Border Walls Don't Work!

Border walls are monuments to white supremacy. Biden is feeling pressure to do something about immigration.

Israel and the United States share one thing in common. They still continue to hold racism at the pinnacle of decisions that affect lives.

Border walls don't solve immigration issues. 

It is a monument to white supremacy.

President Joe Biden is feeling pressure from New York mayor Eric Adams, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, San Francisco mayor London Breed and Texas governor Greg Abbott. The far right invested in culture wars are driving the noise of illegal immigration being out of control.

So now Biden is revisiting the 20 miles of incomplete border wall in Texas.

The Department of Homeland Security posted the announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing “high illegal entry.” According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded so far this fiscal year in the Rio Grande Valley Sector which contains 21 counties.

“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS secretary, stated in the notice.

The Biden Administration is speeding through regulations. It may violate contracts on indigenous people, put vulnerable species at risk, weather could impact the construction of building a wall.

The Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Endangered Species Act were some of the federal laws waived by DHS to make way for construction that will use funds from a congressional appropriation in 2019 for border wall construction. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws.

Starr County’s hilly ranchlands, sitting between Zapata and McAllen, Texas, is home to about 65,000 residents sparsely populating about 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) that form part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Although no maps were provided in the announcement, CBP announced the project in June and began gathering public comments in August when it shared a map of the additional construction that can add up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the existing border barrier system in the area. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said it will start south of the Falcon Dam and go past Salineño, Texas.

“The other concern that we have is that area is highly erosive. There’s a lot of arroyos,” Eloy Vera, the county judge said, pointing out the creeks cutting through the ranchland and leading into the river.

Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat.

“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat. It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backwards for the borderlands,” Laiken Jordahl, a southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said Wednesday afternoon.

During the Washed Up 45 administration, about 450 miles (724 kilometers) of barriers were built along the southwest border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed those efforts after the Biden administration halted them at the start of his presidency.

The DHS decision on Wednesday contrasts the Biden administration’s posturing when a proclamation to end the construction on Jan. 20, 2021, stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”

In a statement Wednesday, CBP said the project is consistent with that 2021 proclamation. “Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the statement said. “CBP remains committed to protecting the nation’s cultural and natural resources and will implement sound environmental practices as part of the project covered by this waiver.”

The announcement prompted political debate by the Democratic administration facing an increase of migrants entering through the southern border in recent months, including thousands who entered the U.S. through Eagle Pass at the end of September.

“A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County,” U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar said in a statement. “I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”

Political proponents of the border wall said the waivers should be used as a launching pad for a shift in policy.

“After years of denying that a border wall and other physical barriers are effective, the DHS announcement represents a sea change in the administration’s thinking: A secure wall is an effective tool for maintaining control of our borders,” Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said in a statement. “Having made that concession, the administration needs to immediately begin construction of wall across the border to prevent the illegal traffic from simply moving to other areas of the border.”

Do Nothing Lawmaker Wants To Be The Speaker!

This idiot wants to be Speaker of the House.

Former House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio cried the day Pope Francis came to the U.S. Capitol to deliver a Joint Session of Congress. That day had then-Vice President Joe Biden, Boehner and the Pope as he asked the Congress for goodwill and unity among the people.

A few days later, he quit. He resigned and took no regrets in doing so. He was soon replaced by a do nothing lawmaker named Warren Davidson. Davidson who lives in Troy had his district controversially drawn to suit a portion of Troy. He and Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) have gerrymandered districts which cuts into Dayton, Springfield, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Ohio is still dealing with the aftermath of the state Republicans illegally drawing the maps that are unfair. They literally went against the voters who demanded a fair commission on drawing a map.

Enter Ohio Republican Jim Jordan.

He is an Urbana resident who has two children who are active in Ohio politics. He is a former Ohio State University wrestling coach. He was a former state senator and representative. When Dave Hobson retired from Congress, Jordan easily won. He has served Congress since 2007.

Since he taken office, Jordan has a record. A record of not doing anything and constantly complaining. He spread misinformation and holds personal vendettas against members.

He is one of the laziest members. There are 90 Republican and Democratic lawmakers who do nothing but cause chaos.

Jordan is a staunch supporter of Washed Up 45 and went as far to driving up conspiracy theories. From Benghazi, Hillary Clinton's email server, the Twitter (X) suppression of the New York Post gossip on Hunter Biden, allegations of Joe Biden taking bribes and Ukraine funding, Jordan covered it in a hyperpartisan fashion.

Now he is thinking about running for House Speaker.

Boehner referred to Jordan as a "political terrorist" and an asshole.

Asked by reporters in the Capitol if he was running, Jordan replied unequivocally: "Yes."

“We need to unite the conference,” said Jordan, who had just met with Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) a likely rival for speaker, to inform him of his decision.

Later Wednesday, Jordan sent a letter to colleagues touting his work on immigration and oversight issues on the Judiciary panel and asking for their support.

“Now is the time for our Republican conference to come together to keep our promises to Americans. The problems we face are challenging, but they are not insurmountable. We can focus on the changes that improve the country and unite us in offering real solutions," Jordan wrote. "But no matter what we do, we must do it together as a conference. I respectfully ask for your support for Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

Jordan said he made his decision after many of his GOP colleagues reached out, urging him to run. A source familiar with Jordan's thinking said the congressman has repeatedly said that choosing the next speaker "will be a decision for the conference" and now the conference is asking.

Jordan "highly respects Scalise and other candidates running," the source added.

Minutes after his announcement, Jordan received a pair of quick endorsements. "I support Jim Jordan for Speaker," conservative Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) wrote on X.

"We need a conservative fighter to stand up strong to the Biden White House and Democrat Senate and I can't think of anyone better than Jim Jordan," added GOP Rep. Jim Banks, who is running for the Senate in Indiana.

Republicans can't govern.

Jordan has been one of Washed Up 45's top allies on Capitol Hill, defending the former president as he faced two impeachment investigations in the House and now serving as one of the GOP's leaders in the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

In recent months, the former NCAA wrestling champ and coach had become a team player and close ally of McCarthy and his leadership team. It was McCarthy who had pushed for Jordan to get the top GOP slot on the Oversight Committee, and later the powerful Judiciary panel.

But Jordan began his career in Washington as a conservative bomb thrower, serving in 2015 as the founding chairman of the far-right House Freedom Caucus whose members forced then-Speaker John Boehner, a fellow Ohioan, into an early retirement.

Because of that reputation, some moderate members of the GOP Conference could balk at a Jordan speakership. And because of the GOP's razor-thin majority, it would take just five Republicans to block Jordan in a formal speaker vote on the House floor, since Democrats are expected to unite behind Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

On the other side of life, interim Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has booted Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) from their offices. Pelosi, still a target of death threats and her previous role as Speaker of the House is being forced out as political revenge. Pelosi was not in Washington. She is attending Dianne Feinstein's funeral. Her office was a target of the Jan. 6 insurrection in which rioters stole her properties.

The Cash Fever!

Back for more.

Powerball is over $1 billion. After 35 drawings no winners. Now we are running another drawing with a record jackpot. The Cash Fever, a series of honest takes on how to be a smart jackpot winner. And take my word for it, it comes in handy when you enter a new tax bracket. 

So once again, if you are willing to risk a few dollars, maybe you could become a billionaire.

With these polarizing times, maybe if you do win, you could leave the United States and find a tax haven in a green notice country or territory.

Things to get out the way.....

In about 23 states, you can remain anonymous. But if you are willing to show yourself to the public, here we go.....

Do want to you want to be a millionaire or billionaire?

In my state of Ohio, sports betting is legal. You can legally bet on sporting events for chance of earning a huge payout. The state has issued licenses to the four casinos and seven racinos. 

Sports betting is also available at many bars, clubs and convenience stores that have legal betting stations.

I am wondering, are you willing to pony up at least $2 to play a multi-state lottery game for a chance at winning over $1 billion?

Played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories, Powerball is a coordinated by the State Lottery Association (MUSL), a nonprofit organization formed by an agreement with lobbyists and U.S. corporations. From its inaugural drawing on April 19, 1992, until August 21, 2021, Powerball drawings were held twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday); a third weekly drawing (held Mondays) was added on August 23, 2021. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

Mega Millions is drawn at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday and Friday evenings, including holidays. Mega Millions is administered by a consortium of its 12 original lotteries; the drawings are held at the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, supervised by the Georgia Lottery. Played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands with Puerto Rico being added in the near future, Mega Millions is independent from MUSL but does have an agreement with the consortium of states that operated the similar Mega Millions lottery, which allowed MUSL members to sell Mega Millions tickets and consortium members to sell Powerball tickets. 

Many who are often playing are not rich. 

Most who often play are either a family member, co-worker or friend who has a gambling addiction.

So here's the public service announcement.

Most lotteries and casinos offer help for problem gambling. I want to acknowledge this.

The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network (1-800-522-4700). The network is a single national access point to local resources for those seeking help for a gambling problem. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

It is a difficult thing to tell a family member, friend, co-worker or a player of a gambling venue. But if see something, say something. It may save a life.

The signs of problem gambling include:

• The person constantly borrowing money from friends, family, loan facilities or banks.
• The person is always taking more out to chase the jackpot (or clout).
• The person loses track of time or misses appointments due to gambling.
• The person is running late on paying bills or dues.
• The person feels like "playing it back" is the only way to win.
• The person is getting agitated over wins and losses.
• The person is using alcohol or drugs to ease stress. 
• The person damages property at casinos or lottery retailers.
• The person deliberately asks others to claim prizes to avoid paying child support, spousal support or owed taxes.
• The person uses false ID, false social security numbers or gives wrong information to avoid taxes or has known status as a banned guest or voluntarily excluded player (self-prevention/restricted gambler).
• The person is restless and feel the only way to relax is to gamble.
• The person is jeopardizing relationships, their jobs and their social life in order to gamble.
• The person repeatedly lies about wins and loses.
• The person is trying to curb problem gambling but never achieves the goal.

These are the hard truths about problem gambling. You know someone or have a problem. That's why it's important to know your limits when you gamble. 

Folks, the multi-state Powerball will now have three active drawings. The original jackpot drawings were on Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59pm. Now the drawings will be on Monday nights as well.

It will try to increase the opportunity for players who avoided playing during the pandemic.

Rules on how to play lottery. Note: Many lottery venues are no longer taking verbal requests due to the coronavirus and the possibility of eliminating long wait times due to excessive ticket requests.

