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Reporter’s Notebook: Democrats face an impeachment tractor beam that could derail their affordability message
In the original Star Wars, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Obi-Wan Kenobi find the Millennium Falcon under fire from Imperial TIE fighters in deep outer space. Luke speculates that the TIE fighters are «heading for that small moon.»
But Obi-Wan’s visage grows grim.
«That’s no moon,» intones Obi-Wan. «It’s a space station.»
Han Solo disagrees.
«It’s too big to be a space station,» says Han. To which, Obi-Wan instructs him, «Turn the ship around.»
But as quickly as he dismissed Kenobi’s observation, Solo pivots. He grimaces, realizing that the wise Jedi Knight is on to something.
DEMOCRAT AL GREEN TO FORCE HOUSE-WIDE VOTE ON IMPEACHING TRUMP
«Yeah. I think you’re right,» Han replies. The Millennium Falcon starts to shake.
«Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power,» Han commands his shipmate. «Why are we still moving towards it?» squeaks Luke.
«We’re caught in a tractor beam and it’s pulling us in!» shouts Han.
And a few moments later, the Millenium Falcon, the fastest ship in the galaxy, is suctioned into Bay 327 of the Death Star, moored, and unable to escape. The band of ragtag heroes are now stuck. On the Death Star.
Grand Moff Tarkin describes it as «the ultimate power in the universe.»
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Impeachment in Congress is kind of like the Death Star’s tractor beam. You can’t escape once you’re in its clenches. A decision to impeach sucks a political party in, eventually marooning everyone in the political equivalent of a hangar bay.
For Democrats, they can’t focus on the price of eggs and milk. There’s little debate about gas prices. It’s a challenge to even address oversight issues.
You can try to «lock in the auxiliary power.» But it’s too late.
You might think impeachment is «a moon.» But it’s really the political Death Star.
Not for your adversary. But often those orchestrating the impeachment.
Democrats might find themselves in an impeachment bind if they capture the majority next year. Progressives and the left will possess one of the loudest voices in Congress. And even though Democrats twice impeached President Trump in 2019 and 2021, some will insist on doing it again. That’s to say nothing of trying to impeach a host of Trump Administration cabinet officials – ranging from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Some Democrats are already falling prey to the impeachment tractor beam.
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, led the initial effort to impeach President Trump during his first term in 2017 – long before the successful impeachment over Ukraine in 2019. Republican redistricting – engineered by President Trump forced Green out of his Houston-based district earlier this year. But Green engineered yet another effort to impeach the President last week as the Texas Democrat heads for the exit.
MIDTERM HISTORY MASSIVELY FAVORS DEMOCRATS. BUT THEY ARE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE
The House voted to sidestep Green’s impeachment resolution, 232-147. So this was not a straight, up or down vote on impeachment. It was one step removed. Forty-seven Democrats voted «present.» That includes the party’s top three Democrats: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.
In some respects, House Democratic leaders want to shun impeachment. Or at least avoid it for the time being.
In 2006, Democrats were on the precipice of flipping control of the House. Democrats largely won the midterms that year because of voter fatigue with President George W. Bush and the calcification of the war in Iraq.
Many Democrats wanted to impeach the President. But as she prepared to clasp the gavel, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., famously declared that impeachment was «off the table.»
House Democrats focused on drawing down the war in Iraq and eventually pivoting to other policy issues like health care and climate change. But Democrats had to get through those midterms first. So once Pelosi said no impeachment, there was no impeachment of the President.
Impeachment with President Trump was kind of «off the table» for Pelosi when Democrats reclaimed the House in the 2018 midterms. But there was a shift among moderate Democrats after disclosures about the President and Ukraine in the summer of 2019. A master of the political pulse, the Speaker understood the direction this was going among her Members. That’s when Pelosi got in front of her caucus, pushing for potential impeachment of the President later that year.
House Democratic leaders are depositing any overt discussion of impeachment on the backburner for now. They don’t want to veer away from their message about affordability. In fact they’ve frequently steered the conversation back to the cost of living when pressed about impeachment.
Consider this response from Jeffries when questioned about impeachment on April 9.
«We’ll have a conversation led by (Rep.) Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, and (Rep.) Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a former Judiciary Committee Chairman and Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., and Judiciary Committee Democrats tomorrow about Trump administration accountability,» replied Jeffries.
But, unlike completely mimicking Pelosi’s posture years ago, Jeffries signaled he was open to the impeachment question.
«I don’t want to get out ahead of that discussion. But we’ve also been very clear. House Democrats are going to focus on making life more affordable for the American people,» said Jeffries.
On June 14, Kristen Welker of NBC asked Jeffries if his party could «move to impeach President Trump» if Democrats reclaimed the House.
«We haven’t ruled anything in or ruled anything out in terms of accountability. What we have said is that our focus is going to be to make life more affordable for the American people,» answered Jeffries.
