Congress: The Senate & The House

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? Next week's fights

A pair of storylines will dominate the Hill's attention next week.

• House GOP leaders plan to blitz through "Crypto Week," including taking up the Senate-passed GENIUS Act that regulates stablecoins.
• In the other chamber, the deadline's in a week for the vote on the cuts to PBS, NPR and foreign aid. Senate Republicans face the threat of President Trump withholding his endorsement for any defectors.

See you Monday!

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? It's Crypto Week

Data: CoinGecko. Chart: Axios Visuals A few years ago, crypto was mostly a pariah in the financial services industry. Now, at the urging of the "first crypto president," Congress is on the verge of remaking American finance to embrace it, Axios' Brady Dale and Kate Santaliz report. House Republicans declared the next five days Crypto Week. Bitcoin hit a new all-time high Friday. The agenda for next week consists of three bills: ? Stablecoin legislation, which sources tell us will get a vote next week. Stablecoins are how dollars go on blockchains, and they enable super-fast, super-cheap global payments. They've picked up so much popularity that some companies use them for global payroll. The bill would establish rules for who could issue stablecoins and how — and it's expected to lead to a surge of new products and participation from traditional banks. ? Market structure legislation, which would create a framework for regulating broader crypto issuance and trading. ?️ The third bill slated for this week is to prevent the Fed from ever creating a digital version of official U.S. currency. Conservatives oppose the concept because they think it would mean more government intrusion. Keep reading.

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? Thune's rescissions watch list

Senate leadership is setting up votes, kicking off tomorrow, to claw back billions of dollars of appropriated federal funds.

• But first, there are GOP senators who need to be appeased.

Why it matters: There are two buckets of GOP Senate skeptics, despite Trump's threat to withhold his support or endorsement from any Republican who does not vote for the bill.

1) Skeptical on principle: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) made an argument last week that the process of cutting spending is supposed to be through the annual appropriations process.

• Also watch Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — the top-ranked members on the Appropriations Committee.

2) Looking for tweaks: Others are more likely to get on board after changes.

• Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) fall into this category.
• The two biggest issues: Cuts to a global health program to prevent HIV and AIDS, as well as cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that could impact relied-on local radio stations. Collins also objects to PEPFAR cuts.
• OMB Director Russ Vought is expected to attend lunch tomorrow to answer additional questions from senators about the proposed cuts, per sources familiar.

The other side: Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has been leading the charge on getting the rescissions package done.

• He noted senators are invested in "the good that PEPFAR has done" and making sure "the package is reflective of that."
• Schmitt called taxpayer-funded media a "vestige of a bygone era, and they violated the trust of American people."
• He argued stations "can do just fine on their own, going to their donors."

— Stef Kight

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GOP boils over

House Speaker Mike Johnson's big, beautiful honeymoon is over.

Why it matters: The speaker has survived plenty of crises. But today has been a grim reminder of the impossibility of governing with a single-digit majority.

• He abruptly canceled today's remaining floor votes after conservatives tanked the procedural vote for a trio of crypto bills and a defense spending measure. President Trump wants the GENIUS Act, one of those three crypto bills, to get passed now.
• Johnson's also in a rare sideways with Trump, backing the release of all Jeffrey Epstein files before the president claimed the files are a deep state hoax.
• The speaker is even watching Democrats unify in real-time around the files' release, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries embracing the push (more in No. 2).

Leadership was caught off guard by the procedural vote failing.

• "This is the legislative process. We have some members who really want to emphasize the House's product," Johnson said immediately after the vote.
• Johnson said he expected some "no" votes but thought it was "important to try and advance" the bills.

What's next: Johnson will try to put the wheels back on tomorrow morning.

