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Senate Democrats Block Funding Bills, Raising Shutdown Threat
Washington – Senate Democrats unanimously blocked a package of six funding bills on Thursday, raising the specter of a partial government shutdown in the coming days, according to ABC News. The bill failed to advance by a vote of 45-55, falling short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. Multiple Republicans also voted against the package.
The vote occurred amid ongoing talks between Democrats and the White House regarding funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ABC News reported. The blocked bills aimed to fund large portions of the government through the end of September.
In other news, President Trump is set to sign an executive order to address drug addiction and substance abuse, CBS News reported. The order will establish the "White House Great American Recovery Initiative," which will advise federal agencies on directing grants to support addiction recovery and increase awareness about drug addiction, according to a White House fact sheet. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kathryn Burgum, wife of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, will chair the initiative. Burgum, who struggled with alcoholism before becoming sober 22 years ago, is a vocal advocate for addiction recovery.
Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit widened in November, despite President Trump's tariffs, according to data released by the Commerce Department and reported by The New York Times. The trade deficit in goods and services rebounded to $56.8 billion, a 95 percent increase from the previous month. Exports fell 3.6 percent to $292.1 billion, led by declining shipments of gold, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and crude oil. Imports rose 5 percent in November, reaching $348.9 billion, as Americans bought foreign pharmaceuticals and equipment for new data centers. The New York Times noted that the data reflected some of the intense volatility resulting from the president's tariffs.
In Germany, a farm in Saxony is giving away millions of potatoes after a bumper harvest, the BBC reported. Approximately 4 million kg (8.8 million lb) of surplus potatoes are being distributed to food banks, schools, and churches in Berlin. The initiative, dubbed "the great potato rescue," aims to prevent the potatoes from going to waste. However, the Brandenburg Farmers' Association criticized the effort as a "disgusting PR stunt," lamenting the impact on local markets, according to the BBC.
Also, with inflation impacting retirement budgets, CBS News reported that a smart gold strategy could help retirees protect their purchasing power. As Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) lag behind real-world expenses, many households are questioning whether their benefits will keep up with expenses.
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