Politics never takes a holiday, apparently. As the week winds down, here's what happened while you were digesting turkey and avoiding family arguments about, well, politics.
Trump Dangles the Possibility of No Income Tax
Donald Trump dropped a bombshell during his Thanksgiving address to U.S. military service members, suggesting that America could "substantially" cut or even "completely" eliminate the federal income tax over the next couple of years. The magic trick? Using tariff revenues to provide relief for low and middle-income taxpayers.
Of course, Trump didn't provide any specific details or a timeline for how this would actually work. The announcement arrived shortly after a prominent economist labeled his tariff rollbacks as a "remarkable admission" that his policies had, in fact, raised prices. Nothing like a little controversy to season the holiday.
Vance vs. Democrats Over Military Orders
Vice President JD Vance ramped up his attacks on six Democratic lawmakers who recorded a video reminding military personnel that they have the right to refuse unlawful orders. The timing is notable given that President Trump continues making controversial claims while courts have already struck down portions of his National Guard deployments.
On Sunday, Vance accused Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), along with Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Jason Crow (D-Colo.) of crossing a legal line by speaking directly to active-duty service members.
"If the president hasn't issued illegal orders, then the members of Congress telling the military to defy the president is by definition illegal," Vance wrote on X. It's a circular argument that raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Bolton Questions Trump's Ukraine Motives
Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton isn't holding back his skepticism about Trump's Russia strategy. Bolton warned that the president's eagerness to strike a flashy deal with Russia could undermine critical sanctions designed to limit Putin's war machine in Ukraine.
In an interview with Times Radio on Wednesday, Bolton got straight to the point: "Trump's objective is not to help Ukraine, but to make any deal he can, and claim a Nobel Peace Prize." Ouch. That's the kind of assessment that stings precisely because it comes from someone who worked closely with Trump during his first term.
The criticism arrives amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow, with the U.S. maintaining sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
Newsom Takes Aim at Road Safety Rollbacks
California Governor Gavin Newsom fired shots at the Trump administration over reported plans to challenge road safety requirements. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, helmed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), intends to push back against automotive safety measures including automatic emergency braking and child reminder systems that alert drivers when a kid is in the back seat.
Newsom accused Republicans of making it "easier" to get into accidents. Sen. Cruz's office didn't respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Bessent Threatens Filibuster Elimination
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent turned up the heat on Sunday, calling on Senate Republicans to prepare to eliminate the legislative filibuster if Congress triggers another government shutdown when current funding runs out in late January. The move would align with President Trump's long-standing demands to end the 60-vote requirement.
In a Washington Post opinion piece, Bessent labeled the filibuster a "procedural fossil" that allows Democrats to hold the country "hostage." He pointed to the 43-day shutdown that ended November 12 as evidence, noting it was the longest on record and caused billions in lost economic output, canceled flights, and delayed paychecks for federal workers.
Bessent argued the rule now functions as a minority veto, preventing the majority from governing effectively. Whether Senate Republicans will actually pull that trigger remains to be seen, but the threat alone signals how high the stakes have become.
And that's your week in politics: tax elimination fantasies, military loyalty disputes, Nobel Prize shade, safety regulation battles, and filibuster threats. Just another normal week in Washington.