Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress the U.S. reached its borrowing limit on Thursday and began taking “extraordinary steps” to avoid defaulting on its debt.
The Supreme Court says it still doesn’t know who leaked last year’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade — but there are some possible steps to prevent it from happening again.
Here’s what’s happening in the political world today:
- Official: U.S. hits debt ceiling
- SCOTUS still doesn’t know who leaked draft abortion opinion
- Joe Biden visits storm-ravaged California
- Abortion marches to be held across the country this weekend
- GOP governor tells USA TODAY that George Santos was ‘just a joke’
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Who Leaked the Draft SCOTUS Abortion Opinion?
The Supreme Court Marshal, who led the investigation, reviewed forensic evidence and interviewed nearly 100 court employees, the statement said. Investigators recommended reducing the number of documents employees are allowed to access and recommending that the court update its security policies.
“But so far, the team has been unable to identify those responsible based on the overwhelming amount of evidence,” the court statement said.
Read the full story here:Supreme Court says investigators can’t identify leaker of draft abortion opinion
Democrats Oppose House GOP’s New Goal: National Sales Tax
Democrats blasted Republicans on Thursday over a proposed 30% national sales tax.
But even if the Republican-controlled House approves the sales tax, the Democratic-controlled Senate would reject it.
“Wait: House Republicans want a 30% national sales tax on everything from groceries to gas?” Twitter Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “They want to raise taxes on working-class and middle-class families while cutting taxes on millionaires and billionaires?”
Rep. Buddy Carter, the Republican who introduced the sales tax bill, said the bill includes a “prebate,” which he described as an “advance tax payment to every legal American household that meets the national poverty line at the beginning of each month.”
Writing in the Washington Observer, Carter said the plan “would capture taxes from anyone who spends money in the United States.”
– David Jackson
Your money and politics:What would happen if the US hit the debt ceiling? Here’s what to expect when we hit the debt ceiling.
Debt ceiling hit, Treasury secretary tells Congress
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress on Thursday that the department had begun Take “extraordinary measures” after the country hits its borrowing limit.
“I respectfully urge Congress to act swiftly to protect the full integrity and credibility of the United States,” she said.
U.S. reaches credit limit:Treasury begins ‘unconventional’ steps amid fears of debt default
House Republicans zero in on Biden’s border policy
The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., will hold a hearing on Feb. 6 investigating President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
“President Biden’s aggressive open borders agenda has unleashed the worst border crisis in American history,” Comer said in a statement Thursday.
U.S. Border Patrol agents will give testimony about securing the border.
“Republicans will hold the Biden administration accountable for this ongoing humanitarian, national security and public health crisis that has turned every town into a border town,” Comer said.
— Rachel Luke
First Frontier Tour:Biden faces pleas for help with immigration crisis as he visits El Paso
Abortion marches focus on elections for state judges
A series of parades are planned this week in connection with Roe’s 50th anniversary. v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned a ruling that guaranteed the federal right to abortion.Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate say they are Now focus on state courts, especially the election of state Supreme Court judges.
Organizers of the Women’s March are planning their flagship event Sunday in Wisconsin, which has become the site of a closely watched battle for a state Supreme Court seat. The state court currently holds a 4-3 conservative majority as it considers a challenge to the state’s abortion ban.
New legal strategy:Post-Roe abortion battle draws attention to state judicial races
“The political landscape has fundamentally changed,” said Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of the Women’s March, noting that a lawsuit is still pending in Wisconsin over the state’s 1849 ban on abortion. “In general, the Wisconsin ban will be decided by the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court will be decided by the people of Wisconsin.”
Anti-abortion groups marched in Washington, D.C., on Friday, and advocates told USA TODAY that those groups are also keeping a close eye on state judicial elections.
— john fritz
Before:Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, strikes down constitutional right to abortion
Florida Rep. Greg Steube recovers from 25-foot fall in Sarasota
A Republican congressman from Florida has recovered from a 25-foot fall and remains in intensive care. Rep. Greg Steube was trimming branches when he fell off a ladder on Wednesday.Our colleagues The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a member of the USA TODAY network, has the latest news:
Steube was taken to the hospital’s intensive care unit after a bystander witnessed the incident and called 911. He remained in the intensive care unit Thursday morning, according to his office.
“He is making progress and is in good spirits,” Stubb’s office said in a statement Thursday.
