Elections/Legislation/Government

Judge Laura Taylor Swain approved a deal to restructure $17 billion of Puerto Rico's $72 billion debt on Monday. Court approval was the last hurdle creditors and the island's oversight board needed for a plan to address sales tax backed debt or "COFINA" debt."We are worried that not enough debt is being cut and that Puerto Rico's people are carrying heavy austerity burdens," said Jubilee USA Executive Director Eric LeCompte, who monitors Puerto Rico's debt. "The math isn't adding up.

On the 23ed of January, Trump's "government shutdown" began to fall into chaos. As the government prepared to miss a second paycheck Federal workers swarmed the Hart building chanting "No more food banks we want a paycheck!" Some went on to occupy Senator Mitch McConnel's office, leading to 12 arrests.

Update Jan 25:Trump folds, agreeing to reopen gov't until Feb 15 WITHOUT wall funding as air travel called "unsafe," Federal workers protest, and chaos mounts."State of Emergency" for wall still a serious risk

Video-protest in the Hart Atrium and at Sen McConnell's office 50 sec

On the 17th of January, the GOP-controlled Senate held a retreat at the Washington Nationals baseball stadium. Sen Mitch McConnell has been blocking any vote on proposals to reopen the US government without Trump's racist wall funding. Outside the stadium, unions representing government workers furloughed or working without pay chanted "Call the vote!"

Video-Union members chant "Call the Vote!" 34 seconds

ALERT for State of the Union protest organizers: on Jan 16, it was reported on twitter that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has ordered Donald Trump to delay his State of the Union address or submit it in writing unless the Federal government is reopened this week. The reason given is "security concerns" caused by the government shutdown.

Update Jan 23: Trump kneels to Pelosi, postpones State of the Union after House refuses to consider joint resolution to hold the SOU

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