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What a government shutdown could look like: "Things start breaking"

Nov 13, 2023
With Congress approaching another funding deadline, we consider some of the practical effects if lawmakers don't avoid a government shutdown.
TSA agents are among the federal government employees who will stop getting paid as soon as a government shutdown starts.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

What's the deal with Speaker Mike Johnson's financial disclosure?

Nov 9, 2023
Congressional ethics rules only require disclosure if a member of Congress has total deposits in interest bearing accounts worth more than $5,000.
Under assets on Speaker Mike Johnson's most recent financial disclosure report for 2022, it says "none disclosed."
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The latest push for a national retirement savings system

A new bill follows up on recent bipartisan legislation to expand access to retirement savings.
A new bill in Congress, the Retirement Savings for Americans Act, would boost retirement security for low- and moderate-income workers.
Mark Makela/Getty Images

The economic impact of Kevin McCarthy's ouster as House speaker

What developments in the House could mean for a potential government shutdown, funding for Ukraine and more.
With Kevin McCarthy being removed as speaker of the House of Representatives, the chances of a government shutdown in November have increased, according to Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

What lawmakers are fighting over when they fight about appropriations

Aug 9, 2023
The portion of federal spending being determined by what’s called the appropriations process is relatively small.
The amount of nondefense discretionary spending that Congress fights over every year is getting smaller.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Must-pass defense bill ensnared in culture wars

Jul 14, 2023
The House teed up a Senate showdown after passing the appropriations bill with amendments banning diversity training and other programs.
The House, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, voted along party lines to pass the National Defense Authorization Act.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

We have a debt ceiling deal. So what happens next?

Jun 2, 2023
Now, agencies and Congress need to figure out how to implement the thing.
Congress will soon have to turn broad spending limits into actual appropriations bills for the next fiscal year.
Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Is Washington finally getting serious about the debt ceiling?

Every day there's a warning about how catastrophic a default on the national debt would be. What's it going to take to avoid that?
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Congress hasn't had the best record of regulating new tech. Could AI be different?

May 16, 2023
Generative artificial intelligence is advancing quickly, and it's not clear if legislators and regulators can keep up.
Samuel Altman, CEO of OpenAI, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the use and regulation of artificial intelligence.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Congress is looking at changes to Medicare. Hospitals aren't thrilled

A little-known payment change could save the federal government $150 billion over the next 10 years.
Right now, there are cases where Medicare pays hospitals more than double what it pays independent doctors for the same care.
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