— Kate Santaliz

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? Inside Jeffries' Epstein strategy

Jeffries is shocking some colleagues by embracing efforts to exploit MAGA divisions over the Epstein files. Why it matters: Amid demands from the liberal grassroots that Democrats take off the gloves with Trump, the Democratic leader has shifted from vowing not to "swing at every pitch" to adopting a "more is more" strategy. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told us he has been "very closely in coordination" with Jeffries' office and "all indications we've gotten is support from the leadership on this." Zoom in: Jeffries has signaled to allies he sees the Epstein story as fitting neatly into a broader narrative about alleged corruption in the Trump administration, sources told us. "He's not going to let go of Epstein," one senior House Democrat told us on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about internal discussions. Driving the news: What began as individual efforts to squeeze the Trump administration into releasing all documents related to Epstein morphed into a fully leadership-sanctioned campaign in less than 24 hours. Reps. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) and Khanna introduced measures that would demand and force the DOJ to publish the documents, respectively. Jeffries said last night he had not spoken to either lawmaker or evaluated their proposals. However, hours later, his members on the House Rules Committee were trying to get both measures to the floor. Today, Democratic leadership made its support clear by trying to pass a procedural motion to force a vote on Khanna's bill. Both efforts failed. The bottom line: Even as Jeffries has given his blessing, he has cautioned not to abandon other messaging tactics the party sees as fruitful — part of his "more is more" strategy. In a meeting of House Democrats' steering committee last night, Jeffries urged lawmakers to keep hammering the administration on issues like the cost of living, according to two lawmakers who were present. — Andrew Solender

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? The Senate's fundraising outlier

Data: Axios research; Note: Cornyn's total included $3 million from his joint fundraising committee; Chart: Axios Visuals Some Senate candidates aren't hitting the fundraising circuit as if their political lives depend on it. Why it matters: Most battleground senators facing reelection this cycle put up seven-figure fundraising numbers last quarter. It's a testament to the power of incumbency, indicating their own desire to stay in office. But Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) raised $723K this quarter, compared to $1.1 million during the same period six years ago. Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP's preferred candidate in Michigan, raised $1.5 million for the cycle, a figure that is unlikely to scare Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) out of a contested primary. By the numbers: The Democrats' most endangered incumbent, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), had another impressive quarter, raising $10 million. That leaves him with $15.5 million cash on hand. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the only GOP senator from a state Democrats won in the presidential election last year, raised $2.5 million. She has $5.25 million cash on hand. Zoom in: Sen. John Cornyn, facing a GOP primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, raised $3.9 million for the quarter, although more than $3 million of that was to his joint fundraising committee. Paxton raised $2.9 million for the quarter and has $2.5 million cash on hand. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who also faces a primary challenger, raised $2.1 million and has more than $9 million cash on hand. What we're hearing: Ernst is telling colleagues she'll make a decision to run for reelection this fall. If she doesn't run, GOP strategists expect Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) to jump in. Hinson raised $850,000 for the quarter and has $2.8 million cash on hand — funds she can transfer from her House race to a potential Senate one. Ernst campaign manager Bryan Kraber told us in a statement: "Instead of fundraising trips and meeting with millionaires, Senator Ernst has been hard at work advancing President Trump's agenda and delivering a tax break for hardworking Iowans." Go deeper: Rogers, who struggled with fundraising in his 2024 loss to Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), does have some outside support from a super PAC this cycle. The Great Lakes Conservative Fund raised more than $5 million to support his candidacy, according to The Hill. His quarterly numbers this year are double the amount he raised in the first quarter after he announced in 2023. "I'm in this fight for Michigan, and we're going to win it for Michigan," Rogers said when he announced his Q2 numbers. — Hans Nichols

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> Republicans vote to avoid Democratic-proposed amendment requiring floor vote on the release of government files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (More) | Justice Department said last week there was no evidence of a client list; read the two-page memo (More)

ps:So now the same people that keep bringing this conspiracy theory up for years about Jeffrey Epstein, vote not to release all the records they have?????????????????????????? So what is it they are hiding??

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? Thune calls Schumer's bluff

The Senate is plowing ahead tonight on $9 billion in cuts to PBS, NPR and foreign aid, threats from Democrats be damned.

Why it matters: Democratic leaders — and some high-level Republicans — say budget rescissions undermine the trust they need to pass the annual bipartisan spending deals.

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has warned Republicans they'll be left to figure out a potential government shutdown on their own if they keep the partisan cuts coming.
• But GOP leaders insist they aren't worried.

Between the lines: Democrats have a "valid concern" about making spending deals just to be undone through rescissions, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters today.

