Michael McAuliff
@mcauliff.bsky.social
Covering politics and policy in Washington for Modern Healthcare. Priors include HuffPost, New York Daily News, ABC News.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Springsteen’s never had a no. 1 on Billboard’s hot 100…
Bruce Springsteen sings 'Streets of Minneapolis' in Minneapolis as protest song hits No. 1
The Boss' anthem in response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good quickly topped the iTunes chart.
www.nbcnews.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Springsteen’s never had a no. 1 on Billboard’s hot 100…
Just a reminder. There's lots of healthcare stuff in the government funding bill. And it's now up to the Mike Johnson to pass it, and save providers another round of pain and uncertainty. Especially telehealth and community health centers.
Senate sends health, funding bill to House after ICE standoff
The legislation's passage comes too late to avoid a partial government shutdown.
www.modernhealthcare.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Just a reminder. There's lots of healthcare stuff in the government funding bill. And it's now up to the Mike Johnson to pass it, and save providers another round of pain and uncertainty. Especially telehealth and community health centers.
The government funding bill passes overwhelmingly, with DHS and ICE split out. 71 - 29. Now Mike Johnson needs to see if he can get it through the House before the shutdown starting at midnight goes on too long. And then Congress has two weeks to figure out ICE/DHS
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 11:42 PM
The government funding bill passes overwhelmingly, with DHS and ICE split out. 71 - 29. Now Mike Johnson needs to see if he can get it through the House before the shutdown starting at midnight goes on too long. And then Congress has two weeks to figure out ICE/DHS
49 senators voted for Bernie's amendment to abolish ICE, and send the money to Medicaid. Needed 60 votes. Collins and Murkowski and the Rs who voted for it.
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 11:03 PM
49 senators voted for Bernie's amendment to abolish ICE, and send the money to Medicaid. Needed 60 votes. Collins and Murkowski and the Rs who voted for it.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Investigative Reporters and Editors strongly condemns the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who covered a Jan. 18 protest against immigration enforcement at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
January 30, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Investigative Reporters and Editors strongly condemns the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who covered a Jan. 18 protest against immigration enforcement at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
One detail getting lost in the coverage of Don Lemon's arrest?
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
The church at the center of Don Lemon’s arrest hat ties to Christian nationalism
And the "TheoBros."
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:40 PM
One detail getting lost in the coverage of Don Lemon's arrest?
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 9:47 PM
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
A judge has ordered the release of Twin Cities independent journalist Georgia Fort this afternoon, rejecting the U.S. government’s claims that her allegations constitute a crime of violence that necessitate keeping her detained.
Live: U.S. opens civil rights investigation in Alex Pretti’s death
President Trump labeled Pretti an “agitator” after new video showed the Minneapolis man clashing with federal agents.
bit.ly
January 30, 2026 at 8:50 PM
A judge has ordered the release of Twin Cities independent journalist Georgia Fort this afternoon, rejecting the U.S. government’s claims that her allegations constitute a crime of violence that necessitate keeping her detained.
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Shot and chaser from new Epstein batch
January 30, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Shot and chaser from new Epstein batch
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Breaking on MS NOW:
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
January 30, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Breaking on MS NOW:
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Q: Is the public going to learn the identities of the men who abused the girls?
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
January 30, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Q: Is the public going to learn the identities of the men who abused the girls?
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
I'm at the Willard Hotel where I've been denied entry and kicked out of the Reclaiming Science event with NIH director Bhattacharya & other top agency leaders.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
January 30, 2026 at 6:07 PM
I'm at the Willard Hotel where I've been denied entry and kicked out of the Reclaiming Science event with NIH director Bhattacharya & other top agency leaders.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
There's been absolutely no public hearing on this bill, no chance for D.C. residents to weigh in on whether it should be left to their elected officials to determine tax policy or unaccountable members of Congress. (The bill was quietly introduced on January 22.)
It looks like the House is indeed voting on H.J. Res. 142 next week, which would nullify the "D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025," costing the District government *$224 million* in the current FY 2026...
January 30, 2026 at 6:33 PM
There's been absolutely no public hearing on this bill, no chance for D.C. residents to weigh in on whether it should be left to their elected officials to determine tax policy or unaccountable members of Congress. (The bill was quietly introduced on January 22.)
With the Senate at a standstill, Schumer uses the opportunity to talk about the Epstein files. "This morning, we got news that another tranche of Epstein files was released by the DOJ.
