Jeffries stalls effort to restore federal workers' bargaining rights

Source: Politico

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ staff on Wednesday night blocked an effort to sidestep Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote on a bipartisan bill that would restore collective bargaining rights for thousands of federal workers, according to four people granted anonymity to describe the sensitive matter.

House leadership has stalled on scheduling a vote for the “Protect America’s Workforce Act” since it was introduced in April. Lawmakers have introduced a discharge petition that would allow the bill to immediately get a floor vote if 218 people sign on.

But Jeffries’ staff stopped the newly confirmed Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) from signing the petition on Wednesday. An aide pulled Grijalva aside moments before she approached the clerk’s desk to add her name, according to a video of the House floor reviewed by POLITICO.

Two of the people, who were granted anonymity to share private details, said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) was poised to sign on if Grijalva did — a move that would have given the petition the numbers needed to advance. But Democrats privately argue that Lawler only wants to attach his name to the effort if he can be the 218th and decisive supporter, allowing him to claim credit as a pro-union Republican.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/13/hakeem-jeffries-federal-workers-union-rights-bill-00650491

When was the last time the party shutting down the government got anything close to what they were demanding?

Politicians either have short memories, or too much hubris.

Popular weight-loss drugs could cost a lot less soon in U.S.

Source: Desert News

Drug manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have reached a deal with the Trump administration to drop prices on wildly popular obesity drugs for Medicare, Medicaid and private-pay Americans, the president announced Thursday.

The deal cut with the two companies will reduce consumer cost of Zepbound and Wegovy, as well as pill forms of two other GLP-1 obesity drugs. The New York Times reported that obesity drugs in pill form are expected to win regulatory approval in coming months.

“The lowest price, of $150 a month, will be available only for the lowest doses of the pill form of the drugs. When those drugs reach the market, Medicare and Medicaid will pay that price, as will Americans using their own money to buy the pills directly from manufacturers,” the Times reported.

The Trump administration said coverage of the injectable forms of Wegovy and Zepbound would also be more available for those on the two government-sponsored health insurance programs and will decrease what those programs pay. “Those measures are likely to expand access but still will stop far short of covering all the millions of people with obesity under those federal programs,” the Times article said.

Read more: https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2025/11/06/trump-deal-lower-prices-weight-loss-drugs-wegovy-zepbound/

Kazakhstan to join Abraham Accords as Trump pushes Mideast peace

Source: AFP

Kazakhstan said Thursday it will join the Abraham Accords between Israel and mainly Muslim nations, in a largely symbolic move aimed at boosting US President Donald Trump's push for Middle East peace.

The central Asian republic has had diplomatic ties with Israel for decades, unlike the four Arab states that normalized relations with Israel under the original accords signed in Trump's first term.

But with Trump aiming to shore up his fragile Gaza ceasefire deal, Washington is pushing to get as much support as possible behind a wider peace initiative.

The announcement comes as Trump hosts Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the leaders of the other four central Asian republics -- Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/kazakhstan-join-abraham-accords-trump-204844153.html

People are calling the Kentucky Secretary of State's office to report closed polling locations:

Scoop: Graham Platner's campaign manager is out

Source: Axios

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign manager is stepping down from his position, according to two people familiar with his plans.

Why it matters: Platner's bid, which was endorsed by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), has been thrown into controversy because he once had a tattoo that looked like a Nazi symbol and made controversial social media posts in the past.

Zoom in: Kevin Brown, a longtime friend of Platner's who started as campaign manager last week, is leaving his role, the sources said.

Platner's former political director, Genevieve McDonald, also previously departed the campaign.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/10/27/graham-platner-campaign-manager

Tropical Storm Melissa Is Forecast to Become a Major Hurricane

Source: New York Times

Parts of the Caribbean, including Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, were bracing for as much as a foot of rain through Sunday from Melissa, a slow-moving tropical storm that is expected to drift between the islands for the next several days, bringing with it significant risks of flash flooding and landslides.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane said the storm could become a “large and dangerous” hurricane — a Category 3 or higher — but its path after this weekend remains uncertain.

Here’s what to know so far.

With the storm currently spinning close to the islands of the Caribbean, some tropical storm and hurricane watches have already been issued. The watches mean that hazardous conditions such as heavy rain and potentially flash flooding are possible in the coming days. They are often followed by warnings as the forecast becomes clearer.

Between Thursday and Sunday, southern parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as eastern Jamaica could receive up to 12 inches of rain. Up to four inches is expected for the other parts of the islands, as well as for Puerto Rico and Aruba, forecasters said.



Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/21/weather/tropical-storm-melissa-hurricane

Black lawmakers pump brakes on Illinois redistricting

Source: Punchbowl News

The Illinois Senate Black Caucus issued a public warning Wednesday for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats pushing redistricting in the state.

The message: The caucus will not support any map proposal that dilutes the Black vote in historically Black districts.

Black state lawmakers huddled this morning with Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) and local Black aldermen to discuss the looming redistricting, per Illinois Senate Black Caucus Chair Willie Preston.

Read more: https://punchbowl.news/article/house/black-lawmakers-illinois-redistricting/

Centrist Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivia's presidential runoff, topping right-wing rival

Source: https://www.kiro7.com/news/world/centrist-rodrigo-paz/FH3ES3YQDU5B5D6W6EZ5C6UDVU/

By ISABEL DEBRE and PAOLA FLORES
October 19, 2025 at 6:45 pm PDT

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator who was never a nationally prominent figure until now, won Bolivia's presidential election on Sunday, preliminary results showed, galvanizing voters outraged by the country's economic crisis and frustrated with 20 years of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism party.

“The trend is irreversible,” Óscar Hassenteufel, the president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, said of Paz's lead over his rival, former right-wing President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga.

Paz won 54% of the votes, early results showed, versus Quiroga's 45%.

Shortly after the results came in, Quiroga conceded to Paz.

Read more: KIRO TV

Venezuela closes Norway embassy after Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Source: Le Monde

Norway's foreign ministry on Monday said Venezuela had closed its embassy in Oslo, without giving a reason, days after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

"We have been informed by the embassy of Venezuela that it is shutting its doors and no reason has been given," foreign ministry spokeswoman Cecilie Roang told AFP in an email. "It is regrettable. Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela and will continue to work in this direction," she added.

According to the Verdens Gang daily, which revealed the information, the embassy services were no longer answering the phone on Monday afternoon. Its numbers had been disconnected, AFP observed in the evening.

This announcement comes three days after Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. She has made the downfall of the Chavista regime in Venezuela her mission

Read more: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/10/13/venezuela-closes-norway-embassy-after-machado-awarded-nobel-peace-prize_6746393_4.html#