The US Congress
The US Congress
Embedded Files
Next Meeting: 02/09/26, 7 PM, Ozark-Dale Library
Focus on US Congress:
Trump steps up pressure campaign to avoid rare Congress reprimand on war powers | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/politics/trump-pressure-campaign-war-powers
Comment: This pressure campaign is occurring just before final War Powers vote. The earlier vote was a procedural vote advancing the bill, and it was passed with the help of 5 Republican Senators.
Murkowski, Shaheen push bill to block Trump from seizing Greenland
https://thehill.com/homenews/5687678-senate-bill-block-greenland-takeover/
Comment: "Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) has teamed up with Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to introduce a bill to block President Trump from taking over Greenland."
"The legislation, the NATO Unity Protection Act, would prohibit the use of Department of Defense or Department of State funding to blockade, occupy, annex or otherwise assert control over the sovereign territory of a NATO member state."
"The legislation appears aimed directly at talk within the Trump administration about seizing control of Greenland, even though Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told senators at a briefing last week that they are not planning a military operation against Greenland."
Republican centrists and populists combine to kill series of GOP labor bills
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5687775-house-republican-rebellion-gop-bills/
Comment: "Republican centrists and populists in the House blocked a series of GOP labor bills on the chamber floor Tuesday, marking the latest blow to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and GOP leaders, who are increasingly losing their grip on the restive Republican conference."
"The House was poised to vote Tuesday evening on three Republican bills designed to ease regulations on businesses — partisan bills that were expected to pass given the GOP’s long-standing appetite for deregulation."
Comment: Are a few House Republicans starting to listen to their constituents, instead of Trump and MAGA Mike Johnson?
Lawmakers meet Danish officials to rebuke Trump’s Greenland grab
Comment: "Arctic Caucus co-Chairs Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Angus King (I-Maine) will meet on Wednesday with Danish Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen to reaffirm their opposition to President Donald Trump’s effort to acquire Greenland."
Video: Still reveling in yesterday’s victory against the crooked Trumpsters. - January 13, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xS8_2nmDlM
Comment: Video from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, discussing a court judgment that overturned Trump's attempt to stop a major offshore wind energy project off the New England coast that will lower electricity costs for consumers .
Senate Republican on DOJ Powell probe: ‘We need this like we need a hole in the head’
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5685855-john-kennedy-trump-doj-probe-jerome-powell/
Comment: "Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on Monday questioned the Department of Justice (DOJ) over its probe into the Federal Reserve's renovation of its Washington, D.C., headquarters."
" 'We need this like we need a hole in the head,' Kennedy, a senior member of the Banking Committee, told reporters."
"The Louisiana Republican also warned that 'any litigation between the Federal Reserve and the executive branch of the United States government is going to cause interest rates to go up, not down.' "
" 'I know Chairman [Jerome] Powell very well,' he said outside the Capitol. 'I will be stunned — I will be shocked if he has done anything wrong.' "
"Kennedy was one of several Republicans to voice disapproval over the investigation. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is also on the Senate Banking Committee, criticized the DOJ's moves as 'another example of amateur hour, as far as I’m concerned'."
"Tillis accused Presidet Trump's advisers of deliberately attempting to undercut the Fed's independence and threatened to block any of the president’s nominees to the nation’s central bank until the investigation is 'fully resolved'."
"Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she backed Tillis’s proposal to block nominees and called on her fellow lawmakers to investigate if the administration is attempting to coerce the Fed into cutting rates more dramatically. She said the 'stakes are too high'.”
Comment: "Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also gave Powell supprt and called for the investigation to be done quickly, adding that it 'better be serious'.”
"House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-Ark.), in defense of the Fed chair, said the DOJ's probe 'at a time when the nation’s economy requires focus creates an unnecessary distraction'."
Comment: And these are just the Republican response. Most, if not all, House and Senate Democrats, support Powell and do not support the bogus DOJ probe.
Chris Murphy: Putting Trump in charge of daily interest rate would be ‘disaster’
Comment: "Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) expressed concerns that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) probe into the Federal Reserve will result in President Trump becoming more involved in the central bank‘s policies."
"In an interview Monday on CNN, Murphy said the U.S.’s position as an 'economic superstar' has been a direct result of the Fed's independence from the White House."
" 'We have allowed for there to be an independence of monetary policy coming out of the Fed,' the Connecticut Democrat said. 'Putting Donald Trump in charge of what the daily interest would be, that would be a disaster for an economy that is already in pretty bad shape.' "
"The DOJ announced on Sunday that it is launching an investigation into the Fed’s ongoing renovations of its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Trump, who said he was not involved in the probe, has been heavily critical of the $2.5 billion project and of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's resistance to lowering interest rates."
Congressional progressives vow to block DHS funding without reforms
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/13/dhs-funding-congress-progressives
Comment: "Progressives in the US Congress on Tuesday vowed to oppose legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless it included significant reforms to immigration enforcement, amid a widening uproar among Democrats following the killing of a US citizen in Minnesota last week."
"The declaration by the Democratic-aligned Congressional Progressive caucus comes as the Senate and House Representatives race to meet an end-of-the-month deadline to approve a series of funding bills or risk a partial government shutdown."
"The debate over DHS funding has been rocked by last week’s fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent after the Trump administration ordered a surge of federal officers into the city amid its push for mass deportations."
"“Our caucus members will oppose all funding for immigration enforcement in any appropriation bills until meaningful reforms are enacted to end militarized policing practices,” the caucus’s deputy chair, Ilhan Omar, who represents most of Minneapolis, told a press conference at the US Capitol."
"Who's behind the masks": Raskin seeks answers on Jan. 6 defendants hired by ICE
https://www.axios.com/2026/01/13/ice-trump-january-6-justice-department-dhs-jamie-raskin
Senators punt release of health package to end of January
Comment: "The bipartisan Senate group working on a compromise deal to revive the lapsed Affordable Care Act subsidies won’t have legislative text ready until the last week of January, according to one of the lead negotiators — a dip in the cautious optimism some lawmakers have projected in recent days that a framework could come out as soon as this week."
" 'We have to make sure we get it right,' said Sen. Bernie Moreno, a lead negotiator, in an interview Tuesday morning, adding that the group would be meeting later in the day to iron out the details of the proposal."
"The Ohio Republican added that senators at the negotiating table — which have included himself, GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire — need to 'make sure that everybody’s all set with all the framework elements, see if there’s any still areas of angst we still have to resolve.' "
"Moreno had originally anticipated releasing legislative text this week. The fact that the group is now waiting until after the Senate’s scheduled upcoming recess signals that the negotiators may still be far apart on some of the thorniest issues."
Scoop: Dems make health deal offer with ACA subsidies
https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/democrats-health-deal-aca-subsidies-gop
Comment: "Democrats sent Republicans a proposal over the weekend to renew enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years, paired with extensions of other expiring health programs, sources said."
Comment: "Sunday's offer shows there's increasing bipartisan sentiment to address long-stalled priorities like overhauling pharmacy benefit manager business practices — even if prospects for the ACA subsidies are much murkier."
Comment: "The underlying package being discussed largely mirrors a bipartisan health deal that was due to be included in a 2024 year-end government funding deal before it was jettisoned at the urging of Elon Musk and then-President-elect Trump, sources said."
Comment: "Democrats' new offer raised the stakes by adding a politically contentious three-year extension of enhanced ACA subsidies that help people afford premiums."
"GOP leadership is sure to reject inclusion of that in the health care package, but there still appears to be progress on the other elements."
Video: Chuck Schumer Calls On Supreme Court To Strike Down Trump's 'Illegal' Tariffs - January 12, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuCYpDDJZ_E
Murkowski calls for Congress to investigate DOJ over Fed ‘coercion’
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5684582-murkowski-federal-reserve-probe-investigation/
Comment: "Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called for a congressional investigation into the Justice Department after the Trump administration announced a probe into the Federal Reserve, calling the move an attempt to coerce the central bank to lower rates."
"Murkowski said she spoke with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday morning and threw her weight behind Sen. Thom Tillis's (R-N.C.) decision to block any of President Trump's nominees to the bank until the matter is resolved.
" 'After speaking with Chair Powell this morning, it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion,' Murkowski said in a statement. 'If the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns—which are not unusual—then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice.' "
" 'The stakes are too high to look the other way: if the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer,' she continued. 'My colleague, Senator Tillis, is right in blocking any Federal Reserve nominees until this is resolved.' "
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis vows to block Trump’s Fed nominees following Powell probe
Senate advances government funding measure as shutdown deadline looms
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5685563-congress-funding-government-shutdown/
Comment: "The Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to advance a minibus appropriations package, taking a step toward funding another swath of government before the Jan. 30 deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown."
"The Senate voted 80-13 to advance the package, which passed the House last week by an overwhelming margin of 397-28. The package covers funding for the departments of Commerce, Justice and Interior; sciences and related agencies; and energy and water projects."
Congress debating possible consequences for ICE after Renee Good's death
Comment: "The killing of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is reverberating across Capitol Hill, where Democrats and certain Republicans are vowing an assertive response as President Trump's aggressive deportation operations spark protests nationwide."
"Lawmakers are demanding a range of actions, from a full investigation into Renee Good's shooting death and policy changes over law enforcement raids to the defunding of ICE operations and the impeachment f Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in what is fast becoming an inflection point."
" 'The situation that took place in Minnesota is a complete and total disgrace,' House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said as details emerged. 'And in the next few days, we will be having conversations about a strong and forceful and appropriate response by House Democrats.' "
"Yet there is almost no consensus among the political parties in the aftermath of the death of Good, who was behind the wheel of an SUV after dropping off her 6-year-old at school when she was shot and killed by an ICE officer."
"The killing immediately drew dueling narratives. Mr. Trump and Noem said the ICE officer acted in self-defense, while Democratic officials said the Trump administration was lying and they urged the public to see the viral videos of the shooting for themselves."
Johnson ‘concerned’ ICE shooting will hamper funding negotiations as shutdown looms
GOP lawmakers question Noem’s handling of ICE-related shooting in Minnesota
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5680549-noem-ice-shooting-response-skepticism/
Comment: "Republicans on Capitol Hill are expressing skepticism over Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's handling of the Trump administration’s response to an Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman Noem has said was committing an 'act of domestic terrorism'."
"Noem’s hasty characterization of te shooting as an entirely justified use of federal force against a woman who 'weaponized' her vehicle has raised questions on Capitol Hill and differed in tone from other senior administration officials."
"“It was very unusual to have a senior law enforcement official to draw a conclusion about an event where the scene was still being processed,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said of Noem’s conclusion that the shooting was in response to a domestic terrorism incident."
Comment: Even a few Republicans are joining Democrats who are questioning/condemning Noem's "hasty characterization" of the fatal incident without the benefit of a proper and impartial investigation. When Noem makes these rash, unsubstantiated statements, she undermines the credibility of her agency and of the entire Trump administration.
Fear of Trump’s wrath ripples through House GOP
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/politics/trump-wrath-house-republicans
Jack Smith set to testify publicly
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5682083-jack-smith-public-testify-congress/
Comment: "House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said he will invite former special counsel Jack Smith to testify publicly about his investigation into President Trump."
Comment: "The move comes after Smith sat for more than seven hours of closed-door testimony with the panel, arguing he had a strong case against the president spurred not out of political animus but of Trump’s own actions."
"While Jordan had never ruled out potential testimony from Smith, he previously rebuffed multiple calls from the prosecutor to allow him to publicly testify."
" 'Jack has been clear for months he is ready and willing to answer questions in a public hearing about his investigations into President Trump’s alleged unlawful efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents,’ Lanny Breuer, Smith’s attorney, said in a statement."
Comment: "Special counsels traditionally appear for a public hearing once they’ve submitted their final report. Smith’s volume on Jan. 6, 2021, was released before Trump took office, but his report on the Mar-a-Lago documents case remains tied up in a legal battle as the president continues to oppose its release."
Video: AOC Reacts To Trump's Statement That His Presidential Power Is Constrained By 'My Own Morality' - January 9, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv1hUSpORDI
Video: Reporter Asks Hakeem Jeffries: Would You Accept Senate Compromise On ACA Extension? - January 9, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YbVbfpFcc
Video: House passes vote to extend ACA tax credits - January 8, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmGorZg2UqQ
Trump rages about Republicans backing war powers resolution: ‘Should never be elected to office again’
Comment: "President Donald Trump lashed out at the five Republican senators who voted to advance legislation that would constrain his war powers in Venezuela on Thursday."
"THE GOP lawmakers — Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri — joined with the chamber’s entire slate of Democrats to tee up a vote that could compel Trump to seek the approval of Congress before taking any additional military action in Venezuela."
Comment - Are some GOP members of the Senate starting to grow a backbone, or will they return to their cowardly ways and kneel before Trump's threats? Stay tuned.
Handful of Republicans join Democrats to force Senate check on Trump’s war powers in Venezuela | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/politics/war-powers-vote-trump-venezuela-senate
Senate votes to display Jan. 6 plaque after House GOP refuses to hang it at Capitol
Comment: "The Senate on Thursday unanimously agreed to hang a plaque honoring the officers who protected the Capitol when it was under attack by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6 five years ago."
"The resolution requires the Architect of the Capitol 'to prominently display, in a publicly accessible location in the Senate wing of the United States Capitol, a plaque honoring the members of law enforcement responding on January 6, 2021, until the plaque can be placed in its permanent location.' "
"The bipartisan resolution was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., refused to hang the plaque as required by a 2022 federal law. Johnson’s office has argued that the law was 'not implementable' because the legislative language from that bill said the plaque should display the names of officers who protected the Capitol, while the plaque that was produced named the law enforcement agencies that responded to the Capitol siege."
"Johnson played a key role in President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, leading a legal brief that sought to disenfranchise voters in four key swing states that Joe Biden won. The Supreme Court in December 2020 rejected the eventual Texas lawsuit that Johnson and other Trump allies backed."
Republican senators ramp up impeachment rhetoric against judges
Comment: "Some GOP senators are pushing the Republican-led House to move forward with impeachment proceedings against two judges whose rulings they disagree with."
Republican leaders push back on Trump's openness to using the military to take Greenland
Rand Paul says "I will do everything in my power to stop any kind of military takeover in Greenland"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-greenland-military-takeover/
Comment: "GOP Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday he opposes any U.S. military action in Greenland as the White House says it is exploring all options for acquisition of the territory."
" 'It won't happen under my watch,' Paul said on 'CBS Mornings' about military action in Greenland. 'I will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland.' "
Trump officials tell Congress: No troops in Venezuela
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/07/senators-venezuela-maduro-congress-00714417
Comment: "National security leaders told senators Wednesday that the administration does not plan to use ground troops in Venezuela, despite President Donald Trump’s insistence this week that he might do so."
"But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a closed-door briefing with the full Senate that American military forces will remain deployed around the South American country indefinitely to provide 'leverage' in stabilizing the region, according to more than a dozen lawmakers who attended the event."
"The open-ended naval presence — and the broader briefing — appeared to do little to sway members from their entrenched positions on the operation. Republicans praised the effort and offered support for a naval presence in the region, while Democrats accused the White House of abusing military might for dubious security reasons."
" 'They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint, for an undefined period of time, as leverage to micromanage the country,' said Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat. 'The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning.' "
"Wednesday’s briefing — the first for most lawmakers since American troops seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a Saturday raid — comes amid a flurry of controversial military operations and proposals from Trump focused on securing the Western Hemisphere."
"Lawmakers said the Wednesday briefing only focused on the Venezuela operation, although Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer framed the mood inside the briefing room as 'a bipartisan sense of concern' over the potential unrestricted use of military force in other foreign nations."
Thune dismisses prospect of military seizure of Greenland
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5675323-thune-dismisses-greenland-military-takeover/
Comment: "Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Tuesday dismissed the prospect of deploying the military to seize mineral-rich Greenland, even though top White House adviser Stephen Miller declared the ice-covered territory should rightfully belong to the U.S."
" 'I think that’s probably getting the cart ahead of the horse. I don’t see military action being an option there,' Thune said of a possible U.S. takeover of Greenland after President Trump deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro over the weekend."
5 years after Jan. 6 attack, Senate Democrats seek to ban taxpayer-funded payouts to Capitol rioters
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-senate-democrats-seek-to-ban-payouts-to-capitol-rioters/
Comment: "Five years after the U.S. Capitol attack, some Senate Democrats are introducing new legislation to prevent taxpayer money from being awarded to convicted and now-pardoned rioters."
"One of the new Senate bills, reviewed Tuesday by CBS News, would outlaw the establishment of any compensation fund to award money to rioters. Another piece of legislation would prohibit the use of federal tax money to pay for civil legal settlements against Jan. 6 defendants who were convicted of assaulting police."
"The latter of the two bills is titled the 'No Settlements for 5 January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act.' It is sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which has oversight of the Capitol grounds and the U.S. Capitol Police. The legislation is also sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee."
"Supporters of some Jan. 6 riot defendants have championed the idea of a reparations fund to reimburse the criminal defendants — most of whom were pardoned by President Trump shortly after he returned to office last year — for the cost of their prosecutions and expenses."
Comment: "The Trump administration has already approved at least one civil settlement in connection with the mob that overran the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. The Justice Department approved an approximately $5 million settlement to the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer while she breached a smashed window into the House Speaker's Lobby."
"It's not clear if the administration is considering other financial settlements with Jan. 6 rioters. CBS News has reached out to the Justice Department for comment on the new legislation."
"When asked about the prospect of Jan. 6 reparation payments, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn told CBS News: 'This reeks of audacity. Not only did they get a pardon, they are saying they deserve a payday for the crimes they committed.' "
"Padilla told CBS News his legislation 'would hold these rioters accountable and protect taxpayers by putting an end to Donald Trump's callous attempt to rewrite history.' "
" 'These insurrectionists should still be serving their sentences and paying fines for damages they caused to the Capitol — not receiving refunds or cash rewards from the Trump Administration,' Padilla said."
Greenland war powers vote could be heading to Senate floor
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/06/congress/greenland-war-powers-gallego-00712605
Comment: "Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego wants Congress to forestall a U.S. takeover of Greenland, requiring President Donald Trump to get lawmakers’ approval for any such action after this weekend’s military incursion into Venezuela."
"Gallego said he will introduce a war powers resolution focused on Greenland, an semiautonomous territory of Denmark that Trump has repeatedly suggested should be part of the U.S. instead."
" 'We must stop him before he invades another country on a whim,' Gallego wrote on social media. 'No more forever wars.' "
"War powers resolutions are privileged under Senate rules, meaning Gallego and others can force the chamber to weigh in on the issue. Democrats have previously forced votes to rein in Trump’s strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats and on attacking Venezuela, though both efforts failed."
The House GOP confronts a shocking loss and a difficult road ahead
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/06/house-republicans-anxiety-margins-midterms-00713358
Comment: "Tuesday was supposed to be a rah-rah day for House Republicans — a chance to strategize with President Donald Trump about their agenda for the tough election year ahead."
"Instead, 2026 got off to an unexpectedly somber start as they confronted the sudden death of a well-liked colleague and pondered the dire political and policy straits their dwindling majority has to navigate."
Comment: "But reality soon set in that the House GOP would be facing challenges that went well beyond mourning. For one, LaMalfa’s death and Baird’s hospitalization represented another blow to their razor-thin majority, leaving many contemplating whether Republicans could ever muster the votes they would need to pass a laundry list of pre-midterm policy priorities."
"LaMalfa’s death and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation this week left the GOP with a bare 218 votes for at least until early March. With Baird’s indefinite absence and the unreliable support of libertarian Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Speaker Mike Johnson has to confront a day-to-day struggle to maintain control of the House."
Video: Hear Sen. Mark Kelly’s response to Pete Hegseth moving to cut his retirement pay - January 6, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBqNKVbmpF8
'Absolutely not': Mark Kelly says he wouldn't change troop message or 'back down' after censure
Comment: "Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth censured Kelly, a Democrat of Arizona and retired captain in the U.S. Navy, on Monday for "conduct [that] was seditious in nature," referring to a video Kelly participated in in November that told United States service members they have a right to refuse unlawful orders."
"As a military retiree, Kelly is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and potentially subject to discipline, including being called back to active service to face charges."
"Hegseth alleged that Kelly 'counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders' in the video. Kelly and others who participated in the video have disputed that claim."
Comment: Hegseth's charge is another blatant lie from the Trump administration, which is obvious to anyone who watched the video. The message presented by Kelly and others in that video is completely consistent with training that military personnel receive.
