Congress returns to battles over DHS, expelling lawmakers and the Iran war
By Sahil Kapur and Scott Wong WASHINGTON — After a two-week recess, Congress returns Monday to a growing agenda. It needs to fund the still-shuttered Department of Homeland Security, for which Republicans want to pass a separate, party-line bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol. And there’s a push in the House to expel up to four members, including Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who ended his campaign for governor of California over the weekend after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell has said the sexual assault allegations are “false” and apologized for “mistakes in judgment.” There will also be a debate about President Donald Trump’s
Sen. Tim Kaine says Congress will ‘have a hard time’ reviewing Trump’s military budget request
By Alexandra Marquez Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., expressed skepticism Sunday about the Trump administration’s 2027 budget plan, which includes a request of $1.5 trillion from Congress to fund the Defense Department, 44% more than what was appropriated for this year. “I have a hard time seeing that size of an increase as being justified,” Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” He added that he and other members of the committee would be “taking a look at it” over the next several weeks. Part of his doubts, Kaine said, stem from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision
Democrats fighting for Iowa Senate seat tussle over Chuck Schumer and super PACs
By Henry J. Gomez DES MOINES, Iowa — Two Democrats seeking to flip one of Iowa’s Republican-held Senate seats spent Wednesday evening at a forum here, appealing to progressive activists and voters who could influence the June primary. But it was a Democrat from 1,100 miles away who emerged as a tension point. State Sen. Zach Wahls tried to characterize his primary rival, state Rep. Josh Turek, as an extension of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. While Schumer has not endorsed in the race, there have been signals that he prefers Turek. Playing to a crowd unhappy with the influence of
HBCU alum could become youngest mayor ever in Bowie, MD
Rebecca Pearce, a 23-year-old HBCU alumna, has entered the race for mayor of Bowie, Maryland becoming the youngest candidate seeking the office. Pearce is a graduate of Howard University. Pearce announced her candidacy in late February ahead of a special election scheduled for April 7. The election will determine who fills the vacancy left by former Mayor Tim Adams, who resigned in February after being appointed to the Prince George’s County Council. Special Election Draws Multiple Candidates Pearce is one of nine candidates running in the Bowie mayoral race. In interviews with local media, she said her decision to run
Republicans win Georgia race — but Democrats post largest swing yet in special House elections
By Ben Kamisar and Bridget Bowman Republicans padded their slim House majority with a special election win in Georgia on Tuesday night. But the race also marked the biggest swing against the GOP compared with the 2024 presidential results out of seven House special elections in President Donald Trump’s second term. It’s the latest sign of an encouraging political environment for Democrats, though the results in lower-turnout special elections never translate exactly to November. Democrats hope to mobilize voter frustration with Trump and his party to break the Republicans’ unified control of Washington this year. Republican attorney Clay Fuller, Trump’s pick to fill
Voters set to decide Wisconsin Supreme Court race and Georgia runoff for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat
By Adam Edelman and Owen Auston-Babcock Voters in Wisconsin and northwest Georgia head to the polls Tuesday to decide a pair of races that will provide further clues about how the political environment is shaping up heading into this fall’s midterm elections. In battleground Wisconsin, liberals are aiming to further expand their majority on the state Supreme Court and extend their recent winning streak. And in the runoff election in Georgia’s conservative 14th Congressional District, Republicans are favored to hold on to former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat, while Democrats are hoping to at least make it competitive. Tuesday’s contest between the Democratic-backed Chris Taylor
Tax cuts are the hot new idea for Democrats
By Sahil Kapur WASHINGTON — Tax cuts are becoming the hottest new idea in Democratic politics from coast to coast, as candidates across the party spectrum seek to capitalize on cost-of-living struggles and win back working-class voters. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., recently rolled out sweeping tax cut plans. Booker seeks to create a federal tax exemption for up to $75,000 in income for married couples. Van Hollen wants to set that figure at $92,000. Both have been floated as potential 2028 presidential candidates. In California, progressive candidate for governor Katie Porter, a former Democratic congresswoman, is proposing to wipe out
Sen. Raphael Warnock Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Expand Federal Funding To HBCUs
by Sharelle B. McNair As the sole HBCU graduate serving in the U.S. Senate, Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock worked with a member on the opposite side of the political aisle to present a bipartisan bill that will extend federal funding opportunities to HBCUs, AfroTech reports. Warnock, a Morehouse College alum, and Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, home to the most HBCUs in the country — 14 to be exact — introduced the bipartisan HBCU Research Capacity Act to 30 of the country’s HBCU leaders and supporters. As the Trump administration has worked tirelessly to eliminate funding for the schools, the purpose of the legislation would
Republican leaders announce two-track plan to end the DHS shutdown
By Sahil Kapur and Kyle Stewart WASHINGTON — House and Senate Republican leaders jointly announced a plan Wednesday that they said would end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that caused major airport delays. “In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President’s directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks: through the appropriations process and through the reconciliation process,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said in a statement. The two leaders were vague about the exact plan, but it appears to closely resemble the
Trump signs an executive order to create federal voter lists
By Jane C. Timm and Ryan J. Reilly President Donald Trump is again trying to exert control over American elections, signing an executive order Tuesday that aims to create federal lists of citizens and ask the U.S. Postal Service to transmit mail ballots to only those people. The executive order, his second related to elections since he retook office last year, is sure to be quickly challenged in court. The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to set voting rules and administer their own elections, though Congress has the ability to set some regulations, too. “That’s a big deal,” Trump said as he signed the
