Jun 08 WATCH: Senate meets after deal to renew expiring surveillance program falters By Joey Cappelletti, Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Republicans are warning the White House that a critical surveillance authority is likely to lapse this week amid bipartisan backlash over President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s intelligence community. Continue reading
Jun 05 Senate blocks extending key surveillance program following backlash over Trump pick to lead intel By Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Some Republicans joined Democrats in the 47-52 vote against a procedural motion that would have set up a final vote on the extension next week, complicating efforts to extend the critical program before it expires on June 12. Continue reading
Jun 03 WATCH: Senate starts voting on legislation to fund immigration enforcement after settlement fund abandoned By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press The Senate voted 53-46 on Wednesday to begin debate on the roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. Continue reading
Jun 02 WATCH: Thune signals that Blanche may testify that 'anti-weaponization fund' is off the table By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pointed to Blanche's expected testimony in a House committee Tuesday afternoon. He told reporters that Blanche “previewed what he was going to say" about the settlement, which is designed to compensate Trump’s political allies… Continue reading
Jun 01 WATCH: Thune says Trump administration dropping anti-weaponization fund is 'best way to handle' By Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated Monday he was hopeful the White House would move to drop the $1.776 billion settlement fund designed to compensate Trump’s allies. Continue reading
May 20 Democratic senators will test GOP unity with votes on Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press As Republicans move forward on immigration enforcement legislation, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Democrats plan to force a vote on Trump’s proposed settlement fund. Continue reading
Apr 30 WATCH: Senate approves short-term extension of FISA hours before expiration By Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press The House sent the extension to President Donald Trump’s desk Thursday after the Senate cleared it earlier in the day. Continue reading
Apr 02 Watch 4:30 Republicans in Congress announce plan to end DHS shutdown, but political battle continues By Amna Nawaz, Leila Jackson Any nominee that President Trump selects to replace Pam Bondi as Attorney General will have to face confirmation in the Senate. To discuss how that could play out, and a Republican deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Amna… Continue watching
Apr 02 Bypassing Congress, Trump says he'll sign order to resume pay for Homeland Security By Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press The DHS funding lapse had seemed likely to stretch into next week as the House is contemplating passing a Senate plan it had previously rejected to fund the bulk of the agency, but not its immigration enforcement operations. Continue reading
Apr 01 Republican leaders in Congress say they'll pursue a path to ending the partial shutdown By Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Associated Press The plan represents a return to what Republican senators had in mind when, early Friday, they passed a bipartisan funding agreement through unanimous consent. Continue reading