Schumer calls out DOJ for not providing unredacted Epstein contacts
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/05/congress/schumer-doj-epstein-00711341
Comment: "Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday blasted the Justice Department for not providing Congress with an unredacted report of political leaders referenced in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
Comment: " 'Trump’s DOJ has failed to submit a report to Congress, which is required to include a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, without redactions,' Schumer said. 'What are they trying to hide?' "
"The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment."
"While the DOJ released thousands of documents in several waves last month in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, many were heavily redacted and some were deleted from the department’s website after initially being posted. Friday was the deadline for the Justice Department to explain the redactions."
Furious Dems float retaliation over Trump's "insane" Venezuela attack
https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/trump-venezuela-maduro-democrats-congress
Comment: "Amid Democrats' fury over the Trump administration's unilateral strike on Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro, some lawmakers went so far as to call for President Trump's removal from office."
Comment: "The Venezuela strike has escalated already-boiling tensions between Trump and congressional Democrats, who are furious about Congress being left in the dark."
" 'I had absolutely no briefing or heads up,' House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) fumed to Axios. 'I received all information from the news media at this point.' "
"Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), in a joint statement, demanded briefings for their members 'early next week'."
Comment: "While Democratic leaders largely channeled their outrage into demands for information, some lawmakers went further in their condemnations."
" 'Trump must be impeached,' said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) in a statement, also calling for the passage of legislation to rein in executive war powers and reassert congressional control over the process."
"Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) called Trump's plan to run Venezuela 'truly insane' and a 'disaster.' Referring to a Constitutional mechanism that allows the Cabinet to remove a president, he told Axios: 'We are in 25th Amendment territory now.' "
" 'The President has lost his mind,' Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) told Axios in a text message."
Comment: "While Democrats spent 2025 largely dismissing rogue efforts to impeach Trump, the idea has gradually gained momentum within the party amid grassroots demands that lawmakers adopt more brute-force tactics."
"The Venezuela operation appeared to add even more fuel to those sentiments."
LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS IN VENEZUELA
Trump’s super PAC enters the midterms with $300 million in the bank
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/02/trump-super-pac-2026-midterm-election-00709395
Comment: "President Donald Trump’s primary super PAC raised over $102 million in the second half of 2025, carrying a war chest stocked with hundreds of millions of dollars into the midterms."
"That massive sum, combined with even greater fundraising in the first half of the year and minimal spending throughout 2025, leaves the PAC with approximately $300 million cash on hand, positioning the president’s allies to wield massive influence over the midterms."
Comment: "The enormous sum of money doesn’t represent the entire war chest at Trump’s disposal; several affiliated PACs have continued to raise money in support of the president, adding to the growing stockpile of cash that Republicans around the country will hope to tap into as they seek to maintain majorities in Congress in November."
Comment: "The super PAC, which does not face donation limits, drew contributions from regular GOP donors and from leaders in the artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries."
"OpenAI President Greg Brockman gave $25 million and Foris DAX Inc., the U.S.-based arm of the company that operates Crypto.com, contributed $20 million on top of an additional $10 million it gave at the beginning of 2025."
"Private equity investor Konstantin Sokolov donated $11 million, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who was confirmed in December despite Trump withdrawing his nomination in May before renominating him, contributed $2 million to the PAC last year, including $1 million in the second half of the year."
Comment: This money is how Trump controls individual members of Congress to do his bidding rather than address the interests of the member's citizen constituents. If you are tired of this corruption, vote against the politicians taking this money and running endless political ads. Follow the money, and then vote against it.
Jack Smith says Trump acknowledged to others that he lost 2020 election
Trump 'caused' Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Jack Smith testified to Congress
Jack Smith told lawmakers Trump was 'the most culpable' in election interference case, deposition transcript shows
Comment: "The former special counsel who brought charges against Trump during the Biden administration had wanted to testify in public, but Republicans refused his request."
Video: Trump ‘doesn’t want to deal with Congress’ as strikes on Venezuela escalate: House Democrat - December 30, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWGTDJHpZuQ
Comment: "Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) joins Meet the Press NOW to react to the Trump administration’s escalation with Nicolas Maduro after the U.S. launched a strike on a Venezuelan port. Rep. Dingell also discusses what she believes should be Congress’ priorities when it returns to Washington in January."
After quiet off-year elections, Democrats renew worries about Trump interfering in the midterms
Greene: Speaker Mike Johnson ‘is not our Speaker’ and is controlled by White House
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5665354-johnson-trump-congress-power/
Comment: "Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) in a newly published interview argues Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is '100 percent' following orders from President Trump, and as a result relinquishing the power of Congress."
"The remarks from Greene, who will resign from Congress effective Jan. 5, come amid complaints from members of the House that it is giving up too much sway to the White House."
The 10 Senate races that will decide the balance of power in 2026
Comment: "The fight for the Senate is expanding to a few more states next year, as both parties tout talented candidates and point to political dynamics tilting in their favor."
"Democrats still face an uphill battle to net the four seats they need to take control of the Senate, which would involve winning at least two states that President Donald Trump carried by double digits in 2024. But they see a glimmer of hope following victories in the 2025 elections and as Trump’s approval rating, particularly on his handling of the economy, has dropped."
"And Democrats believe they can capitalize on issues such as high costs and health care, while Republicans continue to struggle to turn out Trump's supporters when he is not on the ballot."
Comment: "The core four"
"It has been clear since the start of the election cycle that the fight for the Senate would center on four crucial states: Maine, North Carolina, Michigan and Georgia."
Comment: "Expanding the map"
"The Senate battle could extend beyond the core four states in part thanks to candidates the parties think can bend results away from the norm in a few states."
Comment: Ohio, New Hampshire
Comment: "Keep an eye on these races"
Comment: Texas, Iowa, Alaska, Minnesota
House Republican: ‘You can’t be America first and pro-Russia’
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5664765-turner-russia-war-aggression-ukraine/amp/
Comment: "Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said Sunday that Russia’s strikes on civilian homes — including on Christmas — are a reminder to Americans that the war against Ukraine is at odds with America’s values."
"In an interview on ABC News’s 'This Week,' the former House Intelligence Committee chair pointed to images of the destruction in Ukrainian cities and neighborhoods and said Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'continuing to remind us that this is a war of aggression'.”
" 'As Putin mercilessly pounds Kyiv and civilian homes, this is Putin … reminding us that we can’t be for this,' he continued."
" 'America, when we address the issue of whose side we’re on, you can’t be ‘America first’ and be pro-Russia,' Turner said. 'Russia is a self-declared adversary of the United States. And, you know, here they are, mercilessly killing Ukrainians and trying to take Ukrainian land.' ”
Comment: "Zelensky appears ready to make serious concessions to end the nearly four-year war, but Putin has yet to reciprocate."
Comment: Finally, a GOP congressman is willing to question Trump and join many Democrats in stating the obvious: Putin is the aggressor and the US does not support territorial aggressors. Trump's appeasement of Putin regarding Ukraine is in conflict with historical U.S. principles and American values.
Dragged down by an unpopular president, Republicans are bracing for a midterm trouncing
Comment: The linked article describes many reasons for Trump's unpopularity.
Congress looks to reclaim relevance after ceding power to White House
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5661816-congress-reclaim-power-white-house/
Video: Congress wrapped: Gridlock and partisan fights undermine legislating - December 26, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ-qhGQ5ygM
Senate Dems urge Trump to reverse ‘unprecedented’ ambassador recall
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5663073-trump-recall-ambassadors-senate-concern/
Comment: "Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are urging President Trump to reverse the 'unprecedented' decision to recall nearly 30 top career diplomats, leaving more than half of all U.S. ambassador posts vacant."
Trump wades into House races, putting endorsement force to the test
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5662512-trump-midterm-endorsements-impact/
Comment: A Trump endorsement may help in a Republican primary race, but in November 2026, an endorsement from a very unpopular President will hurt the Republican candidate's chance for victory and help his Democratic opponent's chances.
More House Republicans are leaving Congress to run for governor than in decades amid frustration over ‘toxic environment’ | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/25/politics/lawmakers-leaving-congress-vis
Comment: These GOP arsonists lit the match, set the fire, and then are running away to watch the Congress burn. They created the 'toxic environment' by blindly rubberstamping the insane and corrupt agenda of Donald Trump and MAGA. Tommy Tuberville is a perfect example.
The internal dispute that could derail the GOP’s 2026 agenda
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/24/gop-reconciliation-bill-health-care-00704698
Comment: "With the midterms bearing down on them, Republicans are facing a nasty intraparty fight early next year over their legislative agenda: Should they attempt to pass a party-line bill focused on health care after failing to address expiring insurance subsidies?"
"GOP factions have been divided for months about the prospect of a second reconciliation bill. Some see it as the party’s last, best chance to put wins on the board before Election Day, while others believe it is a recipe for failure given the small Republican majorities in the House and Senate and major internal divides over health policy."
Comment: Didn't the GOP do enough damage with their first reconciliation bill (the so called 'Big Beautiful Bill')? Sounds like they're in a hurry to push their right-wing agenda, before they're thrown out of office during the 2026 midterms.
Republicans aim to exempt major polluters from Pfas cleanup costs
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/24/republicans-pfas-cleanup-costs
Comment: "Republicans are attempting to exempt some major polluters from paying for Pfas 'forever chemical' cleanup. If successful, it could mark a major setback in US effort to rein in Pfas pollution."
"The Republican-led House energy and commerce committee recently held a hearing at which it invited representatives from the water treatment and landfill industries, among others, to make the case about why they should be exempted from rules that hold polluters financially accountable for the cleanup of two types of dangerous Pfas."
"Water treatment plants and landfills are major polluters and represent critical points in the effort to curb Pfas water pollution nationwide. Utilities already have to remove hundreds of chemicals, so it is unclear why they are so opposed to removing two types of Pfas, said Scott Faber, vice-president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group non-profit."
Video: Bipartisan inherent contempt charges against AG Pam Bondi over Epstein files release - December 24, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rklk-5PAMtc
Jack Smith calls for House committee to release full videotape of his deposition
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5662279-jack-smith-deposition-video-public/
Democrats demand answers from Rubio on deal to send MS-13 informants to El Salvador
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5660932-democrats-rubio-ms-13-el-salvador-deportation/
Comment: "House Democrats are demanding more details about Secretary of State Marco Rubio's dealings with the Salvadoran government as the country agreed to imprison more than 200 men in its most notorious detention facility."
"A Tuesday letter from the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees asks a series of questions about the arrangement, as well as the return shortly thereafter of high-level MS-13 figures who were slated to be witnesses in U.S. trials."
"The request follows reporting that Rubio negotiated the return of the witnesses directly with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as President Trump prepared to sign the Alien Enemies Act in March."
"“In this discussion, you reportedly promised that the United States would terminate its informant arrangements with certain high-ranking members of MS-13 in U.S. custody who had been cooperating with law-enforcement so that the men could be turned over to El Salvador, preventing them from testifying in federal courts,” ranking members Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote in the letter obtained by The Hill."
" 'In exchange, President Bukele would receive and detain Venezuelan nationals and other deportees from the United States,' they continued. 'This quid pro quo was arranged in spite of the reported objection of officials from the Department of Justice, who warned that terminating the informant agreements risked undermining years of work and U.S. law-enforcement agencies’ ability to engage informants in the future.' "
"The letter asks for an accounting of how many MS-13 gang members were sent to El Salvador under the arrangement, including whether any other informants were sent back to the Central American country beyond the nine already reported."
"Bukele has been dogged by allegations he has dealt directly with the gang as he worked to turn around the country’s crime rate, including promises on prison privileges, blocking extradition to other countries, and other political protections."
"Reports that gang members in U.S. custody were returned to El Salvador reignited scrutiny of Bukele’s dealings with MS-13, including questions about the fate of the men."
Democrats renew government shutdown threat as tensions flare with Trump
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5657834-senate-democrats-threaten-government-shutdown/
Comment: "Senate Democrats are raising the threat of another government shutdown in late January as tensions with President Trump escalate over a series of recent maneuvers by the White House that Democrats say need a forceful response from Capitol Hill."
"Senate Democrats walked away from a potential deal to fund a broad swath of the federal government, including the departments of Defense, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services, which make up roughly two-thirds of the discretionary budget, before Congress adjourned for the Christmas recess."
"Democrats cited Trump’s threat to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., a leading government-funded center for atmospheric and climate research, as the reason they couldn’t advance a five-bill spending package before Christmas."
"Had the legislation passed the Senate this past week, it would have given Congress a good chance of funding up to 85 percent to 90 percent of the federal government through September of next year and taken the threat of another shutdown off the table."
"Instead, the shutdown threat remains very much alive, even though Democrats aren’t yet revealing their strategy ahead of the Jan. 30 government funding deadline."
‘We wasted a lot of time’: The next shutdown deadline will be here sooner than you think
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/22/appropriations-talks-jan-30-00701426
Comment: "Congress has adjourned for the holidays having made no tangible progress toward funding the government ahead of a shutdown looming less than six weeks away."
"The most conspicuous sign that Congress faces real obstacles before the Jan. 30 funding deadline came late Thursday, when Senate leaders gave up on passing a spending package and sent members home for two weeks, despite working for more than a month to appease senators who had objections."
"But the impediments to reaching a deal that can pass both chambers are more extensive, starting with the fact that Republicans and Democrats on both ends of the Capitol have yet to start negotiating the details of the nine pending funding bills. The lack of bipartisan offer-trading is raising the likelihood of another short-term punt — or another shutdown."
Senate Democrats cut off permitting talks after Trump’s newest ‘assault’ on wind
Comment: "Top Senate Democrats said Monday that they were freezing negotiations over legislation to overhaul permitting rules with Republicans after the Trump administration halted five offshore wind power farms that were already under construction."
"That move from Democrats comes just days after the House passed the bipartisan the SPEED Act, which seeks to update the permitting and environmental requirements that energy developers must navigate to build pipelines, clean energy projects and transmission lines. That infrastructure will be critical for the country to meet fast-rising power demand driven in part by artificial intelligence data centers that are already driving up electricity prices."
Comment: "While Republicans have emphasized the need to remove the red tape that slows the development of fossil fuel pipelines and export facilities, Democrats have favored power grid investments they say are needed to expand the reach of renewable power sources like solar and wind power."
"But a key stumbling block for Democrats has been the Trump administration’s aggressive attacks against offshore wind power, an industry the Biden administration had sought to develop to deliver clean power to help fight climate change."
"The Trump administration on Monday halted leases for all five large-scale offshore wind projects currently under construction in the United States, citing national security concerns."
" 'The illegal attacks on fully permitted renewable energy projects must be reversed if there is to be any chance that permitting talks resume,' the top Democrats added. 'There is no path to permitting reform if this administration refuses to follow the law.' "
"In a statement, the White House reiterated its opposition to building and wind power in the United States."
Senate Democrats raise concerns about IRS readiness for tax filing season
'Congress is in a coma.' Former lawmakers sound alarm on health of the House
Comment: "Congress is wrapping up the year in the shadow of the longest government shutdown and with a growing reputation as the ;east productive in modern history."
" 'Congress is in a coma. It has a pulse, but not many brainwaves,' said former Rep. Jim Cooper, a Democrat who represented Tennessee for 32 years. 'It's hard to tell that it's even alive as an institution.' "
"A record number of lawmakers are calling it quits ahead of the midterm elections next year and are running for the Capitol exits, pursuing different offices or retiring from political life altogether."
"While there's a temptation to look at a diminished House as a symptom of the first year of the second Trump administration, former members told NPR that legislative stagnation and low morale have been building for quite some time."
Comment: "Former members detailed an increasing centralization of power in party leadership they said comes at the expense of committees. Members once saw committee leadership roles as a path to wield influence and power."
" 'The speaker's office will tell the committee chair, 'this is what we want to see in this bill, this is what we don't want in this bill,' ' he told NPR after a day back on Capitol Hill talking to current members about their concerns. 'If the committees aren't working, then members don't really have an opportunity to be legislators.' "
"Former members described how over time, intervention from leadership in processes like debates and amendments has limited the involvement of rank-and-file members."
" 'The House operates from the leadership position top-down rather than from subcommittees moving up to full committees, where you have more bipartisanship,' said Fred Upton. The Michigan Republican served from 1987 to 2023 and chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he played a critical role in his party's debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act."
Rand Paul says seizure of oil tankers in Caribbean a 'prelude to war'
Lawmakers threaten Attorney General Bondi with contempt over incomplete Epstein files
Jeffries: DOJ release of Epstein files 'inadequate' and 'falls short of what the law requires'
Hakeem Jeffries says Obamacare subsidy extension 'will pass with a bipartisan majority'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/21/hakeem-jeffries-obamacare-subsidy-extension-00702216
Comment: "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday he remains confident that Congress will extend expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits despite persistent opposition from Republicans."
"In a Sunday morning interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl on 'This Week,' Jeffries dismissed Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s remarks that a clean three-year extension of the credits would be dead on arrival in the Senate, saying Thune 'is not serious about protecting the health care of the American people.' "
" 'It will pass, with a bipartisan majority, and then that will put the pressure on John Thune and Senate Republicans to actually do the right thing by the American people: pass a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits so we can keep health care affordable for tens of millions of Americans who deserve to be able to go see a doctor when they need one,' Jeffries said."
"The House is set to vote in January on a clean three-year subsidy extension after a Democratic discharge petition reached the necessary signiture threshold to force a House vote on the bill against the objections of Speaker Mike Johnson. That comes after the House passed a Republican health care bill along party lines last week that does not address the credits, all but ensuring the subsidies lapse at the end of the year."
Comment: Jeffries is speaking about passage of the House bill sponsored by the Democrats, scheduled for a vote in January. It took a discharge position to get it to the House floor for a vote, since Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson wouldn't bring it to the floor. Johnson scheduled the bill's vote in January 2026, after the existing tax credits run out. If passed by the House, the bill would then head to the GOP controlled Senate for further debate and vote.
Congress Is Ending the Year Without a Health Care Deal. What Comes Next?
https://time.com/7342062/health-care-costs-aca-subsidies-congress-2026/
The US has a power crunch. Congress is still far from solving it.
Comment: "The threat of skyrocketing power prices from an influx of artificial intelligence data centers has added urgency to yearslong negotiations in Congress about overhauling federal permitting rules for energy projects of all kinds, from solar and wind farms to long-distance power lines to pipelines and gas export plants. At stake is what has emerged as the single-biggest election issue facing Republicans next year: voters’ frustration at persistently high — and rising — prices."
"But President Donald Trump has been missing from the fight, and has not endorsed a bipartisan bill that the House passed by a 221-196 vote Thursday."
"The White House has supported the general effort in Congress to streamline the federal permitting process, which frequently adds years to the time it takes to build projects. But Trump has dismissed the issue of affordability as a 'hoax' — despite polls showing the issue is a top concern of voters — and the White House’s engagement with Congress on the legislation has been mostly limited to providing technical advice."
"Proponents view boosting the production and delivery of all sources of domestic energy as necessary for tackling the affordability crisis. Data released Thursday showed consumers’ power prices have climbed by 7.4 percent over the previous 12 months, while their natural gas costs are up 6.9 percent — both well above overall inflation."
"Room for any legislative compromise is narrow, however. One reason is that House conservatives oppose including language that would protect renewable energy, while Democrats fear that Trump wouldn’t abide by any congressional limits on his power to block solar and wind projects."
Video: Ed Markey Absolutely Laces Into FCC Chair Brendan Carr, Tells Him To His Face To Resign - December 20, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHKkHeZzw40
Congress leaves town until 2026, letting enhanced Obamacare ta credits expire in two weeks
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/19/politics/congress-obamacare-subsidies-expiring
Dems threaten lawsuit as DOJ says it will miss Epstein files deadline
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/19/jeffrey-epstein-files-deadline-doj-democrats
Sen. Cynthia Lummis will not seek reelection
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/19/cynthia-lummis-crypto-retirement-00700961
Comment: "Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) will retire after a single term in the Senate, she said Friday, marking a significant departure of a crypto ally from Congress."
Jack Smith’s lawyers ask Jordan for open hearing after closed-door testimony
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/19/jack-smith-jim-jordan-trump-00699653
Comment: "After appearing in a closed-door deposition with the House Judiciary Committee earlier this week, Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led the criminal cases against President Donald Trump, still wants the chance to defend his work in a public hearing – and defend himself against continued Republican attacks."
