Mike Johnson

House Republicans see a path to keeping their majority on Nov. 5 by picking up seats in the Rust Belt that they contend could help offset potential losses on the coast. Why it matters: Political strategists have pointed to clusters of seats in New York and California as the key to which party will have a majority next year, but the National Republican Congressional Committee sees a window in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania to keep control or grow their numbers. Driving the news: The House GOP's campaign arm has been paying for ads in the Michigan districts held by Democratic Reps. Hillary Scholten, Elissa Slotkin, who is running for Senate, and Dan Kildee, who is retiring. The NRCC is also investing in the Pennsylvania districts held by Democrats Susan Wild, Matt Cartwright and Chris Deluzio, as well as Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes's (D) district. Zoom in: Congressional Leadership Fund, a group with ties to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), similarly has ramped up spending by about $9 million in the past five weeks, according to a person familiar with the matter. CLF added $2.3 million in Lansing, Mich., bringing the total to almost $7 million for the open seat currently held by Slotkin, and $1.8M in Flint, Mich., bringing the total there $4 million in spending for the seat being vacated by Kildee — districts Democrats have said are two of their tightest races.Johnson's PAC also added $3.8M to its initial $5.4 million Philadelphia reserve for Wild's seat and is spending an additional $1.1 million in Toledo, Ohio, bringing their total to over $4 million in an attempt to unseat Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.What they're saying: "Holding the line on the coasts is how Republicans keep the House majority; Winning races in the Rust Belt is how Republicans expand the majority," one GOP operative said. The operative said former President Trump's appeal in the region could be boon for Republican House candidates there. CLF Spokeswoman Courtney Parella said in a statement that the group was focused on highlighting Democrats' failures "on key issues such as illegal immigration, fentanyl trafficking, and the rising cost of living," adding that they were "confident that voters will turn away from Democrats' extremism."The other side: Democrats dismissed the GOP's bullishness in the region, arguing their spending strategy is flawed and taking out Democratic incumbents will be a heavy lift. Operatives noted Democrats have been outspending in a number of seats including Skyes.' "Republicans struck out recruiting candidates in Ohio, have massive fundraising disadvantages in Pennsylvania, and are running far-right extremists across the Heartland who would ban abortion nationwide," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Aidan Johnson told Axios."This is a last ditch effort to save face, and nobody is buying it."Go deeper: Jeffries and Johnson plow cash into House "squinter" races

