The Weekly Trek: December 14, 2018

17 Dec The Weekly Trek: December 14, 2018

Top Political News

• ‘There’s no plan’: Congress skips town as shutdown nears. Politico
• Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl To Step Down, Leaving McCain’s Seat Vacant Again. NPR
• 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. Politico

Energy, Natural Resources, and Agriculture 

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

Indian Affairs

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

Labor

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

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

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

Technology

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

Transportation

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