Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) will not face an official Republican challenger on the November ballot in New Mexico after the only Republican candidate, Christopher Vanden Heuvel, did not receive enough signatures to seek the party’s nomination.
Three candidates in other races in New Mexico were also determined not to have enough signatures to make it onto primary ballots, including Democratic congressional candidate Thomas Wakely, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Belinda Robertson, and Republican congressional candidate Carlton Pennington, according to the <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/news/four-new-mexico-candidates-disqualified-after-failing-to-meet-ballot-requirements/2978003?utm_campaign=mrf-twitter-ABQJournal&amp;mrfcid=20260211698cbbd4871dae073950f595" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Albuquerque Journal</a>. The outlet noted that the Senate race has never had just one of the major parties on the ballot for the state.
&#8220;He&#8217;ll continue earning their support on the campaign trail while doing the job they elected him to do by lowering costs and delivering results for New Mexico,&#8221; a spokesperson for Luján&#8217;s campaign told the local publication. &#8220;That commitment does not change based on who else is [on] the ballot.&#8221;
Self-described democratic socialist Matt Dodson is also seeking the Democratic nomination against Luján.
New Mexico Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela said in a statement on Thursday that the party &#8220;made repeated outreach efforts to candidates who were short on signatures and offered assistance.&#8221;
&#8220;In the case of the U.S. Senate race, we were proactive well before declaration day, engaging in conversations to evaluate the landscape and explore possible remedies ahead of the filing deadline. Our approach was deliberate and strategic. While we sincerely appreciate every individual willing to step forward and place their name on the ballot, our duty as party leadership is to ensure viability, coordination, and competitiveness in every race,&#8221; she stated.
&#8220;That level of success requires communication and partnership. The candidate has also shared that he is in direct contact with the Secretary of State’s Office and believes he has received information that differs from what is in the NM Election Handbook. We respect his effort to seek clarity. If the Secretary of State ultimately confirms his qualification based on that information, we will fully support his placement on the ballot and stand firmly behind his candidacy moving forward,&#8221; the chairwoman continued.
The news did garner some frustration among Republicans. <a href="https://www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-digest-for-the-first-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Downballot</a> reported that a Republican wanted to run as a write-in candidate has a March 17 deadline.
“Did you know that Republicans won’t have ANY New Mexico Senate candidate for the federal election this November?” GOP activist Scott Presler posted to X. “Yes, you heard me. Democrat Senator Lujan (NM) will walk into re-election [because] Republicans don’t have a candidate. He’s AGAINST the SAVE America Act, by the way.”
Luján is seeking his second term in the Senate. He won the seat in 2020 after defeating Republican Mark Ronchetti with just under 52% of the vote. Nearly 46% of the votes went for the Republican. Luján also served in the House from 2009 until 2021, including time as assistant House speaker and four years in charge of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
New Mexico has other major races this year, including the contest to succeed Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. In 2024, Sen. Martin Heinrich won re-election against Republican Nella Domenici by roughly 10%. The state was seen as mildly competitive during the 2024 election, with Trump obtaining nearly 46% of the vote after holding a rally in the Land of Enchantment just days before the election.
Republicans are in a tough battle to keep the Senate in 2026, as they currently hold a 53-47 majority. According to the Cook Political Report, the most competitive races are expected to be in Maine, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina.

