Oct 22 WATCH: Sen. Merkley stages marathon overnight speech to protest Trump during shutdown By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Merkley spoke for more than 22 hours — from 6:21 p.m. Tuesday to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday — pausing for lengthy questions from other Democratic senators. Authoritarianism is not around the corner, Merkley said as he wrapped up his speech,… Continue reading
Oct 21 WATCH: 'We will not be extorted' in ending shutdown, Trump says at Senate Republican luncheon By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Seung Min Kim, Associated Press While President Donald Trump said the shutdown must come to an end — and suggested maybe Smithsonian museums could reopen — he signaled no compromise with Democrats over the expiring health care funds. Continue reading
Oct 16 WATCH: Holding out for health care, Senate Democrats reject government funding bill for 10th time By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Senate Democrats are rejecting for the 10th time a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government. They are insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. Continue reading
Oct 15 WATCH: Senate convenes as Trump administration threatens more firings due to federal shutdown By Fatima Hussein, Joey Cappelletti, Safiyah Riddle, Associated Press, Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press/ Report for America With every passing day of the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay face mounting financial strain. And now they are confronting new uncertainty with the Trump administration's promised layoffs. Continue reading
Oct 14 WATCH: Senate gavels in as Johnson warns this shutdown could be longest in U.S. history By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press It's a highly unusual mass layoff widely seen as way to seize on the shutdown to reduce the scope of government. Vice President JD Vance has warned of "painful" cuts ahead, even as employee unions sue. Continue reading
Oct 10 WATCH: Thune holds news briefing as Congress remains deadlocked over shutdown By Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune is showing no sign of backing away from his current tactic of pressing Democrats to vote for a stopgap government funding bill. Continue reading
Oct 09 WATCH: Senate convenes as federal government shutdown reaches day 9 By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown, Associated Press The consequences of a government shutdown setting in, senators labored Thursday to find a way forward but found themselves struggling to overcome a fundamental lack of trust between the two parties. Continue reading
Oct 08 WATCH: Senate meets as lawmakers remain in shutdown deadlock By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press As the government shutdown entered a second week, there's no discernible endgame in sight. Continue reading
Oct 07 WATCH: Senate meets as Democrats demand extension of health care subsidies to end shutdown By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Democrats believe health care is an issue that will resonate with a majority of Americans as they demand an extension of subsidies in exchange for their votes to reopen the shuttered U.S. government. Continue reading
Oct 06 WATCH: Attorney General Bondi testifies in Senate oversight hearing, dodging Democrats' questions By Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker, Stephen Groves, Associated Press Bondi repeatedly deflected questions as she sought during a combative congressional hearing on Tuesday to defend herself against growing criticism that she's turning the law enforcement agency into a weapon to seek vengeance against President Donald Trump’s political opponents. Continue reading