Senate Deadlock Threatens Shutdown as Democrats Demand DHS Reforms
Washington, D.C. — The Senate failed to advance a six-bill funding package Thursday, pushing the federal government closer to a partial shutdown, according to NPR News. Democrats refused to support the package without significant reforms to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its immigration enforcement actions, particularly those led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The move came as the White House's border czar, Tom Homan, announced plans to reduce the number of federal immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota, NPR News reported. Homan's announcement followed criticism of ICE operations in Minnesota, specifically after federal agents shot and killed a second U.S. citizen during Operation Metro Surge, according to NPR News.
The political battle over immigration policy is occurring amid growing public scrutiny of ICE, fueled in part by AI-generated videos depicting confrontations between citizens and ICE agents. Wired reported that these videos, often tense but non-violent, have spread across social media. One video shows a New York City school principal stopping masked ICE agents from entering the building.
Meanwhile, Medicare Advantage health plans are protesting a government proposal that would keep their reimbursement rates flat next year while making other payment changes, NPR News reported. Some health policy experts believe the plan could help reduce billions of dollars in overcharges that have been common in the program for more than a decade. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan to keep payments to Medicare Advantage flat in 2027.
In other news, Tesla's Q4 2025 earnings call revealed a significant shift in the company's strategy. According to Hacker News, Tesla announced it is discontinuing the Model S and Model X, has no plans for new mass-market models, and is pivoting entirely to transportation as a service. VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy stated that the company is "moving to providing transportation as a service."
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