Newsletter Archive

January 2024

Trump Looks to Kill Senate Border Security Deal

Happy Monday! The 2024 tax-filing season started today … and the House may be preparing to vote on a bill that would retroactively expand the Child Tax Credit and renew a trio of business tax breaks. But don’t hold off on filing while…

Plus: Plus: Appropriators make a breakthrough

Border Deal Is ‘Dead on Arrival,’ Johnson Warns

Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday appeared to snuff out any hope that a bipartisan Senate deal combining border changes and foreign aid could also pass the House.

Plus: Plus, the Fed's favorite inflation measure drops below 3%

Is Trump Blowing Up the Senate’s Border Deal?

Good evening! You look great today, and we’re not just saying that because we forgot to mention it yesterday, which was National Compliment Day. Actually, today is National Opposite Day, so maybe we should have said good morning and that…

Plus: Plus: The economy keeps topping expectations

Furious Conservatives Say Border Bill ‘Ain’t Gonna Pass’

Happy Wednesday! Are you ready for 285 days of a Biden-Trump general election race? Whether you — and we — are or not, that sure looks like what we’re headed for now that Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.

Plus: Plus: The cost of the Pentagon's Middle East buildup

Senators Still Slugging It Out Over Border Deal

It’s New Hampshire primary day! Can Nikki Haley make it a race? As voters head to the polls, here’s what else is happening.

Plus: Plus: When will the Fed start cutting rates?

It's Crunch Time for a Border Deal

Happy Monday! The political world will be focused on New Hampshire tomorrow for what may be a dramatically undramatic first-in-the-nation primary that will officially start a presidential nominating contest that seems to already be over…

Plus: Plus: an analysis of the new bipartisan tax proposal

Congress' New Tax Deal Clears a Big Hurdle

Happy Friday! President Joe Biden today signed the stopgap spending bill that Congress passed yesterday, averting a partial government shutdown that would have otherwise started after midnight. The new law extends funding for government…

Plus: Plus: Biden forgives another $5 billion in student loan debt

Congress Passes Short-Term Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown

Good evening! Congress passed a bill this afternoon to avert a shutdown this weekend — and it did so with a whole day to spare before the deadline, giving lawmakers time to clear out of the capital ahead of a dusting of snow forecast for…

Plus: Plus: House budget panel advances fiscal commission plan

Johnson Defies Biden on Ukraine and Border Deal

President Joe Biden met with congressional leaders at the White House on Wednesday afternoon to press for a $110 billion national security supplemental spending package including additional support for Ukraine and Israel. Yet while both…

Plus: Plus, child poverty rebounds

Congress Rushes to Avert a Shutdown as Conservatives Fume

Happy Tuesday! President Joe Biden will host House and Senate leaders at the White House tomorrow to discuss the stalled national security supplemental spending bill he has requested, with more than $100 billion he says is urgently needed…

Plus: Plus: A longshot $78 billion tax deal

Johnson Defies Hardliners, Defends His Spending Deal

Happy Friday! We’re just a weekend away from the Iowa caucuses, which promise to take place in frigid conditions, and just a week away from the first of two looming shutdown deadlines, which means that action should be heating up in…

Plus: Plus: IRS has recovered $520M in unpaid taxes from millionaires

Hardliners Press Johnson to Back Out of Spending Deal

Happy Thursday! There’s lots going on, but let’s take an appropriately brief moment to mourn the loss of Fruit Stripe gum, because as The New York Times reports, “the striped chewing gum known for its short burst of flavor, has been…

Plus: Plus: IRS improvements still not enough, taxpayer advocate says

Hardliners Revolt Against Speaker’s Spending Deal

Happy Wednesday! Chris Christie just dropped out of the Republican presidential primary, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are set for a one-on-one debate tonight and Alabama football coach Nick Saban reportedly said he’s retiring. Here’s what…

Plus: Plus: The top 1% pays lower tax rate in most states

Bipartisan Spending Deal Faces Backlash From Far Right

Happy Monday. The Senate returned from its holiday recess today and the House is back tomorrow. It’s only the second week of January, but lawmakers are already facing crunch time when it comes to avoiding a partial government shutdown next…

Plus: Plus, wages are now rising faster than inflation

Job Market Ends the Year With a Bang

President Joe Biden today gave his first campaign speech of 2024, warning that former president Donald Trump represents a threat to democracy. A day before the third anniversary of the January 6 insurrection, Biden visited Valley Forge,…

Plus: Pljus: Speaker Mike Johnson ponders his border play

The Government Shutdown Threat Is Growing

Happy Thursday! How’s your year going so far? It’s still early, but this is shaping up to be a tough January in the nation’s capital.

Plus: Plus, CBO outlines cuts that could occur if Congress can’t make a deal

Republicans Try to Squeeze Biden on the Border

Happy Wednesday! It took nearly 40 years and 157 levels, but an Oklahoma teenager reportedly became the first person to beat the classic video game Tetris. Here’s what else is happening.

Plus: Plus: The Fed is probably done hiking rates

US Hits $34 Trillion in Debt

Happy Tuesday and happy new year! We’re back, but Congress doesn’t return until next week and President Joe Biden is just heading home to the White House from his “working vacation” in St. Croix tonight, so let’s ease into the new year by…

Plus: Plus: The new year starts with shutdown drama

December 2023

The 2023 Charts of the Year

Happy Wednesday! With legislative business wrapped up for the year, our next newsletter won’t come out until January 2. Until then, our thanks to all of you who read The Fiscal Times and our best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024! Here’s…

Plus: Plus: The IRS waives $1 billion in penalties