Kamala Harris used an appearance Sunday before a largely Black church audience in battleground North Carolina to call out Donald Trump for spreading misinformation about the government’s hurricane response. President Joe Biden visited Florida for the second time this month to survey storm damage.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz returned to "Fox News Sunday" for the second consecutive week — fresh off a pheasant hunt — as he courts conservative and rural voters who aren't sold on Donald Trump.Walz competed for views with his opposite number, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who is a fixture on the Sunday show circuit.But morning's most viral moment came from Trump himself, who claimed the U.S. military may need to sort out "left-wing radicals" and "the enemy from within."Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers took to the airwaves this Sunday, October 13.1. Gun-owning Governor: "No one's coming for your guns" Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz discusses gun rights with Fox's Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday" on Oct. 13.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz defended Vice President Kamala Harris' approach to gun control legislation Sunday, reaffirming he and Harris are both gun owners who support the right to bear arms — but who share concerns about widespread gun violence."No one's coming for your guns," Walz said. "I continue to buy them. The Vice President is a gun owner."The big picture: Walz is the campaign's envoy to disillusioned conservatives and rural voters.It's no coincidence that he chose Fox News for his Sunday appearance, a day after he joined hunters in Minnesota to mark the start of pheasant hunting season.Flashback: During her first bid for the White House, Harris said she supported a mandatory buyback program for assault-style weapons, a policy she has backed off this cycle. Asked about mandatory buybacks on Sunday, Walz said "nobody's proposing that."Walz characterized such questions as a "red herring issue," contending: "We can own guns, protect the Second Amendment, and then our first responsibility is protect our children in society."Walz did call for stricter background checks, red flag laws and the use of trigger locks.What to watch: The Harris-Walz campaign is making a concerted push for rural voters across the swing states, aided by the newest addition to its campaign trail cast: former President Bill Clinton.2. Vance: "Element of truth" in Trump's misleading comments about Aurora, Colorado Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks on ABC's "This Week" for an interview on Oct. 13.Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R) dismissed an assertion from the Republican mayor of Aurora, Colorado, that Trump's claims about his city being overrun by immigrants were "grossly exaggerated."What he's saying: "You just said the mayor said they were exaggerated," Vance said to ABC's Martha Raddatz when asked about the mayor's comment. "That means there's got to be some element of truth here."Catch up quick: Trump, who held a campaign stop in Aurora on Friday, has repeatedly suggested the city was taken over by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, as a case study in the national immigration debate. But Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who once fueled the misinformation about the city, said in a statement last week that "concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated" and the incidents were "limited to several apartment complexes in this city of more than 400,000 residents."Aurora police said last month at least 10 people linked to the gang were operating in the city, several of whom have been arrested.Zoom in: Vance sparred with Raddatz Sunday after the ABC host repeated Coffman's statement: "Do you hear yourself? Only a handful of apartment complexes in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem?"He accused Raddatz of being overly "focused with nitpicking" Trump's comments.The big picture: Trump has vowed to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, saying he'd start in Aurora and Springfield, Ohio, another city swept into the national spotlight after Trump and Vance echoed false claims Haitian migrants there were eating pets.3. Trump: Election Day chaos will be from "enemy from within" Former President Trump discusses Election Day security during an interview with Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures" aired Oct. 13.Trump agreed there could be violence on Election Day, but said it won't come from "the side that votes for Trump."Trump warned on Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures" that America faced real danger from the "enemy from within," including "radical-left lunatics.""It should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary by the military," Trump added.Between the lines: Trump would have no power to order the military to step in on Election Day. However, the Harris campaign quickly seized on the remarks to claim Trump plans to "use the military against" fellow Americans who don't support him.Zoom out: Trump was responding to a question from host Maria Bartiromo about the threat from people entering the U.S., including an Afghan man who was charged with conspiring to conduct an Election Day terrorist attack on behalf of ISIS.He quickly pivoted to his claim that the real threat was "the enemy within."4. Rep. Clyburn "concerned" about Black men sitting out election Rep. Jim Clyburn speaks to CNN's Dana Bash during an Oct. 13 interview. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Sunday he's "concerned" about Black men staying home or backing Trump.Context: The Former House Majority Whip's worry comes as a recent NYT/Siena poll showed Harris with just 70% among Black men vs. 85% for President Biden in 2020.What he's saying: "Yes, I am concerned about Black men staying home or voting for Trump," Clyburn said on CNN's "State of the Union." "But my concerns don't tend to keep me from being energetic about this campaign."While campaigning in Michigan last weekend, Clyburn said he met with Black men, religious leaders and union officials for "frank and direct discussions.""Black men like everybody else, want to know exactly what I can expect from a Harris administration — and I've been very direct with them," he said. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) argued in a Sunday interview with CNN's Dana Bash that Black men will not vote for Trump "in any significant numbers," despite the poll's findings and Trump's efforts to win them over.While he noted Black men are "not a monolith," Warnock contended: "This idea that large numbers of Black men are going to vote for Donald Trump is not going to happen."5. Mayorkas: Congress needs to "act swiftly" on FEMA funding Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discusses FEMA funding on CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Oct. 13.Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas affirmed Sunday that FEMA has the money to address the immediate needs of people impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, such as providing food and water, but needs more resources "to ensure that individuals can recover."He called on Congress to replenish the agency's Disaster Relief Fund and noted that "hurricane season is not over.""We need Congress to act swiftly to fund what should be a nonpartisan, apolitical phenomenon," he said.Yes, but: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on CBS News' "Face the Nation" Sunday that additional FEMA funding "can wait," pointing to $20 billion Congress recently allotted to the agency as part of a stopgap government spending bill."It would be premature to call everyone back now, because these storms are so large in their scope and magnitude, it's going to take a little bit of time to make those calculations," Johnson added.More from Axios' Sunday coverage:Johnson says hurricane aid "can wait" until after House recessCheney does "not have faith" Mike Johnson will certify electionAnother Freedom Caucus chair fights for his political lifeClyburn says he will "absolutely" vote to certify a Trump win

