The Republican President IS pushing his parties people in Congress to NOT get bogged down on Federal abortion funding vs restoring some of the Biden Obamacare healthcare insurance premium help in the next funding bills….
He and others do NOT want ANOTHER Govt. shutdown AND taking the blame for the astronomical health premium ‘s that are kicking in across the country for VOTER’S with a tough Midterm Election coming 10 or so months….
Abortion started out to be a BIG issue for Democrats going into the 2024 elections, but faded….
Trump IS signalling that someone HAS told him the issue IS STILL tied to votes one would imagine or?….
Donald J. Trump IS PRO-Abortion?
President Donald Trump stunned conservative Republicans Tuesday when he directed them to be “flexible” on abortion coverage issues in ongoing health care talks — a nonstarter in the negotiations for hard-liners and scores of other GOP lawmakers.
“You have to be a little flexible on Hyde, you know that. You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something … we’re all big fans of everything. But you have to have flexibility,” Trump told House Republicans during remarks at the GOP conference’s daylong policy meeting Tuesday.
He was referring to the Hyde amendment, the longstanding statute barring federal funding for abortions. It has been a sticking point in discussions around compromise legislation that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that were allowed to expire at the end of last year, causing premiums to skyrocket. Being “flexible” on Hyde and giving money “directly” to people for health insurance would allow Republicans to “take away” the issue of health care from Democrats, Trump asserted at the House GOP meeting.
The president’s remarks shocked conservatives in the audience at the Kennedy Center, recently renamed for Trump by a board he appointed, though the memorial to former President John F. Kennedy hasn’t been renamed by Congress.
“I almost fell out of my chair,” said one House Republican in attendance, granted anonymity to share candid remarks.
Asked for his reaction on Capitol Hill, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla), a lead proponent of Hyde protections, replied: “I’m not flexible on the value of every child’s life. Children are valuable, and so I’d have to get up to the context of what he meant by that.”…
…
Many Republicans are open to hearing about Trump’s health care ideas, especially as they’re getting hammered by Democrats after letting the tax credits lapse on Dec. 31. But, despite Trump’s public cajoling, they remain less amenable to shifting their red lines around abortion coverage, continuing to largely demand any health care deal needs to include language that would ban federal funding for abortion, full-stop.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Tuesday morning that navigating the Hyde issue is “probably the most challenging part of this.” A bipartisan group of senators met as recently as Monday evening to continue conversations about pairing a subsidy extension with policy changes palatable to members on both sides of the aisle…
…
Conservative Republicans have privately been wary of Trump’s position on the abortion coverage matter for weeks now. A plan for a two-year ACA extension that top White House officials briefed GOP leaders on late last year didn’t include any Hyde amendment protections.
Instead, the floated plan, which was quickly killed off, was completely silent on the matter in a way that enraged scores of Republicans, many of whom couldn’t believe the administration would come up with a plan that didn’t have the abortion language.
Some GOP moderates, however, see Trump’s comments as deeply helpful — and the key to unlocking any future health care deal in the coming weeks, including new funding to cover some of the lapsed Obamacare subsidies.
“It’s a positive step,” said one moderate House Republican, granted anonymity to speak candidly…..
The First new Thread for 2026AD IS HERE…..
Steny Hoyer set to announce retirement from Congress
The former second-ranking House Democrat has held his seat since 1981.
Morning……
The Minn ICE shooting story is NOT going away….
Trump is having a rough end of week on several fronts….
Could we be nearing a turning point?
U.S. will leave 66 international organizations as Trump further retreats from global cooperation
World Jan 7, 2026 7:45 PM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will withdraw from dozens of international organizations, including the U.N.’s population agency and the U.N. treaty that establishes international climate negotiations, as the U.S. further retreats from global cooperation.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions, following his administration’s review of participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House release.
WATCH: White House pushes to dismantle leading climate and weather research center
Most of the targets are U.N.-related agencies, commissions and advisory panels that focus on climate, labor, migration and other issues the Trump administration has categorized as catering to diversity and “woke” initiatives. Other non-U.N. organizations on the list include the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and Global Counterterrorism Forum.
