Washington Today

House Rules Committee meets all night and then all day on the Republican tax cut and spending cut package called Budget Reconciliation or "One Big Beautiful Bill", but negotiations continue among Republicans to reach the near-unanimity that will be need to pass it through the House without any Democratic votes; Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies before a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Trump Administration efforts to close the department and shift Education money and programs to states; President Donald Trump confronts South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House Oval Office over what President Trump claims is a "genocide" against white South African farmers; Federal judge rules the Trump Administration  “unquestionably” violated a court order when it deported seven immigrants from Asian nations to South Sudan; Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) has died at age 75.

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President Donald Trump meets with House Republicans on the Budget Reconciliation bill, urging those opposed to accept what is being offered and not to push for additional spending cuts or more state & local tax deduction, but it is uncertain whether he convinced enough for the bill to pass this week; Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) says felony charges she is facing for allegedly  assaulting a federal  law enforcement officer outside an immigration detention facility are "purely political"; Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends the President's foreign policy before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as Sen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) says he regrets voting to confirm him; President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announce plans for a U.S. missile defense shield the president calls the Golden Dome; IRS Commissioner nominee Billy Long is asked at Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing about allegations he was paid to refer friends to a company that sold tax credits that the IRS says do not exist; White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, in celebration for "Take Our Sons & Daughters to Work Day",

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-House Speaker Mike Johnson says the Republicans federal budget resolution still has QUOTE a lot of hurdles left following its passage out of the House Budget Committee late last night…Fox News Digital reporter Liz Elkind reported that Speaker Johnson said on a conference call this morning…. That members are facing the “most important 48 hours ahead of us that we will ever have in our lives… Meanwhile, CNN is reporting that President Trump will make a personal pitch to House Republicans to pass the bill at a meeting at the Capitol tomorrow…

-President Trump also announced that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and an END to the War…The statement followed what the president said was a 2 hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin…He added that the tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent.”…And that he has talked about it to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders…

-And early this morning, Former president Biden posted a picture on social media of himself along with former First Lady Jill Biden that read "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."…That after political allies and rivals sent well wishes and tributes to the former president.…President Trump said that he and First Lady Melania Trump extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery…Former vice president Kamala Harris said on social media that Joe Biden QUOTE will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership…

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In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Wall Street Journal Supreme Court correspondent Jess Bravin breaks down the Supreme Court case heard this week on Trump administration's effort to end birthright citizenship. Then, a conversation with Maria Snegovaya of the Center for Strategic & International Studies about where Ukraine-Russia peace talks stand – after Russian President Putin was a no-show this week in Turkey. Plus, President Trump signs an executive order on prescription drug pricing. Daniel Payne of STAT news explains what the order does - and it means for consumers.

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House Budget Committee votes down the Republican tax cut, spending cut, border and defense Budget Reconciliation, the one they call the One Big Beautiful Bill, after four Republicans join Democrats in voting no; President Donald Trump finishes up his Middle East trip at a business breakfast in the United Arab Emirates, saying UAE could buy advanced computer chips for AI development; Russian & Ukrainian officials hold peace talks in Turkey, with no ceasefire announced. President Trump is asked about his desire to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to

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Supreme Court hears a case on the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship clause, and President Trump Executive Order to redefine it to not include children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, but much of the argument concerns whether nationwide court injunctions should be allowed; We hear some of the Justices' questioning and get analysis from Brett Samuels, The Hill's White House reporter (1); Senate Republicans block Democrats' attempt to bring up a bill to require a Trump Administration report on El Salvador’s human rights record and any steps to comply with court orders on U.S. residents deported to Salvadoran prisons; House Republicans' Budget Reconciliation bill may be trouble, a day before the Budget Committee plans to take it up, with some Republicans already saying they will vote no; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy testifies before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee about air traffic control upgrades; EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin goes before a House Appropriations Subcommittee, asked about a just announced decision about so-called 'forever chemicals' in water; President Donald Trump speaks to U.S. troops at an air base in Qatar before flying to United Arab Emirates;  President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting a Ukraine war peace agreement will only happen when President Trump can meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin; Vice President JD Vance speaks at the National Peace Officers' Memorial

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Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is questioned about vaccines at two congressional committee hearings. One Senator accuses him of lying to the committee during his confirmation about his plans for programs that promote vaccinations. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is confident that a deal can be reached with holdout House Republican who insist as a condition of their votes on an increase in the maximum State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) in the comprehensive budget reconciliation bill; Vice President JD Vance holds a breakfast with law enforcement during this National Police Week, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) tries and fails to get House Republicans to put up a plaque honoring police who 'bravely protected and defended' the U.S. Capitol during the attack January 6th, 2021; President Donald Trump in Qatar announces a deal for Qatar's airline to buy nearly $100 billion worth of Boeing jets; federal judge orders the release of Badar Khan Suri, Georgetown University researcher detained by immigration officials for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda; House no longer voting on resolution to impeach President Trump offered by a House Democrat but opposed by House Democratic leaders.

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Biggest parts of the House Republicans' and President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" get marked up in committees, but some Republicans are not satisfied with the proposals on tax cuts and Medicaid cuts, and it could put the bill in jeopardy. We will hear from Members and talk with Washington Post Congressional reporter Jacob Bogage. (1) President Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia, signing cooperation agreements with that country and talking about the quest for Middle East peace, announcing he will repeal sanctions on Syria. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) places a hold on the confirmation of Justice Department political nominees over the President's decision to accept a Boeing luxury airline to be used as a temporary Air Force One. Twenty states led by Democrats sue the Trump Administration over immigration enforcement requirements tied to federal grants.

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President Donald Trump defends his decision to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family that he plans to use as Air Force One, as he travels to the Middle East. President signs an Executive Order that aims to cut prescription drug costs. House Republicans release more of their tax plan that calls for extending the 2017 tax cuts and tightening Medicaid benefits. Hamas terrorists release Israeli-American Edan Alexander, the

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In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a conversation with author Rachel Slade about her book "Making it America" about the history – and future - of manufacturing in the United States. Then, the Department of Education resumed collection on defaulted student loans this week. We speak with Rick Seltzer of the Chronicle of Higher Education about what that means – and who will be affected. Plus, a discussion about efforts to modernize the nation's aging air traffic control systems with Kevin Walsh from the Government Accountability Office. He and his team were among the first to flag problems in their report last fall.

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