Perhaps the most important topic of the day was the useful meeting  President Joe Biden had today with Chinese President Xi Jinping .  The ultimate danger of the Russia-Ukraine War is escalation to nuclear warfare, and just China and the U.S. agreeing to restore military-to-military communications was a key step in preventing another war to end all wars. Well, maybe new House Speaker Mike Johnson is the right man for job, for he was able to  avert a government shutdown .   Legislation passed 336 to 95, with opposition by 93 Republicans and 2 Democrats.  Sounds like a bipartisan solution to me. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, which will pass it on to the President who will sign it: Extends funding until January 19 for certain appropriations, and the rest of government until February 2.  This will give lawmakers more to to rant and rave. No poison pills. The House right flank is pissed, but has not made any calls for ouster . How smart is all this?  Well,  Business Insider  said