The Senate voted early Friday morning to pass a $69.5 billion budget reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement operations through 2029, overcoming the concerns of several Republicans who were upset the bill did not include language barring the Trump administration
House passage is the last step before President Donald Trump can sign the measure into law.
The president is personally working the phones to lobby lawmakers on ending the twice-yearly clock-changing ritual across the United States.
Voters have not been especially excited to promote members of an unpopular and dysfunctional institution.
Six Republican senators voted early Friday morning with Democrats for an amendment sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to block the Trump administration from reviving a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund to pay MAGA allies who feel they were prosecuted by the Biden-era
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) late Thursday passed the annual Defense policy bill, sending the mammoth, nearly $1.15 trillion measure to the full House after debating a chunk of some 900 offered amendments for 14 hours. The measure, known as the fiscal 2027 National
Republican and Democratic senators say that Thursday’s vote-a-rama — a marathon series of votes on amendments to the budget reconciliation package — is dragging on because Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is trying to perfect language to drive a stake through President Trump’s
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday shared a letter asking Russian President Vladimir Putin for a face-to-face meeting while the U.S. remains "fully focused" on Iran. Zelensky told Putin that he has "spent nearly of half of your 26 years in power in Russia waging
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on Thursday denied parts of a New York Times report on new claims from past girlfriends, suggesting political motivation behind at least one woman who recounted that he could be physically rough. “There are some allegations in
President Trump's name loomed large during Thursday's debate among candidates vying to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District and replace Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). The president frequently came up as lawyer George Conway (D), former President Kennedy's grandson Jack
Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) on Thursday advanced to November's general election in the race to become California's next governor, Decision Desk HQ projects. Trump-backed Fox News commentator Steve Hilton (R) and billionaire Tom Steyer (D)
Progressive oyster farmer Graham Platner said on Thursday that “not once” has he considered dropping his Maine Senate primary bid after new allegations about his past behavior surfaced earlier that day. “No, not once,” Platner told MS NOW’s Chris Hayes, when asked in an
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) cast her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote on Thursday night, voting for a Democratic motion to commit the $70 billion budget reconciliation package back to the Judiciary Committee. Collins stood at her desk wearing a red dress underneath a blue
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing a $3 billion annual program that subsidizes internet access for schools and libraries, citing concerns over excessive screen time among children and its impact on their health. FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced on
The GOP-controlled House on Thursday passed legislation authorizing funding for military aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, a largely symbolic move that nonetheless demonstrates some Republicans’ willingness to buck President Trump on foreign policy. Eighteen Republicans
President Trump on Thursday announced a rally in Washington to commemorate America’s 250th birthday after several artists dropped out of previous plans to perform at the upcoming “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall. “We don’t want singers with no talent, but big
Presented by Planned Parenthood {beacon} Health Care Health Care PRESENTED BY The Big Story Anti-abortion group turns up the heat on defunding Planned Parenthood A leading anti-abortion group is threatening to give lawmakers a failing grade on its annual report card if
Nearly seven in 10 Americans want the Iran war to be done “as quickly as possible,” according to a new poll. In The Economist/YouGov poll, 68 percent of respondents said they believe the U.S. “should make a deal to end the war in Iran as quickly as possible,” while 11 percent
{beacon} View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Trump gives coal hundreds of millions The Trump administration is putting hundreds of millions of federal dollars toward coal, one of the president’s favorite energy sources. © Associated Press
Three Republican senators — Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — voted for a Democratic amendment Thursday to bar William Pulte from serving as temporary director of national intelligence while he also serves as director of the Federal
President Trump on Thursday said he would be “honored” to meet with Iran’s supreme leader if a deal is made to end the war. “I don’t want to meet, but if I did meet, I’d be honored to meet him,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “I’d like to see if we make a deal,...
The Justice Department on Thursday announced a statewide crackdown on fraud in Ohio and unsealed indictments against 14 people accused of stealing more than $50 million in government funds. The charges were unveiled by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a news conference
The Arizona attorney general’s office said on Thursday that it will seek fresh indictments against a group of so-called fake electors after the state’s highest court refused to revive the 2020 election subversion case. “The Arizona Attorney General’s Office will return this
The House on Thursday passed its second fiscal 2027 appropriations bill, marking a key milestone for GOP leaders as they navigate the annual government funding process while juggling a crowded legislative agenda. The lower chamber voted 213-210 to pass the agriculture, rural
The U.S. has announced a new partnership with Japan on science and artificial intelligence. Energy Department Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil told reporters Thursday that each country would invest $500 million in the joint venture. “This is the defining moment for the
The former attorney general told Congress her likely successor oversaw the delayed, and in many cases incomplete, release of the Epstein files in the federal government's possession.
