The Week on the Hill: Recent Episodes
WTOP | Hubbard Radio
The Week On The Hill takes a closer look at the biggest developments in Congress and Washington, and what they mean to you. Each week, WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller provides listeners with a roadmap of what's ahead on the political horizon.
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn on Friday was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House by President Joe Biden for his efforts in defending the Capitol on Jan. 6. He was among 13 individuals honored, including other law enforcement officers who fought off the mob during the attack. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller interviewed Officer Dunn about his harrowing experience and how he’s dealt with issues related to a day he’ll never forget.
Members of the 118th Congress will soon be sworn in and some major changes are coming, as Republicans retake power in the U.S. House. The GOP lawmaker who wants to become the next House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, is still working to lock down enough votes to ascend to the leadership position. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The 117th Congress finally passed a $1.7 trillion omnibus bill to avert a government shutdown, right before Christmas. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has wrapped up her longtime tenure as the Democratic leader, while the House’s top Republican Kevin McCarthy, is still trying to get enough GOP votes to become the next Speaker of the House. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress has bought itself some time, but still faces a Dec. 23 deadline to again avoid a government shutdown and reach an agreement on a $1.7 trillion spending plan. The Jan. 6 committee is preparing to release its final report. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Democrats are dealt a political blow in the Senate, and a top Republican is still scrambling to get enough votes to become the next Speaker of the House. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress quickly approved legislation to avert a rail strike, but lawmakers have a long list of issues to address in the coming weeks. And that includes avoiding a government shutdown, as Republicans prepare to retake the House and Democrats move forward with a new leadership team. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Republicans will take over the U.S. House and it’s the end of a political era for Democrats, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi steps aside for a new generation of leaders in the wake of the midterm elections. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Control of Congress remains in flux, days after the midterm elections. The voting will continue in several states this weekend, and there’s already a new campaign underway for the undecided U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The final push is on for votes in the midterm elections, with control of the U.S. Senate hanging in the balance and the U.S. House likely to follow historical precedent. WTOP’s Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has "The Week on the Hill."
Just over two weeks ahead of the midterm elections, tight races make it anyone’s guess who will control the U.S. Senate, which will likely turn on just a handful of contests. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The Jan. 6 committee will soon start to compile its final report, following its latest – and likely last – public hearing. The panel has been investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election for well over a year, compiling mountains of evidence. But after all its work, has it changed any minds? WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The midterm elections are only a month away and the battle for control of the U.S. Senate is intensifying in several key races. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress again went down to the wire, but approved a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown before lawmakers left Washington to campaign ahead of the midterm elections. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congressional Republicans and Democrats seem more divided than ever and the differences will become only more stark in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections. But a bipartisan interest in beer has brought some of them together. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The midterm elections are getting closer and political rhetoric is ratcheting up in Congress on hot-button issues, as Democrats and Republicans press their arguments to voters over which party should hold power in the U.S. House and Senate. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress will once again be staring down the threat of a government shutdown, without swift action in the coming weeks. And the chair of Senate Intelligence Committee discusses his concerns about the latest developments involving classified documents at former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
After close to a year of trying, Senate Democrats believe they are poised to pass a major new economic plan addressing issues including climate change, energy and health care. The Senate will be working through the weekend as lawmakers try to reach a final vote through budget reconciliation, which would allow Democrats to pass the bill without any Republican support. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The Jan. 6 select committee has presented extensive testimony related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol, including accounts from former aides who say former President Donald Trump did virtually nothing as the mob fought with Capitol Police. But the panel says its eight public hearings don’t mark the end of the investigation, which is moving forward. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Your costly trips to the grocery store and the gas station could have a big impact on the midterm elections. Congressional Republicans are hammering Democrats on the issue of inflation, but they’re keeping an eye on former President Donald Trump’s plans for 2024, which could also have an impact on voters this November. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden sought to show that he’s committed to abortion rights, signing an executive order on Friday, and criticizing the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. It’s an effort to address Democrats’ concerns that he’s not doing enough to deal with the issue, which is the focus of a D.C. rally this weekend. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The latest Jan. 6 hearing related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol was the most explosive to date, and there will be more testimony in the weeks ahead. The House select committee is also concerned about the possibility of witness tampering as it moves forward. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
