Welcome to Friday Financial Focus!
Each week, we bring you a round-up of the headlines that impact your bottom line. Some you may have heard about, and others may have gotten buried in the chaos of the week. Either way, they all matter when it comes to managing your money!
Distilling all of the current events into a single newsletter is impossible, so be sure to follow us on Bluesky. Join our Patreon community for financial history and resistory stories that inform and inspire, along with astrological and tarot support for the month. There are 3 paid tiers and a free level with limited posts - something is accessible for everyone!
Have a news story or financial topic you want us to explore further? Let us know about it!
Upcoming Classes
All February classes are now up on our website! Remember that our monthly resource forecast workshop and financial class are included in their respective Patreon tiers, but you can still register for individual classes even if you're not a Patreon member. Patreon also has a free level, so there is something accessible to everyone. Join today!
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Financial Literacy 101 for EVERYONE: The New Age of Currency (February 4)
Are you staying current with the new age of currency?
Money. It's something we always expect to have, but did you ever think about where it came from? Money has evolved over time and continues to do so in the 21st century, which means it may not always look and act the way it does now.
What happens if Money disappears entirely? ZOINKS!
We can't talk about disrupting Money Culture without taking a close look at exactly what Money is (and isn't). Most of us never got the proper tools to understand how to have, keep, use, and grow money to our advantage, but we can change that.
Join Rebellious Resources for Financial Literacy 101 for Everyone: The New Age of Currency. This isn't your typical dry, boring, and overly complicated finance class. This is financial literacy for EVERYONE.
We blend history, civics, and current events so you understand the power dynamic "why" behind the economic "what". Don't worry - we also keep things fun, informational, and relevant to your life!
During this workshop, we'll focus on:
- ๐ต A brief history of modern currency
- ๐ต How currency is monitored and protected
- ๐ต The new age of currency in the 21st century
- ๐ต Why this evolution of currency matters to you
Get the Deets
- Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
- Time: 7:00 pm EST
- Where: Online (Zoom link will be sent prior to event)
This Week's Financial Focus
Welcome back to Friday Financial Focus! Today is the 873,957th day of January. Are you enjoying the slow, quiet start to the year? ๐ Yeah...
All sarcasm aside for the moment, 2026 is going to be a dynamic doozy, but we can handle it. Yes, we really can! It may not seem that way, but this is a nation of rebellious cantankerous freedom-lovers, and while we have certainly had our share of dark history, I believe that our brightest days are still ahead.
That isn't sugarcoating! Go buy a bag of M&Ms if you want that. It's simply a belief that We, the People truly can create a More Perfect Union. Plus, I have a bit of astrological insight on my side. ๐ Check out our new video series Tower Thoughts on YouTube to learn more.
There is no shortage of current shenanigans coming from the Orange Disaster and his Project 2025 puppeteers. In fact, it has been difficult to choose a focus this week because there are so many topics that do matter! So, we're keeping it (relatively) simple by addressing the potential partial government shutdown that may go into effect this weekend. Let's get at it.
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Where We Stand
If you recall, a continuing resolution (CR) was passed last year when Senate Dems caved in like an OceanGate submersible during the government shutdown. That CR will expire at midnight tonight, meaning any funding bills that have not been passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law at that time will cause their respective agencies to shut down until funding is restored.
Half of the 12 appropriations bills that keep this nation afloat were passed and signed into law. That left the following bills requiring Senate approval after already being passed by the House:
- Transportation and HUD - Dept. of Transportation; Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
- Defense - Dept. of Defense
- Labor, HHS, and Education - Dept. of Labor; Dept. of Health and Human Services; Dept. of Education; Social Security Administration
- State and Foreign Operation - Dept. of State; Agency for International Development
- Financial Services - Dept. of Treasury (including IRS); District of Columbia; Executive Office of the President; Judicial Branch
- Homeland Security - Dept. of Homeland Security
While the Senate was prepared to approve these 6 bills, there has been considerable pushback on the bill that would provide additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security. This is due to the unconstitutional atrocities being committed by so-called Immigrations and Custom Enforcement agents, who have been terrorizing neighborhoods, abducting people in broad daylight, blatantly ignoring both court orders and legal due process, and have murdered at least 2 people on video and in broad daylight. However...