• "We've actually shared with folks from the administration that the bigger challenge for them is — appropriations take 60 votes," Rounds said.

The other side: Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told us he didn't think the appropriations would be any more difficult because of the rescissions package.

• "I think we can have a bipartisan process," he said, pointing to the appropriations bills that have already been voted out of committee with Democratic support.
• He said the Senate could even start voting on appropriations bills or the National Defense Authorization Act as early as before the August recess.
• "I think our first markup went well. The second one was mixed, but we've reported bills out of committee. I expect we're going to report more tomorrow," Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said on whether rescissions will complicate her job.

The simple math: Government spending bills require 60 votes to advance in the Senate.

• But rescission packages — which cut specific spending from a budget — can be passed with a simple majority, as they're set to tonight.
• "This is beyond a bait-and-switch — it is a bait and poison-to-kill," Schumer said earlier this month.

The big picture: Votes on rescission packages originating from the White House are rare.

• It hasn't been done successfully since 1999.

— Stef Kight, Stephen Neukam and Justin Green

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? Senate Dems bash Israel

Mainstream Senate Democrats are starting to echo their party's base, which has soured on supporting Israel. Zoom in: Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a moderate Democrat from a swing state, this week slammed the Israeli government for the lack of humanitarian aid in Gaza and violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. "There are times when, to me, it doesn't look like [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] is prioritizing the hostage situation," Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told us. "Certainly, there's times when it looks like Hamas does not want a deal." "I think it's way overdue to have Democratic members of Congress speak up and speak out about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza," Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), another moderate who has criticized Israel since the start of the war, told us today. The big picture: The comments are part of a significant shift in tone toward Netanyahu from the center of the Democratic Party. Slotkin's post on X this week addressed the killing of an American by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and slammed Netanyahu for a lack of accountability. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who spent time in Iraq, told us today she has heard "lots of negative feedback" about her post following a "very rough weekend in the Middle East." The other side: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has emerged as one of the strongest pro-Israel voices in the party. Fetterman offered his full support of President Trump's decision to attack Iran last month, saying the U.S. commitment to Israel must be "absolute." The bottom line: Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told us lawmakers are starting to understand "this is not just a moral issue, it's a political issue." Van Hollen, a leading Senate Democratic voice against the Netanyahu government, told us he's happy to have more Democrats speak up. — Stephen Neukam

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> Senate advances $9B package of spending cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting; package spares $400M global AIDS relief program (More) | Mandatory versus discretionary federal spending (1440 Topics)

Senate chops funding for PBS, foreign aid

At 2:30 a.m., the Senate passed President Trump's clawback of $9 billion in federal funding for PBS, NPR and foreign aid programs, Axios' Stephen Neukam and Stef Kight report.

• The GOP's rescissions package takes back money that has already been appropriated by Congress and signed into law by the president.

Why it matters: It's a win for conservative fiscal hawks who wanted to follow on DOGE's work. Democrats fear the victory for the White House opens the door for more rescissions packages negating bipartisan spending deals.

?️ The measure passed 51-48 with only Republican support. Two Republicans — Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — voted with Democrats against the bill.

• The package now needs final approval from the House, which is facing a deadline tomorrow to get the measure to Trump.

Keep reading.

 

DOGE cuts

In a 51 to 48 overnight vote, the Senate passed the spending cuts that were proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and sent the package to the House. Two Republicans — Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — opposed the measure and raised concerns about the potential for adverse consequences. The bill would slash $9 billion in federal funds that Congress had already approved. Roughly $8 billion will be pulled from US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs and another $1.1 billion will be withdrawn from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund NPR and PBS. The DOGE cuts must pass in the House by Friday.   ‘Devastating’ cuts Public media station leaders are bracing for layoffs and programming cuts after the Senate voted to approve a bill that cancels all federal funding for PBS and NPR. Stations in rural areas and smaller communities may be hit hardest.

