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Mike Johnson Backs Trump on Sedition Attacks Against Dems

Speaker claims Trump was 'defining' sedition, not calling for executions

(Newser) - House Speaker Mike Johnson came to the defense of President Trump after the president's latest incendiary comments, in which Trump accused congressional Democrats of "sedition"—a crime the POTUS noted is "punishable by death." Trump, who suggested that six Democrats who encouraged US troops to...

A Rare Unanimous Vote in House Kills Big Senator Payouts

It's a 426-0 nay for $500K in damages sought over seized records in Trump probe

(Newser) - The House of Representatives cast a unanimous 426-0 vote on Wednesday to remove a Senate-added provision that could have allowed certain senators to claim at least $500,000 each in taxpayer-funded damages. The provision, which drew bipartisan criticism, was inserted into the legislation that ended the recent government shutdown and...

Senate Agrees to Pass Bill on Epstein Files

Legislation could reach Trump's desk tonight

(Newser) - A bill to force the Justice Department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein is set to reach President Trump's desk after passing the House with near-unanimous consen t. Hours after the House vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered a motion that secured unanimous consent to deem the...

Massie Wants Vote to Rule Out Veto of Epstein Files Release

Republican said there could be a 'deluge' of GOP support

(Newser) - As many as 100 House Republicans may support a measure to force the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. Thomas Massie said Sunday. Speaking on ABC News ' This Week, Massie said the House is expected to vote on the matter this week and suggested there...

Trump's Redistricting Hits a Wall in Indiana

White House immediately summons state lawmakers to Washington

(Newser) - President Trump's plan to redistrict Indiana to try to deliver more congressional seats to Republicans in the 2026 midterms does not have the votes to pass the state Senate, its leader announced Friday. So the GOP-run Senate will not convene for a redistricting session, President Pro Tem Rodric Bray...

Senate Votes to End Government Shutdown

House must still reconvene to vote on the legislation

(Newser) - The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party, the AP reports. The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as...

Senate Takes Step to End Shutdown as 8 Dems Vote Yes

8 Democrats voted with GOP to move forward with new deal

(Newser) - The Senate took the first step to end the government shutdown on Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who say Americans want them to continue the fight, the AP reports. In a test...

GOP Has New Offer to End the Shutdown

But Democrats are expected to reject it in Friday vote

(Newser) - Senate Republicans are making another attempt to end the government shutdown, now the longest in history, but Democrats are apparently unswayed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is preparing a new vote to reopen the government on Friday, the 38th day of the shutdown. His latest offer swaps the stopgap funding...

Senate Narrowly Rejects Putting Check on Attacking Venezuela

Just two Republicans break ranks in vote, though several fall short of endorsing Trump taking military action

(Newser) - The Senate narrowly voted down a proposal Thursday that would have required congressional approval before President Trump could launch military operations against Venezuela. The measure, backed largely by Democrats and two Republicans, failed 49-51, marking the second time in a month that lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully to limit the administration'...

Thune: Scrapping Filibuster Is Not Going to Happen

But other GOP senators are wavering

(Newser) - President Trump urged Republican senators to scrap the filibuster at a White House breakfast Wednesday, but Senate Majority leader John Thune made it clear that there aren't enough votes. "We have to get the country open. And the way we're going to do it this afternoon is...

GOP, Thune Stand Up to Trump on Filibuster Rule

Senate Republicans insists it's a safeguard for minority power, shutdown or no

(Newser) - Republican senators brushed aside President Trump's latest demand to eliminate the Senate filibuster on Friday, even as their party tries to exert pressure on Democrats to end the government shutdown. Trump's call to remove the 60-vote threshold to pass most legislation, delivered on Truth Social, injected new uncertainty...

State Senator Charged in Alleged Blackmail Plot

Maryland lawmaker allegedly conspired to record a former consultant in bed with married man

(Newser) - Maryland state Sen. Dalya Attar faces federal charges after allegedly conspiring to secretly record a former political consultant in bed with a married man and threaten to release the footage, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday. Attar, a Democrat from Baltimore and the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in...

Trump Has a Solution to End Government Shutdown

Just scrap the filibuster, he suggests to the Senate

(Newser) - President Trump is calling on the Senate to scrap the filibuster, so that the Republican majority can bypass Democrats and reopen the federal government, the AP reports. "THE CHOICE IS CLEAR—INITIATE THE 'NUCLEAR OPTION,' GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER," Trump posted Thursday night on his...

Senate Votes to Repeal 'Liberation Day' Tariffs

Like similar measures this week, resolution has no chance of passing the House

(Newser) - The Senate has voted to roll back President Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs, with four Republicans joining Democrats to approve a resolution aimed at ending the global trade measures. The bipartisan move, led by GOP Sen. Rand Paul, saw fellow Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa...

Shutdown Talks May Be Finally Starting to Thaw

Hopes emerge of a deal next week

(Newser) - Is a thaw underway in shutdown talks? The Hill reports that Senate Republicans and Democrats are quietly searching for a way out as early as next week. Semafor similarly reports on an "unmistakable shift" below the leadership level, and the outlet also sees next week as a distinct possibility....

Senators Clash Over Owl-Killing Plan

Republican senator accuses administration of planning 'DEI for owls"

(Newser) - A Senate debate over a plan to protect an endangered owl species by killing other owls turned heated on Wednesday, though the Biden administration's controversial proposal survived. GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana forced a vote on a resolution to block the Fish and Wildlife Service's plan , which...

Senate Votes to Nullify Trump's Canada Tariffs

4 GOP senators voted with Democrats on measure, but it has no chance in the House

(Newser) - The Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would nullify US tariffs on Canada. The move comes just as President Trump is engaged in trade talks in Asia as well as an increasingly bitter trade spat with Canada, one of America's largest economic partners, the AP reports. The 50-46 tally was...

5 GOP Senators Join Dems to Block Trump Tariffs

Senate passes resolution rebuking Trump, though it's widely seen as symbolic

(Newser) - The Senate on Tuesday voted to approve a resolution to block President Trump's tariffs on Brazil, with five Republicans siding with Democrats in a move widely seen as a rebuke to the president's trade policies. The 52-48 vote, led by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, aims to...

13th Time Wasn't Lucky for Bill to End Shutdown

GOP-backed stopgap spending bill voted down yet again on day 28 of shutdown

(Newser) - The second-longest government shutdown in US history dragged into its 28th day Tuesday, with the Senate again unable to break a deadlock over funding. For the 13th time, Senate Democrats blocked a GOP spending bill, insisting on protections for health care funding, the Guardian reports. The latest defeat for the...

Senator Wraps Up Speech After More Than 22 Hours

'I am standing here to ring the alarm bells,' Merkley said during marathon speech

(Newser) - Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon launched a marathon speech on the Senate floor Tuesday night, warning that President Trump's actions pose "grave threats" to American democracy. The Democrat began speaking at 6:21pm Eastern and wrapped it up almost 23 hours later at around 5pm Wednesday. He used...

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