Congress
2 mothers bring the House to a halt over push to allow proxy voting for new parents
GOP leaders tried to block a bipartisan measure to allow proxy voting, but nine Republicans joined with Democrats to overcome it.
Cory Booker’s anti-Trump speech on the Senate floor has lasted 15 hours and counting
The New Jersey Democrat has been criticizing the Trump administration's policies on immigration, education, the economy and more since 7 p.m. Monday. Here's what to know about his marathon speech.
GOP leaders accused of making threats to block bill to let new moms vote remotely
Lawmakers from both parties teamed up to force a House vote on a measure allowing new parents to vote by proxy for 12 weeks, but House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes it on Constitutional grounds.
‘Mad House’ exposes Congressional disfunction, from petty feuds to physical threats
The MAGA-controlled 118th House passed only 27 bills that became law — the lowest number since the Great Depression. Journalists Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater examine the chaos in a new book.
Intelligence leaders will testify before Congress, fresh off the group chat fiasco
Some of the nation's top intelligence officials are due to appear before Congress in a pair of hearings this week. Two were participants in a widely-criticized war plans group chat on Signal.
Senate passes spending bill to avoid a government shutdown
The Senate voted 54 to 46 to approve a spending bill to fund the government through the end of September.
Senate Democrats face major dilemma: help GOP pass funding bill or trigger shutdown
The government runs out of funding Friday at midnight, leaving Democrats to decide whether to help Republicans pass a bill to avoid a shutdown or block the bill and be blamed for triggering one.
A second federal judge has ruled to block the Trump administration’s spending freeze
U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. said the attempt to pause trillions in federal spending "fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government."
Spanish-language rebuttal to Trump’s joint address focuses on immigration
New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat delivered the Democrats' Spanish-language rebuttal to President Trump's joint address, focusing on the president's immigration policy.
Follow NPR’s annotated fact check of President Trump’s address to Congress
As President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress tonight, reporters from across NPR's newsroom will fact check and offer context as the speech unfolds.
Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight. Here’s what to expect
The president's address to a joint session of Congress is expected to touch on everything from DOGE and immigration to tariffs and the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.
Fired federal workers are among the guests invited to Trump’s speech to Congress
The Trumps and lawmakers from across the aisle have invited guests to Tuesday's joint address, representing some of the administration's top priorities. Here's a look at some of the names on the list.
What you need to know about Trump’s address to joint session of Congress
President Trump will lay out his second term agenda in an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. From talk on tariffs to the U.S. role in the world, here's what to expect.
What will Trump say in his Tuesday address? We look to the past for some clues
Delivered the day before he was acquitted in his first impeachment case, and as COVID began to spread, President Trump's 2020 address was part reality TV, part gameshow and part WWE smackdown.
Trump’s pick for secretary of education is Linda McMahon. Here’s what to know
McMahon's confirmation proceedings are likely to focus on how she would handle Donald Trump's plans to dissolve the U.S. Education Department.
Judge says Trump administration is not in full compliance with order on spending
The judge had issued a temporary restraining order against an administration plan to freeze payments for grants and other federal programs, but says the administration has not been fully complying.
U.S. education policy is at a crossroads. This congressional hearing shows why
The House education committee is charged with forging consensus on the nation's education policy. But at a recent meeting, partisan differences were on full display.
What would a government shutdown mean for me?
If a shutdown arrives, millions of federal employees will be furloughed and many others — including those working in the military and the Transportation Security Administration — will be forced to work without pay until it ends.
2022 Alabama primary results
Statewide races include governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general and secretary of state.
Alabama Republicans Condemn Pro-Trump Mob As Many Vow To Continue The Fight
Alabama lawmakers in Congress ranged in their reactions to Wednesday's Capitol breach by a mob of Trump supporters.
Ongoing: Watch Senate Impeachment Trial Live
The Senate is holding a trial on the impeachment of President Trump, who is accused by the U.S. House of abusing his power and obstructing Congress. At the conclusion of the trial, senators are expected to vote on whether Trump should be removed from office.
WATCH LIVE: Justice Department Inspector General Testifies Before Senate Judiciary
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is answering lawmakers' questions about his report on the Russia investigation, which was released on Monday. Watch the hearing live, Wednesday, December 11th starting at 10 a.m. Central.
Alabama’s Sole Congressional Democrat Sees Opportunity in House Victory
Of all the congressional candidates in Alabama Tuesday, only one was guaranteed to win. Democratic Representative Terri Sewell faced no opposition as she reclaimed the seventh district seat. But for the first time in her congressional career, Democrats hold the majority in the House of Representatives. Rep. Sewell says Democrats will be able work with Republicans on Capitol Hill.
Lack of Guidance Leads to Web Access Lawsuits
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act required public places to accommodate people with disabilities. But back then, before the Internet grew into what it is now, the law didn’t address the accessibility of websites. Now, with a proliferation of lawsuits, many companies are racing to bring their sites into compliance with industry standards.
Finding Agreement in a Divisive Culture
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses a shooting that left a congressman wounded and flaws he sees in Alabama's constitution.
President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress, Annotated
President Trump will address a joint session of Congress for the first time on Tuesday evening at the Capitol, around 8 p.m., Central time. House Speaker Paul Ryan, following tradition, invited the president to make the speech to lay out his agenda in the early days of his new administration.
Carsen And Lindley Talk Alabama Schools’ Low Test Scores
School test results have been in the news across Alabama lately, often next to words like "sobering" and "not on track." So what's going on? WBHM's News Director Rachel Osier Lindley sits down with education reporter Dan Carsen to shed light on a complex and heated issue. Carsen just returned from a conference put on by NPR's Ed Team, and part of that "Ed Summit" dealt with testing. Perfect timing for a while-the-iron-is-hot interview.
Representative Spencer Bachus Reflects On His Time In Congress
A fixture on the Alabama political scene will soon be no longer. Spencer Bachus has served in Congress since 1993. But this year the Vestavia Hills Republican is retiring. He's one of 24 incumbents to step down this term.Congressman Bachus spoke to WBHM's Sarah Delia about his time in Washington. He started off by explaining why he decided to retire.
Money Tight, Scientists Turn To Crowdfunding
In the past decade, it's gotten much harder for scientists to get the federal grants that fund most American research. This year's sequester has made it even more difficult, and the government shutdown is likely to slow things down even further. So scientists are looking for new ways to pay for their work, including "crowdfunding." But going online and asking the public for money has real drawbacks. Even so, as WBHM's Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen tells us, some think it could "open up" science in a good way.
The Fiscal Cliff Deal And Your Taxes
Wondering how the new fiscal cliff deal will hit your family budget? Here's a breakdown of tax increases by salary.
Carsen, Ott on All Things Alabama Education
These are interesting times for Birmingham City Schools. Standardized testing is underway just as there’s a standoff over the future of superintendent Craig Witherspoon. The Board of Education could vote this afternoon to terminate his contract. Check the station website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed for the latest developments. There’s been some drama on the state and national levels too, with a congressional committee looking into the Alabama Education Association. WBHM’s Tanya Ott interviews reporter Dan Carsen on that and more in this week’s education chat.
