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Partial Government Shutdown Looms as Senate Deadlocks Over Immigration Enforcement
Washington, D.C. – The Senate is edging closer to a partial government shutdown this week due to a political standoff over immigration enforcement and funding for the Department of Homeland Security, according to Time. With funding for a large portion of the federal government set to expire after midnight on Friday, Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over a six-bill appropriations package passed by the House that includes money for Homeland Security.
The impasse follows a deadly shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday involving federal immigration agents. Democrats are demanding changes to the Homeland Security portion of the bill and have indicated they are willing to allow funding to lapse if their demands are not met, Time reported. Senate leaders have spoken in careful tones as the possibility of a shutdown grows more likely.
In other news, the Trump administration has been making headlines on several fronts. The administration secretly rewrote nuclear safety rules, according to documents obtained exclusively by NPR. These changes, made over the fall and winter at the Department of Energy, were shared with companies the department regulates but were not made available to the public. NPR reported that the changes aim to accelerate the development of a new generation of nuclear reactor designs.
President Trump also weighed in on Iraq's political situation, threatening to end U.S. support if Nouri Kamal al-Maliki returns to power. According to Time, Al-Maliki was nominated to be Prime Minister by the largest Shia Muslim bloc in the Iraqi parliament on Saturday. Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, stating that if Al-Maliki is elected, "the United States of America will no longer help Iraq and, if we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom." He attributed this stance to Al-Maliki's "insane policies and ideologies."
The Trump administration is also facing criticism over new visa restrictions for Palestinians. Activists fear that the new U.S. visa restrictions for Palestinians will hurt diplomacy, NPR reported. Palestinians can no longer apply for a U.S. visa with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Meanwhile, the price of gold has surged to new record highs, driven in part by a weakening U.S. dollar. According to Fortune, gold hit a new record yesterday, soaring above 5,300 and is up an astonishing 3 this morning, as measured by the Comex continuous contract. Year to date, gold has gained 22.31. The dollar fell 1.3 yesterday against a standard index of foreign currencies and is down over 2 year to date. One euro now buys 1.20. The British pound is worth 1.38. President Trump said he was "totally fine" with the dollar's decline, stating, "No, I think it's great... I think the value of the dollar – look at the business we're doing. The dollar's doing great."
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