For decades, U.S. government funding was a rare space for bipartisanship—where both Democrats and Republicans could negotiate agency budgets line-by-line, forging complex compromises that kept the wheels of government turning. But now, that fragile system may be on life support.

The Trump administration’s latest moves—pushed aggressively by budget director Russell Vought—are threatening to bulldoze the final remnants of cooperative government spending in Washington.

“The appropriations process has to be less bipartisan,” Vought told reporters bluntly. “It’s not going to keep me up at night.”

And just like that, a quiet war over funding the government has exploded into a full-blown constitutional crisis.

From Tradition to Turmoil: The Fall of Appropriations

The budget battle is heating up as September 30, 2025, looms—the deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. Historically, Congress handled this through “regular order,” passing 12 detailed appropriations bills with bipartisan input. But over time, this process has eroded, replaced by hastily constructed “omnibus” bills, continuing resolutions (CRs), and now—rescission packages.

In recent months, Republicans have passed a $300 billion increase in military and immigration enforcement, followed by a $9 billion domestic aid cut—a rollback achieved through a little-used process allowing partisan reversal of previously agreed spending.

“It’s basically saying: No matter what you decide on, the president can change it,” said Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is retiring after a 30-year Senate career. “That’s a step backwards.”

The GOP’s New Playbook: Partisanship as Policy

Vought’s vision is clear: abandon the pretense of bipartisanship in budgeting. His bold comments sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill, drawing fierce backlash—even from fellow Republicans.

Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Appropriations Committee, criticized Vought’s “lack of respect and understanding” for congressional norms. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, called the remarks “dismissive” and said Vought was “disrespecting the institution.”

“I think he thinks we’re irrelevant,” Murkowski added bluntly.

Even Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., distanced himself from Vought, reminding reporters, “We need 60 [votes] to pass appropriations bills.”

Schumer Fires Back: “Fire Vought Before He Destroys Democracy”

Democrats, sensing a power grab, are sounding the alarm. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the White House of “torching the last bipartisan bridge in Congress.”

“It is absurd to expect Democrats to help fund the government if Republicans are just going to renege on agreements behind closed doors,” Schumer warned.

He even urged Trump to “fire Russell Vought immediately, before he destroys our democracy and runs the country into the ground.”

Is Congress Losing the Power of the Purse?

Under the Constitution, Congress—not the president—controls government spending. But with White House advisors rewriting budgets post-approval and using rescissions to gut bipartisan deals, many lawmakers say the balance of power is shifting dangerously.

“The appropriations process is broken,” said Senator John Kennedy, R-La. “It’s been broken for a while.”

Former Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell echoed this frustration. Reflecting on his 18 years of experience, McConnell admitted: “I concluded our failure to pass our bills empowers every president… and that makes all of our requests irrelevant.”

Gridlock on the Horizon

With Schumer and Democrats threatening to withhold support unless rescission efforts stop, and House Republicans insisting on a purely GOP-crafted budget, the outlook is grim.

Some insiders say Congress will likely rely on yet another continuing resolution, a stopgap that avoids shutdowns but maintains the status quo. Others fear a full government shutdown may be unavoidable.

“What the math tells us,” Thune said, “is we still need bipartisan votes to fund the government. That’s reality.”

Can Bipartisanship Be Revived—or Is It Too Late?

In a time of hyperpartisan warfare, Senator Collins remains one of the last defenders of bipartisan budgeting. She opposed both the megabill and rescissions—making her a lonely voice in today’s combative political landscape.

Political scientist Sarah Binder warns that the Trump administration’s impoundments of funding not only undermine congressional authority but also threaten the very idea of separation of powers.

He Said He ‘Protected’ Them with Holy Water… Then He Died”: Paranormal Investigator Dan Rivera(47) Dies During Annabelle Tour

In a story as eerie as the haunted legends he spent his life investigating, renowned paranormal investigator Dan Rivera has died suddenly at age 54 while on a U.S. tour with the infamous haunted doll Annabelle, the same doll that inspired The Conjuring horror franchise.

Rivera, a respected figure in the supernatural community and a U.S. Army veteran, passed away on Sunday in Gettysburg—one of America’s most haunted battlegrounds—under circumstances that have left both skeptics and believers speechless.

“We Took Every Precaution to Protect You…”

Just 24 hours before his sudden death, Rivera stood before a sold-out crowd at the Soldiers National Orphanage, the Gettysburg stop of the popular Devils on the Run tour. Holding his voice firm yet cautious, he spoke of the extreme measures taken to protect the group from Annabelle.

“I’ve built this case using three crosses, representing the Holy Trinity, and stained it with a finish that includes holy water,” Rivera said, referring to the container that housed the Raggedy Ann doll—allegedly possessed by a demonic force.

But by Sunday, emergency services were called to his hotel for a report of CPR in progress. Rivera was declared dead at the scene. The official cause of death has not been determined, and while authorities have stated that it is “not believed to be suspicious,” social media has exploded with speculation about supernatural involvement.

