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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/dec/19/donald-trump-us-politics-democrats-republicans-live-updates
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| Republicans dispute Trump's claim Isis has been defeated in Syria – live | Republicans dispute Trump's claim Isis has been defeated in Syria – live |
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| Donald Trump will sign a temporary bill to continue federal funding at current levels and avoid a government shutdown, a Republican senator told CNN after meeting with Vice President Mike Pence. | |
| Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn emerged from a lunch with GOP senators and with Vice President Mike Pence and told me that President Trump will sign a stop-gap to keep government open.“He will sign a clean CR,” he said | |
| The Federal Reserve has voted to raise interest rates. Rates will raise a quarter of a percentage point, to a range of 2.25% to 2.5%. | |
| The move becomes despite frequent exhortations from Donald Trump not to raise rates. | |
| “The labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising at a strong rate,” the Fed said in a statement. “Job gains have been strong, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Household spending has continued to grow strongly, while growth of business fixed investment has moderated from its rapid pace earlier in the year.” | |
| Read more in our business blog. | |
| More from House Speaker Paul Ryan’s farewell speech, via Bloomberg - he calls overhauling programs like Medicare and Social Security, long a pet issue but one that made no progress under his tenure, his great unfinished business. | |
| Paul Ryan in farewell speech: "I acknowledge plainly that my ambitions for entitlement reform have outpaced the political reality and I consider this our greatest unfinished business."He calls programs Social Security and Medicare "deeply out of balance and unsustainable." | |
| Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer will not agree to approve a customary year-end package of judicial nominees, a Senate Democratic aide tells the Hill. | |
| Schumer has been under pressure from progressive groups not to sign off on the judges. | |
| “Especially in light of the Texas judge’s ruling last week ruling ObamaCare unconstitutional, it would be insane to continue to give a free pass to lower-court judges that are ideologically extreme,” Brian Fallon, a former aide to Schumer who is now the executive director of Demand Justice, told the Hill. | |
| In a farewell speech, House Speaker Paul Ryan called for immigration reform that would protect young immigrants brought to the country as children as well as other undocumented immigrants. | |
| There should be a solution that “includes the Dreamers, those who came here through no fault of their own, and ultimately the undocumented population,” he said, according to CNN. | |
| He called such an overhaul “an economic and moral imperative. And it would go a long way toward taking some of the venom out of our discourse.” | |
| Attorneys for the family of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in border patrol custody called for an independent investigation into the death Wednesday. | Attorneys for the family of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in border patrol custody called for an independent investigation into the death Wednesday. |
| “The investigation should not be the exclusive purview of the agencies whose actions and policies are being questioned. The investigator should not be the same entity as the investigated,” lawyer Enrique Moreno said at an El Paso press conference, NBC News reported. | “The investigation should not be the exclusive purview of the agencies whose actions and policies are being questioned. The investigator should not be the same entity as the investigated,” lawyer Enrique Moreno said at an El Paso press conference, NBC News reported. |
| Neither the girl nor her father, Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz, were given water during their confinement, another lawyer said - contradicting statements by the Department of Homeland Security that they had access to food and water. | Neither the girl nor her father, Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz, were given water during their confinement, another lawyer said - contradicting statements by the Department of Homeland Security that they had access to food and water. |
| The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will not be changing its name after all. | The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will not be changing its name after all. |
| Kathy Kraninger, the bureau’s new director, decided to reverse course and keep the name the same, Politico reported. Her predecessor Mick Mulvaney, now acting White House chief of staff, wanted to change it to Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. | Kathy Kraninger, the bureau’s new director, decided to reverse course and keep the name the same, Politico reported. Her predecessor Mick Mulvaney, now acting White House chief of staff, wanted to change it to Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. |
| “I care much more about what we do than what we are called,” Kraninger in an email to staff, obtained by the consumer group Allied Progress. “As of December 17, 2018, I have officially halted all ongoing efforts to make changes to existing products and materials related to the name correction initiative.” | “I care much more about what we do than what we are called,” Kraninger in an email to staff, obtained by the consumer group Allied Progress. “As of December 17, 2018, I have officially halted all ongoing efforts to make changes to existing products and materials related to the name correction initiative.” |
| South Carolina may skip holding a 2020 presidential primary and put its support behind Donald Trump without a vote. | South Carolina may skip holding a 2020 presidential primary and put its support behind Donald Trump without a vote. |
| “We have complete autonomy and flexibility in either direction,” South Carolina Republican chairman Drew McKissick told the Washington Examiner. “Considering the fact that the entire party supports the president, we’ll end up doing what’s in the president’s best interest.” | “We have complete autonomy and flexibility in either direction,” South Carolina Republican chairman Drew McKissick told the Washington Examiner. “Considering the fact that the entire party supports the president, we’ll end up doing what’s in the president’s best interest.” |
| The primary is traditionally thirds in the nation and hard fought among presidential contenders. | The primary is traditionally thirds in the nation and hard fought among presidential contenders. |
| Former vice president Joe Biden has the highest favorability rating among potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, with 53% of voters viewing him favorably and 33% unfavorably, according to a new poll. | Former vice president Joe Biden has the highest favorability rating among potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, with 53% of voters viewing him favorably and 33% unfavorably, according to a new poll. |
| Among the ratings for other contenders in the Quinnipiac University poll: | Among the ratings for other contenders in the Quinnipiac University poll: |
| A divided 44 - 42 percent favorability for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, including 74 - 13 percent among Democrats and 57 - 29 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old; | A divided 44 - 42 percent favorability for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, including 74 - 13 percent among Democrats and 57 - 29 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old; |
