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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
GOP Dissenters Force House Vote Shutdown Until Monday
Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 6:02 pm
There will be no votes in the House for the rest of the week after a handful of Republicans sided with Democrats against allowing debate on a pair of GOP bills. A vote against the common formality of letting a bill proceed came after internal GOP disagreement over a proposal to allow members to vote remotely when they are parents of a newborn. Florida Republican Rep, Anna Paulina [R-FL] has been leading a bi-partisan group demanding members who are new parents be allowed to vote remotely for 12 weeks following the child’s birth. Speaker Mike Johnson [R-LA] says that means there cn be no votes in the House until Monday night.
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Democrat Staffer Arrested For Bringing Pistol Into Capitol
Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 5:59 pm
One of senator Cory Booker’s [D-N.J.] staffers was arrested on Monday for carrying a concealed pistol into the Capitol. Capitol police say the staffer —Kevin Batts of New Jersey—had earlier been led around security into one of the Snate office building. He later wound up outside the Senate chamber, and informed officers he was armed. Witesses later saw Batts being placed in handcuffs. Captol police said in a statement all weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds. The prohibition applies even to retired law enforcement, and those with carry permits from other states and the District of Columbia.
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Senate Budget May Hinge On Ruling By Parliamentarian
Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 4:52 pm
The Senate gets to work this week on its own version of a budget proposal. Majority Leader John Thune [R-SD] says he’d like to pass Senate budget resolution before the weekend. But there are a number of potential obstacles. First, the Senate parliamentarian would have to sign off on a GOP plan to use what’s known as the current policy baseline . Absent that concession, the numbers will indicate that ending the Trump tax cuts would increase the defecit, making it impossible for Republicans toaccomplish their goal of making the cuts permanent.
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Author Gordon Chang Says China Is The Real Power Behind Iran
Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 4:47 pm
An award winning scholar and author says China is the real power behind Iran’s growing threat to the United States. Gordon Chang says absent support from China, Iran would not have been able to attack Israel via its proxies. He also says China has purchased the vast majority of Iran’s oil exports over the past two years. He also notes that without Chinese semiconductors, Iran would not be able to build weapons. He was interviewed on the Salem Radio Network
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Senate To Examine Nationwide Injunctions From District Courts
Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 2:51 pm
The Senate Judiciary Committee this week takes a closer look at whether federal District Court judges have the right to impose nationwide injunctions. Universal injunctions have been in the news after low-level federal judges issued universal injunctions against the enforcement of several executive orders from President Trump. Most recently His decision to deport Venezuelan gang members illegally in the U.S. Senate judicary Commitee chairman Chuck Grassley [R-IA] predicts legislation will be needed to limit the scope of District Court rulings. He says this week’s hearing will give senators a chance “to hear the experts and discuss a path forward.”
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Southeast States Lead Way In Tax, Spending Reform
Fri, Mar 28, 2025 at 3:49 pm
One economist says he’s a big fan of the SEC, and not just because of it’s preeminence in college football. Jonathan Williams with the American Legislative Exchange Council tells the Salem Radio Network several southern states are also engaged in their own “DOGE” like efforts to cut waste fraud and abuse.
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Trump Signs Order To Prevent Election Fraud
Fri, Mar 28, 2025 at 3:42 pm
President Trump is taking steps to prevent cheating in upcoming elections. The president this week signed an executive order aimed at preventing election fraud Hans Von Spakovsky with the Heritage Foundating says the order also cuts off federal elections funding to states that refuse to demand proof-of-citizenship for those wishing to vote.
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Finance Committee Approves Dr. Oz Nomination To Head CMS
Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 5:43 pm
TV doctor Mehmet Oz is one step closer to taking over the helm at the government agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid. Senate Finance Committee has advanced Oz’s nomination to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS. The vote was 14-13, along party lines. Finance Committee chirman Senator Mike Crapo [R-ID] said before the vote there’s no doubt Oz will deliver much needed change. Demorats contend Oz favors privitizing Medicare, and say he’s refused to push back against the possibility of cuts to Medicaid.
