This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, April 18th, 2023. 
 
It’s been awhile since I’ve done this… but how about some “On this day in History!”
 
On this day in history, April 18th…

1506 The cornerstone of the current St. Peter's Basilica is laid in the Vatican by Pope Julius II
1775 Paul Revere and William Dawes ride from Charlestown to Lexington warning the "regulars are coming!”
1783 American Revolution: George Washington issues General Order announcing the end of hostilities with Britain, giving thanks to the Almighty, and offering congratulations and authorizing an extra ration of alcohol to the troops to celebrate
1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire kills nearly 4,000 while destroying 75% of the city
2018 “Black Panther” is the first film shown at a commercial cinema in 35 years in Saudi Arabia as cinemas are reopened

Famous Birthdays… James Woods - 75, Conan O’Brien - 59
 
https://nypost.com/2023/04/17/kevin-mccarthy-vows-house-will-vote-on-one-year-debt-hike/
 
As Biden hides, House will vote on one-year debt limit hike
 
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy vowed Monday that while President Biden “continues to hide, House Republicans will take action” on a plan meant to limit federal borrowing to one year and reduce government spending.
 
“Let me be clear: A no-strings-attached debt limit increase will not pass,” McCarthy (R-Calif.), 58, said in a speech at the New York Stock Exchange meant to evoke former President Ronald Reagan’s visit to the trading floor nearly 40 years ago.
 
Monday’s remarks sought to highlight what McCarthy called Biden’s “irresponsible” economic policy after the speaker last month accused the commander-in-chief of being “missing in action” from debt ceiling talks.
 
The speaker in March suggested cutting non-defense spending back to pre-inflationary levels and introducing more work requirements for some welfare programs.
 
Biden rolled out a $6.9 trillion budget proposal the same month, which would have increased the national debt to $51 trillion over the next decade.
 
In January, the federal government exceeded its roughly $31 trillion debt limit, halting its ability to borrow funds for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Congress last approved a debt ceiling increase in December 2021.
 
Also in January, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the federal borrowing limit will need to be increased by June of this year to prevent a default on America’s national debt.
 
McCarthy said Biden’s unwillingness to negotiate as commander-in-chief differs greatly from his past openness to fiscal reform as a US senator and even as Barack Obama’s vice president.
 
Both the White House and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) compared McCarthy’s push for spending cuts to “hostage-taking.”
 
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/2-arrested-for-allegedly-operating-illegal-chinese-police-station-in-nyc-sources-say/4247736/
 
2 Arrested for Allegedly Operating Illegal Chinese ‘Police Station' in NYC
 
Two people have been arrested by the FBI on allegations they helped operate an illegal police station for the government of China in lower Manhattan.
 
The two are charged with conspiring to act as agents for the Chinese government. The FBI said “Harry” Lu Jianwang, 61, of the Bronx, and Chen Jinping, 59, of Manhattan, were arrested Monday morning at their homes in New York City.
 
"The defendants worked together to establish the first overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the (Ministry of Public Security)," the FBI said in a statement.
 
In addition to the New York complaint, two other complaints were filed - one against 34 members of Beijing's Municipal Public Security Bureau, and another against a group of 10 people that includes eight Chinese government officials.
 
The common thread in the three complaints - that the suspects allegedly worked to intimidate, harass and threaten "wanted" Chinese nationals