— donovan slake
understand more:Rep. Greg Steube in ICU overnight after falling 25 feet from ladder; injuries ‘non-life threatening’
‘Boy Meets World’ Actor Ben Savage Runs for Congress, Seeks to Fill Rep. Adam Schiff’s Seat
Actor Ben Savage, 42 boy meets the world So famous that he is running for Congress, seeking to win the United States House of Representatives in California’s 30th district. He will replace Adam Schiff, a Democrat from Burbank.
Savage is a registered Democrat. He filed documents with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, according to deadline.
Schiff is expected to run for the Senate, replacing Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein did not say whether she would run for re-election.
barbarians are brothers miracle years Actor and director Fred Savage.
— Holly Rosencrantz
Who controls the House of Representatives now? :Despite a poor performance in the midterm elections, the Republicans won enough to flip the House.that’s what they do
On Roe v. Wade anniversary, Harris advances abortion fight with Florida trip
Vice President Kamala Harris The ongoing abortion fight will be addressed on a trip to Florida Sunday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
The state is one of many where Republicans are changing abortion laws after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark case in June. Harris has sought to make reproductive rights a key issue in her political mix, and the trip was aimed at emphasizing that abortion remains a priority for the Biden administration.
Harris’ trip also put the spotlight on the hometown of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate. Democrats want to emphasize their stance on protecting abortion access in states because they see it as a popular issue with voters.
— Associated Press
gallery:A Look at Vice President Kamala Harris’ Career
George Santos ‘just a joke’, McCarthy should tell him to resign: GOP governor
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy should call on New York Rep. George Santos to resign, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu told USA TODAY.
“Yes. Of course,” Sununu said in an interview Wednesday. “I can’t wait to see his resume next week. I mean, at this point, the guy is just a joke.”
Colleagues say resignation:Six Republican congressmen from New York say embattled Rep. George Santos should resign over lies
He said Republicans must “come out of the scandal” but at this point, he added, “I don’t know what they can do.”
Republicans hold a majority in the House of Representatives by just four seats, and McCarthy is unlikely to accept the prospect of a cut. “He can ask for his resignation, but I don’t know what he gets out of it,” Sununu said. “But I would, yes.”
— Francesca Chambers
Santos in Congress:Investigators circle, speakers vote as Santos fiddles with his phone
Why is this:Are California’s storms normal, or are climate change making them worse?
Questions Remain About Classified Biden Documents
the white house is still there More than a week after announcing the first discovery of classified material, classified documents found at the home and former private office of U.S. President Joe Biden do not answer key questions.
- Why didn’t the White House disclose the existence of these documents as soon as they were discovered?
- Are all files found?
- How many documents were found?
- What does the file contain?
- Why were documents taken to Biden’s private office and residence?
The revelations about his retention of documents have turned into a White House crisis, sapping the president’s momentum in the midterm elections and giving Republicans a new direction to attack.
Complicating matters is the White House’s inability or unwillingness to provide more answers. Administration officials said they did not want to interfere with the Justice Department’s investigation into what happened.
— Joey Garrison
Read the full story here:5 key things we still don’t know about the Biden documents
Biden assesses California flood and storm damage
President Joe Biden will witness the devastation caused by storms, floods and landslides in California on Thursday.
Biden will visit the hardest-hit Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. The staggering amount of snow and rain that has hit California in recent weeks has caused at least some damage in most counties.
Accompanied by FEMA Administrator Dean Criswell, Biden will meet with California Governor Gavin Newsom and other elected officials.
“He has been in close contact with the governor and local local officials,” White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.
— Maureen Gropp
Abortion opponents prepare to march
Anti-abortion advocates are heading to Washington, D.C. on Friday for their annual march, even though they only achieved a long-held goal last year: the Supreme Court ruling Fight Roe v. Wade.
Organizers of the “March for Life” say they are now targeting political rather than legal targets, and while marchers in past years have ended in front of the Supreme Court building, this year’s finish was closer to the U.S. Capitol, Congress Hosted by the location. They hope to rally support for anti-abortion legislation in Congress across the country and state legislatures.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said there was “a whole new anti-abortion movement” after the overturning of Roe’s ruling. “This is the first week.”
Supporters of abortion rights will also head to the nation’s capital this weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade ruling.
— david jackson
Before:Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, strikes down constitutional right to abortion
