shutdown-liveblog-redblue_720

SHUTDOWN UPDATES: Airport Shutdowns, Backpay Questions Put Pressure On Senate To Make A Deal

Chuck Schumer

Congress

Donald Trump

Government Shutdown

JD Vance

Mike Johnson

With just hours to go before the looming government shutdown is expected to kick in, a poll by The New York Times suggests that most voters would actually prefer to see Democrats in Congress get to work and find a way to avoid it.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a screenshot of a single poll question asking 1,075 voters which of the following statements “came closest” to an accurate representation of their opinion on the matter.
“New York Times Poll: 65% of Americans say, ‘the Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met,’” Leavitt’s caption read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New York Times Poll:
65% of Americans say, “the Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met.” <a href="https://t.co/x3CFjzqgm6">pic.twitter.com/x3CFjzqgm6</a>
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1973024518424743946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The first choice read, “The Democrats should shut down the government if their demands are not met” — and just over one-fourth (27%) of respondents selected that answer. The second, which was chosen by 65% of respondents, read, “The Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met.” Just under one-tenth (7%) of respondents did not choose one of the two options.
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Trump’s team shared the same data in graphic form:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 POLL: 65% of Americans say Democrats SHOULD NOT shut down the government <a href="https://t.co/9schOzvYfV">pic.twitter.com/9schOzvYfV</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973027165739643068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
House Democrats are all-in on the imminent shutdown, and even shared a group photo celebrating their refusal to come to the table. “House Democrats are in DC and ready to cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care,” the caption claimed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
House Democrats are in DC and ready to cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care. <a href="https://t.co/vnNRqGD3NS">pic.twitter.com/vnNRqGD3NS</a>
— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseDemocrats/status/1972828851442204762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who proved to be the weak link in the last shutdown standoff, has made it clear that he does not intend to budge this time. Indeed, after he argued that it was more important to make sure that the government was funded and people were paid — a position that the NYT poll suggests voters share — Schumer took a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-already-happening-abcs-the-view-is-in-absolute-panic-mode-over-schumer-caving-on-cr">wave of backlash</a> from within his own party for giving Republicans a win. That experience, coupled with an increasingly likely primary from someone further to the left — possibly from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — has apparently galvanized Schumer to stand his ground in the current fight.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said as much on Tuesday, arguing that Schumer didn’t care if he was blamed for the shutdown because the optics were better for him if he was.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderJohnThune</a>: &#8220;Politically speaking, Chuck Schumer needs a Schumer Shutdown&#8230; This is a made-up problem by the Democrats, who desperately need to satisfy a political base that is hostile to Donald Trump&#8230; This doesn&#8217;t have anything to do with health care.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/BwNdzwqJtn">pic.twitter.com/BwNdzwqJtn</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973012686796623956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I&#8217;m going to tell you, just in the Senate at least, politically speaking, Chuck Schumer needs a Schumer Shutdown,” Thune said. “And I think that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re probably careening toward. But it&#8217;s up to the Democrats. This bill — this 24 pages is sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. It could be picked up and passed, the government stays open, and we complete our appropriations work.”
“They have the same leverage on November the 21st that they have right now,” Thune said of the Democrats, adding, “&#8230; This is a made-up problem by the Democrats, who desperately need to satisfy a political base that is hostile to Donald Trump. That&#8217;s what this is about &#8230; This doesn&#8217;t have anything to do with health care.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-CONGRESS

As Dems Prepare To Force A Government Shutdown, Poll Suggests The People Aren’t Falling In Line

As Dems Prepare To Force A Government Shutdown, Poll Suggests The People Aren't Falling In Line

