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Heard on the Hill

Capitol Lens | Keeping watch

By Bill Clark
Posted November 4, 2025 at 4:20pm

Early education advocates warn preschools are being forced to close their doors as a casualty of the partial government shutdown.

Policy

No quick fix for Head Start funding as programs start to close

By Aris Folley and Jacob Fulton
Posted November 4, 2025 at 3:58pm
Former Vice President Dick Cheney makes remarks during a bust unveiling ceremony for him in the Capitol Visitor Center's Emancipation Hall, Dec. 3, 2015.

Congress

Former Vice President Dick Cheney dead at 84

By CQ Roll Call Staff
Posted November 4, 2025 at 7:50am, Updated at 2:36pm
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday the USDA would help states pay reduced food stamp benefits even as the president was saying they wouldn't be paid until the shutdown ends.

White House

Spokesperson contradicts Trump comment on food stamps

By Olivia M. Bridges
Posted November 4, 2025 at 1:18pm, Updated at 2:06pm
“My commitment has been clear from day one – we will explore every avenue possible to make sure Maryland has fair and representative maps,” says Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, pictured here during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Maryland governor announces formation of redistricting commission

By Andrew Menezes
Posted November 4, 2025 at 1:36pm
President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

Obamacare is still on Trump’s mind — but outlook appears doubtful

By John T. Bennett
Posted November 4, 2025 at 1:02pm
Hegseth, at left, appears safe from prosecution for diverting funds to pay the troops during shutdown. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Spending law unenforceable if the president wants to violate it

By Paul M. Krawzak
Posted November 4, 2025 at 12:09pm
Former FBI Director James B. Comey testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in June 2017.

Justice Department defends criminal case against James Comey

By Ryan Tarinelli
Posted November 3, 2025 at 7:37pm
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., leaves the Senate floor after a vote on Oct. 21.

In the Spotlight: Tim Kaine

By Nick Eskow
Posted November 3, 2025 at 5:27pm, Updated at 7:19pm
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., right, conduct a news conference on the government shutdown in the Capitol on Friday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Senate leaders prepare to pivot to a new bill to end shutdown

By Aris Folley
Posted November 3, 2025 at 3:21pm, Updated at 5:11pm
E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse

Appeals court sounds skeptical of Trump’s asylum ban

By Chris Johnson
Posted November 3, 2025 at 3:34pm
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., right, and ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking details of the operation.

WH: Venezuela strikes fall short of triggering legal limits

By Mark Satter
Posted November 3, 2025 at 2:05pm
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins speak Friday about food assistance during a news conference in the Capitol on the government shutdown.

USDA tells court it will disburse all SNAP contingency funds

By Michael Macagnone
Posted November 3, 2025 at 1:46pm
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to hold his daily news conference on the government shutdown in the Capitol on Monday.

Whom to blame for shutdown? All 535 members of Congress

By Steven Pearlstein
Posted November 3, 2025 at 1:19pm
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., speaks during a news conference outside USDA headquarters in Washington. A banner depicting President Donald Trump hangs behind him.

Trump allies see no need for bill weighing in on ballroom

By John T. Bennett
Posted November 3, 2025 at 12:12pm
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, introduced the resolution that would vacate a Bureau of Land Management decision closing about 11 million acres of land from oil and gas leasing. The Senate passed the resolution last week.

Congress leads reversal of land use rules amid BLM director questions

By David Jordan
Posted November 3, 2025 at 12:05pm
House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member Rick Larsen, D-Wash., was among the House Democrats asking the Army Corps of Engineers for details of projects affected by a funding pause.

Democrats seek funding details on Cape Cod bridges, port projects

By Valerie Yurk
Posted November 3, 2025 at 12:00pm
President Donald Trump in April announced additional tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S.

Trump’s tariff regime case could reshape Congress’ taxing power

By Michael Macagnone
Posted November 3, 2025 at 11:41am
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, predicted that the shutdown could end as soon as this week.

This week: Senate shutdown show returns amid key elections

By Niels Lesniewski
Posted November 3, 2025 at 5:47am
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin speaks during an interview Sunday at DNC headquarters in Washington. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

DNC chair says wins in Virginia and New Jersey would signal 2026 blue wave

By Mary Ellen McIntire
Posted November 2, 2025 at 7:47pm
A banner featuring President Donald Trump is seen on the Labor Department building in Washington on Oct. 26 as runners make their way down Pennsylvania Avenue during the 50th Marine Corps Marathon.

Federal judge thanks Trump, orders him to make SNAP payments

By CQ Roll Call staff
Posted November 1, 2025 at 8:07pm
Chairman Roger Wicker, left, and ranking member Jack Reed attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Feb. 27.

SASC leaders press DOD for legal justification of boat strikes

By Rebecca Kheel
Posted October 31, 2025 at 4:45pm
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and House Speaker Mike Johnson conduct a news conference on the government shutdown in the Capitol on Friday.

Federal judge directs USDA to pay November food stamp benefits

By Michael Macagnone
Posted October 31, 2025 at 4:21pm
President Donald Trump rallies with autoworkers in Warren, Mich., on April 29.

Lawmakers spar over possible Trump third term as president leaves door open

By John T. Bennett
Posted October 31, 2025 at 2:06pm
Trump mentioned the opposition from then-Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to the rules changes during the last Democratic majority. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Trump calls for Senate ‘nuclear option’ to end government shutdown

By Niels Lesniewski
Posted October 31, 2025 at 6:22am, Updated at 11:32am
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was delayed in leaving Washington for the weekend because of a shutdown-related airport delay. Thune is shown speaking to reporters Tuesday, along with, from left, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

Lots of talk but no deal as shutdown heads for the record books

By Aris Folley and Jacob Fulton
Posted October 30, 2025 at 7:47pm
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought leaves a Capitol after attending a Republican Senate luncheon.

‘Radio silence’ on list of paused Army Corps projects

By Valerie Yurk
Posted October 30, 2025 at 7:44pm
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks at a news conference in the Capitol on Thursday about military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.

Warner demands intel sharing after secret GOP Venezuela briefing

By Mark Satter
Posted October 30, 2025 at 1:44pm, Updated at 5:13pm
A part of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System runs past the Alaska Range mountains on May 5, 2023, near Delta Junction, Alaska.

Senate votes to vacate Biden rule on Alaska petroleum reserve

By David Jordan
Posted October 30, 2025 at 4:15pm
President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday ahead of a summit meeting at Gimhae Air Base in Busan, South Korea. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Takeaways: Trump touts tenuous deals on tariffs, rare earths and soybeans

By John T. Bennett
Posted October 30, 2025 at 9:51am
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said she was “disgusted” by the administration’s decision to organize a briefing only for Republicans: “This is ridiculous. This is not how we will operate in the Senate.” (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Senate Democrats riled over exclusion from Venezuela briefing

By Mark Satter
Posted October 30, 2025 at 9:44am
Sens. Roger Marshall and Patty Murray arrive on the Senate subway for a vote in the Capitol on July 15.

Senators have outline for drug price program, but vote is elusive

By Jessie Hellmann
Posted October 30, 2025 at 7:00am
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters about the partial government shutdown outside his office in the Capitol on Wednesday.

Bipartisan talks to end shutdown gaining steam, senators say

By Aris Folley
Posted October 29, 2025 at 9:01pm
Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., pictured in the Capitol on April 8, has introduced a bill that would fund both SNAP and WIC while also ensuring that states would be reimbursed for costs incurred for administering SNAP and WIC during the shutdown.

Democrats seize on food stamp funding as latest rallying cry

By Jacob Fulton
Posted October 29, 2025 at 6:46pm