All articles tagged with #reconciliation
Trump’s SAVE America Act remains stalled in the Senate with Democrats united against it and Republicans divided on ending the 60‑vote filibuster; while the House pushes a budget reconciliation path, many Republicans doubt a third reconciliation is viable, and McConnell’s health-related absence further complicates the tally.
Prince Harry is reportedly encouraging Meghan Markle to reconnect with Kate Middleton to “clear the air” during the Sussexes’ upcoming U.K. trip; no meeting has been confirmed, but insiders say Middleton could be receptive and Meghan is willing to try, with any private conversation unlikely to be used for PR.
Royal commentators say Kate Middleton isn’t pushing for a William–Harry reconciliation during Harry’s UK visit. While she’s viewed as a potential emotional peacemaker, insiders note the Princess of Wales is staying out of the Sussex drama to protect family stability, with William firmly opposed to a public reconciliation after tensions highlighted by Harry’s disclosures and remarks about King Charles’s health. The Wales camp prefers private peace over public protocol, making a reunion unlikely for now.
President Trump urged GOP leaders to attach the SAVE America Act voting reforms to a defense-spending bill using reconciliation to bypass the Senate filibuster, aiming to pass both before lawmakers’ summer recess. House Speaker Mike Johnson intends to try voting-restrictions again via the budget bill, despite conservative pushback. The reforms would require proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote. Even if the measure advances, Senate approval remains uncertain and time is tight with lawmakers leaving in late July.
Six Polish and Ukrainian outlets published a rare joint appeal warning that rising tensions over historical issues (notably the naming of a Ukrainian unit after the UPA) risk driving a wedge between Poles and Ukrainians and playing into Russia’s disinformation campaign. They stress Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Moscow and Poland’s solidarity, urge politicians and publics to seek mutual understanding, and say reconciliation should come after Ukraine defeats the aggressor. Signatories include Gazeta Wyborcza, OKO.press, Ukrainska Pravda, and others.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will brief House Republicans in a classified session on White House goals for military funding and a party-line reconciliation package as Republicans push Recon 3.0; the report also notes the House Appropriations Committee moving on the 2027 defense bill, bipartisan progress on a kids-online-safety package (KOSA), and other Capitol agenda items including a Dershowitz appearance and a pivotal Iowa Senate poll tied to national political dynamics.
Former 'Summer House' couple Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke publicly buried the hatchet, re-following each other on Instagram after years of tension, and Hubbard appearing on Radke’s More Life podcast as they counted down to reconnect, signaling a new, amicable friendship after a long history that included a 2022 reunion, a 2023 wedding breakup, and reconciliation by Season 10 with Hubbard later backing Radke’s Soft Bar opening.
Two Ask Eric questions anchor this piece: a long-standing rift with Harris surfaces as his daughter’s wedding looms, and the guidance is to attend if formally invited to support other family members, while respecting Harris’s reluctance to mend fences and avoiding letting the feud disrupt other relatives; if not invited or excluded, sending a card is reasonable. The second Q&A offers tips for handling conversations about bodies: reply with a simple, compassionate boundary (e.g., “I’m sorry you feel that way”), steer away from body talk, and consider asking before commenting, since many people don’t want to discuss or be judged about their bodies.
Senior House Republicans met with Defense Secretary Hegseth to discuss a potential third partisan reconciliation package, pressing for a $350 billion Pentagon funding infusion to replenish resources used in current conflicts and boost future readiness, funded by anti-fraud savings. Senate leaders signaled caution about fitting such a package within budget rules, leaving questions about pursuing a third reconciliation measure. The live updates also note a likely lapse in FISA Section 702 and other Capitol developments as lawmakers push agendas ahead of recess.
Two Republican appropriators say there will not be a third reconciliation package to fund the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget, putting key defense priorities like munitions procurement and F-35 upgrades at risk and signaling that another reconciliation bill is unlikely.
The House approved a nearly $70 billion, three-year funding package for ICE and Border Patrol using the budget reconciliation process, moving the measure to President Trump’s desk on a party-line vote of 214-212. The package adds roughly $65 billion to ICE/CBP beyond last year’s funding, plus $5 billion for discretionary DHS use, and includes changes pushed by DHS Secretary Mullin, such as new training rules and oversight while Democrats pressed for reforms; some Republicans warned the tactic could backfire and signaled more reconciliation packages could follow before year’s end.
Top Republican senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee say the proposed $350 billion reconciliation bill to reach a $1.5 trillion defense budget is unlikely to pass, arguing there will be no further reconciliation bills. The Pentagon structured its request to fund about $1.15 trillion through regular appropriations with the remainder via reconciliation. While House Republicans back the plan, Senate critics warn it would create instability by relying on a one-time infusion instead of base funding; the Air Force seeks $16 billion in reconciliation for F-35s and missiles, and without it, prioritization would occur within existing funds.
The House narrowly approved a bill funding ICE and CBP through FY2029 via budget reconciliation, ending a four-month funding lapse and signaling a test of Trump’s influence over Republicans; Democrats oppose continuing funding without new restrictions, and the measure now heads to Trump for signature.
House Republicans are mapping Reconciliation 3.0, a third partisan budget package aimed at lowering costs and rooting out fraud in safety-net programs, with CBO and JCT briefings and a push to finalize before the August recess. The rollout includes potential tax and energy measures and scrutiny of Medicaid/Medicare savings, while other Capitol Hill updates show Rep. Obernolte pushing a bipartisan AI framework toward hearings and Democrats plotting an affordability agenda amid stalled funding talks and looming Section 702 issues.
Republicans unveiled the SAVE America Through REAL ID Act, a bill to fund a $50 million-per-year grant program from 2027–2031 to help states issue REAL ID–compliant IDs, while using budget reconciliation to bypass a Democratic filibuster and revive components of the SAVE America Act; critics say REAL ID isn’t citizenship proof and the move serves as a procedural workaround to advance stricter ID rules without broad bipartisan support.