Senate plans a stopgap funding vote before August recess amid bipartisan talks

Senate Majority Leader Thune said he’ll bring a short-term stopgap funding bill to the floor before the August break to keep the government funded through the midterms, signaling a push for a bipartisan deal with Democrats and the White House while leaving open a party-line reconciliation route if talks stall. House leaders cleared procedural steps for a similar stopgap through December and a reconciliation framework for a $95 billion package; the week’s updates also cover Cruz’s AI billMarkup prospects, defense bill progress in the House, and leadership changes after Lindsey Graham’s death.