"Attorneys for Smith are pressing for their client to be allowed to testify in an open forum in a new letter to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, obtained first by POLITICO."
" '[We] reiterate our request for an open and public hearing,' Smith’s lawyers, Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, wrote to Jordan. 'During the investigation of President Trump, Mr. Smith steadfastly followed Justice Department policies, observed all legal requirements, and took actions based on the facts and the law. He stands by his decisions.' "
"Breuer and Koski also requested that the videotape of Smith’s testimony be released in full so that he can speak to the public directly 'rather than through second-hand accounts'.”
Comment: It sounds like Jack Smith, unlike the GOP controlled House Judiciary Committee, has nothing to hide from the public.
Jack Smith didn’t invoke Fifth Amendment during 8 hours of testimony, GOP committee chairman says | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/politics/jack-smith-did-not-invoke-fifth-amendment-jim-jordan
Comment: One doesn't need to plead the 5th Amendment if one didn't do anything wrong.
Trump move to dismantle climate agency blows up Senate funding deal
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5656366-colorado-senators-block-minibus-deal/amp/
Comment: "A potential deal to fund large swaths of the federal government, including the departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, collapsed Thursday night after Colorado senators demanded that Congress stop President Trump’s efforts to dismantle a key climate agency."
"A Democratic senator involved in the negotiations over passing a five-bill package of appropriations bills before Christmas said Trump’s attempt to break up a premier weather and climate center based in Boulder, Colo., was like a 'stick of dynamite' that exploded any chance of a bipartisan breakthrough on spending."
"Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet (D) and John Hickenlooper (D) objected to moving forward with the so-called minibus spending package that, if enacted into law, would result in 85 percent to 90 percent of the federal government being funding through September 2026."
Comment: "Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) made a herculean effort to get the spending package passed before Christmas, and it looked earlier in the day as the Senate might be on track to clinching a deal after conservative GOP senators dropped their objections to the bill."
"But Bennet and Hickenlooper took the lead in bringing the package to a dead halt by objecting to an agreement to set up date and amendment votes on the Senate floor."
"They were infuriated by the Trump administration's announcement Wednesday that it plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, a leading research institution specializing in climate science."
“ 'We just want to take the money that’s in the budget for it, we want to make sure that money is used to keep it open [and] we don’t cancel it,' Hickenlooper said."
Comment: Just when one thinks a bipartisan solution is possible, the Trump administration does something outrageous (trying to unilaterally dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research) and destroys bipartisan working relationships.
Senate nears ‘minibus’ deal to largely fund government, thwarting shutdown threat
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5655795-appropriations-bill-package-2026/
Comment: "Senate leaders are nearing a deal to pass a package of five appropriations bills that would fund most of the federal government through fiscal 2026, which has the potential to largely take the threat of a government shutdown off the table early next year."
"Senators were waiting Thursday afternoon for a deal to set up votes on a series of amendments to the so-called minibus, which would fund the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, Justice, Interior, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development."
"Senators on the Appropriations Committee estimate that if the five-bill package becomes law, it would fund roughly 85 percent to 90 percent of the federal government and eliminate the threat of a government shutdown in February."
"The House would also have to agree to the package, as would President Trump."
"Much of the government will shut down Feb. 1 without a new funding bill."
Comment: It's a start, but Mike Johnson and the GOP controlled House of Representatives could pose a problem, not to mention Trump.
Republicans vow bitter recriminations after Johnson outflanked on ACA
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/republicans-health-care-mike-johnson-jeffries
Politico: House Republicans pass health care plan without re-upping insurance subsidies
Comment: "The House passed a conservative health care bill Wednesday evening that would not address expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits, all but guaranteeing the enhanced subsidies will lapse at the end of the year."
"The 216-211 vote on the legislation also capped a dramatic day for Speaker Mike Johnson, who can hardly call the measure’s passage a victory after spending the balance of the day managing an open revolt by his moderate flank."
"Ultimately, the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate and will do little to quell a major intraparty split over the future of the subsidies, with many House Republicans vowing to continue to negotiate a compromise in 2026."
Comment: So, essentially this was a useless exercise, with the real fight over health care continuing in January 2026.
Republicans defy Speaker Mike Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies
Comment: "Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans."
"The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a health care bill that does not address the soaring monthly premiums that millions of people will soon endure as the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year's end."
"Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill, which would extend the subsides for three years."
"Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed on Wednesday morning, pushing it to the magic number of 218. A vote on the subsidy bill could come as soon as January under House rules."
Four Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/republicans-healthcare-subsidies-vote-petition
Comment: "In a major setback for Mike Johnson and the House GOP, four Republicans have joined with the Democrats to sign a petition forcing a vote on legislation that will extend for three years premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act healthcare plans."
Video: Defiant Jack Smith testifies regarding the ‘powerful evidence’ that led him to prosecute Trump - December 17, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeXhkF88K-8
Comment: Please watch.
Jack Smith testifies before House Judiciary Committee about his Trump probes
Comment: "Former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers Wednesday he believed his investigations had gathered proof beyond a reasonable doubt that would have led to President Donald Trump's convictions on charges of mishandling classified documents and seeking to unlawfully overturn his 2020 election loss, if he had not won last year's presidential election."
"Smith's testimony came during a closed-door hearing in front of the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee as part of the panel's probe into Smith's investigations."
"Smith told the committee that his actions were 'based on what the facts and the law required'."
" 'If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether the President was a Republican or Democrat,' Smith said, according to his prepared remarks."
Video: Jacky Rosen Confronts FCC Chair Brendan Carr Over His Agency's Investigations - December 17, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw1jLK12GFE
Congress passes $901bn defense bill that includes support for Ukraine and Europe
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/defense-bill-congress-ukraine-europe
Comment: "The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance a $901bn bill setting policy for the Pentagon, sending the big piece of legislation to the White House, which has said Donald Trump will sign it into law."
"The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is a compromise between separate measures passed earlier this year in the House of Representatives and Senate. It authorizes a record $901bn in annual military spending, with a 4% pay raise for the troops, purchases of military equipment and efforts to boost competitiveness with US archrivals China and Russia."
"The Senate backed the bill by 77 to 20, with strong support from both parties. The House passed the bill last week. In a break with Trump, whose fellow Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate, this year’s NDAA includes several provisions to boost security in Europe, despite Trump early this month releasing a national security strategy seen as friendly to Russia and a reassessment of the US relationship with Europe."
"The fiscal 2026 NDAA provides $800m for Ukraine – $400m in each of the next two years – as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays US companies for weapons for Ukraine’s military."
"It also authorizes the Baltic Security Initiative and provides $175m to support Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia’s defense. And it limits the Department of Defense’s ability to drop the number of US forces in Europe to fewer than 76,000 and bars the US European commander from giving up the title of Nato supreme commander."
Comment: "The NDAA also does not include funding to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, something Trump wants but cannot formally do without congressional approval."
Sen. Slotkin unloads on the White House: ‘Get your stories straight before you come and brief the Senate’
Sen. Chris Murphy after boat strike briefing: There’s ‘no fentanyl’ and ‘no legal justification’
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5651822-trump-administration-strikes-questioned/
Video: Hegseth, Rubio came to Venezuela briefing ‘empty-handed’: Schumer | NewsNation Live - December 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_l-gauLYrc
Comment: "Following a private Senate briefing from Cabinet secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth on recent strikes off the coast of Venezuela, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters, 'The administration came to this briefing empty-handed.' "
Video: 'We Need Guardrails': Jason Crow Calls For Oversight After Caribbean Boat Strikes Briefing - December 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCjJpDUR9A
Video: GOP Rep. Mike Lawler calls Johnson decision to not hold ACA vote "idiotic" - December 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKgDHrtW4VE
House Republican leaders ditch vote on ACA funding, all but ensuring premiums will rise
Comment: "It’s official: House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won’t call a vote to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, effectively guaranteeing they will expire at the end of this month."
"That means higher insurance premiums will go into effect for millions of Americans who get coverage through Obamacare next year."
Comment: " 'There’s about a dozen members in the conference that are in these swing districts who are fighting hard to make sure they reduce costs for all of their constituents. And many of them did want to vote on this Obamacare Covid-era subsidy that Democrats created,' Johnson, R-La., told reporters. 'We looked for a way to try to allow for that pressure release valve, and it just was not to be. We worked on it all the way through the weekend, in fact. And in the end there was not an agreement — it wasn’t made.' "
Republican tensions boil over as ObamaCare deadline approaches
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5651966-republican-tensions-obamacare/
House GOP health package lowers spending but boosts uninsured
Comment: "House GOP leaders’ health policy package could lead to 100,000 fewer people per year having health insurance through 2035, but would save the government $35.6 billion."
"That’s according to a Tuesday report from the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency that analyzed provisions in the health package lawmakers are expected to consider on Wednesday."
"The legislation includes several conservative policies but not an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies that go away after this year."
Exclusive: House Judiciary Committee expands Jack Smith probe | CNN Politic
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/16/politics/jack-smith-house-probe
Comment: More insanity from Jim Jordan and other House Republicans to further Trump's campaign of retribution against former special council Jack Smith for just doing his job.
Video: Sen. Schumer holds presser demanding Trump admin. to release complete Epstein files - December 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ZCPkdePSI
Republicans are divided on Afghan immigrant policy after the National Guard shooting
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/16/g-s1-102301/trump-republicans-division-afghanistan-immigration
Comment: "Some Republicans in Congress are splitting from the Trump administration over its crackdown on legal immigration from Afghanistan, especially for those migrants who helped U.S. war efforts there."
"Over the past year, the U.S. has paused visa and other programs for Afghan nationals, among others. Those already in the country have also been stripped of temporary permission to stay. "
"Further immigration restrictions followed after an Afghan national was charged in the deadly shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., last month."
"Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, N.C., cautioned against a 'knee-jerk reaction' that could block a number of Afghans with valid cases for temporary or permanent immigration status from coming to the U.S."
Comment: "Afghan soldiers who assisted U.S. troops have, in the past, enjoyed bipartisan support for their immigration cases."
"Meanwhile, Trump has promoted the idea that only some people are welcome in the U.S."
" 'I've also announced a permanent pause on Third World migration, including from hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia and many other countries,' Trump said last week at an event in Pennsylvania."
Comment: "In June, Trump added Afghanistan to a list of 19 countries for which travel to the U.S. would be restricted."
"And after the attack on National Guard members in D.C. around Thanksgiving, the Trump administration paused processing asylum cases, green cards and other immigration services for those from the countries listed in June's travel ban. It also paused processing all visas specifically for Afghans."
Sen. Mark Kelly clashes with Hegseth over Pentagon’s investigation into him
Comment: "Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly on Tuesday called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's investigation into him a 'bunch of bull****' and said he believes it's about sending a message to retired service members not to speak out against the president."
" 'This is very performative for him,' Kelly told reporters about the investigation."
Video: 'They got the wrong guy': Sen. Kelly pushes back against 'escalating' Pentagon probe - December 15, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95NB43xmkLw
Pentagon "escalating" its review of Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging defiance of illegal orders
Grassley built a reputation for government oversight. Has he abandoned it under Trump?
Comment: "Trump loyalists have roiled the Justice Department, shattering norms and leading to a mass exodus of veteran officials, but the 92-year-old chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has remained focused on the past."
"Critics say Grassley’s reluctance to challenge the Trump administration has even extended to a defining issue: His support for whistleblowers making claims of fraud, waste and abuse."
Comment: " 'He has been the conscience of the Senate on whistleblower protection rights for decades,' said Tom Devine, legal director for the Government Accountability Project. In the current Congress, he has co-sponsored legislation boosting protections for whistleblowers in the FBI and CIA."
Comment: "Trump and Grassley are not always in alignment. This past week, for example, they tussled over the pace of confirmation of administration nominees."
"Even so, Democrats and good government advocates say Grassley has been conspicuously silent as the administration has investigated Trump’s perceived enemies, fired agents who worked on politically sensitive cases and upended the Justice Department’s longstanding post-Watergate independence."
"Some whistleblowers have been loath to trust him with revelations that might harm the administration, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former U.S. officials, or their attorneys, several of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation."
" 'There are a lot of people concerned he’s not the same old Chuck Grassley,' said Eric Woolson, author of a 1995 biography of Grassley who once served as a Grassley campaign spokesman."
Comment: "Many of Grassley’s recent actions, however, suggest he has evolved from being a fiercely independent moderate eager to sniff out fraud to being a stalwart Trump ally, according to Democrats and whistleblower advocates."
"Some were particularly alarmed at Grassley’s dismissal of witnesses who raised concerns about the June nomination of Emil Bove, a high-ranking Justice Department official and former Trump lawyer, to a lifetime federal appeals court seat."
"Among several officials who came forward was Justice Department lawyer Erez Reuveni, who said he was fired for refusing to go along with Bove's plans to defy court orders and withhold information from judges to advance the administration’s aggressive deportation goals."
Comment: "Stacey Young, a former Justice Department lawyer who founded Justice Connection, a network of department alumni mobilized to uphold the department’s traditionally apolitical workforce, said she was disappointed Grassley has not used his influence to condemn firings at the department."
" 'How is the congressional majority not screaming bloody murder? We are watching the near decimation of DOJ in real-time, and Congress is sitting by doing nothing,'she said. 'Does Sen. Grassley think it’s OK that people get fired for doing their jobs?' "
"At a September oversight hearing, Grassley passed up a chance to grill Patel on a series of terminations of line agents and high-level supervisors, including five whose abrupt and still-unexplained dismissals had generated headlines weeks earlier."
"When Democrats pressed Patel about his use of the bureau’s plane for personal reasons, Grassley chided Senate colleagues for their disinterest in the travel practices of previous directors."
"Grassley has also been an eager conduit for an FBI leadership seeking to expose what it insists was misconduct and overreach in an investigation during the Biden administration into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election."
"He has released batches of sensitive documents from that investigation, known as 'Arctic Frost,' that he says have been furnished by FBI whistleblowers or that have been labeled as 'Produced by FBI Director Kash Patel.' The records are not the type of documents federal law enforcement would typically make public on its own."
Comment: "Whistleblower advocates said they were dismayed when Grassley failed to take a robust stance when Trump, within days of taking office, fired without cause some inspectors general."
"Even some Republican-appointed inspectors general accused Trump of violating a law requiring the White House to provide 30-day notice and rationale to Congress. If any Republican were going to stand up for them, some of the fired inspectors general said, they expected it to be Grassley.
Comment: "Grassley responded to the purge by sending Trump a letter requesting officials 'immediately' spell out their case-by-case specific reasons for the dismissals.
"It took the White House eight months to respond. In a two-page letter, it reasserted presidential authority to fire inspectors general at will and made no attempt to explain its rationale other than to cite 'changed priorities'.”
Comment: While Republican Senator and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley may have been zealous in his oversight role in the past, recent performance has been sorely lacking in providing necessary oversight of the out-of-control Trump DOJ.
Video: House GOP unveils narrow health care package with key deadline looming - December 13, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z7C_2XzaDE
Growing number of House Republicans sign on to effort to force vote on ACA subsidies -- defying Speaker Johnson
Comment: "As House Speaker Mike Johnson eyes a vote next week on a to-be-announced health care package, a growing number of House Republicans are revolting against leadership by trying to force a vote on extending the expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies.
"Nearly a dozen Republicans -- many from swing districts -- have signed onto dueling bipartisan discharge petitions to extend and reform the subsidies in the hopes of bypassing leadership and triggering a vote on the House floor."
"This move comes as the subsidies are set to expire at the end of the month, which will prompt health premiums for more than 20 million Americans to soar."
Comment: This is another discharge petition designed to allow a House floor vote bill to extend "the expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies." Although there is no guarantee of the bill's passage, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson doesn't even want the House to vote on it.
Republican-led House votes to overturn Trump executive order on bargaining rights
Comment: "The House approved a measure Thursday to reinstate collective bargaining rights to federal workers, a step toward restoring labor union protections for nearly 1 million federal employees."
"The rare bipartisan vote, 231-195, marks the first time the House has voted to nullify an executive order from President Donald Trump this term."
"Twenty Republicans voted with Democrats in supporting the bill, which was introduced by Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, a Democrat, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a Republican. The bill now heads to the Senate."
Comment: "Fitzpatrick wrote Thursday on X that the measure 'restores something fundamental: the right of public servants to be heard, respected, and represented in their workplace,' and urged the Senate to 'finish the job'."
"The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether he plans to bring the bill to a vote in the Senate."
House passes bill to restore collective bargaining for federal employees
Comment: "A bill to restore collective bargaining rights for a majority of federal employees cleared the House in a floor vote Thursday afternoon."
"House lawmakers voted 231-195 to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act. The entire Democratic Caucus, along with 20 Republicans, voted in favor of the legislation."
"The bill’s passage this week came after a discharge petition on the legislation reached the required 218-signature threshold in November, forcing the House to hold a floor vote on the bill. On Wednesday, the legislation cleared an initial voting hurdle, teeing it up for its final passage Thursday afternoon."
"The Protect America's Workforce Act, led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine), aims to nullify two of President Donald Trump’s executive orders this year that called for most agencies to end their union contracts. The legislation, if enacted, would restore collective bargaining for tens of thousands of federal employees."
Comment: A bipartisan effort in Congress is attempting to overturn Trump's efforts to strip federal workers of their union contracts. It took a discharge position to bypass House Republican leadership's attempt to stop a floor vote on this bill. Discharge petitions are becoming more frequent (and necessary) to allow House members to better represent their constituents, rather than Trump and the radical Republican leadership and their supporters.
‘We don’t have a lot of time’: Congress comes to terms with an all-but-certain lapse in Obamacare subsidies
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/11/obamacare-congress-negotiations-health-care-00688191
"It is now all but certain that enhanced Obamacare subsidies first implemented by Democrats as a Covid relief measure will expire Dec. 31 after the Senate voted down competing partisan health plans Thursday and House GOP leaders indicated they had no plans to bring an extension up for a vote this year."
"Less certain is when lawmakers might begin to pick up the pieces — or if they have any hope of finding a solution. A bipartisan group of lawmakers continues to talk about a possible 11th-hour path forward, hoping that the failed votes this week can give them some badly needed momentum. But most of their colleagues are convinced the discussions won’t bear fruit until 2026."
Video: 'It's Just Basic Reality': Don Bacon Calls On House To Pass 'Short-Term Extension' Of ACA Subsidies - December 11, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yar6o0q2zZY
Video: Senate rejects legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits - December 11, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCPJ-WBw3U
Senate rejects rival Obamacare bills
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/senate-aca-subsidies-vote-obamacare
Comment: "The Senate voted down competing health care proposals on Thursday, likely guaranteeing that the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits will expire at the end of the year."
Comment: "The failed votes on Democratic and Republican plans highlight the deadlock in Congress over how to respond to steep increases in out-of-pocket premium costs for millions of ACA enrollees."
US House passes bill to bolster Europe’s defence, in apparent rebuke to Trump’s foreign policy strategy
House passes defense bill, forcing Pentagon's hand on boat strike videos
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/house-passes-ndaa-boat-strike-videos-00685641
Comment: "The House passed an annual defense policy bill on Wednesday that takes surprising aim at the Pentagon’s boat strike campaign in Latin America and the Trump administration’s dismissal of longstanding U.S. military commitments."
"The National Defense Authorization Act heads to the Senate, which will likely send the measure to President Donald Trump, who supports the bill.
"The agreement would withhold a quarter of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the Pentagon provides Congress with unedited videos of airstrikes against alleged drug smuggling boats. It also goes after Trump’s push away from European allies and demands a rationale when the Defense Department fires officials."
"Lawmakers’ $901 billion compromise bill is the result of months of negotiations between House and Senate leaders. A total of 115 Democrats joined 197 Republicans on the 312-112 vote, a remarkable shift from a House draft loaded with hard-right social provisions that passed in September along largely partisan lines."
"Even with the blowout vote, lawmakers expressed bipartisan angst over the final bill. Many Republican holdouts wanted major cryptocurrency legislation attached. Conservatives had sought more provisions taking on diversity and LGBTQ policies. Some Democrats had pushed for stricter oversight of the Trump administration, along with expanded coverage for in-vitro fertilization and protections for Pentagon employees who join unions."
Lawmakers react to US seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5643306-us-venezuela-war-fears/
Comment: "Democratic lawmakers and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) expressed concern Wednesday that the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by the U.S. could further increase tensions between the two countries, while other GOP senators said they were awaiting more information."
