Skip to main content

Congress

Your guide to what’s happening on Capitol Hill.

Politics
House Republicans just exposed the limits of Trump’s powerHouse Republicans just exposed the limits of Trump’s power
Politics

That bodes poorly for his agenda next year.

By Eric Levitz
Politics
What the hell is going on in Congress, explainedWhat the hell is going on in Congress, explained
Politics

Trump stoked another congressional crisis. But there’s an intriguing twist to this one.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
The danger of Trump’s promise to pardon J6 defendantsThe danger of Trump’s promise to pardon J6 defendants
Politics

Trump told NBC that making the pardons would be one of his day-one priorities.

By Ellen Ioanes
Today, Explained podcast
The Democrat who won in Trump countryThe Democrat who won in Trump country
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez on where she thinks her party went wrong in 2024.

By Noel King
Politics
Republicans threaten a government shutdown unless Congress makes it harder to voteRepublicans threaten a government shutdown unless Congress makes it harder to vote
Politics

The exhausting dance that precedes every single government funding battle has begun.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
Everyone hates “Congress.” But who are you really mad at?Everyone hates “Congress.” But who are you really mad at?
Politics

A new AI tool blames Congress’s “conflict entrepreneurs” for polarizing the country.

By Christian Paz
Israel
Has Netanyahu finally lost America?Has Netanyahu finally lost America?
Israel

After his latest address to Congress, the Israeli prime minister has never looked more isolated.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Democrats shouldn’t use Trump’s shooting as an excuse to stick with BidenDemocrats shouldn’t use Trump’s shooting as an excuse to stick with Biden
Politics

The party doesn’t need to accept defeat. It just needs to reject Joe Biden.

By Eric Levitz
Politics
Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman just lost his primary to George Latimer. Here’s what that means.Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman just lost his primary to George Latimer. Here’s what that means.
Politics

The loss is a blow to progressives that sends a message about Israel.

By Li Zhou
What two years without Roe looks like, in 8 charts
Explainers

Americans are confronting a whole new reality of patchwork abortion access after the Dobbs decision.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
The House GOP’s latest bid to make Merrick Garland a villainThe House GOP’s latest bid to make Merrick Garland a villain
Politics

Republicans’ vote to hold him in contempt, briefly explained.

By Li Zhou
Technology
Congress’s online child safety bill, explainedCongress’s online child safety bill, explained
Technology

What is the Kids’ Online Safety Act, and why should you care about it?

By A.W. Ohlheiser
Politics
Congress’s $95 billion Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan aid package, explainedCongress’s $95 billion Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan aid package, explained
Politics

The bill provides billions in foreign aid and could force ByteDance to sell TikTok.

By Li Zhou
Politics
Is the new TikTok ban for real?Is the new TikTok ban for real?
Politics

Biden has signed a bill to ban TikTok. But it’s not over yet.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
Could Republican resignations flip the House to Democrats?Could Republican resignations flip the House to Democrats?
Politics

The GOP majority is quite small, but a Democratic takeover pre-election still seems extremely unlikely.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
Chicago’s inhumane migrant evictions are a symptom of a bigger problemChicago’s inhumane migrant evictions are a symptom of a bigger problem
Politics

They point to much deeper holes in US immigration policy.

By Li Zhou
Politics
The House GOP just gave Biden’s campaign a huge giftThe House GOP just gave Biden’s campaign a huge gift
Politics

Roughly 80 percent of House Republicans just lined up behind a plan to cut Social Security and ban all abortions.

By Eric Levitz
Politics
How the threat of a government shutdown became normalizedHow the threat of a government shutdown became normalized
Politics

Why we find ourselves on the precipice again and again … and again.

By Li Zhou
Technology
TikTok could avoid a ban with a sale. Finding a buyer won’t be easy.TikTok could avoid a ban with a sale. Finding a buyer won’t be easy.
Technology

Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is among those lining up to buy TikTok if Congress enacts a law that forces its Chinese owner to sell.

By Nicole Narea
Congress
Why so many members of Congress are calling it quitsWhy so many members of Congress are calling it quits
Congress

Republican Rep. Ken Buck, a critic of GOP impeachment efforts, is the latest to leave early.

