Democrats agree deal to avoid shutdown but demand DHS bill include reforms to ‘rein in ICE’ | First Thing

Agreement spins off Department of Homeland Security spending bill as Democrats demand changes to immigration enforcement. Plus, US leads global surge in gas-fired power Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Senators have reached a deal to advance a major package of spending bills to avert a partial government shutdown that was to begin on Saturday. What is Schumer’s strategy? The intention is to buy time for further talks over Democrats’ demands for changes to immigration enforcement after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, which include an end to mask-wearing by federal agents, the imposition of a code of conduct and independent investigations of its violations. On Wednesday, he announced that Democrats had united on a “set of commonsense and necessary policy goals that we need to rein in ICE and end the violence”. What has the president said? Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote.” How does this fit into a pattern of behavior from Trump? Trump has filed many lawsuits in his personal capacity since winning a second White House term in 2024, including against the New York Times and book publisher Penguin Random House, the Wall Street Journal and the BBC. That’s a lot of money, right? Well, yes, but it’s worth noting that plaintiffs are free to name almost any dollar amount to describe the damages they claim to have suffered. Some plaintiffs choose staggeringly high numbers because they know they’ll generate headlines. Continue reading...