" 'It sounds a lot like the beginning of a war,' Paul told NewsNation’s Hannah Brandt on Capitol Hill."
"The libertarian senator, a frequent critic of the Trump administration’s posture toward Venezuela, added that it is not 'the job of the American government to go looking for monsters around the world, looking for adversaries and beginning wars.' "
"Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) echoed Paul’s worries, telling NewsNation that while he does not know the details of the incident, he is 'gravely concerned that [Trump] is sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela.' "
CNN: Battleground Republicans clash with hard-liners over Obamacare subsidies as party talks health care strategy
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/politics/gop-health-care-plan-congress
House GOP erupts over health care as leaders hunt for a plan
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/12/10/congress/no-house-gop-health-plan-00684401
Comment: "House Republican leaders presented no firm plan Tuesday for advancing health care legislation as anxiety rises in the GOP ranks over the impending expiration of key Obamacare subsidies at the end of the year."
"Instead, Speaker Mike Johnson presented attendees of a closed-door conference meeting with list of 10 possible policies that could get votes in the coming weeks or months, according to five Republicans in the room."
"Some were more specific, such as an expansion of health savings accounts and an overhaul of pharmaceutical benefit manager oversight. Others were vague, including one bullet point that simply said, 'Innovation.' The list did not include an extension of the expiring tax credits."
Republicans unveil health care plan to counter Democratic effort to extend ACA subsidies
Comment: "Both plans will likely fail in the Senate later this week."
Video: Republicans to offer alternative health care bill amid expiring ACA health care subsidies - December 09, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJLJLhDuuWs
GOP plan leaves ACA subsidies behind
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/rival-gop-health-plans-gridlock-aca-subsidies
Comment: "The outlines of a Senate Republican health care plan are coming into focus, and it wouldn't extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies — increasing the likelihood that the assistance will expire in less than a month."
Comment: "But Republicans remain divided on this and other alternatives to a straight extension of the ACA tax credits that Democrats are insisting on. It's unclear whether the plan will even get a vote this week."
Comment: "The plan from Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and his health committee counterpart Bill Cassidy (R-La.), first reported by Axios, proposes giving certain ACA enrollees $1,000 to $1,500 in a health savings account to help with medical costs, instead of the ACA subsidies."
Comment: "Many in the GOP are convinced the subsidies are wasteful spending, and that money should go directly to patients instead through HSAs."
"But in a year dominated by talk of affordability, Democrats think they have the upper hand — and contend that simply putting $1,000 or so into an HSA won't help lower- or middle-class people with the massive costs in a health crisis."
GOP moves to let Obamacare subsidies expire as Trump promises ‘money to the people’
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/09/gop-obamacare-subsidies-expire-00684115
Comment: "Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are moving decisively away from extending key Obamacare tax credits that help more than 20 million Americans pay for health insurance — following direct cues from President Donald Trump while also stoking ire among many in the GOP who fear severe political repercussions."
"In a Monday interview with POLITICO, Trump refused to endorse a continuation of the expiring subsidies, even as his administration faces mounting pressure to address rising costs for Americans. He instead laid out his own vision for health care: 'I want to give the money to the people, not to the insurance companies.' "
"Senate Republicans now plan to offer a proposal for a vote Thursday that would let the subsidies expire and instead encourage the use of health savings accounts. That abrupt shift in strategy is in turn putting new pressure on House GOP leaders to come up with their own health plan, according to four people who attended a closed-door meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson and senior Republicans Tuesday afternoon."
"Yet after months of pressure from competing factions, lawmakers inside the meeting didn’t reach a conclusion and Johnson is still trying to figure out what that plan should be. House GOP staff Tuesday were prepping a health care framework to give Republicans something to vote on next week before they leave Washington for the holidays — one that, for now, does not include an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies."
"For many Republicans facing tough reelection races and even some in deep-red areas with a high reliance on the tax credits, following Trump’s one-sentence policy prescription would harm Americans and make for political disaster as the Dec. 31 expiration of the tax credits looms."
Vulnerable Republicans sweat amid GOP divisions on health care
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5639556-swing-state-republican-senators-health-insurance/
Comment: "Swing-state Republican senators who are up for reelection are scrambling for political cover as the Senate prepares to vote on a Democratic bill to extend health insurance tax credits, even as the GOP struggles to coalesce behind a plan."
"Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Monday that Republicans won’t necessarily put up a GOP health care alternative for a vote Thursday, when Senate Democrats are due to get a vote on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) tax credits."
‘Dishonors the decades-long bipartisan commitment’: Democrats slam Trump for his European takedown
Comment: "President Donald Trump’s comments expressing skepticism about the leadership of Ukraine and its European allies aren’t sitting well with top Democrats, who on Tuesday ripped the president for his handling of Russia’s war against Kyiv."
"In an exclusive White House sitdown with POLITICO's Dasha Burns on Monday for a special episode of 'The Conversation,' Trump admonished European coutries as 'weak' and 'decaying,' endorsed new elections in Ukraine and teased that the transatlantic NATO alliance 'calls me Daddy'."
"Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and key ally to former President Joe Biden, labeled Trump’s conduct in the region 'unpredictable, chaotic and destabilizing'."
" 'This latest statement from President Trump dishonors the decades-long bipartisan commitment in the United States and here in Congress to stand up for democracy and human rights and to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NATO allies,' Coons said on CNN on Tuesday morning. 'As the president just referenced, they’ve stepped forward.' "
Comment: "Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, told CNN that Trump’s comments conveyed a fundamental misunderstanding that 'Putin is driving this war.' "
" 'Ukraine is holding strong at the moment, despite what Russia is doing,' Smith said. 'But the biggest impediment for the last, gosh, almost year now has been President Trump consistently undermining Zelenskyy, whereby our European partners have made it clear, ‘we’re not going to abandon Ukraine.' "
‘It’s done’ — House Armed Services chair sees no need to further probe boat strike
Comment: "The Republican chair of the House Armed Services Committee said he doesn’t see the need to further investigate a controversial military strike that killed survivors of an attack on an alleged drug running vessel in September."
Comment: Alabama Republican Mike Rogers seems anxious to adopt the mantra of "See no evil; Hear no evil; Speak no evil" and to sweep this questionable military action under the rug.
The GOP has allowed Trump to expand his authority. Here's where they're pushing back
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/09/g-s1-101183/gop-authority-trump-pushback
Comment: "The Republican-controlled House and Senate have not done much to stand in the way of President Trump — even when his actions have encroached on terrain the Constitution reserved for them."
"But there are signs that some Republican lawmakers are trying to reassert their independence."
"When news broke last week that the Pentagon carried out a second strike on two individuals on a largely-destroyed alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, even some Republicans expressed alarm."
Comment: "The strikes are not the only actions that have spurred a handful of Republicans to stake out a bit of daylight with the Trump administration. Some have criticized Trump's tariffs, like Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine."
Comment: "Ahead of the upcoming espiration date for enhanced health care subsidies, which Trump has signaled indifference to renewing, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., warned last month of a 'massive crisis unless Congress acts'."
"Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon has been one of the most consistent critics of Trump's approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin's incursion into Ukraine. Bacon consistently calls it a soft touch, particularly in contrast to Trump's approach to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky."
Comment: "And Trump's reluctance to release the investigative files into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spurred a break between the president and one of his closest allies, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga."
Comment: "But this is not the first time observers have declared a new era, only for Trump to firm up his grip on congressional Republicans, including the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol."
Comment: "Most of the Republicans vocalizing their disagreements are retiring, represent competitive districts or are perennial centrists. And some of the splits with Trump have not been over traditional Republican values, but urging him to follow through on the populist platform he ran on."
"Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Congress has made some recent attempts to push back on the White House, like resolutions rebuking the tariffs and boat strikes, but they have not been very successful or sufficient."
" 'I'd like to see more, and I believe that if we don't stand up for our powers under the Constitution, nobody else will,' Murkowski told NPR in an interview."
Comment: Do you believe this isolated pushback from some Republicans is 'too little, too late?' Do you believe it is time for Democrats to take control of the U.S. House and Senate and restore constitutional checks and balances on the Trump administration (executive branch of government)?
Why Senate Republicans aren't uniting behind a health care plan
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/08/senate-republicans-obamacare-health-00682318
Comment: "Voting on any alternative to Democrats' Obamacare extension is likely to highlight the divisions in the GOP."
Senate Judiciary plans hearings around Jack Smith probe
Comment: "The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings in early 2026 surrounding former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump — culminating in a hearing later in the year where Smith will testify in person before the panel."
Comment: "The announcement follows news that Smith requested Republican lawmakers’ phone records as part of his probe into Trump’s efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election. The revelations enraged GOP senators, who argued Smith’s investigation amounted to a weaponization of the Justice Department and have been clamoring for hearings."
Comment: The Senate Republicans are joining their Republican colleagues in the House screaming outrage that Jack Smith subpoenaed phone records from certain GOP lawmakers as part of his investigation into the January 6th attempt to overturn the 2000 election. The timeframe of some of Trump's calls that day (to law makers like Tommy Tuberville) were important to the investigation.
Comment: Phone records of American citizens are commonly subpoenaed as part of a potential criminal investigation. However, Republican lawmakers think they are special and are not subject to investigative tools employed in other investigations. The content of the calls were not provided to Jack Smith, only the record of the calls.
Comment: The difference between the House and Senate hearings is that Republican Jim Jordon demanded that the House hearings be held behind closed doors, which Jack Smith has resisted. Smith wanted to speak publicly so that the American people could hear his explanation. Apparently, the Senate hearings will be public, based on the following comments from Smith's lawyer:
Comment: " 'Jack remains ready and willing to discuss his work as Special Counsel, and we’re happy the American people will have the opportunity to hear directly from him about his investigation into President Trump’s alleged retention of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election,' Peter Koski, an attorney for Smith, said in a statement Monday."
Video: Top Dems on Capitol Hill push for bipartisan extension of ACA subsidies as pessimism grows - December 08, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAScuxpjBeU
Scoop: Senate GOP chairs circulate health plan as clock ticks on ACA subsidies
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/senate-republicans-aca-subsidies-tax-credits-plan-proposal
Comment: "The plan from Finance Committee chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and health committee chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) does not extend the tax credits past their expiration at year's end, instead providing funds to enrollees in health savings accounts, according to a summary obtained by Axios."
"It's not the only GOP plan that's been floated in recent days as Republicans struggle to unite around health care policies."
Republicans have an affordability problem. They can’t agree on how to fix it.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/08/republicans-affordability-congress-00679545
Comment: "Republicans want to put the economy at the center of their midterm message as they seek to protect their majorities in Congress. But as cost-of-living concerns mount across the political spectrum, the GOP is struggling to act decisively to address them."
"Already top Republicans acknowledge they haven’t done enough to sell the 'one big, beautiful bill,' the party-line centerpiece of their economic agenda they enacted over the summer. Now internal divisions and the need for bipartisan support in the Senate are threatening any attempt to follow up on it."
"The GOP is struggling to coalesce behind a health care plan that would prevent Obamacare premium hikes set to kick in next month and efforts to rein in President Donald Trump’s tariffs have run aground in the House. Meanwhile, the administration’s proposal to distribute $2,000 rebate checks has gotten a lukewarm response on Capitol Hill and the fate of other smaller bills to address things like housing prices and student debt have sparked intraparty sparring."
" 'The cost of living is a legitimate issue — I think it was one of the main reasons President Trump was elected. I think it’s still an issue,' Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said in an interview, urging Republicans to pursue another party-line bill before the midterms in response."
"While many in the GOP — including Trump — continue to lay blame for their economic problems with former President Joe Biden, there are clear warning signs for Republicans. Forty-six percent of respondents in a recent POLITICO Poll said the cost of living is the worst they can remember it being."
Comment: Do think poor public opinion of the "one big, beautiful bill" is just a messaging issue, or it is due to the resulting wealth transfer from the poor to the very rich?
Comment: Do you think another Republican "party-line bill before the midterms," will solve the affordability crisis? Very doubtful.
Capitol agenda: GOP struggles on affordability message
Video: Colin Allred ends Senate campaign to run for Congress | FULL - December 08, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSIJwWOahQ
Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/08/ndaa-boat-strikes-congress-hegseth-without-funds-00680679
Comment: "Congress is using its marquee defense bill to force the Pentagon into turning over videos of strikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats off the coast of Latin America."
"Lawmakers plan to withhold a quarter of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the Pentagon provides them with the videos. The demand, quietly tucked into the final draft of the annual defense policy bill, calls for 'unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations in the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command' to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees."
Congress will vote on limiting Hegseth's travel budget unless he releases unedited video of boat strikes
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/politics/hegseth-travel-budget-strikes-video-congress
Democrats, advocates slam Johnson after IVF expansion stripped from defense policy bill
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5638859-congress-drops-ivf-provision/
Comment: "Congress’s annual defense policy bill does not include a provision expanding coverage of assisted reproductive technology for military members, including in vitro fertilization, sparking the ire of lawmakers and advocates."
"Currently, service members’ Tricare insurance only covers fertility services for military members whose infertility was caused by a serious or severe illness or injury while on active duty."
"Earlier Senate and House versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included a provision that would have expanded the coverage to all active-duty members, regardless of the reason for infertility."
"But the provision, backed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and others, was dropped from the compromise bill that was released late Sunday."
Congress moves to block Pentagon from cutting US troops in Europe and South Korea
Comment: "Congress is moving to limit the Pentagon's ability to pull forces out of Europe and South Korea, easing concerns among allied governments."
Compromise defense bill stymies Trump on Europe troop withdrawals
Comment: "Sprawling defense legislation set for a vote as soon as this week would place new restrictions on reducing troop levels in Europe, a bipartisan rebuke of Trump administration moves that lawmakers fear would limit U.S. commitments on the continent."
"A just-released compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act — which puts Congress’ stamp on Pentagon programs and policy each year — has been in the works for months. The measure stands in stark contrast to President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy, which sharply criticizes European allies and suggests the continent is in cultural decline."
"Lawmakers also endorsed a slight increase in the Pentagon budget with a price tag that is $8 billion more than Trump requested. And it would repeal decades-old Middle East war powers, a small win for lawmakers who’ve been fighting to reclaim a sliver of Congress’ war-declaring prerogatives."
CNN: Swing-district Republican sounds alarm over GOP’s affordability agenda: ‘Doing nothing is not an option’
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/07/politics/brian-fitzpatrick-republicans-affordability-2026
Comment: "Swing-district" Republicans may want to address affordability, but those in predominantly Republican districts only want to pledge allegiance to Trump, for fear of provoking a MAGA primary opponent. In other words, these Republicans are willing to ignore the economic needs of their constituents in an attempt to save their jobs.
CNN: Why Indiana GOP voters want their senators to defy Trump’s threats
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/07/politics/indiana-redistricting-republican-voters
Comment: Republicans in Indiana want their state Senators to defy Trump and resist the redrawing of Indiana's U.S. congressional districts.
Top Armed Services Dem says Sept. 2 strike video would show Republicans’ description ‘completely false’
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-armed-services-dem-sept-2-strike-video/story?id=128185897
Comment: "The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said Sunday that surveillance video of U.S. military strikes targeting an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 2 would contradict how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other Republicans have described it."
" 'When they [the survivors] were finally taken out, they weren’t trying to flip the boat over. The boat was clearly incapacitated. A tiny portion of it remained, capsized, the bow of the boat. They had no communications device. Certainly, they were unarmed,' Rep. Adam Smith, one of the Democratic lawmakers who saw the video, said. 'Any claim that the drugs had somehow survived that attack is hard, hard to really square with what we saw.' "
"Smith called the video 'deeply disturbing' and said 'it did not appear that these two survivors were in any position to continue the fight.' "
Scoop: Democrats call Trump's bluff on releasing boat strike video
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/06/trump-hegseth-venezuelan-drug-boat-video-democrat
Comment: "Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee are pressing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to release video of U.S. military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat that have inflamed tensions on Capitol Hill."
Comment: "The lawmakers are seizing on to President Trump's own comments this week that he would have 'no problem' releasing the footage to the public."
Don Bacon doubles down on Hegseth criticism: ‘I think I’ve seen enough’
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5636737-don-bacon-pete-hegseth-criticism/
Comment: "Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) took his criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a step further Friday, claiming the Pentagon chief’s recent decisions have 'ruined his credibility'."
" 'I’ve been on the record already,' he told Politico's Dasha Burns, who also hosts 'Ceasefire' on C-SPAN. 'After ‘Signalgate,’ I think I’ve seen enough. What I really wanted to see was someone take responsibility — own [up] to a mistake.' "
" 'And then when he blamed the media or the, you know, the journalist for the story, it just — it ruined his credibility,' he added."
"The Nebraska Republican noted that Hegseth 'had some issues' going into his confirmation hearings, after President Trump tapped him to lead the Pentagon. But, once he was confirmed, Bacon continued, he wanted to give the former Fox News host 'a fair chance'."
" 'But I — what I’ve seen is what I call just poor decision making,' the lawmaker, who will retire at the end of the term, told Burns."
"His remarks come after a watchdog report released earlier this week found that Hegseth endangered troops and violated department policy by using his personal cellphone to send classified information about a pending strike on Houthi targets in Yemen through the Signal app."
"Bacon on Thursday said the Trump administration’s claim that the report exonerated Hegseth was 'total baloney' and criticized the Defense leader for not being willing to admit he made a mistake."
Video: Democrats will force a vote on bill to extend expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits - December 05, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3eq19gkUBA
Indiana House passes new Republican-drawn congressional map
Comment: "The map now moves to the state Senate, where it's unclear whether there is enough GOP support for it to pass, despite pressure from Trump."
Comment: At what point will state legislators value fairness to their citizen constituents more than their political party's desire to control the U.S. House of Representatives? Perhaps, the vote in the GOP controlled Indiana state senate will restore some dignity to the election process there, and stop this blatant Trump inspired gerrymandering. But don't hold your breadth,
Video: Republican Sen Thom Tillis: 'I've got a real problem' with Secretary Hegseth's Pentagon leadership - December 04, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_6TGMFfAl8
Bacon calls ‘total baloney’ on idea report exonerates Hegseth
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5633843-bacon-disputes-hegseth-exoneration/
Comment: "Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said Thursday a Department of Defense (DOD) watchdog report did not exonerate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from using an encrypted messaging app to share details about a pending strike on Houthis in Yemen."
" 'No, that is total baloney,” Bacon said during a CNN interview. 'I have better words for it, but you can’t say it on TV. I read the report and what I saw what had happened was wrong, but the report makes clear that the secretary put sensitive information that would ordinarily be classified.' " "The Office of Inspector General’s report found Hegseth jeopardized troop safety and violated department policy by using Signal. Bacon said Hegseth’s 'unclassified phone is a top target.' "
" 'And if this information got to Yemen, it would have compromised the mission, and we could have put our pilots at risk,' he continued. 'And so the report was very clear on this, and what troubles me, instead of taking responsibilities, [saying] ‘It was my fault,’ I learned from it,’ they used phrases like, ‘We’re totally exonerated.' ' "
" 'That’s not what a leader does,' Bacon continued. 'A leader stands up, says, ‘I screwed up. I take responsibility. I learned my lesson. I won’t do it again.’ This troubles me more the response and the actual misdeed, because it really undercuts his credibility as a leader.' "
"The report stated that Hegseth 'sent nonpublic DoD information identifying the quantity and strike times of manned U.S. aircraft over hostile territory over an unapproved, unsecure network approximately 2 to 4 hours before the execution of those strikes.' "
Millions of Republicans on Obamacare want enhanced subsidies extended. Most Hill Republicans don’t | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/politics/obamacare-trump-subsidies-poll
Mike Johnson races to finalize elusive GOP health care plan
Comment: "Speaker Mike Johnson is racing to finalize a Republican health care plan in time to present it to his conference at their weekly meeting Tuesday, but his team still needs to decide on major contours of the plan, according to three people granted anonymity to describe internal conversations."
"GOP leaders are meeting Thursday to nail down what will go in the package, according to the three people. One major decision still to be made is whether to offer multiple individual bills for floor consideration or to assemble them into one piece of legislation. But top Republicans want to have a GOP alternative to vote on as Democrats hammer them over expiring Obamacare subsidies that will spike premiums for millions of Americans in the new year."