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Pressure Mounts On Schumer To Give Up Leaderhip Role
Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 5:41 pm
Senator Chuck Schumer [D-NY] is facing more pressure from his own party to step down as Senate Minority Leader. Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow [D-MI] said during a Politico interview Schumer may not know ehn it’s time to step aside as leader. The 74 year old Schumer has sustained numerous attacks from fellow Democrats over his decision to cooperate with Republicans on a bill to avoid a government shutdown. McMorrow is considering a run for the soon to be vacant seat of Democrat Senator Gary Peters who won’t seek reelection in 2026.
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Senate Debate Over Cuts, Revenues May Delay Reconciliation Bill
Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Senate Republicans say a final budget reconciliation bill may not be approved until the Fall. House Speaker Mike Johnson favors passage of a final bill by April but Senate negotiators predict it may not come until until August or even September. The House goal of trimming the defecit by $880-TRILLION dollars over TEN years will be no easy task. Especially as. Lawmakers fight to void deep cuts to programs like Medicaid, but also embrace President Trump’s call to cut, and even eliminate some taxes.
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Slotkin: Diverse Politics Force Her To Be “More Than Just An AOC”
Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 1:17 pm
An intra-party debate continues over the future of the Democrat party. All Democrats share similar goals, and at the top of the list is countering President Trump and his Make America Great Again agenda. The dividing line between liberals and leftistis has mostly to do with tactics, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer was harshly criticized for working with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. Confronted at a Michigan townhall Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin [D-MI] told protesters the diverse poltics of her purple state -quote-“require me to be more than just an AOC.”
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“We Were Wrong.” Former GOP Rep. Now Supports Tariffs On China
Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Former California Representative John Campbell [R-CA] says it’s time for conservatives to recalibrate their position on tariffs. Campbell says he and many others vehemently opposed tariffs on China for decades but were wrong in their assumption by treating China to decades of generous trade policies the country would ditch communism. Campbell tells the Salem Radio Network he now sees President Trump’s tariffs vital to ensure the U.S. can keep up in areas such as electronics, manufacturing, defense, and the mining of rare earth minerals.
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Rubio Predicts Court Victory In Khalil Deportation
Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is standing by the administration’s decision to deport pro-Hamas student activist Mahmoud Khalil. Rubio says as a guest to the country Khalil had no business engaging in pro-Hamas rallies and violence at Columbia University. Moving forward he says vetting standards will be higher for those wishing to enter the country.
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U.S. To Build Seven New Miles Of Wall In Arizona
Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem says the U.S. will begin work on a new seven mile stretch of border wall. She announced on X the U.S. is building another stretch of wall in Arizona, and punctuated the message with her phrase. “Make American Safe Again.” On his first day in officie in 2021 President Biden halted all border wall construction. Combind with lax enforcement at the border that allowed millions of illegals to enter the country. Noem says illegal border crossings have already decreased by 95% under President Trump.
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New Bill Takes Aim At CCP “Police Stations” In U.S.
Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Republicans in Congress are taking aim at police stations they say are being operated in the U.S. by the Chinese Communist Party under the cover of bureaucratic services. Representative Ashley Hinson [R-IA] on Friday introduced the Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act to counter what she and co-sponsor Senator Tom Cotton [R-Ark] call China’s illegal intimidation tactics.The facilities in question purportedly offer assistance to Chinese nationals living abroad, but are accused of acting as the enforcement arm of the CCP. The stations are accused of spying on Americans, and of harassing Chinese citizens who haved fled the communist regime.
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Egg Prices Drop For Third Week In A Row
Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Some good news for American grocery shoppers. The Department of Agriculture says the wholesale price for a dozen white eggs this week is $4.15 down from $6.85 last week. Prices have now fallen for three weeks in a row. Egg prices have come to be emblematic of the sky high prices for everyday commodities faced by American households. Prices soared amid massive spending under President Biden. Lingering high prices have left many wondering whether and how quickly President Trump’s economic policies may solve the problem.
