A political newsletter for normal people
WTF Just Happened Today? is a sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news. Curated daily by Matt Kiser and delivered to 200,000+ people every afternoon around 3 pm Pacific.
Day 176: "Conversations with folks."
Today in one sentence: Senate Democrats are moving forward with a $3.5 trillion spending package without Republican support; Kamala Harris said she's "having conversations with folks" about filibuster reform; Trump called for a leaker to be executed for treason; the DOJ tried to obtain Washington Post reporters' email data right before Barr left office; Chuck Schumer wants to federally decriminalize marijuana; and Tennessee has abandoned all vaccine outreach efforts to minors.
1/ Senate Democrats revealed a $3.5 trillion plan to invest in health care, climate change, and more. The measure, which would include money to address climate change, expand Medicare and fulfill other Democratic priorities, is intended to deliver on President Biden’s economic proposal. “If we pass this, this is the most profound change to help American families in generations,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. (NBC News / New York Times / Politico)
2/ Vice President Harris suggested that she has discussed filibuster changes with senators. With a major voting bill stalled, the vice president told NPR that she won’t negotiate changes to Senate rules publicly, “but I’m certainly having conversations with folks.” (NPR)
3/ Trump said whoever “leaked” information about his time in the White House bunker last year should be “executed,” according to a new book. Then-President Trump told a number of his advisers in 2020 that whoever leaked the information had committed treason and should be executed for sharing details about the episode with members of the press. (CNN)
4/ The Justice Department attempted to seize Washington Post reporters’ email data one day before former AG Bill Barr left office. Newly unsealed court files shed more light on a contentious leak investigation. (New York Times)
5/ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he will propose the federal decriminalization of marijuana. Schumer will offer draft legislation to remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances and begin regulating and taxing it. (New York Times)
6/ Tennessee abandoned its vaccine outreach to minors — not just for COVID-19. Tennessee halted all outreach to minors for all vaccines amid pressure from Republican lawmakers. A state vaccine expert was also fired. (The Tennessean)
A political newsletter for normal people
WTF Just Happened Today? is a sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news. Curated daily by Matt Kiser and delivered to 200,000+ people every afternoon around 3 pm Pacific.
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