Comment: Do you think any GOP health care plan, thrown together at the last minute and cobbled together to satisfy the GOP's various political factions, will solve the problem of quality healthcare affordability for Americans?
Speaker Johnson pleads with Republicans to keep concerns private after tumultuous week
Mike Johnson faces widespread Republican revolt
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/04/mike-johnson-stefanik-mace-internal-revolt
Comment: "House Speaker Mike Johnson is staring down an internal revolt, with anger spilling out from conservative hardliners, to regular members and senior GOP leaders alike."
Comment: "A series of recent decisions — like keeping the House out for almost two months and failing to move widely-supported bills— have triggered unusually loud pushback from Johnson's own members."
"Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a member of Johnson's own leadership team, publicly attacked him this week, telling The Wall Street Journal that Johnson is 'a political novice' and predicting that 'the majority of Republicans would vote for new leadership.' "
Comment: "Johnson isn't currently facing a motion to vacate, but the escalating public criticism is a troubling sign for the two-term speaker."
Video: Tennessee special election signals trouble for Republican party - December 03, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ms_RYBIwgRA
Comment: "CNN's David Chalian breaks down how Republicans' narrow victory in a deep-red Tennessee congressional special election highlights growing concerns for the GOP and as party leaders look ahead to the 2026 midterms."
Rep. Gottheimer: If an Intel Committee member did what Hegseth did in Signal-gate, they ‘could be prosecuted’
Video: Republicans and Democrats remain concerned about Sept. 2 boat strikes as Hegseth changes story - December 03, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQj0T2v8rfI
Hopes fade in Congress for a health care deal before premiums soar in January
Comment: "Congress has less than a month before health insurance premiums are set to spike for millions of Americans. And hopes of a deal to mitigate the pain are fizzling among lawmakers in both parties."
" 'I’m not hopeful that that’s going to happen,' Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said. 'We’ll keep trying to work at it, but I’m not feeling good about it right now. ... Things are not coming together like I would’ve hoped that they would.' "
"Peters was among a group of senators seeking a health care deal when eight Democrats voted with Republicans to reopen the government last month, ending the record-long shutdown that Democrats had forced to try to extend Affordable Care Act money."
"The group of eight agreed to end the shutdown after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., promised Democrats a vote on a health care bill of their choosing next week, a promise he reiterated Tuesday. But that would require 60 votes, and as Republicans struggle to coalesce around a proposal of their own, Thune said the two sides still aren’t close to an agreement."
" 'I haven’t seen yet what the Dems are proposing. I don’t think we’re close to a 60-vote threshold yet,' Thune told NBC News on Tuesday."
Top Democrat, a former JAG, says killing shipwrecked survivors ‘is a war crime’
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5630106-ted-lieu-hegseth-drug-boat-strikes-war-crime/
Video: 'Profiles In Lack Of Courage': Warner Mocks Hegseth For 'Scampering For Cover' Over Boat Strikes - December 02, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JjXNWtI9-A
CNN: Trump and Hegseth insist they didn’t know of follow-up strike that killed survivors on suspected drug boat
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/politics/second-strike-drug-boat-trump-hegseth
Video: Suzanne Bonamici Blasts 'Illegal And Unconstitutional Dismantling Of The Department Of Education' - December 02, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MDXENIyaDo
Comment: "Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) tore into the Trump Administration's effort to dismantle the Department of Education during House floor remarks on Tuesday."
Democrats investigate Patel’s use of FBI jet for ‘date night’ travel, other excursions
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/democrats-investigate-patel-fbi-jet-162752630.html
Comment: "House Judiciary Democrats have launched a probe into FBI Director Kash Patel’s use of the bureau’s jet, accusing him of having 'commandeered U.S. government aircraft for personal joyrides'."
"Patel’s travels have sparked scrutiny as he’s been seen jetting to meet with his girlfriend, attend sporting events and go on excursions."
" 'You used a $60 million government jet for an overnight date with your girlfriend, a Scottish golfing excursion with your buddies, and a trip to a luxury hunting retreat called ‘Boondoggle Ranch,’ ' Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the panel, wrote to Patel."
" 'Why should American taxpayers be footing the bill for private jets every time you decide to hang out with your golf buddies, see your girlfriend, or go to your ‘boondoggle’ escape?' "
Democrats begin congressional probe of Kash Patel's use of FBI Gulfstream jet
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrats-probe-fbi-director-kash-patel-fbi-gulfstream-jet/
Comment: "FBI Director Kash Patel's travel to watch his girlfriend sing at a Pennsylvania sporting event is now being investigated by the top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee."
"Citing a series of recent media reports, the committee Democrats allege Patel has used the FBI's Gulfstream passenger jet for a series of recent flights for a 'date night' in Tennessee and an outing with friends in Texas."
"The panel's Democrats have asked Patel to respond with travel records, passenger information and any communication with passengers about the recent flights."
Comment: Please remember that these flights involve YOUR tax dollars.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Education Secretary Linda McMahon should resign
Comment: Opinion piece written by Sen. Warren.
Video: Jeffries: Republicans "have done nothing...but stumble, fumble and bumble" on Health Care - December 01, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25zR0195laA
Jeffries says Johnson ‘tanked’ Trump’s health care proposal
Comment: "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is accusing Speaker Mike Johnson of undermining a White House proposal to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies for two years as Congress stares down a fast-approaching deadline to avoid massive premium hikes."
" 'It even appears that the Trump administration was ready to put forth a plan that would at least have been worthy of consideration, and that Mike Johnson tanked it,' Jeffries said at a press conference Monday."
"The New York Democrat was referring to a framework for extending the enhanced ACA tax credits that the White House was planning to release last week before the details were leaked and conservatives revolted, postponing rollout plans indefinitely."
"Many Congressional Democrats were cool to the blueprint, which would have paired an extension with other health policy changes sought by Republicans. But other Democrats called it a promising sign that President Donald Trump was finally getting ready to engage in ongoing negotiations over the future of the tax credits, which are due to sunset Dec. 31 without congressional action and around which Republicans are deeply divided."
" 'Obviously, Mike Johnson has zero interest in protecting the health care of the American people,' said Jeffries, adding that while Republicans 'consistently said' they would discuss an extension of the subsidies after the end of the shutdown, 'now we get nothing but crickets.' "
Jeffries seeks to raise pressure on GOP centrists over expiring health care subsidies
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5628255-obamacare-tax-credits-extension/
Video: Sen. Angus King on sprint to address expiring Obamacare subsidies - December 01, 2025
‘Time is not our friend’: Health care scramble begins amid mixed signals from Trump
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/01/trump-health-care-subsidies-congress-00671172?cid=apn
Comment: "Congress returns to session Monday and kicks off a December sprint to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and prevent health insurance premium hikes for millions of Americans."
"Members of both parties acknowledge success hangs on one question: Will President Donald Trump ever figure out what he wants?"
"Since lawmakers left town 10 days ago, the picture has only grown foggier. Early in their holiday break, Trump appeared to be on the precipice of announcing a framework to temporarily extend the Obamacare subsidies with new eligibility restrictions, only to pull back after a mountain of internal GOP criticism."
"In his only comments on the matter, Trump injected more uncertainty last week, saying he doesn’t want to extend the subsidies but understands it might be necessary."
"The mixed signals have left the various factions on Capitol Hill trying to figure out where Trump will ultimately come down — and how to entice the president to back their side in a thorny policy fight that could have major political consequences in next year’s midterm elections."
" 'The president has got to sign whatever we do, otherwise it’s a legislative exercise,' said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who is drafting what he describes as a bipartisan proposal that would largely align with the leaked White House framework."
"But Fitzpatrick and other lawmakers are quickly running out of time to pin Trump down. The Senate will vote next week, as soon as Dec. 9, on a health care proposal. It’s unclear what will be in the bill, but it’s the fulfillment of a promise Majority Leader John Thune made to Democrats as part of a deal to end the 43-day government shutdown."
" 'The question is, how quickly can something come together?' Thune said before leaving Washington for Thanksgiving."
"Or as Fitzpatrick put it: 'Time is not our friend.' "
"Fitzpatrick and other centrists are looking to build bipartisan support for an extension of the subsidies, a priority for Democrats, with new income restrictions and other safeguards, which are a priority for Republicans. Their efforts have loose backing from the Republican Main Street Caucus, whose chair, Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska, quickly endorsed the contours of the leaked White House framework last week."
"But others in the GOP want to pursue a more radical overhaul of Obamacare, with Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Rick Scott of Florida pitching the president on plans centered around individual spending accounts. Scott even termed his vision as 'Trump Health Freedom Accounts.' "
"Trump has kept Congress in limbo as lawmakers try to figure out what he will support. Republicans spent much of November thinking the president was turning away from extending the tax credits, only to be blindsided by news that the White House framework would do just that."
Trump's push for new House districts prompts gerrymandering battle | AP News
Comment: "A push to reshape congressional voting districts, instigated by President Donald Trump, is sweeping across states as political parties vie for an edge in next year’s elections."
"Trump is hoping to buck historical trends of the president’s party losing seats in midterm elections. Republican state officials have responded to his call by redrawing House districts to give the GOP a better chance of winning more seats. Democrats have countered with their own gerrymandering efforts."
Comment: Linked article includes a map showing which states have already redrawn their districts, and which states are currently considering it.
Republican dissenters spark discharge petition clash with Johnson
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5624268-republican-discharge-petitions-johnson/
Comment: "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is staring down a potential political firestorm in the coming weeks as a few Republican dissenters aim to use a rare procedural mechanism to force legislation on a stock trading ban and Russian sanctions onto the House floor."
"His colleagues’ attempts to sidestep him on these issues puts Johnson in a bind, as he seeks to unify a divided and disgruntled caucus ahead of critical votes on a national defense policy bill, government funding measures and other key items tied to President Trump’s agenda."
"Republicans have doubled on the use of discharge petitions, which require the support of 218 lawmakers, after four Republicans joined Democrats in forcing a vote on a bill demanding the Justice Department release files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in November."
"Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has said she will introduce a discharge petition to force a vote on a bipartisan bill that would ban lawmakers, their spouses, dependent children and trustees from owning, buying or selling individual stocks."
"The fight over stock trading has long gripped Capitol Hill, with lawmakers repeatedly pushing bans that rarely advance. But any attempt by Johnson to block a discharge petition on the latest effort could trigger significant backlash."
"The bill, introduced by Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), has 101 co-sponsors as of late November, including 21 Republicans. Some of the most hard-line conservatives in the House, including Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), have backed it.
Comment: "Discharge petitions — usually difficult to pull off — have seen more success under Johnson’s leadership, since only a few members of his conference are needed to challenge him due to the razor-thin GOP majority. The tool has also empowered rank-and-file members who have grown frustrated with certain legislative roadblocks, such as committees holding up bills and opposition from leadership."
"Foreign policy is another issue facing Johnson. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) said in late November that he would file a discharge petition to force a vote on bipartisan legislation imposing punishing sanctions on countries enabling Russia’s war against Ukraine."
Comment: "Johnson isn’t just facing pushback from Republicans, though. He’s also contending with pressure from Democrats."
"Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) secured 218 signatures on a discharge petition that would force a vote on legislation to restore union rights for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) and Fitzpatrick all signed the petition. Golden said House rules will allow him to call the bill for a vote as early as Dec. 2. "
"Johnson is also facing other sticky situations in the coming weeks, particularly on health care."
Comment: Are traditional Republicans deserting MAGA and joining Democrats for saner legislative action?
Video: Roger Wicker: 'We’re Going To Conduct Oversight' And Review Video Of Venezuelan Boat Strike - December 01, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9DlpDVRspA
Comment: "Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) says there will be review of the Venezuelan boat strike."
Video: Sen. Kelly: Pete Hegseth "needs to answer questions in public and under oath" - December 01, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3NeremqnRw
Sen. Mark Kelly says Trump, Hegseth are 'not serious people'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/30/mark-kelly-trump-hegseth-serious-people-00670939
Comment: "Sen. Mark Kelly on Sunday appeared unconcerned by threats from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, dismissing both as unserious people."
"In an interview with NBC’s 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, Kelly said the reaction to a video he and other veterans serving in Congress made is 'ridiculous'."
" 'I said something very simple and noncontroversial, and Donald Trump said I should be hanged, executed, prosecuted. Pete Hegseth that I should be court-martialed,' the Arizona Democrat told host Kristen Welker. 'How ridiculous is this? We say follow the law and this is their response. These are not serious people.' "
Comment: Given the unreasonable statements and threats from the Trump administration, one could characterize Senator Kelly's response as diplomatically understated.
Van Hollen: 'Very possible there was a war crime committed' in Venezuela boat strike
Comment: "Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Sunday he believes 'it's very possible there was a war crime committed' in the administration's first strike against an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean Sea in September."
" 'I think it's very possible there was a war crime committed. Of course, for it to be a war crime, you have to accept the Trump administration's whole construct here ... which is we're in armed conflict, at war with this particular -- with the drug gangs. Of course, they've never presented the public with the information they've got here,' Van Hollen said on ABC News' 'This Week.' 'If that theory is wrong, then it's plain murder.' "
"Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was responding to a story from The Washington Post that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reportedly given a spoken order ahead of that Sept. 2 operation for the military to kill everybody aboard the suspected drug boat. After an initial strike left two survivors, the commander leading the operation reportedly complied with Hegseth's alleged directive by ordering a second strike, according to the report."
Democrat says he'll reintroduce war powers resolutions after report of attack on drug boat survivors
Comment: "Sen. Tim Kaine says he plans to refile his resolution demanding there be no war against Venezuela without congressional approval and expressed confidence it could pass given recent developments in the Trump administration's escalating campaign against the South American country."
" 'It failed, but that was before all of these assets have amassed around Venezuela, and before President Trump said that the airspace needs to be closed,' Kaine said Sunday on CBS' 'Face the Nation'."
"Kaine also said he plans to reintroduce the war powers resolution that he and Democratic colleague Adam Schiff introduced in October that block the use of U.S. military force in the Caribbean Sea without an Authorization of Military Force by Congress."
" 'The circumstances have changed in the months since we had that vote. In each of these instances, we were able to get two Republicans to vote together with Democrats,' Kaine said. 'We think the escalating pace and some of the recent revelations, so, for example, the recent revelation about the 'kill everyone' order apparently dictated by Secretary Hegseth. We do believe that we will get more support for these motions when they are refiled.' "
"Kaine was referencing a Washington Post report that Hegseth allegedly gave an order ahead of a Sept. 2 operation in the Caribbean Sea for the military to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat. After an initial strike left two survivors, the commander leading the operation reportedly complied with Hegseth's alleged directive by ordering a second strike, according to the Post report."
Klobuchar says Senate ACA vote ‘will happen’ before New Year
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5627171-klobuchar-predicts-aca-senate-vote/
Comment: "Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) predicted Sunday that the Senate will hold a vote on extending subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) this year."
" 'That vote will happen. And whether it will pass is in the hands of Donald Trump and the Republicans,' Klobuchar told host Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.' "
"The subsidies, set to expire at the end of the year, were a flash point during the 43-day government shutdown, which ended earlier this month. Senate Majority John Thune (R-S.D.) offered eight Democratic caucus members a vote on the premiums by mid-December in exchange for their support of a measure to end the funding lapse."
"House Speaker Mike Johnson R-La.), however, has expressed little interest in holding a vote in the lower chamber on the subsidies. Earlier this month, a group of 58 House Democrats sent a letter to Johnson asking him to do so."
Comment: "Klobuchar said Sunday that Democrats will force a vote and get enough Republicans to back an extension before the premiums expire. If not, the Minnesota Democrat said she believes the GOP will pay the price in the midterms."
House and Senate committees launch inquiries into second strike on alleged drug boat
Comment: Who ordered the second strike? Were the second strike orders, and the subsequent actions illegal? If illegal, would the orders and subsequent actions be considered "war crimes?" The Congress wants to investigate to establish the truth, and to insure accountability.
House Republican Troy Nehls won't seek re-election in 2026
Comment: "Nehls’ announcement adds to uncertainty for House Republicans. Their majority — 219 to 213 — will shrink after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., resigns effective early January. A number of other Republicans — and Democrats — have said they will retire or seek other office next year."
"Shortly after Nehls’ announcement Saturday, his twin brother, Trever Nehls, announced he would seek his brother’s open seat."
Comment: Trying to keep the congressional seat in the family?
US regulators ‘taking seriously’ allegations of bankers’ support for Epstein
Comment: "In correspondence seen by the Guardian, bosses from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said they had reviewed a letter from the Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, which raised concerns over bankers’ alleged support for the convicted child sex offender Epstein."
"That includes Staley, who Warren said had allegedly protected Epstein’s access to the banking system while working at JP Morgan in the early 2000s. Staley has already been banned from te UK banking sector for playing down his relationship with Epstein."
Comment: "Warren’s original letter raised questions over JP Morgan’s wider banking relationship with the sex offender, noting that Epstein was one of the bank’s most profitable clients before being dropped in 2013, five years after he was jailed for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The well-connected financier died in prison in July 2019, while awaiting trial over child sex trafficking charges."
"The FDIC’s acting chair, Travis Hill, said the regulator took 'unlawful activity involving the banking sector, including possible insider involvement in illicit activity, very seriously'."
Comment: "Warren said in a statement: 'Regulators need to investigate and hold accountable Epstein’s enablers – and I’ll believe they’re taking action when I see it. Americans deserve to know that their banking system isn’t facilitating the disturbing crimes of the rich and powerful.' "
"A spokesperson for JP Morgan did not directly comment on Warren’s correspondence with regulators but in relation to Epstein said: 'We regret any association we had with the man, but did not help him commit his heinous acts. We ended our relationship with him six years before his arrest on sex trafficking charges. The federal government had damning information about his crimes that they failed to share with us or other banks.' "
"Last week Warren used an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to urge the JP Morgan chief executive, Jamie Dimon, to testify in front of the US Senate banking committee."
" 'They opened about 134 different accounts for Jeffrey Epstein over these years. They did more than a billion dollars in transactions for Jeffrey Epstein … He literally could walk into the bank and get $50m from JP Morgan Chase."
" 'So, what I’d like to do, over on the banking committee, is I’d like to have Mr Dimon and some of those other bankers come in and, under oath, testify about exactly what the financial trail is that kept Jeffrey Epstein afloat for so long.' "
"JP Morgan said in a statement: 'Jamie never met with Epstein, spoke with him, emailed with him, and was not involved in any decisions about his account, to which he testified under oath. There are over a million pages of emails and other documents produced in this case, and not one comes even close to suggesting otherwise.' "
"The bank’s spokesperson added: 'We will follow the law, including responding to a subpoena. Our involvement with Epstein is largely a matter of public record, with millions of pages of discovery from litigation already publicly available.' "
"The correspondence between Warren and US financial regulators comes days after Donald Trump was pressed into signing a bill that will lead to the US justice department releasing all of its unclassified records, documents, and communications related to Epstein and the co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell."
National Guard shooting in D.C. draws condemnation from Trump, lawmakers
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/27/national-guard-shooting-dc-trump-lawmakers-react
Comment: "President Trump, other political leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemned the shooting in D.C. that critically injured two West Virginia National Guard members on Wednesday."
Comment: "Many leading Republicans and Democrats joined Trump in paying tribute to the service members, offering prayers and condemning violence."
Sen. Kelly says Pete Hegseth 'totally unqualified' after being bashed over display of medals
https://abcnews.go.com/US/sen-kelly-pete-hegseth-totally-unqualified-after-bashed/story?id=127894384
Comment: "Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Tuesday, calling him unqualified and saying he just wants to please President Donald Trump."
Comment: Kelly just stating the obvious?
CNN: Tennessee special election puts Democratic momentum in 2025 races to the test
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/26/politics/tennessee-special-election-democrats-momentum
Comment: While a Democratic Party win in this heavily Republican district would be great, even a close race there would still indicate momentum going into 2026.
Democrat, Republican neck and neck in Tennessee special election: Poll
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5623140-behn-van-epps-neck-neck/
Comment: "The district stretches between the state’s north border with Kentucky and its southern border with Alabama and includes portions of north and west Nashville."
"Though the district is seen as a red stronghold, Democrats have been pouring money into the race and sending several high-profile surrogates there in hopes of an impressive overperformance following a string of resounding victories elsewhere."
Comment: A Democratic win in this district would be a major upset, and would likely give hope to 2026 Democratic candidates in the South.
