Johnson Pulls House Stopgap Funding Bill

His support among Republicans isn’t there at the moment. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday canceled a planned vote on a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government running for the next six months after losing the support of more than a dozen members of his party.

Yanked: “We’re going to work through the weekend on that,” Johnson said. “No vote today because we’re in the consensus-building business here in Congress with small majorities.” The US government will shut down on Oct. 1 if some kind of measure is not passed. Related: Mike Johnson and the SAVE Act: A new take on an old trick…

Liberty Nation News: The Beltway and Beyond

Trump: ‘Less Inclined’ To Debate Harris Again

One is enough, Donald Trump says. The former president and Republican 2024 White House nominee on Wednesday said the previous evening’s debate with Democrat Kamala Harris was a big win for his campaign, making him less interested in staging a rematch before the election.

‘Terrible, Terrible Network’: “I’d be less inclined to because we had a great night,” Trump told Fox News in an interview. “We won the debate. We had a terrible, terrible network. I think they were terrible. They should be embarrassed.” Trump was referring to ABC News, which hosted the debate. The network’s moderators have been accused by Republicans of being blatantly biased in favor of Harris. “I think ABC took a big hit last night,” Trump asserted. “To be honest, they’re a news organization – they have to be licensed to do it. They ought to take away their license for the way they did that.” Related: Winning moments and lasting liabilities on the debate stage…

Blinken in Kyiv: $700M More US Aid Headed to Ukraine

The Russia-Ukraine war drags on, and the burden on US taxpayers continues to get heavier. Biden administration Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday declared from Kyiv that the US will provide more than $700 million in humanitarian aid.

Power Play: “The announcement came while Blinken was on a rare joint tour with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy,” the Associated Press reports. “The latest American aid package includes $325 million in energy support to help repair and restore Ukraine’s power generation facilities, provide emergency backup power for critical services and strengthen the physical security of energy infrastructure. Some $290 million will fund food, water, shelter, health care and education programs for Ukrainians in need in the country and refugees outside the country. The remaining $102 million will be used for mine-removal work.” Related: Biden signs 10-year support pact with Ukraine…

Mexico Passes Major Judicial Overhaul

Mexico’s Senate on Wednesday approved a stunning change to the nation’s judicial system. All judges will now be elected by popular vote. The move has been denounced by critics who fear the rule of law will be threatened as a result.

Leftist Legal Coup? “The reform marks a major win for outgoing leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in his final month in office,” Reuters reports. “In a marathon session that had to be paused and relocated as protesters broke into the Senate building, the ruling Morena party and allies clinched the final two-thirds supermajority vote needed to approve the reform, which has prompted a strike by judicial workers and market volatility. Senators voted 86-41 in favor as the ruling bloc cheered and applauded.” Related: Biden in Mexico: We’re all North Americans now…

USDA Flagged Boar’s Head Plant Years Before Listeria

The Jarratt, Va., Boar’s Head deli meat processing facility that has been shut down due to a listeria outbreak that has killed and sickened several Americans in multiple states was warned of major violations by the USDA two years ago, records reveal. But no concrete action was taken at the time.

They Knew?: The agency “released reports dating to January 2022, which showed that a federal food safety assessment took place in September and October of 2022. During that review, records show, inspectors were already finding rust, mold, garbage and insects on the plant floors and walls,” The New York Times reports. “A spokeswoman for Boar’s Head said the inspectors’ finding of an imminent threat in 2022 was not followed with any enforcement action after the federal agency reviewed the results of product and environmental testing, plant records and observations.” Related: Eating food: A poisonous affair…