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? Will he/won't he, Jeffries edition

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 17. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images With ~28 hours to go, House Democrats are largely shooing away the idea of trying to make House Speaker Mike Johnson miss his deadline on cuts to PBS, NPR and foreign aid. Why it matters: Tomorrow's deadline sure looks like a rare opportunity to satisfy the demands of the Democratic base to obstruct the GOP agenda. But lawmakers and aides told us it's not that simple. One House Democrat told us their leadership said Republicans "can play with the date, so [the deadline is] not hard and fast." Zoom in: Instead of trying to hold up the $9 billion in cuts to foreign aid and public media, Democrats see the most productive strategy as continuing to make Republicans block their efforts to bring up bills forcing the Justice Department to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. "Democrats have succeeded in tying the House GOP in knots over Epstein files amendments," a Democratic leadership aide told us. "It's lunacy to wring our hands over a statutory deadline that the administration will simply ignore when we've been able to send the Republicans into utter chaos," the aide said. At a press conference today, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demurred when asked if he would pull a repeat of the record-breaking eight hour, 44 minute speech he gave to delay passage of the "big, beautiful bill." Jeffries, Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise can all speak for unlimited time in what is known as a "magic minute" speech. "I do expect I will participate in the debate, and I expect I will speak longer than a minute," Jeffries told reporters. When pressed, he added, "I think Democrats are going to continue to fight hard and do everything we can to make sure that we are pushing back aggressively against this rescissions package." The bottom line: Some Democrats said the base's sometimes unrealistic expectations alone may be reason enough for Jeffries to deliver a long speech. "I think it's smart, I think he should do it," Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) told us. "People like it. People liked the last one." — Andrew Solender

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? Johnson wins ugly

Another day, another broken record and another win for Speaker Johnson.

Why it matters: It could always unravel at any point. But Johnson has embraced a grind-it-out mentality that's ugly but effective, even if it wouldn't work without a regular dose of President Trump.

• A nearly 10-hour vote to let members hash out a deal on crypto? Ended about 11pm yesterday, with the bills passing today.
• An all-nighter during reconciliation while the Freedom Caucus grieved itself into acceptance? Two weeks ago.
• Relying on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to help convince House conservatives to support the $4 trillion budget framework? That was April.
• Sending members home (and to bars) before calling them back 13 minutes later to pass the budget framework in February? Almost seems quaint.

Zoom out: The legislative acrobatics can sometimes distract from the policy accomplishments Johnson is achieving for his party.

• Johnson was embarrassed by the overnight rebellion of House conservatives on crypto. But this afternoon, he passed the first-ever regulatory framework for stablecoins, sending the landmark GENIUS Act to Trump for his signature.
• Tonight, he's dealing with a Rules Committee stalemate (see item No. 1) over amendments on releasing the Epstein files. But tomorrow, he'll try to defund NPR and PBS as well as cut foreign aid.

What's next: Johnson survived last year on the goodwill of Democrats, who appreciated his willingness to push bipartisan votes to the floor. But this year, they'll be in no mood to help as he tries to fund the government before Oct. 1.

• House Appropriations Chair Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) has rolled with Johnson's style this year, but he's also been flashing some frustration this week.

— Hans Nichols

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? Scoop: $5 million against Ossoff

An outside group linked to Thune is launching a $5 million ad blitz against Sen. Jon Ossoff, the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the country.

Why it matters: The ad campaign shows Republicans are ready to spend big cash against Ossoff (D-Ga.), their top target in the midterm election.

• The commercials are being run by One Nation, a nonprofit group allied with the Senate Leadership Fund, the main Senate GOP super PAC.
• The ad began running today on broadcast and cable stations, and digitally, across the state.

It attacks Ossoff for his opposition to the Trump-backed "big, beautiful bill," focusing specifically on tax cuts included in the legislation.

• "Why did he do it, who knows? Ask him," one man says in the spot.

Zoom in: The Senate Leadership Fund this spring ran a 7-figure ad campaign against Ossoff.

• But Ossoff will have plenty of resources of his own. He raked in a mammoth $10 million during the second quarter and has $15 million in cash on hand.