Hakeem Jeffries

Karoline Leavitt

New York Times

Politics

Poll

The New York Times

WASHINGTON—Vice President JD Vance emerged from a White House meeting with congressional leadership with a grim message.
&#8220;I think we&#8217;re heading to a shutdown, because the Democrats won&#8217;t do the right thing,&#8221; Vance said. &#8220;I hope they change their mind, but we&#8217;re going to see.&#8221;
President Donald Trump and Vance met at the White House Monday afternoon with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Their goal — to pass a continuing resolution that will keep the government open before October 1 — seems to remain out of grasp.
The seven-week extension will allow time for the appropriations process to take place and will fund the government until November 21. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Sept. 19 by a <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5371/all-actions?overview=closed&amp;q=%7B%22roll-call-vote%22%3A%22all%22%7D">vote</a> of 217-212. The Senate, however, failed to adopt the continuing resolution by a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00528.htm">vote</a> of 44-48. The Senate will need 60 votes in order to pass the resolution.
The leaders spoke with reporters outside the White House following the meeting, but did not indicate any sign of a deal as Republican leaders urged Senate Democrats to pass the continuing resolution which was previously passed by the House.
“We have disagreements about tax policy, but you don’t shut the government down. We have disagreements about healthcare policy, but you don’t shut the government down,&#8221; Vance said. &#8220;You don’t say the fact that you disagree about a particular tax provision is an excuse for shutting down the people’s government and all the essential services that come along with it.&#8221;
Vance said he believes the American people are &#8220;going to suffer because these guys won&#8217;t do the right thing.&#8221;
Schumer said Democrats presented proposals to the president during the meeting and said they shared with him “some of the consequences of what’s happening in health care,” such as “the closing of rural hospitals, the fact that so many clinics are closing.&#8221;
“If he will accept some of the things we asked, which we think the American people are for, on healthcare and on recessions, he can avoid a shutdown, but there are still large differences between us,&#8221; Schumer said.
Schumer cited “very large differences” between the parties and said the Republican bill has “not one iota of Democratic input.”
He said it is “up to the Republicans if they want to shut down or not.”
Republicans have <a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-hr-5371-continuing-appropriations-and-extensions-act-2026">reportedly</a> called the continuing resolution &#8220;clean and straightforward.&#8221;
Johnson said Democrats &#8220;refuse to acknowledge the simple facts,&#8221; and called the continuing resolution a &#8220;commonsense thing to do — the right thing to do.&#8221;
The Speaker said Democrats previously issued a counterproposal that included $1.5 trillion in new spending &#8220;that is unrelated to the ongoing appropriations process.&#8221;
&#8220;If the Democrats make the decision to shut the government down, the consequences are on them and I think it&#8217;s absolutely tragic,&#8221; Johnson said.
During the press conference, Thune held up a copy of the continuing resolution, and said it is sitting at the Senate desk, and can be passed Monday night or Tuesday, if Democrats acquiesce.
&#8220;Right now, they are the only thing standing between the American people and the government shutting down,&#8221; Thune said.
Thune said that similar resolutions were passed 13 times when Democrats had the majority.
&#8220;To me, this is purely a hostage-taking exercise on part of the Democrats,&#8221; Thune said. &#8220;We&#8217;re willing to sit down and work with them on some of the issues they want to talk about, whether it&#8217;s the extension of premium tax credits, with reforms, we&#8217;re happy to have that conversation. But as of right now, this is a hijacking of the American people — and it&#8217;s the American people that are going to pay the price.&#8221;
On Sept. 20, Jeffries and Schumer wrote a letter to the president, shared <a href="https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/1969426282552119312">on X</a>, in which they insisted that Democrats will “not support a dirty spending bill that continues the Republican assault on healthcare.”
Jeffries claimed the bill includes “devastating Medicaid and Medicare cuts; skyrocketing premiums, co-pays, and deductibles; the refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” and more.
The government is set to shut down Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. if Congress does not approve a continuing resolution.

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu Meets With Trump At The White House

‘We’re Heading To A Shutdown’: White House Meeting With Congressional Leaders Ends In Stalemate

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Jake Tapper on Sunday and defended the recent indictment of former FBI head James Comey.
Tapper pressed Johnson on the indictment, asking if it was proper for a president “to publicly or privately instruct their Attorney General to prosecute a political opponent,” but Johnson pushed back.
“As a constitutional attorney and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, do you believe it&#8217;s acceptable for any president to publicly or privately instruct their attorney general to prosecute a political opponent and go as far as firing a U.S. attorney if they don’t bring charges because they don’t think the case is strong enough?” Tapper asked.
Johnson rebutted Tapper, noting that it wasn’t the president who indicted Comey, but a grand jury of his peers.
“I’m glad you brought up the principle, that is exactly what’s at issue here. James Comey lied to Congress. He took an oath. He said things to Congress that were simply not true. It’s called perjury. A grand jury … a non-partisan, non-biased grand jury that was assembled looked at the charges and they agreed. They voted to bring an indictment of James Comey &#8212; not President Trump, not the DOJ, but a grand jury,” Johnson said. “That’s how our system works. It’s a very important principle for us to apply that everybody has to subscribe to the law — even a former FBI director. And he has lots to answer for.”
Johnson added that there were “many things” over which Comey could have been indicted, but the statutes of limitations ran out.
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CNN’s Jake Tapper: “As a constitutional attorney and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, do you believe it&#8217;s acceptable for any president to publicly or privately instruct their Attorney General to prosecute a political opponent and go as far as firing a US attorney if… <a href="https://t.co/8fE3Fk04pi">pic.twitter.com/8fE3Fk04pi</a>
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedWave_Press/status/1972291949630497196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Comey was indicted on Thursday by a grand jury for allegedly lying under oath.
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The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/comey-indicted-for-lying-to-congress-no-one-is-above-the-law?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Comey+Indicted+For+Lying+To+Congress%3A+‘No+One+Is+Above+The+Law’">indictment</a> stems from statements the former FBI head made to Congress in September 2020 when he testified regarding his handling of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, according to the <a href="https://x.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1971357752443404605">indictment</a>. Comey’s indictment comes just days ahead of a major deadline: September 30, when the statute of limitations was set to expire on claims made by Comey during the 2020 hearing.
Comey is the first former senior administration official to be indicted in connection with the Russian collusion conspiracy and the FBI investigation into false ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.

