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With a government shutdown averted, funding for Israel and Ukraine remains in the air

Nov 17, 2023
A bipartisan group of Senators is working on a compromise on immigration that would be included in a broader package of aid for Ukraine and Israel.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives also passed a $14 billion aid package for Israel, with no funding for Ukraine.
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The economic impact of Kevin McCarthy's ouster as House speaker

What developments in the House could mean for a potential government shutdown, funding for Ukraine and more.
With Kevin McCarthy being removed as speaker of the House of Representatives, the chances of a government shutdown in November have increased, according to Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

The messy money reality at the center of the debt ceiling fight

Raising the federal government’s borrowing limit isn’t about spending. It’s about how money works.
Unless the White House and Congressional leaders can make a deal to lift or suspend the debt limit, the U.S. could default on its debts as soon as June 1.
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Clawing back unspent COVID funds might contribute to a debt ceiling solution — but not much

May 15, 2023
The exact amount left from pandemic spending bills could be as little as $30 billion — a fraction of this year’s federal deficit.
Congress passed six COVID spending bills totaling $4.6 trillion, according to the Government Accountability Office. But most of that money is already gone.
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Bank regulators face a grilling on Capitol Hill while calming markets and the public

Mar 27, 2023
Besides testifying in hearings, regulators need to get a few messages across, including that the system worked, a PR executive says.
"As far as the overall banking system is concerned, I do think that SVB was an outlier," said Anusha Chari, a professor at UNC Chapel Hill.
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In his first veto, President Biden defends Labor Department's ESG rule

Mar 20, 2023
Critics say ESG investments allocate money based on political agendas rather than on earning the best returns for savers.
It's unlikely that Republicans have enough votes in Congress to reach the two-thirds majority required in each chamber to override Biden's veto.
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What's behind the larger Social Security checks?

This month Social Security checks went up by an 8.7% cost of living increase. But what happens to social security in the future?
Marketplace Senior Economics Contributor Chris Farrell outlines the benefits of this month's boost to government retiree benefits.
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What's next for the Democrats' economic agenda?

Nov 11, 2022
Roosevelt Forward CEO Felicia Wong says the party isn't necessarily out of options even if Republicans take Congress.
Roosevelt Forward CEO Felicia Wong says President Biden and congressional Democrats may be able to implement their economic priorities through laws they already passed, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.
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Taking stock of Congress members' portfolios

A new report on stock trading by members of Congress reveals possible conflicts of interest.
A new report from the New York Times delves into stock trades by a number of  lawmakers that may present a conflict of interest.
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What are the real-life effects of political gerrymandering?

Sep 15, 2022
Author David Daley argues that gerrymandering contributed to the Flint, Michigan, water crisis and facilitated post-Roe abortion bans.
David Daley, author of "Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy," says gerrymandering has allowed some politicians to safely ignore the will of voters.
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