Leadership works through last-minute sticking points on the National Defense Authorization Act. Small signs of progress emerge on the Senate's massive "minibus" spending package. And get ready for competing, partisan health care votes as soon as next week. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Lawmakers work through final NDAA details ahead of release. A report on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of Signal is expected. Senators leave the door ajar for a health care premium deal. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

A deal to address expiring health tax credits is looking more like a long shot. Senate Republicans lead a hearing on impeaching "rogue" judges. A bipartisan trio in the House hopes to force a vote on Russia sanctions. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.

Congress has a long to do list—and not a lot of time to get it done. Hegseth is facing bipartisan criticism for his reported order against an alleged drug smuggling boat. The House this week takes up a bill to codify name, image and likeness rules for college athletes. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.

Senators released draft text of two more spending bills for fiscal 2026. Trump's ACA extension plan gets largely harsh reviews from both sides. FEMA will get a new acting administrator on Dec. 1. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

Lawmakers are heading home for the Thanksgiving recess as spending bills stall. NDAA text is now expected in early December. And Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., is threatening to expel indicted Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.

Senate appropriators will huddle today as they try to push forward on more spending bills. Negotiators get closer to finalizing the fiscal 2026 NDAA. And some nominees face delays as Senate panels raise questions. Kristina Karisch has your CQ Morning Briefing for Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole warns that a yearlong stopgap is possible for some agencies. The text of the compromise National Defense Authorization Act could be released next week. And lawmakers are mulling competing proposals for the expiring health care subsidies. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.

The House is set to vote on a bill intended to force release of the Epstein files. Senate Republicans propose funding health savings accounts amid the ACA subsidy fight. And Congress could soon move a long-awaited Russia sanctions package. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

The Senate's ambitious plan for a four-bill spending package faces an uphill climb. Proponents of a congressional stock trading ban gear up for a Wednesday hearing. And defense contractors want "right-to-repair" language removed from the defense authorization bill. David Higgins has your CQ Morning Briefing for Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.