The Wyoming Republican reminded people how Johnson has repeatedly backed Donald Trump's claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo) said Sunday she does not trust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to certify the 2024 election if Vice President Harris wins.Why it matters: It's a harsh assessment by a onetime member of House GOP leadership, now campaigning for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, towards her onetime deputy.What she's saying: "I do not have faith that Mike Johnson will fulfill his constitutional obligations," Cheney said on NBC's "Meet the Press," referring to Congress' role in certifying presidential elections on Jan. 6.Cheney pointed to Johnson spearheading an amicus brief in 2020 that argued for nullifying President Biden's victories in several key states."The claims of fraud Donald Trump was making [in 2020] ... he knew those to be false," she said. "He was told that, not only in discussions with me, but also by the House Republican counsel."She added: "I think it's very important that the Republicans not be in the majority in the House come January 2025."Zoom out: Cheney and Johnson found themselves on opposite sides of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Cheney, then the chair of the House Republican Conference, vigorously rejected Trump's baseless election fraud claims and later voted to impeach him for inciting the deadly Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.Cheney would go on to serve as vice chair of the Jan. 6 select committee after being ousted as conference chair.Johnson, who was at the time the chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee and would become Cheney's conference vice chair for several months before her ouster, backed Trump to the hilt.Between the lines: Trump and his allies have already begun putting together the pieces for a campaign of denial should Harris win the election, putting Democrats on high alert, Axios' Zach Basu reported.Johnson has further incensed Harris allies by saying Congress will certify a Harris victory if it is "free, fair and safe." A handful of senior Democrats have left wiggle room on whether they will certify an election victory for former President Trump, but Democratic leadership has ruled out an organized effort to object.The other side: Johnson said during a "Meet the Press" interview ahead of Cheney's on Sunday that his comments should not undermine public confidence in the election results."Everybody can sigh and take a deep breath. Our system is going to work," Johnson said, adding that a Republican majority will certify the election "regardless" of who wins "if the election is free and fair and legal."Johnson also said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he doesn't expect "we'll see anything like" the violence in 2021 and predicted Trump win will with a majority that is "too big to rig."

This week on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks about election security amid concerns about Jan. 6-like violence. Plus, CBS News Director of Election and Surveys Anthony Salvanto joins to discuss the latest CBS News poll.

“I think there is going to be some cheating in this election. I think non-citizens are going to vote,” Johnson said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday closed the door to Congress returning early to pass funding to respond to Hurricanes Milton and Helene.Why it matters: Lawmakers in both parties who represent areas affected by the storms have pushed to cut the October recess short and reconvene to pass a disaster relief package.The Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it has enough funds to manage recovery operations for now, though it is expected to need additional funds in the long term.President Biden also warned congressional leaders earlier this month that Small Business Administration's disaster loan program "will run out of funding ... well before the Congress is planning to reconvene."What he's saying: "It can wait because remember ... Congress appropriated $20 billion additional to FEMA so that they would have the necessary resources to address immediate needs," Johnson said on CBS' Face the Nation.That $20 billion was part of a stopgap government spending bill that extended funding until December at the previous year's spending levels. Johnson said that once FEMA assesses the cost of the recovery from the two hurricanes and sends a request two Congress, lawmakers "will meet and in bipartisan fashion, we will address those needs.""It would be premature to call everyone back now, because these storms are so large in their scope and magnitude, it's going to take a little bit of time to make those calculations," he added.The other side: Johnson has faced pressure from House members in both parties who say the situation is urgent.More than 60 House Democrats signed onto a letter arguing that Congress must take "proactive measures" to respond to intensifying storm seasons, including substantial funding that ensures FEMA can maintain a state of readiness."They also said the SBA disaster loan program "must be replenished as soon as possible to help business owners rebuild their enterprises."

Former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney issued a series of dire warnings about a potential future Trump administration, telling NBC News' "Meet the Press" that people ought to "carefully" consider what another Trump presidency would look like.

