Author: chicagoinquirer

by Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti and Matt Brown WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks. The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers — to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands. The Republican president blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn’t reward the party during next year’s…

by Michael R. Sisak and Eric Tucker WASHINGTON  — Jeffrey Epstein wrote in a 2019 email to a journalist that Donald Trump “knew about the girls,” according to documents made public Wednesday, but what he knew — and whether it pertained to the sex offender’s crimes — is unclear. The White House quickly accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the president. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three emails referencing Trump, including one Epstein wrote in 2011 in which he told confidant Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had “spent hours” at Epstein’s house with a sex trafficking…

by Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti and Matt Brown BY KEVIN FREKING, JOEY CAPPALLETTI AND WASHINGTON  — The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families. House lawmakers made their long-awaited return to the nation’s capital this week after nearly eight weeks away, with Republicans using their slight majority to get the bill over the…

by Kevin Freking WASHINGTON  — The longest government shutdown in history could conclude as soon as today, Day 43, with almost no one happy with the final result. Democrats didn’t get the heath insurance provisions they demanded added to the spending deal. And Republicans, who control the levers of power in Washington, didn’t escape blame, according to polls and some state and local elections that went poorly for them. The fallout of the shutdown landed on millions of Americans, including federal workers who went without paychecks and airline passengers who had their trips delayed or canceled. An interruption in nutrition…

by Jay Cohen CHICAGO  — Victor Wembanyama scored 18 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls 121-117 on Monday night for their third consecutive win. Wembanyama also grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots. The 7-foot-4 center made six 3-pointers and went 11 for 19 from the field in San Antonio’s first win at Chicago since March 17, 2021. He became the first player in NBA history with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocked shots and five 3-pointers in a game. De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points…

by Gerald Imray CAPE TOWN, South Africa  — U.S. President Donald Trump says that his government will boycott the Group of 20 summit this month in South Africa over his claims that a white minority group there is being violently persecuted. Those claims have been widely rejected. Trump announced Friday on social media that no U.S. government official will attend the Nov. 22-23 summit in Johannesburg “as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.” South Africa’s Black-led government has been a regular target for Trump since he returned to office. In February, Trump issued an executive order stopping U.S. financial…

by Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON — The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party. The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The…

by Stephen Groves WASHINGTON  — The senators — eight in total — faced almost instant blowback from Democrats as they broke ranks and voted to allow the Senate to move forward on compromise legislation that would reopen the government. Their decision Sunday night was labeled a “betrayal” and “pathetic” by some of the most prominent voices in the Democratic Party. “To my mind, this was a very, very bad vote,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats. The group of defectors consisted of several senators who are retiring next year, as well as a number of…

by Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro WASHINGTON  — The Senate was drawing closer to a vote on legislation to end the shutdown on Monday after a small group of Senate Democrats broke a 40-day stalemate late Sunday evening and voted with Republicans to move forward with reopening the government. It is unclear when the Senate will hold final votes on the bill, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hopes passage will take “hours not days.” “The American people have suffered for long enough. Let’s not pointlessly drag this bill out,” he said as the Senate opened on…

by Sarah Raza Chicago police officers responded to a call of gunshots fired at federal agents Saturday amid immigration enforcement operations that drew residents to protest in the streets, the department said. There were no reports of anyone being hit by gunfire, according to police, and the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on the social platform X that the shots were fired by a man in a black Jeep who was targeting the agents. The suspect and the vehicle have not been located, according to DHS. Tensions are high as federal enforcement has grown increasingly aggressive some…