North Carolina can use GOP-drawn congressional map designed to add another Republican House seat, court rules
Democrats who told troops to disobey illegal orders push back on alleged FBI probe
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze832dr2n0o.amp
Democrats plan a new investment in winning rural voters, who've fled the party
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/25/nx-s1-5615326/rural-voters-congress-health-care-voting-invest
Comment: "Democrats are announcing a new investment to win over voters in rural areas — where the party has suffered deep losses in recent elections — in their effort to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives next year."
"This is the first time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says, that it's had a program specifically dedicated to engaging rural voters."
Johnson told White House that GOP isn't interested in extending ACA subsidies
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/johnson-told-white-house-gop-153839413.html
Comment: "Speaker Mike Johnson has told the White House that most House Republicans have little interest in extending the Affordable Care Act's enhanced subsidies, sources familiar with the conversation told CBS News."
"Johnson delivered the message in a phone call with senior administration officials as President Trump's advisers were drafting a plan to continue the subsidies for an additional two years. That plan that was initially expected to emerge this week."
"The Wall Street Journal first reported Johnson's warning to the White House regarding the lack of GOP House support for the plan. Any White House health care plan would require overwhelming Republican support in the House to be enacted."
Comment: We've heard what House Republican's don't want to do, but we haven't heard what they do want to do to address the health care affordability crisis. It sounds like they want to do nothing, which is their usual mode of operation.
Once Foes of Obamacare, Some Republicans Push to Protect It
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/politics/republicans-trump-obamacare-subsidies.html
Comment: "A small cadre of politically vulnerable Republicans in Congress is breaking with the party to push for the extension of health care tax credits for a program the G.O.P. reviles."
Comment: Obamacare doesn't look so bad, when your Republican party doesn't have a viable alternative to address a health care affordability crisis.
Greene: House Republicans ‘totally sidelined by Johnson under full obedience’ of White House
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/greene-house-republicans-totally-sidelined-152820603.html
Comment: "Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Monday that House Republicans have been sidelined by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), accusing the Republican leader of only obeying the Trump administration."
Trump seizes control of Republicans' 2026 election strategy with his presidency on the line
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-seizes-control-republicans-2026-110149733.htm
Comment: "President Donald Trump isn't on the ballot in next November's midterm elections, but he’s plunging into them with his own presidency at stake. He's calling candidates, making early endorsements, shaping strategy and pushing economic messaging to try to keep Congress in Republican hands, according to nine Republicans involved in election strategy."
GOP Sen. Jim Justice agrees to pay $5 million in back taxes after DOJ lawsuit
Comment: "Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., agreed Monday to pay more than $5 million in back taxes after the Justice Department sued him over unpaid funds from more than 15 years ago."
"The suit, filed Monday in the Southern District of West Virginia, said Justice and his wife had been contacted by the Treasury Department and were given notice of their 2009 debt but 'have neglected or refused to make full payment of those assessments to the United States.' "
"The suit asked that the former billionaire and his wife pay the amount owed and any relief the court 'deems just and proper'"
"A filing later Monday said the Justice Department and the Justices had settled, with the couple agreeing to pay the full amount owed. A judge still needs to sign off on the agreement."
Comment: GOP Senator failed to pay $5M in taxes for more than 15 years?
Video: I've overcome challenges a lot tougher than Donald Trump or Pete Hegseth - November 24, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw0GXiB9wbI
Comment: Comments from Sen. Mark Kelly in response to Pentagon investigation.
Video: Pentagon launches investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly after video to military troops - November 24, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4weVpLbQO_I
Comment: Sen. Mark Kelly committed no crime. Any FBI agent involved in any investigation of Kelly, based on his statements, is violating FBI policy and should be punished and reprimanded, and that includes Kash Patel if he officially ordered the investigation based on instructions from Hegseth or Trump. As for Trump, this constitutes an abuse of power, an impeachable offense.
Pentagon says it’s investigating Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly after video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’
Comment: "The Pentagon announced Monday it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for troops to defy 'illegal orders'."
"The Pentagon’s statement, posted on social media, cited a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court martial or other measures."
"It is extraordinary for the Pentagon, which until President Donald Trump’s second term had usually gone out of its way to act and appear apolitical, to directly threaten a sitting member of Congress with investigation. It comes after Trump ramped up the rhetoric by accusing the lawmakers of sedition 'punishable by DEATH' in a social media post days after the video was released last week."
"In its statement Monday, the Pentagon suggested that Kelly’s statements in the video interfered with the 'loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces' by citing the federal law that prohibits such actions."
Comment: "Kelly said he upheld his oath to the Constitution and dismissed the Pentagon investigation as the work of 'bullies'."
" 'If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,' Kelly said in a statement."
Comment: "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Kelly was facing investigation because he is the only one of the lawmakers who formally retired from the military and is still under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction."
Comment: "Other Senate Democrats came to Kelly’s defense, with Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accusing Trump of using the Pentagon 'as his personal attack dog' and saying 'this is what dictators do.' "
"His fellow Democratic Arizona senator, Ruben Gallego, said 'Mark told the truth — in America, we swear an oath to the Constitution, not wannabe kings.' "
Experts Say Democratic Video Not ‘Seditious,’ as Trump Claims
https://www.factcheck.org/2025/11/experts-say-democratic-video-not-seditious-as-trump-claims/
Samuel Alito’s Order on Texas Election Map Challenged at Supreme Court
https://www.newsweek.com/samuel-alito-texas-election-map-supreme-court-challenge-11100706
Comment: "Voting-rights groups on Monday filed a new challenge to Justice Samuel Alito’s order allowing Texas to use its newly drawn congressional map, telling the U.S. Supreme Court the state’s plan is an 'extraordinary' case of racial gerrymandering that cannot be shielded by the Purcell principle."
"The complaint, submitted days after Alito temporarily reinstated the Republican-favored map, argues the lower court was correct in finding that Black and Hispanic voters were likely to prevail on claims that the 2026 district lines dilute minority voting power."
Comment: "If the lower court ruling ultimately prevails, Texas could be forced to revert to the 2021 map drawn by the GOP-controlled Legislature using 2020 census data. The Supreme Court’s decision in the coming days will determine whether the 2026 map remains intact while litigation continues."
Video: Cracks in MAGA? Dam won't break 'until right after the midterms': Kasich - November 24, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ3cCcoTnfM
Republican lawmakers grow alarmed over signs of 2026 election wipeout
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5618168-republican-midterm-election-concerns/
Comment: "GOP lawmakers are growing increasingly concerned over signs the 2026 midterm elections could be a wipeout for Republicans that could cost them control of the House and shave down their Senate majority by two or three seats."
Video: Survivors, American public await release of full Epstein case files - November 24, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIO_pF0d1u4
The Independent: Trump abruptly pulled plan to announce Obamacare extension after ‘significant congressional backlash’: report
CNN: Republicans balk at Trump’s health care proposal before it’s even released
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/politics/gop-pushback-trump-health-care-proposal
Politico: White House to pitch a Trump Obamacare extension with limits
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/23/white-house-to-propose-new-health-care-framework-00666701
Obamacare premiums are skyrocketing. Republicans can’t figure out what to do.
Comment: "GOP lawmakers knew subsidies were expiring and premiums would spike, but no clear, conservative alternative emerged."
These Democrats helped flip the House in Trump’s first term. They’re coming back to try to do it again | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/politics/house-democrats-comebacks-midterms
Trump’s accusations of treason draw bipartisan rebuke
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-accusations-treason-draw-bipartisan-rebuke/story?id=127797846
Comment: "President Donald Trump's comments accusing Democratic lawmakers of 'seditious behavior' following a video encouraging members of the military to refuse 'illegal orders' have drawn criticism across party lines."
Comment: " 'He's trying to get us to shut up because he doesn't want to be talking about this,' Slotkin said. 'In fact, I would argue that one of the things that he's been doing by repeating it and talking about it is trying to distract us from the big stories of last week, which were the [Jeffrey] Epstein files and then the economy.' "
"Republican Rep. Michael McCaul also sought to distance himself from the comments, telling Raddatz, 'I don't speak for the president in terms of hanging members of Congress.' "
" 'I would tone down the rhetoric and tone down the theme here,' McCaul added."
Video: Sen. Rand Paul says he has been given "zero, not one briefing" about Venezuelan actions - November 23, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMmRd3hyAiI
Sen. Mark Warner calls 28-point plan for Russia-Ukraine truce 'a historically bad deal'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/23/mark-warner-neville-calls-russia-ukraine-truce-00666433
Comment: "Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said Sunday morning that the Trump administration’s 28-point plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine 'would go down, frankly, as a historically bad deal, rivaling Neville Chamberlain giving in to Hitler before World War II.' "
"Warner, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, told 'Fox News Sunday' host Shannon Bream that he fears the plan could embolden Chinese leader Xi Jinping to pursue an invasion of Taiwan if accepted, blasting the proposal as 'a total capitulation by Ukraine'."
" 'Clearly this plan was at least initially laid out as simply Russian input and no Ukrainian input,' Warner said. 'Now they’re saying there has been Ukrainian input. Now the president is changing his mind again about whether this is a final offer or not. At the end of the day, we all want to see peace, but we don’t want to see a peace that rewards Vladimir Putin.' "
U.S. senators say Marco Rubio told them Trump's Ukraine peace plan is Russia's 'wish list'
Comment: "Lawmakers critical of President Donald Trump's approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war said Saturday they spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio who told them that the peace plan Trump is pushing Kyiv to accept is a 'wish list' of the Russians and not the actual proposal offering Washington’s positions."
"A State Department spokesperson denied their account, calling it 'blatantly false'."
"Rubio himself then took the extraordinary step of suggesting online that the senators were mistaken, even though they said he was their source for the information. The secretary of state doubled down on the assertion that Washington was responsible for a proposal that had surprised many from the beginning for being so favorable to Moscow."
"It all added up to a confusing — and potentially embarrassing — turn of events for a Trump administration-blessed peace plan that already faced a potentially rocky future."
"The widely leaked 28-point U.S.-backed peace plan was, according to the White House, the result of a month of work between Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff along with input from what it said was both Ukrainians and Russians. The plan acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory. Trump says he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week."
" 'This administration was not responsible for this release in its current form,' said Republican Mike Rounds from South Dakota, speaking at a security conference in Canada. 'They want to utilize it as a starting point.' "
"Rounds said 'it looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with. ' "
"The senators said they spoke to Rubio after he reached out to some of them while on his way to Geneva for talks on the plan. Independent Maine Sen. Angus King said Rubio told them the plan 'was not the administration’s plan' but a 'wish list of the Russians'."
"The bipartisan group of senators, who are veteran legislators and among those most focused on foreign relations, stood together at the press conference as they relayed Rubio’s message on the call."
US senators slam Trump’s Russia-Ukraine peace plan as rewarding aggression
Comment: "U.S. senators critical of President Donald Trump's approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war said Saturday that the peace plan he is pushing Kyiv to accept would only reward Moscow for its aggression and send a message to other leaders who have threatened their neighbors."
"The 28-point peace plan was crafted by the Trump administration and the Kremlin without Ukraine’s involvement. It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory. Trump says he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week."
"The senators' opposition to the plan follows criticism from other U.S. lawmakers, including some Republicans, none of whom have the power to block it. The senators, who spoke at an international security conference in Canada, included a Democrat, an Independent and a Republican who does not plan to seek reelection next year."
" 'It rewards aggression. This is pure and simple. There’s no ethical, legal, moral, political justification for Russia claiming eastern Ukraine,' Independent Maine Sen. Angus King said during a panel discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada."
"King, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, compared the proposal to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s Munich Pact with Adolf Hitler in 1938, a historic failed act of appeasement."
"Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Sen. Mitch McConnell, a former Republican Senate party leader, didn’t go far enough in his criticism of it. McConnell said in a statement Friday that 'if Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisers.' "
" 'We should not do anything that makes (Putin) feel like he has a win here. Honestly, I think what Mitch said was short of what should be said,' said Tillis. Tillis announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection shortly after he clashed with the Trump administration over its tax and spending package."
"Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called it an 'outrage'."
"Putin welcomed the proposal late Friday, saying it 'could form the basis of a final peace settlement' if the U.S. can get Ukraine and its European allies to agree."
How Marjorie Taylor Greene went from a top Trump ally to choosing to resign
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/22/g-s1-98793/marjorie-taylor-greene-resignation
Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene to quit Congress after Epstein files feud
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4qx1lenvjo
Bipartisan House members float two-year Obamacare subsidy extension
Comment: "It remains unclear if the legislation will be enough to bridge a growing divide over how to handle the expiring subsidies."
Bipartisan House lawmakers float two-year ACA subsidy extension
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5617598-bipartisan-bill-would-extend-obamacare-subsidies/
Video: ‘This is a Putin plan for Ukraine': Sen. Shaheen slams U.S. negotiated proposal to end Russia’s war - November 21, 2025
Video: Rep. Vindman alleges Trump admin. retribution campaign against him - November 21, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ep-_WtYqx8
Comment: Video also addresses other issues.
Video: ‘He Saved MBS’s A**’: Khashoggi’s Widow and Rep. Demand Trump Release Call With Saudi Crown Prince -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hojkSr36oys
Comment: "A former U.S. official has revealed explosive new details about a controversial phone call between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), sparking renewed concerns over political favors, transparency, and potential constitutional implications."
"U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman and Hanan Elatr Khashoggi — the widow of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi — are publicly demanding that the Trump administration release the full transcript of the call. They argue that the American public deserves accountability regarding Trump’s alleged efforts to shield MBS from consequences following Khashoggi’s murder."
"The revelations have intensified debate in Congress, raising questions about presidential conduct, U.S.–Saudi relations, and whether political interference played a role in protecting the Saudi crown prince."
Khashoggi’s widow and Democrats demand release of call transcript with Trump and Saudi crown prince
https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-jamal-kashoggi-widow-6d1a2a99c0bb6ef17f1b5419a8c83632
Comment: A video is included with the article.
Trump, MBS had "shocking" phone call after Khashoggi murder, Vindman warns
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/21/trump-saudi-arabia-vindman-murder-khashoggi
Comment: "Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) urged President Trump to release the 'shocking' transcript of a 2019 phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) following the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi."
Comment: "Vindman's request comes just days after Trump hosted MBS in the Oval Office and said ' a lot of people didn't like' Khashoggi, when asked about the murder. U.S. intelligence previously concluded that MBS ordered Khashoggi's killing."
"Vindman and 37 other lawmakers sent a letter to Trump Thursday calling for the transcript's release."
"The document remains classified, preventing Vindman from disclosing its contents, though he suggested Trump reaped benefits from MBS."
Comment: "Vindman described the call as one of the most 'concerning' he reviewed during Trump's first term as a member of the National Security Council."
"During a Friday press conference, Vindman likened it to the president's 2019 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which led to Trump's first impeachment."
" 'When the president sidelines his own intelligence community to shield a foreign leader, America's credibility is at stake,' Vindman said."
Alito lets Texas reinstate gerrymandered House map that could give GOP 5 more seats
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/21/texas-supreme-court-map-case-00665951
Comment: "Alito’s move allowing Texas officials to continue to prepare for primary elections under the new map came just after the state asked the Supreme Court for an urgent ruling."
Swalwell swipes at Trump as he joins crowded California governor's race
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/21/swalwell-california-governor-race-trump-jimmy-kimmel
'I'm not going to be intimidated': Rep. Crow responds to Trump's sedition threat
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/nx-s1-5615204/trump-sedition-death-threat
‘Not the kind of country that we should be living in': Rep. Goodlander responds to Trump’s suggested call for her execution
Sen. Mark Kelly: ‘I never thought I’d see a President call for my execution’
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5616884-kelly-angers-trumps-execution-call/
Comment: "Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) expressed surprise and anger Thursday at President Trump’s suggestion that he and six Democrats with military or national security backgrounds be put to 'death' for 'seditious behavior'."
Comment: " 'Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we’re all less safe for it,' Kelly added in his post."
Democrats defend message to troops as Trump, officials suggest they be punished
Comment: "Several Democrats accused by President Donald Trump of 'seditious behavior' defended their message to military members that they can refuse illegal order. The president and administration officials suggested the action could be punishable by law."
"The video featuring six Democrats who served in the military or in the intelligence community set off more than a dozen social media posts by Trump, who called them 'traitors' and said their action could be 'punishable by death'."
" 'I think it's important to say that there is nothing more American than standing up for the Constitution, that's what we were doing. President didn't like it, so now he calls for us to be hanged,' Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly said on CNN's 'The Source with Kaitlan Collins' on Thursday night."
"Sen. Elissa Slotkin, on MS NOW, said the message to military members was 'chapter and verse' from the Uniform Code of Military Justice."
" 'I think his reaction is just characteristic of a political system that no one is proud of right now,' she said."
Scoop: Mike Johnson wants changes after being outflanked on Epstein files
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/21/mike-johnson-house-discharge-petitions-epstein
Comment: "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is weighing a crackdown on House discharge petitions, just days after one forced President Trump's hand on the Epstein files."
"The recent surge of successful discharge petitions could lead to their undoing, House Republicans told Axios."
"After a months-long push for 218 signatures on their discharge petition, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) saw their Epstein Files Transparency Act pass 427-1 on Tuesday."
"A discharge petition forces a bill onto the floor if it has support from a majority of members. It's long been considered a Hail Mary."
"But Johnson told Axios on Wednesday night that discharge petitions have become 'too common' and said he would consider changing House rules to make them harder to obtain."
"House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told Axios on Thursday: 'I'd like to see a higher threshold for a lot of these motions. You know, privileged motions, discharge petitions.' "
"Another discharge petition just hit the 218-signature threshold this week, with a vote expected after lawmakers return from Thanksgiving recess."
"The bill, led by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), would restore union rights for thousands of federal workers."
"Only seven discharge petitions have been successfully signed into law since 1935, but three came in just the last two years."
Comment: Perhaps the problem is not the discharge position, but, instead, it is the unchecked power of the Speaker (Mike Johnson) to keep legislation that most members want to debate and pass from ever hitting the House floor. Republican Thomas Massie seems to agree:
Comment: "Massie told Axios he's worried the tool may not survive its newfound popularity. He called it a 'last vestige of democracy'."
" 'The Speaker, because he's not giving an outlet for legislative pursuits, the things we got elected to do, he's probably going to see more of these discharge petitions,' Massie told Axios."
"Massie said he's 'brainstorming' ideas for more discharge petitions with his Democratic colleagues."
Video: Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene feud tied to Epstein files reaction from MAGA supporters in GA - November 20, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I84NX6_8C8
‘Golden crime scene’: Elizabeth Warren calls for inquiry into Trump’s ballroom funding
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/20/elizabeth-warren-trump-ballroom
Comment: "Top Democrat on Senate banking committee says private funding for Trump’s ballroom poses serious corruption concerns."
Video: Dem lawmaker & veteran calls out White House denial of Trump’s ‘punishable by death’ remark: ‘His intent is clear’ - November 20, 2025
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/ebof-rep-chrissy-houlahan-trump-threat
Mike Johnson defends Trump’s ‘sedition’ attacks on Democrats
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/20/congress/mike-johnson-trump-sedition-00662754
Trump calls for Democratic lawmakers to face trial for ‘seditious behavior’
Comment: "President Donald Trump on Thursday called for six Democratic lawmakers to face arrest and trial after they made a video encouraging U.S. service members and members of the intelligence community to refrain from following orders if they broke the law."
" 'It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,' Trump charged in a post on Truth Social. 'Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.' "
"The president then reposted 16 Truth Social posts, including one that advocated for hanging the Democrats, like 'GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD.' "
" 'This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,' he wrote later."
" 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' he said in a separate post."
"Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), as well as Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) were featured in the Tuesday video. They are all either military veterans or worked in national security-focused roles before taking office."
" 'We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now,' they said. 'Americans trust their military. But that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders.' "
Comment: The reminder from the 6 Democratic lawmakers is totally consistent with instructions to our troops given in basic training (enlisted) or ROTC or cadets (officers). In fact, the language is actually subdued. Military personnel are prohibited from carrying out an illegal order, or from issuing an illegal order.
Comment: With regard to Trump's response, does the phrase "stark raving mad" come to mind?
Republicans warn Bondi not to bury Epstein files after law’s passage
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/20/epstein-files-republicans-warn-bondi
Comment: "Within hours of Donald Trump signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, Republican senators were on the ground to issue a pointed message to the US attorney general, Pam Bondi: don’t bury these documents."
