1. FROM THE HALLS OF CONGRESS: Washington's latest drama is almost over - kind of. Senators moved last night to extend the debt limit to last until December, ending weeks of brinksmanship as top CEOs and administration officials begged lawmakers to act. The Senate vote sparked its own saga, with an agitated former President Donald Trump, annoyed conservatives, and some gleeful Democrats. Key disagreements very much remain, meaning this is more of a to-be-continued kind of ending.
Advertisement
Here's where things stand:
Mitch McConnell and top leaders had to squeeze their fellow Republicans: McConnell summoned his colleagues for a tense meeting before the vote as they discussed the party's strategy, Politico reports. Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters afterward that "it was a mistake to offer this deal." In the end, the GOP mustered 11 votes, one more than necessary to give Democrats the necessary 60 votes so they could end debate and pass the two-month fix on their own. Many Republicans didn't seem to care that Trump was also opposed to the deal.
McConnell is still pressing Democrats: He previously said the extension was meant only to give Democrats more time to raise the debt ceiling for the longer term by themselves through the special budget process known as reconciliation. Democrats continue to insist they won't do that. (Now you see why this is far from over.)
Republicans were also furious at how Democrats responded: "There's a time to be graceful and there's a time to be combative. That was a time for grace and common ground," Sen. Mitt Romney, who did not vote to help Democrats, said of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's blistering speech after the vote. Schumer chided Republicans for pushing things to this point.
Centrist Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin was also not pleased, per Politico's Burgess Everett:
The House is expected to send the extension to President Joe Biden's desk next week.
Advertisement
2. Not everyone is buying Rep. Matt Gaetz's new image: The family-man depiction is a notable shift for the 39-year-old Florida congressman, who is the subject of a federal sex-trafficking investigation that centers on allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. "It's somewhere between look-over-here magic-trick stuff and maybe pretending" the investigation isn't happening, a Republican who worked with Gaetz in Florida told Insider. Read more about how Florida political insiders see Gaetz's marriage as "image management" by the congressman.
5. Tesla HQ is moving to Texas: CEO Elon Musk stressed that while Tesla's home base was moving to Austin from Palo Alto, the company wasn't leaving California altogether. Signs of such a move have abounded, including Musk's public frustration with California's pandemic-related restrictions. Musk also cited the lack of affordable housing and long commutes as reasons for his decision. More on the news.
6. Trump claims Haitians seeking to enter the US "probably have AIDS": The former president lashed out against Haitian migrants seeking to enter the US, saying that hundreds of thousands of them were "flowing in." The Post reported in 2018, of course, that Trump privately called Haiti a "shithole" country when discussing the protection of immigrants. His latest remarks echo his widely criticized past comments.
Advertisement
7. Texas abortion clinics spring into action after a favorable ruling: Representatives from Whole Woman's Health, a national abortion provider with four abortion clinics in Texas, told reporters that they and several other providers had already begun to perform previously prohibited abortion procedures after the roughly six-week deadline presented by the law. A federal judge this week temporarily blocked Texas' law, which functions as a near-complete ban on abortions. The state is appealing. The abortion clinics are still taking major risks and could be opening themselves up to future penalties.
8. Matthew McConaughey breaks silence on whether he'll run for office: The Academy Award winner told The New York Times that he's still undecided about whether he'd challenge Gov. Greg Abbott, adding that many had told him "politics is a bag of rats." McConaughey did take public positions on some issues for the first time, deeming the state's abortion law "juvenile in its implementation." More from the interview, including how McConaughey responded to a jab from Beto O'Rourke.
9. Eighteen former NBA players are accused of massive medical fraud: Authorities allege that the group defrauded the NBA's health and welfare benefit plan with nearly $4 million in fraudulent claims. According to court filings, players in question include the former Memphis Grizzlies defensive star Tony Allen, the league journeyman Sebastian Telfair, and the former Celtics center Glen "Big Baby" Davis. More details from the indictment.
10. Nigeria's Prince Kunle and Princess Keisha left royal life years before Harry and Meghan: Prince Kunle told Insider he turned down the opportunity to be king of the Arigbabuowo ruling house, and now he lives in London with his wife. The couple have no plans of returning to royal life, and Kunle said he made the move to preserve his family's freedom. Get the inside scoop on the once royal couple.
Advertisement
Today's trivia question: Here's another Bond-related question to mark the US release of "No Time to Die." In "Skyfall," a replica of a masterpiece painting is shown. The real painting was stolen a few years before the movie's release. Which artist painted the original? Email your answer and a suggested question to me at bgriffiths@insider.com.
NewsletterSIMPLY PUT - where we join the dots to inform and inspire you. Sign up for a weekly brief collating many news items into one untangled thought delivered straight to your mailbox.
Top COVID-19 doctors and scientists privately asked the Biden administration to scrap its booster shot plan, report says
A timeline of Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election
Trump urged GOP senators to vote 'no' on raising the debt ceiling. 11 senators, including Mitch McConnell, ignored him and voted to pave the way for passage.