By Li Zhou
Politics
Biden to nation: Republicans like rich people more than they like youBiden to nation: Republicans like rich people more than they like you
Politics

The president is getting walloped on the economy. Here’s how he tried to change that.

By Eric Levitz
Today, Explained newsletter
How Mitch McConnell broke CongressHow Mitch McConnell broke Congress
Today, Explained newsletter

Say goodbye to the GOP leader, but not the all-powerful Supreme Court that is his legacy.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
How Mitch McConnell lost by winningHow Mitch McConnell lost by winning
Politics

He delivered for the old GOP — but the party had changed underneath him.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
Republicans’ baseless Mayorkas impeachment sets a disturbing precedentRepublicans’ baseless Mayorkas impeachment sets a disturbing precedent
Politics

It weaponizes the practice in a new way.

By Li Zhou
Politics
Republicans’ humiliating failed impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, explainedRepublicans’ humiliating failed impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, explained
Politics

The GOP tried to use impeachment as a political distraction — and only embarrassed themselves.

By Li Zhou
Politics
Democrats are trying to pass a right-wing border bill, but the GOP won’t let themDemocrats are trying to pass a right-wing border bill, but the GOP won’t let them
Politics

Senate negotiations revealed what some Democrats are willing to give up on immigration in 2024.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
Why Trump fears a Biden-GOP immigration dealWhy Trump fears a Biden-GOP immigration deal
Politics

“He doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it.”

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
The GOP is moderating — and coming unhingedThe GOP is moderating — and coming unhinged
Politics

While far-right Republicans make it hard to keep the government running, others in their party have been reaching constructive legislative compromises.

By Eric Levitz
Future Perfect
How political gridlock could kill the best global health program the US ever passedHow political gridlock could kill the best global health program the US ever passed
Future Perfect

PEPFAR saved millions of people from AIDS. Don’t let it die.

By Saloni Dattani
Politics
House Republicans’ humiliating year, explainedHouse Republicans’ humiliating year, explained
Politics

Even by House GOP standards, 2023 was absurd.

By Li Zhou
Politics
The urgent to-do list awaiting Congress in JanuaryThe urgent to-do list awaiting Congress in January
Politics

Everything Congress has procrastinated on and needs to do in the new year, explained.

By Cameron Peters
World Politics
What happens in Ukraine if US aid disappears?What happens in Ukraine if US aid disappears?
World Politics

Should Congress fail to extend aid to Ukraine, it would “change the character of the war.”

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Biden weighs a “shocking” revival of Trump’s immigration agendaBiden weighs a “shocking” revival of Trump’s immigration agenda
Politics

The White House is reportedly open to making concessions to Republicans in its negotiations over aid to Ukraine and Israel that go far beyond border security.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
What elite universities — and their critics — get wrong about campus antisemitismWhat elite universities — and their critics — get wrong about campus antisemitism
Politics

A simple question about genocide at a congressional hearing obscured a complicated debate about antisemitism and free speech.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
Why Republicans are pursuing an unfounded impeachment inquiry into BidenWhy Republicans are pursuing an unfounded impeachment inquiry into Biden
Politics

House Republicans voted to launch an inquiry despite no evidence of Biden’s wrongdoing.

By Li Zhou
World Politics
Can Democrats overcome their deep divisions over Gaza?Can Democrats overcome their deep divisions over Gaza?
World Politics

The party is fractured over President Joe Biden’s unequivocal support for Israel as the war in Gaza continues ahead of 2024.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
George Santos’s messy expulsion vote, briefly explainedGeorge Santos’s messy expulsion vote, briefly explained
Politics

The scandal-plagued Congress member has finally reached the end of the line.

By Li Zhou
Future Perfect
We’ve been fighting poverty all wrongWe’ve been fighting poverty all wrong
Future Perfect

The success of the expanded child tax credit shows why anti-poverty programs should be unconditional.

By Oshan Jarow
Politics
Congress is procrastinating on the real government shutdown fightCongress is procrastinating on the real government shutdown fight
Politics

Lawmakers have approved a spending bill that keeps the government open — and sets up a fight in 2024.

By Li Zhou
Politics
The House censure of Rashida Tlaib, explainedThe House censure of Rashida Tlaib, explained
Politics

The move follows bipartisan backlash over rhetoric Tlaib has used in response to the Israel-Hamas war.

By Li Zhou