Congress
Wrapup: All-nighter caps Senate work and a short House week
Congress left town this week after the Senate passed Republicans’ high-priority budget reconciliation package for immigration enforcement, while Democrats saw a war powers messaging win in the House. The Senate adjourned in the wee hours of Friday morning following an all-night “vote-a-rama” to pass a nearly $70 billion reconciliation bill for immigration enforcement. The package […]
Fiscal 2027 NDAA approved by House Armed Services Committee
The House Armed Services Committee approved its fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act late Thursday after a series of politically charged debates about the Iran war, Pentagon acquisition rules, defense spending and vestiges of the Confederacy in the military. After contending with about 900 amendments over the course of 14 hours, the committee approved the […]
Immigration bill passes without curbs on ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
The Senate passed a nearly $70 billion reconciliation bill for immigration enforcement early Friday morning after rejecting repeated attempts by members of both parties to prohibit or restrict a Justice Department “anti-weaponization” fund. On a mostly party-line vote of 52-47, the Senate sent to the House a bill designed to fund immigration agencies for the […]
Democratic division in the shape of Lebanon
As Democrats in Congress pelt Republicans with repeated war power votes — a strategy to test the party’s support for President Donald Trump’s military action abroad — a foreign policy fissure in the shape of Lebanon took form among their own ranks. More than half of House Democrats voted with Republicans Thursday to tank a […]
Trump’s primary involvement sparks vote-a-rama drama
Some call them the “YOLO caucus,” the slang term for the phrase “You only live once.” Others say this is how some members of this growing group of Senate Republicans have always legislated. Either way, Thursday’s high drama vote-a-rama highlighted the complicated equation of the Senate Republicans’ slim majority and the anxiety over the upcoming […]
Immigration budget bill off to a slow start in Senate
A GOP reconciliation bill for immigration enforcement survived its first key test Thursday as the Senate kicked off its amendment “vote-a-rama” amid bipartisan anger over a Justice Department “anti-weaponization” fund. On a 49-50 vote, the Senate rejected a procedural motion by Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., to send the bill back to the Judiciary […]
Booker, Cassidy back legal challenge to ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., filed a court brief Thursday supporting a lawsuit seeking to block implementation of the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The bipartisan brief was filed as the Senate voted on a measure to fund immigration enforcement, and where senators on both sides of the aisle have sought […]
The GOP push to ‘love thy neighbor’
When Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles posted Tuesday that “homosexuality has no place in America,” it wasn’t the first time he declared a certain group of people didn’t belong in the U.S. The difference this time: His fellow Republicans called him out, publicly. “Saying that homosexuals have no place in America is idiotic, but it’s also […]
Cornyn, Tillis could create ‘wild card situation’ on Judiciary
Sen. John Cornyn’s loss to Trump-backed Ken Paxton in a primary last week means the Senate Judiciary Committee will have two Republican members who may feel less obligated to stick with President Donald Trump. Cornyn, R-Texas, joins Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., as Judiciary Committee members no longer facing reelection. Tillis announced his retirement last year […]
Senators urge quick action to halt college sports decay
Senators and college officials on Wednesday urged swift action on a bipartisan measure that aims to overhaul a college athletics system they say hemorrhages money and hinders student-athletes — even as two powerful conferences said they would seek changes. During a much-anticipated Senate Commerce Committee hearing, both the bill’s authors — Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, […]