Congress: The Senate & The House

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? New Dem target

House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) today launched an investigation into Bill Pulte, the Trump administration housing official targeting some of the president's political enemies.

Why it matters: Raskin's probe signals that this will be an avenue of inquiry for the party if they retake the House next year.

• "Your decision to use the FHFA to selectively — and publicly — investigate and target the President's designated political enemies gives rise to the unmistakable impression that you have been improperly coordinating with the White House to launch these probes," Raskin wrote to Pulte.

State of play: Pulte most recently made headlines with his criminal referral against Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook last month, which Trump used to try to fire the Fed governor in an effort to force the U.S. central bank to lower interest rates.

• Pulte accused Cook of listing both a house in Michigan and a condo in Atlanta as her primary residences in mortgage documents, though Cook has denied any wrongdoing.
• Pulte has made similar allegations against Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led an impeachment effort and a lawsuit against Trump, respectively.

Go deeper.

— Andrew Solender

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? Dems embrace shutdown

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

The pressure is rising on Democrats to stiff President Trump and let the government shut down on Oct. 1, Axios' Stephen Neukam writes. Why it matters: Plunging into a shutdown is risky for Democratic leaders, who rejected the option earlier this year. But a shutdown fight might be the only action that appeases their deeply unsatisfied party base. Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but they'll need at least seven Democratic votes to pass a funding bill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pressing Republican leaders to come to the table on a bipartisan deal. He argues the ball is in their court to avoid a shutdown. ? Zoom in: A crowd ranging from Senate progressives like Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Chris Murphy (Conn.) to center-left New York Times columnist Ezra Klein is clamoring for Democrats to play hardball. Klein's recent column, "Stop Acting Like This Is Normal," told Democrats they can't help Trump fund the government in "the authoritarian consolidation stage of this presidency." The argument has been flying around the Senate Democratic caucus, sources told Axios. Keep reading.

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Shouting match after House moment of silence

A Johnson-led moment of silence on the House floor gave way to a shouting match between Republicans and Democrats.

• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) rose soon after to ask for the House to say a prayer for Kirk, according to multiple lawmakers who were on the floor.
• Democrats then shouted "what about the kids in Colorado," referring to a school shooting that also occurred today. Boebert responded that she was about to reference that tragedy before she was interrupted.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who worked as Kirk's director of Hispanic engagement at Turning Point USA, then stood up and yelled at Democrats: "You caused this!"

• Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), a leader of the gun violence prevention task force, shouted: "Pass some gun laws!"

Between the lines: One source of Democrats' frustration was a belief that granting Boebert's request would have been a departure from standard House procedure.

• House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) told us that saying a prayer on the House floor in response to a tragedy is something "we don't even do for fallen members."
• "You have a system that you follow for everybody ... and when you violate it and create exceptions, it then leads to this uneasiness and I think that's kind of what happened in the moment," Morelle said.

The other side: Luna said Johnson should allow a prayer for Kirk despite Democrats' objections.

• "The fact that Democrats were not allowing the speaker to do a moment of prayer is really disgusting," she said.
• "We should have been allowed to pray for Charlie. I would encourage the speaker to go back tomorrow and let us pray on the floor for Charlie Kirk's family."

— Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz

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Schumer shutdown hardball

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is talking tough on a potential government shutdown.

Why it matters: Schumer is facing a critical fall of fights after incensing the Democratic base by voting to fund the government earlier this year.

• Schumer said today that GOP plans for a stopgap government funding bill aren't good enough to get Democratic votes. Senate Republicans need at least seven Democratic votes to pass a funding measure.
• Schumer also took the rare step of forcing a full Senate vote on the release of the Epstein files. Senate Republicans later voted to defeat the motion.

Between the lines: Schumer this week seemed to threaten a procedural move to block a slate of Trump nominees.

• GOP leaders then sent dozens of nominations back for revotes in their respective committees to avoid any last-minute headaches.

