Politics & Government

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrives at the Russell Senate Office Building last Wednesday. The Senate's unwritten dress code will no longer be enforced as of this week.

The Senate's dress code just got more relaxed. Some insist on staying buttoned-up

12:20pm September 21, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision not to enforce an unofficial dress code has elicited strong reactions and dominated talk on Capitol Hill, even as a potential government shutdown looms.

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President Biden went to four fundraisers while he was in New York City attending the U.N. General Assembly, including this one at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway on Sept. 19.

Politics & Government

Biden is telling his donors that Trump is out to destroy democracy

11:03am September 21, 2023

by Tamara Keith

President Biden isn't doing a lot of campaign events yet. But when he meets donors, he is spending a lot of time talking about the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.

A photo of residents pushing for the need for medicaid expansion

Politics & Government

Medicaid expansion back on glidepath to enactment in North Carolina as final budget heads to votes

10:04am September 21, 2023

by Gary Robertson, Associated Press

Passing North Carolina's budget will remain the last hurdle for the state to expand Medicaid to potentially cover 600,000 adults who don't qualify or make enough for health insurance now that an effort to link it to authorizing more casinos is off the table.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is working to contain a revolt by hard-line members of his party that could threaten his job as speaker and a potential government shutdown.

Politics & Government

Up First briefing: House budget dispute; Zelenskyy in D.C.; Simone Biles makes history

8:00am September 21, 2023

by Suzanne Nuyen

House Republicans can't agree on a spending bill. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of his D.C. visit. Simone Biles qualifies for a record sixth World Gymnastics Championships.

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Politics & Government

A proposed spending bill for the Pentagon is a point of contention for the GOP

7:59am September 21, 2023

House Republicans started the week with a plan to vote on their own spending bill, but Speaker McCarthy spent much of the week battling a small group hardline members who were blocking the debate.

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Biden's plan to send more aid to Ukraine is criticized by voters in Wisconsin

7:29am September 21, 2023

by Chuck Quirmbach

Some liberal and conservative voters in the political battleground state of Wisconsin disagree with President Biden's plan to send as much as $24 billion more in aid to Ukraine to fight Russia.

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Rep. Matt Rosendal is among Republicans blocking budget bills from advancing

7:27am September 21, 2023

by Shaylee Ragar

A looming government shutdown would have impacts across the country, including in Montana, where Rep. Matt Rosendale is among those opposing federal spending bills.

Morning news brief

6:01am September 21, 2023

House Republicans can't agree on a stopgap government spending bill. NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Lawsuits say Baton Rouge police beat detainees.

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Politics & Government

In House panel hearing, AG Garland insists he and the DOJ are independent

5:13am September 21, 2023

by Ryan Lucas

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, and defended the Justice Department's investigations into the Jan. 6 insurrection and Hunter Biden.

UAW strike may be pivotal to raise workers' living standards, Sen. Sanders says

5:13am September 21, 2023

NPR's A Martinez talks to Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who supports the UAW's strike as a fight for fair wages, but also against growing inequality and corporate greed.