Government Shutdown Looms as Deadline Nears

The House of Representatives has rejected a stopgap funding bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump, leaving negotiations in a race against tonight’s midnight deadline. With 38 Republicans joining Democrats, the vote of 235 to 174 has put the federal government on the brink of a shutdown.

The Sticking Points - Trump’s proposed resolution included three months of stopgap funding, a two-year debt ceiling suspension, $100 billion in disaster aid, and farmer support packages. This followed his controversial call to permanently repeal the debt ceiling, a rule that currently caps Treasury borrowing at $36 trillion. The debt ceiling suspension, enacted in June 2023, is set to expire on January 1, 2025. Its fate now hangs in the balance as lawmakers scramble to prevent the shutdown.

Potential Impact - A government #shutdown would furlough millions of federal workers, though essential services like military operations and air traffic control would remain active.

Polish Farmers to Celebrate Spring !


#Polish farmers have initiated a general strike. Protests will occur nationwide: around 580 locations have been officially registered for #farmers to hold rallies . The #strike, organized by the farmers' union Solidarity, aims to "paralyze the country."

Anticipate challenging traffic conditions in most cities across the country. However, some mayors, like Bydgoszcz and Lublin, have prohibited the strike. Farmers have appealed and are awaiting court rulings on these matters. An estimated 70 thousand people are expected to participate in the strike.

The protesters’ demands remain unchanged: revisions to the #European Union’s Green Deal and a prohibition on importing products from #Ukraine.

Russia, NATO face danger of direct armed conflict in Europe, says Russian ambassador to U.S.

Russia and NATO are facing the danger of a direct armed clash in Eastern Europe, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told reporters.

"Essentially we are facing the danger of a direct clash between the Armed Forces of Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance in Eastern Europe," the diplomat said in a statement posted to the Russian embassy's Telegram channel. Just a while ago it was impossible to imagine that American and German tanks would be driving around in a republic neighboring on Russia, he said. Later, it turned out that Western instructors were helping the Ukrainian military with aiming at a target "hugely expensive equipment like Patriot systems," Antonov went on to say.

"Now there is a talk about the participation of soldiers from NATO armies in combat operations. Such a scenario cannot be implemented without Washington's approval," he emphasized.

"I am sure that the prime concern for the farmers in America, Europe and Russia is to live a normal life and have an opportunity to plow the land without fearing for tomorrow. However, the hawks here, who are pushing the planet towards World War III, are indifferent to their aspirations," Antonov summed up.

#FrenchFarmersAnger

#Macron feasts with Swedish royalty as French #Farmers camp on motorway

President and his wife enjoyed a banquet at Stockholm Palace while farmers cooked sausages on open fires near Paris in protest over low pay

French Farmer Protest /Paris Blockade

Farmer protests are continuing to erupt in Europe: In addition to Poland, Germany, and Romania, the situation has also worsened in France. Main roads have been blocked for the second day in a row, and the press reported on "the first transportation collapse in the country's history caused by strikes."

The French are demanding more favorable conditions for the development of national agriculture, including a reduction in the volume of imported food products and being exempt from transport taxes.

The government is still inactive: On Thursday, Prime Minister Attal held a meeting with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Environment, where they allegedly discussed options for resolving the current situation.

There is no reason to expect the unrest to subside, either in France or in other European countries. On the contrary, protests are likely to increase: farmers may be joined by other citizens dissatisfied with the actions of the authorities (as happened, for example, in Germany). And clashes with the police may not be far off.

Now - French PM Attal delivers speech to Framers.....