*By Carlo Versano*
President Trump announced on Friday that he reached a tentative deal with Democrats to reopen the government temporarily while the two sides continue to negotiate on border security.
The continuing resolution would fund the government at current levels for three weeks, until Feb. 15. It reportedly does not include any funding for the border wall. While Trump framed the deal as a victory, he was essentially agreeing to the same proposal that was offered by Democrats before the shutdown, which he had rejected.
Trump thanked federal workers, some of whom have been forced to visit food banks as they missed paychecks, and promised they would receive back pay "very quickly."
After 35 days of a government shutdown that left 800,000 furloughed federal workers without pay and strained the nation's law enforcement, air travel, food safety, and border security agencies, the president essentially backed off his promise that he would only re-open the government if Congress agreed to appropriate billions for a wall. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had said Trump would get "nothing for the wall."
In his Rose Garden announcement, Trump said he would ask Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a vote on the continuing resolution immediately. He then delivered an extended off-prompter riff on border security, repeating many of his claims that a wall would drastically reduce crime and drug use in the U.S. "Walls should not be controversial," Trump said.
"This is an opportunity for all parties to work together for the benefit of our whole, beautiful, wonderful nation."
Afterward, Nancy Pelosi told reporters she was "glad we gave come to a conclusion today."
Sen. Chuck Schumer added: "Hopefully, the president learned his lesson."
Former Texas Republican Congressman Will Hurd announced he is running for president.
The Supreme Court ruled that a man convicted to 27 years in prison on gun charges won't be able to challenge his conviction.
A Florida judge has struck down a ruling that banned Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare in the state.
A Moscow court on Thursday ruled that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich must remain in jail on espionage charges until at least late August, rejecting the American journalist’s appeal to be released.
The Supreme Court ruled against the Navajo Nation on Thursday in a dispute involving water from the drought-stricken Colorado River.
A resolution to impeach President Joe Biden is likely to face a House vote this week as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy remains opposed to it right now.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito accepted a 2008 trip to a luxury fishing lodge in Alaska from two wealthy Republican donors, one of whom repeatedly had interests before the court, and he did not disclose the trips on his financial disclosure for that year, ProPublica reports.
President Joe Biden made his first public comments about his son Hunter Biden's plea deal with federal prosecutors on two misdemeanor tax charges. This follows several critical comments by Republicans, who blasted the agreement as a "sweetheart deal."
A federal judge struck down Arkansas' first-in-the-nation ban on gender-affirming care for children as unconstitutional Tuesday, the first ruling to overturn such a prohibition as a growing number of Republican-led states adopt similar restrictions.
Climate change is on trial in Montana. In a landmark case, 16 young people are suing the state over effects like smoke, heat, and drought. It's just the first in a series of cases intended to pressure lawmakers into taking action on the environment. Here with more is Cheddar News Senior Reporter Chloe Aiello.
