The Weekly Trek: December 14, 2018

Top Political News

• ‘There’s no plan’: Congress skips town as shutdown nears.
• Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl To Step Down, Leaving McCain’s Seat Vacant Again.
• Trump Inaugural Fund and Super PAC Said to Be Scrutinized for Illegal Foreign Donations. New York Times
• The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics

Energy, Natural Resources, and Agriculture 

• Negotiators Reach Compromise on $867 Billion Farm Bill.
• Sen. Joe Manchin to take top Democratic slot on Energy committee amid uproar on left
• Trump EPA Proposes Major Rollback Of Federal Water Protections
• Trump signs bill that likely keeps early earthquake-warning system on track in Northwest.

Indian Affairs

• Udall to Continue as Lead Democrat on Senate Indian Affairs Committee
• Senate Indian Affairs Committee holds hearing on missing indigenous women
• What the Violence Against Women Act could do in Indian Country — and one major flaw
• Meet the Craft Distillers of Native America

Labor

• How tech workers are fueling a new employee activism movement.
• In a tight labor market, companies bet big on five-year rewards. Reuters
• Kentucky Supreme Court Strikes Down Pension Law That Sparked Teacher Protests.

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• Trump to Steer More Money to ‘Opportunity Zones.’
• U.S., China Kick Off a New Round of Trade Talks
• Elon Musk says Tesla will refund customers who don’t receive their cars by the time a lucrative tax break is slashed next month

Technology

• America’s Power Grid Isn’t Ready for Electric Cars
• Farm Bill Expands Rural Broadband Funding
• How Robo-Cars Handle the Frustratingly Human Act of Merging

Transportation

• New federal transportation grants seen as ‘down payment,’ but far short of demand
• Free Public Transportation Isn’t for Everyone.
• The Airport of Tomorrow