Budget, Nominee Hurdles Sow Senate Frustration

Democratic Senator Won’t Face Any Republican Challengers In November

Democratic Senator Expected To Not Face Any Republican Opponent In November

2026 election

Congress

New Mexico

Senate

The Department of Homeland Security will presumably face a lapse in funding starting on midnight Saturday, as negotiations still continue to move at a slow pace, with few public details on any possible immigration reforms.
The White House sent a counteroffer to Democrats, who made a long list of demands ranging from a change in warrants used for immigration arrests to a ban on agents wearing masks, earlier this week.
A continuing resolution to fund the agency is in place until the end of the day on Friday, which was part of a deal to keep the rest of the federal government funded through the end of September. Both chambers are scheduled to be out of Washington next week.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) pushed for another continuing resolution to keep talks going without stopping DHS funding, which was ultimately unsuccessful because it was blocked by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), according to <a href="https://x.com/ChadPergram/status/2022024832314225089?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>.
“We want to continue this conversation, but yet you’re penalizing a TSA agent. A TSA agent is gonna go without a paycheck. Why? So that you can posture politically. I’m over it. Everybody on that side of the aisle knows that ICE and CBP will continue to be funded,” Britt said in a passionate floor debate with Murphy, expressing concerns about TSA workers missing more checks after the 43-day-long shutdown last fall.
Murphy said that there needs to be &#8220;reforms&#8221; and &#8220;more serious engagement from the White House than has happened thus far&#8221; in order for DHS to get funding.
A shutdown of the department might not heavily impact funding for President Donald Trump’s immigration goals, as much of that funding was already appropriated in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed in July, but DHS’s other key agencies, like the U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA, will be more seriously impacted.
As for the negotiations themselves, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Thursday, according to <a href="https://x.com/cami_mondeaux/status/2021982594531729419?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deseret News</a>, “I think you all know the issue of warrants is going to be very hard for the White House or for Republicans, but I think there are a lot of other areas where there has been give and progress.”
&#8220;The proposals that Senate and House Democrats presented last week and keep pushing for are very reasonable. We want ICE simply to follow the same standards that law enforcement agencies across the country already follow,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor Thursday, calling some immigration tactics “thuggery.”
“No more rogue police forces roaming through our cities,” he said.
On X, Thune spokesman Ryan Wrasse wrote on Thursday that “based on the totality of the evidence, it seems like Dems are defining ‘progress’ as ‘agree to all of our demands otherwise we&#8217;re taking our ball and going home.’”
In the House, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries referred to the White House proposal as a “so-called offer,” according to <a href="https://x.com/allymutnick/status/2021991755584090448?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punchbowl News</a>.
&#8220;But my preliminary assessment of it is that it falls short of the type of dramatic changes necessary in order to change ICE,” he said.

Longest Shutdown Tests Air Travel, Federal Workers And Patience

Homeland Security Shutdown Likely As Schumer Accuses Trump Admin Of ‘Thuggery’

homeland security

Immigration

Privacy concerns dominated a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing Tuesday as lawmakers examined how former special counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed phone records tied to Republican members of Congress during the Arctic Frost investigation.
Subcommittee chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), whose records were among those subpoenaed, told The Daily Wire the hearing was aimed at ensuring &#8220;this never happens to an American citizen again,&#8221; arguing the probe was &#8220;much deeper and much broader than Watergate.”
Smith subpoenaed the phone records of at least ten Republican senators and one GOP House member, according to The Hill.
A key moment focused on how AT&amp;T, Verizon, and T-Mobile handled at least 84 subpoenas related to Arctic Frost and other matters tied to Smith, <a href="https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-demands-answers-from-telecom-companies-who-turned-congressional-phone-records-over-to-jack-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI).
Verizon acknowledged it had no internal process in place in May 2023 to identify when subpoenaed records belonged to a member of Congress.
“So what you are saying is that you had no process in place&#8230;and you had no way of identifying that something was a Member of Congress’ records?&#8221; Blackburn asked Verizon senior vice president and general counsel Chris Miller.
“That’s correct,” Miller replied.
Pressed on why Verizon did not follow AT&amp;T&#8217;s lead in flagging similar requests, Miller said AT&amp;T&#8217;s response &#8220;was a good catch,” prompting Blackburn to respond, “I didn’t ask you to speak for them. I asked why you did not take an action, and you did not.”
Blackburn told The Daily Wire that AT&amp;T ultimately flagged the congressional subpoenas internally after initially turning over records tied to Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
According to Blackburn, when AT&amp;T later received a request involving Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), someone in its legal department raised concerns about potential Speech and Debate Clause violations and contacted Smith&#8217;s team. She said AT&amp;T &#8220;never heard another word from Jack Smith.&#8221;
“Verizon and T-Mobile, on the other hand, turned over everything without questioning if there was a privacy violation,” Blackburn said, adding that they did not challenge the non-disclosure orders attached to the requests.
In his opening testimony, Miller said the subpoenas identified phone numbers, not names, and that the company was “now” aware some of the phone numbers belonged to members of Congress, including “personal lines, campaign lines, or official lines.” He said a judge had imposed a non-disclosure order on the request, which prevents them from notifying people involved, and that its response team determined the subpoenas were “valid and legal.”
“We fully complied with the law,&#8221; Miller said, while acknowledging the company &#8220;could have done better in terms of our process.&#8221; He added that Verizon has since worked with the Senate Sergeant at Arms to revise its handling of legal demands for congressional lines.
T-Mobile general counsel Mark Nelson similarly said that his company receives an “enormous volume” of law enforcement requests and treated the subpoenas &#8220;carefully, consistently, and in full compliance with the law.&#8221;
The Arctic Frost investigation ultimately led to a federal indictment of President Donald Trump related to his actions following the 2020 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Democrats have criticized the hearings, arguing they amount to an attempt to &#8220;relitigate&#8221; the elections.
“EIGHT hearings to relitigate the 2020 presidential election,” Senate Judiciary Democrats posted to X. “ZERO are worth the time.”