• Make sure you have money on hand. The operator is required to take money before issuing a ticket. Make sure you have your numbers placed on either a betting card, your lottery app or a previous ticket. Most operators will help you plug numbers in through the terminal or place an automatic bet for you. However in the case of long lines or possible errors, it would be best to be prepared for the transaction. Some states do offer debit and credit transactions. Make sure you get your information from your local lottery commission. You cannot cancel Powerball or Mega Millions tickets. They are property of your state (or territory's) lottery commission. Any alteration, distortion or underage playing will void the games.
• In most states, the required age to play the lottery is 18 years or older. Do not let anyone under the playing age purchase a ticket or lottery game. The operator could lose their license or you will forfeit your prize if the regional lottery operator determined that an underage player was the winner.
• If you purchase Powerball and Mega Millions from another state (or territory) and you won, understand that it is not a winner in your home state. You must return to the state (or territory) where you purchased the ticket. The Mega Millions is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Powerball is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you're a traveler and won the lottery in the state of purchase, you have to return to the state to claim your prize. Every state has their own rules and regulations so don't think "it's all the same." It's not. It's a licensed property of the state gaming commission. 
• Whenever a lottery retailer handles a jackpot ticket, ask the cashier to make sure you hear the "winner" sound. Most machines will make a noise if you're a winner. There are also ticket verifying stations located near a lottery terminal. Make sure before you hand a ticket to a cashier, you are sure you won a jackpot. Ask for a claims form and/or a validation claim voucher. If you are claiming jackpots that are under $500 or less at a licensed lottery operator, check your tickets at a lottery scanner first before handing the ticket off to the clerk. Make sure the cashier confirms the ticket. Tickets over $500 or more may have to go to a local lottery office in a regional jurisdiction. Lottery operators have vendor licenses and tickets are printed by a large set of numbers. If any allegations of fraud or cheating do occur, the lottery can subpoena the operator for the records of purchase and video surveillance of the person who purchased the ticket.
• Mega Millions and Powerball minimum jackpots start at $20 million. Each ticket is valued at $2 per unit. Some states have multiplier options to their games which could make your ticket $3 or $4 per unit. 
• You can view the results of Mega Millions and Powerball on your local television station at 10:59pm. Mega Millions is drawn on Tuesday and Friday. Powerball is drawn on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can also get your state's lottery results on websites, the lottery commission apps on the Apple Store and Google Play. You can view results on social media. 
• You can self-validate tickets under $500 through your phone so it can make it "touchless" contact. You can also get winnings under $500 installed in your bank account or through a credit card. Some fees do apply for distribution of cards and bank deposits.
• You have at least 90 days to a year to claim a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot. Some states have a period of time to claim your prize. If you fail to claim the prize upon its final claim day, it will go back to the state. The lottery operator will collect a reward for selling the winning ticket. Do not wait till the last minute to claim a jackpot prize. The lottery commission does have the right to forfeit or cancel any prizes presented.
• Do not quit your job until you're certain you won the lottery. At the end of the day, some people get bored with their lives and may want to return to the workforce. Don't burn bridges with your employer. You may have to return back to the employer one day.
• Inflation and the coronavirus have changed the world. Many companies have risen prices on food, supplies, rent and utilities. Lottery paper has become very scarce in some retailers. Please understand that it is not a retailer's fault they are out of lottery paper or the machine is down. Please have patience and an understanding of a lottery retailer's resources.
• Do not believe the news reports about a winner coming forward immediately after the announcement of a winning ticket being sold. If the winner was smart, they would wait until the media moves on to the latest controversy. When you see a person appear in public 24 hours after a win, it is a publicity stunt or a grift. Many winners do not appear until they are in the presence of lottery officials, security and lawyers.

You know I've often posted about what I would do if I won the lottery. It is not legal advise so you don't have to take my word for it. I am just expressing what I am going to do if I win the lottery.

I will first write my name on the lottery ticket. I will always make sure that if I ever lose that ticket, my name is on it and it cannot be claimed by someone who is the person who wrote on the back of it.

I will also make sure I take a picture of the ticket. It will be a good thing to take a picture if you want to prove to your state's lottery commission that you were the one who purchased the ticket. I mean it would be smart to take pictures of your lottery tickets. Say if you have a group purchase of lottery tickets and you purchase one for yourself or your family member. You won't have to obligate to the group pool's tickets if you show that you bought one for yourself. Because it will be a legal matter if you purchase the group tickets but failed to disclose you purchased one for yourself. Even though you won on your own separate ticket, it's best to let the group know that you purchased a solo ticket to prevent them from believing you've stolen money or violated the group's contract.

If I do win the lottery, I will immediately pay off all my debts. The car loans, child support, spousal support, medical bills, phone bills, mortgage, court fees and bank loans will be paid in full. Before I even collect my lottery winnings, I want to be caught up on everything. Many states will offset lottery winnings due to a person owning state debt, child support, spousal support and court fees. If you know that you owe, pay it off.

I will immediately close my social media and change my phone number. If you're a winner of the lottery, the junk food media, your family, your friends, your acquaintances, your co-workers, your former lovers, your community, charity groups, scammers and the state will know you. I am going to cancel my Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and social dating apps. I am very clear about my movements and I chose to not be public about it. When I was younger and naive, I would have shown my face to the public. But alas, I've gotten older and I am not the same as I was when I was younger.

I will also get a trust fund prepared, a will and a trusted member of family to hold my winnings. Yeah, it would be nice to establish a trust fund for family members if you do die. I mean this year is full of uncertainty. Winning the lottery has higher odds than catching the coronavirus. On point, 1 out of 15 people are infected with the coronavirus and people have died from it. You win the lottery one day and the next day you caught the coronavirus. You got to remind yourself, you can't take it when you're gone. So it's best to establish a will to distribute your lottery winning to either family, charity and those who you feel deserve it. It will be written and notarized by an attorney or a bank. If you do establish a trust fund you could hire a financial advisor or a family member to oversee your earnings. Make sure that financial advisor is licensed and trusted by the Better Business Bureau. It also must be routine to study on how lottery winners adapt to money. Cause you're going into a bigger tax bracket and taxes vary in many states.

Now that I have my lottery winnings, I will now take the opportunity to buy things that are rational. I would purchase a vehicle, get a home, put some in an investment and prepare for a vacation. Of course, vacations are no longer the norm in the age of COVID-19. So I would be smart to be prepared to be tested or vaccinated for the coronavirus before I take a vacation. Many countries have banned Americans entry to their countries out of fear we're carrying the coronavirus or not vaccinated. With the various strains and Washed Up 45's failure to take control of the matter, world leaders don't trust the American leadership in handling a global pandemic.

You might also want to make sure you're not playing lottery on company work time if you work at gas stations, restaurants, casinos, bars and pool halls. You might also want to make sure that you don't scratch the tickets first then pay for them last. I used to work at a gas station and a former co-worker often took lottery tickets, scratch them off and then pay for them after they were scratched.

Taking lottery tickets is not only theft but a felony in some states if the vendor decides to press charges. 

