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1 President Trump Announces "Warrior Dividend" For Service Members
President Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation last night from the White House. The speech came as polls show his approval rating below 40-percent, with many Americans unhappy about the economy. Trump was expected to highlight his accomplishments from his first 11 months back in office and discuss actions against Venezuela, and he did, but he also announced $1,776 payments to military service members before Christmas.
2 Officials Say President Trump Will Sign Executive Order Reclassifying Marijuana
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as today that would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, one of the biggest changes to federal drug policy in decades. Schedule I is the government's strictest category, reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse, like heroin and LSD. The change would not make recreational marijuana legal at the federal level, but it could open the door for more medical research and lower taxes for state-licensed marijuana businesses. Some House Republicans oppose the move, arguing there isn't enough science to support it and that it could send the wrong message to kids about marijuana being safe.
3 House Passes GOP Healthcare Bill Without ACA Subsidies
The House passed a Republican health care bill last night with a 216-211 vote, but the measure does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire. Earlier in the day, four moderate Republicans broke from party leadership and signed onto a Democratic effort to force a separate vote on extending the ACA subsidies for three years. That vote won't happen until January at the earliest. Republican leadership in the House announced last night that the votes scheduled for tomorrow have been canceled.