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Schumer Faces Uproar Over CR Cooperation With GOP
Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [D-NY] is under fire from many in his own party for allowing a vote on last week’s bill to avoid a government shutdown. Questions are starting surface about the 74-year old Schumer’s ability to lead the party. Many complaining about the lack of a clear strategy heading into last week’s vote. Chris Murphy of Deleware told Meet The Press -quote- “we need to have a conversation inside the caucus about whether we are willing to stand up to Republicans.” But the harshest criticism is coming from what observers call the “AOC wing “ of the party. She describes Schumer’s vote as “a huge slap in the face.”
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GOP Senator Predicts Trump SCOTUS Win On Tren De Aragua
Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 5:20 pm
A Republican senator predicts President Trump’s decision to deport members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador will ultimately pass muster with the U.S. Supreme Court. Senator Tom Cotton [R-Ark] says despite a District court ruling against them the deportations fall under President Trump’s executive authority.
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President Trump Signs Budget Deal, Avoiding Shutdown
Sat, Mar 15, 2025 at 6:21 pm
President Trump has signed into law legislation funding the government through the end of September. : A major victory for President Trump, the Saturday signing put an end to the threat of a partial government shutdown and capping off a struggle in Congress that deeply divided Democrats. The bill largely keeps government funding at levels set during Joe Biden’s presidency, though with changes. It trims non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increases defense spending by about $6 billion, which are marginal changes when talking about a topline spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion. The Senate cleared the legislation on Friday in a 54-46 party line vote.
Listen DownloadFormer GOP Senator Says Dems Learned Tough Lesson About Shutdowns
Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 5:28 pm
A former Republican senator says Democrats learned a hard lesson this week about threatening a government shutdown. Former Senator Jim Talent says he learned many years ago it’s no fun to be in the party blamed for a shutdown. Talent says as a politician unless you can explain the need for a shutdown to the American public will punish you politically. Republicans say polls show the public wanted nothing to do with what they call the “Schumer Shutdown”
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GOP Senator Vows To Dismantle “Censorship-Industrial Complex”
Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 2:28 pm
A Republican senator is blowing the whistle on what he calls the “censorship-industrial complex”. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt President Biden and other democrats built what he calls an “unholy alliance” of censorship groups. One that is still embedded deeply and broadly in a network of government agencies and NGO’s. Quote-“A shadowy network of NGOs, tech groups and governments working to censor the Left’s enemies—not just in America, but across the West. “
He’s calling on GOP colleagues to expose and dismantle the system over the next four years.
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Senate Republicans Warn Of A “Schumer Shutdown”
Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Republicans say there’s only one person to blame if the Senate fails to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the government up and running. Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick [R-PA] says it will be the “Schumer Shutdown” because the CR he’s rejecting is really no different than one passed by the House in December. McCormick says several Democrats backed away from supporting the bill only after intense pressure from the Minority Leader.
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Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen Won’t Run In 2026
Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 11:03 am
Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] of New Hampshire says she won’t run for reelection in the 2026 midterms, That’s another blow for Democrats in their battle to reclaim the senate majority. Shaheen, who turned 78 in January, is the first woman ever elected to serve both as governor, and a U.S. senator. She has served in the Senate since 2009 and is a member of several committees including Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Appropriations.
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Sen. Marsha Blackburn Warns Against “Another Schumer Shutdown”
Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 10:05 am
Senate Republicans are optimistic they’ll be able to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the government up and running through September. Senator Marsha Blackburn says there’s only one reason for Democrats not to support the bill. She says Minority Leader Schumer wants a government shutdown because he’s hoping that would make President Trump and the Republicans look bad. But she says he’s wrong about how the voting public would respond to a shutdown. she says polls indicate strong support for efforts by President Trump and the Republicans to rein-in wasteful spending.
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