2020Talks

House Democrats are reassuring their constituents about the reasons for the shutdown. Federal workers are concerned about being in the middle of the partisan fight and what happens now that the Farm Bill has expired?    

The administration threatens thousands of federal layoffs, as Democrats demand an investigation into White House shutdown messaging. Trump declares war on cartels, and housing advocates call for support on ballot measures in NYC.

The government shutdown is set to continue with no end in sight. States dip into their coffers to keep federal programs running and veterans face challenges accessing services.    

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls for a tougher military stance as Washington faces a shutdown standoff, advocates defend New York's youth justice reforms and survivor groups warn immigration crackdowns endanger victims of domestic violence.    

Israel agrees to a tentative peace deal for Gaza. Democrats and Republicans brace for a government shutdown and NYC's Dept. of Corrections violated the city's sanctuary laws.    

Arkansas teens weigh in on free speech, Republicans repeal EV tax credits, Social Security paper checks end, and domestic violence experts warn of funding cuts. Also, updates on Eric Adams, a deadly Michigan church shooting, and government shutdown talks.    

The federal megabill healthcare cuts remain central to the ongoing budget stalemate. The Dallas sniper acted alone and used ICE agent tracking apps and former FBI Director James Comey is indicted for obstruction of justice and false statements.    

Republicans slam the shooting at an ICE facility, call for an end to political violence. Trump is found to have illegally fired federal watchdogs, as Democrats blame Republicans for the looming government shutdown.    

An Ohio chaplain regains asylum after ICE detention, activists warn of free speech crackdowns, Alabama groups push to keep TVA public and President Trump targets the UN over migrant funding.

President Donald Trump recommends that the FDA require physicians to say Tylenol can cause autism during pregnancy. Children's health coverage is being challenged by a shaky policy landscape and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is reinstated after being suspended.    

Conservatives are split over Kimmel's cancellation as the Pentagon cracks down on journalists. A new California law bans masks for ICE agents and public library supporters are hopeful about future federal funds.

Trump and conservatives condemn Jimmy Kimmel's Charlie Kirk comments. Lawmakers support a new bill ending mid-decade redistricting and Texas attempts to ban medication abortions.    

The former CDC director testifies before Congress. Federal budget deadline looms ahead as talks shift to healthcare funding and Former President Barack Obama discusses Charlie Kirk's death.

Ohio and Missouri battle over redistricting in a fight for congressional advantage, prosecutors seek the death penalty in the Charlie Kirk killing and FBI Director Kash Patel faces criticism for politicizing the agency.

Gov. JB Pritzker and President Trump debate political violence, as the Buckeye State braces for redistricting and advocates say administration orders on cashless bail punish the poor.    

Utah's governor emerges as a Republican voice of peace, as Trump threatens to send troops to Memphis. Opponents call Idaho s execution by firing squads unethical and voting groups slam a new ban on registration at citizenship ceremonies.

Utah's governor calls for peace after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, while experts warn of rising strife. Advocates push New York lawmakers to act on federal budget cuts and Congress faces a fight over a plan for a mass killing of owls.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. A government shutdown looms as Dems and the GOP hit an impasse and the Senate considers a rule change to speed up nomination votes.

Experts warn of white nationalist Active Clubs in 25 states. Budget cuts end SNAP-Ed nutrition classes nationwide. Indiana Lawmakers back AI regulation. A Senate report accuses the administration of corrupting science and Ohio readies for redistricting.    

The president says a new guidance on school prayer is coming soon. The Supreme Court allows more racial profiling in immigration enforcement and Missouri unions mobilize against redistricting.

Some Senate Republicans say they're worrying about RFK Jr's HHS policies. House Democrats stand behind Lisa Cook, as a criminal investigation into possible mortgage fraud begins and Democrats could face electoral college trouble after the next census.    

Conservation groups warn against repealing forest protections, vaccine policy sparks clashes in Congress and among the states, growers say farm insurance leaves small operations behind and the White House faces scrutiny over a naval strike near Venezuela.    

Epstein survivors join lawmakers calling for full release of documents. Advocates file an international legal complaint about Gaza genocide and the federal government is taking over train stations.

Trump says the National Guard will head to Chicago, despite a federal court ruling. Unions rally for a $15 minimum wage in Pennsylvania, while migrant communities in New York struggle with the presence of ICE.  

Aging Democrats may imperil a possible House majority next year, South Carolina requests the Supreme Court uphold its transgender bathroom ban in schools and the redistricting arms race is likely to reduce the power of people of color.  