— Stephen Neukam

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Senate Republicans defeat Democrats’ effort to force the release of Epstein files In a close vote, Senate Republicans defeated an effort Wednesday by Democrats to insert language into Congress’ annual defense authorization bill that would have forced the public release of case files on the sex trafficking investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein. The Senate voted 51-49 to dismiss the changes to the bill, with Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky joining with all Democrats in opposition. Read more.

What to know: For months, Democrats have clamored for the release of what’s become known as the Epstein files, looking for practically every opportunity to force Republicans to either join their push for disclosure or publicly oppose a cause that many in the Republican base support. So far, Democrats have been successful in forcing Republican leadership to grapple with the issue, yet it was unclear whether they would actually be able to crack Trump’s hold on congressional Republicans to force legislation through Congress.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump’s signature, a symbol of presidential power, is under new scrutiny thanks to the Epstein case   UK’s Starmer fires Britain’s ambassador to the US over his links to Jeffrey Epstein   Who else appears to be in the Jeffrey Epstein 50th birthday book?

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Rand Paul Reveals Venezuela Boat Attack Was a Drone Strike

The attack on a boat in the Caribbean last Tuesday was carried out by a drone, according to a Republican senator.

https://theintercept.com/2025/09/10/trump-venezuela-boat-attack-drone/?

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? Hill boiler room

Some of House Speaker Mike Johnson's most outspoken members are blowing off his pleas to take down the temperature after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

• "I'm gonna be louder than I've ever been until this sh*t stops," Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said today.

Why it matters: Johnson said he is "encouraging members to walk in the dignity of their office and treat one another with dignity and respect."

• Said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries: "This moment requires leadership that brings the American people together as opposed to trying to further divide us."
• Mace, for her part, continued to blame Democrats. "The left, the Democrat Party, has allowed this stuff, and I'm f***ing sick of it," she told reporters.

? The rage pulsing through the House rarely happens with such intensity, in such rapid succession.

• Democrats and Republicans shouted at each other yesterday on the House floor after a moment of silence, as we told you last night.
• Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), another close Kirk ally, accused the media and Democrats of being responsible for the shooting. In dozens of posts on X, Van Orden made references to civil war and "brown shirts" and said the left is "about to get a Right."

Even before the news that Kirk had been shot, Mace erupted yesterday on the House floor.

• "You are absolutely ridiculous," Mace screamed after Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) listed lip filler, "boob jobs" and Botox as examples of "gender-affirming care" and said "lots" of House members have undergone such procedures.

Mace followed up in a post on X that tagged Jacobs: "PS- I have a good surgeon if you ever want to get your nose done."

• "Going with the Jewish nose joke," replied Jacobs, who is Jewish and called the jab "very antisemitic."
• Mace spokesperson Sydney Long responded in a statement to Axios, "It's actually antisemitic to think that every comment about a nose is about a Jew."

Between the lines: Leaders know emotions are running high. But lawmakers in both parties are skeptical that the recent outbursts will face organized punishment, such as a viable censure resolution.

• "If you were going to do that, the list would be long, too long," said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio).

— Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz

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? Senate's new Russia front

A bipartisan group of senators is pushing to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over kidnapped Ukrainian children, as momentum builds again for a big, bipartisan Russia sanctions package. Why it matters: Russia's violation of Polish airspace this week has reignited the desire of Senate leaders for a strong response to aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Driving the news: Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) rolled out a bill today that would put new pressure on Russia. The bill would label Russia and Belarus state sponsors of terrorism if they do not return the more than 19,000 children that Ukraine says have been kidnapped during the war. What to watch: Graham has continued working to get the White House on board with his separate bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, which has more than 80 cosponsors. The bill would hit Russia with economic sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate with Ukraine and would also set a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil. Graham said he planned to speak with Majority Leader John Thune today about bringing the bill to a vote, based on his talk with the White House. Between the lines: "We're going to try to create another front against Putin's Russia," Graham said today about the new bill. — Stef Kight ps:Good for them!!!!!

