The Hill

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) on Wednesday posted a parody video online depicting his Senate Democratic colleagues wearing photoshopped sombreros and cartoonishly large mustaches, taking a shot at Democrats who voted against a GOP proposal to fund the government. “The 44 Senate Democrats who voted for [Sen. Chuck] … Cruz posts video of Democrats wearing sombreros, cartoon mustachesRead more

American higher education faces a credibility crisis: Fewer than half of Americans believe colleges are headed in the right direction. Stories of unemployed graduates saddled with crushing debt fuel skepticism about whether college is worth the investment. Some blame a rise in college costs. Others say institutions no longer demonstrate … Why America has lost faith in college and what to do about itRead more

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other House Republican leaders will speak with reporters Thursday morning as the government shutdown stretches into a second day. The press conference comes as the Senate has failed to advance the House-passed stopgap spending plan that would have funded the government through Nov. … Watch live: House GOP leaders give remarks on Day 2 of shutdownRead more

With at least another day before the Senate votes to potentially end the government shutdown, the White House is preparing for mass layoffs. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told House Republicans in a Wednesday call that reductions in the workforce will happen in a day or … Live updates: Layoffs loom as shutdown puts government in limboRead more

At least one person was injured Wednesday night in a “low-speed” collision between two Delta Air Lines regional jets at LaGuardia Airport in New York.  “Delta teams at our New York-LaGuardia hub are working to ensure our customers are taken care of after two Delta Connection aircraft operated … 1 person injured in ‘low-speed collision’ between Delta jets on LaGuardia taxiwayRead more

On this day seven years ago, the world lost a brilliant thought leader, journalist, husband, father, and grandfather: Jamal Khashoggi. As his widow, my loss was compounded by the obfuscation of exactly what happened in the days and weeks leading up to his premeditated murder. Key pieces of … Turkey must hand over critical evidence in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder Read more

Morning Report is The Hill’s a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today’s issue: ▪ White House applies shutdown pressure ▪ Democrats call for perseverance ▪ Supreme Court to review Cook firing ▪ Trump signs Qatar protection order Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The … White House amps up shutdown pressure on DemocratsRead more

This week’s indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is a scene from Game of Thrones brought to life. The cruel and narcissistic Joffrey sits on the throne. He demands that Ned Stark, Lord of the North, bend the knee. Stark refuses, stands defiant, and pays the price with his … What I learned from James ComeyRead more

Joshua Allen, a “So You Think You Can Dance” alum, died Tuesday after being struck by a train. He was 36.   Allen’s family told TMZ he died in a hospital near his Texas home.   The “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 4 winner’s family has … ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ champ dies after being struck by trainRead more

Moderate Democrats are at the center of a game of tug-of-war between Republicans and Democratic leadership, as the GOP attempts to peel off the five remaining votes needed to back the party’s “clean” stopgap spending bill and reopen the government. According to multiple GOP sources, individual Republican lawmakers … Moderate Democrats at center of shutdown pressure campaignRead more

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s assertion Tuesday that newly proposed military fitness standards may exclude women from certain combat roles has reignited fears about his approach to women in the armed forces. In a highly unusual address to hundreds of the military’s top leaders in Quantico, Va., Hegseth declared … Hegseth reignites battle over women’s role in militaryRead more

An early launch of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms by the Trump administration may have given the process, which has been marred with trouble the past few cycles, a leg up despite the current government shutdown.   The FAFSA forms were released last Wednesday, … FAFSA forms, launched ahead of shutdown, could be in position for ‘record high’ seasonRead more

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that he hasn’t heard from the White House since a Monday meeting with President Trump and other congressional leaders. “We haven’t heard from the White House since the White House meeting on Monday. The president has been behaving, you know, … Jeffries says he hasn’t heard from White House since Monday meetingRead more

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday called President Trump’s Gaza peace plan “realistic” when talking to reporters. “So far it seems a realistic proposal,” the pope said, according to Vatican News, also saying he wishes Hamas would go with the plan “within the established timeframe.” “It’s important, nonetheless, that … Pope Leo on Trump’s Gaza peace plan: ‘So far it seems to be a realistic proposal’Read more

The federal government shut down for the first time since 2019 on Wednesday morning, leaving many employees working without pay until funding is restored. TSA agents and air traffic controllers will stay on the job, along with thousands of other essential workers, including those who keep Social Security … Congress gets paid during a government shutdown, others have to waitRead more

