POLITICAL & CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

Wed, May 17, 2026:

• Trump delays his own national intelligence nominee, fueling tension with fellow Republicans - AP

Wed, May 27, 2026:

• Senate Republicans battle over future of parliamentarian - Hill

• Cornyn’s Defeat Fuels Tensions With President Trump in Senate G.O.P.

  Senators are angry President Trump turned on a respected former leader whom they consider a loyal Republican. Now Mr. Trump faces resistance from his own embittered ranks. - NYT

Fri, May 22, 2026:

• Pushed to the limit, Republicans show rare defiance to Trump’s demands - AP

Thurs, May 21, 2026:

• Dumb and dumber, Republican-style. Purging Sens. John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy sacrifices intelligence in scarce supply in the GOP. - George Will

Tues, May 19, 2026:

• Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘lawfare’ fund is making Republicans nervous

  Even Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was “not a big fan” of the new “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” - Politico

Fri, May 8, 2026:

• Republicans get massive win in fight for House with Virginia court ruling

  The state Supreme Court decision overturning Democrats’ map effectively guarantees the GOP will come out ahead in the gerrymandering wars. - Politico

Tues, April 14, 2026:

• Senate Majority in Play: Cook Political Report says, “with an increasingly sour national environment for Republicans, the Senate battlefield is shifting. We moved four ratings, all towards Democrats.”

Sun, April 12, 2026:

• Potential 2028 Democrats Flocked to His Convention. Here’s How He Sized Them Up. - NYT

Sat, April 11, 2026:

• In 1990, a bipartisan Congress passed historic bills. Then it cracked apart.

  36 years ago, a Republican president and Democratic lawmakers produced monumental laws. Now a broken Congress has enabled Trump to undo key parts of that legacy. - WP

• Push to Expel Swalwell Could Touch Off Chain Reaction of House Removal Votes - NYT

Fri, April 10, 2026:

• These Republican-on-Republican disputes are keeping Congress frozen.

  Donald Trump could intervene to settle many of these clashes, but he has mostly kept his distance. - Politico

Thurs, April 9. 2026:

• What It Would Take for Democrats to Win the Senate - Bloomberg

Tues, April 7, 2026:

• Cook Political Report shifts 5 House races toward Democrats - Hill

Mon, April 6, 2026:

• Redistricting War Comes Down to Virginia and Florida - NYT

Tues, March 24, 2026:

• Parties normally hold conventions every four years to nominate presidential candidates, but Republicans hope to hold one this year in the face of midterm headwinds. - NYT

Tues, March 17, 2026:

• No Trump Pick as Deadline Locks In Texas Senate Race. President Trump’s decision not to weigh in before the deadline means both John Cornyn and Ken Paxton remain on the ballot, extending their costly and increasingly personal battle into a May runoff. - NYT

Mon, March 9, 2026:

• One vote to lose: Life inside a chaotic House GOP majority - CNN

• House Republicans’ meager majority faces big problems ahead of the midterms - Politico

Sat, March 7, 2026:

• Long-delayed Jan. 6 plaque honoring police installed in Capitol at 4 a.m.

  The memorial was required by law to be installed by March 2023. This morning, while most of Washington slept, it appeared. - WP

Mon, March 2, 2026:

• Can These Democrats Make Combative Centrism Happen? Third Way, the moderate Democratic advocacy group and think tank, has an expansive and expensive plan to shape the 2028 presidential campaign. - NYT

Thurs, Feb 26, 2026:

• Republicans think they laid an immigration trap ahead of the midterms

  Republicans still see immigration as a potent political issue, even as polling shows them losing their longtime edge on the topic. - WP

Mon, Feb 23, 2026:

• High-stakes legal cases that could determine the majority loom in nearly a dozen states, with just months to go until the November election. - Politico

• A federal court rejected a bid by Utah Republicans to block a new court-ordered congressional map, dealing a major blow to the Republican Party following a yearslong redistricting saga. - Politico

• House Republicans have broken a record for the most “closed rules” in a Congress, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said during a Rules Committee meeting Monday — referring to a procedural maneuver used to bring bills to a vote without floor amendments. - Politico

Sun, Feb 22, 2026:
60% disapprove of Trump ahead of State of the Union, Post-ABC poll finds - WP