Jack Smith House Hearing

Phone Carriers Face Heat After Turning Over Records Of GOP Lawmakers In Jack Smith Probe

Arctic Frost

Jack Smith

Politics

The White House sent a Department of Homeland Security funding counterproposal to Democrats in Congress on Monday, The Daily Wire confirmed with an official on background.
There are currently no public details about the offer, which came after Democrats made a list of ten demands to reform federal immigration enforcement that needed to be met for funding of the agency to continue.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to put forward a continuing resolution proposal on Tuesday to maintain funding for DHS while negotiations continue, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats in both chambers have said that he’s adamantly opposed to another temporary measure while a deal is being sorted out.
“I don&#8217;t know you know how much more time would be required, but I think it&#8217;s fair to say that it&#8217;s going to take some more time, and we should at least extend the continuing resolution to allow for that,” Thune said Tuesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/cami_mondeaux/status/2021311045713674418?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deseret News</a>.
Late on Monday night, Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement seeking more information about the counteroffer.
“Republicans shared an outline of a counterproposal, which included neither details nor legislative text,” the statement read.
“The initial GOP response is both incomplete and insufficient in terms of addressing the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct. Democrats await additional detail and text,” it continued.
However, Schumer said on Tuesday that “there&#8217;s no reason we can&#8217;t get this done by Thursday,” <a href="https://x.com/ChadPergram/status/2021308058928910383?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> reported.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson wants to see a proposal that takes the funding all the way through to the end of the fiscal year, similar to other government funding bills that were signed into law by President Donald Trump last week.
As part of a deal to avert a longer shutdown, the DHS funding was split from the rest of the spending package, instead of being approved as a continuing resolution until Feb. 13.
“We’ve not moved a CR here because our position is, the Senate should pass the House-passed homeland bill. We got it done. We did the work in the House, and I think they should — they should get that through,” Johnson told reporters, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5731476-speaker-johnson-dhs-funding-thune/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>.
“So us offering a CR would be a concession that we don’t believe in that product.” Johnson is referring to the fact that the House had already approved a spending package before the split in funding on the Senate side, as Democrats called for the split after the Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis amid anti-ICE protests in the region.
The changes Democrats are hoping for range from more body cameras, no more masking for agents, and the use of judicial warrants as opposed to administrative warrants. The Daily Wire reported earlier this week that some of the requests were already slammed as non-starters by some Republican lawmakers. DHS includes other agencies outside of immigration enforcement, including FEMA and TSA, which could have broader implications if it is not funded after Friday.