On August 25 on CNN, Jeffries deflected a similar impeachment inquiry.
«We haven’t ruled anything in and we haven t ruled anything out,» stated Jeffries.
Impeachment interrogatives continued for Jeffries during a September 13 interview on ABC.
«We haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out in terms of impeachment,» said Jeffries.
That’s smart politics for Jeffries. He’s trying to keep his hand on the helm before the midterms – and essentially deferring to the political climate of next year and where rank-and-file Democrats might fall next year should Democrats capture the majority. But there are indications that many Democrats are already ready for impeachment. The progressive base will demand action. And it extends well beyond Al Green.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., made her case after the President posted to social media in April
that «a whole civilization will die tonight» in reference to Iran.
«If that’s not high crimes and misdemeanors – and if it’s not madness – I don’t know what is,» said Dean.
Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said that the President was «threatening genocide.»
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said the party should «push for impeachment» and that the President «is unfit to be the Commander in Chief» and «should be removed.»
So Jeffries has a decision to make. The hard left will demand impeachment – for someone. Be it the President or Hegseth. But if Democrats flip the House, their «majority makers» might represent battleground districts. Those prospective lawmakers will be moderates. Impeachment could be politically toxic for them.
TRUMP COULD FACE IMPEACHMENT IF DEMOCRATS SEIZE HOUSE MAJORITY, GOP LEADER WARNS
Pelosi’s circumstances evolved in the summer of 2019. Moderate Democrats with national security credentials from swing districts edged toward impeachment. So, she pulled the impeachment trigger. Pelosi knew the direction of her caucus.
In September 2026, it’s not as clear for Jeffries. And it’s not a done deal that Democrats will seize the majority.
That’s why the New York Democrat expressed caution during his conversation on ABC.
«We’ve got to follow the facts. Apply the law. Be guided by the Constitution and then let the chips fall where they may, in the best interest of the American people,» said Jeffries.
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Han Solo was skeptical back on the Death Star.
«Even if I could take off, I’d never get past the tractor beam,» said Solo.
«Leave that to me,» promised Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The Jedi Master then eluded detection on the Death Star, manually shutting off the tractor beam. That disgorged the Millenium Falcon. But in the end, Kenobi sacrificed himself for the mission.
On Capitol Hill, impeachment is a tractor beam. Once you’re siphoned in, nothing can escape its grasp. Debates about policy. Spending. Health care. War. The tractor beam controls all.
Until it’s switched off.
Not every party which is incapacitated by impeachment has an Obi-Wan Kenobi who can find the off switch. When it comes to impeachment best advice might be to «turn the ship around» beforehand.
But if lots of Members are clamoring for impeachment, it may already be too late.
politics, congress, donald trump, senate, house of representatives politics
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Antigua Guatemala reunió a más de 300 especialistas en el FEL Summit 2026 para analizar la transformación digital de los sistemas fiscales en América Latina
Antigua Guatemala reunió el 15 de octubre a más de 300 especialistas, autoridades tributarias y empresas tecnológicas de al menos 10 países en el FEL Summit 2026, un encuentro dedicado a los cambios que la inteligencia artificial, la automatización y la ciberseguridad imponen sobre los sistemas fiscales de América Latina.
La jornada contó con más de 20 expositores internacionales, representantes de 25 compañías y funcionarios de administraciones tributarias de la región.
El encuentro fue organizado por la empresa guatemalteca INFILE y tuvo la coorganización técnica de la Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria de Guatemala.
El debate abarcó la digitalización de los trámites fiscales y financieros, pero también la relación entre los Estados y las empresas. La expansión de los procesos electrónicos durante la última década aceleró esa transformación y planteó exigencias de supervisión, protección de datos y adaptación institucional.
La inteligencia artificial en la administración tributaria
La inteligencia artificial concentró buena parte de las exposiciones por su capacidad para automatizar validaciones, agilizar procedimientos y ampliar el análisis de grandes volúmenes de datos. Los participantes también abordaron los riesgos vinculados con el tratamiento de información y la gestión de amenazas digitales.
José Eduardo Gutiérrez, representante del Banco Mundial, presentó la conferencia “El futuro fiscal de América Latina: tecnología, confianza y desarrollo en una economía digital”. Luego participó de un conversatorio junto con Erick Echeverría, intendente de Recaudación de la SAT, sobre tecnología, formalización y tributación como herramientas para impulsar el desarrollo económico.
Echeverría expuso el recorrido de Guatemala desde la implementación de la factura electrónica hasta su actual objetivo de crear un ecosistema fiscal integrado. Ese modelo busca vincular los comprobantes digitales con otros procesos de administración, control y cumplimiento tributario.
La coordinación entre países surgió como una condición para extender la modernización fiscal en América Latina y el Caribe. Las administraciones de la región avanzan a ritmos distintos: algunas llevan años con la factura electrónica obligatoria, mientras otras todavía comienzan su transición hacia sistemas digitales.
El panel regional reunió al superintendente de la SAT, Werner Ovalle, con especialistas de Panamá, República Dominicana, Honduras, Costa Rica y Perú. Las experiencias compartidas incluyeron modelos de automatización, digitalización y evolución de las obligaciones de los contribuyentes.
La protección de datos y el uso financiero de las facturas
La ciberseguridad ocupó otro lugar central en la agenda por el aumento de los riesgos de fraude digital y robo de identidad. La protección de la información tributaria fue presentada como una condición para sostener la confianza de empresas y contribuyentes en los sistemas electrónicos.
Guillermo Bran, presidente ejecutivo de INFILE, definió el alcance del encuentro: “Conectamos autoridades tributarias, líderes empresariales, especialistas en tecnología y actores del ecosistema financiero, conversando en un mismo espacio sobre contabilidad electrónica, factura electrónica, cumplimiento tributario, factoraje, inteligencia artificial y ciberseguridad”.
“No es una conferencia teórica; es un espacio para entender hacia dónde va la transformación fiscal de la región”, agregó Bran. La convocatoria integró a actores públicos y privados vinculados con los sistemas tributarios, financieros y tecnológicos.
La factura electrónica también fue analizada como una herramienta que puede exceder el cumplimiento fiscal. Entre las posibilidades discutidas figuró su uso como activo financiero y su vínculo con el factoring digital, un mecanismo de financiamiento mediante el cual una empresa cede sus facturas por cobrar para obtener liquidez anticipada.
Estos modelos podrían facilitar el acceso al financiamiento de pequeñas y medianas empresas, que suelen enfrentar mayores dificultades para obtener crédito en la banca tradicional. La agenda incluyó además experiencias regionales sobre el uso de inteligencia artificial en pagos entre empresas y en la contabilidad electrónica.
Los organizadores situaron en 2030 la próxima etapa de los sistemas fiscales latinoamericanos, marcada por la convergencia entre factura electrónica, contabilidad digital, factoring electrónico y transformación tecnológica. El desafío planteado fue combinar innovación, seguridad y capacidad institucional para supervisar los nuevos procesos.
factura electrónica,conferencia,orador
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Democrats’ latest gun-control push runs into inconvenient fact about how school killer was stopped
Democrats renewed calls for tougher gun laws after three children and a teacher were killed in an Oregon school shooting, but gun-rights advocates say the circumstances of the attack bolster their case against new restrictions.
The teenage shooter reportedly opened fire with a shotgun purchased by his mother before armed father-of-two-students Kaylub Giamanco pursued him into Silver Rail Elementary School and fatally shot him. Second Amendment advocates argue additional gun restrictions would not have stopped the killer and could make it harder for armed civilians like Giamanco to intervene.
«Democrats are shamefully weaponizing this tragedy in Oregon to advance their political agenda on gun control,» Aidan Johnston, director of federal affairs for Gun Owners of America, told Digital.
«But more gun control isn’t the solution: the school was a gun-free zone and the killer didn’t use a so-called ‘assault weapon.’ What did stop the mass murderer and save lives was an armed bystander with good aim.»
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Gun-rights researcher John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, separately argued that restrictions on carrying firearms can leave potential victims defenseless.
«These gun-free zones actually serve as a magnet for these attacks rather than stopping them from occurring,» Lott told Digital.
Lott pointed to CPRC research examining active shootings from 2014 through 2024, which he said found that legally-armed civilians stopped more attacks than police did.
The National Rifle Association similarly questioned whether new restrictions would have changed the outcome.
«Oregon already has nearly every gun-control measure on the anti-gun wish list—including an A- rating from groups that push them—yet that did not prevent this attack,» the NRA said in a statement to Digital. «The armed bystander who pursued the shooter inside and ended the threat is the clearest reminder that when seconds count, a prepared law-abiding citizen can stop a killer.»
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was among the lawmakers calling for action after the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where Bend-LaPine school policy bans firearms, including concealed ones.
«The best way to honor these victims is to at long last pass common-sense gun laws that reduce the risks of more children, parents, teachers and staff forced to live in fear of similar nightmares for their schools,» Wyden said in a statement.
JONATHAN TURLEY: JAMES TALARICO’S DEFENSE OF GUN CONTROL LEAVES OUT A KEY WORD
Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., whose district includes Bend, also called for action while acknowledging the armed bystander’s intervention.
«When are we going to practice that same bravery that that bystander had?» Bynum asked during a vigil, after urging action to keep firearms away from people who should not have them.
Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., also cited the shooting in calling for additional gun laws and urging the Supreme Court to change course:
«It is far past time for the Roberts Court to make it clear their decision on guns does not endorse unfettered and unregulated access to weapons,» Reed said.
«In the absence of the Supreme Court ceasing its pro-gun rulings, Republicans need to join Democrats in enacting commonsense policies that could prevent these kinds of tragedies,» Reed added.
The Roberts Court has issued consequential gun-rights rulings, including District of Columbia v. Heller — which struck down the District of Columbia’s handgun ban in 2008 — and New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen, which struck down New York’s requirement that applicants show a special need to obtain a license to carry a handgun in public.
LA GUN OWNERS STUCK WAITING YEARS FOR CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS SCORE MAJOR DOJ VICTORY
The political fighting is unfolding as investigators examine how the teenage gunman gained access to his mother’s shotgun — a key question in determining whether existing or proposed gun laws could have made a difference.
Asked specifically about universal background checks and red-flag laws, the NRA argued that neither would likely have prevented the shooting, citing initial reports that the teenager obtained a family member’s firearm.
The organization noted that background checks generally apply to firearm transfers, not unauthorized access to a firearm already owned by someone else. It also argued that a red-flag order would likely have been ineffective, although the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s access to the shotgun remain unclear.
Lott also pointed to a 2021 change in Oregon law that allowed individual school districts to prohibit concealed carry permit holders from bringing firearms onto school property, arguing that such restrictions can leave schools more vulnerable.
Before that change, Lott said, Oregon teachers with concealed carry permits generally could carry firearms at schools, although some districts imposed employment-related restrictions. He estimated that roughly 25 of the state’s 197 school districts have adopted prohibitions since then.
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«All the school shootings where anybody has been wounded or killed have occurred in places where people, teachers and staff are banned from having guns,» Lott said, citing CPRC research.
Lott said his organization is updating the research through 2025. He also argued that uniformed school resource officers face tactical disadvantages because attackers can identify them, avoid them or target them first.
«Having somebody in uniform is like having a neon sign above them that says, shoot me first,» Lott said.
Lott also questioned whether penalties for violating gun-free-zone restrictions would deter someone already facing multiple life sentences for murder.
«They may be facing six or seven life sentences [on murder counts and the like]. Does taking five years away from their seventh or eighth life [sentence] going to matter? Is that a penalty for them? And the answer is no,» he said.
The NRA also cited research finding that 94% of mass shootings since 1950 occurred in gun-free zones, echoing Lott’s argument.
«Law-abiding Americans have the right to defend themselves and their communities rather than rely solely on a sign or sticker. The tragedy in Bend is a clear example of how an armed citizen who is prepared and willing to act can stop an attacker and save lives. Policies that keep responsible people disarmed near schools leave those locations more vulnerable, not safer,» an NRA spokesperson said.
Lott maintained that gun-free-zone restrictions can therefore disadvantage lawful gun owners without meaningfully deterring someone planning a mass shooting.
James Cirrone and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
mass shootings, oregon, second amendment, state and local, politics, police and law enforcement
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La opositora venezolana María Corina Machado calificó de corrupto al nuevo socio petrolero de Trump
La líder opositora venezolana en el exilio, María Corina Machado, dijo en una extensa entrevista esta semana que el nuevo socio petrolero de Washington en Venezuela, Alejandro Betancourt, era responsable de una “corrupción obscena” y no lo consideraría un socio comercial viable si ella asumiera el poder.
Fue la primera vez que Machado opinó de manera pública sobre Betancourt, quien hace poco concretó un lucrativo acuerdo con el gobierno de Donald Trump para controlar alrededor de una quinta parte de las reservas de petróleo de Venezuela.
El acuerdo puso a Betancourt, un adinerado empresario objeto de investigaciones de corrupción, en el centro de la estrategia de Washington para Venezuela y a la transformación del país en un Estado vasallo de facto por parte del gobierno de Trump.
La conversación con Machado tuvo lugar después de meses en los que el gobierno de Estados Unidos la ha mantenido a cierta distancia, pasándola por alto al favorecer en enero a una líder autocrática, Delcy Rodríguez, como dirigente del país y concretando acuerdos a puerta cerrada con figuras controvertidas como Betancourt.
Betancourt hizo una fortuna gracias a contratos sin licitación para plantas eléctricas, los cuales implicaban sobrefacturar a entidades estatales, según un auditor de energía independiente de Venezuela.
A Machado, una excongresista que ha liderado la oposición durante los últimos tres años, no se le ha permitido volver a su país, ni siquiera con el enorme control que Washington ejerce ahora sobre Venezuela y a pesar de las repetidas declaraciones del secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, de que el objetivo final es una transición democrática.
En la entrevista, realizada en Panamá, donde la líder se hospeda por ahora, Machado dijo que Estados Unidos no la había incluido en las negociaciones actuales entre el gobierno venezolano y otra facción de la oposición, mismas que se están llevando a cabo esta semana en Caracas, la capital.
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