*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."
Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony on Friday just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia.
Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday as their nominee for House speaker, making the decision during a closed-door session after the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump failed badly on a third ballot for the gavel.
Canada has removed 41 of its diplomats from India as tensions rise between the two nations.
Mitt Romney said he believes right-wing media is the reason for the radicalization of the GOP party.
An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States last month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child.
Israel bombarded Gaza early Friday, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town in the north near the Lebanese border, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil.
The Justice Department has secured a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over allegations that it avoided underwriting mortgages in predominately Black and Latino communities in Jacksonville, Florida, and discouraged people there from getting home loans.
Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes on Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge, and the country's defense minister told ground troops to “be ready” to invade, though he didn’t say when.
Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden has made his case for major U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel in a time of war.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that inflation remains too high and that bringing it down to the Fed's target level will likely require a slower-growing economy and job market.
