How Trump tanked the border bill
Also in today's edition: Haley vs. "none of these candidates," being "boysober," and TikToking your layoffs
Why did Republicans tank the border bill negotiated by one of their own?
After months of negotiations, Senate Republicans blocked a major bipartisan immigration and foreign aid bill Wednesday, bowing to pressure from former President Donald Trump and leading House Republicans.
The deal would have been the most significant border legislation in decades, giving the president authority to restrict border crossings. It also included a foreign aid package with billions in security assistance for Ukraine and Israel, as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Republicans had demanded that border security be part of the foreign aid bill. But only four Republicans voted for the deal, even though it was crafted by Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, one of the Senate’s most conservative Republicans.
Even Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, who encouraged his party to support it, ended up withdrawing his support.
So what happened?
Donald Trump called it weak. He’s making border security a key part of his reelection campaign and wants to keep immigration in the spotlight.
Now, U.S. aid to Ukraine and Israel is at risk during a critical time for both countries. Senators are in talks to pass a separate foreign aid package without the border provisions.
But some Republicans are opposed to aid to Ukraine. On Tuesday, the House rejected a Republican-led standalone bill for $17.6 billion to Israel without aid for Ukraine or humanitarian funding for Gaza.
Speaking of dysfunction…
In another embarrassment for Republicans, the House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the crisis at the southern border – with three GOP lawmakers breaking ranks and voting against the measure. (via USA Today)
Should the U.S. aid foreign governments?
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Nikki Haley loses to ‘none of these candidates’
Nikki Haley suffered an cringey defeat in Nevada’s symbolic Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, when GOP voters overwhelmingly picked the “none of these candidates” option on the ballot over her.
Former President Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballot in the primary, which doesn’t award any delegates needed to win the GOP nomination. Instead Trump chose to take part in Nevada’s caucuses on Thursday, which awards all of the state’s delegates.
If you want to know why Haley didn’t compete in the primary with Trump, read this. And if you are wondering why Nevada has this confusing process with both a caucus and a primary, here is an explanation.
So, the results in the primary were technically meaningless, but still embarrassing for Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in Trump’s administration.
As the only candidate still in the GOP race against Trump, Haley had hoped it would give her a symbolic boost. Instead, she became the first presidential candidate from either party to lose a race to “none of these candidates” since Nevada first introduced that option in 1975.
More in world news and politics
🌍 Will there be a ceasefire in Gaza?
Unlikely. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Hamas’ proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza on Wednesday, calling their demands “delusional” and promising a “complete victory” over the terrorist group. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Hamas’ response on hostages and the ceasefire deal creates space for agreement to be reached. (via CNN)
🗳️ Will the Supreme Court keep Trump on the ballot?
The court is deciding whether voters in Colorado can kick Trump off the state’s Republican primary ballot because of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election – a decision which would set a precedent for similar cases across the country. (via AP)
🗳️ Some college students find it harder to vote under new Republican laws
A law passed last year in Ohio requires a photo ID to vote. Iowa’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine argued it will improve “election integrity”, but some Ohio college students say it now makes it harder for them to vote. (via Washington Post)
About that bread
💰 Your job can match student loans with 401(k) contributions
Starting this year, employers can match employees’ student loan repayments as 401(k) contributions. Experts say it could be a game changer for many Americans, especially Black women, who have the highest student loan debt on average. (via The 19th)
💰 $3 for a single McDonald’s hashbrown?
After McDonald’s raised prices, people on TikTok were furious, sharing viral videos of a $16 burger meal and comparing the price of a single hashbrown to 4-5 pounds of potatoes. McDonald’s CEO is finally realizing that the burger chain has an “affordability” problem and suggested it would cut prices on some items. (via CNN)
On the radar
👵 Meet the climate grannies who are brave, wise and don’t mind getting arrested
♂️ Are YouTube algorithms turning young men into sociopaths?
❤️ She’s Not Celibate — She’s ‘Boysober’
(via NYT)
Gen Z in the spotlight
⭐ These young and Native voters could make or break the 2024 election in Arizona for President Biden
(via NPR)
⭐ Two more Gen Zers are running for Congress — in the same Florida district.
(via The Up and Up)
More from Zivvy
"Get laid off with me" videos trending on TikTok
You’ve seen “get ready with me videos,” now we’re in an era of “get laid off with me” videos. But are these videos a good idea? Across social media platforms, especially TikTok, people are recording their experience of being let go from their jobs. What’s happening? Let’s unpack it.
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Border bill was worse than ineffective, so voters from inside and outside the two shrunken parties that people have been conditioned to think of as mainstream lit up legislators' phonelines and emails, and they had to back off. In other news, Robert Hur, of the current administration's DOJ has declared that Biden is not mentally competent to answer to charges that he mishandled classified documents when he was VP, and going forward. That story has become impossible to control.