Capitol Hill

A number of Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced the CROWN Act, legislation that would ban discrimination based on one's hairstyle or hair texture. Here, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs Crown Act legislation on June 15, 2023 in Lansing, Mich. that will outlaw race-based hairstyle discrimination in workplaces and schools.

Black lawmakers reintroduce federal CROWN Act legislation to ban hair discrimination

7:48am May 03, 2024

by Jonathan Franklin

The bill which was previously passed in the House in 2019 and 2022 but blocked in the Senate, aims to end race-based hair discrimination in schools and workplaces.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., after McConnell froze and stopped talking at the microphone during a news conference after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday. McConnell was escorted back to his office and later returned to the news conference and answered questions.

Politics & Government

McConnell says he's 'fine' after abruptly stopping press conference

7:54pm July 26, 2023

by Deirdre Walsh

On Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell abruptly stopped speaking at a press conference with reporters on Wednesday. He was later escorted away but then returned, saying he's "fine."

House Clerk Cheryl Johnson receives a standing ovation in the House chamber on Thursday, the third day of speaker elections.

Politics & Government

Meet Cheryl Johnson, the House clerk managing the speaker votes

11:15am January 06, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Johnson has served as House clerk since 2019, the fourth woman and second Black person to do so. She's drawn praise from both sides of the aisle for running the speaker vote and maintaining order.

The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol announced Monday that its second public hearing will take place on the morning of June 13.

Politics & Government

Second House Jan. 6 hearing scheduled for the morning of June 13

4:50pm June 06, 2022

The House select committee investigating the January 6th insurrection has not yet announced witnesses for either Thursday's or next week's hearings.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during the House select committee hearing in July on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Rep. Schiff reveals impeachment regrets, tensions on Capitol Hill after insurrection

4:56pm October 10, 2021

In a wide-ranging interview with NPR's Michel Martin, Rep. Adam Schiff discusses his regrets from President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial and his relationship with his GOP colleagues.

A vast majority of self-identified Republicans do not consider President Trump to blame for the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Opinion: The Fringe Of America's Fabric

2:27pm January 16, 2021

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the upcoming presidential inauguration of Joe Biden in the wake of last week's deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Queue Listen Now

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen through a broken window at an entrance of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.

Politics & Government

Timeline: How One Of The Darkest Days In American History Unfolded

3:39pm January 07, 2021

by Domenico Montanaro

A mob stormed the U.S. Capitol after President Trump urged supporters to march to the building to oppose the election results. Roughly 14 hours later, Congress affirmed Joe Biden's victory.

John Bolton, then the national security adviser, listens as President Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting in February. Bolton's opposition to a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate conspiracy theories may pit him against his former boss.

Politics & Government

Democrats Now Have An Unlikely Ally In Trump Impeachment Inquiry – John Bolton

1:33pm October 27, 2019

He doesn't cut the profile of a member of "The Resistance," but Bolton's opposition to a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate conspiracy theories may pit him against his former boss.

Queue Listen Now

Left to right, former Vice President Joe Biden, Massuchusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg react on stage during the Democratic Presidential Debate at Otterbein University.

Politics & Government

6 Takeaways From The 4th Democratic Presidential Primary Debate

7:52am October 16, 2019

by Domenico Montanaro

Elizabeth Warren faced new scrutiny, Pete Buttigieg controlled multiple exchanges, and the potential conflicts of interest of Joe Biden's son got relatively little focus.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the Census Bureau, has agreed to testify at a House oversight committee hearing in March about the citizenship question he approved adding to the 2020 census.

Wilbur Ross To Testify On Census Citizenship Question At House Oversight Hearing

10:09am January 22, 2019

by Hansi Lo Wang

The commerce secretary has agreed to be questioned by lawmakers on March 14, after a federal judge ruled that his decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census was based on "sham" reasons.