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Schumer warns of a shutdown if Republicans don’t accept Democrats’ health care demands

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer weathered backlash from Democrats earlier this year when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. But he’s now willing to risk a shutdown at the end of the month if Republicans don’t accede to Democratic demands.

https://apnews.com/article/schumer-government-shutdown-budget-democrats-deadline-a0a24afe93f4a1d596fdf9093db58e3d?

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? Big Dem demands

Top Democrats are getting increasingly bold with their threats to let the government shut down, unless President Trump caves to huge concessions.

Why it matters: A shutdown would disrupt the lives of millions. But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer knows he can't afford an encore of March.

• Schumer flirted with a leadership crisis this spring by ignoring House Democratic demands to let the government shut down.

‼️ But "things have changed" since March, Schumer told AP. He singled out the "one big, beautiful bill" for its tax cuts and Medicaid spending reductions.

• Senate Democrats, "with a few exceptions," would reject a short-term spending stopgap proposed by GOP leaders, Schumer said.

? Zoom in: The Democratic demands are centered on health care.

• They want Republicans to extend tax credits for the Affordable Care Act before they expire at the end of the year. Several Republicans have signaled interest in doing so, but it's a tricky issue for GOP leaders, as we previously wrote.
• They also want to roll back Medicaid cuts from the "big, beautiful bill." This demand is much less likely to attract Republican support.
• And internally, there's a push for Democrats to expand their asks on health care to include demands on rural hospital funding.

? Zoom out: Senate Republicans need at least seven Democratic votes to pass a funding bill, even as House Republicans can pass a partisan bill on their own.

• Top Republicans are pointing the finger back at Democrats, arguing the party should agree to a stopgap measure to allow lawmakers more time to negotiate a larger spending deal.
• "I think they see it as politically advantageous to have a shutdown," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Punchbowl News.

? Between the lines: Many of the emerging Democratic demands are meant more to lay the foundation for shutdown messaging than to bring Republicans to the table.

• But rank-and-file lawmakers have not been given clear guidance on the arguments they should be making, Senate Democratic sources tell us.
• Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries offered a preview of those arguments this week after a rare meeting of the two leaders.
• "We're together as it relates to the unprecedented attack on the health care of the American people," Jeffries said. "We will not support a partisan spending agreement that continues to rip away health care from the American people."

— Stephen Neukam

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The House Just Passed a Bill Punishing “Politically Motivated” Boycotts of Israel

In a first step toward a federal law punishing criticism of Israel, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a massive defense budget that would bar companies engaged in “politically motivated” boycotts of the country from Pentagon contracts.

https://theintercept.com/2025/09/11/israel-boycott-bds-boebert/?

Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe and turmoil at FBI

FBI Director Kash Patel is bracing for scrutiny over his leadership of the Charlie Kirk investigation and other areas when he appears before Congress this coming week for oversight hearings. He raised eyebrows hours after Kirk's killing when he posted on X that “the subject” in the killing was in custody when he in fact remained on the loose. That confusion was an early misstep in an investigation that has become the most consequential test of Patel's young career as director. Read more.

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‼️ 50-day showdown

Some rank-and-file Senate Democrats are open to a short-term funding bill if it includes additional money to protect lawmakers, they told us tonight.

Why it matters: Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are daring Democrats to vote against a 50-day spending stopgap.

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared to reject Johnson's latest offer today, calling it a "total partisan proposal."
• Thune is bringing in the Senate's sergeant at arms and the Capitol Police chief to brief GOP senators tomorrow to address lawmakers' deep concerns about their own safety after the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the recent killings of Minnesota Democratic state lawmakers, we scooped today.
• "Given all the recent events and the level of anxiety and understandable fear and the increase in threats, I think the case could be made for putting money in the CR," Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters.

What they're saying: "Many members, including myself, have advocated for funding, not just for judges, but for members," said Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).

