It has been an interesting week for U.S. democracy. In the last fourteen days, U.S. lawmakers have averted a government shutdown. Currently, the Biden administration is discussing how it wants to address a surprise attack in Israel from the terrorist organization Hamas.  

All of this, and the U.S. House of Representatives does not have a Speaker to assist. A Speaker of the House has not been ousted in America’s history. So, what happened? 

Budgeting 101

In order to answer this, we must examine the U.S. budget, which is passed by the Congress every year. Congress must pass all federal funding budgets, which are typically valid for a certain length of time. This process is often done yearly. Congress can also pass short-term funding bills, typically called continuing resolutions or CR, which will fund the government for anywhere between a week and a couple months. If a funding bill expires and a new one is not put in place, the government is not being funded. This means the government cannot pay its employees or maintain any federally-controlled lands, although essential employees can continue to work; such a time is often referred to as a government shutdown. 

On Sept. 29, the House of Representatives passed a CR with broad bipartisan support. However, some Republicans, among them Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), had promised to introduce a motion to vacate the office of now-former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) if a CR passed.  

Removal of the Speaker 

On Oct. 2, Gaetz filed his promised motion to vacate. When the motion came to a vote, all Democrats joined eight Republicans in voting to remove McCarthy. Those eight Republicans were Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Elijah Crane (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Matthew M. Rosendale (Mont.). 

After the motion to vacate succeeded, Gaetz claimed, “Kevin McCarthy is a creature of the swamp. He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors. We are breaking the fever now.” 

The successful vote means that the House is currently lacking an elected speaker. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) has been named interim speaker while the search takes place. 

Implications 

This leaves the Republican party with a leadership crisis. The Republican margin in the House is currently five votes, which means that five Republicans can defeat any measure if all Democrats oppose it. As such, this leaves radical Republicans with an outsized influence.  

Many Republicans are furious with Gaetz, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for Gaetz’s removal from the Republican conference. Joseph Postell, professor of political science at Hillsdale College, said that these legislators sought to gain outside media influence. Postell told the Washington Post that “[House Republicans] are no longer incentivized to bargain with one another. They are incentivized to remain in conflict.” 

What will become of the Republican Party in 2024 and beyond is yet to be seen. But this episode will give us a picture of how Republicans choose to address a leadership crisis, and may show us how they will choose to handle Donald Trump. House Republicans are trying to show America that they can effectively govern in the leadup to the 2024 election; in the days to come, we will see Republicans try to govern their own.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, you may be scurrying to woo your loved one. For many college students, this may be a gruesome task. Traditional date ideas are often costly and time-consuming; these are two scarce resources for college students. Valentine’s Day is about showing your significant other how much you care for them and the best way to do so is by trying something new together that caters to your relationship’s individual needs. If you are having a busy week or waiting on your next paycheck, you can still have an exciting and romantic Valentine’s Day with your partner. Here are three time and budget-friendly Valentine’s Day date ideas:

Go to a nice restaurant and order off the kids’ menu

You and your significant other can enjoy a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant without breaking the bank. Make a reservation at your favorite local restaurant and order off the kids’ menu. Although this date idea may seem atypical, it is an amazing opportunity to break the ice and get to know each other or even to strengthen long-lasting bonds. Many times, restaurants will offer the same delicious foods you love for half the price. Luigi’s Italian Restaurant on the square in downtown Liberty is a great restaurant for a kids’ menu date. This restaurant offers classic Italian favorites such as fettuccine alfredo, ravioli, lasagna and spaghetti on their kids’ menu for only seven dollars each, and you won’t be disappointed in the portion sizes. However, if you happen to have room for dessert, they have shareable-sized options such as cheesecake, cannolis and tiramisu for only eight dollars. 

Have a study date

A study date can be great for college students to spend time with their significant other while catching up on their to-do lists. Many of us are finding that multiple exams and due dates for important assignments are being scheduled for early in the week or even on Valentine’s Day. Students may feel they must spend the majority of their time on school and may be lacking time to spend with their partner. If you are experiencing this stress, your partner may be as well. In these situations, there is nothing wrong with connecting with your loved one while being simultaneously productive. 

Study dates can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways and in many places. If the weather is nice, lay a blanket in the grass on the quad any time of day or head to the picnic tables in the butterfly garden at the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. any day of the week. If the day requires a cozy, inside location, head to a coffee shop with a fluffy blanket. The most convenient café is The Beak on the top floor of the PLC but if you are looking to get off campus, Hammerhand in Liberty is always an excellent choice. 

Bring the movie theater experience to your home

Another traditional Valentine’s Day date is a night out at the movies. However, an at-home movie night can be much cozier and a better bonding experience than going to a theater. Instead of remaining silent throughout the movie, you and your loved one can discuss as much as you want.

 Whether you have a television, a computer or your school-issued iPad, you can find a cozy couch or bed and stream movies of any genre. Popular romance movies that you can stream for free include “A Moment in the Reeds” (on Tubi), “A Rainy Day in New York” (on Peacock and Vudu), and “Carol” (on Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku and Vudu).

To make the experience feel even more like a movie theater, purchase snacks to eat during the movie. The Cardinal Store on the Quad-level floor of Curry Hall has great snacks for movie-watching. The snacks are affordable and you can even use your Cardinal Dollars to pay for your purchase.

A night at home watching movies can be the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day in one another’s arms. 

This Valentine’s Day weekend, you may be trying to find last-minute gifts that will warm the heart of someone special. Finding the perfect gift is a daunting task, especially when you may be on a budget. Luckily, a thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be a big expense to make Valentine’s Day memorable. Here are eight gift ideas that will make your special someone and your pocketbook happy this Valentine’s Day:

Cozy slippers or pajama set

A nice pajama set doesn’t need to be expensive and will be a practical gift anyone would appreciate. With Zoom classes and cold nights ahead, a pajama set is a perfect gift for a homebody. Most people don’t buy cute or cozy pajamas for themselves, so this would be a thoughtful and cozy gift. You can buy pajamas and slippers at Old Navy for under $20. 

Tea or coffee to make at home

For a coffee or tea lover, the perfect gift may be trying a new brew that you can share together. A nice bag of coffee beans or tea leaves is a thoughtful gift for your at-home barista. You can shop local at Anna Marie’s Teas or Hammerhand Coffee.

Cologne or perfume

Nothing says romance like a fragrant perfume or cologne. A bottle doesn’t have to break the bank this Valentine’s Day. You can get them a new signature scent that will make them smile, and spend under $35. At Ulta or Sephora, you can purchase rollerballs or travel-sized perfumes that will last for a while and allow them to try a new scent.

Prepaid date for a rainy day

If you can’t spend Valentine’s Day together or if you want to celebrate your Valentine at a later time, a prepaid date is a thoughtful gift to make fun and lasting memories. You can make this date as expensive or budget-friendly as you wish. An affordable outing could be reservations for a romantic dinner or prepaid movie tickets.  

Matching trunks

You can get you and your special someone a cute gift with matching underwear to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This gift is not SIMPly romantic, but it’s also comedic. You could have lots of fun picking out a fun pattern or color to bring a smile to their face and share a laugh together. There are plenty of options and variety online.

DIY spa day 

Celebrate your Valentine by treating them to a relaxing spa day. You can pamper them with face masks, body scrub, fragrant lotion, and other luxurious products. A DIY spa day is fun, romantic, and budget-friendly. You can purchase these spa day accessories at your local Target, Walmart, or Ulta.

Heart-shaped waffle maker

Surprise your Valentines with breakfast in bed after making them heart-shaped waffles in a mini waffle maker. It’s a loving gesture that warms the heart and feeds the soul. You can purchase toppings for a yummy Valentine’s Day treat and buy the waffle maker here.

Picture frame and personalized letter 

Nothing is more romantic and personal than a special picture and heartwarming letter for your special someone. This gift is affordable, but most importantly shows care and thought. You can remind them of a fond memory and share a warm sentiment. There are a variety of options for picture frames at Hobby Lobby, Homegoods, or Target. 

It’s spooky season! With Halloween just around the corner, the perfect costume is a must. Whether you plan on going out or staying in, here are some costume ideas that won’t scare your bank account. 

Most of these ideas would work for groups, couples or individuals.

Buy a bag of Smarties candy from the store and tape them all over a pair of pants to immediately become Mr./Mrs. Smartie Pants. This idea can also work with Nerds candy to be a nerd – add a pair of glasses to really look the part. 

Have a tropical shirt but don’t want to be a tourist? Add a pair of khaki shorts and boxing gloves to become Hawaiian Punch. 

Grab a loaf of bread from the store and some trophies or medals to be a breadwinner. 

When life gives you lemons, make a Halloween costume out of it! You can make a shirt that says “life” on it or carry around a box of Life cereal. Either way, don’t forget to bring the lemons!

Speaking of cereal, buy some mini cereal boxes from the store and empty them out. Tape the boxes and some plastic spoons to a plain t-shirt for a “Cereal Killer” look. If you want to make it a bit scarier, splatter some fake blood or red paint on the shirt. 

If it’s supposed to rain on Halloween, repurpose your umbrella into your costume. Print off pictures of Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, Tom Holland, Tyler Cameron, your Jewell crush and others to tape to or hang from the umbrella. It’s raining men!

Arguably the easiest group costume is being M&Ms. Plain colored shirts with a white “M” pinned to your chest will do the trick. Coordinate your socks or pants color to your shirt for added effect.

A similar costume would be to tape “A” to a red shirt, “S” to the blue shirt and “T” to a green shirt for easy Alvin and the Chipmunks costumes. 

Another classic, easy costume is Sully, Mike and Boo from Monsters Inc. For Sully, get a blue shirt and put purple patches in a few spots. Mike’s costume would be a bright green shirt with a giant eyeball made of paper pinned to the stomach. Boo would simply need a pink shirt and pigtails. To make yours unique, add colored tutus or buy oversized shirts with colored shorts. 

Throw it back to April 2020 for this next look. Save up the empty toilet paper rolls from your bathroom to tape or pin to a shirt to remind everyone to be thankful we all have toilet paper now. You could also add masks, hand sanitizer bottles and signs to keep six feet away for a complete COVID-19 themed costume. 

For a more upscale look, you’ll need an old prom or homecoming dress. You can either carry a rose and be a Bachelor contestant or wear a tiara, sash and bouquet of flowers for a Miss Universe look. 

A perfect couple’s costume could be Jake from State Farm and Flo from Progressive. For Jake, you need a red shirt and khakis. Flo should be dressed in all white with a white apron. Adding name tags and talking about insurance all night would really drive home the point. 

Another fun couple’s costume is Bob Ross and a Happy Little Tree. You can find a Bob Ross wig and paint pallet at Party City and other costume stores. For The Happy Little Tree, you need a brown shirt with leaves taped or pinned to it. You can even channel your inner Bob Ross to draw little branches on your face. 

If all else fails, places like Spirit Halloween have great last-minute masks, wigs, hats and costumes. No matter what costume you decide on, have fun, and be safe this year. Happy Halloween!