Speaker Mike Johnson

Speaker Johnson Pushes Back On CNN Host’s Claim That Trump Forced Comey Indictment

Jake Tapper

James Comey

Media

Multiple people are dead after what appears to be an anti-ICE attack in Dallas, red state homeowners are suing over a COVID-era bailout program, and Senate Democrats stall a funding bill that would keep the lights on in Washington.
It’s Thursday, September 25, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you would rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">ICE Targeted In Dallas</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-976679" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Texas-Anti-ICE-Assault-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Texas-Anti-ICE-Assault-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Texas-Anti-ICE-Assault-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Texas-Anti-ICE-Assault-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Texas-Anti-ICE-Assault-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Texas-Anti-ICE-Assault.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: A shooter opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas on Wednesday, killing multiple immigrant detainees.
The gunman shot three detainees. Two of them died from their wounds. The shooter then turned the gun on himself and died at the scene.
Photos of the aftermath of the attack showed that bullets struck windows and walls inside the facility, but no law enforcement personnel were injured.
Federal law enforcement sources tell The Daily Wire that authorities believe that the shooter was trying to shoot at ICE officers when he aimed at an unmarked van. That van was holding illegal immigrant detainees who were being walked in for processing.
The shooter: Reports indicate the alleged shooter was 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. While not much is known about his history, authorities say he did give a glimpse into his motive after leaving shell casings behind, one engraved with the words “ANTI-ICE.” The FBI is investigating the targeted shooting, and the agency’s director, Kash Patel, says the casings prove that there was “an ideological motive” behind this attack.
Step back: The fatal shooting comes amid an uptick in left-wing violence targeting law enforcement and conservatives. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke about that during a press conference on Wednesday, where he called for his left-leaning colleagues in Congress to stop fanning the flames of the violence with their rhetoric.
“To every politician who is using rhetoric demonizing ICE and demonizing CBP, stop. To every politician demanding that ICE agents be doxxed and calling for people to go after their families, stop,” said Cruz. “This has very real consequences. Look, in America, we disagree. That&#8217;s fine. That&#8217;s the democratic process. But your political opponents are not Nazis. We need to learn to work together without demonizing each other, without attacking each other.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Biden Housing Bailout Sparks Racial Backlash</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-976677" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Race-Based-Bailout-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Race-Based-Bailout-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Race-Based-Bailout-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Race-Based-Bailout-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Race-Based-Bailout-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Race-Based-Bailout.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: A $10 billion coronavirus-era housing bailout paid Americans&#8217; mortgages and even their HOA dues. But 40% of the funds went to black Americans, due to the program including explicit racial preferences.
Now, some white residents are suing their states, saying the government illegally withheld assistance from them based on their race.
The significance: This is one of the largest race-based government wealth transfers in history. And it happened because it came during the COVID pandemic, when the United States was hemorrhaging billions of dollars.
The program is called the <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/homeowner-assistance-fund">Homeowner Assistance </a><a href="https://www.ncsha.org/homeowner-assistance-fund/">Fund</a>, and it provided people up to $50,000 to pay housing-related bills. It was passed by Congress and required about half the money to go to homeowners at or below the median income, while the remainder could be allocated to wealthier individuals, with priority given to “socially disadvantaged” homeowners.
“Socially disadvantaged?” Congress didn’t define it, and the program was run separately by each state, which received money after submitting a plan to the federal government. But the Biden administration heavily suggested a definition for the states to include in their plans: “those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias.”
The “presumption,” the administration said, is that “the following individuals are socially disadvantaged: Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.”
How it played out: In Alabama, 85% of the funds went to black residents. In Georgia, it was 82%. That’s surprising because, just based on the fact that half the money was supposed to be doled out based on income, you should have seen more people of other races. Only about half of Georgians below the median income are black. 
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit say that’s because Georgia deliberately ensured that white people didn’t even know it existed. The state’s plan included texting residents to inform them about this opportunity for $50,000 – but only residents of counties with high minority populations.
The Biden administration was never clear about the criteria, but many states used the definition provided by the Biden administration. Now, Georgia, Missouri, and Oklahoma are being sued by residents for going along with it, despite politicians in those states claiming to oppose DEI.
The lawsuits: In Missouri, the program was administered by a housing commission, where the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general serve as commissioners. Missouri partnered with the Black Chamber of Commerce to advertise the program, and 44% of the money went to blacks, who make up less than 12% of the population. A spokeswoman for Missouri Republican Governor Mike Kehoe declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but called him “a strong advocate for removing DEI.”
In Oklahoma, plaintiffs include a massage therapist who was forced out of a job by COVID policies and her disabled-veteran husband. They point out that the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency said prominently on its website that “African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, [and] LGBTQ+” residents would get preference.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Budget Deadline Looms Over Congress</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-976675" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Budget-Battle-Rages-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Budget-Battle-Rages-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Budget-Battle-Rages-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Budget-Battle-Rages-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Budget-Battle-Rages-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Budget-Battle-Rages.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: President Donald Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic congressional leaders this week to discuss government funding. The president blasted Democrats’ demands as “unserious and ridiculous” as government funding is set to expire at the end of the month.
The deadline to avert a partial government shutdown is September 30, giving lawmakers less than a week. House Republicans have already passed a clean, 7-week funding extension. However, the bill is currently stalled in the Senate. Even though the GOP holds the majority, Republicans need 60 votes, which means they need some Democrat support.
Trump had planned to meet this week with Democratic leaders – Sen. Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries – but scrapped the meeting over the Democrats’ demands. The president doubled down on Wednesday, writing on Truth Social that Democratic demands include free healthcare for illegal aliens, half a billion dollars for “Radical Left News Outlets,” leaving “DEAD PEOPLE on Medicaid and Social Security rolls,” and “men playing in women’s sports.” 
What Democrats are saying: Democrats say they won’t back down. Schumer and Jeffries have been on a media blitz this week following the meeting&#8217;s collapse. The main line of attack from Democrats is centered on healthcare.
“Republicans have engaged in an unprecedented assault on the healthcare of the American people throughout this year. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Millions of people are going to lose coverage because of what Republicans have done,” said Jeffries during an appearance on <a href="https://youtu.be/CLm2OIhjkUo?t=228">MSNBC</a>.
State of play: According to some reports, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) urged Trump to cancel the meeting. Congressional Republicans thought that Democrats were unserious and that meeting with them would only erode Republicans’ leverage.
Johnson sent the House into recess after it passed its 7-week extension, and he said he won’t recall lawmakers back to DC until after the September 30 deadline. If Democrats don’t agree to a clean bill, there will be a fight over who takes the blame for the shutdown.
&nbsp;