— Alex Isenstadt

 

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Emil Bove

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to advance the nomination of Emil Bove, President Trump’s former personal attorney, to a federal judgeship. The decision came over the loud protests of Democrats who walked out of the committee proceedings. Bove’s nomination has been contentious. Earlier this week, more than 75 former federal and state judges called on the panel to reject Bove, saying his “egregious record of mistreating law enforcement officers, abusing power, and disregarding the law itself disqualifies him for this position.” In June, a whistleblower letter from a terminated DOJ employee alleged that Bove and other top officials intended to ignore court orders and mislead federal judges. Bove rebuffed such claims during his confirmation hearing.

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? Massie's August plot

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is moving forward with plans to force a vote on requiring the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Why it matters: The bipartisan push by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has proven popular in Congress, despite attempts by President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson to dampen the efforts.

• Massie said he's intentionally timed his discharge petition so the vote can be forced shortly after the lengthy August recess.
• "You're going to fundraisers, you're going to town halls, you're going to the grocery store, you're going to the beach — you're going to hear from people," he said of his colleagues.

Driving the news: After numerous unsuccessful efforts to swat away the Epstein issue, President Trump announced yesterday he had directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury transcripts in the Epstein case.

• Johnson had the House Rules Committee prepare a nonbinding resolution that calls on the DOJ to release all information pertaining to Epstein — a way to address the issue while minimizing backlash from Trump.
• But the House speaker hasn't committed to holding a vote on that measure.
• Massie told us those concessions are insufficient and he still plans to move forward with his discharge petition, which forces a House vote on his binding bill if it is signed by 218 members.

Between the lines: The real question is whether Johnson will once again employ the procedural maneuver he used in April to kill a discharge petition over proxy voting for new parents.

• Massie said he is not worried, because "that affected 435 people ... and the Epstein sex trafficking ring is a lot bigger than that."
• Similarly, Khanna told us: "Being allowed to vote in the House is important. But the release of the Epstein files — to the MAGA base — matters 100 times more to them. So I think it's a totally different situation."

What's next: GOP leadership is considering canceling votes next week, in part to delay Massie's efforts.

• Johnson told reporters today that Republicans remain unified on the issue, despite Democratic efforts to sow division within the party.
• "We will see how all this develops," he said. "We're in line with the White House, there's no daylight between us. We want transparency, and I think that will be delivered for the people."

— Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz

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Why a mod caved

Lost in the coverage of Republicans passing rescissions was the lack of drama in the final vote. Just two Republicans, Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Mike Turner (Ohio), voted "no" on the final bill. Why it matters: Faced with internal pressure and promises of future concessions, a bloc of vulnerable House Republicans ultimately fell in line to support clawing back federal funding they had long defended. Before the first House rescissions vote in June, a group that included Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.), Juan Ciscomani (Ariz.) and Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.) grappled with how they could justify cutting spending from public broadcasting and the global AIDS program PEPFAR. The latter is credited with saving over 20 million lives. However, the Senate's watering down of the bill, including the removal of $400 million in cuts to PEPFAR, made it easier for moderates to support. "The Senate has improved the House's original version of this bill," Bacon said in a statement following last night's vote. "I also received a commitment from Speaker Johnson to keep funding for local public media in this year's budget and will work to retain funding in this year's appropriations bill." — Kate Santaliz

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New GOP-led push on Epstein files

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is moving forward with plans to force a vote on requiring the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, despite attempts by President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to dampen his efforts.

• The push by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has proven popular in Congress, with most Democrats and some on the GOP's right flank supporting it, Axios' Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz report.
• "You're going to fundraisers, you're going to town halls, you're going to the grocery store, you're going to the beach — you're going to hear from people," Massie said of his colleagues.

? Johnson has proposed a nonbinding resolution that calls on the Justice Department to release all information pertaining to Epstein — a way to address the issue while minimizing backlash from Trump.

• Massie and his allies say that's not good enough, but other right-wing hardliners say Trump would never sign a measure, like Massie's, that would have the force of law.
• "If you're the president of the United States, and you're trying to, I don't know, enforce separation of powers, then you go, 'Well, I'm not going to sign this.' So you wouldn't expect the president to sign that," Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said.

Go deeper.

The 2026 Senate map is tough for Democrats, but Republicans have their own headaches

Republicans are encountering early headaches in Senate races viewed as pivotal to maintaining the party’s majority in next year’s midterm elections, with recruitment failures, open primaries, infighting and a president who has been sitting on the sidelines. Democrats still face an uphill battle. They need to net four seats to retake the majority, and most of the 2026 contests are in states that Republican President Donald Trump easily won last November. Read more.