• He told us: "There's all kinds of talk about what they're going to put in [the CR], but if there's going to be a conversation about security, I'm open to having a conversation about that."
• Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) told us: "I think members need to be safe, and I think the American people have an interest in their elected leaders being safe. ... I haven't had a chance to look at whether that [the CR] is the best vehicle. Let me, let me think about that."
• Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) told us, when asked about voting for a CR that included new money for member security: "We need bipartisan engagement this week. We'll see where things go."

The other side: Some Democratic senators are deeply skeptical of the latest GOP offer.

• Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told us: "It sounds like a prescription to just push the can down the road and do nothing to try to stave off this health care crisis that's coming for Americans and the democracy crisis that we're in the middle of."
• "No blank checks," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). "The issue remains that you have the president violating the law, withholding funds that have been appropriated, so we need to put up safeguards."

— Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam

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House Dem hardball

Some House Democrats are ready to play hardball if the Senate's short-term talks fall apart. Majority Democrats, a group led by Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.) and Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), says it will demand the reversal of huge parts of President Trump's agenda in exchange for stopping a shutdown. Why it matters: It's the kind of hardline negotiating stance that some in the Democratic grassroots have been demanding for months, and it comes from a group whose modus operandi is upending the party's status quo. Its list of demands includes: Reverse the Medicaid cuts in the "one big, beautiful bill" that was signed into law. Replace the law's tax cuts with a "tax cut for the 99% of America." Eliminate the Trump administration's tariffs. Restore COPS grants that provided funding for anti-crime efforts. Release the Jeffrey Epstein files and ban members of Congress from trading stock. — Andrew Solender

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Patel on the Hill

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will ask FBI director Kash Patel to give an update on the Charlie Kirk fatal shooting investigation during tomorrow's hearing, according to excerpts of Grassley's opening statement.

Why it matters: Parts of the MAGA base are in uproar over the FBI chief's handling of the investigation, though Trump has rallied behind Patel.

• "Kash's job is safe. The president is happy," a senior administration official told Axios' Marc Caputo yesterday.

Between the lines: Patel faced widespread criticism when he posted on social media that a subject in the shooting was "in custody" hours after the shooting, only to have investigators release that person.

• Patel says he doesn't regret the post.

The intrigue: Grassley also intends to question Patel on the Epstein investigation, according to a committee aide.

• The committee includes several Republicans who have called for the Trump administration to be more transparent and release the Epstein files, including Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.), Thom Tillis (N.C.) and John Kennedy (La.).
• Patel will also likely face questions about the top officials he fired from the bureau.

The bottom line: After all that, Patel gets to face a House committee on Wednesday.

— Stef Kight

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Senate approves White House economist Stephen Miran to serve on Federal Reserve board

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved one of President Donald Trump’s top economic advisers for a seat on the Federal Reserve’s governing board, giving the White House greater influence over the central bank just two days before it is expected to vote in favor of reducing its key interest rate.

https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-miran-trump-70a09bdf2e10839f35e1596cafe5c415?

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Republicans embrace speech limits

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

President Trump and MAGA spent years lampooning censorship, discrimination against conservatives, and progressive "cancel culture." Now in power — and riding an outpouring of grief and fury over Charlie Kirk's tragic killing — they're enforcing speech codes to punish ideological opponents, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Why it matters: Backed by the Trump administration, digital vigilantes are demanding arrests, firings and deportations for anti-Kirk posts and remarks. ? Zoom in: Any person who celebrates or mocks Kirk's death — or even criticizes his right-wing views — is being cast as complicit in political violence. The Charlie Kirk Data Foundation — an anonymous website initially branded as "Expose Charlie's Murderers" — claims to have received more than 60,000 submissions. Hundreds of people, if not more, have been fired or suspended for social media activity related to last week's shooting, including federal workers and military members named and shamed by Trump Cabinet secretaries. Between the lines: Conservatives say companies, hospitals, universities and certainly the government deserve to know whether their employees support "terrorism." People who disavowed violence but criticized Kirk's conservative worldview — or simply posted his controversial quotes on race, gender, abortion and other issues — have also been targeted by MAGA influencers. ? Six NFL teams drew conservative backlash for declining to hold a moment of silence for Kirk during Sunday's games. Some localities and businesses were targeted for not lowering their flags to half-staff to honor Kirk, as Trump had ordered. Via X The intrigue: Elon Musk — who in 2023 offered to pay the legal bills of anyone fired for their posts on X — has backed the efforts to punish people who celebrated Kirk's death. So, too, has Vice President Vance, who said yesterday while guest-hosting a memorial edition of "The Charlie Kirk Show": "When you see someone celebrating Charlie's murder, call them out. And hell, call their employer." House Republicans yesterday introduced resolutions to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from her committees for critical comments she made about Kirk in the wake of his killing. ? Behind the scenes: The calculus changed for Republicans with Kirk's killing. It's personal for the White House and leaders of the MAGA movement who counted Kirk as a close friend. And Kirk was assassinated for his political speech at one of his events designed to highlight the importance of free speech and debate without violence. Conservative author and commentator Kurt Schlichter said Saturday on X: "This situation is fundamentally different (not for people who do politics all the time because we already knew it) because it's very clear that a substantial number of Democrats want to literally murder us." Axios' Marc Caputo contributed.

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FBI Director Kash Patel clashes with skeptical Democrats at contentious hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel clashed with skeptical Democrats at a contentious Senate oversight hearing Tuesday, defending his record amid criticism that he has politicized the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency and pursued retribution against perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump.

https://apnews.com/article/patel-fbi-charlie-kirk-senate-hearing-048c7a7c575472b8a1a7d4ed6fb32b69?

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This month's magic number

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is preparing to go public with a counterproposal that jams Republicans and keeps the government open, as we scooped today.

• But first, he needs his Democrats to hold the line.

Why it matters: A half-dozen Senate Democrats are quietly open to the GOP's 50-day stopgap bill, sources tell us. If that number reaches eight, Schumer's leverage could be toast.

• Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Gary Peters (Mich.) are all potential "yes" votes, according to aides. They are mostly noncommittal in their public comments.
• "I haven't seen it," Shaheen said today when we asked where she stood on the GOP's proposal.
• Republicans will also try to maximize pressure on Democrats who will face voters next November, including Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

Zoom out: Nine Senate Democrats (plus independent Sen. Angus King of Maine) voted to keep the government open in March.

• Three of them will follow Schumer's lead: Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).
• Schumer can't count on Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who told us he refuses "to ever hold our government as a hostage, because that's too much chaos."

The bottom line: If the four remaining Democratic "yes" votes from March — plus King — decide they'll vote for cloture again, Senate Majority Leader John Thune needs only two other Democrats to stop a shutdown.

— Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam

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? Hill proxy fight

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' progressive members are growing increasingly agitated at him for not yet endorsing Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race.

• "We just can't keep saying we have to stand with our Democratic nominees and then make exceptions when we think they're left of us," one House Dem told us.
• "Yes," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told us today when asked if it's time for Jeffries to endorse Mamdani.
• Jeffries has deflected questions about if and when an endorsement of Mamdani is coming — even after meeting with him multiple times.

Between the lines: Mamdani made an appearance at a Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC retreat last weekend, according to four progressive lawmakers familiar with the matter.

• "He was extremely well-received and stayed to interact with members for several hours," one member who was present told us.

Jeffries told us today at a press conference: "I haven't had a conversation with any member of Congress who's expressed frustration to me as it relates to the New York City mayoral race."

• ? He also reiterated his campaign's statement hitting back at Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who criticized his lack of Mamdani endorsement, by referring to the senator as "Chris Van Who?"

— Andrew Solender

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Fired CDC chief Susan Monarez warns senators that RFK Jr. is endangering public health

America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Federal Reserve cuts key rate by quarter-point and signals two more cuts this year FDA takes aim at Hims & Hers, weight loss drugs in new advertising blitz   Tomorrow's cram session Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is summoning his full caucus for a strategy meeting tomorrow on the government shutdown fight. Why it matters: It's easy to get lost in the process arguments. But Democrats are lurching closer to the once-unthinkable (for them!) choice to trigger a government shutdown. House and Senate Dems released their joint funding proposal tonight, which serves as a counteroffer to the GOP's short-term stopgap. The Democratic proposal leans heavily on health care, as we scooped yesterday, and would restrict President Trump's ability to withhold spending appropriated by Congress. Between the lines: At a caucus meeting this week, Schumer pointed to a recent poll of key battleground states that showed voters would overwhelmingly blame Republicans for not working with Democrats if the government shuts down. But Senate Majority Leader John Thune is having none of the idea that Republicans aren't working with Democrats. "It's just not telling the truth," Thune said today in a Senate floor speech. He pointed to the lack of partisan add-ons in the short-term bill and mentioned bipartisan negotiations between appropriators to finalize spending bills throughout this year. Zoom in: Speaker Mike Johnson wants to vote Friday on the House's seven-week bill, which includes funding for lawmaker security. He's got the Trump administration's full support, the White House said today. It's hard to envision enough GOP defectors to block passage. In the Senate, the only expected GOP "no" vote is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Zoom out: For the Big 4, the battle lines are basically the same as the last shutdown fight in March. Johnson has to get this thing passed the first time. House GOP infighting would give Democrats massive and unexpected leverage. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries needs every Democrat to vote "no," which they can do without triggering a shutdown. Thune must keep the 52 of his 53 senators on board, boxing in the Democrats who'd love to vote "no" without a shutdown. Schumer, once again, gets to make the toughest choice in D.C. The bottom line: Schumer appears to be holding the line, with only a half-dozen Democrats contemplating joining the Republicans. That makes a shutdown more likely. Some Democrats are privately concerned, as they were in March, that the Trump administration doesn't mind a government shutdown. Once funding stops, Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, has some discretion in deciding which parts of the government are essential and, therefore, will remain open. — Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

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‼️ Surprise de-escalation

House lawmakers took a startling step tonight to lower the temperature in the chamber, with four Republicans voting to block the censure of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

• Democrats will now withdraw their retaliatory censure measure against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), as we reported earlier today.
• Mills was one of the four Republican votes against censure.

The big picture: The House has only formally censured 28 members, but four of those happened in the last three years.

• "We do not censor and silence disfavored viewpoints. People in America are allowed to say crazy things," Speaker Johnson told reporters yesterday.
• He added that employers can discipline staff members for their online rhetoric, but said, "That's not something Congress is involved in."

Johnson's pleas to lower the temperature aren't getting through to everyone.

• Omar and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) — who introduced the censure — sparred online today, with Mace writing she would like to see Omar "deported back to Somalia."
• There is "a weird level of tension" in the House right now following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told us. "There is this pall that has settled over everything."

The bottom line: One House Republican, asked about Mills' vote against censuring Omar, quipped that "it may be the unconventional de-escalation the House and our nation's politics need."

— Andrew Solender and Kate Santaliz

Senate confirms 48 of Trump’s nominees at once after changing the chamber’s rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed 48 of President Donald Trump’s nominees at once, voting for the first time under new rules to begin clearing a backlog of executive branch positions that had been delayed by Democrats.

https://apnews.com/article/senate-nominations-trump-rules-change-confirmation-a84e49fb5f6e433bf6fc9e92d2bd968b?

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? Republicans squirm over Kimmel

GOP senators are evading direct critiques of President Trump's FCC chair Brendan Carr, who seemed to threaten broadcast companies if they did not drop late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after his Charlie Kirk monologue.

Why it matters: The Republican response stands in stark contrast to the Democrats, who are sounding the alarm over what they see as a clear and craven assault on the First Amendment.