Senate GOP Presser

White House Makes Counteroffer To Fund Homeland Security As Dems Push Demands

Congress Remains Split Over Homeland Security Funding As White House Makes Counteroffer

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) made her re-election bid official Tuesday, unboxing a pair of New Balance running shoes and announcing, “This is perfect for 2026, because I’m running.”
The announcement launches what is expected to be a fiercely competitive general election in Maine following speculation that Collins would retire instead, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/16/congress/white-house-collins-maine-00459055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO</a>.
The race has already grown contentious, especially in the Democratic primary between Gov. Janet Mills and populist Graham Platner. Platner has drawn scrutiny over past controversies, including a now-removed tattoo featuring a Nazi symbol and old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-called-himself-a-communist-made-racist-comments-in-reddit-posts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit</a> posts in which he described himself as a &#8220;communist.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="UNBOXING 2026" width="422" height="750" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O9N0SkDFjf0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“Susan Collins pledged to only serve two terms in the Senate,” Platner said in an <a href="https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/2021225664829886812">X</a> post responding to Collins’ launch. “That’s just one of a hundred reasons she doesn’t deserve a sixth term.”
Governor Mills said Sen. Collins “has had almost three decades to prove that she’s the right leader for Maine in this critical moment — and she&#8217;s failed. Seniority without a backbone is just tenure, and another term won’t fix that. It&#8217;s time for her to go.”
The <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings">Cook Political Report</a> currently rates the race as a toss-up. Collins faced a similarly high-stakes contest in 2020, when she defeated Democrat Sara Gideon with nearly 51% of the vote compared to Gideon&#8217;s roughly 42%.
The Republican lawmaker has secured the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which typically supports incumbents and contenders it views as best to win general elections.
“From protecting Social Security to supporting small businesses, no one works harder and is more dependable at delivering prosperity and opportunity,&#8221; NRSC Chairman Tim Scott said. &#8220;I’m confident Susan will defeat whoever emerges from the messy Democrat primary, because Mainers know they can always count on her.”
Collins has had a complicated relationship with President Donald Trump, who has publicly criticized her and other Republicans over past War Powers Resolution votes and at one point said they &#8220;should never be elected to office again.&#8221;
Despite past tensions, Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stood alongside Trump at the Oval Office signing ceremony last week, along with other lawmakers, as the partial government shutdown ended. She is the lone Republican in New England&#8217;s congressional delegation.

Susan Collins

‘I’m Running’: Susan Collins Launches Re-Election Bid As GOP Fights To Hold Crucial Senate Seat

graham platner

janet mills

Maine

Republicans

WASHINGTON—The partial government shutdown is in full swing after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the White House agreed to pass five funding bills separate from contentious Department of Homeland Security funding.
The majority of the federal government <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-reaches-funding-deal-with-shutdown-still-set-to-begin-at-midnight?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Senate+Reaches+Funding+Deal%2C+With+Shutdown+Still+Set+To+Begin+At+Midnight">shut down</a> at midnight on February 1, after the Senate voted to carve Homeland Security funding out of its spending bill, which has yet to pass the House of Representatives. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on “Meet the Press” Sunday that he’s confident the shutdown will be brief, and he’s hoping to see it end by Tuesday.
“Our intention is by Tuesday, all agencies of the federal government, except for that one, and then we’ll have two weeks of good faith negotiations, to figure it out,” Johnson said. &#8220;Republicans are going do the responsible thing and fund the government.&#8221;
But it is unclear how many House Democrats will back the spending package, given that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was not part of the deal between the White House and Schumer, saying in a statement on Friday that the caucus “will evaluate the spending legislation passed by the Senate on its merits and then decide how to proceed legislatively.”
The House Rules Committee is set to meet Monday afternoon in hopes to move the package forward. The new deal swaps DHS funding for a continuing resolution that covers money for the agency through Feb. 13, whereas the other bills covered funds through the end of the fiscal year in September.
Homeland Security funding became a flashpoint for Democrats after the killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Democrats are calling for sweeping changes to the Trump administration&#8217;s immigration policies, with some going so far as to call for the total defunding of Homeland Security.
Their defunding efforts may be fruitless, as the immigration agencies were largely funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Still, Democrats seem hopeful that they can leverage the entire department’s funding, which includes the budgets of FEMA and TSA, to push for reform. Schumer and other Democrats are asking for sweeping changes to ICE and Border Patrol, including the ending of masking for agents and the use of judicial warrants as opposed to administrative ones, which could make some arrests much more difficult, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-how-democrats-could-cripple-ice-without-defunding-dhs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.
“There is currently not a structure in the federal government to add millions of judicial immigration warrants,&#8221; a federal official told The Daily Wire. &#8220;This effort is being pushed to roadblock the deportation agenda of the president.&#8221;
Prior to Pretti&#8217;s death, the House had approved all of the government spending bills and sent them to the Senate. There are 12 appropriations bills in total, six of which President Donald Trump has already signed.