More Jan. 6 hearings will be held in the coming week. Lawmakers on the panel have indicated they believe former President Donald Trump broke the law with actions that culminated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. But it remains unclear if he will ultimately face any criminal charges. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Biden has stepped up pressure on Congress to approve gun legislation in the wake of the latest mass shootings, as lawmakers prepare to return into session. But familiar hurdles remain, even as the killing continues and a Texas community buries children gunned down in their elementary school. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress – and the nation – are once again reeling in response to a mass shooting. This time, it’s the massacre at a Texas elementary school that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. Senate talks have began on gun legislation, but in light of past failed efforts, it’s unlikely new measures will be approved by lawmakers. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The baby formula shortage in the U.S. has left many parents scrambling to feed their infants. It’s an issue that caught many by surprise and some members of Congress say that’s inexcusable. But while lawmakers have taken legislative action, store shelves aren’t going to be restocked overnight. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Senate Democrats and Republicans agree that it’s critical to quickly approve nearly $40 billion in aid for Ukraine. But that aid package has been brought to a screeching halt by a single lawmaker. A deeper look into how that can happen from WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller, “The Week on the Hill.”
The unprecedented leak of a U.S. Supreme Court draft decision involving Roe v. Wade has led to an upcoming Senate vote related to abortion rights. The political shockwaves are still rocking Washington, as Democrats and Republicans try to assess how the pending high court decision will affect the midterm elections. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress has approved legislation aimed at speeding more military equipment to Ukraine, as lawmakers begin to consider the White House’s massive new aid package for Kyiv. And House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy weathers the latest political storm related to Jan. 6. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress is about to return into session amid the political intrigue swirling around House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, due to the release of audio involving him, former President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first Black woman confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. But broadly bipartisan Senate votes for a president’s high court nominee are themselves -- history. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden is struggling to ease Americans’ pain at the gas pump, while congressional Democrats put forward a flurry of legislative proposals. WTOP spoke with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger about gas prices and infrastructure initiatives, as federal dollars begin to flow from legislation passed by Congress. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson faces key votes involving her confirmation in the coming weeks, following some grueling questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Members of Congress stand ready to keep providing Ukraine as much military equipment as it needs, while the country battles Russia. Their support has only been solidified by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wartime, virtual address to lawmakers. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The U.S. and its allies keep turning the economic screws on Russia, and Congress has approved billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine. But while there's been bipartisan support to help Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion, lawmakers are sharply divided over who's to blame for the highest gas prices in U.S. history. WTOP's Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has more in "The Week on The Hill" podcast.
There’s growing concern in Congress over Russia’s continuing military advance across Ukraine, as well as the takeover of Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Lawmakers are vowing to take every step necessary to punish Russian leader Vladimir Putin. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden says he's convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine. Russia aggression against Ukraine has galvanized the U.S. and its European allies. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, weighs in on the threat moving forward. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden’s approval rating keeps falling as prices at the grocery store and gas pump keep rising with inflation. The White House and Congress are trying to address the issue, along with supply chain challenges, but solutions seem to be scarce. WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
A congressional committee is cranking up the heat on the NFL to provide more information about the investigation into sexual harassment of women who worked for the newly renamed Washington Commanders football team. Why is Congress involved and what are the issues? WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has details on “The Week on the Hill.”
The White House and congressional Democrats are trying to regroup after recent legislative setbacks to get President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda back on track. So, what’s ahead? WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The U.S. Senate will begin debate on voting rights and rule changes to the filibuster after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. That’s despite the fact that the Democrats’ voting rights legislation currently can’t pass. And it follows a rough week for President Joe Biden. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with WTOP. In her interview with Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller, she discussed Jan. 6, former Vice President Mike Pence and the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to deal with the coronavirus. A unique start to 2022 and “The Week on the Hill.”
