Washington Today

SpaceX begins trading above its listing price following a record-setting IPO, making founder Elon Musk the world's first-ever trillionaire; Victims of the deadly Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida are remembered on this 10th anniversary; reports of progress in talks to end the war between the U.S. & Iran. Pakistan's Prime Minister says “final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached” and Iranian Foreign Minister an agreement has “never been closer”; Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Sect. 702 spying power is almost certain to expire tonight, after Congress left Washington without renewing it; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard releases what she says is evidence of U.S.

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House votes down an extension of the foreign spying power called FISA Sect. 702 a day before it is set to expire, with many Democrats upset at President Trump naming FHFA Director Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence; after the vote, President Trump nominates Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to be the next permanent DNI; Just hours after President Trump says the U.S. would strike Iran 'very hard tonight,' he calls off the bombing, claiming a breakthrough in negotiations with Iran; Secretary of State Marco Rubio signs a sports diplomacy partnership with UFC CEO Dana White; Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announces indictments against three people in Ohio for conspiring to smuggle unaccompanied minors across the U.S. border; Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Oversight Committee ranking member, accuses Vice President JD Vance of leading a 'cover-up' of the Jeffrey Epstein files after news reports about the  Vice President's role in White House Situation Room meetings; First Lady Melania Trump promotes savings accounts for children in the foster care system; New York politicians talk about the NBA Knicks being one game closer to a championship and the World Cup soccer tournament getting underway.

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President Trump says the U.S. will resume attacks on Iran amid stalled negotiations, inflation reaches a three-year high, Bill Gates appears before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein, and we preview tonight's Congressional Baseball Game.

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House joins the Senate in passing $70 billion, budget reconciliation, multiyear funding bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs & Border Protection, ending a four month showdown with Democrats over whether federal immigration enforcement should be reformed; President Trump says the U.S. 'must' respond to an attack

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Republicans’ budget reconciliation package is now in the House’s hands, and they could approve the immigration bill this week; Another contentious issue boils in the Senate, extending the government's overseas warrantless spy powers authority known as FISA. That power expires on Friday, but Congress has repeatedly punted an extension for

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In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion about the Trump Administration's immigration enforcement and deportation policies with Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundation.

Then: Donald Sherman of Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington discusses his organization's efforts to block the Trump Administration's "anti-weaponization fund."

Finally: PBS FRONTLINE Producer and writer Mike Wiser discusses his new documentary on President Trump's "War Cabinet"

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The Senate vote-a-rama is underway as Republicans push toward passage of a 70-billion-dollar budget reconciliation package to fund the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities.

The process began this morning with an amendment from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer that would have sent the bill back to committee and prohibited funding for the President's proposed 1.8-billion-dollar "anti-weaponization fund."

That vote stretched nearly four hours before failing, 50 to 49.

Senators then turned to an amendment from North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis that would have redirected the fund's money to the Justice Department's anti-fraud efforts. That proposal was also rejected.

At the White House, President Trump announced he intends to nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve permanently in the role.

The president also unveiled 700 million dollars in funding for coal plants and energy infrastructure projects across 11 states.

And President Trump weighed in on the war with Iran and his appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence.

We'll have the latest from Capitol Hill and the White House coming up.

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On Capitol Hill, Republicans are finally moving their reconciliation package forward.

The Senate voted this afternoon to begin debate on the measure, which no longer includes funding for President Trump's proposed White House ballroom.

The bill also comes after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the administration's proposed $1.8 billion IRS "Anti-Weaponization Fund" has been dropped from the package.

Democrats, however, are vowing a fight as Republicans push to advance the legislation using the reconciliation process. We'll have the latest on where the bill stands coming up.

It was also a busy day of hearings on Capitol Hill.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions from lawmakers on Iran and U.S. foreign policy before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's settlement with the IRS during a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

And Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told lawmakers he is reviewing contracts signed during the tenure of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Plus, Campaign 2026 enters a new phase following primary elections in seven states. We'll look at the results and hear what candidates had to say in several closely watched races, including contests in California and Iowa.

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President Trump's decision to name Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence draws mixed reactions on Capitol Hill, with Democrats sharply criticizing the move and some Republicans expressing caution. We hear from lawmakers weighing in on the appointment.

Also, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict with Iran, while acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces questions on Capitol Hill about the administration's proposed $1.8 billion IRS compensation fund.

Plus, primary voters head to the polls in six states, including closely watched races in California and Iowa.

And C-SPAN marks a milestone: 40 years of live Senate coverage on C-SPAN2. We look back at the launch of Senate television and hear what lawmakers are saying about four decades of cameras in the chamber.

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The Trump administration is reportedly abandoning its controversial $1.8 billion IRS "weaponization" fund after bipartisan criticism and concerns raised by federal judges. We hear reaction from Capitol Hill and what the decision could mean for ongoing immigration funding negotiations.

Also, Iran says it has suspended talks with the United States following Israeli actions in Lebanon, while President Trump insists negotiations are continuing at a "rapid pace."

Plus, the Senate returns to Washington facing a growing legislative backlog, and voters in six states prepare to head to the polls for key primary elections. We hear from Senate leaders and candidates on the campaign trail.

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