MRN 9.25.25 Thu Thumbnail V4

Morning Brief: Dallas ICE Attack, Housing Bailout Sparks Racial Lawsuits & D.C.’s Budget Standoff

COVID-19

Dallas

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

John Thune

Morning Wire

Pandemic

Ted Cruz

Texas

Nearly 60 Democrats on Friday voted against a resolution from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to honor conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and condemn all political violence. 
The resolution, which denounced the assassination of Kirk in Utah last week, <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025282">passed</a> the House with a 310-58 vote. All Republicans and 95 Democrats voted in favor, while 58 Democrats voted against it and 38 voted present. 
Johnson’s resolution “honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty.”
It also calls upon “all Americans — regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed — to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”
In a speech, Johnson <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrats-oppose-resolution-honoring-charlie-kirk-condemning-political-rcna232150">said</a> that after political debates, Kirk would “reach out a hand of friendship or offer an arm around the shoulder of someone who he had just defeated in a contest.”
“Why? Because it wasn’t about winning … the policy arguments. It was about the people,” he said. “And Charlie loved vigorous debate, but he loved people more.”
Prominent Democrats who voted against the resolution included Reps. Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Pramila Jayapal (Washington), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), and Ilhan Omar (Minnesota). 
During debate on the floor, Ocasio-Cortez attacked Kirk over his political views, labeling him a racist. 
“His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans — far from ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as asserted by the majority in this resolution,” she <a href="https://x.com/AOC/status/1969074559602110509">wrote</a> on X. “We can condemn his horrific assassination and the scourge of political violence without uplifting these ideas.”
House Democrat leadership agreed Thursday that they would vote in support of Johnson’s resolution.
Earlier this year, a <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025179?RollCallNum=179&amp;BillNum=H.RES.519" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolution</a> to condemn the assassination of Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband passed unanimously, with all Republicans voting in support.
The Senate on Thursday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/charlie-kirks-birthday-officially-recognized-by-senate-as-national-day-of-remembrance?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Charlie+Kirk’s+Birthday+Officially+Recognized+By+Senate+As+‘National+Day+Of+Remembrance’">passed</a> a resolution to recognize Kirk’s birthday on October 14 as the “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.” The resolution passed unanimously and is essentially a ceremonial move, as it lacks the authority of law.
A memorial service for Kirk is set for Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, that will feature remarks from President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other administration officials.