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
January 30, 2026 at 6:36 PM
With the Senate at a standstill, Schumer uses the opportunity to talk about the Epstein files. "This morning, we got news that another tranche of Epstein files was released by the DOJ.
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Strange, I was told autonomous vehicles would end crashes
Tesla's own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor
Tesla’s nascent robotaxi program is off to a rough start. New NHTSA crash data, combined with Tesla’s new disclosure of...
electrek.co
January 30, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Strange, I was told autonomous vehicles would end crashes
Tillis: "why don't we start talking about these common sense, sorts of ways to lower the temperature? Hold people accountable when they're harming ICE agents and hold our ICE agents accountable if they reacted in a way that's not consistent with their law enforcement training."
January 30, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Tillis: "why don't we start talking about these common sense, sorts of ways to lower the temperature? Hold people accountable when they're harming ICE agents and hold our ICE agents accountable if they reacted in a way that's not consistent with their law enforcement training."
Sen. Thom Tillis responding to Lindsey Graham: "Sen. Graham mentioned a $10 billion lawsuit from the President. Really? Where's that money come from? The money fairies? Or your pocket?.. my goodness, a $10 billion lawsuit seems silly."
January 30, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Sen. Thom Tillis responding to Lindsey Graham: "Sen. Graham mentioned a $10 billion lawsuit from the President. Really? Where's that money come from? The money fairies? Or your pocket?.. my goodness, a $10 billion lawsuit seems silly."
Thom Tillis responding to Schmitt and Graham: "There are a lot of very valid points made here today. Very few of them have anything to do with what's ahead of us this weekend.. The Homeland Security Bill has had to be severed for a variety of reasons."
January 30, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Thom Tillis responding to Schmitt and Graham: "There are a lot of very valid points made here today. Very few of them have anything to do with what's ahead of us this weekend.. The Homeland Security Bill has had to be severed for a variety of reasons."
With Lindsey Graham maintaining a hold on a government funding deal, at least a short shutdown is guaranteed. So, here is what healthcare faces in a shutdown.
How another government shutdown would impact healthcare
Once again, Medicare payments for telehealth and hospital-at-home care are at risk if Congress doesn't make a deal before Saturday.
www.modernhealthcare.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:23 PM
With Lindsey Graham maintaining a hold on a government funding deal, at least a short shutdown is guaranteed. So, here is what healthcare faces in a shutdown.
Schmitt and Graham are trying to keep their colleagues to the right in this colloquy on the floor, and think it will be politically beneficial. "I want to make very clear to my Democrat colleagues, this is a home game for us," Schmitt said. "You want the debate on immigration. Bring it on."
January 30, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Schmitt and Graham are trying to keep their colleagues to the right in this colloquy on the floor, and think it will be politically beneficial. "I want to make very clear to my Democrat colleagues, this is a home game for us," Schmitt said. "You want the debate on immigration. Bring it on."
Graham, who is holding up the government funding deal, notes he used to be in the House.
"Why do I like the Senate better? Because one person has a say."
"Why do I like the Senate better? Because one person has a say."
January 30, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Graham, who is holding up the government funding deal, notes he used to be in the House.
"Why do I like the Senate better? Because one person has a say."
"Why do I like the Senate better? Because one person has a say."
Lindsey Graham, who is the main hold on government funding: "The man who was shot. I've seen the video. It needs to be investigated. I'm sure it will. There are things being done on the ICE side that a lot of Americans are uncomfortable with."
January 30, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Lindsey Graham, who is the main hold on government funding: "The man who was shot. I've seen the video. It needs to be investigated. I'm sure it will. There are things being done on the ICE side that a lot of Americans are uncomfortable with."
Schumer: "First, we need to rein in ICE and end the violence. That means ending roving patrols. It means requiring rules, oversight and judicial warrants. Second, we need real accountability over ICE and the Border Patrol."
January 30, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Schumer: "First, we need to rein in ICE and end the violence. That means ending roving patrols. It means requiring rules, oversight and judicial warrants. Second, we need real accountability over ICE and the Border Patrol."
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
For all the discussion of doxxing federal agents, there’s essentially no discussion of how those agents are taking steps that attach severe punitive measures that stretch across wide swaths of the federal bureaucracy against people acting lawfully.
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:42 PM
For all the discussion of doxxing federal agents, there’s essentially no discussion of how those agents are taking steps that attach severe punitive measures that stretch across wide swaths of the federal bureaucracy against people acting lawfully.