With less than four weeks until Election Day, NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki joins Meet the Press with a brand new NBC News poll, which finds Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a dead heat. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) discusses the possibility of bringing Congress back early for additional hurricane relief. Former Rep. Liz Cheney talks about her previous support for Donald Trump as she actively campaigns for Kamala Harris. Monica Alba, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Cornell

As a second and possibly more devastating hurricane barrels toward the U.S., there are concerns over how the government will help pay for what could be millions in damage.

'This is an unacceptable dereliction of your duty'

FEMA indicated Wednesday that it has less than 10% of its staff available for deployment amid preparations for the second major hurricane to hit the Southeast this month.

House Speaker Mike Johnson admits he has no data to support his claim that "illegals" vote by the "thousands"

Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Tuesday night, switching deftly between addressing substantive political issues and engaging in some comedic riffing.Colbert joked with Harris about the frequently overwhelming volume of fundraising appeals from the Democratic Party. “I don’t like to brag about this, but ever since you became the nominee, you and I have been texting every day,” he said. “You usually send me a text like “Hey, Stephen, it’s Kamala. For just $5, you can make a difference in this campaign.”“I’m curious,” he continued. “You have a phone—do you get texts from you?”“No, my phone has so many protections around it,” Harris replied, laughing. And when Colbert asked if he could get those protections for his phone too, she laughed and said, “No.”Colbert asked Harris to explain the quizzical expression on her face as she listened to Donald Trump rant during their Sept. 10 debate.“It’s family TV, right? It starts with a ‘W,’ there’s a letter between it, and the last letter’s ‘F,’” Harris responded.As they discussed her plan to tax the ultrawealthy to finance programs to help the middle class, Colbert asked Harris to name her “favorite billionaire.” The candidate laughed but declined, while Colbert said his favorite is Oprah Winfrey.xxYouTube Video

Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., oversees a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on July 8, 2014.

Opinion: Our immigration system has been broken for decades, and throughout my time in Congress, I have taken every opportunity to work across the aisle and advance commonsense, bipartisan solutions to address this crisis.

The Associated Press Elections Top 25 aims to help make sense of it all by providing a list of the Top 25 people, places, races, dates and things to know about Election Day.

As Israel continues to retaliate for Oct. 7 — while receiving huge support from the U.S. and its allies — government officials have felt compelled to act in ways they never thought they would.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo plans to report raising more than $2.2 million for the most recent quarter in her bid to win reelection in Colorado's most competitive congressional district, her campaign said Friday.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson discussed Hurricane Helene recovery efforts with Fox News Digital after he toured storm damage in Florida.

The whole world is falling in love with Moo Deng, a precocious 2-month-old pygmy hippo calf at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand.State of play: If you can't stop consuming Moo Deng viral videos and memes, you don't have to travel halfway around the world to get your hippo fix in real life. Even though pygmy hippos are endangered, with fewer than 2,500 left in the wild, there are a few calves living in the U.S.The backdrop: Zookeepers started posting videos of Moo Deng — her name means "bouncy pig" in Thai — shortly after her birth, capturing her often-chaotic runs and bites, and the internet very quickly did its thing."It was beyond expectation. I wanted people to know her. I wanted a lot of people to visit her, or watch her online, or leave fun comments. I never would've thought [of this]," keeper Atthapon Nundee told the AP.She was even the subject of a "Weekend Update" segment on "Saturday Night Live," equating her fame to the meteoric rise of pop star Chappell Roan. Moo Deng hanging out next to her mom, Jona. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images Moo Deng at her most chaotic. Photo: Carola Frentzen/picture alliance via Getty ImagesHistory lesson: William Johnson Hippopotamus — or simply, "Billy" — was President Calvin Coolidge's pet and moved from the White House to D.C.'s Smithsonian National Zoo in 1927.He's the common ancestor of most pygmy hippos living in American zoos today.Meet a few of Moo Deng's American counterparts:Ruka, ZooTampa, 6 monthsRuka was born on March 31, becoming the fifth pygmy hippo calf born at ZooTampa.Her name means "to hop" in Swahili, showing that Moo Deng isn't alone in her bounciness. The zoo said she likes to get into "marvelous mischief" and has a "spicy demeanor." ZooTampa tells Axios that Ruka is a strong swimmer, spending most of the day in her pool with her mom, Zsa Zsa. She's still nursing but is also enjoying her own diet of wild herbivore grain, produce and romaine lettuce. Photo: Courtesy of ZooTampa Photo: Courtesy of ZooTampa Ruka alongside her mom, Zsa Zsa. Photo: Courtesy of ZooTampaPetunia, Metro Richmond Zoo, 22 monthsPetunia was born on Dec. 6, 2022, and was Metro Richmond Zoo's second pygmy hippo calf.In keeping with a theme, the zoo described Petunia as "confident, brave, and spunky." More than 18,000 people took part in a poll to name her (just narrowly edging out Dumplin').For her first swim, keepers lowered the water level in her pool to keep her head out of the water and help her stay comfortable — gradually raising it to build up her confidence. Petunia when she was just a little baby in 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Richmond Metro Zoo Petunia and her mom, Iris, go for her first swim in December 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Richmond Metro ZooPtolemy, Franklin Park Zoo (Boston), 4 yearsPtolemy, the Franklin Park Zoo's youngest pygmy hippo, turned 4 on Friday. ​​He didn't generate an avalanche of memes when he was born in fall 2020, but he was still stinking cute.Born to mom Cleopatra, Ptolemy was named after the Egyptian queen's youngest son. The zoo has recently posted throwback videos thanks to Moo Deng mania, like this one of 1-year-old Ptolemy with the zoomies. Baby Ptolemy back in 2021. Photo: Colleen McCormick Blair/Zoo New England Ptolemy and his mom Cleopatra in 2021. Photo: Colleen McCormick Blair/Zoo New EnglandAxios' Mike Deehan, Sabrina Moreno and Anna Spiegel contributed reporting.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is heading to North Carolina as the state recovers from Hurricane Helene. She'll be in the state on Saturday, one day after a visit by Republican Donald Trump, who has been spreading false claims about...

