CQ Morning Briefing

Republicans continue their push against Biden-era climate policies. The Senate closes in on a SBIR deal. Trump's surgeon general nominee faces senators amid "MAHA" tensions. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.

Trump goes to the Hill for his first State of the Union address of his second term. Schumer vows Democrats will block any further tariff extensions. Ahead of a House vote, the Defense Department objects to a Senate aviation safety bill. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Trump will deliver his State of the Union tomorrow amid tariff uncertainty. The House could vote in relation to an Iran war powers resolution in the coming days. And there's been little movement on negotiations as the DHS shutdown continues. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.

DHS talks are at a near-standstill during the recess. Earmarks are making a comeback — big time. With major EPA regulations on the line, the Supreme Court may have the final say. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.

The Department of Homeland Security is expected to partially shut down as lawmakers leave for recess without a deal. A long-awaited five-year farm bill is expected to be released. And House Republicans want to reverse their earmarks ban. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

The likelihood of a DHS funding lapse grows as negotiations stall. An El Paso airspace closure draws ire and questions from lawmakers. Democrats who released a video on illegal orders are keeping their legal options open after a failed indictment attempt. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Bondi faces lawmakers amid a spate of DOJ controversies. Time is running out for a DHS funding deal. GOP lawmakers hash out election administration bills. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.

A focus on immigration enforcement intensifies on the Hill, as a spending deadline and high-profile hearings await. A retooled voter ID bill heads to the House floor. And a House panel marks up a first-responders emergency communications bill. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.

DHS funding negotiations hit a logjam. Some senators are reluctant to again use reconciliation to boost defense funding. And the race is too close to call in New Jersey's Democratic primary for the special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's former seat in Congress. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.

Democrats release proposal for DHS policy changes. Bessent faces Senate lawmakers after a grilling in the House. The New START expires today. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

Lawmakers seek consensus ahead of next week's DHS deadline. Some GOP members want more federal involvement in elections — but congressional leadership is pushing back. Democrats push to delay Warsh's nomination hearing amid Fed probe. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.

The House is expected to take up the Senate-passed funding package. D.C. advocates push back against Congress' attempt to reject the District's tax code changes. Facing a contempt vote, the Clintons say they will testify before lawmakers. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.

A partial government shutdown is underway, and the House faces a politically complicated vote on the spending package that would end it. A bipartisan duo makes a quiet bid for an Iran war powers resolution. And the nomination of Kevin Warsh to be Fed chair faces an uphill battle. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.

Another partial government shutdown could begin tonight, though it may be brief. Senate Democrats have mixed reactions to a GOP health subsidies extension draft. And House Republicans make another voter ID push. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

Shutdown odds rise, with Democrats and the White House at loggerheads over DHS policies. Recent attacks on lawmakers underscore threats to member safety. Democrats are reviewing a draft of a compromise plan to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.

Senators report hints of progress on DHS funding talks. Calls grow for Noem's departure from DHS. Rubio testifies about U.S. policy in Venezuela. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

Shutdown threats mount over DHS funding. Some Senate Republicans are calling for investigations into immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Congressional Republicans pivot back to abortion. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.

A partial government shutdown is possible as Democrats decry this weekend's shooting in Minnesota. And due to the snow, Senators have one fewer day in town to tackle a mammoth spending package before the Friday deadline. Plus, the Senate Agriculture Committee marks up a crypto market bill. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.

The Senate is set to take up a final spending package next week, but a weekend snowstorm could scramble the timeline. Lawmakers try to move forward on farm aid and ethanol. And supporters of an anti-deepfake bill urge House floor action. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.

House Rules will reconvene this morning to address the four-bill spending package. Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee. House Republicans want to revise a toxic chemicals law. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

House Rules takes up the four-bill spending package. The Supreme Court takes up Cook's Fed dismissal. U.S. oil companies want assurances before investing in Venezuela. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Jan. 21 2026.