Mike Johnson

Partial Government Shutdown Fully Underway As Congress Takes Up Spending Bills

Chuck Schumer

Government Shutdown

The majority of the federal government will shut down at midnight, but the closure is expected to be brief with the House expected to return on Monday to get most of the spending bills to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The Senate passed the government funding package 71-29; however, it will still need to head to the House, which is expected to come back early next week.
The funding debate hinged on separating Homeland Security spending from the rest of the bills following recent tensions in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement. Funding was approved for the Department of Homeland Security until February 13, but the others will last until Sept. 30, according to CSPAN.
Democrats have a laundry list of requested reforms to ICE and Border Patrol, and that debate is expected to escalate in the coming days as long-term funding for the department will likely hinge on a deal being made on it.
Some Republicans slammed Democrats over the funding fight, as the House had already passed six spending bills on a bipartisan basis last week.
“It is always a tragedy when a human life is ended, but it is inexcusable that Democrats are using such tragedy as a scapegoat to try and force changes to government funding that they know cannot be made before midnight tonight. They are willfully punishing 330 million Americans for a political stunt,&#8221; Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said in a statement. “I am grateful to President Trump for negotiating legislation to avoid a more damaging, long-term Democrat shutdown like we saw this past fall, and I urge House Republicans to pass this bill to reopen the government as soon as possible.”
The fight is just beginning over DHS, as Democrats are calling on a whole host of new regulations on federal immigration authorities including ending masks, changing the types of warrants used and a ban on &#8220;roving patrols.&#8221;
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement on Friday that &#8220;the Trump administration must set forth an ironclad path that dramatically reforms ICE and other DHS agencies that the American people know have become lawless and heavy-handed.&#8221;
&#8220;It is in the best interest of the country that this is done before the Congress reconvenes on Monday evening and legislation is brought to the House floor,&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;My Progressive Caucus colleagues and I have been clear: not another cent to ICE until we stop the chaos and the lawlessness. If this comes to the House, I’m voting no,&#8221; Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) posted to X on Friday afternoon.
This will be the second shutdown in just three months, as the federal government closed for 43 days over the pandemic-era Affordable Care Act subsidy debate last October.
This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Senate Reaches Funding Deal, With Shutdown Still Set To Begin At Midnight

