Senate

North Carolina House members no longer have the option to cast floor votes remotely — a result of improving conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

President Biden continued his hands-off approach to the impeachment trial of his predecessor. Asked whether he would watch the trial, Biden said: "I am not."

Congressional committees now move to the next stage of finalizing the details of President Biden's $1.9 trillion bill. Democrats are using a process that can pass the legislation on a party-line vote.

The budget process allows the party in control in Congress to pass most big-dollar legislation without having to worry about a filibuster. But the process can be risky.

Some Republicans are arguing that former President Donald Trump should not face a Senate impeachment trial because he's a private citizen. That was argued before — and rejected narrowly — in 1876.

The Senate minority leader pointed to statements by two moderate Democrats who oppose ending the legislative maneuver. Both sides claimed victory, but the truce could be short-lived.

Austin's near-unanimous confirmation came despite concerns raised on both sides of the aisle that he hadn't been out of uniform for the legally mandated minimum seven-year period.

Normally, the Senate confirms a few Cabinet officials before Inauguration Day. But President-elect Joe Biden will need to turn to career civil servants for help because of delays.