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The Catch... and the Recission
While it makes perfect sense that folks oppose additional funding for ICE, CPB, DHS, and a partridge in a pear tree, failing to pass this specific funding bill will not "defund" ICE. It will actually have zero financial impact on the current assaults on Minneapolis, Chicago, Maine, California, and the plethora of other cities being infested with these recycled J6ers in camo cosplay. Why is that?
Because the Temu Taliban has been funded through 2029 thanks to the One Big Bunch of Bullshit Bill passed last summer. Yes, refusing to pass the current DHS bill is symbolically a rebuttal of these gestapo tactics, but in reality, it will do nothing to deter them. So, what can we do?
Congress does hold the power of the purse as authorized by the Constitution. They have the authority to decide how federal funds are spent and they also have the authority to rescind previously approved funding. A recission bill can be initiated by Congress within a regular appropriations bill... like the one currently being considered for DHS.
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The Deal... and the Drama Distraction
With those details now clarified, it was announced last night that Senate Dems had reached an agreement with Majority Leader Thune and the White House to approve the 5 non-DHS funding bills, thus keeping the vast majority of government agencies - including the Internal Revenue Service during tax filing season - open. This was a win for the American people and federal workers after just enduring the longest government shutdown in history (43 days).
They also agreed to pass a 2-week CR for DHS, which is something that many folks were reasonably pissed off about. However, as mentioned, that 2-week CR was irrelevant to actual DHS operations thanks to the OBBoBB. Why pass it at all? Perhaps that was the small concession needed to get buy-in from Thune and the other Republicans. Everything was set for a vote until....
Drama Llama Lindsey Graham had a meltdown over a provision that had been unanimously stripped by the House that would allow politicians whose phone records were legally subpoenaed by Jack Smith during his J6 investigation to sue the U.S. government for up to $500,000. There is no realistic path to getting the provision reinstated, much less having it approved by the House, so what is really behind Graham's histrionics?
It's hard to say, but there are a few other events happening today that might require distraction:
- DOJ just dropped around 3 million documents that are allegedly part of the Epstein files
- The siege of Minneapolis continues, with paramilitary pricks pulling people from their vehicles, knocking in doors without warrants, and otherwise being a menace to society
- 2 independent journalists (Don Lemon and Georgia Fort) were arrested by the DOJ for filming a protest inside a church that is pastored by an ICE agent
- The FBI - while under the supervision of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard - just raided the Fulton County Elections Office and seized 700 boxes of ballots from the 2020 election, along with voter rolls and other materials
- Speaking of voter rolls, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota stating she will have ICE removed if the state turns over their voter rolls, which is not threatening at all /s
- Speaking of surveillance culture, these Y'all Qaeda yahoos have been photographing protestors and average citizens as part of their efforts to build a database (we freaking told you so!) by using Minority Report-grade facial recognition software
There are probably another fifty-eleven authoritarian atrocities we can list, but you get the idea. Graham's antics feel more distraction than anything else and while we certainly could be wrong, the real consequences of a partial government shutdown are very real.
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What Comes Next
The Senate could still pass the undisputed 5 bills that will keep the majority of the government running (for whatever that's worth at this point) either tonight or this weekend. Even if that happens, there will still likely be at least a short partial shutdown.
If Majority Leader Thune does not get Graham under control, then some or all 6 bills could be at risk of failing. If that happens, then Minority Leader Schumer can use that as leverage, or he could fold like a cheap lawn chair... again. **sigh**
The worst-case scenario would be to allow any amendments by Graham or other bootlicking bungholes like Eric Schmitt, who wants to criminalize anyone who supports sanctuary cities and opposes the current administration. Wow... how Hitler of him.
If you care about how this issue plays out, then call your Senators. Yes, even the ones in red states. ESPECIALLY the ones in red states. They need to feel the pressure of their constituents because it will take buy-in form both parties to save this nation.
Democracy is hard, messy, and often frustrating work. If it were easy, then everyone would do it and get it right on the first try. It's not, but it's worth it. I'm doing my part as best as I can. I hope you are doing yours.
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What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know!
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Sincerely,
Rayna, Money Culture Disruptor & Financial Inclusion Advocate
Rebellious Resources
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