Elon Musk and Donald Trump caused chaos in Congress.

Scientists have made a worrying discovery about microplastics,

and the war against murder hornets is over.

That's some of what we'll get to on the 7 from the Washington Post.

I'm Christina Quinn. It's Thursday, December 19th.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. Number one, the federal government is careening toward a shutdown this

weekend. Yesterday, I told you that leaders in Congress had reached a deal to avert a government

shutdown.

Well, a lot has happened since then.

Elon Musk injected himself into the conversation with a post on his social media platform

X yesterday.

Musk, who has become a close advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, urged Republicans to reject

the spending deal.

A Republican revolt built steadily through the

day and culminated with a long-written statement from Trump himself. Trump and his allies say that the

bill includes too many Democratic policy priorities. It has forced House Speaker Mike Johnson

back to the drawing board on a plan to prevent a Christmas

time shutdown. Last night, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that House Republicans

will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people that results from a government

shutdown. House Republicans have now unilaterally decided to break a bipartisan agreement that they made.

House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country.

Unless Congress acts, federal agencies will shut down at 1201 a.m. Saturday.

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