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

An expected Senate vote on a package to avert a government shutdown was scrapped on Thursday night after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) objected to the removal of a provision allowing senators to sue if their phone records were snooped on. 
Graham’s opposition came after the White House and Senate Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-and-senate-dems-strike-deal-ahead-of-government-shutdown?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=White+House+And+Senate+Dems+Strike+Deal+Ahead+Of+Government+Shutdown">reached a deal</a> to separate out funding for the Department of Homeland Security from five appropriation bills previously approved by the House. As senators prepared to vote, Graham met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to discuss the agreement. 
“We’re not voting tonight,” Graham said Thursday night after leaving Thune’s office, The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5714316-senate-government-funding-shutdown/">reported</a>. 
Part of Graham’s objection stemmed from the House vote to repeal a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shutdown-deal-packs-a-surprise-as-republicans-strike-back-after-phone-snooping">provision tucked</a> into the continuing resolution passed in November that allowed senators to sue for damages if the government accessed their records without their knowledge. That provision was added after it was revealed that the FBI had analyzed the metadata of phone calls from several congressional Republicans as part of the investigation into President Donald Trump following the January 6 attack. 
“What senator wouldn’t want notification that they’re looking at your phone?” Graham said. 
“I fixed the problem that people had. I’m not going to ignore what happened. If you were abused, you think you were abused, your phone records were illegally seized — you should have your day in court,” he added. “Every senator should want to make sure this never happens again.”
After the passage of the continuing resolution in November, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) promised a vote on repealing the provision, saying that it should apply to all Americans, not just senators. The House followed through earlier this month, repealing the measure as part of the appropriations package it passed. 
Graham also said he opposed separating out funding for DHS.
“The cops need us right now,” he said. “They’re being demonized. They’re being spat upon. They can’t sleep at night.“
Thune said Thursday that he was hopeful that the Senate would be able to vote on the White House-backed deal. The government will shut down at midnight on Friday without any further funding. 
“Hopefully by sometime tomorrow we’ll be in a better spot,” Thune <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/30/congress/shutdown-deal-lindsey-graham-dhs-00756840">said</a> on Thursday. “Tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully people will be in a spirit to try and get this done.”
Trump urged lawmakers on Thursday to support the deal with Democrats to pass the appropriations bill and a two-week extension of Homeland Security funds to allow time for negotiations.
“Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before),” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote.”

Senate Works On Passage Of Government Spending Bill To Avert Longterm Government Shutdown

Senate Delays Shutdown Deal After Lindsey Graham Objects

Department of Homeland Security

John Thune

Lindsey Graham

President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats agree to a deal as Friday&#8217;s midnight deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown approaches, border czar Tom Homan puts anti-ICE activists on notice, and a federal minority contracting program bans more than a thousand companies after they refuse to prove they did any work.
It’s Friday, January 30, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Government Shutdown Averted?</h2>
The White House and Senate Democrats say they’ve <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-and-senate-dems-strike-deal-ahead-of-government-shutdown">reached</a> a deal to avert a government shutdown as the Friday deadline inches closer. The deal would fund most government departments through September 30 and, in the short term, fund the Department of Homeland Security through a continuing resolution that expires after two weeks. In those two weeks, lawmakers are expected to negotiate over reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. President Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday evening, saying, “I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay.” He went on to say that he hopes “both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote.” The deal hit a snag on Thursday night as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/29/shutdown-spending-deal-trump-00756372">reportedly</a> blocked a vote over &#8220;a House-passed provision undoing a law that allows senators to receive cash payouts if they had their phone records seized by former special counsel Jack Smith,&#8221; according to POLITICO.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Homan Vows Activist Crackdown</h2>
Border czar Tom Homan is putting anti-ICE activists on notice that they will be held accountable for obstructing law enforcement. Homan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homans-presser-sheds-light-on-trump-admins-shift-on-minneapolis-immigration-raids">took</a> the podium on Thursday for his first significant public remarks since being sent to clean up the mess in Minnesota. And he seemed to have a two-fold message. First, to make it clear that law and order are going to be restored. He pledged to remain on the ground “until the problem’s gone.” Then Homan also made it clear that despite the bad press coming from the shooting deaths of anti-ICE activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti, he’s not going to be deterred from investigating activist networks. Meanwhile, Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is entering the race for governor. She first filed papers a week ago, but the incredibly bad optics of the chaos on the ground in Minneapolis again – the city was ground zero for Black Lives Matter unrest in 2020 – gives Klobuchar a chance to showcase herself as a moderate who will restore order.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Government Contracting Fraud Exposed</h2>
One thousand companies were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-quarter-of-minority-contracting-firms-banned-after-refusing-anti-fraud-check?author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=A+Quarter+Of+%E2%80%98Minority+Contracting%E2%80%99+Firms+Banned+After+Refusing+Anti-Fraud+Check">banned</a> from the federal minority contracting program on Wednesday after they declined to provide records showing whether they were actually performing the work or simply keeping a cut while passing the contract to a larger company. The program is known as 8(a). Last month, Kelly Loeffler, the head of the Small Business Administration, which issues <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-the-military-gave-a-homeless-lesbians-minority-contracting-firm-19-million">8(a)</a> status, demanded that all firms provide bank statements and payroll records. It would have been a lot of work for the SBA to go through all those records. But the agency didn’t need to look at many at all, because a lot of fraudsters may have self-identified by choosing not to turn over records that would incriminate them. A quarter of all 8(a) firms, collectively receiving $5 billion over the last four years, didn’t turn anything in.

