With Senate passage, bill to prevent shutdown goes to House

The Senate approved legislation to temporarily fund the government, a key step toward averting a federal shutdown after President Donald Trump backed off his demand for money for a border wall with Mexico. Senators passed the measure, which would keep government running to Feb. 8, by voice vote without a roll call Wednesday night.

Senate approves bill to keep government running into 2019

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., left, and Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, right, arrives to speak to reporters about the possibility of a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Congress and President Donald Trump continue to bicker over his demand that lawmakers fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown at midnight Friday.

Under fire in Congress, Trump defends move to pull U.S. troops from Syria Source: Cox Media Group

A day after blindsiding members of his own party in Congress with a decision to withdraw U.S. military forces fighting against the Islamic State in Syria, President Donald Trump on Thursday defended his move, once more making the case that American troops should be on home soil, not embroiled in military action on the other side of the globe. "Getting out of Syria was no surprise," the President tweeted before sunrise on Thursday.

Arizona’s New Sen. McSally Faces Uncertain Political Future

To the surprise of no one, Republican Rep. Martha McSally was appointed to the U.S. Senate Tuesday and will serve two more years of the term of the late Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz. "I'm going to commit to holding myself to the standard of service that Sen. McCain exemplified -- putting country before self, and always striving to do the right thing for Arizonans," McSally told reporters in Phoenix, shortly after Republican Gov. Doug Ducey announced her appointment.

McConnell says he’s in talks with White House after Democrats reject his offer to avoid shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said he's in talks with the Trump administration about ways to avoid a partial government shutdown after Democratic lawmakers rejected his offer aimed at averting the closure. The Kentucky Republican offered $1.6 billion for border security, as outlined in a bipartisan Senate bill, along with $1 billion that President Donald Trump could use on the Mexican border, according to an Associated Press report .

Comey questioned for role in Flynn questioning 5 hours ago

Former FBI Director James Comey speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Washington, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, after a second closed-door interview with two Republican-led committees investigating what they say was bias at the Justice Department before the 2016 presidential election. WASHINGTON Former FBI Director James Comey was back on Capitol Hill Monday for the second round of closed door questioning in as many weeks.

Time to finish the Wall

Russian 2016 Influence Operation Targeted African-Americans - The Russian influence campaign on social media in the 2016 election made an extraordinary effort to target African-Americans, used an array of tactics to try to suppress turnout among Democratic voters and unleashed a blizzard Russia favored Trump, targeted African-Americans with election meddling, reports say - The Russians set up 30 Facebook pages targeting the black community, the researchers found, and 10 YouTube channels that posted 571 videos related to police violence against African-Americans.

Paul Ryan releases ‘teaser trailer’ about series on push for tax reform

Paul Davis Ryan GOP set for blame over shutdown The Hill's 12:30 Report - Cohen says Trump knew payments were wrong 's office on Monday released a trailer for an upcoming series focused on his efforts to pass tax reform. The 59-second trailer sets up the premise of "Decades in the Making," a docu-series set for a Dec. 18 release focused on Ryan's years-long effort to pass tax reform that culminated with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.a From the first day I came to Congress, I've been fighting for comprehensive tax reform to keep America competitive.

Jim Jordan predicts there will be no government shutdown

James Daniel Jordan Overnight Health Care - Sponsored by Amgen - For Republicans, fight over fetal tissue research comes back to Planned Parenthood Dems aim to punt vote on ObamaCare taxes For Republicans, fight over fetal tissue research comes back to Planned Parenthood Meadows looks to make his move MORE on Monday predicted there would be no government shutdown this week because the House will pass a funding measure that includes $5 billion for Donald John Trump Family says Trump travel ban preventing mother from seeing dying son Saudi Arabia rejects Senate position on Khashoggi killing Five things to know about the Trump inauguration investigation MORE Asked during an interview on "Fox & Friends" for a one-word prediction on whether the government would shut down at the end of the week, Jordan said "no."

White House digs in on border wall demand, risking shutdown

Pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown, the White House is insisting that Congress provide $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border despite lawmaker resistance from both parties. President Donald Trump kept up the pressure on Democrats Monday, tweeting: "Time for us to save billions of dollars a year and have, at the same time, far greater safety and control!" On Sunday, White House senior adviser Stephen Miller said: "We're going to do whatever is necessary to build the border wall to stop this ongoing crisis of illegal immigration."