Thurs, Feb 19, 2026:
How MAGA’s Census Fight Would Reshape Political Power - Bloomberg

Sun, Feb 15, 2026:
Six congressional primaries that explain where the country is headed. A handful of races show the tensions among Republicans and Democrats as both face major questions about their future. - WP

Thurs, Feb 12, 2026:
Judge rejects Hegseth bid to punish Sen. Kelly for video message to troops. The Trump administration intends to appeal the ruling, which says the retired Navy officer’s right to free speech is under attack. - WP

Tues, Feb 10, 2026:
D.C. grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers. The lawmakers had released a short video last year advising military members to reject “illegal orders.” - WP

Mon, Feb 9, 2026:
Republicans fear Trump backlash could cost them Senate control - Hill
As Trump presidency enters second year, his voters share hopes – and concerns. Trump voters urge him to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on domestic issues, especially clearer pathways to legal status for law-abiding immigrants, healthcare reform, curbing waste and fraud, and lowering US debt. - Reuters

Sun, Feb 8, 2026:
‘The sugar high will be short lived’: Trump’s big bet on tax refunds might not pay off. While Trump and his top advisers have been banking on the increased refunds as a pocketbook proof point to voters, skeptics caution the money could be quickly swallowed up by stubbornly-high prices elsewhere. - Politico

Fri, Feb 6, 2026:
Trump’s Midterm Redistricting Master Plan Is Falling Short. An unfavorable Supreme Court ruling and surprise Democratic enthusiasm in Texas show limits to president’s plan. - WSJ
Rep. Mark Amodei is 30th House Republican to not seek reelection - Hill

Wed, Feb 4, 2026:
Hamilton seen, then and now, as embodying ideal of bipartisanship. Former foreign affairs and intelligence chair is remembered for his work on the 9/11 commission. - Roll Call

Sat, Jan 31, 2026:
‘Worst-case scenarios’: How election officials are preparing for potential Trump intrusion in the midterms - CNN

Tues, Jan 27, 2026:
Judge rules Virginia Democrats violated law with redistricting amendment. The process Virginia Democrats used in an effort to create more blue-leaning congressional seats was invalid, a judge said. Democrats vowed to appeal. - WP

Fri, Jan 23, 2026:
A recent focus group of 18- to 24-year-old Trump voters suggests weaknesses for Vance among young Republicans. - Politico

Thurs, Jan 22, 2026:
The Voters Who Have Taken a U-Turn on Trump. One year later, the second Trump coalition has come apart, a Times/Siena poll finds. - NYT
Trump’s Popularity Keeps Sinking, Issue by Issue - Bloomberg

Tues, Jan 20, 2026:
Republican lawmakers are pushing back on Trump and his administration on a dizzying range of issues, including the potential deployment of troops to Venezuela, the threat to seize Greenland, the criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, invoking the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis and capping credit card fees. - Hill

Sun, Jan 18, 2026:
Buttigieg and Booker Lead Push to Hammer Republicans on Health Care. The potential 2028 presidential candidates showcased a Democratic midterm strategy that would assail G.O.P. votes in favor of cutting Medicaid and allowing health care subsidies to expire. - NYT
ICE jumps to center of midterm campaigns - Politico

Sat, Jan 17, 2026:
Will 2026 be the year voters pull the emergency brake? - NYT

Fri, Jan 16, 2026:
Here’s Andy Beshear’s Case for President. The Kentucky governor is laying out an early argument for why he could be Democrats’ best bet in 2028. - Politico
How the House slumped to historic lows of productivity in 2025 - NYT

Thurs, Jan 15, 2026:
Democrats Will Lose in 2028 Unless They Change Course Now - NYT / Plouffe

Wed, Jan 14, 2026:
Senate Democrats still have difficult path to majority in 2026. - Roll Call
Hispanic small business owners are souring on the Trump economy, a warning sign to Republicans ahead of this year’s midterms. - Politico

Tues, Jan 13, 2026:
Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings - AP
Senate passes bill targeting nonconsensual deepfake images. Bill comes in wake of controversy over Grok AI-generated intimate pictures. - Roll Call

Mon, Jan 12, 2026:
6 key questions about the 2026 midterm elections. From messaging to candidate selection, both parties have a lot to figure out - Roll Call
Trump is trying to change how the midterm elections are conducted. Many of these endeavors go far beyond typical political persuasion, challenging long-established democratic norms. - WP