President Biden will have to wait until the New Year to see if Senate Democrats can pass his Build Back Better plan. But the Jan. 6 House select committee is pressing ahead with its investigation into the attack on the Capitol, with – and without – cooperation from witnesses. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress keeps cranking up pressure on social media companies to be more responsive to parents’ concerns about kids getting addicted to their apps. But are lawmakers making progress? Also, Washington says a final farewell to one of the last “lions of the Senate.” WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The federal government remains open, though it nearly shut down – yet again. Why is Congress so dysfunctional when it comes to passing a yearly budget and what’s ahead now that lawmakers have gotten past their latest political crisis? WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
After months of debate and drama, the House has passed President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion Build Back Better bill. It’s a significant legislative victory for Democratic lawmakers as they begin their Thanksgiving break. But the legislation is expected to undergo major changes when it’s taken up by the Senate. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
House Democrats hoped to leave Washington this week after passing both President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan, as well as the bipartisan infrastructure bill. But internal party struggles continue to cause delays. And it’s been a rough week for Democratic leaders, who are also trying to come to terms with disappointing election results, including a loss in the Virginia governor’s race. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congressional Democrats are closer than ever to an agreement to pass the two key parts of President Joe Biden's ambitious domestic agenda. But there's unease over the failure to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill ahead of next week's elections. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congressional Democrats have made major progress on a scaled-back version of President Joe Biden’s social spending plan. Lawmakers have had to make a lot of tradeoffs to get the cost down to close to $2 trillion, and there is more work to be done. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress is about to return into session and Democrats are still trying to agree on exactly how much they can spend on President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan. The president is continuing to tout the plan, but lawmakers are still far apart on its final price tag. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress is about to return in session and Democrats are still trying to agree on exactly how much they can spend on President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan. The president is continuing to tout the plan, but lawmakers are still far apart on its final price tag. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden came to Capitol Hill to try to bring divided Democrats together to advance his ambitious domestic agenda. But there’s still a lot of work to do. And, a unique bipartisan tradition resumed this week, not far from the U.S. Capitol. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
House lawmakers are busy this weekend preparing for key votes on the president’s infrastructure plans, and the Senate has an upcoming vote related to avoiding a government shutdown. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The 9/11 Commission that investigated the 2001 terror attacks was not immediately backed by Congress and the White House. But its legacy lives on, as a House select committee now pursues an investigation of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in an era of heightened partisan politics. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden is dealing with the biggest crisis of his presidency, as a deadline for U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan approaches. Congressional Republicans are blasting his handling of the evacuation in the wake of the deadly attack in Kabul and some Democrats have been critical, as well. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden is trying to convey that the administration has the situation in Afghanistan in hand. But a restless Congress is pressing the White House to do more to get Americans and Afghans out of Kabul, as the House prepares to return to session this coming week. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Congress is now on break, but there’s no break from the political pressure building over how lawmakers will handle President Joe Biden’s economic agenda. The Senate has passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, but House moderates and progressives are at odds over when to vote on it when they return later this month. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The Senate is taking up the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill this weekend, following an upbeat jobs report that included a drop in unemployment. But the spread of the coronavirus delta variant could still provide economic headwinds. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The “mask war” has again erupted in Congress, as lawmakers and the rest of the country struggle with the renewed spread of the coronavirus. But as House members return to their districts and potential virus hot spots, the Senate is pressing ahead on bipartisan infrastructure legislation. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
A high-wire political act is getting underway in the U.S. Senate, which will soon take up a key vote related to the future of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan. And an update on the man who appeared in the viral picture, dangling from the balcony of the Senate gallery, during the Jan. 6 insurrection. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
When the Senate returns to the U.S. Capitol, it will no longer be surrounded by a security fence that went up after the Jan. 6 insurrection. And lawmakers have a lot of work ahead related to President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has named the majority of members of the select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including Republican Rep. Liz Cheney. Members of the panel have a lot of work ahead, when they return from the Fourth of July break. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
A bipartisan infrastructure agreement and a victory for President Joe Biden – but will it hold? It could be a long summer for Congress and the White House as Democrats try to work through a politically fragile process. And a select congressional committee will investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
A Senate showdown over voting rights is coming, as infrastructure talks grind ahead, with many of President Joe Biden’s legislative priorities at stake. And, efforts to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol keep coming. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
Lots of questions about the future of President Joe Biden’s congressional agenda, as he meets with foreign leaders overseas. While there’s a new bipartisan plan for infrastructure, it’s still unclear if lawmakers and the White House will be able to agree on it – and how to pay for it.