Several women who were romantically involved with Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner described their relationships to The New York Times as “unsettling” and “toxic" — the latest scandal to rock his campaign for a seat long coveted by Democrats. Platner has faced
Podcaster Joe Rogan said the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers across the country by the Trump administration sets a “dangerous precedent.” “A different ruler could use this precedent in a very damaging way for our free society. That's my
Actor Richard Gere on Thursday said he is "deeply ashamed" of the rhetoric toward migrants coming from the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers. Gere delivered a speech at the launch of a joint migration initiative by the Hertie School Centre for Fundamental Rights and
The indictment does not allege a particular motive for the threats beyond describing them as retaliation “on account of the performance of [Thune’s] official duties.”
CBS News is spending a lot more cash to fund Bari Weiss’s 60 Minutes takeover. Weiss’s new pick to run the venerated newsmagazine, Nick Bilton, is making far more than his predecessor. The British-born contrarian was installed as 60 Minutes ’ new executive producer last week,
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday said the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran has left behind a "weaker, more confused" regime in charge of the Middle Eastern country. The former George W. Bush administration official praised the U.S.'s efforts against Iran in
The House on Thursday rejected a war powers resolution that would direct President Trump to remove troops from hostilities in Lebanon that Congress has not authorized. The lower chamber voted 324-92-2. Opposing the resolution were 207 Republicans, 117 Democrats, and one
Republican strategist Karl Rove on Thursday said polls showing Democrats with the advantage in midterm elections might not result in a blue wave. During an appearance on Fox News, Rove discussed a new poll from Marquette that found Democrats had a 1-point advantage over
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday announced civil rights investigations into 15 additional medical schools over alleged racial discrimination in admissions, expanding on its recent probes into medical schools accused of race-conscious admissions practices. The
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday released the transcript from its closed-door meeting with former Attorney General Pam Bondi about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The transcript shows her declining to answer a number of questions during
Rep. Rashida Tlaib Introduced a measure to limit the Trump administration’s authority in Lebanon. House Democratic leadership opposed it.
President Trump told reporters on Thursday that he did not notice cognitive decline in former President Biden when they met in November 2024 after Trump won the election. “No, not really. He was the same guy I’ve been watching for a long time,” Trump said when asked if he
Vulnerable Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) broke with Senate Republican leaders Thursday and voted for a Democratic amendment to commit the $70 billion budget reconciliation package to the Judiciary Committee to investigate insurance companies denying medical care to patients. The
President Trump said Thursday that his choice to serve as director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, would only be a temporary selection amid bipartisan controversy over the pick. Trump said Pulte, who’s currently the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is “very
A portion of the U.S. population reported low levels of patriotism ahead of America’s 250th anniversary this summer in a new survey. The results of a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday found that 22 percent of Americans surveyed do not consider themselves “proud
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday released the transcript from its closed-door meeting with former Attorney General Pam Bondi, which shows her declining to answer a number of questions and pointing the finger at acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Hunter Biden on Wednesday tore into CNN anchor Jake Tapper, accusing him of "attacking my mom" in a review of former first lady Jill Biden's new memoir about life in the White House. Tapper's review of "View from the East Wing" lambasted Jill Biden's defense about her husband's
{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story House drops 300-page AI framework draft On Thursday, a bipartisan pair of House lawmakers released a long-awaited draft of a national framework on artificial intelligence, aiming to preempt some state laws on AI, minimize the
In between naps during a televised White House event Thursday, President Donald Trump suggested creating a new promenade outside the Lincoln Memorial and naming it after himself. “The Lincoln Memorial, the front was supposed to be the back, the back was supposed to be the
The Trump administration is putting nearly $700 million toward coal, one of the president’s favorite energy sources. President Trump announced the move during Thursday remarks in the Oval Office, saying his administration is “taking historic action to bring down the price of
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said that the "inappropriate" post about homosexuality published to his social media on Tuesday had been made by a staffer. But when pressed about the matter on Thursday, Ogles did not say whether or not he agreed with the expressed sentiment.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy has joined his Democratic colleague, Cory Booker, in a court filing to block President Trump’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” Cassidy and Booker filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against the fund, alleging that it goes against the
Kennedy Center lawyers instructed staff to immediately begin removing President Trump’s name from the facility after a federal judge blocked the administration from rebranding the center to include the president’s name. In an internal memo sent Thursday, which was first
A federal appeals court on Thursday agreed to halt an order requiring the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to testify next week about tariff refunds. The Trump administration is fighting the order, saying a judge overstepped by compelling CBP Commissioner