Lindsey McPherson

House gives final approval to spending package to end partial shutdown, sends it to Trump’s desk

The House narrowly voted Tuesday to clear a spending package that ends a four-day partial government shutdown and keeps most agencies funded through the remainder of the fiscal year.

February 3, 2026

Senate Republicans eye talking filibuster for voter ID bill, but Thune warns of ‘opportunity cost’

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans will discuss whether to enforce the talking filibuster rule to break a Democratic blockade on a GOP election integrity bill, but he advised to consider ramifications.

February 3, 2026

GOP lawmakers drop voter-ID demand under pressure from Trump

President Trump persuaded his MAGA allies in Congress not to prolong the partial government shutdown in an effort to force the Senate to vote on a GOP election integrity bill.

February 2, 2026

Trump, congressional leaders urge against prolonged shutdown over voter ID bill

President Trump is signaling to his MAGA allies in Congress that they should not prolong the partial government shutdown in an effort to force the Senate to vote on a GOP election integrity bill.

February 2, 2026

House opposition mounts to spending package needed to end partial shutdown

The government is in a partial shutdown, and the House may struggle this week to pass a second iteration of a funding package needed to end it amid opposition from lawmakers in both parties.

February 1, 2026

Senate passes ‘26 spending package, except for Homeland Security funding

The Senate on Friday passed an amended spending package that replaces a full-year Department of Homeland Security funding bill with a two-week stopgap to give lawmakers time to hash out policy disagreements over immigration enforcement.

January 30, 2026

SAVE America Act would require voter ID to vote

GOP lawmakers Rep. Chip Roy and Sen. Mike Lee have introduced legislation that would require voter identification to vote in federal elections, a requirement that builds on their previous legislation that called for proof of citizenship to register to vote.

January 30, 2026

Senate to vote on funding deal after Sen. Graham secures votes on sanctuary cities, Arctic Frost

The Senate is on track to pass a spending package Friday ahead of a midnight funding deadline, after Sen. Lindsey Graham secured GOP leaders' backing for votes on two of his priorities.

January 30, 2026

Sen. Graham holds up spending deal to secure votes on sanctuary cities, Arctic Frost

Sen. Lindsey Graham is preventing the Senate from quickly advancing a spending package needed to keep the government funded, in an effort to secure votes on two of his priorities.

January 30, 2026

Senate nears deal that avoids major shutdown, revisits Homeland Security funding

The Senate on Thursday night was preparing to vote on a spending package to avoid another prolonged government shutdown, but with only a two-week stopgap for the Department of Homeland Security as Democrats push to put guardrails on ICE.

January 29, 2026

Senate blocks spending vote as lawmakers negotiate DHS stopgap to avert shutdown

Congressional leaders and the White House are discussing a plan to avoid a second prolonged government shutdown by passing a short-term stopgap spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

January 29, 2026

Schumer lays out Senate Democrats’ plan on reining in ICE through DHS funding bill

Senate Democrats want ICE to end roving immigration enforcement patrols, use judicial warrants and require agents to unmask, wear body cameras and carry identification.

January 28, 2026

Schumer balks at Trump’s pullback in Minneapolis; government shutdown all but inevitable this week

The Senate returned to Washington on Tuesday with just a few days left to avert a partial government shutdown and an intractable impasse over funding ICE.

January 27, 2026

Trump impeachment witness Alexander Vindman launches Senate bid

Alexander Vindman, a witness in the first impeachment case against President Trump, announced Tuesday he's running for the Senate in Florida.

January 27, 2026

ICE fight starts another shutdown showdown with Democrats demanding reworking of DHS funding bill

Senate Democrats are taking another government funding hostage with no real plan for how to achieve their policy aims.

January 26, 2026

Where’s Wesley? GOP congressman skips House votes to run for Senate

Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas has missed 92% of congressional votes in 2026 while campaigning for U.S. Senate, according to a "Where's Waldo"-themed website tracking his missed votes.

January 23, 2026

Congress puts health insurance CEOs in the hotseat over denied claims, rising premiums

The personal stories about denied claims offered a few poignant moments amid hours of debate about the root causes of rising healthcare costs and the policies that can be used to lower them.

January 22, 2026

House passes final fiscal ‘26 spending bills, leaving Senate to act before Jan. 30 deadline

The House passed the final four of the 12 annual spending bills on Thursday, leaving only the Senate left to act to prevent another government shutdown after the record-breaking funding lapse that kicked off the fiscal year.

January 22, 2026

Health insurance CEOs say they lose money in Obamacare marketplace despite subsidies

Health insurance company CEOs testifying in the House on Thursday said they generally do not profit off their plan offerings in the Obamacare marketplace, which are largely subsidized by the government.

January 22, 2026

House Democrats balk at DHS funding bill but struggle with unanimous vision of ICE’s future

House Democrats mostly united in opposition to funding ICE on Thursday, but the party remains deeply divided over how far to push the issue if they take back the majority.

January 22, 2026