Sun, Jan 11, 2026:
Pennsylvania Dems squeeze Shapiro as he eyes 2028 - Axios

Sat, Jan 10, 2026:
Trump’s call for Collins ouster throws wrench into Maine Senate race - Hill
RFK Jr.’s Rise Drives Democratic Doctors to Run for Congress. Physician candidates also cite patients’ worries about healthcare costs, coverage - WSJ

Thurs, Jan 8, 2026:
The Supreme Court may leave alone the Voting Rights Act just long enough to keep the GOP from House control in 2026. Republicans’ hopes that a Supreme Court redistricting ruling will boost them in 2026 are fading as election deadlines close in. - Politico
Josh Shapiro Starts a New Chapter, Attacking the ‘Toxicity in D.C.’ Kicking off his re-election bid, the Pennsylvania governor warned against federal overreach and promised, “I will not let anyone mess with a Pennsylvanian.” - NYT

Mon, Jan 5, 2026:
Democrats look primed to win the House, but a wave might be harder. Gerrymandering and longer-term polarization have left fewer competitive House seats in this year’s midterm elections. - WP

Fri, Jan 2, 2026:
Rep. Jake Auchincloss has an exemplary way of talking about topics that resonate with centrist voters. - WP / Will

Wed, Dec 31, 2025:
5 takeaways from the 2025 elections - Hill

Fri, Dec 26, 2025:
Democratic Centrists Want to Fight—and Prove They Will Take on the Establishment. Crop of moderate Democrats trying to counter Trump and progressive influence in their own party. – WSJ

Tues, Dec 23, 2025:
Democrats’ hopes lie in a House win. But how much would it slow Trump? Denying the president legislation isn’t likely to thwart him because that’s not how he does things. – WP / Ponnuru

Sat, Dec 13, 2025:
The Interview: Why Won’t Senators Stand Up to Trump? We Asked 3 Who Called It Quits. – NYT

Fri, Dec 12, 2025:
GOP health care chaos spills into battleground midterm races. Republican Senate candidates aren’t on the same page about extending Obamacare subsidies, reflecting a broader tension that is creeping into House and Senate races. – Politico

Wed, Dec 3, 2025:
GOP Anger Erupts at Johnson as Party Frets About Future. A group of G.O.P. women has been among the most vocal in raising what their colleagues say is a broader frustration with the speaker. – NYT

Mon, Dec 1, 2025:
Republican dissenters spark discharge petition clash with Johnson – The Hill

Fri, Nov 28, 2025:
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who has repeatedly won in Trump country, is poised to be an important voice in 2026 as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. – WSJ
Here are 6 names to watch in the race to the midterms. – WP

Tues, Nov 25, 2025:
Smucker enters Budget Committee race as odds-on favorite. Pennsylvania Republican seeks more tax breaks in a second reconciliation bill. – Roll Call

Mon, Nov 24, 2025:
“More explosive early resignations are coming. It’s a tinder box. Morale has never been lower. Mike Johnson will be stripped of his gavel and they will lose the majority before this term is out.” — A senior House Republicans, quoted by Punchbowl News.
Why Mike Johnson is losing control of the House. Thanks to a coalition of Democrats and disgruntled Republicans, more discharge petitions have succeeded in the past two years than the prior three decades combined. – Politico

Fri, Nov 14, 2025:
House plans to vote Tuesday on releasing Epstein files. President Donald Trump has made repeated attempts to kill the effort, but a discharge petition has forced Speaker Mike Johnson’s hand. – Politico

Mon, Oct 27, 2025:
Shutdown Challenges Republicans’ Vow to Never End the Filibuster. GOP senators gave their word to protect the 60-vote rule. ‘I’m praying to God they keep it,’ says former Sen. Joe Manchin – WSJ

Thurs, Aug 14, 2025:
Sherrod Brown’s never-ending crypto headache – Politico

Fri, Aug 8, 2025:
Nobody Is Making Deals in Trump’s Washington. The Senate used to run on deals involving everything from pipelines to feral cows. Reviving them could be the first step to fixing politics. – Politico

Fri, July 25, 2025:
Three Toss-up races headline new Senate ratings for 2026. Republicans remain favored to retain their majority next year. – Roll Call

