World News: OnPolitics Today: Happy solstice, the government isn't shutting down (probably)

with Jessica Estepa

OnPolitics Today: Happy solstice, the government isn't shutting down (probably)

U.S. Capitol as seen from off-center at foot of steps.

Happy Thursday, and welcome to final edition of OP Today for 2017, fam.

What a RIDE this year has been. When we officially relaunched in May, it was literally the day before President Trump fired James Comey as FBI director. Seriously. It hasn't slowed down since.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Of course, even we need a vacation. So we're signing off today, federal government shutdown averted (probably) and Paul Manafort's vacation plans up in the air and all.

Happy (insert your holiday of choice here), subscribe here, and we'll see you on Tuesday, Jan. 2, with a recap of any/all of the politics antics (a New Year's Eve spent at Mar-a-Lago, perhaps?) that happen over the next week and a half.

Three cheers for the government staying open

Good news: The House today passed a spending bill that will keep the federal government from shutting down tomorrow. As long as eight Senate Democrats join the Republican majority in the upper chamber, a shutdown will officially be averted prior to the midnight Friday deadline.

Not as good news: That funding will only get most government programs through Jan. 19, because lawmakers love to procrastinate on tough decisions.

Decent news: Included in the spending bill is funding for the popular Children's Health Insurance Program through March. Of course, Congress failed to reauthorize the program earlier this year, which is why they're even dealing with this right now. But it's a start.

All Paul Manafort wants for Christmas

After reading former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's grownup Christmas list, we (re)wrote a song for you:

"I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree
I just want to get out of town, so I'm gonna to wear you down
What more can be done?
All I want for Christmas is the Hamptons."

Yes, Manafort wants to make a getaway to New York for Christmas, while his associate, Rick Gates, would really like to go to West Virginia for New Year's. Never mind that they were indicted by the Russia probe and they are still under house arrest (GPS monitoring and all). It's Christmas. And if you can't say it at Christmas, when can you, eh?

Elsewhere in politics

•	Illegal VA policy allows hiring since 2002 of medical workers with revoked licenses
•	Second federal judge blocks Trump contraception rule
•	Obamacare is hardly repealed, but some may have more and costlier insurance choices
•	Early data shows 2020 census could continue power shift in House toward South and West
•	Mitch McConnell gives Donald Trump a Louisville Slugger to celebrate tax bill