Not only the lottery vendor could lose their license (if they look the other way), they lose the bonus from the sold winning ticket and they could be audited by the lottery commission. The worker will be forbidden from playing lottery if convicted. And yes, family members or friends who try to buy on behalf of a banned player could be criminally charged.

Be humble about winning the lottery. You will not live a normal life. You could hopefully use the lottery winnings for a long time of success or squander it away within five years and end up miserable. Do not worry about the have-nots! Enjoy the winnings with pride and caution. Your success shouldn't be a punishment. If you do take the opportunity to win the lottery make yourself aware of the surroundings. 

This is not a joke.

This my opinion and I stand by what I say!

Texas woman stole her New York cousin's winning ticket.

Now onto the greed of things. 

A woman is facing up to four years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing her cousin's lottery jackpot winnings.

Iris Amador Argueta, 34, pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of second-degree grand larceny.

According to a press release, the victim bought a $5 Hold' Em Poker scratch-off in October 2020 and revealed he had won the $1 million jackpot prize.

Wishing to stay anonymous, he offered his cousin, Argueta, $50,000 to drive up from Virginia and cash the ticket in New York State.

The suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

According to police, Argueta drove to her cousin's home, claimed the winning ticket, and mailed it. According to the lottery officials, Argueta opted to take the prize money as a one-time lump sum of $537,000.

Authorities say that Argueta then presented her cousin with forged documents stating that he had only won $20,000.

It wasn't until the victim noticed that in a press release by lottery officials that he discovered his cousin was declared the winner who claimed the jackpot earnings.

He then contacted Argueta, who said she didn't see any additional money. Argueta threatened to take legal action against her cousin if he continued to contact her.

Argueta was arrested in November 2021 in Texas. In May, she forfeited $317,857 in winnings from her bank account, which was returned to her cousin, the district attorney's office said.

According to the DA's office, Argueta is expected back in court on March 15 and is facing up to four years in prison.

Open Gaetz: McCarthy Ousted!

Speaker no more. 

It is an ugly reminder that your taxpayer dollars are constitutionally allocated to elected members of Congress. The noise of 90 House and 20 Senate members easily outweighs the majority of actually hard working elected members who stay out of the cable news bubble.

Members who actually take pictures with constituents. Members who actually vote on issues that affect their district or state. They are not chasing for clout. They are not pulling fire alarms. They are not groping their romantic partners. They are not podcasting. They are not frequently on Fox, MSNBC, CNN, NewsNation or talk radio.

Members who lay low are actually doing their jobs.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is by far one of the most laziest members of Congress. He has no accomplishments and is currently under federal watch for unethical behavior with underage constituents.

He finally made good on his promise of removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as House Speaker because he kept the government open with the help of Democrats. McCarthy took the threat seriously. A government shutdown will impact millions and Republicans certainly get blamed.

On Tuesday, Gaetz for a resolution to vacate which means that more than 1 member can formally remove McCarthy from his position. Which he succeeded.

It’s the end of the political line for McCarthy, who has said repeatedly that he never gives up, but found himself with almost no options remaining. Neither the right-flank Republicans who engineered his ouster nor the Democrats who piled on seem open to negotiating.

McCarthy told lawmakers in the evening he would not run again for speaker, putting the gavel up for grabs. Next steps are highly uncertain with no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority. Action is halted in the House until next week, when Republicans try to elect a new speaker.

“I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served,” McCarthy said at a press conference at the Capitol, alternating between upbeat assessment of his speakership and angry score-settling of those who ousted him.

Still, he said, “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

McCarthy’s chief rival, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, orchestrated the rare vote on the obscure “motion to vacate,” and pushed ahead swiftly into a dramatic afternoon roll call.

While McCarthy enjoyed support from most Republicans in his slim majority, eight Republican detractors — many of the same hard-right holdouts who tried to stop him from becoming speaker in January — essentially forced him out.

Stillness fell as the presiding officer gaveled the vote closed, 216-210, saying the office of the speaker “is hereby declared vacant.”

Moments later, a top McCarthy ally, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., took the gavel and, according to House rules, was named speaker pro tempore, to serve in the office until a new speaker is chosen.

The House then briskly recessed as lawmakers met privately to discuss the path forward.

It was a stunning moment for McCarthy, a punishment fueled by growing grievances but sparked by his weekend decision to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open rather than risk a shutdown.

But in many ways, McCarthy’s ouster was set in motion when, in deal-making with hard-right holdouts at the start of the year, he agreed to a series of demands — including a rules change that allowed any single lawmaker to file the motion to vacate.

As the House fell silent, Gaetz, a top ally of Donald Trump, rose to offer his motion.

Leaders tried to turn it back, but the vote was 218-208, with 11 Republicans against tabling the motion, a sign of trouble to come.

The House then opened a floor debate unseen in modern times, and Republicans argued publicly among themselves for more than an hour.

“It’s a sad day,” Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said as debate got underway, urging his colleagues not to plunge the House Republican majority “into chaos.”

Henry Cuellar Got Jacked!

Texas Democrat carjacked.

Texas congressman was jacked in Washington, DC. He is a conservative Democrat and this could make him flip to join the Republicans.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), one of 15 conservative Democrats became a victim.

Cuellar defeated controversial leftist Jessica Cisneros in the 2022 Democratic primary. The Justice Democrats wanted to pick him off because he voted about 70% with Washed Up 45 and is corrupt. He is currently under federal watch and has a FBI raid on his home and office.

The Washington, DC Metropolitan Police and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating it.

Cuellar’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg released a statement saying: “As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.”

Hochberg said police recovered Cuellar’s vehicle.

The Washington Post reported that the robbery happened at 9:30 p.m. at New Jersey Avenue and K Street SE in Washington’s Navy Yard area, about a mile from the U.S. Capitol.

Monday’s incident was the second assault on a member of Congress in the District of Columbia this year. In February, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in her Washington apartment building, suffering bruises while escaping serious injury. Her chief of staff said the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.