Big City Mayors Testify At House Hearing On Sanctuary Cities And Immigration

AOC, Dozens Of House Democrats Vote Against Resolution Condemning Kirk Assassination

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Charlie Kirk

House of Representatives

Ilhan Omar

Democrats objected after Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) requested a spoken prayer from the House floor for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday while holding an event at a university in Utah. 
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead. As news of the assassination spread, House Speaker Mike Johnson held a moment of silence in the House for Kirk. After the moment of silence, Boebert asked for a verbal prayer. 
“I believe silent prayer gets silent results,” Boebert said, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/charlie-kirk-shot/card/moment-of-silence-for-charlie-kirk-on-house-floor-then-shouting-tetPbgY959DJRk19U54u">according</a> to the Wall Street Journal.
Boebert’s request was met with yells of opposition from Democrats, including from Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), who yelled about school shootings, the Journal reported. Other Democrats screamed “no.” 
Daily Mail reporter Jon Michael Raasch <a href="https://x.com/jmraasch/status/1965894436409454828?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">described</a> the incident as &#8220;Possibly the ugliest moment I&#8217;ve ever witnessed in politics.&#8221; About three dozen Democrats in total objected to having a spoken prayer, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15086223/democrats-reject-prayers-charlie-kirk-house-shouting.html?ico=authors_pagination_desktop">according</a> to the outlet. “Pass some gun laws!” one yelled. In response, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna yelled back, “You f***ing own this!”
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NEW: Democrats REJECT prayers for Charlie Kirk as moment of silence devolves into House floor shouting match
Possibly the ugliest moment I&#8217;ve ever witnessed in politics&#8230;<a href="https://t.co/zfUEazy0Qi">https://t.co/zfUEazy0Qi</a>
— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMRaasch/status/1965894436409454828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The verbal back-and-forth prompted Johnson to repeatedly bang the gavel and call the House to order. 
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A moment of silence was held on the House floor for Charlie Kirk.
Rep. Lauren Boebert then called for a moment of prayer for Charlie Kirk. Democrats verbally disapproved. <a href="https://t.co/YJA0D95nqk">pic.twitter.com/YJA0D95nqk</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1965887896298336546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“Utterly devastating. Charlie was a close friend and confidant. He will be sorely missed by so many,” Johnson <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1965890979430555951">posted</a> on X. “Every political leader must loudly and clearly decry this violence. Our prayers go out to his wife and young children. May he rest in peace.”
The FBI announced that a person of interest had been captured, and that person was believed to be the shooter. 
“The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody. Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for your partnership with @fbi,” FBI Director Kash Patel <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1965903392934633587">wrote</a> on X. “We will provide updates when able.”

Mike Johnson 9/10/25

‘Ugliest Moment I’ve Ever Witnessed’: House Dems Object To Prayer For Charlie Kirk

Democrats Object After Request For Prayer For Charlie Kirk

Lauren Boebert

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) brought his chamber to a halt on Wednesday, holding a moment of silence for conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk after he was shot in the neck at an event in Utah.
Johnson spoke to <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/09/10/congress/johnson-on-charlie-kirk-00556264">reporters</a> ahead of the planned moment of silence, telling them, &#8220;We ask everyone to pray for him and his family. Political violence has become all too common in American society, and this is not who we are.&#8221;
The House Speaker joined a number of other elected officials in condemning political violence in the aftermath of the shooting, adding, &#8220;It violates core principles of our country today, our Judeo-Christian heritage, our civil society, our American way of life. And it must stop.&#8221;
&#8220;We need every political figure, we need everyone who has a platform to say this loudly and clearly: we can settle disagreements and disputes in a civil manner, end political violence,&#8221; Johnson said.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) voiced a similar sentiment when he first learned of the shooting, saying, &#8220;I condemn this in the strongest terms. There is ZERO place in our great country for these horrendous acts of political violence. We must find a better way forward. May Charlie Kirk have a full and quick recovery.&#8221;
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I condemn this in the strongest terms.
There is ZERO place in our great country for these horrendous acts of political violence.
We must find a better way forward.
May Charlie Kirk have a full and quick recovery. <a href="https://t.co/S2DlqVXNai">pic.twitter.com/S2DlqVXNai</a>
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1965856642358267925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Shortly after Johnson announced his plan to hold a moment of silence, Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Justin Streiff <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/charlie-kirk-leading-conservative-activist-and-father-dead-at-31?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Charlie+Kirk%2C+Leading+Conservative+Activist+And+Father%2C+Dead+At+31">confirmed</a> Kirk’s death in an email to TPUSA staff.
President Donald Trump and others also reported that Kirk had died.
&#8220;The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!&#8221; Trump said.
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&#8220;The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his… <a href="https://t.co/aM8Pz3TKml">pic.twitter.com/aM8Pz3TKml</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1965880535659470994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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US House Speaker Mike Johnson