The Senate returns into session amid a lot of uncertainty about what’s going to happen with President Biden’s major infrastructure plans. The issue has a long history of congressional bipartisanship, but a lot of hurdles must be overcome to pass legislation. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
There will not be a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. So what’s ahead for investigating the worst security breach at the Capitol in more than 200 years? And what’s the outlook for a bipartisan agreement on infrastructure? WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The Senate could soon take up legislation for the creation of a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. But prospects for the bipartisan panel are fading. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller spoke with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer about the latest developments for “The Week on the Hill.”
House Republicans have a new leadership team and a new commitment to former President Donald Trump, despite internal division over the party’s future. And a House vote on a new bipartisan plan for a 9-11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol may come soon. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
A GOP congressional shakeup is coming -- Rep. Liz Cheney, the most powerful Republican woman in the House, is about to lose her No. 3 leadership position. The White House is preparing for what could be a critical stretch for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposals now total more than $4 trillion and Congress has begun what’s expected to be a lot of complicated give-and-take over initiatives that are the largest in a generation. WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden is preparing to give his first address before a joint session of Congress, as lawmakers deal with a wide range of issues, including police reform, costly infrastructure improvements and whether D.C. should become the nation’s 51st state. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
A major political battle has broken out over voting rights, from the U.S. Senate to state capitols. It could also have an impact on how senators themselves vote, in the fight over the filibuster, which in turn could have a profound impact on President Biden’s domestic agenda. Also, what’s the future hold for the fencing around the U.S. Capitol? WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Joe Biden and the Democratic Congress are looking ahead to major legislation on the nation’s infrastructure now that a COVID-19 relief package has been passed. But Republicans have reservations about new taxes, as well as concerns about how the administration is handling problems at the southern border. Can lawmakers find any common ground? WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The Senate is pressing ahead with President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package, just over a year after the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the U.S. And more troubling testimony before Congress related to the response to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
The House has approved President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion covid relief package, sending it on to the Senate. And Congress is still reeling from the Jan. 6 insurrection, trying to find out more about what led to the massive security breach. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The second Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump has moved swiftly toward a conclusion, with both Republicans and Democrats ready to move on. But not before an extensive examination of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The House and Senate have taken steps that are critical to the eventual passage of President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package. They set up a process in which Democrats can muscle through the plan without Republican support, as a divided Senate prepares for the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.
President Joe Biden wants bipartisan support for his nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package. But ahead of the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, it’s looking like Democrats are ready to go it alone.
President Joe Biden is trying to quickly implement new policies and a new approach to dealing with the coronavirus, while the U.S. Senate prepares for a second impeachment trial of former President Trump – which has been delayed until February.
President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in at a Jan. 20 inauguration that will take place exactly two weeks after an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which is now surrounded by unprecedented security. President Donald Trump will leave office, but he still faces a Senate impeachment trial.
WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller was in the U.S. Capitol as mobs of pro-Trump demonstrators broke in and roamed through the corridors of the historic building. This is his firsthand account.
Congress is finally close to approving emergency COVID-19 relief for millions of struggling Americans, after months of negotiations. Why do lawmakers always seem to push everything until the end of the year?
Congress has bought itself some more time and delayed the deadline on a government shutdown, but there are plenty of political challenges ahead as lawmakers try to reach agreement on a COVID-19 relief package. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
After months of little progress, congressional leaders now believe they are on track to approve major COVID-19 relief to help struggling Americans, as well as to avoid a government shutdown ahead of next Friday’s deadline. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
The lame-duck Congress has left for its holiday break without any progress on a major coronavirus relief bill and growing frustration that President Trump won’t concede to President-elect Joe Biden. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has “The Week on the Hill.”