In June, Kendrid Khalil Hamlin, 26, pleaded guilty in that case to charges of assaulting a member of Congress and assaulting law enforcement officers. Hamlin was also accused of assaulting two officers as they attempted to arrest him on the same day of Craig’s attack.

The Republicans are running on crime and the economy as their way to regaining the Senate, House and the presidency. Crime has risen but not at the record levels we seen during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

President Joe Biden doesn't control the minds of criminals. Those who commit crimes are often looking for opportunities.

I was a victim of a crime. I own a Kia and the Kia Boyz broke into my car not once, but twice. I am expecting it to happen again giving that the Kia Challenge has not died down.

Retail theft has now got the attention of the U.S. Justice Department and Homeland Security. They will start targeting organized groups that cause theft, jugging and vehicle stunts.

Jugging is the act of following and forcibly stealing money from someone leaving a bank.

Missing White Woman Syndrome: Charlotte Sena Found Alive!

American girl found alive. The New York state police arrest sexual predator.

A nine year old girl was found safe after a sexual offender kidnapped her and allegedly held her for ransom. The typical story for Inside Edition. The typical story for Fox, The Daily Mail, Breitbart, Newsmax, X, Facebook and other platforms for disinformation.

The junk food media picks up on it and covers it for at least a few days or more.

Oh, did I mention the child is a pretty white girl?

Every Fall (or so it seems), the junk food media devotes wall to wall coverage of a missing white woman or girl. They practically invent a new tragedy for the people to rage or concern troll over.

Again, we here at Journal de la Reyna want to see all missing persons found safely, regardless of color. However, we want the same amount of time spent to finding women of color, children, men and other women who never get the attention.

It's a real coined term to media coverage of missing white women who get nonstop coverage. You know more about this person than the thousands of people missing everyday.

Missing white woman syndrome has led to a number of tough on crime measures, mainly on the right, that were named for white women who disappeared and were subsequently found harmed. In addition to race and class, factors such as supposed attractiveness, body size and youthfulness function as unfair criteria in the determination of newsworthiness in coverage of missing women. News coverage of missing black women were more likely to focus on the victim's problems, such as abusive boyfriends or a troubled past, while coverage of white women often tend to focus on their roles as mothers or daughters.

Black women and indigenous women are missing far more and yet they never get the attention that white women get. Think about Gabby Petito, Natalee Holloway, JonBenet Ramsey and Lacy Peterson. Think about the amount of attention they gotten and their killers got.

If the suspect is Black, Muslim or immigrant, the white extremists would often troll Black blogs and social media to throw inappropriate discussions about how white women should avoid relationships with people of color. They would use racial slurs, coded language and concern trolling as an excuse to justify their hatred.

How many women of color are killed by white men?

Do white men often troll social media with "thoughts and prayers" to women of color?

It is an easy answer......!

The face of evil.

Charlotte Sena vanished during a family camping trip in upstate New York was “safe and in good health” Monday after a massive two-day search ended with her rescue and the arrest of a person suspected in her abduction, police said.

Charlotte Sena disappeared while riding her bike early Saturday evening at Moreau Lake State Park, a heavily wooded area some 35 miles (60 kilometers) north of Albany.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday night during a news conference that investigators were able to identify a fingerprint from a ransom note allegedly left by the suspect she identified as Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 47.

“What happened was extraordinary,” she said.

She said while the rest of Charlotte’s family remained at the campground where she had gone missing, police watching their home saw someone drop a note in their mailbox at 4:20 a.m. Monday. State police pulled fingerprints off the note and the second one matched Ross, who was in a database from a 1999 DWI case, Hochul said.

Law enforcement agents linked Ross to a property owned by his mother, made entry and found him in a camper at about 6:30 p.m., she said.

“After some resistance, the suspect was taken into custody and immediately the little girl was found in a cabinet,” Hochul said. “She knew she was being rescued. She knew that she was in safe hands.”

Charlotte was taken to a local hospital, as is customary, Hochul said, adding that she appeared physically unharmed and that she and her family have been reunited.

No charges have been brought against Ross, but they are expected, Hochul said. Ross was still being questioned on Monday night, Hochul said.

The governor named Ross as the suspect late Monday night and it wasn’t immediately known if he had a lawyer to comment on his behalf.

Authorities said it was still an active investigation.

The rescue marked the end of an intense search. About 400 people took part in the hunt for the girl Monday, including forest rangers, police officers and firefighters. The search had expanded over 46 linear miles (74 linear kilometers).

Charlotte, a fourth grader from nearby Greenfield, had been riding her bike around a campsite loop in the park with other children when she decided to ride around one more time by herself. Her parents became alarmed when she failed to return after 15 minutes, Hochul said at a briefing Sunday.

The girl’s mother called 911 after her bicycle was found at around 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

Officials issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning after an exhaustive search because “it was quite possible that an abduction had taken place,” state police Lt. Colonel Richard Mazzone said. The alert described her as a white girl with blonde hair and green eyes who is about 4 feet 6 inches tall (1.37 meters).

The girl’s family pleaded with the public for help in finding Charlotte, including providing any tips to the state police.

“We just want her returned safely like any parent would,” the family said in a statement earlier Monday. “No tip is too small, please call if you know anything at all.”

Troopers had set up several checkpoints on the winding, rural roads around the park. They stopped drivers and asked if they knew the family, had seen the girl’s photo or had any other information that could help the search. They also had some drivers open their trunks.

The park remained closed because of the search, and officials asked members of the public who showed up hoping to help to stay away and leave the search to professionals. Federal authorities also issued a temporary flight restriction over the park for the safety of law enforcement air operations.

The Corinth Central School District said it had extra counselors at Charlotte’s elementary school for any students or staff who need support.

“Our hearts go out to the Sena family,” the district said in a statement.

The predator was a 6 feet 4 inches incel. He was already listed on New York's Sexual Offender Registery. He was sloppy. He lived less than a few miles from where the victim lived. He been peeping this little girl out for awhile. He knew movements. 

