kmusser

Status of Puerto Rico infrastructure - it's been 142 days and the island is still 20% without power.
Status of the Virgin Islands - not good.

Friday 2/2

Nunes memo, mentioned last week, is released. To sum up, it argues that FBI relied on the Steele dossier on its FISA warrant to investigate Carter Page and that the Steele dossier is dodgy intelligence. That the FBI was investigating Page before it even had the Steele dossier would seem to render the point moot, but there you have it. (source, more analysis).
U.S. is set to borrow $1 trillion this year (source).

Monday 2/5

The nuclear arms race is back on (source).
Mulvaney's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau decides that Equifax doesn't need supervision (despite it being investigation by all 50 State Attorney Generals) (source).
Mulvaney's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau decides that payday lenders don't need supervision (source).
Supreme Court denies GOP appeal in Pennsylvania gerrymandering case. (source).
Labor Dept. proposal would allow employers to pocket employee's tips (source).
Labor Dept. is investigating itself over the issuing of the above rule (source).
DJT withdraws nomination of climate change skeptic for Council on Environmental Quality (source).
U.S. reducing military presence in Iraq (source).

Tuesday 2/6

Conway's opioids office using political staffers rather than experts and is taking over the Office of National Drug Policy's turf (source).
More on plans to gut the Office of National Drug Policy (source).
DJT says he'd love a government shutdown, White House staff denies DJT is advocating a shutdown (yes, no).

Wednesday 2/7

Congress agrees on budget deal, nothing for "dreamers", no wall, increased spending for both the military and various domestic programs, lifts debt limit (source).
DJT wants a military parade, no one else thinks that's a good idea, Pentagon proceeding with prep (source).
Senior White House official resigns over abuse allegations (source).

Thursday 2/8

Economists are worried about the government's spending binge (source).
Interior to reduce the environmental reviews needed to conduct mining on Federal lands (source).
DHS drafting rules to deny permanent residency status to immigrants that use government programs (source).
House Intelligence committee builds a wall between its GOP and Dem offices (source).

Friday 2/9

Government shuts down briefly as spending bill doesn't make it through Congress before deadline, but DJT signs it today. Shut down was thanks to Rand Paul's protest over deficit spending. (source).

In other news

Elon Musk launched a Tesla into space and successfully recovered 2 out of 3 reusable rockets (source).

Map of the week

Legislative action this week

Legislation signed into law
- 2 year budget deal https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1892
Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
- Bill expanding the requirements of when suspected sexual abuse must be reported https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s534
- DHS authorization bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4708
- Bill making the St. Louis Gateway Arch a National Park https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1438
Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - no new major bills
- 425 pending bills
Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no new major bills
- 91 minor bills

9 February 2018