We’re back and we’re reading – everything from the “New York Times” to the “Washington Post.” We’re trying to help you keep up with the rapid pace of politics and everyday news. Today, we’ve got the results of the Mississippi runoff, an update on Ivanka Trump’s email scandal, and rising markets.
Above the law
Ivanka Trump said there is “no equivalency” between her use of a personal email account and Hillary Clinton’s Wednesday.
Last week Ms. Trump was found to have been using her personal email account for government business.
While secretary of state, Clinton stored classified information on a private server and used her private account for government work.
During the 2016 presidential election President Donald Trump criticized Clinton for her use of a personal server.
Mr. Trump has defended his daughter, noting that there are historical record of all her emails at the White House.
The markets are jumping
After a speech by the Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, stocks rose.
Powell said the central bank “could be closer than expected to ending its current push to lift interest rates.”
According to the New York Times, investors may be reading too much into Powell’s comments.
Shortly after Powell’s remarks were published S&P 500 rose “sharply.”
The 600 point surge erases the November losses.
Midterm season has come to a close
Republican Sen. Cindy Hype-Smith will win Mississippi’s U.S. Senate runoff election, according to CNN.
Hyde-Smith will defeat Democratic challenger Mike Espy, a former congressman.
This victory will make Hyde-Smith the first woman ever elected to Congress from Mississippi.
The Democrats will hold 47 seats and Republicans will hold 53 seats in the U.S. Senate come January.
Hyde-Smith will finish out the last two years of former Sen. Thad Cochran’s term. She will have to run again in 2020 to serve a full six-year term.
There might be a government shutdown upon us
House Republican leaders pressed Democrats to support President Donal Trump’s request for $5 million to fund the border wall.
According to CBS News, Congress must pass several spending bills in order to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Congress has to act on seven spending bills by Dec. 7. Five of the 12 annual spending bills have already been passed by the House and the Senate.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy hopes that Democrats can “put politics aside” and solve the immigration “problem once and for all.”
Pelosi wins nomination for House speaker
House Democrats voted to nominate Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as Speaker of the House in a 203-32 vote.
Pelosi was running uncontested.
According to The Hill, the 32 votes against her were fewer than the 63 in 2016 when Rep. Time Ryan (D-Ohio) ran against Pelosi.
During the first week of January the full House will meet to choose the Speaker in a public vote requiring a majority of the entire voting chamber.
Where’d the money come from?
Newley released tax records show that more than $79 million were donated to a liberal nonprofit during President Donal Trump’s first year in office, according to ABC News.
The donors chose to remain anonymous.
This money helped fuel opposition to Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
The contributions in 2017 represent a near $50 million increase from the $21 million donated in 2016 when President Barack Obama was still in office.
That’s all we have for today. Check back tomorrow for more.