| 24 - 20 percent for Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, with 55 percent who haven’t heard enough about him to form an opinion; | 24 - 20 percent for Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, with 55 percent who haven’t heard enough about him to form an opinion; |
| Negative 30 - 37 percent for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; | Negative 30 - 37 percent for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; |
| 22 - 26 percent for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, with 51 percent who haven’t heard enough; | 22 - 26 percent for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, with 51 percent who haven’t heard enough; |
| Negative 22 - 32 percent for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; | Negative 22 - 32 percent for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; |
| A divided 20 - 22 percent for California Sen. Kamala Harris, with 57 percent who haven’t heard enough; | A divided 20 - 22 percent for California Sen. Kamala Harris, with 57 percent who haven’t heard enough; |
| 14 - 17 percent for New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, with 68 percent who haven’t heard enough; | 14 - 17 percent for New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, with 68 percent who haven’t heard enough; |
| 12 - 9 percent for Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, with 77 percent who haven’t heard enough. | 12 - 9 percent for Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, with 77 percent who haven’t heard enough. |
| The Washington, D.C. attorney general filed a lawsuit against Facebook over the scandal involving political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica’s use of data from the social media site. | The Washington, D.C. attorney general filed a lawsuit against Facebook over the scandal involving political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica’s use of data from the social media site. |
| “Facebook failed to protect the privacy of its users and deceived them about who had access to their data and how it was used,” Attorney General Karl Racine in a statement, according to Reuters. “Facebook put users at risk of manipulation by allowing companies like Cambridge Analytica and other third-party applications to collect personal data without users’ permission.” | “Facebook failed to protect the privacy of its users and deceived them about who had access to their data and how it was used,” Attorney General Karl Racine in a statement, according to Reuters. “Facebook put users at risk of manipulation by allowing companies like Cambridge Analytica and other third-party applications to collect personal data without users’ permission.” |
| The D.C. attorney general says in the suit that this exposed nearly half of the district’s residents’ data to manipulation for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election, Reuters reported. Cambridge Analytica at one point worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The AG charged Facebook’s “lax oversight and misleading privacy settings” had allowed the firm to access the data. | The D.C. attorney general says in the suit that this exposed nearly half of the district’s residents’ data to manipulation for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election, Reuters reported. Cambridge Analytica at one point worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The AG charged Facebook’s “lax oversight and misleading privacy settings” had allowed the firm to access the data. |
| Donald Trump’s decision to pull US forces out of Syria follows a phone call with Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan on Friday where he agreed to do so, Reuters reported. | Donald Trump’s decision to pull US forces out of Syria follows a phone call with Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan on Friday where he agreed to do so, Reuters reported. |
| “Everything that has followed is implementing the agreement that was made in that call,” a US official told the news agency. | “Everything that has followed is implementing the agreement that was made in that call,” a US official told the news agency. |
| House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says her caucus will support a continuing resolution to fund the government into the new year and avert a partial government shutdown. | House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says her caucus will support a continuing resolution to fund the government into the new year and avert a partial government shutdown. |
| .@NancyPelosi officially backs the CR to Feb. 8: pic.twitter.com/btdUpMSVlz | .@NancyPelosi officially backs the CR to Feb. 8: pic.twitter.com/btdUpMSVlz |
| Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tore into a Politico article she did not like, criticizing it on the basis that it used unnamed sources. | Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tore into a Politico article she did not like, criticizing it on the basis that it used unnamed sources. |
| Now her comments are providing fuel for Donald Trump Jr., who sees some similarities with his father’s grievances against the press. | Now her comments are providing fuel for Donald Trump Jr., who sees some similarities with his father’s grievances against the press. |
| Welcome to our world... You think that's bad? Imagine what it's like when they actually hate you. https://t.co/YQ99UU5pHB | Welcome to our world... You think that's bad? Imagine what it's like when they actually hate you. https://t.co/YQ99UU5pHB |
| The story in question reported that Ocasio-Cortez was looking at backing a primary challenge against a fellow New York Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries. Her spokesman, who was quoted in the story, did not deny it, but she has since said on Twitter it is untrue. | The story in question reported that Ocasio-Cortez was looking at backing a primary challenge against a fellow New York Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries. Her spokesman, who was quoted in the story, did not deny it, but she has since said on Twitter it is untrue. |
| All US State Department staff will be withdrawn from Syria in the next 24 hours, per Reuters. | All US State Department staff will be withdrawn from Syria in the next 24 hours, per Reuters. |
| The move comes as the Trump administration is planning to withdraw US troops from the country. | The move comes as the Trump administration is planning to withdraw US troops from the country. |
| MORE: All U.S. State Department personnel are being evacuated from Syria within 24 hours - official pic.twitter.com/XOnbuEzarZ | MORE: All U.S. State Department personnel are being evacuated from Syria within 24 hours - official pic.twitter.com/XOnbuEzarZ |
| Senators Jeff Flake, Cory Booker and Chris Coons will attempt to force a vote this afternoon on a bill to protect the job of special counsel Robert Mueller, per NBC. | Senators Jeff Flake, Cory Booker and Chris Coons will attempt to force a vote this afternoon on a bill to protect the job of special counsel Robert Mueller, per NBC. |
| INBOX: TODAY, APPROX. 2:50PM: Sens. Flake, Coons, Booker to force a vote on bill to protect the Special Counsel | INBOX: TODAY, APPROX. 2:50PM: Sens. Flake, Coons, Booker to force a vote on bill to protect the Special Counsel |
| Flake, an Arizona Republican who will leave office at the end of the year, has been holding up judicial nominations in an effort to get a vote on the legislation. | Flake, an Arizona Republican who will leave office at the end of the year, has been holding up judicial nominations in an effort to get a vote on the legislation. |