A packed hearing concerning a proposed Air Products facility in Ascension Parish saw business leaders face off against residents, with the vast majority of those living near the potential facility highly opposed to the project.

An independent candidate in Nebraska's Senate race has managed to make the election more competitive, with millions of outside money being poured into the state on his behalf.

Forgetting the state’s largest higher ed system.

There were fewer arrests at the Southern border in July than in the last month of the Trump presidency. Shelters have seen a massive drop in migrants. And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is having a hard time finding enough recent...

Taiwan's new representative in the U.S. is warning about the alliance among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

A growing number of lawmakers is calling for Congress to cut its October recess short following an Iranian missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.Why it matters: It builds on bipartisan calls from senators and House members in states affected by Hurricane Helene who said Monday that Congress should reconvene sooner than scheduled.Leadership in both chambers has given little indication that they will cut short the October recess – a critical period for campaigning ahead of the Nov. 5 election.Driving the news: The U.S. and Israel were largely able to repel the roughly 180 ballistic missiles Iran launched in a two wave attack against Israel on Tuesday, Axios' Barak Ravid reported.An Israeli official said several missiles landed and that "the damage is being assessed." It was Iran's largest-scale direct attack on Israel.In addition to the attack on its close ally, the U.S. is staring down as much as $35 billion in economic losses from Helene, which devastated the Southeastern U.S. and has left more than 150 people dead.What they're saying: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a defense hawk whose state was in the path of the storm, said in a statement it is "imperative that Congress reconvene to pass a supplemental aid package."Graham said he was "reaching out to Republican and Democratic colleagues to put a package together as soon as possible."Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said in a post on X following the attack that Congress "should consider returning to Washington" to provide funding for Israeli anti-missile systems and disaster relief.Zoom in: Several pro-Israel House Democrats told Axios they would also support cutting the recess short following Iran's attack.They include Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Greg Landsman (D-Ohio)."I have no objections to returning from recess for emergency purposes," Torres said.Between the lines: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is currently being funded by a stopgap federal funding bill that keeps spending at the same level of the previous fiscal year.Democrats and some Republicans in disaster-prone states say that is inadequate, with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) on Tuesday proposing $15 billion in supplemental disaster relief.Congress passed $17 billion in supplemental defense aid to Israel in April to help its fight against Hamas, but Israel is now grappling with escalating tensions with Lebanon, Iran and other neighboring Middle East countries.Zoom out: In addition to calling for aid to Israel, some lawmakers are pushing the U.S. and Israel to hit targets inside Iran – a major escalation."Iran has made a mistake, it has put its nuclear facilities on the board as fair game," Moskowitz said in a post on X.Graham said in a separate statement that the U.S. should "coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran's ability to refine oil."What we're watching: As for returning to session, one House Republican told Axios that Iranian attack has not made it more likely that leadership will bring the House back into session before November.Spokespeople for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not respond to requests for comment.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday said Congress has already authorized the disaster relief funds needed for the immediate response to Helene, the storm that has ravaged multiple states from Florida up through Western North Carolina and Tennessee. Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange before delivering remarks on his economic agenda, Johnson noted a replenishment [...]

Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are calling on President Biden to get tougher on Iran in the wake of Tuesday’s missile attack on Israel, urging the administration to adopt a series of specific measures designed to cripple the military powers of Tehran and its proxies. In a series of speeches, statements and social media posts, [...]

Face-to-face with the Ukrainian leader, Trump backed down from his apocalyptic war rhetoric and praise of Russia.

Johnny Cash has become the first musician to be honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol, joining presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George Washington and civil rights figures such as Rosa Parks.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is indicted on five charges, including wire fraud and bribery.

The Biden administration says the uptick in new citizens is due to efforts to reduce a backlog of applications that began during the Trump administration and exploded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

'People don’t think he did a great job'

As a lifelong Reds fan, it's difficult not to see the parallels between a floundering Major League team and a Congress that habitually struggles to fund the government.

'I would say what he’s done is par for the course'

Buffalo is now one of the top performing cities in the Rust Belt, according to a recent study. This is the latest example of how the city has taken strides to shake off the rust.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), the quarter-century old law that compensates Americans sickened by U.S. nuclear testing, expired this summer, but two indigenous women are keeping up the fight, even if they have to fund the effort themselves. Loretta Anderson of the Pueblo of Laguna and Maggie Billiman of the Sawmill Chapter of the [...]

The government could shut down Oct. 1 at midnight.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., paved the way for a bipartisan stopgap funding bill after shelving a push for an election security measure.

A group of House members from both parties succeeded Thursday in deploying a rarely executed method to bypass GOP leadership and force a vote on a bill to expand access to Social Security benefits.Why it matters: It's the second time this year that a bipartisan group of lawmakers has sidestepped House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) with the tool, called a discharge petition.In May, a discharge petition led by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) attained the necessary 218 signatures to force a House vote on legislation providing tax relief to victims of natural disasters.The last time a discharge petition succeeded before this year was in 2015 — nearly a decade ago.State of play: The discharge petition, led by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Garret Graves (R-La.), would force a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act.The relatively non-controversial bill would close loopholes that deny Social Security payments to retirees who receive certain government pensions or other types of retirement benefits.It hit 218 signatures Thursday afternoon after Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) signed on. In total, 47 Republicans and 171 Democrats backed it.What they're saying: "It represents in this Congress the fact that, below the surface, there's always been this bipartisan majority ... that will push when things aren't getting done," said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio).Landsman, one of the petition's organizers, added that Republicans should "appreciate the fact that this is one of hundreds of bipartisan bills that would pass immediately" if it made it to the floor via this method.Spanberger previously told Axios that she and Graves launched the discharge petition because the bill kept falling through the legislative cracks and being overlooked by leadership.What's next: After seven legislative days, Graves and Spanberger will be able to request that Johnson schedule a floor vote. Johnson may end up simply allowing the vote. If he doesn't it will go ahead in another two legislative days— with or without his assent."We will be dogged in making sure the Social Security Fairness Act passes in the U.S. House, passes in the U.S. Senate, and finally gets signed into law. We must get it done," Graves and Spanberger said in a statement.

Election officials from six swing states gathered in Michigan to talk about efforts they are undertaking to ensure the integrity of the 2024 vote.

After a unanimous House vote established the task force to probe the July 13 assassination attempt

Wednesday night’s vote also showed that former President Trump is intent on forcing a government shutdown, as are other Republicans unwilling to work with Speaker Johnson.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is laying the groundwork to blame Trump and Republicans for a possible partial government shutdown.

The government could shut down Oct. 1 at midnight.