Congress
House speaker’s refusal to seat Arizona representative is supported by history and law
House speaker’s refusal to seat Arizona representative is supported by history and law House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to seat Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva until the federal government resumes normal operations has sparked a lawsuit from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who claims Johnson is using his power to “strengthen his hand” in the ongoing […]
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Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns
Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns Amateur politicians, who have no prior experience in elected office, are more likely to fuel gridlock and government shutdowns in Congress due to their lack of bipartisanship. The study found that first-term amateur lawmakers work across party lines far less often than incumbent […]
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The shutdown – and the House’s inaction – helps pave Congress’ path to irrelevance
The shutdown – and the House’s inaction – helps pave Congress’ path to irrelevance The US Congress has been in recess for over 40 days due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, with no votes being held and Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to swear in newly elected Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva. Despite having a constitutional role […]
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Why a quick compromise to the first government shutdown in nearly 7 years seems unlikely
Why a quick compromise to the first government shutdown in nearly 7 years seems unlikely The US government has entered its first shutdown in nearly seven years due to disagreements over spending measures, with both Democrats and Republicans seemingly dug in on their positions. The Democrats’ stated sticking point is the expiration of health care […]
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Facing a shutdown, budget negotiations are much harder because Congress has given Trump power to cut spending through ‘rescission’
Facing a shutdown, budget negotiations are much harder because Congress has given Trump power to cut spending through ‘rescission’ Congress faces a deadline of October 1 to adopt a spending measure to keep the federal government open, as budget negotiations are complicated by President Trump’s power to cut spending through “rescission”. The use of continuing […]
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One ‘big, beautiful’ reason why Republicans in Congress just can’t quit Donald Trump
One ‘big, beautiful’ reason why Republicans in Congress just can’t quit Donald Trump Despite widespread criticism, President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic tax and spending package passed both the House and Senate with minimal opposition from Republicans. The bill’s passage can be attributed to the increasing power of the presidency over Congress, where lawmakers are more […]
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Forcible removal of US Sen. Alex Padilla signals a dangerous shift in American democracy
Forcible removal of US Sen. Alex Padilla signals a dangerous shift in American democracy US Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on June 12, 2025, after interrupting her remarks and being handcuffed by federal agents. The incident has raised concerns about the treatment of members […]
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