Fri, April 4, 2025:
Fate of the Filibuster Emerges as a Central Issue in Senate Budget Fight. Some Republicans are uneasy that their party is pursuing a tactic that could weaken the filibuster and backfire in the future. – NYT

Thurs, March 27, 2025:
Trump pulls Elise Stefanik’s Cabinet nomination; Republicans fear they can’t afford to lose her vote in the House as they look to pass President Donald’s Trump’s sweeping legislative agenda. – WP

Fri, March 14, 2025:
Under GOP, Congress Cedes Power to Trump, Eroding Its Influence – NYT

Thurs, March 6, 2025:
A third way for congressional Democrats: Trump’s vulnerability is in a GOP that is held together by bullying more than ideology – Roll Call/Pearlstein

Tues, Feb 11, 2025:
House GOP committee leaders seeking bigger budgets for their committees – Punchbowl

Thurs, Jan 30, 2025: What the House GOP retreat revealed about Trump, Johnson, and the fragile majority – The Hill

Mon, Jan 20, 2025: Speaker Johnson’s narrow House majority shrinks even further; GOP will not be able to afford a single defection – CNN

Fri, Jan. 17, 2025: Husted named to fill Vance’s Senate seat – CNN

Thurs, Jan 16, 2025: Florida AG Moody picked to fill Rubio Senate seat – CNN

Mon, Jan 6, 2025: Congress certifies Trump’s 2024 win, w/o the violence of 4 years ago – AP

Sat, Jan 4, 2025:
Mike Johnson reelected Speaker in dramatic floor vote – AP

Fri, Jan. 3, 2025:
New Majority Leader Thune kicks off Senate session with pledge to preserve filibuster – AP
Johnson wins gavel on first ballot after flipping holdouts – Roll Call
Johnson’s reward for keeping his gavel: delivering for Trump –NYTimes
“Mr. Johnson will be responsible for pushing through Mr. Trump’s economic plans, including one or more huge bills that lawmakers say they want to simultaneously increase the nation’s borrowing limit, extend the tax cuts Mr. Trump signed into law in 2017, cut federal spending, and put in place a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.”
Johnson wins, thanks to Trump – Punchbowl News
Freedom caucus sends warning to Johnson despite supporting him as Speaker – The Hill
Johnson commits to working with DOGE on spending cuts ahead of vote – Politico

Thurs, Jan 2, 2025: Trump throws more weight behind Johnson’s speakership bid – Politico

Thurs, Jan 2, 2025: Democrats rage as Johnson restricts their ability to oust him – Axios

Sat, Dec. 21, 2024: Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) (HR 10545) to extend current levels of funding to March 14 in the early hours of the morning and President Biden signed the bill late Saturday morning to avoid a government shutdown. Senate Dem Stmt | Senate GOP Stmt

Fri, Dec. 20, 2024: With the federal government due to run out of spending authority at midnight, the House agreed to a last minute bipartisan deal extending current levels of funding to March 14 (HR 10545), as well as providing relief to farmers and natural disaster victims and reauthorizing the farm bill. CBO cost estimate of HR 10545, American Relief Act, 2025. “Division A would provide for the continuation, through March 14, 2025, of the appropriations and authorities contained in the 12 regular appropriation acts for 2024…. Division B would provide supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for a broad range of federal agencies to respond to recent natural disasters and provide related assistance. The legislation would designate those amounts as emergency requirements….”
House GOP stmt | Cole remarks | House Dem stmt

Sat, Nov. 30, 2024: Trump and Republicans in Congress eye 100-day agenda – AP

Tues, Nov. 19, 2024:
–Vote counting in the 119th Congress – AEI/Capretta
–Why House Dems stayed the course with their leaders – Politico
–New Dems bullish heading into second Trump administration – Roll Call
–House GOP lays out legislative priorities: Border wall, tax cuts, cutting Biden programs – Politico

Wed, Nov. 13, 2024:
–House will remain Republican in 2025, narrowly – Roll Call
–House GOP nominates Johnson (unopposed) for Speaker (but he will need nearly unanimous GOP support on January 3rd)– The Hill
–Republicans promise to protect the Senate filibuster, even if it hinders Trump’s agenda – NBC
–Republicans choose John Thune as next Senate majority leader – NPR