President Donald Trump and most Senate Republicans continue to hold out on conceding the election to Joe Biden, who now has 306 electoral votes. That’s the same number Donald Trump won in 2016. The White House’s decision not to give in has led to growing frustration from congressional Democrats, who say it’s hampering the transition of power.
The Senate is getting ready to take another crack at a targeted stimulus relief bill backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. And the Senate Judiciary Committee will soon vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, which could set up a full Senate vote before the election.
The Senate Judiciary Committee begins confirmation hearings Monday for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, despite protests from Democrats. The hearings come as the White House and Democrats press ahead with efforts to reach an agreement on an economic stimulus package and President Donald Trump prepares to return to the campaign trail.
President Trump is now at Walter Reed Medical Center, after he and the first lady tested positive for COVID-19. The stunning news comes as a U.S. Senator has also tested positive for the virus and there are renewed calls for all members of Congress to be regularly tested.
President Trump’s suggestion that he may not accept the results of the election has rippled through Congress. And lawmakers are now preparing for an intense battle over the president’s Supreme Court nominee – a Senate struggle that has never begun so close to a presidential election.
The timeline for the upcoming presidential election is clear, but that’s not the case for final approval of a COVID-19 vaccine. President Trump continues to set expectations high, at times at odds with his own scientific experts. Congress, meanwhile, is having a tough time moving forward on a new coronavirus relief package in the midst of an election year.
The presidential campaign is intensifying, with growing scrutiny of how President Trump has handled the pandemic. And with the presidential election now less than eight weeks away, members of both political parties in Congress are digging in and giving no signs they’ll agree on a new coronavirus relief measure.
After more than two weeks of intense negotiations, talks between congressional Democrats and the White House finally fell apart on new COVID-19 legislation. The lack of an agreement left both sides blaming each other, while millions of Americans were left without enhanced unemployment benefits.
Last-ditch efforts involving the White House and congressional Democrats failed to reach an agreement before enhanced unemployment benefits expired. And efforts to reach an agreement on major legislation to address the pandemic are on life support, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.
The extra unemployment benefit that millions of Americans have been receiving expires this weekend, along with other parts of the original CARES Act approved by Congress. And Republican and Democratic lawmakers haven't even begun negotiating over the latest legislation to address the pandemic.
The spread of COVID-19 cases has put more pressure on Congress to reach an agreement on major legislation to address the pandemic this month. And key provisions of the original CARES Act that lawmakers passed earlier this year are set to expire soon.
Members of Congress share concerns about the surge in COVID-19 cases, but haven't been able to reach an agreement on exactly what should be done next. It now appears they'll seriously consider new legislation related to the pandemic later this month, after they return from the Fourth of July break.
The House’s historic vote to approve legislation that would make D.C. the nation’s 51st state is a significant victory for supporters of statehood. It’s the first time either chamber of Congress has approved such a bill. But D.C. still faces significant hurdles in the quest to get votes in the House and Senate.
The House plans to vote in the coming week on sweeping law enforcement reform legislation from Democrats, while the Senate is preparing to take up a Republican measure. And the House is also preparing for a historic vote on a proposal to make the District of Columbia the nation’s 51st state.
Congressional Republicans are developing proposals for law enforcement reform, as the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares for an upcoming hearing on use of police force. The legislative action follows a highly emotional House hearing, featuring testimony from the brother of George Floyd, who died under the knee of a police officer in Minneapolis.
Protests have not let up in the wake of the death of George Floyd, following his death in police custody in Minneapolis. While Washington has a long history of protests, President Trump’s response and the use of the military has sparked intense debate in D.C., as Congress starts to consider legislation aimed at law enforcement reform.
States across the country continue to reopen and hope for business to pick up during the Memorial Day weekend, while Senators have left Washington. Many Democratic Senators are upset that no new legislation has been passed to address the pandemic, but Republicans say they’ve carried out oversight and that more time is needed to determine how $3 trillion already passed is working.