MRN_260130_V1

Morning Brief: Homan Puts Anti-ICE Activists On Notice & Government Shutdown Averted?

Kelly Loeffler

Minnesota

Morning Wire

Small Business Administration

Tom Homan

White House

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced Thursday morning that she is running for governor of Minnesota in hopes of becoming Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s successor.
Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, opted not to seek a third term after being embroiled in Medicaid fraud scandals in the state, which have garnered national attention.
“Minnesota, we’ve been through a lot,” she said in her campaign launch video opening her remarks, highlighting the recent tensions with federal immigration authorities as well as the June 2025 murders of two high-profile Democratic state lawmakers.
“I’m asking Democrats, independents, and Republicans to join our campaign – it is a homegrown one born in a moment like no other. It is for people who believe in something bigger than ourselves,” the senator, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, continued.
Assuming Klobuchar clinches the Democratic nomination, she could face a general election contest against Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth or MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, both of whom are seeking the Republican nomination.
The <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings">Cook Political Report</a> ranks the race as “Likely Democrat.” A Klobuchar victory would also create a vacancy in Minnesota&#8217;s U.S. Senate delegation, allowing her to appoint an interim replacement until a special election is held. Klobuchar was re-elected to the Senate in 2024 with more than 56% of the vote, defeating Republican Royce White, a former NBA player.
There’s already a closely watched Senate race in the state with the retirement of Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, as Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are in a heated Democratic primary, and former sports reporter Michele Tafoya and White are seeking the Republican nomination. The contest is currently ranked “Likely Democrat,” but it’s caught the attention of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is backing Tafoya.
The electoral fireworks come at a serious moment for the state. Border czar Tom Homan has taken charge of Operation Metro Surge following the controversial fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. The surge has led to widespread arrests of illegal immigrants and sparked protests, legal challenges, and sharp criticism from state and local officials who are calling for the federal presence to be scaled back.
Democratic leaders, such as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Walz, have been at odds with the Trump administration over how to tackle immigration enforcement in the state.

