Welcome to Friday, October 18th, socks and shoes...

U.S., Turkey, and Syrian Kurds have agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

Vice President Mike Pence announced in a press conference Thursday that the U.S. and Turkey have agreed to a five-day ceasefire in Northern Syria.

Standing beside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Pence said the ceasefire will allow the withdrawal of America’s Kurdish allies from the 20-mile “safe zone” Turkey seeks to establish through its military incursion. The deal was struck after Pence and Pompeo met with Turkish President Erdogan in the NATO ally’s capital, Ankara. President Donald Trump praised the deal on Twitter:

It’s unclear whether the temporary ceasefire will affect Turkey-related legislation in Congress. On Wednesday, the House voted to pass a bill rebuking the Trump administration’s withdrawal of U.S. troops from Northeast Syria and calling on Turkey to halt its operations against the Kurds. It may get a Senate vote before the end of the week.

Do you support the ceasefire in Northeast Syria?

On the Radar

Ditching Columbus & Denying Tax Breaks

Even with the shortened work-week, you princes and princesses and princeXs of politics kicked !$!@$

• You said YES, it is time to ditch Columbus Day.
• You LIKE, but don't LOVE, the 2020 Democratic contenders.
• 82% SUPPORT the impeachment probe while 18% of you OPPOSE it

Here's how you've kept Congress accountable this week:

How are you feeling about your work week on The Hill?

Hurdles to Prove Housing Discrimination

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has introduced a proposal to weaken the “disparate impact” rule, which prohibits policies that appear neutral but disproportionately impact minorities.

The public has until October 18th to comment here.

“It is imperative that we make our voices heard. The administration has been chipping away at our civil rights since January 2017," said Marie Flannery, President and CEO of The Fair Housing Center, in Toledo, Ohio. "This latest attack, if successful, will gut an enforcement tool that has historically had a broad and profound impact on protecting the housing rights of all people, particularly vulnerable populations and communities of color.”

HUD Secretary Ben Carson argues there there's "a lack of affordable housing in America today. This proposed rule is intended to increase legal clarity and promote the production and availability of housing in all areas while making sure every person is treated fairly under the law."

Should HUD make it harder to bring housing discrimination lawsuits?

China Condemns Hong Kong Bills as 'Arrogant' & 'Sinister'

China has hit back at the U.S. for the House's passage of legislation in support of Hong Kong's autonomy, which state news agency Xinhua called "arrogant and dangerous."

Spokesmen for the Chinese government said unrest in Hong Kong "is inescapably related to the overt or covert support from the U.S." to "anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong", and that the bill shows America's "sinister intentions to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and contain China's development."

Should Congress show solidarity with Hong Kong protesters against China?

Under the Radar

UAW & GM Reach Tentative Deal 

The United Auto Workers and General Motors have reached a tentative deal that could end a strike that began on September 16th and is the UAW's longest strike against GM since 1970.

The details of the four-year contract haven't been disclosed, but are reported to include raises of 3-4% or lump-sum bonuses each year, the addition or retention of 9,000 hourly U.S. jobs, and a clear path for experienced, temporary workers to become full-time employees. The new contract will still require approval before it takes effect.

Do you support strikes by labor unions?

Senate Fails to Override Trump's Veto

The Senate attempted to override President Trump's veto of a second resolution to terminate his border emergency declaration.

However, the veto was sustained following a 53-36 vote that fell well short of the two-thirds majority required for an override. The 10 Republican senators who voted to terminate the border emergency all did so in previous votes on the issue, so there were no new GOP defectors.

Should Congress override Trump’s veto and end the border emergency declaration?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should the EPA’s Clean Energy Rule be Repealed?