Labor Day protests aim to give power back to the working people, Trump paints a rosey but questionable picture of the state of labor and research shows low wage workers are falling even further behind their bosses.

Labor Day protests target the political power of the very wealthy. Advocates press for childcare and education funding and Chicago leaders resist a possible federal troop deployment.

The Minneapolis school shooting again brings calls to address gun violence, while researchers offer some suggestions. Indiana protestors also call for the state to not get into the national redistricting fight.

Democratic-led cities vow to fight National Guard troop deployments, a judge rules Utah Republicans engaged in partisan gerrymandering and immigration lawyers warn of unsafe conditions for migrant children in federal detention centers.

Trump takes a tightrope approach on flag burning crackdown, and attacks cashless bail policies in Democratic cities and states. Federal employee unions sound the alarm on restrictions of union protections and collective bargaining rights.

A Maryland court strikes down an anti-DEI school policy, voter roll updates raise concerns in Arkansas, Nevada regulators probe utility overcharges, Trump threatens to send troops to Chicago and gerrymandering battles intensify nationwide.

California Democrats push through new congressional maps, as the party bleeds registered voters. President Trump is handed victories in court, as business owners and low-income households brace for impacts from his policies.

Vance doubles down on Trump takeover of D.C. Elections could decide the fate of Democrat controlled court in PA, while abortion access restrictions at the VA cause consternation from advocates.

Kentucky loses federal solar funds as households brace for higher costs, Colorado's immigrants run community trainings in the face of deportation sweeps, Montana service workers navigate the tax break on tips and Ohio's Sherrod Brown launches a comeback bid.

President Trump says he'll end mail-in voting before next year's midterm elections, Texas Democrats return home as GOP lawmakers advance new redistricting maps and more states send National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.

Connecticut creates new rules for gun sales, Texas redistricting maps face pushback over minority representation, Nebraska advocates press Congress for immigration reform and ICE officers expand their role in Washington, D.C. crime enforcement.

CA Governor announces mid-decade redistricting plan. Economists worry inflation is rising due to Trump's tariffs and Social Security workers fight back against cuts on the agency's 90th anniversary.

A federal court hears an emergency petition for an Ohio imam in ICE custody. California weighs disaster relief for foster youth, Maine fights a federal move to bar undocumented children from Head Start programs and Arizona seniors rally to protect Social Security.

DC police are working with federal law enforcement after President Trump's takeover. TX Senate passes controversial redistricting maps and more states are volunteering to create migrant detention centers.

President Trump places D.C. police under federal control, Texas Governor Greg Abbott warns the redistricting process could drag on for years and new research shows an increasingly partisan split to views of science.  

Trump's meeting with Putin could impact Taiwan's security, as well as that of Ukraine. Iowa labor unions and faculty band together to defend academic freedom and two Texas cases could decide the fate of blue state abortion medication shield laws.

ICE plans a new detention center in Indiana. President Trump considers 'taking over' the DC police and Israel's PM says he'll take total control of the Gaza Strip.

President Trump again threatens a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., Texas Republicans say there's no way to stop their redistricting and GOP members of Congress work to sell the tax and budget megabill to angry constituents.

Trump weighs in on the Texas redistricting effort, as Democratic and Republican states across the country consider redrawing congressional maps and North Carolina's governor vetoes an anti-DEI bill.

States reject Department of Justice requests for voter records, the Texas Governor threatens to remove Democratic lawmakers who fled the state from office and new federal legislation would set minimum salaries for all public school teachers.

Texas Democratic legislators leave the state to block a GOP redistricting plan. Trump fires the head of labor statistics after a negative jobs report and mass immigration arrests aren't targeting the people they were said to be aimed at.

NC Sen. Tillis wants Republicans to bolster Medicaid, after cuts earlier this month. The economy blooms under President Donald Trump, though red flags loom and a new report examines state budget transparency.

Texas Republicans unveil a map that further gerrymanders districts before midterms, as a Senate committee advances a bill to ban stock trading by members of Congress. Seattle voters will soon decide whether to continue its so-called "democracy vouchers" program.

Calls for a national ban on assault weapons are renewed after a shooting in New York. The Department of Defense has banned almost 600 books in its bases' schools and the British Prime Minister says the UK will recognize a Palestinian state.

The Trump administration wants stepped up voter deregistration efforts, the U.S. will help get more food to starving Palestinians and a federal judge rules Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood must continue.

Speaker Johnson blasts effort to release more Epstein files, as a bill advances in the House to strip chemical regulations from the EPA. MT students join a lawsuit for Election Day voting rights, while a MS court decision should lead to more transparency on public defender resources.