• The reactions create another remarkable split screen in the age of Trump.
• Democrats are calling on Carr to resign. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said today Carr "disgraced the office he holds by bullying ABC, the employer of Jimmy Kimmel, and forcing the company to bend the knee."
• GOP senators waffled over any government overreach by Carr. They instead kept the focus on punishment from private companies.

What they're saying: "Well, my preference would always be to let the companies make economic market decisions," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told NBC News' Frank Thorp.

• "I do think it was very unusual for the head of the agency to issue what seemed to be very challenging comments," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters. She also said the network can fire employees, and Kimmel's statements were "out of bounds."
• "I understand that right now it's an employer-employee issue, and that's the way I would approach it," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said.

Between the lines: Many GOP lawmakers criticized and investigated the Biden administration for pressuring social media companies to censor certain information about COVID-19.

• "I don't want the government to be involved with policing speech," Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told reporters. "The FCC should not be involved," he posted on X.
• Paul led probes into the Biden administration's influence on social media companies over COVID.
• Paul would not weigh in specifically on Carr's comments and also emphasized the Kimmel suspension as a decision by a private employer, which he feels was fair game.

The bottom line: Senators stopped short of criticizing Carr's comments, with some saying they had not taken time to look into his statement.

• Many expressed their distaste for Kimmel's comments about the president and Kirk, and some cheered ABC's decision to halt the program.

— Stef Kight and Hans Nichols

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✈️ Johnson delegation to Kirk funeral

House Speaker Mike Johnson is leading a congressional delegation to Charlie Kirk's funeral this weekend at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with a sizable portion of the GOP conference expected to attend. Security at the funeral will be on the same level as a Super Bowl, a Homeland Security official told ABC News. It is open to the public and expected to draw thousands. Why it matters: Kirk's assassination has left raw emotions on Capitol Hill, especially among Republicans who were close to him and his movement. "It's the bullet that was heard around the world. Nothing's going to bring him back," Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told us. The details: Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization Kirk founded, has been helping members coordinate travel. "Most of us are on like a text thread with Turning Point," Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) told us. Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and likely others, were planning to attend, according to lawmakers and aides. Yes, but: Several GOP members told us travel challenges could keep them away. Norman said he's trying to move his schedule around but thinks the funeral will "be a zoo." "I'd love to be there if I could. But again, it's, well, every airport is going to be full. Every flight is going to be full." Norman said. "I'm trying to see the logistics. ... I'm trying to make it there," Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) told us. — Kate Santaliz and Hans Nichols

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GOP Rep. Backtracks on Bill That Could Let Marco Rubio Revoke Passports From Israel Critics

A top Republican lawmaker in the House of Representatives is backtracking on a proposal that would have given Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to revoke American citizens’ passports if he decides they have provided “material support” to terrorists.

https://theintercept.com/2025/09/15/marco-rubio-revoke-passports-brian-mast/?

? Dems' emerging AI playbook

Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios

With the midterms just over a year away, Democrats are sharpening an AI message focused on how the technology could widen economic divides and harm workers, Axios AI+ Government co-author Maria Curi writes. Why it matters: Democrats did little to put guardrails on AI when they had control of Congress. They're now decrying Republicans' hands-off approach to regulation and coming up with messaging of their own. Zoom in: Democrats are zeroing in on how to help workers displaced by AI, though the details are still being fleshed out. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) this week released his "AI for America" plan, laying out his idea for what he calls the AI Horizon Fund. The trust fund — paid for by tech companies — would support union-led apprenticeships and coordinate state and federal efforts for workers' development. At our AI+ DC Summit this week, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said AI should benefit everyone, not just companies. "The Democrats should say our vision is AI that actually helps tackle the economic divides." Keep reading ...

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Senate rejects competing bills to fund government, increasing risk of shutdown on Oct. 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate rejected competing measures on Friday to fund federal agencies for a few weeks when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1, increasing prospects for a partial government shutdown on that date.

https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834?