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Articles by Emily Brooks
Max Miller abuse allegations complicate race for once-solid GOP seat
Allegations of domestic abuse by Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) — which he vehemently denies — are receiving increasing national attention and complicating the race for the once reliably Republican seat while prompting new calls from Democrats for his resignation or investigation. While Miller is still in a good position electorally, the allegations have prompted several race handicappers to cast doubt on his prospects — including as recently as Thursday.
House GOP pulls military benefits bill that has divided veterans groups
House Republican leadership on Thursday canceled a vote on a massive military benefits package that would pay for expanded compensation for veterans by cutting some future disability claims, a controversial measure that has divided veterans’ groups.
GOP blocks Democrats' attempt to limit Trump's Iran war powers
Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to pass a measure limiting President Trump's ability to conduct military operations in Iran during a pro forma session of the House on Thursday. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) sought recognition on the floor to pass the resolution from House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), but Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who presided as speaker pro tempore during the session, gaveled the session out without recognizing him.
Democrats call for Trump's removal over threat against Iran
A wave of Democrats on Tuesday called to remove President Trump from office over his threats against Iran ahead of an 8 p.m. Tuesday deadline for Tehran to cut a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "Donald Trump is openly threatening war crimes against the entirety of Iranian civilization. 25th Amendment proceedings must begin immediately, but if the Cabinet is too cowardly, the House should begin the impeachment process now," Rep.
GOP's ICE funding gambit squeezes Republican agenda
Republicans' plan to use the special budget reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement without help from Democrats will complicate their hopes of using one of their few remaining shots at a GOP-only bill on priorities voting reform, Pentagon funding due to the Iran war, and cuts aimed at cracking down on fraud in federal programs.
House GOP rejects Senate-passed DHS bill, proposes stopgap
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Friday rejected a Senate-passed bill to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but not immigration enforcement, instead proposing a stopgap to fund the entire department for eight weeks. The move amounts to a stunning rebuke of the upper chamber by GOP leaders — and extends the length of what is already the longest partial government shutdown in history in its 42nd day. “This gambit that was done last night is a joke.
Trump reveals story about GOP lawmaker Neal Dunn's health
President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) revealed Monday that Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) got a terminal diagnosis for a heart problem, prompting concerns about the House GOP's super-slim majority and leading Trump to connect the congressman to care at Walter Reed Medical Center. Trump talked about Dunn's health during a press conference at the Kennedy Center while introducing Johnson, noting the Speaker's tough job in managing such a small majority.
Gonzales must address affair allegations in 'appropriate way'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) must address the allegations that he had an affair with one of his congressional staffers, who died last year after setting herself on fire, but added that it is "too early to prejudge" the situation.
Speaker Johnson to bring daughter of detained Uyghur doctor as SOTU guest
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will bring the daughter of a Uyghur doctor who has been imprisoned in China for more than seven years as one of his guests for Tuesday's State of the Union address. Ziba Murat's mother, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, has been detained in China since 2018. Murat and her aunt, Rushan Abbas, have long publicly said they believe she was detained in retaliation for Rushan Abbas's activism against China's treatment of Uyghurs, including mass incarceration and forced labor.
Allegations of affair with aide rock Tony Gonzales reelection bid
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) is facing increasing scrutiny over allegations that he had an affair with a staffer who died after lighting herself on fire last year, rocking his competitive reelection bid just weeks before his March 3 primary. Gonzales has said that the allegations are "personal smears" being used by his primary opponent to "score political points" and said Thursday he will not be "blackmailed" as the husband of the deceased staffer seeks financial damages.
Khanna, Massie plan to force war powers vote on Iran
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) plan to move next week to force a vote on a resolution to require authorization from Congress before President Trump can use military force against Iran. "Trump officials say there's a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can't without Congress," Khanna said in a post on X on Wednesday. "@RepThomasMassie & I have a War Powers Resolution to debate & vote on war before putting U.S. troops in harm's way.
Speaker Johnson backs full-year DHS bill as Thune eyes stopgap
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that the House GOP leadership wants to see the Senate pass a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security rather than a short-term or even long-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the department at current levels.
Johnson not asking Trump to call GOP holdouts on funding package
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday expressed optimism about the House approving a funding package to end the partial government shutdown despite demands from conservatives, saying that he is not asking President Trump to call those Republican holdouts to get the deal over the finish line. Johnson said he thinks the House will approve the funding package by Tuesday as he left a meeting with Republicans on the House Rules Committee.
House panel approves Clinton contempt of Congress resolutions with help from Democrats
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday advanced resolutions to hold former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over their refusal to appear for depositions after being subpoenaed in the panel's investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The panel voted 34-8 to advance the resolution holding Bill Clinton in contempt and 28-15 on the measure holding Hillary Clinton in contempt.
