House panel advances three major bills after marathon hearing, but fate on floor uncertain

Republican leaders snapped the House out of a state of limbo caused by GOP infighting as the House Rules Committee advanced an ambitious slate of high-profile, must-pass bills on Tuesday evening — tacking on two major sweeteners to appease corn-state Republicans and hardline conservatives. The panel, after a marathon hearing that stretched over two days…

House Republicans tee up vote on spy powers as some in GOP vow to oppose bill

House Republicans have teed up a vote to renew the nation’s spy powers that has those on varying sides of the issue crying Groundhog’s Day. The GOP is once again moving ahead with legislation to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on foreigners located abroad….

Republicans swipe at Democrats applauding King Charles after ‘No Kings’ protests

Multiple Republican lawmakers poked fun at Democratic lawmakers for applauding King Charles III on Tuesday, given their prior support for “No Kings” protests against President Trump. Senator Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) asked on the social platform X, “Why did I just watch every Democrat in Congress stand and clap for an actual King?” The Florida Republican…

Heat rises on Hegseth ahead of back-to-back hearings 

Republican lawmakers will get their chance to air out frustrations with the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran war and a string of high-profile Pentagon firings when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth makes back-to-back public appearances on Capitol Hill this week. Hegseth will go before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday — his first testimony…

GOP takes aim at hospital CEOs over affordability crisis

House Republicans during a Tuesday hearing blamed hospital and health systems for high health costs, excoriating a group of CEOs for exorbitant benefits packages, large profit margins and mergers. “Our communities are better off with hospitals in them, but large health systems have taken advantage of that reality,” Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said. “Simply put, hospitals are charging an insane amount for…