Newsletter Archive

December 2022

Senate Scrambles to Prevent a Shutdown

Happy Thursday! It’s amazing how the prospect of having to work on a Friday can spur action in the Senate, where lawmakers were working through some last-minute snags holding up votes on a one-week extension of federal funding and the…

Plus: Plus: White House revives free Covid test program

US Health Spending Hits Record High

We have so much to tell you about this Wednesday evening. Congressional negotiators say they’ve reached a deal on the framework to fund the government through the end of fiscal year 2023. Lawmakers are set to vote on a one-week extension…

Plus: Plus, Fed raises rates again

Finally Turning the Corner on Inflation?

Good evening! President Biden held a large, jubilant signing ceremony for the Respect for Marriage Act on Tuesday, hosting some 5,300 lawmakers and other guests on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate the new law protecting same…

Plus: Plus: Congress prepares short-term funding patch to avoid shutdown

Interest Costs on the National Debt Are Soaring

Tomorrow morning will bring an inflation report for November along with a House hearing on the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX featuring testimony by former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. And the Department of Energy plans to announce what…

Plus: Plus: Congress scrambles for a spending deal

House Covid Report Slams ‘Reckless’ Trump Administration

Quite a Friday! Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona shook up the Senate a bit by announcing that she’s leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent. The change means that the 51-49 edge Democrats had figured to have in the next…

Plus: Plus: Covid vaccines set to cost more

Biggest Pension Rescue Plan in US History

Happy almost Friday! WNBA star Brittney Griner is on her way back to the United States after President Joe Biden approved a prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” who had served 10…

Plus: Plus: Another ‘unnecessary, manufactured’ budget crisis?

What’s in the Massive Defense Bill for 2023

Democrats today celebrated Sen. Raphael Warnock’s victory in Georgia’s Senate runoff, the final midterm contest of 2022. While the win gives Democrats an outright majority in the Senate and thus has some significant implications for how…

Plus: Plus: 'Repealing the vaccine mandate is a mistake'

Lawmakers Still Billions Apart on 2023 Spending

This Tuesday has been teeming with news. Polls in the Georgia Senate runoff race between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker are about to close. Former President Donald Trump’s company was convicted of tax fraud…

Plus: Plus: A deal to repeal the Pentagon’s vaccine mandate

Lame-Duck Spending Fight Drags On

Happy Monday! The final days of the 117th Congress are drawing near, but lawmakers still have plenty to do before the end of the year. Current government funding expires in 11 days, and the annual defense authorization, which has passed…

Plus: Plus: Has inflation already peaked?

Massive Covid Aid Fraud Was Fueled by Fintech Companies: Report

Welcome to December! Today, the Senate approved a measure that will force rail workers to accept a contract between their unions and freight companies, effectively eliminating the threat of a potentially crippling nationwide strike that…

Plus: Plus: Supreme Court to review Biden student loan forgiveness

November 2022

Fed’s Powell: ‘Long Way to Go’ in Battle Against Inflation

How was your Wednesday? Congress had a busy one, as the House passed legislation to avert a national rail strike, sending a pair of bills to the Senate. House Democrats also formally elected a new generation of leaders, choosing 52-year…

Plus: Plus: House passes bill to avert rail strike

Congress Looks to Avert Rail Strike

Happy Tuesday! The Senate just passed legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriage. The bipartisan, 61-36 vote, saw all Democrats joined by 12 Republicans in support of the bill, which will now go back to the House, where it is…

Plus: Plus: Hurdles ahead for a comprehensive spending bill

Pentagon Chief Warns Congress to Act - Now

We hope you’re getting back into the swing of things after a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday. Lawmakers return to Washington this week as they dive into what should be a busy lame-duck session before the end of the year, with government…

Plus: Plus, Final sprint in Washington

Biden Pauses Student Loan Payments Again: How Much It Will Cost

Happy Tuesday! Or maybe a not-so-happy Tuesday if you’re traveling today. The Federal Aviation Administration says today is the busiest travel day of Thanksgiving week, with more than 48,000 flights expected. Check out this cool map…

Plus: Plus: Thousands of millionaires claimed unemployment benefits during the pandemic

Democrats Should Defuse the Debt-Limit Time Bomb: Orszag

It should be a quiet week on the fiscal front as Congress is out ahead of Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday. At a brief, joke-filled White House ceremony Monday, President Joe Biden pardoned the annual Thanksgiving turkeys, named Chocolate…

Plus: Plus: Audits reveal millions in Medicare Advantage overcharges

The Pentagon Fails Another Audit

Welcome to the weekend! Here’s what we’re watching while waiting for the soccer World Cup to start on Sunday and wondering how the controversial choice of Qatar as host nation will play out.

Plus: Plus: Hakeem Jeffries launches bid to succeed Pelosi

Pelosi Makes Way for a New Generation

Good evening. House Democrats are headed for a changing of the guard as Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she will step aside. Here’s what you need to know.

Plus: Plus: Fake unemployment fraud numbers

McConnell Fends Off a Revolt

Happy Wednesday! Here’s what’s happening — or, in the case of the debt limit, not happening.

Plus: Plus: Dem plan to raise debt limit loses steam

GOP Infighting Heats Up as McConnell Gets a Challenger

It’s been a week since Election Day and Republicans are just now on the verge of cementing a House majority that they expected to lock up long ago. As of Tuesday afternoon, the GOP had 217 of the 218 seats needed to control the House. Here…

Plus: Plus: 8 billion humans