Cabbage News Network Week #202

[kmusser]

Monday 12/21

• Congress passes major Covid-19 relief bill (source and summary, another summary, analysis, graphic of where the money is going).
  
• DJT says it's no big deal that Russia can hack our security systems (source).
  
• Moderna's vaccine also gets FDA approval (source).
  
• State Dept. closes consulates in Russia (source).
  
• EEOC is ok with employers requiring employees to get vaccinated (source).
  
• Barr says there is no reason for a special counsel investigation on either election fraud or Hunter Biden (source).

Tuesday 12/22

• Follow-up on the non-consensual surgeries conducted on ICE detainees (source).
  
• NAACP sues DJT and GOP for attempting to overturn election results (source).
  
• Administration considering 11th hour changes to the standard government budgeting process (source).
  
• DoJ sues Walmart for illegally dispensing opioids (source).

Wednesday 12/23

• DJT starts handing out pardons, including to Blackwater mercenaries convicted of massacring Iraqi civilians (source).
  
• DJT vetoes defense spending bill because it doesn't remove liability protections for social media companies (source).
  
• Administration imposes sanctions against Belarus (source).
  
• Environmental groups sue administration over Alaska logging (source).

Thursday 12/24

• Relief bill in limbo while DJT decides whether to follow through on his veto threat (source, analysis).
  
• Unemployment benefits will expire Saturday if no relief bill (source).
  
• DJT pardons Manafort (source).

Friday 12/25

• Merry Christmas!

Map of the week

• Covid-19 changes over the last 2 weeks.

Legislative update

• Legislation signed into law
  
  • 32 minor bills, including short term funding bills
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  • Omnibus spending bill which includes Covid-19 relief package https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr133
    
  • 27 minor bills
    
  • 79 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • 571 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • 17 minor bills
    
  • 186 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk