DHS Shutdown Ends, Senate Bans Prediction Markets, Venezuela Flights Resume
President Trump signed a Homeland Security funding bill ending a prolonged shutdown that left DHS without routine funds since February 14, while the Senate unanimously voted to ban members and staff from participating in prediction markets amid growing scrutiny of platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. Separately, the first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela in seven years landed in Caracas, following the U.S. capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January.
Progressive outlets emphasize the human cost of the extended DHS shutdown on federal workers and raise concerns about the expansion of largely unregulated prediction markets that allowed some users to profit from foreknowledge of U.S. military actions.
The factual record shows the DHS shutdown lasted from February 14 until the signing of the funding bill, the Senate's prediction market ban passed unanimously, and direct U.S.-Venezuela commercial flights resumed following a seven-year hiatus.
Conservative outlets highlight that key elements of Trump's immigration agenda continued to receive funding separately throughout the shutdown, and frame the Venezuela flight resumption as a diplomatic consequence of decisive U.S. action against the Maduro government.
The factual record shows the DHS shutdown lasted from February 14 until the signing of the funding bill, the Senate's prediction market ban passed unanimously, and direct U.S.-Venezuela commercial flights resumed following a seven-year hiatus.
Trump signed DHS funding legislation ending the shutdown, the Senate unanimously banned prediction market participation for members and staff, and a direct U.S.-Venezuela commercial flight operated for the first time in seven years.