Speaker Johnson backs impeachment of two federal judges, claiming 'egregious abuses'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he would support impeachment articles against two federal judges, including one who has ruled against President Trump's interests in high-profile cases. Johnson in a press conference on Wednesday was asked about calls from some Republicans to bring up articles of impeachment against Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and Judge Deborah Boardman of the U.S. District Court in Maryland. "I'm for it," Johnson said.
Johnson says his 'mission' in UK parliament address was to 'calm the waters'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said his aim with a speech to the British Parliament on Tuesday was to "calm the waters," after the transatlantic alliance was shaken by President Trump's tariff threats as he aims to purchase Greenland and floats with using military power to take control of the Arctic territory. Johnson said in his address that he had spoken to Trump at length the day before.
DOJ 'not being weaponized'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) denied that the Department of Justice is being "weaponized" to help pursue President Trump's policy goals as it opens a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. "No, the Justice Department is not being weaponized," Johnson told reporters on Monday.
Here's what the House faces in January
The House will return from a holiday break to face sagas that have vexed the chamber for months. Debates on health care and attempts to revive expired ObamaCare subsidies will stretch into January and the first quarter of the year. An end-of-month funding deadline poses a threat of a partial government shutdown.
Why Speaker Johnson told Tucker Carlson his Nick Fuentes interview was a 'big mistake'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had a conversation with Tucker Carlson about the former Fox News host's interview with antisemitic commentator Nick Fuentes, saying it was a "big mistake." "I spoke briefly with Tucker about that, and I think it's a responsibility. He has a lot of listeners, and I think giving Nick Fuentes that platform is a big mistake," Johnson told me in an interview on Friday. And how did Carlson take that advice?
'Not my understanding'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) assertion that a bill to expand Russian sanctions would start in the House came as a surprise to him, countering the Senate Republican leader by saying it would be "simpler and quicker" to advance the bill if it first passes in the Senate. "That was not my understanding up until yesterday," Johnson said in an interview with The Hill on Friday, responding to Thune's comments.
House overwhelmingly votes to release Epstein files
The House on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill directing the Department of Justice to release the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a move that came after months of intense opposition from President Trump and GOP leaders. The vote was a lopsided 427-1, with Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) casting the lone "no" vote. But that tally belied the months of fierce fighting - both between the parties and within the GOP - that preceded it.
5 takeaways as the longest shutdown in history comes to an end
House lawmakers voted Wednesday to reopen the government, setting the stage to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history as the legislation now heads to President Trump's desk. The 43-day stalemate had consumed Washington since it began on Oct. 1, freezing pay for federal workers, halting food aid to low-income families and snarling airline traffic in a torrent of flight delays and cancellations that piled pressure on Congress to reach a deal.
Discharge petition to force House vote on Epstein files succeeds with Grijalva's signature
A discharge petition for a bill to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein got enough signatures Wednesday to force action on the matter, teeing up a long-sought vote on the House floor relating to the convicted sex offender. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) became the 218th and final signature on the discharge petition shortly after she was sworn in Wednesday. She joined all other Democrats and four Republicans: Reps.
Judge grants restraining order against Rep. Cory Mills after ex-girlfriend's harassment allegations
A Florida county judge on Tuesday granted a restraining order against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) requested by a woman who accused him of harassing and threatening her after their breakup earlier this year.
Arizona attorney general threatens legal action if Johnson doesn't seat recently elected Democrat
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) on Tuesday threatened legal action if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delays swearing in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (Ariz.). "It's way past time for Mike Johnson to stop the political games and seat Adelita without delay. Today, my office is sending a letter to Speaker Johnson demanding he do so," Mayes said in a statement on Tuesday.
Speaker Mike Johnson embraces Freedom Caucus tactics in shutdown fight
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is championing the kind of hard-line stances in the government shutdown fight long favored by the House Freedom Caucus. The Speaker has canceled previously scheduled votes in the lower chamber and kept the House in extended recess as he aims to put maximum pressure on Senate Democrats to accept the “clean” stopgap to reopen the government, declining to negotiate as the minority party makes demands on health care policy.
'We're barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Monday the government shutdown is on its way to being one of the longest in history unless Democrats accept the House-passed, GOP-crafted stopgap bill to reopen the government.
White House's shutdown layoff threats, funding freezes unnerve some Republicans
The Trump administration's plans to lay off thousands of federal workers and freeze federal grants during the government shutdown are getting pushback from some congressional Republicans. The moves would harm projects and constituents in a number of GOP-held districts, and some Republicans worry that using the shutdown as a spending-slashing opportunity could backfire on Republicans as they aim to put the blame for the shutdown squarely on Democrats. Rep.