Speaker Johnson Calls The House To A Halt, Holds Moment Of Silence For Charlie Kirk

Political Violence

Shooting

U.S. House of Representatives

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he prayed for the United States to &#8220;always stand&#8221; with Israel during a visit to Jerusalem over the weekend.
In remarks at the Western Wall, Johnson <a href="https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2621#:~:text=%E2%80%9CDue%20to%20the%20complex%20situation,Israel%20and%20the%20Middle%20East.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a> that he was part of a delegation with fellow members of the House, which is taking place after the Louisiana Republican postponed a planned trip to Israel in June as tensions with Iran were escalating.
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JUST IN: Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at the Western Wall in Israel, says he is praying that &#8220;America will always stand with Israel.&#8221;
&#8220;We are grateful for the privilege of being here in Israel today, on the day we recognize the destruction of the Temple twice in history.&#8221;
&#8220;It is… <a href="https://t.co/Eq2B223wjp">pic.twitter.com/Eq2B223wjp</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1952075425687150957?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We are grateful for the privilege of being here in Israel today, particularly on this day,&#8221; Johnson said, alluding to how it was Tisha B&#8217;Av, the annual day in the Jewish calendar of mourning that marks the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
&#8220;It is a moving time for us to be here at the Wailing Wall. We&#8217;ve offered our prayers. We put our notes into the wall as is traditional. And we&#8217;re so moved by the hospitality of the people and the great love of Israel,&#8221; Johnson added. &#8220;Our prayer is that America will always stand with Israel and we pray for the preservation and peace of Jerusalem. That&#8217;s what scripture tells us to do, it&#8217;s a matter of faith for us, and a commitment that we have.&#8221;
The visit comes a few days after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1828298958101812" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> there was &#8220;real starvation&#8221; going on in Gaza, a rare break with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who contends Hamas is hoarding supplies and no famine is taking place.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on Friday that he and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with Israeli officials to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where the fight against Hamas continues.
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At <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’s direction, <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbIsrael?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USAmbIsrael</a> and I met yesterday with Israeli officials to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Today, we spent over five hours inside Gaza — level setting the facts on the ground, assessing conditions, and meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/GHFUpdates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GHFUpdates</a> and other… <a href="https://t.co/aCtLuMuhq1">pic.twitter.com/aCtLuMuhq1</a>
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEPeaceMissions/status/1951281182286500025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Today, we spent over five hours inside Gaza — level setting the facts on the ground, assessing conditions, and meeting with [the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation] and other agencies,&#8221; Witkoff <a href="https://x.com/SEPeaceMissions/status/1951281182286500025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X. &#8220;The purpose of the visit was to give [President Trump] a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.&#8221;
Johnson&#8217;s trip also came after the Senate rejected two resolutions to block arms sales to Israel, but with Democrat opposition <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bernie-sanders-israeli-weapons-sale-democrats-gaza-58945751c7f88c1434a4be86e11af167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increasing</a>.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that he met with Johnson and other members of the congressional delegation, which made the trip while the House is on its August recess.
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I met today with a distinguished delegation led by U.S. Speaker of the House <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>, along with <a href="https://twitter.com/RepNateMoran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepNateMoran</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTenney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepTenney</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepCloudTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepCloudTX</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMcCaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMcCaul</a>.
I thanked them for their unwavering support and moral clarity in standing with Israel against its enemies, and for their… <a href="https://t.co/xDOVgtK4lW">pic.twitter.com/xDOVgtK4lW</a>
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel_katz/status/1952062241001357637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I thanked them for their unwavering support and moral clarity in standing with Israel against its enemies, and for their vital voices in the efforts to bring all the hostages home and defeat the murderous terrorist organization Hamas,&#8221; Katz said. &#8220;Israel is not only fighting for its survival – we are on the frontlines of the free world’s battle against radical Islamic ideologies. Operations &#8216;Midnight Hammer&#8217; and &#8216;Rising Lion&#8217; against Iran reflect the deep alliance and shared values that bind Israel and the U.S. – liberty, justice, and the uncompromising defense of freedom.&#8221;

House Speaker Johnson Prays U.S. Will ‘Always Stand’ With Israel During Visit To Jerusalem

Israel

U.S.