“The Warrens Told You to Leave That Doll Locked Up…”

Rivera wasn’t just any ghost chaser. He was the spiritual heir to Ed and Lorraine Warren, the husband-and-wife team who founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) and made the Annabelle case globally infamous. After their deaths, Rivera stepped up as one of NESPR’s lead organizers and caretakers of the doll, which had long been kept under lock and key at the Warren Occult Museum in Connecticut.

In recent months, Rivera had taken the doll on a national tour, promoting the journey via TikTok and other social media platforms. His last videos now seem hauntingly prophetic. In one, he confidently assured viewers that “Annabelle is secure,” while others showed him smiling beside the case, even as warnings poured in from commenters.

One now-viral TikTok stitched a clip of Rivera with the caption: “The Warrens told you to leave that doll locked up and you didn’t listen…” Another user wrote, “Dan was an Army veteran, and he died in Gettysburg—the most haunted battlefield in the U.S. That can’t just be coincidence. It’s chilling.”

A Legacy of Fear and Faith

Dan Rivera’s commitment to the paranormal wasn’t born from thrill-seeking, but from what friends and colleagues say was a deep spiritual calling. A tribute posted by NESPR on Facebook described him as a “genuine soul who believed in helping others seek peace.”

“Dan’s strong faith was a guiding light in his life. He never wavered in his belief in God and often spoke about the spiritual side of the work we do,” the tribute read. “We find comfort in knowing that he is now at peace, reunited with loved ones who have gone before him.”

Rivera had also worked as a producer for Netflix’s 28 Days Haunted and was a featured expert on Travel Channel’s Most Haunted Places.

Annabelle: More Than Just a Movie Prop

The real-life Annabelle isn’t the porcelain doll seen in The Conjuring films, but a soft, red-haired Raggedy Ann doll. According to NESPR’s website, she was given to a nursing student in the 1970s, after which a series of disturbing events allegedly unfolded. A medium claimed the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle. But when attempts to “please” the spirit backfired, Ed and Lorraine Warren were brought in and declared it demonically possessed.

The Warrens sealed the doll in a glass case inscribed with the words: Warning: Positively Do Not Open.

Now, with Dan Rivera’s sudden death, that warning has resurfaced in public consciousness—louder than ever.

Waiting for Answers… or More Questions?

While autopsy results are pending and may take months to be finalized, paranormal enthusiasts are unlikely to wait that long for explanations. Conspiracy theories, spiritual prophecies, and ghostly claims have begun flooding Reddit, TikTok, and YouTube, with many pointing to the Gettysburg location as significant.

One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Rivera dying in Gettysburg with Annabelle? That’s the script of the next Conjuring movie, except this one’s real.”

And perhaps that’s the most chilling part.

Rivera once said in an interview that “fear doesn’t come from the ghost, it comes from what we don’t understand.” Now, with his sudden and mysterious death, he has left behind a question few can answer—did Dan uncover something beyond understanding?

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In a shocking and heartbreaking development, City of Newcastle and the grieving family of Councillor Sinead Francis-Coan have confirmed her sudden and unexpected passing early Monday morning, June 24, 2025. She was just 40.

In a mark of deep respect and collective mourning, City of Newcastle has lowered its flags to half-mast to honour Sinead’s life, work, and unwavering dedication to the community she fiercely served.

Born in Ireland and raised in Newcastle from six months old, Sinead carved a path defined by passion for social justice, equity, and community empowerment. Before stepping into politics, she built a meaningful career in leisure and tourism studies and earned recognition as a qualified mediator. As an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle, she fought tirelessly to improve working conditions and amplify staff voices.

Her election as a Ward 3 Councillor was more than a personal achievement — it symbolised her deep commitment to grassroots representation. At her first Council meeting, she proudly spoke of her Irish roots and fondly remembered her late father, Ollie.

Lord Mayor Dr Ross Kerridge remembered her as a bright light in local governance:

I admired her thoughtful contributions and positive, honest, and optimistic view of the world. She had a charming personality and a great sense of humour. She truly took to being a Ward Councillor like a duck to water.

City CEO Jeremy Bath echoed this sentiment, describing Sinead as a beacon of energy, compassion, and integrity within the Council.

Despite feeling unwell, Sinead continued her duties last week, attending events for Refugee Week and meeting constituents. Her dedication never wavered.

Former Greens Councillor Michael Osborne paid a moving tribute, calling Sinead a “fierce community campaigner, organiser, friend and colleague.” He added, “Her selfless work has left an indelible mark. This tragic loss is deeply felt by our members and beyond.”

Sinead grew up attending Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow, shaping her strong ties to the local community. Her passing leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of her family — her mother Lyndall and sisters Roisin and Ciara — who have asked for privacy while they await the Coroner’s report and try to process this sudden loss.

In a city that knew her as a fearless advocate and an ever-smiling friend, Sinead Francis-Coan’s legacy will live on in the community projects she championed and the lives she touched with her kindness and determination.

May her memory inspire more to serve selflessly, just as she did.