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In the news today: Washington is bracing for what could be a prolonged federal shutdown after lawmakers missed the deadline for funding the government; U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces a shift in military policy; and the U.N. Security Council authorizes a larger force to fight gangs in Haiti. Also, Alaska crowns its Fat Bear Week winner. |
The Capitol is seen at dusk in Washington, Tuesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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What happens now that a government shutdown is underway
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Washington is bracing for what could be a prolonged federal shutdown after lawmakers deadlocked and missed the deadline for funding the government. Republicans supported a short-term measure to fund the government at its current levels through Nov. 21, but Democrats blocked it, insisting the measure address their concerns regarding healthcare. Neither side shows any signs of budging. Read more. |
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- Now that a lapse in funding has occurred, the law requires agencies to furlough their "non-excepted" employees. Excepted employees stay on the job but are not paid until after the shutdown ends. The Congressional Budget Office estimates roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed during the shutdown with an approximate daily compensation cost of $400 million.
FBI investigators, CIA officers, air traffic controllers and agents operating airport checkpoints will keep working, along with members of the Armed Forces. Social Security payments still go out. Seniors relying on Medicare coverage can still see their doctors and health care providers can be reimbursed. The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown and veteran health care also continues during a shutdown.
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Pete Hegseth had a lot to say when he summoned military leaders. Here are some facts and context
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Armed with a 10-point plan and pacing a stage in Quantico, Virginia, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday enumerated for hundreds of assembled military leaders just how much of the force's policy, philosophy and culture will change for more than 2 million Americans in uniform under President Donald Trump's command. Here are some of Hegseth's words with the context behind them. Read more. |
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Hegseth made the claim: "Any place where tried and true physical standards were altered, especially since 2015, when combat arms standards were changed to ensure females could qualify, must be returned to their original standard." It's not clear what Hegseth meant by returning physical expectations to their "original standard." But military culture and the role of women have changed dramatically in recent decades.
"Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops. Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It's a bad look," Heseth said. Three-quarters of Americans aged 17 to 24 are not eligible for military service for several reasons, including extra weight. Some have debated whether the physical requirements demanded of service members across the board are still relevant or should be adjusted according to the job so the armed forces can maintain the pool of talent needed for today's high-tech warfare.
- The throughline of Hegseth's remarks was that members of the military are there to, first and foremost, "unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy." In terms of attitude, he said he expected aggressiveness and risk-taking and turning away from what he has called a "woke" culture that he said has weakened the military. But the modern American military isn't just about fighting, it's about diplomacy and problem-solving. That is why diversity and different perspectives help, said Rebecca Best, associate professor of political science at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
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UN authorizes a much larger force to fight gangs in Haiti with new power to arrest gang members
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The U.N. Security Council voted Tuesday to authorize a much larger international force of 5,550 members with expanded powers to help stop Haiti's escalating gang violence. Read more. |
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The resolution, co-sponsored by the U.S. and Panama, will transform the current Kenya-led multinational force into a "Gang Suppression Force" with the power to arrest suspected gang members, which the current force does not have. The vote was 12-0 with Russia, China and Pakistan abstaining.
China's U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong was highly critical of the resolution, which he said "risks exacerbating Haiti's already complex and dire situation." He especially criticized the U.S., which he said not only failed to provide promised funding to the force but also owes $800 million to the U.N. peacekeeping budget while demanding other countries share the new force's financial burden.Add bullet 2
- Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. They now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have expanded their activities including looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults and rape into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination.
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Plants growing in a smart garden on a table beside a window. (Click & Grow via AP)
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How to use tech in the garden and still keep your serenity
Gardening tools are evolving to incorporate more technology, including artificial intelligence, to help us keep plants healthier, avoid unpleasant tasks and even grow crops indoors during winter. And we can use them without losing the stress-relieving benefits that nature provides. |
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