Senate

Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that he’s “encouraged” by ongoing border negotiations among senators and White House representatives, but that there remains a “significant number” of issues that still need to be worked through before brokering a deal on President Joe Biden’s aid package for […]

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Hours after President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on Congress to urgently approve a stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Republicans blocked a key Senate procedural vote over demands for new restrictions to bolster U.S. border security. Biden called it “stunning” that Congress has taken as long as […]

J.Castro/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he will advocate Republican senators vote against advancing additional aid for Ukraine and Israel “to make the point, hopefully for the final time, that we insist on meaningful changes to the border.” In a continuing standoff over the aid the White House says is […]

Drew Angerer/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Senate leaders voted Wednesday night in favor of the short-term government funding bill the House passed Tuesday night ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnson pitched a two-step plan that he described as a “laddered CR” — or continuing resolution — that will keep the government funded at […]

Drew Angerer/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Senate leaders on Wednesday were hoping to take up the short-term government funding bill the House passed Tuesday night — saying they’ll work to get the bill over the finish line as soon as possible ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline. Speaker Mike Johnson pitched a two-step plan that he described as […]

Drew Angerer/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Senate Republicans made clear Tuesday they hope to make some major modifications to President Joe Biden’s $106 billion national security funding request that includes aid to Ukraine and Israel. “It’s pretty clear that the supplemental that was sent over is just a starting point,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said at […]

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. was confirmed on Wednesday night with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate and will become only the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is America’s top military officer. Brown was confirmed by a vote of 83-11. […]

Alex Wong/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has relaxed the chamber’s informal dress code, allowing lawmakers to wear whatever they want on the floor of what is sometimes called the “greatest deliberative body in the world.” Until recently, male senators were required to wear suit jackets and dress shoes on the floor. Female […]

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — While Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s health may have raised questions outside the Senate about his fitness to serve, most GOP senators on Tuesday stood by their leader, expressing confidence in his ability to carry out his job. “We may expect that Mitch McConnell will check out for […]

Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — The Senate is set for an uncertain and busy return from its August recess Tuesday, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health in question and a stocked to-do list looming. The longtime GOP leader last week appeared to freeze for more than 30 seconds while giving remarks […]