Congress has two weeks left to pass the remaining half of the fiscal 2026 spending bills. Democrats worry about Trump's threats to invoke the Insurrection Act. And as lawmakers grapple with extending health insurance subsidies, Trump unveils a health plan in broad strokes. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Senators could vote to end debate on an appropriations package. Congress eyes Trump's potential foreign policy targets. A judge questions the policy for lawmaker visits to immigration detention centers. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

The House tackles another spending package. Republicans face White House pressure to oppose a Venezuela war powers resolution. A GOP stock-trading ban gets a markup — but Democrats have qualms. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

The House-passed "minibus" faces at least brief Senate bumps. Some Republicans are critical of the DOJ's Powell investigation. SCOTUS hears arguments on transgender athlete bans. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Lawmakers release two more spending bills for fiscal 2026. Democrats introduce legislation to rein in Trump's military actions in Venezuela. And Republicans seek to walk back ESG considerations in retirement funds. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Senators hope to unveil an ACA subsidies compromise next week. The ICE shooting in Minneapolis complicates DHS appropriations. And the Senate advances a Venezuela war powers resolution. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

Restrictions on health care credits face pushback from Democrats. House leaders hope to vote today on a three-bill spending package. Democrats press to use congressional power amid Trump's military actions. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

Senators continue efforts on a health care subsidies solution. Democrats ready war powers resolutions for Venezuela and Greenland. The House farm bill won't advance until February. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.

The House prepares to take up three spending bills. Maduro's toppling sparks major questions. It's the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

Brace yourself for a January funding sprint. The Senate punts a potential health care fix into the new year. And there's more on Washington's to-do list as the year wraps up and a new one beckons. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.

The House will likely vote on ACA tax credits in January. House Republicans are looking at a January funding sprint. Senators quickly move to undo an NDAA provision regarding airport safety. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.

Holdups remain for quick movement on a Senate spending package. A GOP health bill is headed for the House floor, though it doesn't extend ACA credits. The Senate is set to vote on the NDAA today. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.

Senators float a bipartisan ACA subsidy effort for January. Senate Republicans are considering separate votes on a spending bill package. Final Senate action on the NDAA is on the horizon. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

The Senate plans to clear the National Defense Authorization Act this week. House GOP leadership is teeing up floor action on a health care plan that forgoes an ACA tax credit extension. And energy permitting overhaul bills are also slated for the House floor. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

Small signs of progress on the massive Senate minibus. Two partisan health care votes fell short in the Senate: Now what? The NDAA is set for Senate votes next week. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.

Senate votes will test competing health plans. After passing the House, the NDAA heads to the Senate. CDC employees say a White House policy threatens telework for employees with disabilities. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.

Expect a House floor vote on the NDAA as soon as today. House and Senate Republicans launch competing health care plans. An overview of remaining appropriations holds. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

The House Rules Committee meets to tee up the compromise NDAA for the floor. Senate Republicans float competing health care plans. House Republicans push ahead on a permitting overhaul. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

Lawmakers have unveiled the long-awaited text of a compromise National Defense Authorization Act. A batch of capital formation bills is being teed up for the House floor. And the Supreme Court weighs in on Trump's firing of an FTC commissioner. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.

Leadership works through last-minute sticking points on the National Defense Authorization Act. Small signs of progress emerge on the Senate's massive "minibus" spending package. And get ready for competing, partisan health care votes as soon as next week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Lawmakers work through final NDAA details ahead of release. A report on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of Signal is expected. Senators leave the door ajar for a health care premium deal. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

A deal to address expiring health tax credits is looking more like a long shot. Senate Republicans lead a hearing on impeaching "rogue" judges. A bipartisan trio in the House hopes to force a vote on Russia sanctions. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.

Congress has a long to do list—and not a lot of time to get it done. Hegseth is facing bipartisan criticism for his reported order against an alleged drug smuggling boat. The House this week takes up a bill to codify name, image and likeness rules for college athletes. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.