The House has approved the largest relief package ever taken up by lawmakers to deal with the pandemic, as well as a historic change to allow remote voting. But the more than $3 trillion legislation put together by Democrats isn’t going anywhere in the Republican-controlled Senate. The parties are far apart as they consider the next major legislation to address the coronavirus.
The nation's jobless rate is at a historically high level, and the death toll from COVID-19 keeps rising, even as states slowly reopen. And while the Senate is back in session, there are sharp political divisions over how to best address the pandemic in the next round of major legislation.
The full Senate is coming back to Washington for the first time in more than a month, despite health safety concerns raised by some lawmakers. The House, meanwhile, hopes to return later in the month.
Congress has approved $3 trillion to deal with the health and economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. And following this week’s extraordinary House vote, there are signs that the next major legislation will bring about the fiercest political struggle since the crisis began.
President Trump has enlisted governors and members of Congress to help with guidance, as he presses ahead with a gradual effort to reopen the country. As states cautiously move forward, congressional lawmakers remain stuck on interim legislation to help small businesses, even after a major program ran out of money.
President Trump says he will listen to the medical experts on his task force "very carefully" as he considers measures to reopen parts of the country next month. His comments come as members of Congress try to overcome an impasse on new legislation to address the coronavirus.
Coronavirus cases continue to rise, and there’s growing tension between state governments and the federal government over the lack of medical equipment for healthcare workers on the frontlines. A new congressional report highlights the disparity between what D.C., Maryland and Virginia have sought from FEMA and what they’ve received.
The House voted to approve more than $2 trillion in economic aid related to the coronavirus, culminating one of the most extraordinary weeks ever in Congress. Before President Trump could sign the legislation, there was a final few hours of drama that included a threat to delay the massive measure from a single congressman.
The Senate is moving at "warp speed" on a trillion dollar aid package related to the coronavirus. The ambitious legislation seeks to shore up the economy, help millions of workers and businesses, and address the pressing medical needs of the country.
Congress has overcome political sniping to approve an $8.3 billion emergency plan for the coronavirus, which is expected to continue to dominate the discussion on Capitol Hill. And it’s now a two-man race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Members of Congress are trying to overcome political tensions and hammer out a major funding plan to address issues related to the coronavirus. Also, the race for the Democratic presidential is speeding toward Super Tuesday, after the South Carolina primary.
After the Nevada caucuses, it’s on to South Carolina and then Super Tuesday for the presidential candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. Fourteen states, including Virginia, will be in play on March 3rd. Who will be left standing? WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has more...”The Week on the Hill.”
Attorney General William Barr and the Justice Department are under close scrutiny as President Donald Trump's longtime friend Roger Stone awaits sentencing in federal court. The president has made it clear that he thinks the recommended sentence for Stone is too harsh, and while Barr does too, he's also trying to show that his department remains independent.
The White House legal team has begun presenting opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, following three days of opening arguments from House Democrats. Still ahead is a contentious vote on whether the trial will include witnesses.
The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump has begun with the swearing in of Senators as jurors by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. This coming week the trial begins in earnest with opening arguments. But the issue of whether witnesses will be called remains unresolved.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning to turn over articles of impeachment in the coming week, as the Senate prepares for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. And Congress remains concerned about the threat of Iran, following House passage of a war powers resolution, which will be followed up with more debate on a similar measure in the Senate.
The Senate has reconvened in the midst of new concerns about tensions with Iran, following a U.S. drone strike on a key military commander. Many lawmakers are upset that congressional leaders weren’t notified of the attack ahead of time. And there’s still no resolution to an impasse over another major issue: the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump.
Another history-making week is ahead in Washington. The House of Representatives will soon vote on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. They were approved after a marathon debate in the House Judiciary Committee that lasted 14 hours, then abruptly ended late at night, only to resume on Friday.
There's a new phase ahead for the House impeachment inquiry. The effort will soon be led by the House Judiciary Committee, which will hold a new public hearing, as the panel prepares to consider articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The newest phase of the inquiry will set the stage for a likely vote on impeachment by the full House in the coming weeks.