Federal layoffs day or two away, budget director tells Republicans on shutdown call
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told House Republicans in a Wednesday call that layoffs of federal workers will be coming in a day or two, according to sources on the call. The call came on day one of a government shutdown as Democrats in Congress have rejected a short-term Republican funding plan and are making demands like extending enhanced ObamaCare tax credits. Democrats had forced Vought’s hand, one source said.
What to know about closures, payments and more
A government shutdown starting on Wednesday is looking probable as Democrats in Congress push Republicans on funding, health care, and President Trump's reshaping of the federal government. Unless Republicans and Democrats in Congress come to an agreement and pass a funding measure by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October will kick off with the first government shutdown in nearly seven years. It would affect every agency, but many "essential" government functions and payments would continue.
House passes 2 bills overhauling DC sentencing policies
Emily Brooks Tue, September 16, 2025 at 9:28 PM UTC 3 min read The House passed two bills on Tuesday to assert congressional control over the District of Columbia’s sentencing policies, the first portion of a slate of legislation coming to a vote this week aimed at overhauling the criminal justice system of Washington, D.C. The first bill is the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act, or DC CRIMES Act, which would prohibit the District’s local officials from changing...
House GOP takes up slate of DC crime bills as Trump's federal takeover ends
House Republicans took up a slate of bills on Wednesday aimed at overhauling Washington, D.C.'s criminal justice system and reduce the autonomy of the local government, coming as President Trump's takeover of the local police department expires at the end of the day.
'They say it's not'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday doubted the authenticity of a birthday note from President Trump to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein revealed in a "birthday book" for the financier that was provided to Congress. Asked by a CNN producer in the Capitol on Tuesday if he thought the birthday note was real, Johnson said: "I don't. They say it's not." Just before that, Johnson on the way out of a press conference was asked if he had seen the drawings, and said he had not.
Speaker Johnson backs 'old-school conference' for 3 funding bills ahead of shutdown
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is pushing for an "old-school conference" to approve up to three regular government funding bills, with the House's top GOP appropriator signaling they are close to a deal to do just that in conjunction with a stopgap. Such a move, if Democrats agree, could avert a government shutdown at the end of the month - but would conflict with hardliners in the House GOP who are advocating for a long-term continuing resolution as long as a year.
What to watch in the National Conservatism Conference that's shaken the right
A conference that has struck fear into the conservative old guard and served as an ideas lab for policies now being implemented in the Trump administration kicks off Tuesday. Now in its fifth year, the National Conservatism Conference is not a flashy rally like the Conservative Political Action Conference or events that Turning Point USA packs with young people and pyrotechnics.
DOJ plan to release Epstein files in 'batches' a 'cover-up'
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) said the plan for the Department of Justice to respond in "batches" to the committee's subpoena for files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein amounts to a "cover-up." "Releasing the Epstein files in batches just continues this White House cover-up," Garcia said in a statement Tuesday.
Greene calls Gaza humanitarian crisis a 'genocide'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza a "genocide" in a social media post, appearing to be the first Republican in Congress to use the term to describe Israel's conduct. "It's the most truthful and easiest thing to say that Oct 7th in Israel was horrific and all hostages must be returned, but so is the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza," Greene wrote in a post Monday night on X.
House stymied as Speaker Johnson's hand-picked committee rebels over Epstein
A rebellion over the Jeffrey Epstein files by Republican leadership allies on the House Rules Committee is giving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) one of the trickiest conundrums of his Speakership so far. Members on the panel - often called the "Speaker's Committee" in reference to it being a tool of leadership - held up action on a host of planned legislation this week because they were terrified of Democrats forcing more tough votes on releasing the Epstein files.
Even Trump can't quell the House GOP's penchant for chaos
While President Trump has managed to push House Republicans across the finish line on his top priorities, he hasn't yet cracked the code on getting the narrowly divided chamber to overcome its penchant for chaos.
White House summons House GOP holdouts threatening Trump megabill
A cross-section of House Republicans - from hardline conservatives to moderates - are headed to the White House on Wednesday to meet with President Trump about the party's "big, beautiful bill" of tax cut and spending priorities. The meetings come as GOP leaders lean on Republican holdouts who have voiced serious opposition to the bill, threatening leadership's hopes of getting it to the president's desk by July 4.
3 dozen House Republicans urge Senate GOP against 'budget gimmicks,' deficit increases
More than three dozen House Republicans are warning Senate GOP leaders against approving additional deficit increases or using "budget gimmicks" to count additional savings in the "one big, beautiful bill" of President Trump's tax cut and spending priorities. "As the Senate considers changes, we remain unequivocal in our position that any additional tax cuts must be matched dollar-for-dollar by real, enforceable spending reductions," the 37 members, led by Rep.
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