The White House says Jane Fonda is “free to share whatever bad opinions she wants” amid her relaunch of a McCarthy-era group but still defended President Trump as a “strong supporter of free speech.” The Academy Award-winning actor sounded the alarm on free speech in the United States … White House claps back at Jane Fonda’s reboot of First Amendment group: Trump a ‘strong supporter of free speech’Read more

96 <!– Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Health Care Health Care <!–   The Big Story  Students for Life: Abortion pill review ‘must go back to the beginning’  Anti-abortion advocates aren’t satisfied with how the Trump administration is conducting its safety review of the … Students for Life: Abortion pill review ‘must go back to the beginning’ Read more

96 <!– Presented by Lockheed Martin {beacon} The Big Story  Dems lash out at Trump, Hegseth ‘unhinged’ speech to generals House Democratic leaders let loose on Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, hammering the Defense secretary over new directives to the nation’s generals. © Greg Nash Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) characterized Hegseth’s speech … Dems lash out at Trump, Hegseth ‘unhinged’ speech to generalsRead more

Actress Jane Fonda described her worry amid a second Trump administration, saying Wednesday that the country is facing “a very chilling time.” “This is a very chilling time. You know, we’ve faced attempts at autocracy before in the ’20s and ’30s, and you’ve cited the example of McCarthyism. … Jane Fonda on Trump: ‘This is a very chilling time’Read more

(NEXSTAR) – With lawmakers unable to reach a funding agreement by the midnight deadline, a government shutdown began on Wednesday. While the federal government is shut down, some essential services will continue. The FBI and CIA are still running investigations, air traffic controllers are still guiding planes to land, … What happens to TSA, the DMV, post offices, FAFSA and more during a government shutdownRead more

Conservative appellate Judge Maria Lazar announced on Wednesday that she would be launching a bid for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat vacated by conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley. Lazar’s entry into the race sets up a high-stakes contest that will determine whether Republicans can reverse their recent losses … Conservative appellate Judge Maria Lazar launches bid for open Wisconsin state Supreme Court seat Read more

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will attend the 2026 Super Bowl, where Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny is set to headline the halftime show, according to Corey Lewandowski, an adviser at the Department of Homeland Security. “There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people in … ICE officers to attend Super Bowl after Bad Bunny announcement, says LewandowskiRead more

A civilian employee with the Navy on Wednesday admitted to falsely reporting an active shooter at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst New Jersey Air Base. Base emergency protocols were activated, and law enforcement officials arrived on the scene on Tuesday after Malika Brittingham said she heard five to six … Employee admits to falsely reporting active shooter at New Jersey base Read more

House Democratic leaders are holding firm in opposition to the Republicans’ spending bill, brushing aside new threats from the Trump administration to use the shutdown to advance mass firings of federal workers and drastic cuts to programs Democrats hold dear.  House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the … Democratic leaders hold firm in face of mass firing threat: ‘Cruelty is the point’Read more

96 <!–   sup, sub { font-size: 100% !important; } sup { mso-text-raise:10% } sub { mso-text-raise:-10% } {beacon} Technology Technology <!–   The Big Story  Cyber law lapses with government shutdown A law allowing private companies to share information about cybersecurity threats with the government expired Wednesday … Shutdown closes cyber threat sharing programRead more

BMW has recalled more than 145,000 vehicles over fire risk from overheated starters, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The recall was announced on Sept. 25 and it involved 145,102 vehicles, impacting X5, X6, X7, 2020 340I, 840I and 740 LI models.  NHTSA said that … BMW recalls more than 145,000 vehicles over fire risk from overheated startersRead more

(NEXSTAR) – In early September, the Trump administration announced the dismantling of a Biden-era policy to compensate fliers, a move applauded by a trade group calling for more deregulation that could directly affect passengers. Airlines for America, which lobbies on behalf of United, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and other … Airlines want to roll back these consumer protections – what passengers can doRead more

The Trump administration is holding off on its threatened 100 percent tariffs on drugmakers that aren’t building facilities in the U.S., with officials saying the new tax is still being prepared. President Trump said on his Truth Social platform last week that, “Starting October 1st, 2025, we will … Trump delays threatened 100 percent tariffs on drugsRead more

(NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to fund the federal government by midnight on Tuesday night, triggering a shutdown on Wednesday. At the heart of the deadlock are health insurance subsidies. Here’s what to know about the key sticking points in the budget negotiations. What are the … Why is there a government shutdown?Read more

A majority of Pennsylvania voters back Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) job performance, according to a new poll. In the Quinnipiac University poll, 60 percent of respondents said they back “the way Josh Shapiro is handling his job as governor,” while 28 percent said the opposite. Back in January … Shapiro approval ticks up to 60 percent among Pennsylvania voters: SurveyRead more