All articles tagged with #capitol hill
IndyCar’s Graham Rahal says racing the Freedom 250 Grand Prix down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., in front of Capitol Hill, is an iconic moment to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary; he’ll join about two dozen drivers for the inaugural street race, with practice and qualifying ahead and broadcasts on FS1/FS2 and FOX.
Republican senators accuse the Pentagon of excluding Democrats from closed, classified briefings on the defense budget, warning that Pete Hegseth’s approach could jeopardize passage of Trump’s $1.5 trillion military package as Democrats threaten to boycott funding bills; lawmakers from both parties urge bipartisan engagement.
The White House flips on a hemp-ban policy tied to a stopgap funding bill, with Susie Wiles—Trump’s longtime aide nicknamed the “ice maiden”—at the center amid scrutiny over ties to an in‑law’s hemp business. While the White House denies lobbying on hemp, lawmakers voice confusion and debate whether to delay or enforce the ban, leading to tense exchanges in meetings and highlighting a growing MAGA internal rift over the issue.
Capitol CNCT founder David Tennent launches 'The Scoop,' a verified, anonymous review platform for Capitol Hill offices that lets staffers rate lawmakers and the workplaces they run; reviews are screened to confirm the staffer worked for the office, aiming to prevent retaliation and increase transparency. Early data show Republican offices drawing more reviews than Democratic ones, with mixed ratings across both chambers, and the project intended to provide constructive feedback to improve office culture amid ongoing ethics scrutiny.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang travels to Washington to press lawmakers from both parties on American leadership in artificial intelligence, highlighting Nvidia’s pledge to help build up to $500 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure and his support for open-source AI as a safety, innovation, and sovereignty booster; he is set to meet Sen. Mark Warner and other leaders as OpenAI’s Sam Altman also plans DC talks, underscoring a busy week of AI-policy engagement on Capitol Hill.
Johnson is pushing Recon 3.0, a $95 billion GOP budget framework, through House committees, but several fiscal hawks haven’t committed yet, risking a delay past the August recess. The push hinges on committee support and offsets, with leadership signaling a possible future reconciliation bill (4.0) to cover remaining priorities. Meanwhile, Democrats press on Trump’s election-security agenda and a separate effort on bipartisan paid leave, as House Republicans weigh a stopgap funding measure that could be tied to the SAVE America Act ahead of the midterms.
Republicans push a 10-bill package to permanently move Education Department programs to other federal agencies, effectively downsizing the department, while Capitol Hill buzzes with confirmation hearings (notably Todd Blanche’s bid to be attorney general amid Epstein-file scrutiny) and a sprint to finalize a $95 billion reconciliation package covering defense, farm aid, and other items, along with ongoing debates on Israel aid, vaccine policy, and crypto regulation.
Former Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche heads to a high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing to become attorney general, confronting skepticism from GOP lawmakers over his leadership and the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and a shelved payout fund that could influence support for his nomination.
Capitol Hill is jam-packed as Todd Blanche’s attorney general confirmation faces tough questions, House Republicans push an ~$80 billion reconciliation package, and floor battles over daylight saving time and other bills unfold alongside related hearings and committee actions.
House Republicans end a weeks-long floor logjam by approving a 215-211 procedural vote to reopen the floor and set up votes on fiscal 2027 State Department funding, while Speaker Johnson moves to attach the SAVE America Act to the funding bill to win hard-liner support; negotiations on immigration and a broader reconciliation package continue as leadership faces internal pressure. Senate dynamics are affected by McConnell’s hospitalization, with a stalled farm bill, and Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline Graham Nordone sworn in to fill the seat. Separately, Sen. Andy Kim introduces the Digital Age Assurance Act to age-verify online users, while Democrats push back on Israel aid amendments and NDAA debates.
House Republicans are close to unfreezing floor business after a hard‑line bloc pressed for concrete border‑policy steps, including tying the SAVE America Act to must‑pass bills and signaling a reconciliation package. Anna Paulina Luna lifted her hold on floor action on those terms, though some Budget Republicans want language before any markup. The effort faces skepticism and a rocky path to a Tuesday rule vote, with the Senate and Democrats signaling resistance and planning to block the NDAA over Iran policy; a new Senate Budget chair is set to take over later this term.
Two Supreme Court justices, Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan, will testify on Capitol Hill on July 14 before House and Senate appropriations panels about the court’s fiscal 2027 budget request, including a security funding boost, with lawmakers seeking detailed information on how funds will be used. The article also covers Maine politics, where pressure mounts for Graham Platner to withdraw amid new allegations and a scramble to find a replacement as Democrats race to unseat Sen. Susan Collins.
Patriot Front reportedly marched with police escort down Penn Ave SE on July 4 in Capitol Hill, prompting warnings about the group's history of violence and provocation and a question whether they appeared in the Barracks Row parade.
Seattle’s Capitol Hill Fourth of July festivities included fireworks over Lake Union, followed by a late-night incident at Cal Anderson Park where a crowd gathered around an “e-bonfire” built from wood, debris and rented e-bikes/scooters; fire crews secured the area with police assistance, there were no injuries, but turf damage on the field is being assessed as the city continues its 250th anniversary celebrations.
Capitol Hill is bracing for a slow summer as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate GOP leaders struggle to advance a slate of items before the recess, including a controversial reconciliation bill, emergency Iran funding, and immigration measures, amid internal GOP doubts and Trump’s demands. The push stalls amid funding questions and vote divides. Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee is under pressure to disclose sexual misconduct settlements, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorses Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s open Senate race, signaling progressive momentum ahead of the midterms.