Congress Tries Chaos as Solution to Healthcare Cost Cliff, Mace Floats Plan to Rename BLM Plaza for Charlie Kirk, and Bad Nuts May Be in the Region - Washingtonian

"Good morning. Sunny today with a nominal high around 39, which will feel much colder thanks to wind. A low near 27 overnight. The Capitals host Carolina tonight. You can find me on Bluesky, I'm @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there's a link to my email address below. Thanks to Kate Corliss for covering for me yesterday. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here."

"Neighbor rattling: The US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a legally interesting move apparently designed to pressure Nicolás Maduro. "Well, we keep it, I guess," President Trump said about the oil onboard. ( NYT) Trump, who recently pardoned Honduras's former president Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been convicted of being part of a massive drug-trafficking conspiracy, said Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, is next in his war against drug traffickers. ( Politico)"

"Health on the shelf: Some Republicans in the House moved to circumvent Speaker Mike Johnson to force votes on expiring Covid-era Obamacare subsidies, without which health insurance costs will soar for millions of Americans. ( Politico) The Senate is likely to vote down two plans to deal with the cost cliff today. ( WSJ) Trump hasn't yet championed any one approach, leading to the flailing in the legislative branch. ( Politico)"

Morning will be sunny with a high around 39°F, strong winds making it feel much colder, and a low near 27°F; the Capitals host Carolina tonight. Contact options include Bluesky @abeaujon.87, Signal, and an email link; a daily music playlist is available on Spotify and Apple Music. Ducks Ltd.'s "Train Full of Gasoline" will appear at a local Carpark Records anniversary show. The US seized an oil tanker off Venezuela to pressure Nicolás Maduro, and President Trump commented, "Well, we keep it, I guess." Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández and signaled Colombia's president as a next target. The administration will establish a military zone along the California border. Some House Republicans moved to force votes on expiring Covid-era Obamacare subsidies; the Senate is likely to reject two plans, and the administration has not endorsed a single approach, producing legislative flailing.

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