After an intense period of public hearings, the impeachment inquiry will soon enter its most critical phase to date. One of the most dramatic hearings involved Gordon Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, who had been appointed by the President. What happens next could determine whether President Trump becomes the third president in U.S. history be impeached.
The historic public hearings of the impeachment inquiry of President Trump have begun with extensive testimony that’s included some surprises. And the revelation of a phone call involving President Trump and U.S Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, is expected to undergo intense scrutiny. Sondland is scheduled to publicly testify in the coming week.
The House is getting ready for nationally broadcast public hearings in the impeachment inquiry of President Trump, which will feature several witnesses who have already provided significant testimony behind closed doors. The hearings could be a pivotal moment in the impeachment proceedings, as the president and his Republican allies try to push back against allegations of a quid pro quo involving Ukraine and Trump administration pressure to investigate the president’s political rivals.
There's more closed-door testimony ahead in the impeachment inquiry, despite criticism from congressional Republicans, including those who stormed into the room in the U.S. Capitol where depositions are taken. The impeachment proceedings will soon enter a critical month.
A raucous and memorable week culminates with new questions about a possible quid pro quo involving the Trump administration and Ukraine, as acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney walks back comments and Democrats say the comments prove they're building their case in the impeachment inquiry. Lawmakers continue to sharply criticize the president's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. And members of both parties say a profound goodbye to Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings.
The impeachment inquiry digs deeper into issues involving Ukraine and the Trump administration's efforts to investigate Joe Biden. The former ambassador to Ukraine points to presidential pressure as the cause for her ouster. And following the arrests of two businessmen with ties to Rudy Giuliani, there are new questions surrounding the president’s personal attorney.
An extraordinary week in Washington, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment proceedings against President Trump related to a whistleblower complaint, drawing sharp criticism from Republicans. And the impeachment inquiry quickly moves forward with a subpoena of the Secretary of State.
A controversy related to a phone call involving President Trump is growing by the day, while Democrats are struggling to define and sustain their impeachment investigation of the president.
Congress is back and has quickly jumped into the weighty matters of impeachment and gun legislation, while Democratic presidential candidates have taken on each other in the first debate since the field was effectively cut in half.
Congress is returning to Capitol Hill after its summer recess, ready to take on a wide range of issues, including gun legislation following recent mass shootings. Congressional Democrats -- and some Republicans -- are also ready to try to reassert the "power of the purse," following President Trump's decision to divert military funds for the border wall.
President Trump says FEMA and his administration will provide all the resources Florida needs to deal with Hurricane Dorian, but many congressional Democrats remain upset with the decision to redirect hundreds of millions of dollars, including FEMA funds, during the height of hurricane season.
The White House is scrambling to deal with heightening concerns about the U.S. economy, while President Trump stays on the move, traveling to the G7 summit. With Congress still on break, the president feuded with freshmen lawmakers, while generating some confusion over his plans for tax cuts and gun legislation.
Congressional Democrats are trying to keep up the drumbeat for passing gun legislation following the latest mass shootings. And while dozens of lawmakers have traveled to Israel without controversy this summer, a trip planned by two freshmen congresswomen blew up into an international back-and-forth involving top the highest-ranking members of Congress and the longtime U.S. ally.
President Donald Trump says he believes congressional leaders from both parties can come together on legislation that would expand background checks for gun purchases, in the wake of the deadly attacks in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. But there are plenty of political challenges ahead, and Congress has a history of backing down on broad gun control measures.
Democratic presidential candidates battered each other during the debates in Detroit and are now busy preparing for the next round. At the White House, President Trump has moved past his initial pick to become the next director of national intelligence. And lawmakers have now left Washington for the August recess, after the Senate passed a sweeping, two-year budget plan. WTOP's Mitchell Miller takes a look at the busy summer.
The congressional hearings featuring Robert Mueller didn’t provide the political punch hoped for by many Democrats. But a key House Committee is still moving ahead with legal action against the Trump administration, as lawmakers consider the latest developments and their implications for impeachment.