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Fraud

Tim Walz

The partisan battle lines are being drawn as a federal government shutdown on Friday appears increasingly likely.
Democrats have said that they want the DHS funding bill separate from other spending bills, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a list of immigration-related demands on Wednesday during a press conference on Capitol Hill, including no more masking of agents, no “roving patrols,” and more accountability measures like body cameras and clearer identification of authorities.
“No more anonymous agents. No more secret operatives,” he said, claiming that Democrats are “united” behind the proposals.
“These are common-sense reforms – ones that Americans know and expect from law enforcement,” Schumer continued.
“Let me be clear: Democrats stand ready today to pass the five bipartisan bills in the Senate, but the DHS bill needs serious work,” he said. Some Democrats were invited to the White House to discuss ways to avert a shutdown, but they did not take the offer up, according to <a href="https://x.com/AlexMillerFox1/status/2016614243462713633?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>.
In addition, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has posted on X that he will not support DHS funding until key Trump adviser Stephen Miller is fired from the White House. Many Democrats and a small number of Trump-critical Republicans, such as Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Thom Tillis (NC), have publicly stated they would like to see leadership changes made following the Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis amid Homeland Security&#8217;s Operation Metro Surge.
As for Republicans, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) indicated that there is some GOP support for separating the DHS funding component from the other spending bills needed to keep the federal government funded, according to <a href="https://x.com/alexanderbolton/status/2016596283197194658?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said a lot of the discussion about dividing up the spending bills to isolate the DHS funds is “all hypotheticals at this point. And I would reserve optionality to consider that,” <a href="https://x.com/ChadPergram/status/2016599586626760706?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> reported.
“But I think the best path forward, as I said, is to keep the package intact [&#8230;] if the bill goes back to the House of Representatives [&#8230;] who knows what happens with it over here,” he continued. However, the lawmaker said he wants to get the six spending bills approved without the legislation needing to go back to the House, which is out of session this week anyway.
Earlier this week, Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton (R-AR) pushed back against the possibility of a “mob veto” by Democrats, as the administration warns that a lapse in funding will harm the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Much of the funding for the president’s immigration goals was already signed into law in July under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
If the government does close, it would be the second time in just three months — and some are still recovering from the nation’s longest government shutdown, which lasted for 43 days in the fall. That shutdown revolved around Affordable Care Act subsidies — and a solution still has not been reached on that front.

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Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) launched her bid for the United States Senate on Tuesday, which paves the way for a competitive primary battle between her and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy.
Letlow earned the endorsement of President Donald Trump over the weekend. In 2021, Cassidy voted to impeach Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The senator did play a critical role in getting Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed in 2025.
“Highly Respected America First Congresswoman, Julia Letlow, of the wonderful State of Louisiana, is a Great Star, has been from the very beginning, and only gets better!” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115913818366988479">posted</a> to Truth Social on Saturday.
“I know Julia well, have seen her tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and she is a TOTAL WINNER! A Proud Mother of two children, Julia is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana, and would continue doing so in the United States Senate,” he added.
In her launch, Letlow said that in “a state as conservative as ours, we shouldn’t have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure’s on. Louisiana deserves conservative champions, leaders who will not flinch.” The congresswoman took office in April 2021 due to a special election triggered by her husband’s death, as Rep.-elect. Luke Letlow died from COVID-19 shortly before his swearing-in, leaving behind Julia and their two children.
Before her announcement, Cassidy <a href="https://x.com/BillCassidy/status/2013640184697344158">responded on X</a> that he’s confident he will come out on top.
“Congresswoman Letlow called me this morning to say she was running. She said she respected me and that I had done a good job. I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election. I am a conservative who wakes up every morning thinking about how to make Louisiana and the United States a better place to live,” he wrote.
When the Trump endorsement dropped, he wrote that he is “proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana. If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run I am confident I will win.”
The Cook Political Report currently ranks the general election race as solidly Republican. POLITICO has reported that Cassidy is one of three Republicans running for Senate this cycle without the president’s backing yet, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
It’s unknown whether Trump will endorse any candidate in the heated Texas Senate primary between Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt. In Maine, Collins has not formally launched her bid yet, but is expected to run without any major primary challengers.
Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer believes that his path to Democratic control of the upper chamber runs through North Carolina, Alaska, Maine, and Ohio, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/chuck-schumer-senate-interview-838be10d?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfvdxx5brYmJNM0glzRuyCgHDM2Z9cJ5cFLCZNtzMn2_6v2xpGRlb10p7NNKVk%3D&amp;gaa_ts=6968e3ac&amp;gaa_sig=yvmU_TcAoizvyqICDiIoc92fLzKGVeAIRYOGJdsXZDe_lvubrlFTgNgnPGyrSd4LcYd5ECX_WFyIDnpV-Dyn3A%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>.

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bill Cassidy

julia letlow

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