As House lawmakers prepare to leave Washington, D.C., and begin their August recess this week, party leaders laid out plans for what their caucus members will be doing over the next several weeks.
In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5nKJI4m8xg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conference</a> on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) dismissed the notion that Republicans would be taking it easy for the rest of the summer. Rather, he contended, they will be meeting voters and promoting the &#8220;One, Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; that passed through Congress and was signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month.
&#8220;This is the last leadership press conference before we enter the August district work period,&#8221; he declared. &#8220;Around here, people call it the August recess. It is not that. I know that lots of people in the press corps are going to be able to enjoy some downtime with friends and families, and we commend you for that. But House Republicans aren&#8217;t going to get to participate in all that stuff because this month of August is not a vacation.&#8221;
Johnson noted this period is &#8220;arguably the most important work month on our calendar&#8221; because members go home, connect with constituents in person, host roundtables with local businesses and organizations, and &#8220;meet with community stakeholders and local officials.&#8221;
&#8220;Really, really important components of the job,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;And frankly, they need to cut through the false and misleading claims about the &#8216;One Big Beautiful Bill&#8217; from the media and the Democrats. As I mentioned, the more people know, the more they greatly favor the bill that we passed, and House Republicans are going to spend the month highlighting how it will positively impact our districts and our communities.&#8221;
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) used a Democrat leadership <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/c5UkjsJDwwk?t=252s">press conference</a> on Wednesday to argue the &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill&#8221; and Trump are &#8220;deeply&#8221; unpopular. He also said that all Republicans can do during this August recess is brag about their &#8220;toxic and extreme&#8221; bill that he claimed would cause millions of Americans to lose their healthcare and bestow large tax breaks onto billionaires.
&#8220;During the August district work period, House Democrats will hold events all across the country talking about our efforts to build an affordable economy that lowers the high cost of living in the United States of America, to protect the healthcare of the American people, and to combat the cultural corruption that exists in this town that undermines the ability to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,&#8221; Jeffries said.
&#8220;We&#8217;re looking forward to holding town hall meetings across the country, at the same time that Republicans will continue to run away from town hall meetings,&#8221; he added. &#8220;But we will fill the void that they are leaving and engage aggressively with the American people, all in service of building a country where everyone can experience the American dream.&#8221;
It remains unclear whether the Senate will have an August recess.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-senate-to-cancel-long-weekends-and-get-his-people-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called on</a> Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to cancel &#8220;long weekends&#8221; and the upper chamber&#8217;s August recess to confirm more of his nominees.
&#8220;We’re thinking about it,&#8221; Thune said on Monday, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5412240-thune-august-recess-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-warns-schumer-may-cave-to-far-left-push-for-govt-shutdown-in-coming-weeks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Thune Warns Schumer May Cave To Far Left, Push For Govt Shutdown In Coming Weeks</a>

Speaker Johnson And Leader Jeffries

‘Not A Vacation’: House Leaders Unveil Rival Game Plans For ‘Most Important Work Month’