“The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity,” the State Department said in a statement.
Trump’s decision to withdraw from organizations that foster cooperation among nations to address global challenges comes as his administration has launched military efforts or issued threats that have rattled allies and adversaries alike, including capturing autocratic Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and indicating an intention to take over Greenland.
This is the latest U.S. withdrawal from global agencies
The administration previously suspended support from agencies like the World Health Organization, the U.N. for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO as it has taken a larger, a-la-carte approach to paying its dues to the world body, picking which operations and agencies they believe align with Trump’s agenda and those which no longer serve U.S. interests.
WATCH: The potential impacts of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization
“I think what we’re seeing is the crystallization of the U.S. approach to multilateralism, which is ‘my way or the highway,'” said Daniel Forti, head of U.N. affairs at the International Crisis Group. “It’s a very clear vision of wanting international cooperation on Washington’s own terms.”
It has marked a major shift from how previous administrations — both Republican and Democratic — have dealt with the U.N., and it has forced the world body, already undergoing its own internal reckoning, to respond with a series of staffing and program cuts.
Many independent nongovernmental agencies — some that work with the United Nations — have cited many project closures because of the U.S. administration’s decision last year to slash foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.
Despite the massive shift, the U.S. officials, including Trump himself, say they have seen the potential of the U.N. and want to instead focus taxpayer money on expanding American influence in many of the standard-setting U.N. initiatives where there is competition with China, like the International Telecommunications Union, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization…
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-will-leave-66-international-organizations-as-trump-further-retreats-from-global-cooperation
White House’s list of international organizations and agreements from which it will withdraw the United States:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-international-organizations-conventions-and-treaties-that-are-contrary-to-the-interests-of-the-united-states/
The next American President will rejoin most the organizations if Congress doesn’t do it
I’m no fan of former Cong. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
However there was something notable about her opposing Trumps invasion of Venezuela.Greene claimed it was against what MAGA stands for.Greenes problem is believing that MAGA is a real political movement,It’s not.
Instead it is a quasi cult whose only purpose is lavish support for Donald Trump.Its program?
Whatever Trump is for or against at any point in time.
There are no particular philosophical underpinnings to MAGA.Greene ,for instance ,thought that MAGA was opposed to foreign interventions.It was,until Trump decided to invade,then the wheel turned.Now? Foreign interventions are ok if Trump says they are.
Amusingly, the closest thing that MAGA is to?The old Soviet Communist Party whose “ line”would often switch on a dime at the whim of the General Secretary and the Politburo .MAGA is totally driven by the whims of Trump.
Greene apparently thought the MAGA would stand with her in starting to question some of Trumps actions..She was wrong .MAGA exists merely to support Trump in whatever he does or says .Once one opposes Trump.One is no longer MAGA.Simple.
There is a poll out today showing “MAGA Republicans” support the action in VZ 97-3. Those who say they are non-MAGA Republicans support 80-20.
Definitely evidence of a cult, even if a case can be made for the action being warranted. If Joe Biden had done the exact same thing, these same people would be opposing it 97-3.
Most Americans aren’t thinking about Venezuela right now I’d think……..
Minnesota would be the place they ARE thinking about…..
Believe it or not, most Americans are not thinking about anything other than their own individual lives and that of their families, including financial matters. We should all realize by now that so many people vote solely in regards to their own money situation. The MN thing is not going to be a big story to most people, who are not already very politically inclined.
Ok CG….
Absent the media headlines….
Your Right…..
Cept?
People I have run into ARE PISSED about Minn…..
True.
The vast majority of of people pay little attention to what’s going on in the world,being mostly concerned about their own personal lives.
Morning people
Morning All
MTG will look a LOT better as time goes by…..
Update…
House passes bill extending health care subsidies, bucking GOP leaders
Prospects for passage in the Senate are unclear. The enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025, driving costs up for millions.
…
What happens next on health care is up in the air. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) had called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) to put the House bill on the Senate floor if it passed. But the Senate last month blocked a similar bill because not enough Republicans joined with Democrats to overcome a filibuster. Thune allowed that vote as part of an earlier deal with moderate Democrats who joined the GOP to end the longest government shutdown in history….