The suspect is likely to get LIFE in the iron college if convicted on kidnapping alone. 

The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Former kidnapping victim and victim's right advocate Elizabeth Smart has pressed the junk food media to give attention to all people missing (especially woman of color). She voiced frustration over missing Black and indigenous woman who rarely get coverage.

Her case attracted major media attention and led to the arrest of two predators. She stated that the junk food media needs to do better when it comes to covering victims.

Most recently, Carlisha "Carlee" Russell setback the movement for coverage of missing Black woman by staging her own kidnapping. She pinned the kidnapping on a white child being seen on a Birmingham freeway and her abductor being an unknown white person. She admitted she was fired from her job, she broken up with a former boyfriend and she wanted to make her disappearance look similar to the movie Taken. She was taken into custody and is being held on misdemeanor and felony charges.

LaPhonza Butler Will Serve As California Senator!

LaPhonza Butler is the U.S. Senate-designate for California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Emily's List president LaPhonza Butler to fill the remaining term of the late Dianne Feinstein. She will be the second Black woman to serve as California's U.S. Senator. The first Black senator from California is Kamala Harris, who later became the first Black Vice President of the United States. 

She is the first openly gay Californian U.S. Senator. Once sworn in, she will be joining fellow LGBTQ members Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Arizona Independent Kyrsten Sinema.

It will shake up the 2024 race and it is likely Butler will run for a full term.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) are sacrificing their seats for the privilege of being U.S. Senator. The three of them are polarizing. 

Lee is a longtime Black lawmaker from Oakland. Lee has been a progressive advocate and staunch supporter of women's rights. She admitted she had an abortion and early pregnancy during her teens.

Schiff was a member of the impeachment of Washed Up 45. He serves Burbank and parts of Los Angeles. He was kicked out of his committees this year after Republicans balked at him. They took the noise of Washed Up 45 and Sean "Softball" Hannity and claimed that he was pushing misinformation.

Porter is a progressive lawmaker from Orange County. She is known for stunting. She often uses a white chalk board to troll Republicans. She is a single mother who advocates for women's rights and LGBTQ rights. She endorsed controversial leftist Nina Turner over Shontel Brown in the 2021 Ohio 11th District special primary.

Alex Padilla, current U.S. Senator was appointed by Newsom in 2021 shortly after Harris resigned to become Vice President  of the United States. She swore Padilla in. He will now be the current senior senator.

In California, the governor has the power to appoint a senator to serve until the next regularly scheduled statewide general election. That means Butler will serve until the next senator, whom voters will choose in the November 2024 election, is sworn in.

California picks another Black woman.

Butler has led EMILY's List, which works to elect Democratic women, since 2021, when she became the first Black woman to lead the organization. On Friday, she posted a tribute to Feinstein on social media, calling her "a titan in the Senate" and "a legendary figure for women in politics and around the country."

Butler's professional career has been rooted in California, where she led SEIU Local 2015, the largest union in the state. She has also been a longtime ally of Vice President Kamala Harris, a member of the University of California Board of Regents and the director of public policy and campaigns in North America for Airbnb.

Butler currently lives in Maryland, but, the governor's office said, she owns a home in California and will switch her voter registration.

Newsom, a Democrat, had provided substantial clues in recent months about how he'd choose Feinstein's replacement if her seat were to become vacant.

He had said that he would appoint a Black woman if either of California’s Senate seats opened up. He also said on NBC News' “Meet the Press” last month that while he “didn’t want to make another appointment," it knew it was his "responsibility."

Newsom also said that his choice would amount to an “interim” appointment and that he wouldn't appoint any of the candidates who had been running to succeed Feinstein in 2024. They include Reps. Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.

Choosing any of them, Newsom said, “would be completely unfair” to the candidates “who have worked their tails off” in their campaigns.

Butler, however, won't have any constraints on her plans and will be free to run for the seat if she chooses. A spokesperson for EMILY's List didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

It's not yet clear when she will be sworn in; the earliest it could happen is Tuesday afternoon, when the Senate goes back into session.

The Congressional Black Caucus had urged Newsom to appoint Lee, saying she was the "only person with the courage, the vision, and the record to eradicate poverty, face down the fossil fuel industry, defend our democracy, and tirelessly advance the progressive agenda.

Newsom previously appointed then-California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to the Senate seat left vacant after Harris was elected vice president; the latest appointment means he will have chosen both senators in the state.

Aside from Harris and now Butler, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois was the only other Black female senator.

Voters in the state will head to the polls in a March 5 Senate primary election. California uses a blanket primary, meaning all candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot, with the two top vote-getters advancing to the general election in November, regardless of their political parties.

Feinstein, who had been the oldest member of the Senate, as well as the longest-serving female senator and the longest-serving senator from California, announced in February that she’d planned to retire at the end of 2024, when her term was up. 

But she had faced repeated calls to resign over concerns about her health. After Feinstein missed votes in February, her spokesperson said days later that "the senator is in California this week dealing with a health matter” and “hopes to return to Washington soon.”

Feinstein had also faced pressure in recent years to step down to make way for younger lawmakers. In April 2022, she pushed back against a news report in the San Francisco Chronicle citing multiple anonymous colleagues' expressing worries that she was mentally unfit to serve. “I remain committed to do what I said I would when I was re-elected in 2018: fight for Californians,” she said then.

Off Target!

Target closing up shops.

With the backlash against the LGBTQ and sales declining, Minnesota-based Target switches to theft as an excuse to shut down nine locations.

Earlier this year, Target, Bud Light and other entities  were facing a backlash from Republicans and far right extremists over its support for LGBTQ Pride. The backlash drove Vanilla Lice (aka Forgiato Blow) to literally record a music video denouncing the company.

The sales have declined. Still Target is expected to hire up to 20,000 for the holidays.

Nine locations are closing.

Target announced Portland, New York City, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle are on the list.