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? Thune in a pickle

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is stuck between the public, painful demands from President Trump to cancel the August recess and the pleas of members to let them go home.

Why it matters: For senators, the summer recess is next to holy. For the president, confirming his nominees is simply more important.

• "We're thinking about it," Thune told us today about Trump's call to cancel all — or part — of the August break.
• "We want to get as many noms through the pipeline as we can," he said.

?️ But still, August is August.

• "People are accustomed to going back," Thune said. "This is the time of year when they go back and interact with their constituents and talk about some of the things that we've gotten done."
• "I do not believe we need to cancel the August recess," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said today. "Please wipe that suggestion off of your DNA."
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) vehemently defended the extended break: "You get us for the rest of the year back here, but there's got to be some time when we can actually be addressing the needs of our constituents back home."

? Driving the news: After Trump's weekend post on Truth Social, leadership has made clear to senators that fiddling with the August recess is on the table.

• Thune has talked to Trump about the president's goals and told reporters the two met today.

The intrigue: If Thune moves forward with August votes, there is always the risk of attendance challenges.

• With just a three-seat margin, Republicans are "only as strong as our four weakest links," as one senior aide put it.

What we're watching: A threat of canceling August recess could also be a negotiation tool to convince Democrats to give them a break on lower-level nominees who ordinarily would have a relatively easy time getting confirmed.

• "This could be an impetus to actually get a number of those noms done, as long as we do it appropriately and we pick out those which are noncontroversial" to Democrats, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). 

— Stef W. Kight

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? Dems eye redistricting counterstrike

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

❤️‍? When it comes to possible mid-decade redistricting, Democrats may not stop at California, even though it's giving some of their incumbents serious heartburn. Why it matters: With Texas Republicans leading the charge, possible off-cycle revisions threaten — as one Democratic lawmaker put it — a "race to the bottom" that will encourage both sides to test the limits of gerrymandering. To gain an advantage in the 2026 midterms. Democrats are considering redistricting in other blue states, including New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Washington, senior House Democrats told Axios. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters last week "all options" were on the table. ? Friction point: Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told us he was "terribly conflicted" about California Gov. Gavin Newsom threatening to try to redraw districts to create more Democratic-leaning seats. "I really worry about a race to the bottom on something that I consider pretty despicable," Huffman said. Under pressure from Trump, Texas Republicans began a special session today that Gov. Greg Abbott said would include an attempt to redraw the state's U.S. House districts. "We're only supposed to be redistricting every 10 years," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). "At some point, the partisanship gets too much. ... I just think it goes too far." ? What we're watching: Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who represents the reddest district of any House Democrat, warned Republicans against what is known as a dummymander. "I won in a seat that the president has won by 7-10 points. ... You want to draw some of your incumbents out of R+12, R+15 seats into R+6?, he said. "We'll find some good candidates who can win there." — Andrew Solender ps:The stupidity continues!!!

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?️ Schumer's temperature check

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will consult with his caucus tomorrow before deciding whether Democrats will go scorched earth against their Republican colleagues during this year's appropriations process.

Why it matters: Top Democrats have hinted the party may not play ball with the GOP on the funding proceedings, risking a government shutdown at the end of September.

• But Democrats have been reluctant to play the shutdown card in the past — and many are on record saying it's irresponsible.

Zoom out: This week will present an early test case for this fall's appropriations showdown.

• GOP leaders plan to bring the MilCon-VA funding bill to the floor for a vote. They'll need Democratic support to move forward and at least seven Democratic votes to break a filibuster.

? Zoom in: Schumer didn't tip his hand during a speech on the Senate floor today. Instead, he unloaded on Thune and Republicans as being "obedient" to Trump.

The bottom line: Democrats are angry with how Trump and Thune have rolled them all year.

• But to register a real protest against the GOP, they'll need to reach an internal consensus that risking a government shutdown is the form of protest they all want to embrace.

