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NPR
Politics
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dropped his demand that any power-sharing agreement with Democrats must keep the legislative filibuster intact.

McConnell Relents On Senate Filibuster Stalemate

Jan 26, 2021
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.
NPR
President Biden Takes Office
Austin speaks last month in Wilmington, Del., after being formally nominated as defense secretary.

Lloyd Austin Confirmed As Defense Secretary, Becomes 1st Black Pentagon Chief

Jan 22, 2021
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.
NPR
Biden Transition Updates
President-elect Joe Biden plans to name a slate of career officials as acting heads of agencies until the Senate confirms his picks.

His Cabinet Still Unconfirmed, Biden Looks At Plan B For Early Days In Office

Jan 14, 2021

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.

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

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

Jan 07, 2021
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.
NPR
Obituaries
Former Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, seen on Capitol Hill in 2013, has died at the age of 72.

Former Sen. Tom Coburn, Fiscal Hawk And 'Dr. No,' Dies At 72

Mar 28, 2020
The Republican from Oklahoma died Saturday after a fight with prostate cancer. During his time in Congress, Coburn earned a reputation for fighting spending, no matter whom he crossed in the process.
NPR
National
Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions campaigns for Alabama's Senate seat at the Blue Plate restaurant Thursday in Huntsville, Ala. Sessions is stressing his loyalty to President Trump as he seeks to regain the Senate seat he held for 20 years.

Jeff Sessions Embraces President Trump In Comeback Senate Bid

Mar 01, 2020
The former U.S. attorney general is making a play for his old Senate seat in Alabama, and despite his public falling out with the president tells voters there, "I've been with him from the start."
NPR
Trump Impeachment Inquiry
White House counsel Pat Cipollone typically works behind the scenes. That's about to change when he takes a central role in President Trump's Senate impeachment trial.

Trump Impeachment Trial Turns Spotlight On White House Lawyer Cipollone

Dec 23, 2019
President Trump often surrounds himself with lawyers he sees as being good on TV. But the key attorney for Trump's Senate impeachment trial is better known for working behind the scenes.
NPR
Politics
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is a co-sponsor of the resolution to commemorate the Armenian genocide that passed the Senate Thursday.

Senate Passes Armenia Genocide Measure, Ignoring White House Objections

Dec 12, 2019
The Senate resolution recognizes the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. Turkey condemned the move, saying it has put the U.S.-Turkey relationship at risk.
NPR
Politics
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., announced Wednesday he plans to retire at the end of 2019, citing health problems.

Citing 'Health Challenges,' Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson To Retire At End Of Year

Aug 28, 2019
In a statement, the senator said his Parkinson's disease was progressing. "I will not be able to do the job over the long term in the manner the citizens of Georgia deserve," Isakson said.
NPR
Technology
A Senate subcommittee is looking to see if Google is keeping conservative media and bloggers out of top search results.

Google's Search Bias On Trial In Washington

Jul 16, 2019
A Senate panel is looking to see if the company is keeping conservative media and bloggers out of top search results. Google has previously denied political bias.
NPR
Politics
Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California walks to the House floor Thursday. In a letter to Democratic lawmakers she announced the House would "reluctantly" pass a Senate version of an emergency immigration aid package.

House Passes Senate Version Of New Funding To Ease Border Crisis

Jun 27, 2019
The $4.6 billion bill passed in a 305-102 vote after the Republican-led Senate refused to adopt sections of the House version. The House would have added requirements for care of migrants.
NPR
National
Sen. Thad Cochran, shown here in 2013, used seniority to steer billions of dollars to his home state of Mississippi.

Thad Cochran, Long-Serving Mississippi Senator, Dies At 81

May 30, 2019
Cochran used his considerable influence, including serving as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to direct billions of dollars to Mississippi.
NPR
Politics
Sen. Richard Shelby (center), is the top Republican in a bipartisan group of lawmakers working to craft an agreement on border security.

