How Congress Could Find Itself Paralyzed, and New Orleans Attack Update
Jan 3, 2025
auto_awesome
Tensions rise in Congress as members struggle to elect a new Speaker amidst major divides. Investigations continue into a New Orleans attack, affecting countless lives. A federal court strikes down net neutrality, igniting fears over internet freedom. Meanwhile, a half-ton piece of space junk makes an unexpected landing in a Kenyan village, sparking safety concerns. In a related political twist, the U.S. blocks a major Japanese takeover of its steel industry due to security worries.
The upcoming House Speaker election highlights deep divisions within the Republican Party, risking legislative paralysis if unity isn’t achieved.
The recent overturning of net neutrality regulations raises fears of unequal internet access and potential costs for consumers, sparking significant debate.
Deep dives
Contentious Speaker Vote Impacting Congress
The upcoming election of a House Speaker is proving to be a significant point of contention, as Republican Mike Johnson faces internal party struggles. Despite an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump, Johnson’s previous compromises have left some far-right lawmakers unhappy, leading to a pivotal vote with potential chaos on the horizon. With such a narrow majority, Johnson cannot afford to lose more than one Republican vote; thus, dissent within the party could jeopardize his election. The situation underscores the urgency for Congress to unify and address pressing legislative matters.
Net Neutrality Regulation Overturned
A recent ruling by a federal appeals court has overturned net neutrality regulations, raising concerns over the treatment of internet traffic by service providers. The principle of net neutrality, which mandates that all internet traffic be treated equally, has been a contentious topic, facing shifts in policy with various administrations. Opponents of net neutrality fear this ruling may lead to disparities in internet access and potential additional charges for consumers, despite few instances of provider misuse in the past. Advocates argue that the existence of such regulations has deterred ISPs from throttling content, hence their reinstatement is crucial for consumer protection.
Tune in every weekday morning. To get our full audio journalism and storytelling experience, download the New York Times Audio app — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode