Punchbowl News

New Jan. 6 controversy as Bondi set to testify The revelation that FBI agents pulled the phone records of some lawmakers as part of the Jan. 6 investigation set off a new controversy.

New Jan. 6 controversy: The FBI pulled phone records of eight GOP senators and one House Republican as part of its Jan. 6 probe.

The revelation drops as AG Pam Bondi is set to testify today before Senate Judiciary.

@bresreports.bsky.social has the details:
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The Obamacare developments to watch Senate moderates are reaching for any hint of a breakthrough on the looming expiration of Obamacare subsidies.

THE VAULT: Senate moderates are hunting for a breakthrough on Obamacare subsidies as they search for a way out of the shutdown.

Here's what we're watching:
punchbowl.news/article/vaul...

How Hunt scrambles Texas Senate race If you thought the Texas Senate race couldn’t be more of a mess, you’re in for a surprise.

Rep. Wesley Hunt’s entrance into the Texas Senate race has thrown the GOP primary into chaos — setting up a three-way brawl with Sen. John Cornyn and Texas AG Ken Paxton.

We break it all down:
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Can Democrats withstand Trump’s cuts and threats? They say yes This is Day 7 of the government shutdown. There’s no resolution to the crisis in sight. In fact, the outlook is pretty grim.

☀️TOP in @punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM: It’s Day 7 of the government shutdown — and the outlook is grim.

Democrats blocked the GOP’s CR again Monday as both sides dig in, and President Trump’s mixed messages are only adding to the chaos.

Full story: punchbowl.news/article/wash...

Shutdown Day 7: Democrats hold firm Podcast Episode · The Daily Punch · 10/07/2025 · 10m

Listen to The Daily Punch: Jake breaks down where shutdown negotiations stand and what to make of Trump’s mixed signals on a potential health care deal. Plus: a new Jan. 6 controversy erupts as Pam Bondi heads to Capitol Hill.

📺: youtu.be/vljDkIvOzs8
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10/7/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION Can Democrats withstand Trump’s cuts and threats? They say yesHow Hunt scrambles Texas Senate raceThe Vault: The Obamacare

@punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM today
- It’s Day 7 of the gov’t shutdown
- Senate Dems: We can handle Trump’s threats & spending cuts
- How Hunt scrambles Texas Senate race
- The Vault: Obamacare developments to watch
- New Jan. 6 controversy as Bondi set to testify

punchbowl.news/archive/1072...

Shutdown Day 6: Will Democrats blink? Podcast Episode · The Daily Punch · 10/06/2025 · 10m

Listen to The Daily Punch: Anna and Jake break down what to watch as the shutdown drags into its second week. Plus: New data from The Canvass reveals which party senior Hill staffers blame for the shutdown.
📺: youtu.be/PKk8RcazQNI
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Senate Dems eye War Powers resolution vote this week Senate Democrats are preparing to force a War Powers Act vote this week in response to the Trump administration’s strikes on cartel boats.

Senate Democrats are preparing to force a War Powers Act vote this week in response to the Trump administration’s strikes on cartel boats allegedly carrying illegal drugs into the United States.
punchbowl.news/article/sena...

Hill staffers give slight edge to Dems in shutdown blame game More than half of top Capitol Hill staffers (58%) say the Republican Party is to blame for the ongoing government shutdown, according to our latest Canvass survey.

More than half of top Capitol Hill staffers (58%) say the Republican Party is to blame for the ongoing government shutdown, according to our latest Canvass survey.

Here's the full breakdown:
punchbowl.news/article/capi...

Majority of Calif. voters back Prop 50 in new poll News: We’ve got some fresh polling on California’s redistricting ballot initiative ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

News: A majority of Calif. voters, 54%, back Prop 50, the mid-decade redistricting initiative backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and former President Obama, per a new co/efficient poll shared first with Punchbowl News.
punchbowl.news/article/camp...

Week Two: Can Democrats stay united? This is Day 6 of the government shutdown and there’s no deal in sight. The Senate will vote again this evening on advancing the GOP Nov. 21 CR.

☀️TOP in @punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM: It’s Day 6 of the shutdown and still no deal in sight.

The Senate will vote again tonight on the GOP funding bill, as pressure builds on Dems to break ranks.

Meanwhile, the House remains out for a second week.
punchbowl.news/article/wash...

10/6/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION Week Two: Can Democrats stay united?Majority of Calif. voters back Prop 50 in new pollHill staffers give slight edge to Dems

@punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM today
- It’s Day 6 of the shutdown
- The Senate votes again on GOP CR but Dems aren’t budging
- Scoop: Poll shows Dems winning fight on Cali redistricting
- Canvass: Hill aides give Dems slight edge on shutdown
- Dems eye War Powers vote

punchbowl.news/archive/1062...

Shutdown Day 3: How Thune sees the shutdown Podcast Episode · The Daily Punch · 10/03/2025 · 13m

Listen to The Daily Punch: It’s Day 3 of the government shutdown and there’s still no deal in sight. Anna and Jake break down Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s shutdown strategy. Plus: EMILY’s List’s bold move in Illinois.
📺: youtu.be/eSQIRsUQu1Q
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Senate NDAA hits crunch time Action on the Senate version of the annual defense policy bill is reaching do-or-die time.Senate Majority Leader John Thune wants to get it done.

The Senate’s NDAA is at crunch time.

Thune wants the must-pass defense bill done — but an amendments fight could derail the package.

More on where things stand:
punchbowl.news/article/defe...

EMILY’s List wades into Ill. Senate primary, angering CBC EMILY’s List will endorse Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Senate bid today despite vehement objections from members of the CBC.

