Shutdown diplomacy

Bitcoin jumped off a cliff as fear of regulatory crackdowns spread. The cryptocurrency gained back some of its losses, but rival tech money also took big dives Tuesday. Speculators are chewing on when market enforcers will bring the hammer down on this decentralized industry.

Congressional spending negotiations continue with the parties separated by Obamacare, defense funding, extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and protecting young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. President Donald Trump helped unravel a deal on the latter last week with the purported help of a now-infamous vulgarity. Still, lawmakers are expected to pass another stopgap spending bill before the Friday deadline.

FBI agents are alarmed at the Justice Department’s decision to give House Republicans access to documents about their investigations. A dozen current and former officials revealed their concerns, including that sensitive sources will be disclosed. Demands for materials came from a group of conservative lawmakers who echoed Trump’s criticism of the agency and the special counsel's criminal probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Breaking up is hard to do, but General Electric pledged to think about it. The company's new CEO said he’s weighing dramatic changes including a breakup after it announced a $6.2 billion charge related to a legacy insurance operation. John Flannery, who took over for Jeffrey Immelt in August, has already been busy cutting costs and selling assets.

You ain’t seen nothing yet. The influenza virus that’s sickened millions of Americans this season is already the most widespread outbreak since public health authorities began keeping track. Now, with the threat of more strains emerging, it might get even worse. Go wash your hands.

Pickup truck owners stick to their chosen brand more than drivers of any other vehicle. They are human, though, and each of Detroit’s Big 3 automakers are trying to tempt them with their own shiny wares. All’s fair in love and war, and when there’s $45 billion at stake, that includes selling America's signature automobile, too.