By Emily Goodin

The House this morning approved, 316-90, a Senate-passed measure that provides a first round of aid for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, short-term funding for the government and raises the debt ceiling through Dec. 8.

This sounds like a victory but it marks the end of a tough week for Speaker Paul Ryan.

The aid/funding package is the result of a deal President Trump made with Democrats, bypassing his own congressional leaders in the process.

Ryan defended Trump in a talk hosted by the New York Times Thursday morning, saying he understood why the president would seek bipartisanship on these timely issues.

But RealClearPolitics’ James Arkin reports this could lead to trouble down the road: “Some Republicans considered this a one-off situation, however, where Trump, eager to be on top of hurricane recovery and uninterested in a fight over the debt ceiling, was ready to strike a deal. But plenty of issues sit in front of Congress that could be opportunities for new bipartisan support with a simple endorsement from the president. He signaled a willingness to see action on legislation protecting undocumented immigrants who arrived as children -- an issue many congressional Republicans could support if paired with increased border security, though even then it would likely spark a contentious and bitter debate within the party.” http://bit.ly/2vSKEq3

Throwing a wrench into matters, the leaders of the House Republican Study Committee objected to the deal. And, in the vote this morning, 90 conservative Republicans – including lawmakers from Florida and Texas -- were noes. All Democrats supported the legislation.

It’s a small comfort that Ryan got a majority of his party to support the measure but it always puts the speaker in a tough position when a large portion of his conference is a nay. The question going forward is whether future seeds of discontent and discord will grow from this.

Additionally, Ryan had a third Republican moderate announce his retirement this week. Rep. Charlie Dent said Thursday he won’t seek re-election next year, following in the footsteps of Reps. Dave Reichert and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Democrats have a good chance of winning these seats in 2018. It’s not enough to give them control of the House – they need a net gain of 24 seats -- but it’s a troubling sign for the GOP heading into an election year with an unpopular president.

The president’s job approval is at a negative-16.2 points in the RCP Polling Average. http://bit.ly/2slB9gm

The Senate, meanwhile, will be back in session on Monday to begin debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that sets military policies.

And RealClearDefense Pentagon correspondent Sandra Erwin reports that Trump’s deal with Democrats “has set the stage for all-out war later in the year. And it remains unclear how military spending will fare in the end.” http://bit.ly/2gOY9fU

Topics du Jour

COMPLICATIONS OF A MODERN MILITARY: Sandra also reports on the difficulties Defense Secretary James Mattis faces in his attempts to modernize the military. http://bit.ly/2wFfXl9

She also reports that, given the situation with North Korea, the U.S. is looking at increasing its arm sales to South Korea and Japan: “The United States is prepared to offer these key allies advanced weaponry, beyond what it already sells them under the Pentagon’s foreign military sales program.” http://bit.ly/2eP1T3X

SPORTING CHANCE: RealClearSports editor Cory Gunkel praises J.J. Watt’s decision to raise funds for those affected by Hurricane Harvey, arguing it’s okay for sports figures to step outside of their arena: “You obviously don't have to agree with what athletes say outside, or even inside, the world of sports. But trying to shut them up is just a waste of time and opportunity. If you feel deeply about a specific issue, have been affected by it in an intimate way, and have the power and platform to advocate for it, why wouldn't you?” http://bit.ly/2xacvBg

In Other Originals

DEFENDING THE DISABLED: At RealClearHealth, former Rep. Tony Coelho writes of his frustration that “policymakers continue to ignore how their policies discriminate against patients and people with disabilities.” http://bit.ly/2wEvIc5
 
HEALTH CARE REFORM WORK-AROUND: At RealClearPolicy, the American Enterprise Institute’s Joseph Antos & James Capretta argue “Republicans can still improve health care and lower costs if they change the treatment of employer-sponsored health insurance plans in tax reform.” http://bit.ly/2eCEb7h
 
THAT SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: At RealClearWorld, Nathan Robinson, Pardes Seleh, Abi Wilkinson & Katy Balls examine the future relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom in light of the “tumultuous 18 months” both countries have experienced. http://bit.ly/2gGImj2
 
THE BAND PLAYS ON: At RealClearInvestigations, Norman Leahy examines whether the nation’s 136 military bands are “worth the more than $400 million the government spends on them each year.” http://bit.ly/2gGK2JD
 
THINK FIRST, TWEET LATER: RealClearScience editor Ross Pomeroy looks into why “social media is full of word vomit, boneheaded comments, and sheer stupidity,” arguing it’s because “social media puts humanity's most primitive thinking on display for all to see.” http://bit.ly/2eKA3pF
 
SIMON SAYS: RealClearLife’s Sean Cunningham talks to David Simon about his new HBO series, “The Deuce.” http://bit.ly/2j7xmjf
 
SPORTING CHANCE, PART 2: At RealClearSports, Josh Smith writes on how “far from being economic boons, sports stadiums do little for cities even when provided generous public subsidies.”  http://bit.ly/2gMjpGX
 
Also at RealClearSports, editors Cory Gunkel and Ben Krimmel predict this week’s NFL winners and losers. http://bit.ly/2xadiCr