NEWS: EMILY’s List will endorse Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Senate bid today despite vehement objections from members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are supporting Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.).
punchbowl.news/article/camp...

The approps battles won’t get easier after the shutdown Getting out of the shutdown will be hard. Funding the government for next year isn’t going to get any easier after that.

The shutdown is just the start.

Appropriations fights will only get harder — with House & Senate GOP divided on topline numbers, Dems demanding talks and billions separating defense & health funding.
punchbowl.news/article/hous...

Day Three: How John Thune sees the shutdown This is day three of the government shutdown. There’s no deal in sight to end this crisis.We sat down with Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday.

☀️TOP in @punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM: Day 3 of the shutdown — no deal in sight.

John Thune tells us the path out runs through rank-and-file Senate Dems, not Schumer.

More from @bresreports.bsky.social & @andrewdesiderio.bsky.social on Thune's shutdown strategy:
punchbowl.news/article/sena...

10/3/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION Day Three: How John Thune sees the shutdownThe approps battles won’t get easier after the shutdownEMILY’s List wades into

@punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM today
- It’s Day 3 of the gov’t shutdown. The impasse is going into next week
- Thune may meet with Schumer today but no deal likely
- Ending the shutdown won’t end FY2026 spending clash
- EMILY’s List jumps into Illinois’ Dem primary

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Day Two of Shutdown: Can Schumer get a deal? Podcast Episode · The Daily Punch · 10/02/2025 · 13m

Listen to The Daily Punch: It’s shutdown Day 2 and still no end in sight. Anna breaks down Schumer’s shutdown strategy and the risks Dems face. Plus: Will Congress move to ensure U.S. troops get paid during the shutdown?

📺: youtu.be/2qMIC4JMxUQ
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Will Congress move to pay troops during shutdown? National security has taken a front-row seat in the messaging war over the federal government shutdown.

NATSEC: Troops could miss paychecks if the shutdown drags on. Will Congress step in — or let the fight over funding spill into national security?
punchbowl.news/article/defe...

Paul shrugs at expiration of cyber law Rand Paul  downplayed challenges companies face in discussing cyber-threats with the federal government following the recent lapse of a liability law.

TECH: Rand Paul is brushing off concerns about the lapse of a key cyber law, calling industry warnings over the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act “a farce.”
punchbowl.news/article/tech...

Fly Out Day: Hassett on the shutdown, the Fed and more Kevin Hassett said he wants Dems to vote to open the government but understands why Schumer and Jeffries have chosen the funding deadline to pick a fight.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Trump’s top economic adviser, sat down with Punchbowl News on Fly Out Day, weighing in on the shutdown, tariffs and even the Fed.

Read our full recap of the conversation:
punchbowl.news/article/whit...

Will Schumer’s strategy work? It’s Day Two of the government shutdown. It’s difficult to see real movement toward a resolution to the standoff anytime soon.

☀️TOP in @punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM: It’s Day 2 of the shutdown and all eyes are on Chuck Schumer. Can his strategy hold Democrats together? Or will cracks emerge as the standoff drags on?

Inside Schumer’s high-stakes gamble — and Thune’s next move ⬇️
punchbowl.news/article/wash...

10/2/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION Will Schumer’s strategy work?Fly Out Day: Hassett on the shutdown, the Fed and moreTech: Paul shrugs at expiration of cyber

@punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM today
- Can Schumer’s shutdown strategy work? Dems hope he has a real plan to win clash
- Fly Out Day: Hassett on the shutdown, the Fed & more
- Tech: Paul shrugs off cyber law expiration
- Will Congress pay troops during shutdown?

punchbowl.news/archive/1022...

White House withdraws two nominees The White House withdrew two beleaguered nominees from Senate consideration last night, according to people familiar with the decisions.

News: The White House withdrew two beleaguered nominees from Senate consideration last night, according to people familiar with the decisions.
punchbowl.news/article/whit...

Senate Dems go after GOP incumbents on shutdown The top Senate Democratic super PAC is launching a $1M ad campaign attacking GOP Sens. Collins and Sullivan over rising prices and the gov't shutdown.

News: The top Senate Democratic super PAC is launching a $1 million ad campaign attacking GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Dan Sullivan (Alaska) over rising prices and the government shutdown.
punchbowl.news/article/sena...

House Dems near redistricting win in Utah The Utah legislature is set to approve a congressional map that could create as many as two pickup opportunities for Democrats.

The Utah legislature is set to approve a congressional map that could create as many as two pickup opportunities for Democrats in a rare win in the redistricting wars.
punchbowl.news/article/camp...

Thune plays hardball as shutdown begins Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s plan to reopen the federal government is taking shape: Keep forcing votes on the House-passed funding bill.

Thune’s shutdown strategy: keep forcing votes on the House GOP’s CR until Dems cave.

3 Senate Dems have already crossed over and Thune needs 5 more. Meanwhile, Schumer insists he still has the upper hand, but the pressure is building.

Read more:
punchbowl.news/article/sena...

The government is shut down. Now what? The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. this morning. It’s the first government shutdown since 2019.

☀️ TOP in @punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM: The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. — the first since 2019.

The House is out, Senate leaders aren’t negotiating and Trump is mocking Schumer and Jeffries online.

Here’s what to expect next⬇️
punchbowl.news/article/wash...

10/1/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION The government is shut down. Now what?Thune plays hardball as shutdown beginsHouse Dems near redistricting win in UtahSenate

@punchbowlnews.bsky.social AM today
- The federal gov’t is shut down. Is there a way out of this crisis?
- Thune plays hardball as shutdown begins
- House Dems near redistricting win in Utah
- Senate Dems go after GOP incumbents over shutdown
- Talarico rakes it in

punchbowl.news/archive/1012...