— Stephen Neukam

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?️ Epstein files stall House

House Republicans have virtually stopped work on all major legislation leading up to their six-week summer recess to avoid taking votes on forcing the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Axios' Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz write.

• Why it matters: Democrats have been gleefully using every opportunity to force their GOP colleagues on the record about Epstein as President Trump pressures them to make the issue go away.

The House had been scheduled to vote on GOP legislation involving immigration and environmental legislation this week.

• But Democrats planned to force votes on amendments aimed at forcing the Justice Department to release all its documents on Epstein.

? What's next: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) tells reporters he's confident he can get 218 members to sign onto a discharge petition that would force a vote on releasing the files.

Epstein files

Despite pressure from some GOP members of Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson does not plan to allow a House vote calling for the release of additional files in the Jeffrey Epstein case before the August recess. Last week, however, Johnson became the highest-ranking Republican to say he, too, wanted to see more details from the DOJ’s investigation of the late, disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker. Earlier this month, the DOJ issued a memo that said Epstein had not been murdered in prison, nor did he leave a client list. That memo contradicted some of the conspiracy theories previously promoted by Trump and his top lieutenants. Now, a bipartisan group of House members is seeking to circumvent Johnson and force a floor vote. However, even if the group succeeds, the measure won’t be considered by the full House until after Labor Day at the earliest.   Speaker Johnson refuses to allow Epstein vote as House set to recess early House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week’s legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote. Read More. ps:Of course he does!!!!!

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? Dems keep their powder dry

Tonight, top Democrats supported the first appropriations bill of the summer, but they aren't taking a government shutdown off the table in October.

Why it matters: The procedural vote on the MilCon-VA bill was 90-8. But those numbers are slightly deceiving.

• They don't capture the Democrats' frustration over rescissions — and fear and misgivings about the appropriations process to come.

? What they're saying: "There's the CR issues, and then there's today's issues," Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told us. "I would just separate those for now."'

• "It's just a motion to proceed, and we look forward to the amendment process," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
• "We're making these decisions vote by vote as is our responsibility to do," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told us.

? Driving the news: In the end, only seven Democrats voted against moving forward with the funding bill.

• That gave leaders the space to make the distinction between supporting normal appropriations bills and a continuing resolution they will almost certainly confront in September.
• "It was done in a bipartisan process, no doubt about it," Schumer said. "It undoes many of the awful DOGE cuts to veterans."
• And the vote today only opened debate on the bill, which Democrats haven't committed to supporting in the end.

? What to watch: Schumer was expected to huddle tonight with top Senate and House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), to discuss government funding.

Zoom out: Democrats are divided on how much to help Republicans fund the government — and when and where to fight them on the principles that animate their party.

• Some progressive senators are vowing to withhold their votes on spending bills unless they receive ironclad assurances Republicans won't pursue any more rescissions packages.
• "Why would anyone trust the Republicans at this point?" Warren told us.

? Zoom in: Some GOP appropriators seem sympathetic to the Democratic complaints about the role rescissions can play in the appropriations process.

• Democrats have a "valid concern" about making spending deals just to be undone through rescissions, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said last week.

The bottom line: Senate Democrats don't have to decide in July if they want to risk a shutdown in October.

• However, they need their threat to be credible to convince GOP leaders to include them in spending decisions and ward off a second rescissions package. 

— Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam

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⚓️ Summer doldrums engulf GOP

President Trump wanted Senate Majority Leader John Thune to "cancel August recess (and long weekends!)." Today, Thune met the president halfway, threatening to sacrifice the first weekend of August.

Why it matters: Thune's trying hard to get Trump's nominees approved, even if it means cutting into the coveted August break, at the same time his House counterpart, Speaker Mike Johnson, has decided to toss in the towel early.

• ?️ Both leaders are dealing — albeit in different ways — with the onset of Congress' version of "senioritis."
• As August approaches, attendance at votes becomes difficult to enforce, lawmakers tend to be more irritable than usual and momentum fades to tackle anything that can be put off until September.

The big picture: Thune warned senators in a closed-door lunch today to be ready for possible votes on nominations next weekend — potentially taking them into August, three sources familiar with the discussion tell us.

