Amid all the news in Washington, a major issue is bubbling below the surface: the looming debt ceiling deadline. In this free Q&A, NJ's @caseywooten.bsky.social sits down with Shai Akabas, executive director of the economic-policy program at the @bpc-bipartisan.bsky.social: njour.nl/s/728018?unl...

Tonight we riot.

The Capitol rotunda awaits Jimmy Carter, who is set to be brought in soon.

A surprisingly pain-free re-election to speaker for Mike Johnson and a new leader takes charge in the Senate. @caseywooten.bsky.social, @savbehrmanndc.bsky.social, and @laurengreennn.bsky.social have the latest in this free article:

Both sides of the aisle mostly smiles. Everyone get to go home now.

Two years ago, McCarthy had 4 dissenters on the 14th ballot and then won on the 15th. Johnson has work to do, but he's still ahead of McCarthy.

The first round of votes for the speakership is done. Moving to the second round soon. Johnson has to flip two of the three Republicans who voted against him. Likley Ralph Norman and Keith Self. Massey has signaled for days that he's not going to move.

Johnson is on the floor, huddled with Scalise and Emmer.

Clyde votes for Johnson ultimately.

I believe Clyde ended up voting Johnson

Johnson has three votes against him in the first round. The round hasn't been called yet, though. Johnson now sitting in his chair talking Jeff Van Drew and Tim Burchett. Burchett could be key here as he has credibility with the holdouts.

Of the Republicans who didn't vote initially, Michael Cloud and Andy Biggs, Andy Harris, Chip Roy, Paul Gosar and Mike Waltz, vote for Johnson, Andrew Clyde votes present. We're still going to a second round.

Rep. Keith Self votes for Byron Donalds for speaker, making him the third to oppose Johnson. Votes still happening. Johnson is still in better shape than McCarthy was, who lost 19 Republicans on the first round.

What we could see here is Johnson trying to speak to Norman (Massie may be unreachable) and other potential holdouts on changing their vote before the first round is closed. Stay tuned.

Rep. Ralph Norman votes for Jim Jordan, guaranteeing a second round of votes for the speaker.

Rep. Thomas Massie, as expected, votes against Johnson, backing whip Tom Emmer instead.

After saying the speakership vote will go "multiple rounds" Rep. Tim Burchett votes for Johnson. Other Republicans could still vote against Johnson, though.

Tenn. Rep. Tim Burchett says Johnson speakership vote will go multiple rounds. He's got the power to do that himself, as Johnson can't lose any more GOP votes.

Speaker's election vibes: some holdouts are falling in line to vote for Johnson, not because of him, but to keep Trump's legislative agenda on track. The optimistic guess in 1-3 rounds of voting. (it's about 90 mins per vote because it's by voice)

Coming up: • How to read a nonprofit's tax forms • How to cover a city council meeting • How to read a campaign finance report Do you have an area of expertise? Share it with us! forms.gle/sYDVVQfUK4B4...

Jimmy Carter's life was bookended by the publication of The Great Gatsby and the rap battle between Drake and Kendrick, and I think that's beautiful.

If Americans want Congress to function and not be captured by billionaires, lobbyists and special interests, it should pay members of Congress more. The same goes double for staffers so you don't just have kids from Yale who have mom and dad pay their rent.

Spotted in Politico...

Want signs of what 2025 will look like on Capitol Hill? Read this unlocked piece from @caseywooten.bsky.social and Lauren Green about the tumult happening in the House:

Connolly disputes the notion that Dems were interested in newer, younger members to lead Dems on House Committees, says this race was about experience. Dems, though, did pick younger candidates for AG and Natural Resources for ranking members today.

Gerry Connolly defeats AOC to become the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, which will be the stage for lots of battles in the coming Trump administration. .

Johnson says that he’s confident he’ll get a majority of his conference to vote for the CR, and that GOP upset over the end of year bill won’t affect his speakership race in January. Still, he’s got a tight margin next year and there’s no guarantee there won’t be GOP holdouts.

Johnson says the CR is meant to get Congress to the first quarter of next year so a full Republican majority can “put their fingerprints” on appropriations legislation. House Rs are not unified in the CR, some are complaining that it’s yet another year-end spending bill.

At his weekly presser, Speaker Johnson says they’ve been working around the clock to get a CR done. Not really a clean CR though. Text expected today. Johnson says he hopes to keep to the 72 hour rule. Additions likely include disaster aid, farm bill extension and PBM reform.

In conversations with members across the ideological spectrum of the caucus, some say there are policy areas in which they can work with President-elect Trump and Republican majorities. @caseywooten.bsky.social and Lauren Green report (unlocked)

Very confusing situation here. To some, Luigi. To others, Waluigi.

@Reuters: A US federal appeals court upheld a law requiring Chinese-based ByteDance to divest its popular short video app TikTok in the United States by early next year or face a ban https://t.co/JwAjjJPcOY

DOGE, the meme-ified presidential advisory commission tasked with slashing the size and scope of federal government, made its debut on Capitol Hill Thursday. @caseywooten.bsky.social reports (unlocked):

Speaker Johnson tells us not to expect a lot of detail from the DOGE meeting with Elon and Vivek today. This is more of an introduction to further work next year.

Asked Google AI whether Brian Thompson's killer had been caught. It said: Yes, a murder suspect in the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was captured after months on the run. The suspect fell through the ceiling and was taken into custody. Generative Al is experimental.

Senior CISA and FBI officials just held a background call to brief reporters on the status of their investigation into Chinese hacking of U.S. and foreign telecom companies. It sounds like telecoms are a long way from being able to evict the Chinese hackers from their networks.

While forces have withdrawn from the National Assembly, the Defense Ministry says it will not disband martial law until Yoon gives the order. Lawmakers are refusing to leave until that happens. Meanwhile, the crowd continues to grow outside the NA, where @sarahjeong.bsky.social is posting live.

News: Incoming leader Thune sketched out an aggressive agenda for new majority today, including 2 reconciliation bills One would be early. address border, energy and defense second one would be later and address taxes Also: More Friday votes and NO MORE LONG FLOOR VOTES (!)

"I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom...of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order" www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

This is a list of verified journalists compiled by TPM's @hunterw.bsky.social go.bsky.app/U9juDW4

Who here likes books?

After standing outside House Ethics for three hours yesterday I am due.

Oh the nicknames!

The culture here makes it possible. After Jan 6th I privately confronted Mace for lying about my story bc she too was terrified in her office. I said as another assault survivor you know how harmful what you did is. Why? She said “whatever you know it’s a game, just points on the board” Uhh no???

Running for attorney general was the second dumbest decision Matt Gaetz ever made.

ahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha

Ethics Chair Michael Guest says there’s no agreement by the committee to release the Gaetz report. He didn’t specify whether there was an actual vote, however.

Ethics Committee members leaving their meeting on the Gaetz report. No one, R or D, is making any comment. Still some members left to go.