBI Agent To Break Luigi Mangione Out Of Prison
A Minnesota man was charged yesterday with impersonating an FBI agent after he showed up at a federal prison in New York claiming to have a court order to release accused killer Luigi Mangione. Thirty-five-year-old Mark Anderson was arrested at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn late Wednesday after prison workers asked for credentials, and he produced only a Minnesota driver's license and claimed to possess weapons. He displayed documents "related to filing claims against the United States Department of Justice." In his backpack, workers found a barbecue fork and a round steel blade resembling a pizza cutter. Anderson had traveled from Minnesota for a job opportunity that didn't work out.
3 President Trump Sues IRS And Treasury Department For $10-Billion
President Trump is suing the IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion, alleging they failed to prevent a former IRS employee from leaking his tax returns to news outlets. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in Miami, includes Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization as plaintiffs. Former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison in 2024 after pleading guilty to leaking Trump's tax records to "The New York Times", which reported in 2020 that Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017. The complaint claims the agencies caused "reputational and financial harm." The money, if paid, would come from American taxpayers.