RJ Hamster
Trump Sets Government Funding Strategy
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Inside Scoop
Issue: 2/3/2026
House Holds Crunch Vote on Shutdown
The partial government shutdown enters its fourth day as House Republicans hold a critical procedural vote this morning.
Speaker Mike Johnson says he’s “confident” the funding package will pass, but two Republicans—Reps. Thomas Massie and John Rose—have already voted against the rule, threatening to sink the entire effort. Johnson can only afford to lose one GOP vote with his razor-thin 218-214 majority.
President Trump urged Republicans on Truth Social: “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.” The package would fund most agencies through September and extend DHS funding for two weeks while lawmakers negotiate over ICE reforms Democrats are demanding.★★★
Trump Hosts Adversary-Turned-Guest Petro
President Trump is meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House today—a remarkable turnaround after months of hostility.
Just weeks ago, Trump called Petro a “sick man” fueling the drug trade and sanctioned him and his family. Now, after a phone call brokered by Senator Rand Paul, the two leaders are discussing counternarcotics cooperation, Venezuela’s border, and Colombia’s upcoming elections.
Trump told reporters: “Somehow after the Venezuelan raid, he became very nice.” Drug trafficking will dominate the agenda, with Colombia responsible for the world’s largest cocaine production.★★★
Clintons Cave on Epstein Depositions
Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to appear for in-person depositions in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation, caving just as contempt charges loomed.
But it’s not over yet—House GOP leaders have given the Clintons until noon today to confirm they’ve accepted the committee’s standard terms: filmed depositions with no time limit.
“If it’s not done satisfactorily, then we’ll proceed with the contempt,” Speaker Johnson said. Chairman James Comer had rejected their initial offer of a four-hour interview in New York, calling it an attempt at “special treatment.”
Nine Democrats joined Republicans in the committee vote against Bill Clinton—a stinging bipartisan rebuke.
Minnesota Caucuses Kick Off 2026 Season Tonight
Minnesota’s precinct caucuses began at 7 p.m. EST, with a crowded GOP gubernatorial field including House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. Democrats face a competitive Senate primary between Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan..
★★★
Nonpartisan Report Shifts 18 House Races Toward Democrats
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted 18 House racestoward Democrats, citing Trump’s weak polling and Democratic special election wins. Republicans now must win three-quarters of toss-up seats to keep control of the House.
★★★
Voters Head to Polls in State Legislative Races
Voters across five states cast ballots today in special elections and primaries. New York fills four legislative seats, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s former Assembly seat. Alabama, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Michigan also hold contests.
Noem Deploys Body Cameras
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced all Minneapolis ICE officers will immediately receive body cameras, expanding nationwide as funding allows. Trump endorsed the move: “People can’t lie about what’s happening.”★★★
Trump Demands $1 Billion From Harvard
Trump escalated his university war, demanding $1 billion from Harvard over campus antisemitism—doubling his previous ask. Columbia and Brown have already settled for $220 million and $50 million, respectively.
★★★
Iran Talks Expected Friday
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s foreign minister are expected to meet in Istanbul for nuclear negotiations. Trump warned: “If we can’t work something out, probably bad things would happen.”
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- Americans Skeptical on AI: A new Fox News poll finds 60% of voters believe AI adoption is moving too fast, while 63% lack confidence in the federal government’s ability to regulate it properly.
- MAGA Trusts AI Oversight: Despite widespread skepticism, MAGA supporters stand out: 57% expressconfidence in federal AI regulation, compared to just 36% of voters overall, according to Fox News polling.
- ICE Enforcement: 57% of voters say ICE and CBP have “gone too far” in immigration enforcement, while 86% support body camera requirements for agents.
- New York Governor’s Race: A Siena poll shows Gov. Kathy Hochul leading Trump-endorsed challenger Bruce Blakeman 54% to 28%. Hochul’s favorability hit 49%, her highest ever, while Blakeman remains unknown to three in five voters.
- Iran Blinks First
Iran’s President Pezeshkian has ordered his foreign minister to pursue negotiations with the U.S.—a major turn after weeks of turmoil and bloody protest crackdowns. Trump noted talks are underway, warning “bad things would happen” if no deal is reached. Maximum pressure works. - France Targets Musk
Paris cybercrime prosecutors raided X’s French headquarters Tuesday, summoning Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for questioning in April. X has characterized the probe as an assault on free speech. European regulators continue their crusade against American tech. - SAVE Act Gets Lifeline
Rep. Luna dropped her spending bill objections after Trump promised Senate Republicans would force Democrats into a talking filibuster on voter ID legislation. Speaker Johnson says he has the votes to pass the $1.2 trillion package. Election integrity remains on the agenda. - Putin’s Broken Promise
Russia resumed massive attacks on Ukrainian cities Tuesday, launching 71 missiles and 450 drones targeting energy infrastructure and ending a brief pause that Putin agreed to at Trump’s request. The strike was the largest of 2026 so far, just one day before scheduled peace talks. - Musk Goes Mega
SpaceX announced the acquisition of xAI in a record-shattering deal valuing the combined company at over $1 trillion. Musk says the long-term plan includes space-based data centers to meet AI’s massive power demands. The world’s richest man just keeps building.
“I have a one-vote margin, yes, for the rest of 2026. But we’re going to demonstrate once again that this is the party that takes governing seriously.”
-House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), on ending the partialgovernment shutdown, February 3, 2026
★★★
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