Border Security Funding Talks Stalled, Government Shutdown Looms

Feb 10, 2019
If an agreement isn't reached by Friday at midnight, the government could partially shut down again, just three weeks after the end of a 35-day partial government shutdown.
NPR
Politics
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks at Vote For Justice: An Evening of Empowerment with activists and artists at the Newseum in May 2018.

Sen. Kamala Harris Announces 2020 Presidential Candidacy

Jan 21, 2019
The California Democrat's career as a prosecutor, as well as economic and racial equality, are the focus of her campaign. Harris is the third senator to announce a presidential run.
NPR
Politics
President Trump speaks about the partial government shutdown, immigration and border security in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House on Saturday.

Democrats Reject Trump Border Wall Proposal, Calling It A 'Non-Starter'

Jan 19, 2019
The proposal would temporarily extend deportation protections for some immigrants in exchange for funding for a border wall. But Democrats say the offer doesn't amount to much.
NPR
Environment
Andrew Wheeler arrives Wednesday to testify at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Republicans Praise, Democrats Grill Andrew Wheeler In EPA Chief Confirmation Hearing

Jan 16, 2019
Wheeler has been serving as acting EPA administrator since Scott Pruitt stepped down amid ethics scandals in July. Prior to his work at the EPA, Wheeler worked as a lobbyist for the coal industry.
NPR
Politics
If confirmed, William Barr will lead the Justice Department for the second time in his career; the first was under President George H. W. Bush.

Senate Sets Mid-January Confirmation Hearings For Attorney General Nominee

Jan 02, 2019
William Barr, nominated by President Trump to become attorney general, will face the Senate Jan. 15 and 16. If confirmed, Barr will replace acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.
KNPR
Newscast headlines

Hatch Laments Loss Of Civility For US Senate In 'Crisis'

Dec 12, 2018
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Outgoing US Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah bemoaned the disappearance of political civility, kinship and cross-party collaboration during a farewell speech Wednesday where he called the Senate a legislative body in "crisis."
 
Hatch, 84, w
NPR
Analysis
President Trump arrives at a campaign rally Monday in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Democratic Control Of The House Is Trouble For Trump, And 6 Other Election Takeaways

Nov 07, 2018
The biggest story of the night is that Democrats took back the House. That will stop President Trump's agenda in its tracks unless he compromises with the other side.
NPR
Elections
Supporters of Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill wait for her to arrive at a campaign stop in St. Louis on Monday.

What If The Polls Are Wrong Again? 4 Scenarios For What Might Happen In The Elections

Nov 05, 2018
The polls show a Democratic advantage in the House and a Republican one in the Senate. But be ready for anything because surprises in politics always happen.
NPR
Education

9 Things You Need To Know About Education And Tuesday's Election

Nov 04, 2018
From teachers running for office to ballot measures that can add billions to public education, here's our guide to how the issue is playing out.
NPR
Politics
Supporters cheer as President Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas Monday.

From 'Lyin' Ted To 'Beautiful': How Trump And Cruz Found Political Love

Oct 22, 2018
Donald Trump once accused Ted Cruz's father essentially of being linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. On Monday, he flew to the Texas senator's hometown and gave him his full endorsement.
NPR
Politics
President Trump has refused to divest himself of businesses and investments that could pose conflicts of interest. For example, the Trump International Hotel (seen here), located just blocks from the White House, regularly hosts events with foreign diplo

Congress Really Can Demand, And Get, Trump's Tax Returns. Here's How

Oct 11, 2018
Three House and Senate committees have "the unqualified right" to request taxpayers' returns from the IRS. There's no provision exempting the president.
NPR
Politics
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., points at Democrats as he defends Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week.

Will the Kavanaugh Saga Leave Bruises That Heal Or Permanent Scars?

Oct 05, 2018
The fight over the nomination rises from the emotional cauldron that boiled through the 2016 campaign and has simmered ever since.
KNPR
Newscast headlines

Senate Honors Victims, Survivors, First Responders Of 1 October

Sep 26, 2018

A resolution honoring those killed in the shooting on the Las Vegas Strip was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate late Tuesday night, just days ahead of the October 1 anniversary of the worst mass shooting in U.S. History.

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