Just two quick housekeeping notes. First, tonight and tomorrow night’s updates will be brief. Just a couple of long days so I’ve got less time to do deep dives. Second, several of you have asked after Rosa, aka Rosie, aka the Flooferina. She has now had two chemo treatments. When we took her in for the second one the oncology vet did an exam before she got the second treatment. The oncology vet was very pleasantly surprised to find that her lymph nodes had shrunk so much after one treatment that they were almost back to normal sized. We’re all taking that as a good sign. So thank you all again for the good thoughts.
The Senate cleared the threshold to move the aid package to the floor. Which is a good sign.
BREAKING: The Senate has cleared a major procedural hurdle, by a vote of 81-19, to advance a $95 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
The final vote and the bill’s passage is expected later tonight, ending a grueling 6 month political battle
— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) April 23, 2024
We are, however, dealing with the US Senate, the world’s greatest deliberative country club for otherwise unclubable geriatrics, members of the young fogeys club, and a few dozen normal people. So let’s not jinx anything by taking premature victory laps.
Here’s the no votes:
The NO votes on advancing the aid package pic.twitter.com/j577v5aOTz
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 23, 2024
Rand Paul (R-Profile in Courage of One’s Convictions).
Here’s the full text of McConnell’s statement:
Mitch McConnell, a staunch backer of Ukraine aid, says the anti-Ukraine movement began with Tucker Carlson, “who, in my opinion, ended up where he should have been all along, which is interviewing Vladimir Putin.”
The Senate just voted 80-19 to break a filibuster on $95B aid package. Final passage expected tonight
Speaking of useless idiots:
Where…was this … MONTHS ago?!?!
— Adam (@ackwhacker) April 23, 2024
And the full text of Graham’s (R-Brownnose) statement:
US-Senator Lindsay Graham is currently having the floor and he is making the case in favor of Ukraine as well as Israel and Taiwan. He is comparing the isolationists in the US with Charles Lindbergh, who back then in the 1940s claimed that it is useless to fight Hitler.
Graham further encourages using ATACMS against the Kerch Bridge.
Also Linday Graham:
There will be no money for Ukraine, Israel, or even our own needs until we STOP the abuse of parole at our Southern Border. pic.twitter.com/w6HlDfv1ps
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 18, 2024
And it just passed:
The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday night to give final approval to a $95.3 bil package of aid to Ukraine, Israel $ Taiwan, sending it to President Biden & ending months of uncertainty about whether the US would continue to back Kyiv https://t.co/nTvMhk7FCB
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) April 24, 2024
But it came at a price:
Thank you, Senate!
Thank you, people of the USA!My city just experienced not one but three missile attacks while I listened to debates. The situation here is critical, and we desperately need help. That's why I'm struggling to hold back tears.
Thank you so much
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) April 24, 2024
Here’s President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
War for Ukraine Day 791: Ukraine Waits as the Senate DebatesPost + Comments (44)