House Speaker Mike Johnson made a triumphant return to his former organization, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), and praised the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; as a significant victory for American families and the pro-life movement.
The Louisiana Republican addressed the group&#8217;s 2025 summit in Florida with a pre-recorded speech last week after the House sent the legislation to President Donald Trump ahead of his July 4 deadline.
After touting the bill&#8217;s provisions to invest in national defense and border security as well as its tax cuts, Johnson added that it was also &#8220;a monumental win for American families and includes many of the pro-family victories that we&#8217;ve all been fighting to achieve for many decades.&#8221;
Johnson went over a few specifics.
&#8220;We increased the child tax credit. It&#8217;s going to help everybody,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We expanded paid family leave, we created investment accounts for newborns, and we lowered the tax burden on all American families, so that the American dream of starting a family and owning a home are within reach.&#8221;
The speaker then explained how the legislation aligns with ADF&#8217;s pro-life mission.
&#8220;We also did something that advocates in this audience have worked towards for as long as I&#8217;ve been in the arena,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;We finally passed legislation to make sure that the forced funding of abortion is no longer a thing in America. No longer will our tax dollars fund evil organizations explicitly focused on killing unborn babies. We defunded that.&#8221;
However, it remains to be seen if that victory remains fully intact. There is litigation in which a judge <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5412759-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-cutting-planned-parenthood-funding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily paused</a> a ban on funds to Planned Parenthood that had been included in the bill.
Johnson credited ADF for helping to prepare him for the hardships of being speaker of the House.
&#8220;I do miss my days as an allied attorney and as a staff attorney at ADF,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It was a formative time in my life, prepared me in so many ways for the crazy job that I&#8217;m doing right now. And so my hat&#8217;s off to all of you for being involved, staying engaged, and being there to fellowship together &#8230; God bless the Alliance Defending Freedom and everybody involved. There&#8217;s never been a more important time for that work than there is right now.”
Kristen Waggoner, the president, CEO, and chief legal counsel of ADF, expressed her gratitude to Johnson in an exclusive statement to The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I appreciate the long-time relationship Speaker of the House Johnson has with ADF,&#8221; Waggoner said. &#8220;He was gracious to share at our annual Summit his perspectives on key issues for which Congress and the Trump administration are contending, and encouraged our allies and guests in attendance to do the same in their realms of influence, especially political leaders who are given platforms to legislate on behalf of the unborn and the family, our bedrocks of society.&#8221;
With a reference to the recent Supreme Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-says-states-can-cut-off-medicaid-funds-for-planned-parenthood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruling</a> that South Carolina is allowed to ban Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood, she continued, &#8220;Speaker Johnson celebrated the meaningful advancements in pro-life legislation, and we&#8217;re grateful at ADF for our recent major victory at the Supreme Court in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
&#8220;Combined, wins like Medina and pro-life provisions in the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ encourage us that the tide is turning back towards life, yet it will take continued diligence to ensure pro-life laws are not only passed — but fully upheld and enforced.&#8221;

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

Speaker Johnson Hails ‘Big, Beautiful’ Win For American Families

Abortion

Spending Bill

The GOP-led House Oversight Committee voted on Tuesday in favor of subpoenaing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ghislaine-maxwell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, a longtime companion to deceased sex offender <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jeffrey-epstein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, to appear for a deposition.
A <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1947668776272679356" target="_blank" rel="noopener">motion</a> directing Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) to authorize and issue a subpoena passed by a voice vote.
“Today, I am proud to announce that the Oversight Committee approved my motion directing Chairman Comer to subpoena Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell to appear before the House Oversight Committee,&#8221; Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) <a href="https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/burchetts-motion-subpoena-ghislaine-maxwell-approved-house-oversight-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;This deposition will help the American people understand how Jeffrey Epstein was able to carry out his evil actions for so long without being brought to justice.&#8221;
A House Oversight Committee spokesperson <a href="https://x.com/HouseInSession/status/1947673552754270434" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters, &#8220;The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible. Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when&#8221; she can be deposed.
Maxwell is serving <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 20-year prison sentence</a> after being found guilty of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse underage girls.
The voice vote happened shortly after the Department of Justice <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/justice-dept-anticipates-ghislaine-maxwell-meeting-in-coming-days-amid-epstein-fallout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that it anticipated a meeting with Maxwell in the &#8220;coming days.&#8221; That followed Attorney General Pam Bondi filing a formal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-requests-judge-unseal-grand-jury-testimony-in-epstein-maxwell-cases-at-trumps-behest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">request</a> last week for a federal judge to unseal grand jury testimony from the cases against Epstein and Maxwell at President Donald Trump&#8217;s behest.
A growing number of lawmakers want to push the Trump administration to reveal more information it has on Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who was found dead at the age of 66 in his New York City jail cell in 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking charges involving young girls.
However, efforts to try and pass a disclosure measure have hit a roadblock with the Rules Committee not passing a rule for bills this week, and with the House expected to depart this week for its August recess. A <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/581/cosponsors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discharge petition</a> from Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) that would force leadership&#8217;s hand likely will not get a vote until at least September, assuming they have a sufficient number of signatures.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1947371871776731167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters on Monday that lawmakers need to give the Trump administration &#8220;space&#8221; and would consider further congressional action if it becomes necessary. On Tuesday, Johnson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JVI9uLRFwo">said</a> House Republicans want &#8220;maximum transparency,&#8221; but he also stressed the need to be &#8220;very judicious and careful about protecting&#8221; innocent victims.

Ghislaine Maxwell

House Panel Votes To Subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell

House Oversight Committee

Jeffrey Epstein

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