"The bill’s passage marked a rare moment of bipartisan support in an otherwise ideologically fractured Congress as it now sets a 30-day deadline for the release of Department of Justice files related to the actions of the convicted sex offender of minors and financier Jeffrey Epstein, dubbed by a judge 'the most infamous pedophile in American history'."
Comment: " 'People who feel very strongly about this will feel like they’ve been duped' if the justice department claims '“we can’t release anything because of an active investigation,' said the Republican senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. 'I don’t think that that will help calm the suspicions many have harbored for a long while on this.' "
"The anxiety stems from the Trump administration’s earlier resistance to transparency, which included months of dismissing public demands – and even insults for those calling for release – before reversing course this week when its passage became inevitable."
"Now, with Bondi opening investigations into exclusively Democrats mentioned in Epstein’s correspondence, Republicans are watching closely for signs the department might use those inquiries as a reason to redact or withhold materials as they are now part of an ongoing investigation."
Comment: "The legislation mandates release of unclassified materials within 30 days in a searchable format. Yet it contains exemptions for information that could jeopardize active investigations and for material depicting minors – potential escape hatches the justice department could exploit."
"The bill requires disclosure of materials related not only to Epstein but also to his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein to abuse."
"Bondi acknowledged the congressional mandate on Wednesday, saying the department would 'follow the law' while 'protecting victims but also providing maximum transparency'."
"Still, her carefully measured words offered little comfort to some skeptics on Capitol Hill. Tillis pressed for clarity on any redactions. 'I think they would do well to figure how to release as much as possible and then have a very well-articulated reason for that which they can’t,' he said."
What the military oath of enlistment says about legal and illegal orders
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/military-oath-enlistment-legal-illegal-orders/story?id=127725085
Comment: "Military members can be prosecuted for following orders that are unlawful."
6 Democratic lawmakers release video telling military: ‘You must refuse illegal orders’
Comment: "Six Democratic members of Congress released a video on Tuesday targeted to members of the military and intelligence communities, advising them to defy any orders they are given that are illegal."
"The lawmakers ― two U.S. Senators and four members of the House of Representatives ― stress that 'no one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.'"
"The 90-second video was posted to the social media accounts of Sen. Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, a former C.I.A. analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq, the New York Times reported. Slotkin is joined in the video by Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Jason Crow of Colorado."
Comment: "All six tout their military or intelligence experience in the video."
Comment: The link also contains the video from the 6 lawmakers.
The Hill: GOP senators worry Trump’s $2K tariff rebates will add too much to debt
Trump's $2,000 tariff checks shunned by Senate Republicans
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/19/senate-republicans-trump-tariff-rebate-checks
Poll: Democrats have biggest advantage for control of Congress in 8 years
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/19/nx-s1-5611088/poll-democrats-republicans-trump-approval-inflation
Cassidy pushes his Obamacare plan. Democrats aren’t biting.
Comment: "Senators appeared stuck in a health policy doom loop Wednesday, rehashing talking points over the looming expiration of Obamacare subsidies that led to the country’s longest government shutdown."
"At a Finance Committee hearing, there was little sign of interest in a bipartisan deal to address skyrocketing health insurance premiums stemming in part from the expiration of the subsidies on Dec. 31."
House Dems demand Johnson hold ACA vote
https://thehill.com/newsletters/health-care/5614029-house-democrats-johnson-aca-vote/
Comment: "With the government reopened and the end of ObamaCare open enrollment fast approaching, House Democrats are calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to hold a vote on extending the law’s enhanced premium tax credits."
"In a letter shared first with The Hill, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) led a group of 58 Democrats asking Johnson to quickly a hold a vote on ACA tax credits, one of the key conditions that moderate Senate Democrats made in agreeing with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reopen the government."
"Thune promised a vote in the second week of December but did not make any guarantees about it passing."
"Johnson did not make any such promise and has given no indication he is willing to follow Thune."
House Republicans race the Senate for a plan to lower health care costs
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/18/aca-obamacare-subsidies-extension-00655842
Comment: "Republicans in the House are just starting to have serious discussions about how to address skyrocketing health insurance premiums. They’ll have to move fast to catch up with their Senate counterparts, who are weeks ahead of them in complex and politically contentious deliberations."
"After a lengthy recess, House Republicans are together again in person and coming to the drawing board on the policy issue that prolonged the longest government shutdown in history: the enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act insurance premiums that are due to expire at the end of the year without congressional action."
"They’ll have their first conference-wide conversation Tuesday morning about whether they’ll seek to negotiate an extension with Democrats or forge ahead on a separate conservative health care agenda."
Comment: "But by their own admission, House Republicans are only in the very nascent stages of negotiations, while Senate Republicans are already outlining detailed proposals to align with President Donald Trump’s vision for lowering the cost of health care by sending health funds 'directly to the people'."
"It’s causing anxiety in the House GOP ranks among members who don’t want to be forced to swallow whatever plan the Senate comes up with to extend the premium tax credits or some other alternative proposal. The chairs of the critical House committees have plans to hold listening sessions soon to hear members out on their wide-ranging views on health policy. But it’s promising to be a long, deliberative process — and the clock is ticking."
Comment: One reason the House is behind the Senate on this issue is because Mike Johnson kept the House from convening for over a month. But, more importantly, Republicans in both the House and Senate ignored the high cost of healthcare for the last decade and a half, since Obamacare was passed. Republicans want to kill Obamacare, but they have done nothing to come up with a replacement, or to fix it. Now, at the last minute, after Democrats have helped bring the issue of the expiring ACA credits to the forefront, Republicans are scrambling to come up with a solution, probably just a band-aid solution to address a political problem rather than to address the real health care cost issue. One may not like the Democratic party supported ACA tax credits, but until there is a better long term solution, they should be extended.
Democratic proposed bill would put new restrictions on donations to Trump's ballroom
Comment: "In response to ongoing concerns about the funding for the construction of a massive, multi-million dollar presidential ballroom at the White House, some Democratic lawmakers are set to introduce the first piece of legislation aimed at regulating the project."
"The new bill, set to be introduced Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, would impose new limits on who can make donations to projects at the White House and would put new restrictions on donors and their funds after a donation is made."
" 'Billionaires and giant corporations with business in front of this administration are lining up to dump millions into Trump’s new ballroom — and Trump is showing them where to sign on the dotted line. Americans shouldn’t have to wonder whether President Trump is building a ballroom to facilitate a pay-to-play scheme for political favors. My new bill will put an end to what looks like bribery in plain sight,' Warren said in a statement to ABC News."
Senate unanimously agrees to approve Epstein files bill
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/thune-senate-move-epstein-files-bill-today/story?id=127645638
Trump pulls the rug on Mike Johnson over the "Epstein files"
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/18/trump-epstein-files-mike-johnson-vote
Comment: "President Trump's stunning reversal on the 'Epstein files' discharge petition has undercut months of work by Speaker Mike Johnson."
Comment: "The Epstein issue has plagued the House since the summer. Now the speaker is about to suffer a clear defeat over Reps. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna's (D-Calif.) discharge petition."
"Johnson cut the week short before the August recess after Democrats forced multiple votes on releasing the files. He then kept the House out of session for nearly two months — a move that, intentionally or not, delayed the discharge petition from reaching the floor."
House majority forces vote on bill to restore collective bargaining for most federal employees
Bipartisan House Coalition Hits 218 Signatures to Force Vote Protecting Federal Workers’ Union Rights
Whistleblower accuses Ed Martin of ‘concealing and destroying’ records related to DOJ’s weaponization group
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/whistleblower-accuses-ed-martin-concealing-154348625.html
‘He got tired of me winning’: How Thomas Massie outmaneuvered Trump on Epstein
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/17/thomas-massie-trump-jeffrey-epstein-00654214
Comment: "President Donald Trump’s call for House Republicans to support releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related documents was a stunning capitulation after a months-long campaign to block the vote."
"It was also a specific defeat for Trump at the hands of a despised GOP opponent: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky."
" 'He got tired of me winning,' Massie said of Trump’s U-turn in an interview Monday morning."
Command: "The campaign to avoid the vote got remarkably ugly in the days before Trump finally conceded, with the president personally attacking Massie for recently remarrying after the sudden death in June 2024 of his wife of more than 30 years. Just hours before Trump’s reversal, one of his top political advisers called him 'garbage' in an X post."
"That adviser, Chris LaCivita, is carrying out a Trump-ordered effort to unseat Massie from the rural northern Kentucky seat he has held since 2012. Trump recently endorsed a challenger, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, in the GOP primary."
"Massie has not flinched from the threats. Politically, he has seen the best fundraising of his congressional career, entering October with more than $2 million in his campaign coffers. As for the personal attacks, Massie said Monday he and his wife were laughing them off."
Republicans quickly coalesce behind Epstein bill after Trump backs it
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/17/epstein-files-bill-congress-00655286
Comment: "Capitol Hill Republicans are rapidly falling in line behind a bill that would force the disclosure of Justice Department files concerning Jeffrey Epstein after President Donald Trump signaled Monday he would sign it."
Comment: "Meanwhile, Trump’s sudden support for the measure — after a monthslong campaign to kill it — has transformed its prospects in the Senate, where it was long assumed Republicans would simply bottle it up. Now a growing number of GOP senators are open to giving the bill a vote, and some are wondering whether it might simply be sent to Trump’s desk by unanimous consent."
"It’s a remarkable reversal of fortune for the effort to disgorge the 'Epstein files,' prompted by a successful bipartisan effort to circumvent Speaker Mike Johnson and force the legislation to the floor."
"Recognizing that House approval of the legislation was all but certain, Trump abandoned his efforts to derail the bill in a social media post Sunday night. Asked in the Oval Office on Monday if he would sign it, Trump said, 'Sure I would.' "
Trump does Epstein U-turn as House Republicans prepare to spurn him
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/16/jeffrey-epstein-vote-house-republicans-00652460
Comment: "President Donald Trump is suddenly reversing his monthslong campaign to bottle up a bipartisan effort to disclose federal records dealing with Jeffrey Epstein — just as scores of House Republicans prepare to defy his demands concerning the late convicted sex offender."
" 'House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,' he wrote Sunday night on Truth Social, adding, 'I DON’T CARE! All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT' discussing economic issues."
"The U-turn came after months of drama inside the House GOP over a bill that would compel the Justice Department to release its entire Epstein file. An effort by Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson to prevent a floor vote on the measure imploded last week amid an intense White House push to try to keep Republicans in line. The vote is now expected Tuesday."
"At the end of last week, Johnson and senior House leaders appeared powerless to stop perhaps as many as 100 Republicans from breaking ranks and voting with Democrats to release the files. The situation worsened over the weekend, as Trump lashed out in deeply personal terms at Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who is leading the effort to force a House vote on Epstein, and publicly spurned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a one-time close ally who has recently broken with Trump on Epstein and other matters."
"Even before that, some members closest to House GOP leadership were mulling whether to support Massie’s effort."
Comment: Do you think Trump's sudden reversal may have something to do with the fact that he was facing an embarrassing defeat in the U.S. House, and he wanted to make it seem that the disclosure was his idea?
Video: Trump ‘trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends, billionaires’: Massie - November 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfD4JEON19U
Comment: Video is related to Epstein Discharge petition.
Trump's Republican Party insists there's no affordability crisis and dismisses election losses
Comment: Republicans can continually deny the obvious, but the public is starting to wake up.
Video: Tim Kaine tells House Democrats calling for Schumer’s ouster to ‘focus on their own leadership’ - November 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSH5U-fJ7wg
Video: Tim Kaine defends switching his 'no vote to yes' on ending the shutdown: Full interview - November 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nsk4ZD83gU
Video: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says "we need to put the shutdown behind us, end the circular firing squad" - November 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4fMJcwqYrM
Comment: "Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, one of the eight Senate Democrats who made a deal with Republicans to reopen the government, told 'Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan' that 'we need to put the shutdown behind us' and 'end the circular firing squad.' She has faced criticism from fellow Democrats for making a deal with Republicans."
Video: Dr. Oz says Trump has a plan for Obamacare. What is it? - November 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTuu8YHmiDQ
Comment: If Dr. Oz ideas for improving/replacing Obamacare are such good suggestions, why haven't Republicans woven them into a comprehensive plan for presentation to the American people? They've only had 15 years since Obamacare was passed. They always present concepts and talking points that sound good, but they are never rigorously evaluated for practicality and negative consequences.
'They could have held out': Democratic voters support party after shutdown ends
Comment: "But while voters like White, Martin and Wolfe wished Democrats had fought for longer, many said they believe that Democrats were successful in bringing national attention to the fight over health care taking place in Washington."
Comment: "The one thing many Democratic voters were in agreement on: Republicans are to blame for the shutdown. And with the 2026 midterm elections fast approaching, many speculate that the government shutdown will prove to be a stain on Republicans running for reelection."
Video: Trump drops support for Marjorie Taylor Greene amid Epstein fallout - November 15, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS7JyeGIq_E
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s had ‘warnings for my safety’ after posts by Trump
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/15/marjorie-taylor-greene-safety-trump
Republicans turn on Trump’s defense policy chief
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/14/trump-elbridge-colby-congress-backlash-00650666
Comment: "Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has succeeded in the rarest of feats: uniting a dysfunctional Washington against him."
If Democrats regain the White House, Trump's ballroom could be an early casualty
GOP senators distance themselves from provision allowing them to sue over phone record searches
Comment: "Most of the senators whose data was requested as part of the investigation that led to special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 probe have now distanced themselves from a provision included in the shutdown-ending bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump, that would let them sue the government for potentially millions of dollars for not notifying them when accessing their records."
"Trump’s Justice Department gave Senate Republicans a document naming eight GOP senators and one member of the House whose data was accessed as part of the Jan. 6 investigation. And under this new retroactive statute, which does not explicitly name Smith, the senators would be afforded a unique ability to sue the government and potentially rake in up to $500,000 for each 'instance' of data collection. (The provision only applies to senators and would not apply if a senator was the target of a criminal investigation.)"
Comment: Jack Smith's subpoenaing of the phone records is a standard investigative procedure (especially for a case involving an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election) and was not illegal at the time Smith obtained the records. After the fact, the Senate passed a retroactive statute that made it possible for Senators (only Senators) to sue the government for up to $500,00o of your taxpayer money. How corrupt is that?
CNN: Republicans scramble for health care plan, as Democrats eye midterm battle
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/politics/republicans-scramble-health-care-obamacare
As health insurance bills rise, Republicans are still seeking an Obamacare alternative
Comment: "Now, the party is about to plunge back into the tricky policy debate that once cost them seats in the House."
"This time around, though, Republicans are mostly stopping short of calling for a full-scale repeal of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, even as they slam the policy as a failure. Instead, the mantra among Republicans is 'fix Obamacare'."
"But the clock is ticking. Open enrollment for health insurance has already begun and enhanced Obamacare subsidies are to set to expire at the end of the year, more than doubling insurance premiums for millions of Americans in red and blue states alike, with some seeing increases of thousands of dollars per month."
"Republicans, under pressure from Democrats after the government shutdown revived the health care clash, have not coalesced around legislation or even an abstract idea, and are only now starting serious discussions about putting proposals together."
Comment: Republicans have had a decade and a half to come up with a plan to either fix or replace Obamacare. They have never presented a viable plan. Why should we believe they will do so now?
Video: Trump dodges Epstein question as several Republicans signal voting yes to release files - November 13, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQNs6zKFz98
Republicans promised health care negotiations after the shutdown, but Democrats are wary
With government shutdown over, focus turns to upcoming Senate fight on health care
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-senate-health-care/
Video: Sen. Whitehouse Breaks Down the Shutdown Endgame Dynamics within the Senate Democratic Caucus - November 12, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyu-WP-BsYk
Trump's shutdown win just landed Republicans with a huge political headache
Democrats want to extend Obamacare credits. Republicans have other ideas.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/10/obamacare-aca-subsidies-extension-shutdown-00646147
Comment: "Senate Democrats are projecting optimism they’ll be able to strike a bipartisan deal to extend Obamacare subsidies in the coming weeks. But Senate Republicans have their own plans."
"Republicans appear to be quickly pivoting from the debate around Affordable Care Act tax credits to developing their own health policy agenda, with many conservatives now feeling like they have the blessing of President Donald Trump to pursue alternative solutions to spiking insurance premiums. Among the ideas they’re considering is the creation of new health savings accounts."
Comment: "The shutdown-ending deal the Senate passed Monday night lacked an extension of the Obamacare subsidies, which expire at the end of the year, and Democrats instead secured a commitment for a vote on the credits next month. Democrats who brokered that government funding compromise are insisting they’ll be able to make headway on negotiations over the tax credits and are looking to land the bipartisan health care compromise by the second week of December."
"But the fractured conversations among Republicans are promising to bog down negotiations as Obamacare beneficiaries begin to lock in their rates for the year ahead. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are starting to privately admit it’s likely too late to avert a major premium hike for millions of Americans in 2026."
" 'Obviously our folks have an interest in having some of our own ideas out there,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday when asked whether Republicans would generate a counteroffer on the subsidies or collaborate with Democrats. 'There’s some goodwill on this issue. We’ll see if something lands.' "
Comment: Republicans have been promising an Obamacare (ACA) alternative since the ACA became law in 2010. In 15 years, they have yet to come up with a viable plan. Why should one believe any new promises?
How Senate Republicans won the last vote to end the shutdown
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/10/shutdown-deal-tim-kaine-katie-britt-00646144
Comment: "Tim Kaine privately laid out weeks ago what he needed in return for his vote to end the government shutdown: a 'moratorium on mischief '.”
Comment: "That’s what the Virginia Democrat told Senate Majority Leader John Thune that any deal had to include — undoing the firings President Donald Trump and budget director Russ Vought had carried out since the start of the shutdown, as well as protections against future firings of federal workers, who make up a significant portion of Kaine’s constituency."
Comment: "About five hours later, the Senate voted to move forward with legislation ensuring any federal workers laid off during the shutdown are rehired and blocking future reductions in force, or RIFs, through at least the end of a new Jan. 30 stopgap spending bill."
"Most of the attention to the six weeks of shutdown negotiation centered on Democrats’ demands surrounding health care, particularly the extension of key expiring health insurance subsidies. But the RIF language was the final piece that helped clinch the deal, according to interviews with six people involved in the bipartisan negotiations."
"With only eight members of the Democratic caucus voting to advance the bill — the bare minimum for it to move forward — satisfying Kaine was critical to ending the conflict largely on the GOP’s terms while also giving Democrats, who have long worried about Trump taking a sledgehammer to the federal government, something to hold up as a consolation prize."
Comment: "At the same time, Shaheen, King and Hassan led the effort to privately persuade their fellow members of the Senate Democratic Caucus that the agreement was the best offer they were going to get from Republicans, who hadn’t shifted in six weeks on their refusal to negotiate over the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies."
"In the end, that wasn’t enough to get most members of the Senate Democratic caucus — including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who told members involved in the talks about two weeks ago he could not support the deal they were sketching out, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss details of the negotiations."
"Schumer continued privately urging them to hold out even as they moved to concede this week, the person added. But the senators had seen enough."
Video: Sen. Shaheen blames GOP on health care, addresses shutdown vote: "Live to fight another day" - November 10, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK-AyzH4Kck
Senate Democrats who defected in shutdown vote: ‘This was the only deal’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/10/senate-democrats-government-shutdown-vote
Axios: Jeffries is standing behind Schumer despite Democrats' shutdown fury
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/10/jeffries-schumer-democrats-shutdown-deal-angry
Comment: "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Monday he is standing behind his Senate counterpart, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), despite a surge of grassroots anger towards the Senate leader."
Comment: "Even many House Democrats are raging against Schumer for not stopping a group of centrist senators from voting to advance a deal to reopen the government."
"Democratic lawmakers and liberal groups erupted in fury Sunday over the details of the deal, which includes only the promise of a December vote on expending Affordable Care Act tax credits."
Comment: "Asked at the press conference whether he believes Schumer is effective and should remain as Senate Democratic leader, Jeffries replied, 'Yes and yes.' "
"Jeffries said of the eight Democrats who voted for the deal: 'I'm not gonna explain what a handful of Senate Democrats have decided to do. That's their explanation to offer to the American people.' "
Comment: While many are disappointed that the expiring ACA subsidies were not reinstated, the anger and frustration should be directed at congressional Republicans instead. To stop the ACA (Obamacare) subsidies, Republicans were willing to fire large portions of the federal workforce and then starve their own constituents (most SNAP recipients were in Republican held states/districts). How is it possible for more reasonable Democrats to outlast such a heartless group of politicians? They don't give a d**n about the people they are supposed to represent. One can understand how eight Senate Democrats assessed the situation and decided to retreat, to look out for the immediate needs of their constituents (food & employment) and to fight another day.
