Lindsey McPherson

What’s in and out of the bipartisan deal to reopen the government

Democrats did not secure their top health care priority in the bipartisan deal to reopen the government that most in the party oppose, but they didn't walk away empty-handed.

November 11, 2025

Senate passes spending package to reopen government; House up next

The Senate on Monday night passed a spending package to reopen the government through at least January, after Republicans won a figurative staring contest over an unrelated extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies.

November 10, 2025

Who are the 8 Senate Democrats voting to reopen the government, and why?

Eight Senate Democrats voted Sunday night to end their party's filibuster that has kept the government shut down for 41 days and counting.

November 10, 2025

Democrats begin calls for Schumer’s ouster after some in his caucus fold on shutdown fight

As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history nears its end, Democrats are debating whether Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer put up a "valiant fight" for his party or if he led them into defeat.

November 9, 2025

Senate advances bill to reopen the government after some Democrats fold on health care demands

The government may be on the verge of reopening after Democrats splintered on their key demand and enough caved to Republicans' refusal to negotiate on health care until the shutdown ends.

November 9, 2025

Trump administration orders state to pause SNAP funding after Justice Brown’s order

The Trump administration has ordered states to stop distributing full food assistance benefits after Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily blocked a lower court's decision directing the administration to fully fund food-stamp benefits amid the government shutdown.

November 9, 2025

Senate Democrats block bill to pay federal workers as GOP rejects their proposal to end shutdown

Senate Democrats on Friday blocked a bill to pay federal workers who've gone without compensation during the 38-day government shutdown, after Republicans rejected Democrats' offer to reopen the government with a one-year extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies.

November 7, 2025

Democrats seek one-year extension of Obamacare subsidies in new proposal to end shutdown

Senate Democrats are offering a new proposal to end the government shutdown that would include a one-year extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies that are set to expire this year.

November 7, 2025

Talks stall on ending shutdown, as Senate to vote again on paying federal workers

The Senate will vote for a second time Friday on legislation to pay essential federal employees who've been working during the shutdown, as hopes faded for a bipartisan resolution to the 38-day impasse.

November 7, 2025

Democrats not ready to end shutdown fight without ‘tangible results’ on Obamacare subsidies

Senate Democrats, after starting to splinter over their shutdown strategy, appear to be uniting again over their key demand of securing an extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies.

November 6, 2025

Tuesday’s election wins embolden Democrats in shutdown fight over affordable health care

Senate Democrats are seizing on their party's widespread victories in Tuesday's elections as reason to continue their shutdown fight over health care costs.

November 5, 2025

‘Not happening’: Trump’s personal plea to kill filibuster falls short among Senate Republicans

President Trump's passionate push for Senate Republicans to scrap the filibuster as a way to end the shutdown and pass GOP priorities swayed some senators, but not nearly enough.

November 5, 2025

Shutdown at 36 days, breaking record; bipartisan Senate talks spark hope

The ongoing government shutdown hits its 36th day on Wednesday, becoming the longest in U.S. history as bipartisan talks to end it pick up steam.

November 4, 2025

Senate leaders suggest shutdown ‘off-ramp’ may be near

Senate leaders in both parties are saying they're hopeful the month-long government shutdown could end this week.

November 3, 2025

Ending the shutdown will only start a new showdown over government spending

Whenever Congress reaches an elusive deal to temporarily reopen the government, lawmakers still have to grapple with how to keep it funded through the remainder of the fiscal year.

November 3, 2025

Agriculture Secretary Rollins: ‘Government is failing’ people who count on food stamps

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the 42 million Americans who will not receive their food stamp benefits in November because the government is shut down have a right to be angry.

October 31, 2025

Trump calls for Senate Republicans to end the shutdown by scrapping the filibuster

President Trump wants Senate Republicans to open the government by going around Democrats to end the legislative filibuster.

October 31, 2025

Staffing shortage at Reagan National affects senators trying to fly home amid shutdown impasse

Senators are starting to feel some personal pain from the shutdown, as many of their scheduled flights home from Washington on Thursday afternoon were delayed.

October 30, 2025

Expiration of enhanced Obamacare subsidies could reverse record enrollment growth, states warn

States that operate their own health care marketplaces worry that a flood of consumers will drop insurance coverage if Congress does not prevent enhanced Obamacare subsidies from expiring this year.

October 29, 2025

Senate votes to nullify Trump’s tariffs on Brazil in symbolic messaging effort

The Senate voted late Tuesday to terminate the emergency powers that President Trump used to impose tariffs on goods from Brazil, a major coffee producer and South American trading partner.

October 28, 2025