In a news release, Target officials said they made the decision to close the stores “because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance.”

“Before making this decision, we invested heavily in strategies to prevent and stop theft and organized retail crime in our stores, such as adding more security team members, using third-party guard services, and implementing theft-deterrent tools across our business,” Target said. “Despite our efforts, unfortunately, we continue to face fundamental challenges to operating these stores safely and successfully.”

Company officials said “eligible team members” impacted by the impending store closures would be offered the chance to transfer to other Target locations. The eligibility requirements were not immediately clear.

The stores to close were identified as:

New York City’s Harlem store at 517 E 117th Street.

Seattle’s University Way store at 4535 University Way NE.

Seattle’s Ballard store at 1448 NW Market Street, Ste 100

San Francisco’s Folsom and 13th Street store at 1690 Folsom Street.

Oakland, California’s Broadway and 27th store at 2650 Broadway.

Pittsburg, California’s store at 4301 Century Boulevard.

The announcement from Target comes as retailers report a rising number of thefts at stores nationwide.

In a survey published by the National Retail Federation on Tuesday, businesses reported $112.1 billion in losses due to theft, up from the $93.9 billion worth of losses one year earlier.

“Retailers are seeing unprecedented levels of theft coupled with rampant crime in their stores, and the situation is only becoming more dire,” said David Johnston, NRF’s vice president for asset protection and retail operations. “Far beyond the financial impact of these crimes, the violence and concerns over safety continue to be the priority for all retailers, regardless of size or category.”

On Tuesday, Target outlined several steps taken to curb crime within its stores and shared support for the recently passed INFORM Act, which aims to deter the sale of stolen and counterfeit goods, according to CNBC.

Target operates just under 2,000 stores and more than 50 supply chain facilities nationwide.

They Can't Stop Talking About Them!

Reminder: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan do not speak to the junk food media about their movements. They rarely talk to British tabloids.

The Daily Mail needs to be held accountable for spreading gossip and misinformation.

I really hope that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex end up winning their lawsuit against the Associated Papers Ltd.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan appear at the Inventius Games and they were greeted with thunderous applause and took selfies with those attending. Yet, for the tabloids who follow (I meant stalk them), claim say it's all about their egos.

Now they are claiming that the Duchess may run for the U.S. Senate.

The Daily Mail is not a trusted source.

Meghan and Prince Harry have written to the editors of The Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and the Daily Mirror saying they won’t “offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion.” They say stories based on “salacious gossip” have upended the lives of acquaintances and strangers alike.

The Duchess moved back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2020 following their announcement they were stepping down from their duties in the British royal family.

Markle is no stranger, but also no veteran of U.S. politics, having pursued advocacy for a handful of issues since her royal return the country. Notable, she has lobbied Congressional Democratic leadership, as well as rank and file senators from both parties like Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) on supporting paid leave for parents. She has also supported gun safety organizations like Moms Demand Action and visited the unofficial memorial for the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, only two days after the mass shooting in solidarity with the victims' families.

A tabloid claims Duchess Meghan is trying to replace Dianne Feinstein. It is not true and many of these bonehead are falling for it. 

I highly doubt it. One thing is clear, why would she want to be a politician?

The sources aren't legitimate. For one thing, why would Duchess Meghan even speak to a tabloid that spent years demonizing her?

On top of that, why would she want to join the circus of idiots like Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Marsha Blackburn, J.D. Vance, John Fetterman, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin? 

The Daily Mail is garbage. Hopefully Meghan and Harry will win their case against them.

Cause this has gone too far and no one is being held accountable.

Alicia Menendez: I Won't Cover For My Dad!

MSNBC host reveals her shame for her father.

And to think, I was in the dark. I could have looked at Wikipedia and found out but I guess it was one of those things you never expect.

New Jersey senator Bob Menendez, the longtime Democratic lawmaker is under federal indictment for accepting bribes and pressuring a U.S. Attorney to not investigate an Egyptian businessman. Menendez and wife Nadine have stashed gold bars in their home and had gotten kickbacks.

The U.S. Justice Department has a 15 count indictment against him. The suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Democrats are calling for his resignation. 

Unlike Republicans when it comes to Rep. George Santos (R-NY) and Washed Up 45, the Democrats would like to see justice for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Hunter Biden and any Democratic lawmaker accused of criminal acts.

Democrats will hold Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) accountable for his pulling the fire alarm stunt.

Democrats agreed that Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) must dress professionally when on the Senate floor. They all sided with Republicans in decorum.

Republicans refuse to hold Santos, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) for inappropriate behavior and unbecoming of a lawmaker.

Republicans are so far not calling for Menendez to step down. They see opportunity.

They see that Dianne Feinstein was in poor health but kept the rules in place to delay nominations for federal judges. When she died, the Republicans kept the rules in place and plan on changing them again when they return to power. They will eliminate the filibuster to pass legislation without any opposition.

Democratic senators are frustrated with caucus members Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) but refuse to hold the accountable due to the possibility of them switching to the Republican conference.

Washington is a dirty game if you're an elected member. 

Journalism is the key to holding those in power accountable. Alicia Menendez is a prime example of that.

She is the daughter of the embattled senator. She made a difficult decision to her audience on MSNBC.

“Last week, a grand jury indicted U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. This past week, dozens of members of his own party have demanded his resignation,” said the MSNBC anchor on her “American Voices” program. “I have been watching, along with all of you, as a citizen and also as his daughter. I will not be reporting on the legal case.”

She then pointed to her own network’s reporting as she spoke just over one week after her father was indicted on corruption charges.

“That said, my colleagues across MSNBC and NBC News, they have aggressively covered the story and they’ll continue to do so, as they should,” the anchor added.

Jamaal "Bonehead" Pulls Fire Alarm Inside U.S. Capitol!

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) has taken attention off Republican infighting by pulling the fire alarm inside the U.S. Capitol.

Straight up stunting.