Comment: Chuck Schumer was not one of the eight. One might argue that, as the Senate Minority Leader, he could have applied extraordinary pressure on the eight senators, but that may not have been successful and could have caused a greater rift in the Democratic caucus for the future.
Video: Rep. Raskin: Ghislaine Maxwell is seeking Trump commutation, calls scandal a justice "emergency” - November 10, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOwlfHFLcHo
Ghislaine Maxwell's alleged prison perks spark Raskin probe into Trump administration
Comment: "Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a sharply worded six-page letter to President Donald Trump on Sunday following new information his committee received from a whistleblower alleging that Ghislaine Maxwell is preparing a 'commutation application' for the Trump administration and receiving preferential treatment while incarcerated."
"Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, accused the Trump administration of allowing 'a corrupt misuse of law-enforcement resources' and demanded that Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche testify before the Judiciary Committee immediately to 'answer for this corrupt misuse of law enforcement resources and potential exchange of favors for false testimony exonerating you and other Epstein accomplices.' "
Comment: "Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee who has led the minority on the panel’s Epstein investigation -- released a statement on Monday calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump to 'publicly oppose a commutation or pardon by President Trump' after the Judiciary Committee Democrats released their whistleblower information."
Whistleblower Shares Evidence That Federal Prison Camp Warden is Pampering Ghislaine Maxwell, Maxwell Also Filing a “Commutation Application” With Trump Administration
Video: Senators advance tentative deal to ending shutdown - November 9, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTNSDzv4w74
Senate advances funding measure with backing of 8 Democrats, moving a step closer to ending shutdown
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/government-shutdown-latest-senate-weekend-session/
How an Adam Schiff indictment could shake the Senate
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/09/adam-schiff-indictment-trump-doj-00643603
Comment: "President Donald Trump’s retribution campaign against his political adversaries could soon hit the Senate — and lawmakers are already bracing for impact."
"After securing the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, Trump has his sights set on Sen. Adam Schiff, the California Democrat who as a member of the House managed the president’s first impeachment trial."
"If Schiff ends up indicted on allegations of mortgage fraud — a charge he has vehemently denied — or for any other claim, it would mark an unprecedented escalation for Trump to target an outspoken political adversary who is also a federal elected official."
"As Schiff solicits dollars for a legal defense fund and builds an expansive political operation prepared to do damage control around any potential charges, Schiff’s Democratic colleagues in Congress are increasingly anxious about their own vulnerability. They are also frustrated with the unwillingness of Republican senators to speak out on Schiff’s behalf."
" 'I’ve spoken to a number of Republicans, and they are certainly disquieted, if not dismayed, by the increasing weaponization of the Department of Justice,' said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). 'Because it tears down the norms and rule of law that protects them and all Americans, as well as Adam Schiff and Democrats who may be targeted by Trump.' "
"It has been just a few months since news broke that Schiff was being investigated for mortgage fraud relating to the financing of his Maryland residence — and weeks since Trump in a social media post called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after Schiff, Comey and James. Recent reports have suggested the case against Schiff has stalled as prosecutors are said to be struggling to find sufficient evidence to bring up charges."
" '[Trump has] been more than willing to go after his political opponents — to go after universities, to go after law firms, to go after media organizations,' Schiff said last week. 'It’s all part of the same effort to silence and intimidate critics and, I think, needs to be recognized for what it is.' "
Comment: When will the Republican cowards in the Senate speak out publicly against Trump's campaign of retribution?
House Democrats back off another red line on ending shutdown
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/07/democrats-jeffries-schumer-shutdown-aca-extension
Video: Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer offered a deal to end the government shutdown - November 07, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8VHq_PPx2s
Deal to reopen government falters over Democrats’ distrust of Trump
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5594333-government-shutdown-deal-democrats-trump/
Comment: "Democratic support for a potential deal to reopen the government has crumbled because of deep mistrust among Senate Democrats over whether President Trump will act in good faith to extend health insurance subsidies or to stop firing federal workers."
Democrats press DHS to reinstate oversight of ICE detention centers
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5593081-democrats-dhs-oversight-ice/
Comment: "A group of Virginia Democrats from both chambers is pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reinstall the federal workers who monitor the agency’s immigrant detention centers."
"The lawmakers say the employees of the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO), who have been furloughed during the weeks-long government shutdown, are critical to ensuring that detainees held by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are treated humanely. That’s especially true, they argue, because ICE law enforcement officers have continued to work over the same span, leading to a surge in detentions that’s strained the capacity of certain facilities."
Democrats urged to ‘hold the line’ in talks as shutdown stretches to 37th day
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/06/us-government-shutdown-day-37
Comment: "The longest government shutdown in history is now in its 37th day, though lawmakers, currently in talks, could be coming closer to a deal to end the standoff."
"Some Democratic legislators, though, saw Tuesday’s big electoral wins as evidence they should hold the line and extract as much as possible from Republicans, most critically extending health insurance subsidies that, without intervention, will drastically increase costs for millions of Americans."
GOP makes new funding offer, opens door to reversing mass firings
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/06/congress/shutdown-offer-mass-firings-00639796
Comment: "Republicans made a new offer to Senate Democrats Thursday in hopes of cutting a deal that would end the 37-day government shutdown and advance a package of three full-year spending bills, according to four people granted anonymity to disclose the private discussions."
"The new offer arrived just ahead of a crucial closed-door lunch where Democratic senators will discuss the path forward. Republicans have also thrown a new sweetener in the mix, according to two of the people — that they are willing to discuss rehiring federal workers who have been laid off during the shutdown as part of a deal to end it."
Comment: One might argue that the new offer is not much of a concession. One might argue that many of the federal workers would have to be rehired anyway so that the government could function correctly. Russell Vought should not have laid off most of them in the first place. The firings were simply an extortion attempt to get the Democrats to capitulate early on. Even now, the Republicans are only offering to "discuss" rehiring the workers back.
Video: House Democrats seeking a formal interview with former Prince Andrew over Epstein investigation - November 6, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kDRLPA2eVFg
Video: US Congress summon Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to explain Epstein links - November 6, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTUT94Wldzg
I was elected 6 weeks ago. Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear me in.
Comment: The author of this opinion piece is congresswoman elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Az)
Comment: "The voters of Arizona's 7th Congressional District – which encompasses six counties, four sovereign tribal nations and 300 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border – elected me by a margin of nearly 40 percentage points on Sept. 23. Six weeks later, I have now waited longer than any representative in recent history to be sworn in following a special election."
"Why is Speaker Johnson taking the unprecedented step of refusing to swear me in? The only notable difference between me and others elected during special elections in 2025 who were promptly sworn in is that I would be the decisive 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a onetime friend of President Donald Trump."
"This isn't the first time Speaker Johnson has obstructed the work of the House. Speaker Johnson previously sent the House into an early summer recess, conveniently avoiding action on releasing the Epstein files."
"Speaker Johnson, of course, denies this association. He has provided a litany of excuses that seem to change by the day, including the claim that he is following the ' Pelosi precedent' in waiting for Congress to return to regular session to swear me in. However, unlike the speaker emerita, Speaker Johnson appears to be intentionally canceling votes to prolong a manufactured 'recess' and prevent me from being sworn in."
"He conveniently made an exception for two of his Republican colleagues, who were sworn in during pro forma sessions a day after their special elections in April. Speaker Johnson also had the chance to swear me in before the government shut down, when votes were scheduled for Sept. 29 and 30, which he subsequently canceled."
"Beyond my ability to represent my constituents, this presents a much more consequential question: Can the speaker of the House unilaterally delay swearing in a duly elected member of Congress for political reasons? The answer to this question could have profound impacts moving forward, which is why Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and I have filed suit. We believe this is an abuse of power that strikes at the foundation of our democracy – the ability to have representation in the people's House."
Senate GOP shuts down war powers resolution aimed at blocking U.S. strikes on Venezuela
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-war-powers-vote-venezuela-drug-boats-military-strikes/
Comment: "Senate Republicans blocked a war powers resolution on Thursday aimed at preventing President Trump from conducting strikes against Venezuela after a bipartisan group of senators warned that a continued campaign against alleged drug smugglers in the region could escalate."
"The vote to advance the resolution failed with 49 supporting it and 51 senators opposing. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only Republicans to support it."
"The resolution, led by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, would direct the president 'to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force.' The resolution had 15 cosponsors, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and Paul."
Johnson refuses to promise House vote on extending ObamaCare subsidies
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5593211-johnson-obamacare-vote-shutdown/
Comment: "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Thursday he would not offer Democrats a House vote on extending expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of a deal to end the government shutdown."
"Asked at a press conference if he could assure Democrats in the House that they would get a vote on extending the subsidies, Johnson said, 'No, because we did our job, and I’m not part of the negotiation.' "
" 'I’m not promising anybody anything. I’m going to let this process play out,' he continued."
The shutdown is dragging on. But Americans aren’t tiring of Democrats’ demands. | CNN Politics
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/politics/shutdown-poll-democrats-leverage
Video: Nancy Pelosi announces she won't seek re-election in 2026 - November 6, 2025
Trump faces rare Republican pushback as he presses Senate to scrap the filibuster
Thune says ending filibuster 'not happening' despite Trump's demands
Video: Trump doubles down on Republicans ending the filibuster as government shutdown makes history - November 5, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-1xjPkdmWk
Video: Democratic Senator Mark Kelly says President Trump is refusing to help end shutdown - November 5, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXFevDH3g-Q
Democrats demand meeting with Trump on shutdown — again
Democrats emboldened by election results mobilize against centrists' emerging shutdown deal
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/politics/democrats-shutdown-deal-elections
Senate Dems press Trump to ‘personally provide clarification’ on nuclear tests after Wright remarks
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5591278-senators-urge-trump-against-nuclear-tests/
Comment: "Senate Democrats wrote a Wednesday letter to President Trump seeking clarification on the scope of resumed nuclear testing after Energy Secretary Chris Wright said such testing will not include nuclear explosions."
Comment: " 'The decision to resume nuclear weapons testing would be geopolitically dangerous, fiscally irresponsible, and simply unnecessary to ensure the ability of the United States to defend itself,' the senators said, citing environmental and health concerns for citizens."
"Wright on Sunday said the Trump administration is planning to test new systems with nonnuclear explosions to modernize its nuclear stockpile."
"The U.S. halted the explosive testing of nuclear arms in 1992. However, the president shared intentions to resume testing following Russia’s successful trial run of its new nuclear-capable cruise missile, known as the Burevestnik, which flew 8,700 miles."
"Trump has also accused North Korea of testing nuclear weapons. Last week, he told reporters they would 'find out very soon' whether the U.S. plans to resume underground nuclear detonation tests."
"Democratic senators said resuming nuclear testing sets a dangerous precedent and urged the president not to allow the 'pursuit of security' to 'outweigh the risk of global stability'."
Rubio, Hegseth boat strike briefing doesn’t quell Democrats’ concerns
https://thehill.com/homenews/5592319-us-military-drug-trafficking-strikes/
Comment: "The Wednesday classified briefing in the Senate was attended by the 'Gang of 12,' including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), along with top lawmakers on Armed Services and Intelligence committees in both chambers. But it did not assuage concerns from Democrats who have been asking for additional documents and information about the strikes."
" 'What we heard isn’t enough. We need a lot more answers,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said after the briefing, adding that the entire Senate should receive one."
"House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) echoed his demand for more information at a press conference, but declined to elaborate when pressed on what details were left out."
Rubio, Hegseth brief lawmakers on boat strikes as frustration grows on Capitol Hill
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/05/g-s1-96661/rubio-hegseth-venezuela-congress
Hegseth and Rubio share classified details on boat strikes with congressional leaders
https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-congress-6163b24e940dd74005fc3cb78751f92a
Key Republicans waver ahead of war powers vote
Comment: "Several Republican senators are voicing uncertainty ahead of a vote to block the Trump administration from taking military action against Venezuela, setting up a potential rebuke of the president over the scope of his war powers."
"The White House, in an apparent push to get Republicans on board, has started sharing more information with Congress about its rationale for strikes on suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will brief lawmakers on Wednesday as senators weigh the bipartisan legislation."
"Four Senate Republicans said Wednesday they are still reviewing the Justice Department’s legal rationale, which Congress received last week, and two others have already voted against the military strikes. It would only take three more GOP defections to flip the outcome of the upcoming vote."
" 'I want to make sure that we do our due diligence and that we’re doing things correctly long-term,' said Sen. Mike Rounds, (R-S.D.), a member of the Intelligence and Armed Services panels, who noted the stepped-up engagement from administration officials."
"Democratic lawmakers have objected to the U.S. military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that have killed more than 60 people."
"Rubio’s push to shore up support on Capitol Hill — where he’ll meet with congressional leaders and national security committee heads from both parties — comes amid bipartisan frustration that the Trump administration has left Congress in the dark about its increasingly aggressive military campaign."
Politico: Trump and Republicans admonish others for their Election Night losses
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/05/republicans-blame-losses-2025-elections-00636986
Comment: Excuses and they're starting to turn on each other.
Jared Golden won't seek reelection in blow to House Democrats
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/05/jared-golden-retiring-2026-house-democrats-maine
Rep. Jared Golden, moderate Democrat from Maine, won't seek reelection in key midterm race
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jared-golden-wont-seek-reelection-maine-midterms/
Scoop: Trump readying "living hell" for GOP senators over nuking filibuster
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/04/trump-filibuster-republican-senators-shutdown
Comment: "President Trump's Truth Social demands to end the filibuster are just a hint of his coming rampage if Senate Republicans hold out against him, advisers tell Axios."
Comment: 'Most Senate Republicans have no interest in nuking the filibuster. But Trump's frustration is the first clear sign that the shutdown, which becomes a record on Wednesday, is getting to him."
" 'He will make their lives a living hell,' one Trump adviser told Axios."
" 'He will call them at three o'clock in the morning. He will blow them up in their districts. He will call them un-American. He will call them old creatures of a dying institution. Believe you me, he's going to make their lives just hell,' the source continued."
" Another adviser emphasized: 'He's really mad about this.' "
Comment: "For weeks, Trump wasn't paying close attention to the shutdown out of a belief that Democrats would eventually drop their demands."
"Now, he is starting to put Republican senators on blast for not changing the filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most legislation, arguing it gave Democrats leverage to shut down the government for a record amount of time."
Comment: Trump has been used to doing whatever he wants, because Republicans in Congress have rubberstamped his actions, whether or not Americans agreed with them, or even if he did not have authorization to take them. Democrats have had enough, and have chosen not to go along. Senate rules allow the threat of a filibuster, making 60 votes necessary to pass most legislation. Since Democratic member help is necessary to reach the 60 vote threshold, Democrats finally have some leverage to make Republicans negotiate in a bipartisan manner. Trump wants to eliminate the filibuster rule so legislation can be passed by a simple majority vote. Senate Republicans are reluctant to eliminate the filibuster because they know that, if they set that precedent, when Democrats take control of the Senate they would be able to pass legislation without ever negotiating with Republicans. In practice, the filibuster rule forces reasonable negotiation and compromise, something Trump doesn't want to be bothered with.
Comment: To get his way, Trump is using threats and intimidation against members of his own political party, in an attempt to neuter the U.S. Senate and take authorization and control from a supposedly co-equal branch of government. Democrats are fighting this attempt. Will Senate Republicans finally show some courage, refuse to surrender their institutional responsibility, and fight for their constitutional mandate and authority?
White House scrambles to limit fallout of Trump threats to withhold SNAP food aid benefits
Comment: "The White House just sent a raft of shutdown talking points to Hill Republicans, as the GOP scrambles to limit the fallout of President Donald Trump’s threats earlier Tuesday to withhold SNAP food aid benefits from low-income families unless Democrats agree to reopen the government."
"Trump’s threat shocked Republicans and came just a day after Speaker Mike Johnson specifically said Trump 'isn’t appealing the decision' from the courts that would force the administration to disburse SNAP assistance amid the shutdown."
"“We all were like ‘what the f*** [expletive deleted] is this?’” said one senior Senate GOP aide, granted anonymity to speak candidly, noting the appearance that Trump was defying a court order just hours after his own administration sent out guidance for states to receive partial SNAP food aid benefits following a court order."
Comment: Just a bit more chaos and confusion.
Pam Bondi Hit With New Demand to Hand Over Epstein Probe Files
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/pam-bondi-hit-demand-hand-181322215.html
House Democrats press DOJ for details on Epstein co-conspirators probe that was "inexplicably killed"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-co-conspirators-house-democrats-jamie-raskin/
Comment: "Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is seeking documents from the Justice Department on its move earlier this year to end the investigation into alleged co-conspirators of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
" 'I write to demand an explanation for why DOJ has abandoned the women and girls abused by Mr. Epstein, Ms. Maxwell, and their co-conspirators, fired or cut off career prosecutors from the case, and ceased its investigation into one of the largest sex trafficking rings in history,' Raskin wrote in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which was first obtained by CBS News."
"The demand comes amid relentless bipartisan interest in the investigation, which has dogged the Justice Department's top officials as they've sought to put the matter to rest. Some in the Trump administration, including Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, promised major revelations into the Epstein matter before taking office, only to indicate later that the case was closed."
Comment: "In the letter, Raskin said almost 50 survivors provided information to prosecutors and FBI agents as part of the investigation that ultimately led to the indictments of Epstein in 2019 and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2020. Raskin said the information the survivors provided was 'precise and detailed'."
" 'They described how Mr. Epstein, Ms. Maxwell, and their co-conspirators orchestrated a sophisticated and clandestine sex trafficking conspiracy that trafficked them to at least 20 men,' Raskin said. 'These survivors shared with DOJ and FBI the specific identities of many of these co-conspirators, how this operation was structured and financed, and which individuals facilitated these crimes.' "
"The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York was running an active investigation into Epstein and Maxwell's co-conspirators until January 2025, when prosecutors were directed to transfer the Epstein case files to the Justice Department's headquarters, in what Raskin said was 'a sudden and dramatic shift in the posture of the investigation.' Since then, 'the investigation into co-conspirators has inexplicably ceased,' he said, citing information provided to the Judiciary Committee by attorneys who represent Epstein survivors."
"Then in July, the Justice Department issued the findings of an internal review, which it said found no 'client list' among the evidence collected by investigators. It also 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate any investigation against uncharged third parties.' Bondi suggested during a Fox News interview in February that a 'client list' was sitting on her desk awaiting her review."
Comment: Did Trump's DOJ capture and kill the investigation that had been ongoing at the "U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York?"
Video: How the Senate filibuster works and what advocates and critics say about it - November 03, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx024gGS4rM
House members release bipartisan ‘principles’ for extending Obamacare subsidies
Comment: "A bipartisan quartet of House lawmakers released a 'statement of principles' Monday for a potential compromise on an extension of Obamacare subsidies, which would include a two-year sunset and an income cap for eligibility."
"The compromise framework from Republican Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Jeff Hurd of Colorado, and Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, is the first public tangible offering on health care policy since the government shutdown began 33 days ago."
"Democrats are continuing to insist that any deal to end the shutdown involve an agreement around extending expanded tax credits for Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year. But GOP leaders and President Donald Trump have refused to negotiate on health care until after the government is reopened."
"The new blueprint is a sign the partisan freeze is thawing among some factions on Capitol Hill — and that frustration over the impasse is growing. Moderate Republicans in the House are especially losing patience, eager to address the health care issue while Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the chamber out of session since September."
House Dems and GOP float compromise plan to end shutdown
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/shutdown-aca-tax-credits-democrats-republicans
Video: Even Greene Says GOP Has No Plan - November 03, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHo9suGzElI
Comment: Greene's comments refer to Obamacare (ACA)
Video: Hakeem Jeffries Accuses Trump Of Using Money To 'Bail Out' Argentina Rather Than Fund SNAP Benefits - November 03, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF2EuQnwyPs
Video: Whitehouse Grills Key Social Security Nominee On Completing 'Total Review' Of Access Given To DOGE - November 02, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIrUUboJxiI
The Food Stamp Shutdown Wasn’t a Surprise. It Was the GOP’s Plan
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