CQ Roll Call Policy and Politics

President Donald Trump is preparing to send Congress a fiscal 2027 budget request, even as lawmakers try to find a deal on this year's Homeland Security funding and consider a potential supplemental funding package for the Iran war. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman assess all the fiscal and political pressures shaping the upcoming budget cycle. Learn more about your ad ch...

The Trump administration has sent mixed signals about plans for a supplemental war funding package, while providing Congress with little information about the costs of military operations against Iran. CQ Roll Call's John M. Donnelly and David Lerman assess the potential timing for a war funding bill, the options for passing it, and what else might get attached to it. Learn more about your ad choi...

Jason Dick and Brody Mullins talk about the ongoing disruption of politics, business and journalism, how history repeats itself, Brody's book and podcast, "The Wolves of K Street" and his new podcast, "The Deciders," which focuses on the lobbying and influence world.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump threatened to block all legislation until Congress passes an expanded voter ID bill that Democrats oppose. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman assess what the president's stance means for long-stymied Homeland Security funding and a potential emergency military spending package for the Iran war. We also discuss the status of Trump's fiscal 2027 budget request. Le...

Jason Dick and Sean Carswell discuss Thomas Pynchon's 2013 novel "Bleeding Edge," and how its story about the dot-com bubble and 9/11 applies to the present day, with politics and society dominated by AI, technology and venture capitalism firms running wild and the national security apparatus pushing war here, there and everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war against Iran gave Republicans a new line of attack in a push to end the partisan standoff over Homeland Security Department funding. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and David Lerman assess how the war might impact negotiations over an immigration enforcement overhaul compromise that could clear the way for full-year appropriations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just who is a “domestic terrorist,” and what is the danger when a protest is labeled “an act of domestic terrorism”? President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has announced a drawdown of troops in Minnesota, where immigration raids swept up many, including U.S. citizens, triggered protests and left two of those citizens dead. But the administration hasn’t ruled out future surges across the country...

Jason Dick and Brandon Wetherbee discuss the artistic merits of the 2026 State of the Union, whether Hollywood or Washignton is the entertainment capital and the reasons for sitting through President Donald Trump’s one hour, 47-minute, 43-second event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a partial Homeland Security Department shutdown enters its first full week, there's no sign of a bipartisan immigration deal that could unlock a full-year funding bill. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Savannah Behrmann and David Lerman assess the major sticking points to reaching a deal and the state of negotiations in the Senate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Dick and Mark Schoeff Jr. talk about Mark's new position as president of the National Press Club and the club's mission, press freedoms, how politicians and journalists interact and explain how legendary Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady fits into all this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawmakers are staring down a Friday deadline for Homeland Security funding, with little hope to avoid a partial shutdown. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Chris Johnson and Valerie Yurk examine the Democrats' demands for changes to immigration enforcement policies and the limited potential areas for compromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Dick and Jessica Wehrman digest their experience at the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner, which came at a time of trauma for the national press and frayed nerves in the nation's capital.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House leaders face a difficult challenge to muster the votes for ending the second partial government shutdown of this fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman examine how mounting Democratic opposition and a fractious GOP conference put a $1.2 trillion spending package in jeopardy, and whether any compromise is in sight for a Homeland Security bill. Learn more about...

The ongoing conflict in Minneapolis has increased the chances of a partial government shutdown, and the stress of finding a solution is only building, with talk of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem circulating, the public souring on the administration's immigration actions and a double-whammy winter storm in the mix.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A glide path for a final fiscal 2026 spending package suddenly evaporated after the second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis citizen in an immigration crackdown. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Jacob Fulton and David Lerman assess the chances for finding an escape route from another partial government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House has passed all 12 spending bills for the current fiscal year and the Senate is on track to clear them by the Jan. 30 deadline to avoid another shutdown. CQ Roll Call's Jessica Wehrman, David Lerman and Aris Folley recount the drama of the House dealmaking and the state of the appropriations process.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Dick and Todd Ruger unpack the politics of a congressional committee's pursuit of Contempt of Congress charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton, how the process works, who's been prosecuted before for Contempt of Congress and why, and, of course, how it all relates to the Epstein files. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

November 2026 is closer than it may seem, with candidates already campaigning for the midterms. But are enough Americans paying attention to current action in the courts that could affect the process – and the result? You need a lawyer to sort out all-important voting rights battles. Elisabeth Frost, the Litigation chair of the Elias Law Group, is in the middle of many of these battles. With Marc...

Jason Dick and Mary Ellen McIntire look at the biggest political news of the new year and discuss how big a deal it is for the 2026 midterm election cycle, from Alaska's Senate race to Greenland -- and don't worry, they eventually discuss non-Polar climes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House and Senate appropriators had to punt on a compromise Homeland Security bill as they race toward a Jan. 30 funding deadline. And behind the scenes, talks continue on a potential second "big, beautiful" reconciliation bill. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley, Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman outline the challenges ahead for both appropriations and a reconciliation sequel. Learn more about your ad choi...

In politics, there is a lot going on, it can be hard to focus. But some polling and economic indicators are good guideposts for what is shaping the electorate as the 2026 campaign gets under way. Jason Dick and Nathan Gonzales talk about their favorite numbers to peruse, as well as some of their meh numbers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressional leaders have big hopes for the new year: passing all the remaining, long-delayed spending bills by a Jan. 30 funding deadline. But can they pull it off? CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman assess the outlook for appropriations and what accounts for a new bipartisan cooperative spirit that could make progress possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

As an aspiring equestrian facing obstacles, Jack Goldberg learned that even with good intentions and legislation, follow through can be uncertain. So, as a young teen, he leaned into leadership. While the dual American and Canadian citizen can appreciate progress -- the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with...

The first session of the 119th Congress has been consequential: the legislative branch ceded much of its constitutional responsibilities to the executive branch, senators changed the process for confirming presidential nominees, and the House rank and file grew more emboldened to sidestep their leaders and force votes. Jason Dick and Molly Reynolds discuss these topics and much more as they put 20...