…
Rep. Michael Lawler (R-New York) said he voted in favor of the measure Thursday in hopes that it pressures the Senate to “put forth a reform package that can pass Congress and become law.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said the House bill would never pass the Senate but could serve as a shell for the legislation that he and a bipartisan group of senators are working on. The House bill “probably wouldn’t even be put on the floor, because why waste floor time on something that we’ve already considered?” Moreno said Wednesday. “But the fact that it gives us something to amend, then it’s very valuable.”
The framework the bipartisan group is discussing would extend the subsidies for two years with new income limits and a $5 monthly minimum out-of-pocket premium, Moreno said, along with new penalties designed to discourage fraud….
More…
Hegseth IS keeping the troops busy….
The U.S. military on Saturday carried out “large-scale” strikes against ISIS militants in Syria, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.
CENTCOM forces worked with partners in the region to carry out the strikes.
“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region. U.S. and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States,” CENTCOM wrote in a statement posted on the social platform X…
More…
Morning…..
So Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem ( minus her ridiculous cowgirl hat) got nailed by Jake Tapper today.
After her ritualistic defense of ICE agent killing in Minneapolis,Tapper shows the dog killer tape of the Republican domestic terrorists confronting the Capitol police and inquired if the police would have been justified in killing those terrorists .
Noem sputtered but then indicated that yes those officers would have been justified in doing so.
Tapper then pointed out that her boss,Trump, viewed the two situations differently and pardoned those terrorists( Noem having referred to the deceased as a “ domestic terrorist”)
Trump probably won’t like Kristi’s performance.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is apparently being investigated for some sort of extramarital lesbian scandal involving a staffer.
I am too consumed with Chicago sports right now to focus on these political matters…
Thanks to Twitter, I seem to have run across Kyle from P1 days.
It makes me sad that he seems to be a big Trump guy.
Yeah I remember him.
Always seemed a sort of regular Republican ,certainly not a MAGA type.
However,I have been surprised a lot over the past eight years or so now over people I personally know who have become Trump backers and the lengths they will go to explain his most egregious actions.
I remember he was very anti-trade as a teenager even though. Considering his family background, etc, in a very working-class area, it’s not really a huge demographic surprise (although he seems to be very vocally pro-gay which is perhaps sort of a contradiction, but there are a bunch of those folks in MAGA too of course)
Where I live, I know so few actual vocal pro-MAGA people, although I am sure they exist.
I know lots of them here in S.C.
What has interested me is their varied reasons for supporting Trump.
Many readily admit that he is “ nuts” ( or some other derogatory term) but still support him mainly because the “ establishment “ is against him.
Here in Charleston the longtime Republican leaders of the County Party have all been removed and replaced by MAGA types which have now split into two factions,thus proving the old adage,” when extremists take over and there is no one else to fight,they fight each other.”
Kyle Rice, whom I liked and respected a lot, married (according to the local paper) another Republican man in Washington state.
So he’s a gay Republican man, among mad MAGA’s in a red pocket within a deep-blue western half of a deep-blue state.
The sociologists of the 1950’s would have had a great time studying all that cross-cleavage (not referring to ladies’ fashion)
Somehow, I forgot something that’s undoubtedly as important to Kyle as his party or his home: he’s an evangelical Protestant Christian as well as being gay.
So in a state whose largest city just elected a Socialist mayor, you can see all those cross-cleavages.
Morning People
Common drunk Steve Bannon is planning on running for President in 2028 according to Axios.
Often Referred to as the MAGA Godfather ,Bannon supposedly knows he has no chance of being the nominee but instead wants to shape the debate around a non interventionist foreign policy ( he needs to talk with his old buddy Trump) ,economic populism and opposition to Big Tech.
Bannon himself says he’s supporting Trump for a third term.
Bannon?????
For President😆
Joke of the Year‼️
I remember when people said that about Trump.
I read this week that Matt Gaetz was endorsing Bannon saying he would combine the foreign policy of Rand Paul with the tax policy of Elizabeth Warren.
Morning People……
The Chaos Continues
Morning people…..
I’ve off the grib because Verizon has been down since this afternoon…..