Republicans have about House 30 members who get on the party's nerves. Democrats have 25 House members as well. There are 90 members who are worthless. I won't say all their names but this one in particular is up there.

This former school principal decides to do something his former students likely face discipline.

New York Democratic do nothing lawmaker decides to pull the fire alarm. It was condemned by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and the U.S. Capitol Police.

There will be repercussions and likely a boot from his committees.

The Squad's Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) decided to take the attention off the inability for Republicans to govern to this reckless decision to react to the party's last minute passage of keeping the government open.

His antics really became the talk of the nation. McCarthy erroronously claimed this was Jan. 6 all over again. 

McCarthy has some nerve to say that. He did not vote to impeach Washed Up 45 for siccing a mob of his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on the false claims that the election against Joe Biden was stolen. 

McCarthy threatens punishment on Bowman but not Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert or Paul Gosar.

The fire alarm sounded out around noon in the Cannon House Office Building and prompted a building-wide evacuation at a time when the House was in session and staffers were working in the building. The building was reopened an hour later after Capitol Police determined it was not a threat.

The GOP-controlled House Administration Committee, which oversees issues pertaining to the Capitol complex, posted a picture of a person pulling the fire alarm who appeared to be Bowman.

The New York lawmaker told reporters hours later that it was a mistake and that he was rushing to get to votes and was trying to get through a door that is usually open, but was closed due to it being a weekend. 

That is a bold face lie.

Bowman is known for his attention grabbing stunts. He literally went outside his district to troll Washed Up 45 being criminally charged in New York City. He confronted Republican do nothing lawmaker Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) who was outside her district as well. His argument with do nothing lawmaker Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was disrupted by Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) who kindly reminded the two that they are brothers who represent Black America.

“I thought it would help me open the door,” he said about pulling the trigger, denying that it was an effort to stall anything.

His frustration with Republicans passing a bill he eventually backed became the latest stunt.

Capitol Police said in a statement late Saturday that an “investigation into what happened and why continues.”

At the time of the evacuation House Democrats were working to delay a vote on a 45-day funding bill to keep federal agencies open. They said they needed time to review the 71-page bill that Republicans abruptly released to avoid a shutdown.

The funding package was ultimately approved 335-91 on Saturday afternoon, with most Republicans and almost all Democrats — including Bowman — supporting the bill.

After the vote, Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, criticized Bowman over the fire alarm. Some lawmakers even floated the idea of drafting a motion to expel or censure him from the House.

“This should not go without punishment,” McCarthy told reporters. “This is an embarrassment.”

He added that he plans to talk with the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York to figure out a possible response.

But Jeffries met with Bowman shortly after the vote and Bowman said his fellow New York colleague was “supportive.”

“He understood that it was a mistake and that’s all it was,” he said. Bowman added that the reaction from McCarthy and other Republicans is dishonest.

"(McCarthy’s) trying to weaponize a mistake of me coming, rushing to get to a vote as something nefarious when it wasn’t,” he said.

It is likely he will face a fine, sanctions, the possibility of being booted from his committee and be censured. He could be removed from Congress but it is unlikely.

Last Minute!

Meeting of the jerks.

We are getting tired of this!

The House of Representatives finally came to a conclusion and backed the White House and Senate's proposal.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, passed by a 335-91 margin and included overwhelming support by House Democrats. Republicans voted 126-90 to pass the measure, while Democrats approved the bill by a 209-1 margin. Seven members of the House did not vote.

The only Democrat to vote against was Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, according to CNN.

If the bill passes in the Senate, then funding will be extended through Nov. 17. After Saturday’s vote, the House adjourned until Monday.

The bill omits aid to Ukraine but increased federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, according to The Associated Press. There was also an extension of reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration, The Washington Post reported.

If the Senate rejects the House bill and does not have a deal in place to extend funding by 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday, the federal government will experience its 22nd shutdown or funding gap since 1976.

H.R. 5860, a 71-page bill, came to the floor under suspension of the rules, which meant that it needed a two-thirds vote in the House to pass. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., needed support from Democrats to pass the resolution, and they gave it to the embattled speaker.

An attempt by Democrats to adjourn to further study the bill failed by a 427-0 vote early Saturday afternoon. Later, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., spoke in the House and criticized Republicans for “dropping a bill on us at the eleventh hour.”

“I rise today to have a conversation with the American people,” Jeffries said. “So strap in, because this may take a little while.”

Because of the bipartisan deal, McCarthy’s speakership could be in jeopardy, CNN reported. Far-right members of the Republican caucus, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., have said that such a move would trigger a motion to vacate the chair and force a vote to oust the Speaker.

“If I have to risk my job for standing up for the American public, I will do that,” McCarthy said. “If someone wants to remove me, then so be it.”

“I would say it’s on some tenuous ground,” Gaetz told reporters on Saturday, according to CNN.

Hours before the shutdown, the House had announced plans on Saturday to vote on a 45-day short-term spending bill, called a continuing resolution, which would include natural disaster aid that the White House sought, The Washington Post reported. That would keep the government open through Nov. 17.

McCarthy met with House Republicans for a private meeting at the Capitol on Saturday morning, the Times reported.

It did not include billions of dollars that President Joe Biden had sought, House Rules Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., told reporters.

“Let’s not overcomplicate the matter,” Cole said before the vote. “Let’s keep the government open.”

McCarthy attempted to break the deadlock on Friday afternoon but was voted down by a 232-210 margin, The New York Times reported. Twenty-one Republicans defected to vote with Democrats to defeat Friday’s measure.

Friday’s proposal sought to keep the government open for 30 days, with up to 29% of cuts to government programs, according to the newspaper. The cuts did not include areas like veterans, homeland security or natural disaster response.

Jeffries in a speech in the House on Saturday, called Friday’s proposal “draconian” and said that Saturday’s measure was similar in its scope.

The proposal did direct the secretary of homeland security to resume “all activities related to the construction of the border wall” at the southern border that were in place under Washed Up 45, the Times reported.