Lindsey McPherson

September special elections can help secure enough House votes for releasing Epstein files

A discharge petition to force a House vote directing the Justice Department to release its files on the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case is poised to earn enough signatures if two Democrats win special elections to Congress this month.

September 8, 2025

Lawmakers push to fulfill Trump’s request for War Department name

Sens. Rick Scott and Mike Lee and Rep. Greg Steube introduced legislation Friday to restore the Department of Defense's original name, the Department of War, as President Trump prepares to sign an executive order calling for the change.

September 5, 2025

Freedom Caucus hatches plan to stave off Democrats’ spending increases through 2026 elections

The House Freedom Caucus is putting the "finishing touches" on a proposal to freeze government funding levels for another year -- and potentially through the 2026 midterm elections, the group's chairman said Thursday.

September 4, 2025

Republicans eye Senate rule change to speed up confirmation of Trump’s nominees

Republicans plan to hold a vote to change Senate rules for processing lower-level nominations in an effort to expedite the confirmation of President Trump's nominees, whom Democrats are filibustering.

September 3, 2025

House Republicans divided over how far to go to force release of Epstein files

House Republicans all say they want a light shone on the abuse Jeffrey Epstein and his associates perpetrated in a complex sex trafficking scheme, but how far they're willing to go in forcing that transparency varies.

September 3, 2025

Freedom Caucus dispels accusations of ‘caving’ on goals, cites behind-the-scenes wins

The House Freedom Caucus is known for using disruptive legislative tactics to shift policy rightward, but the group's reputation has come under attack this year.

September 1, 2025

Trump, Schumer offer warning signs of clash to come on government funding

President Trump said Wednesday that he would meet with Democratic congressional leaders to discuss government funding ahead of the end-of-September deadline, even though he believes "nothing is going to come out of the meeting."

August 13, 2025

Democrats aim to expand Social Security if they retake Congress

Key Democrats said Wednesday they want to protect Social Security in the short term by reversing Trump administration cuts to the agency and in the long term by raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for an expansion of benefits.

August 13, 2025

Reps. Massie, Khanna plan September press conference with Epstein victims

Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna said Monday they will hold a press conference next month on Capitol Hill with victims of Jeffrey Epstein who have yet to publicly speak out about his abuse.

August 11, 2025

AI adds scarier scams, finds Senate hearing on seniors

Artificial intelligence has made it more difficult for seniors to identify scams, a problem for an already vulnerable population, witnesses at a Senate hearing said Thursday.

August 7, 2025

Gallup poll finds record partisan gulf in approval ratings for Congress, Supreme Court

A Gallup poll released Thursday found record-high party gaps in approval ratings for Congress and the Supreme Court, with the latter suffering its lowest overall approval rating since the survey began.

August 7, 2025

GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn announces bid for Tennessee governor

Sen. Marsha Blackburn launched her campaign for governor of Tennessee on Wednesday, exactly a year before the state's GOP primary.

August 6, 2025

Federal watchdog hits Trump administration for illegally withholding funds for NIH grants

The Trump administration illegally impounded congressionally approved funding for the National Institutes of Health as it canceled existing grants and reduced new grant awards, a congressional watchdog agency found.

August 5, 2025

Candidate security costs surge 18-fold; Trump tops spending amid assassination attempts, threats

Candidates running for federal office have collectively spent more than $41 million in campaign funds on security in the past decade as threats against public officials are on the rise, with President Trump alone spending $6.8 million, according to a new report.

August 4, 2025

Former football coach Dooley enters Georgia Republican primary to take on Sen. Ossoff

Republican Derek Dooley, a former college and professional football coach, is launching a Senate campaign in his home state of Georgia on Monday with the support of his friend, Gov. Brian Kemp.

August 4, 2025

Disappointing employment numbers, tariffs uncertainty dog Trump with Democrats seeking foothold

Weak economic indicators are making President Trump's supporters nervous and Democrats increasingly hopeful about a political comeback.

August 3, 2025

White House’s Stephen Miller: Hillary Clinton, Obama officials should be prosecuted for ‘coup’

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Sunday that newly declassified documents on the Russia collusion hoax reveal a "coup" against President Trump and that those involved should be prosecuted for "one egregious felony after another."

August 3, 2025

Trump has ‘set up an active search’ for the next Fed chair, White House economic adviser says

President Trump has "set up an active search" to decide who to appoint as the next Federal Reserve chair when Jerome Powell's term expires, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett says.

August 3, 2025

U.S. trade representative: Talks with China ‘very positive,’ Aug. 12 tariff deadline may be extended

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that trade negotiations with China are going well and that President Trump may extend a 90-day pause in tariffs on many Chinese goods that will expire Aug. 12.

August 3, 2025

National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett: Overhaul of ‘unreliable’ jobs numbers needed

White House economist Kevin Hassett said Sunday the monthly jobs numbers are "unreliable" and "not keeping up with the economy," as he suggested overhauling the formula used to calculate the data.

August 3, 2025