The Senate again voted down the House-passed funding bill to reopen the federal government Wednesday. The 12th vote on the legislation failed 54-46.
It followed a 22-hour speech from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), as he held the floor overnight in protest of President Trump’s agenda.
With no progress on the funding bill, Republican leaders are raising the issue of changing the filibuster’s rules or considering whether they need to formulate a plan B as Democrats dig their heels in over health care subsidies.
At the White House, Trump is meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss the ever-evolving situation with Russia and Ukraine. The president ruled out a meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin saying it “didn’t feel right.”
Meanwhile, his demolition of the White House’s East Wing for a $300 million ballroom is drawing increased scrutiny. He explained to reporters that it needed to be done to “properly” construct the project.
Tonight, New York City mayoral candidates — Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, third-party candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa — will take the stage in the second debate ahead of the November election.
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