• ✈️ Meanwhile, across the Capitol, Johnson decided to send House members home a day early for that chamber's five-week August recess after tensions erupted over efforts to force release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
• Democrats planned to force yet more votes on amendments aimed at pressuring the Justice Department to release all its documents on Epstein.

Zoom in: The hope for GOP leaders is to reach an agreement with Schumer to allow for faster processing of Trump's nominees and limit the impact on recess.

• But the lunch warning is a clear sign Thune is willing to test senators' pain tolerance in his pursuit of confirming more of Trump's nominees. 

— Kathleen Hunter

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Epstein Files Interrupted

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-4) is beginning the August recess a day early, with the last votes wrapping up today. The decision prevents a vote forcing the Justice Department to release files on late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.   The decision comes after a bipartisan effort sought to call a vote on the issue through the House Rules Committee. At least 10 Republicans supported the measure. By recessing the committee, no votes requiring a simple majority could be added to the docket. Lawmakers pursuing more information on Epstein and his underage sex trafficking ring plan to resume the effort in September. The DOJ this month said it would not release most evidence on the case, a decision President Donald Trump has backed.   Separately, the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee voted yesterday to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate serving a 20-year sentence in Florida for her role in the trafficking ring. The Justice Department said it will meet with Maxwell in the coming days.   Lawmaker security The House of Representatives is increasing funding and resources for lawmakers to provide them with additional security options. The “pilot program,” which is meant to assist lawmakers returning to their districts for the five-week recess, was created following the deadly attack on Minnesota state lawmakers in June. According to a release from the Committee on House Administration, House members will receive $20,000 to increase the security of their homes. An additional $5,000 per month will be disbursed to each lawmaker to pay for personal security through the end of the year. In 2024, the US Capitol Police investigated more than 9,000 threats against lawmakers, marking an 83% increase from the previous year. During that same period, Trump was targeted in two apparent assassination attempts.

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• ? Republicans offered mixed takes on the Jeffrey Epstein saga at Axios' News Shapers event this morning: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said the relevant files should be released. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) called it a "non-issue." Go deeper.

⭐️ Schumer's N.C. score

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer landed his top 2026 recruit in former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, giving Democrats some midsummer hope they can steal a GOP Senate seat next year.

Why it matters: Democrats have their candidate. Republicans are still looking for theirs. Both sides will have plenty of money.

• "It's always the most expensive race in U.S. history. It will be again," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said today at an Axios Live event.
• But the outgoing senator has some frank advice for his party after its 2024 gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, ran a disastrous campaign.
• "Let that embarrassment be a lesson to the base who didn't understand" that Robinson could not win in a general election, Tillis said.

? Driving the news: Cooper is expected to make a formal announcement Monday, but the news, which we scooped this afternoon, ricocheted across town.

• For a party that has been rolled on policy all year, Democrats are heading into August hopeful that the politics may be cutting in their direction.

The other side: Republicans are still waiting for their top nominee to emerge, with all eyes on the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump.

• Tillis declined to say whether he would be willing to campaign with Lara Trump but stressed the importance of choosing a candidate who can appeal to the swing voters, or "we're going to have a tough time."
• The ability to raise money will also be a factor: "You have to have a national fundraising platform that's going to match up against the Democrats, who invariably raise — it's usually about a 60-40 split," Tillis said.

What they are saying: "Roy Cooper is about to join a very long list of Democrat governors who tried and failed to be elected to the United States Senate," NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez told Axios in a statement.

• "Chuck Schumer might be celebrating, but North Carolinians are still reeling from Roy Cooper's botched response to Hurricane Helene," Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, said in a statement. SLF is expected to spend massive amounts on the race.

?️ Go deeper: The 2026 Senate map is looking relatively small and will likely include just a handful of truly competitive races.

• That dynamic will funnel lots of money — in digital, broadcast and get-out-the-vote operations — into the states where both parties see a real opportunity.
• Meanwhile, Senate Republicans breathed a sigh of relief today when Rep. Bill Huizenga announced he'd take a pass on the Michigan Senate race, giving former Rep. Mike Rogers a clearer path to another statewide bid.

— Hans Nichols, Stef Kight and Stephen Neukam