Immigration and border issues are still simmering, as Congress returns from the holiday break. House Democrats are vowing to do more to protect migrant children at holding facilities, while the president defends border agents and indicates he’ll keep fighting for a citizenship question on the U.S. Census.
Billions of dollars in humanitarian aid will soon be on the way to the southern border, after a divided Congress passed legislation before the holiday break. And along with the summer temperatures, the Democratic presidential race is heating up, following the first two debates. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has more in this episode of The Week on the Hill.
President Trump tries to clarify comments that set off an uproar in Congress, after suggesting he’d be open to getting political dirt on an opponent from a foreign government, and lawmakers press for legislation tightening election security involving foreign interference, in the wake of the president’s remarks in this episode of The Week on The Hill.
Congress has returned to a political cauldron of issues, including tariffs and Mexico, as well as how to proceed on possible impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. And a vote is on the way in the House that could find the attorney general in contempt of Congress.
Congress returns from its latest break to deal with a host of major issues: impeachment, possible testimony from former special counsel Robert Mueller and now, how to deal with President Trump’s new tariff plan, aimed at forcing Mexico to do more about migrants at the border.
The battle between President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is becoming personal, as well as political. And while Congress is now on a holiday break for the unofficial start of summer, the issue of impeachment is likely to hang heavy in the air like Washington’s humidity.
There’s congressional skepticism about President Trump’s immigration plan and concern about the ongoing trade war with China. But the president’s announcement of an agreement involving Mexico and Canada creates a clearer path for congressional approval of a new trade deal.
The House Judiciary Committee has recommended finding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress and legal battles are growing between congressional Democrats and the White House, with some saying the country is in the midst of a constitutional crisis.
Attorney General William Barr has endured a grilling in the Senate and searing criticism from House Democrats, but the president and Republicans are standing by him as Congress and the White House continue to battle over the handling of the Mueller report. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller has more in "The Week on the Hill."
Escalating tensions between House Democrats and President Trump are likely to get worse, as Congress returns for session and the presidential campaign starts moving into gear.
Legal tension has ratcheted up between House Democrats and the White House over the release of the Mueller report. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller and emeritus and senior Capitol Hill correspondent Dave McConnell look at where the political battles are headed on this week's episode of “The Week on the Hill.”
The Senate has dealt a rebuke to President Donald Trump, and lawmakers are circling warily around the issue of impeachment, as Washington awaits the report on the Russia probe from the special counsel. WTOP's Mitchell Miller and WTOP Emeritus Senior Capitol Hill Correspondent Dave McConnell take a look at those issues and more in this week’s episode of "The Week on The Hill."
A rough week for President Trump – his former personal attorney Michael Cohen provided damaging testimony to Congress, raising a host of legal, ethical and politically explosive issues. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller and Emeritus Senior Capitol Hill Correspondent Dave McConnell examine Cohen’s extraordinary testimony and what it could mean going forward.
Legal and legislative challenges are getting underway to try to block President Trump’s effort to get billions of dollars for the border wall through his national emergency declaration. In this episode of “The Week On The Hill,” WTOP’s Mitchell Miller and Dave McConnell look at the political battles ahead for Congress and the White House.
Another government shutdown has been avoided, but new battles are underway over President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to get more money for his border wall. WTOP’s Mitchell Miller and Dave McConnell take a closer look at the fast-moving developments.
It’s one of the busiest times of the year in Washington, D.C. President Trump has just given his State of the Union address, a congressional panel is closing in on a spending deadline that could trigger another government shutdown and House Democrats are reasserting political power through a series of oversight hearings.
A congressional panel only has until Feb. 15 to reach an agreement on border security issues and the president’s border wall before the possibility of another government shutdown. Lawmakers and President Donald Trump, meanwhile, are preparing for the State of the Union address, and the field of presidential candidates for 2020 keeps growing.
WTOP’s Mitchell Miller and Dave McConnell take a closer look at the politics in play involving the partial government shutdown. Also, the prospects for confirmation of President Trump’s nominee for attorney general and what’s ahead in the Russia probe.