China Announces Record Trade Surplus as Its Exports Flood World Markets
China’s surplus reached $1.19 trillion last year, a 20 percent increase from 2024, as Beijing kept the currency weak and pursued self-reliance to replace imports.
Morning Folks…..
Trump and Schumer Hold Rare White House Meeting
“President Donald Trump met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday — a rare one-on-one meeting between the two native New Yorkers,” Politico reports.
“The two have shadow-boxed repeatedly over the past year, including on a failed nominations deal and a historic government shutdown, but have had virtually no personal interaction.”
“Trump, according to a statement from Schumer’s office, called the meeting to talk about the Gateway tunnel project, which the administration said late last year would not be funded because of the shutdown.”
“But the Senate leader also used the sit-down to raise two unrelated issues — health care and the administration’s decision to deploy ICE around the country to carry out mass deportations.”
White House says Trump was ‘joking’ as he repeatedly talks about canceling midterm elections
Morning…….
Trump Tariff ruling today?
7-2 Against Him?
Morning…….
Still no tariff ruling, eh?
I have been invited to attend an event for a Democrat candidate at a relative’s home…. on Ronald Reagan’s birthday…
I will have to think about this one.
Remember that the Gipper was once a (moderately) liberal Democrat.
That’s when he thought like a child (Corinthians 13).
Go to the event in memory of Jane Wyman.
You SHOULD GO…..
Being there does NOT. Mean u are a Democrat….
Republican’s go on MS all the time
U could also provide ur site and here a piece on the experience
Could be worse…
It could be a Republican candidate?
I assume he would NOT go?
I have been to dozens and dozens and dozens of Republican events in my past, but have never been to an actual D event. I feel like the candidate or someone would say something from their usual talking points and I will not be able to resist rolling my eyes or something.
As Ronald Reagan himself said, “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor.”
Well known New York Times resident Conservative Ross Douthat says Trumps second term has ended the “ conservative era”.
Douthat essentially outlines a future “ conservatism” that bears little resemblance to that we have known in the past.
Already we have seen “ conservative “ institutions jettison past beliefs and policies and hop aboard this aggressive nationalism of Trump.
Douthat speculates on what form a post Trump “ conservatism “ will take ,but unlike some spulation I’ve seen here( James’s quaint little idea that post Trump the Republican Party will return to the Bush/ Romney. Era ) , believes the fight will over what form of Nationalim will essentially absorb “ conservatism” and the fight will be over what form that Nationalism will take.
I think that the GOPer’s WILL back away from Trump’s Foreign Policy,Immigration aggressiveness And political ‘get evenness’
The racism and anti-Democrats thing will continue
The next President ..
Who WILL BE A Democrat should NOT swing TOO FAR to the Left…
Apparently, there is a movement among some Democratic activists to once again impeach Trump( this ,assuming a Democratic majority in the house next year.)
Big mistake,in my view.Look Trump is seemingly daily making himself more unpopular among those who identify as “ independents ,”while despite relatively minor criticism here and there,remains overwhelmingly popular among Republicans.
So why engage in this futile action which will likely turn off those independents who have shown they don’t care for these little show trials that mean absolutely nothing , as everyone knows there is no way a sufficient number of Republicans are ever got to vote to convict him.
Does this criminal deserve to be removed?Absolutely!But the votes aren’t there and there is little appetite for a show trials rerun when we all know the outcome.
A big waste of time and a major political mistake if such act is pursued.
I AGREE Jack
Trump is actually working to set an impeachment ‘diversion’ to help against lame duck status ….
Abigail Spanberger’s Inaugural Address in Virginia is a much better and uplifting example of political messaging than whatever tact Zohran Mamdani took in his.
Democrats should take note.
She joins the Growing Democratic comeback Wave….
Update….
A man who was charged with a felony for allegedly shining a laser beam at Marine One while it carried President Donald Trump was found not guilty by a Washington, D.C., jury in less than an hour on Tuesday.
The acquittal of Jacob Winkler marks yet another embarrassing setback for Jeanine Pirro, the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, who’s struggled to make an example out of people her office claims assaulted federal agents or threatened the president….
More…