Nice article today! It's been a few years since I lived in DC, but isn't RFK Stadium the home of the DC United? I attended several games there, but it is in dire need of renovations, so that sounds like a plan there.
Also, I'm really glad about the vote tracking because putting my faith in the post office that my vote arrives just isn't in the cards.
Thank you for letting us know about the other stuff!! It really shows your awesomeness and maturity! But we know you have always been pretty awesome with your reporting.
Ah thanks for the follow up on that! Good to know. We might have to come back to DC, or more likely around DC now-a-days with the prices, if teleworking is no longer an option with the new admin.
I’m a financial aid advisor. I don’t really see the FAFSA bill as a good thing. Forcing the agency that has been struggling to release the FAFSA early to do exactly that doesn’t really solve any of the issues. I don’t think a student starting school in August 2025 *really* needs to complete the FAFSA 10 months before that. I’d much rather the agency be given the resources it needs to do a good job. Of course, a big reason for the problems with FAFSA under the Biden admin was because the Trump admin didn’t put in the work that was scheduled to happen during their admin.
Re: Your Nomination for Secretary of Defense — A Blatant Spectacle of Opportunism, Recklessness, and the Sinister Nexus of White Nationalism and Sex Crimes
Thank you for writing about the Stop Terrorist Funding bill. I learned about this yesterday when I was reading press releases on 350.orgs website and haven’t been able to find much reporting on it —though it sounds like something we should all be very concerned about. What makes you say it’s DOA in the senate?
The Senate is only scheduled to be in session for 12 more days this year. Most of it will be spent confirming Biden’s final nominees — I’m very skeptical that Schumer would spend any of that limited floor time on a bill the vast majority of House Democrats opposed. Of course, that doesn’t mean the bill can’t be re-introduced in the next Congress, once Republicans control both chambers.
He's running for governor of Florida in 2026, to replace the termed-out DeSantis, and he needs to get a bunch of rich people persuaded to give him the money to get his campaign off to a strong start. That persuasion would be a lot harder if the Ethics Committee report wasn't still hanging over his head. Early money is like yeast, as the saying goes, and he needs to get started on getting as much yeast as he can, as soon as he can.
Just here to say thank you for this - and the "what the president can and cannot do" newsletter. We (I?) get so caught up in the drama and the click bait that this information about what also went on this past week (some really good stuff!) and that there *are* some guardrails on Trump - calmed me down & realize I need to start taking some walks & cleansing breaths!
Well I heard more than the bathroom issue. I heard a lot about Gaetz and other nominees and their alleged sexual escapades and or failure to protect minors under their “protection”. I also heard a ton about the nonprofit issue. And who wouldn’t be scared s***less about what it would mean under the orange guy? Now regarding some of the other items I did read a bit about the ability to use VA benefits for in home care. What you hear and read about is a function of what you consider trusted sources and areas of concern. It may also depend on where you live. As a resident of ME lots of info on Collin’s and Murkowski having issues with inquiries and unqualified appointments. BTW the tax interest and penalty issue is a good thing for those unusual cases but as a retired tax CPA I know that the Service has the ability to waive interest and penalties in cases like the one you noted. I haven’t read the details yet but sure hope it only applies in special circumstances or I expect every wealthy person who pays estimated taxes will delay payments and we will have lots more fiscal cliffs because of those delays. So the moral of the story is that one’s awareness should not be limited to headlines.
Nice article today! It's been a few years since I lived in DC, but isn't RFK Stadium the home of the DC United? I attended several games there, but it is in dire need of renovations, so that sounds like a plan there.
Also, I'm really glad about the vote tracking because putting my faith in the post office that my vote arrives just isn't in the cards.
Thank you for letting us know about the other stuff!! It really shows your awesomeness and maturity! But we know you have always been pretty awesome with your reporting.
Thanks, Paulie! DC United left RFK Stadium in 2017 -- they now play at a field near Nationals Park
Ah thanks for the follow up on that! Good to know. We might have to come back to DC, or more likely around DC now-a-days with the prices, if teleworking is no longer an option with the new admin.
What state are you actually from? I'm a Missouri boy myself.
Same here!
Ah nice! Where in the state?
St. Louis!
Haha me too. Grew up in north county, moved out to the mean streets of Wildwood after 5th grade, went to Priory. You?
I’m a financial aid advisor. I don’t really see the FAFSA bill as a good thing. Forcing the agency that has been struggling to release the FAFSA early to do exactly that doesn’t really solve any of the issues. I don’t think a student starting school in August 2025 *really* needs to complete the FAFSA 10 months before that. I’d much rather the agency be given the resources it needs to do a good job. Of course, a big reason for the problems with FAFSA under the Biden admin was because the Trump admin didn’t put in the work that was scheduled to happen during their admin.
AN OPEN LETTER TO PETE HEGSETH
Re: Your Nomination for Secretary of Defense — A Blatant Spectacle of Opportunism, Recklessness, and the Sinister Nexus of White Nationalism and Sex Crimes
https://open.substack.com/pub/patricemersault/p/an-open-letter-to-pete-hegseth?r=4d7sow&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for writing about the Stop Terrorist Funding bill. I learned about this yesterday when I was reading press releases on 350.orgs website and haven’t been able to find much reporting on it —though it sounds like something we should all be very concerned about. What makes you say it’s DOA in the senate?
The Senate is only scheduled to be in session for 12 more days this year. Most of it will be spent confirming Biden’s final nominees — I’m very skeptical that Schumer would spend any of that limited floor time on a bill the vast majority of House Democrats opposed. Of course, that doesn’t mean the bill can’t be re-introduced in the next Congress, once Republicans control both chambers.
Thanks, Gabe!
Re: why Gaetz quit -
He's running for governor of Florida in 2026, to replace the termed-out DeSantis, and he needs to get a bunch of rich people persuaded to give him the money to get his campaign off to a strong start. That persuasion would be a lot harder if the Ethics Committee report wasn't still hanging over his head. Early money is like yeast, as the saying goes, and he needs to get started on getting as much yeast as he can, as soon as he can.
Just here to say thank you for this - and the "what the president can and cannot do" newsletter. We (I?) get so caught up in the drama and the click bait that this information about what also went on this past week (some really good stuff!) and that there *are* some guardrails on Trump - calmed me down & realize I need to start taking some walks & cleansing breaths!
Well I heard more than the bathroom issue. I heard a lot about Gaetz and other nominees and their alleged sexual escapades and or failure to protect minors under their “protection”. I also heard a ton about the nonprofit issue. And who wouldn’t be scared s***less about what it would mean under the orange guy? Now regarding some of the other items I did read a bit about the ability to use VA benefits for in home care. What you hear and read about is a function of what you consider trusted sources and areas of concern. It may also depend on where you live. As a resident of ME lots of info on Collin’s and Murkowski having issues with inquiries and unqualified appointments. BTW the tax interest and penalty issue is a good thing for those unusual cases but as a retired tax CPA I know that the Service has the ability to waive interest and penalties in cases like the one you noted. I haven’t read the details yet but sure hope it only applies in special circumstances or I expect every wealthy person who pays estimated taxes will delay payments and we will have lots more fiscal cliffs because of those delays. So the moral of the story is that one’s awareness should not be limited to headlines.
This is really helpful to see everything that was passed this week! All I have heard about are bathrooms and HR 9495. Glad to see there is more.
Pam Bondi’s hands look bigger than his! LOL