House and Senate lawmakers are returning to Washington from their home turfs to face a litany of critical battles in the coming weeks. Tuesday marked the end of Congress’ annual August recess, and legislators are being met with several deadlines, ranging from averting a partial government shutdown to possibly extending …
Read More »Blame Game: GOP spotlights 'Schumer shutdown' while Dems lash out at Republicans ahead of 2026 midterms
The blame game over the first federal government shutdown in seven years is intensifying. With neither President Donald Trump and the Republican majority in Congress, nor congressional Democrats willing to lower the temperature, the government shut down at midnight Tuesday. And both sides are blasting each other in a verbal …
Read More »Johnson turns up shutdown pressure on Democrats as GOP unease grows
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., appears to be holding firm on his strategy for pressuring Senate Democrats to agree to end the government shutdown, he indicated in both public and private comments Thursday. But even as he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., continue with their plans, some House …
Read More »Tense confrontation between House speaker, Senate Dems caught on camera over shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., got into a tense confrontation with two Democratic senators outside his office on Wednesday as anxiety runs high on Capitol Hill on Day 8 of the government shutdown. Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., gathered reporters outside Johnson’s office in a bid to …
Read More »Johnson warns US 'barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns' in history
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., delivered a stark warning during a Monday press conference on Day 13 of the government shutdown. “We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history unless Democrats drop their partisan demands and pass a clean, no-strings-attached budget to reopen the government and pay our …
Read More »Jeffries tells Lawler to 'keep your mouth shut' as shutdown sparks Capitol Hill confrontations
The National Hockey League played seven games in its young 2025-2026 season by the end of the day last Wednesday. The contests featured a grand total of two fights. The government shutdown had run for eight days by the end of the day on that Wednesday. And the now lengthy …
Read More »Johnson raises stakes on Schumer as government shutdown barrels into week 3
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., declared the House of Representatives out of session for a third straight week in a bid to keep pressure on Senate Democrats in Washington. The speaker appears to be raising the stakes on lawmakers across the aisle, who keep refusing the GOP’s plan to fund government …
Read More »Johnson rejects push for military pay bill as shutdown fight intensifies
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., appeared to rule out bringing the House of Representatives back to Washington for a standalone vote on ensuring military service members get paid on time during the government shutdown. Johnson pointed out to reporters at a Wednesday news conference that the House passed a federal funding …
Read More »Mike Johnson, world leaders to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize after Israel-Hamas deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced a global effort to nominate President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize as phase one of the recent Middle East peace agreement goes into effect. “I’m proud to tell you that together with my friend, Speaker Ohana of the Israeli Knesset, the equivalent …
Read More »SEN DICK DURBIN: Democrats fighting to protect healthcare while Trump, Republicans play shutdown games
Starting next year, my constituent, Tammy of Woodhull, Illinois, will see her healthcare premiums rise by nearly $600 per month. Ingrid, of Springfield, is a disabled retiree currently battling cancer. She now faces a tough choice: pay $1,400 a month in premiums and copays and cut back on other essentials …
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