Hello readers and welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional correspondent. It's Tuesday, and in a few hours, a new United States senator will be sworn in up here on Capitol Hill. More on that later.
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GOP lawmakers to meet with Hegseth |
House Republicans are scheduled to huddle with Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon tonight to talk about President Trump's latest legislative demand: a $350 billion supplemental defense bill. The cash influx, which would only have to pass on a party-line vote through the budget process, would help offset the U.S. military's losses as the Iran war wages on.
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Speaker Mike Johnson said this morning that he was on the phone until late last night with Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee. "We're working out the details," Johnson said, adding he expected a committee markup as soon as Thursday. (Lawmakers think the topline number will probably be lower than Trump's ask.)
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House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-MI) speaks next to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Tuesday.
Ken Cedeno, REUTERS
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This would be the third (and likely last) push for a reconciliation bill in the 119th Congress. The first was the so-called "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" last year. The second was a roughly $70 billion infusion for ICE and Border Patrol that passed earlier this summer.
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There will likely to be an attempt to attach a version of the SAVE America Act, Trump's voting restrictions bill, to the Pentagon funding. But many expect it will be stripped out or knocked down for procedural reasons in the Senate – where Republicans are already bearish on the prospects of such a bill passing at all before November. Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned yesterday the path forward for reconciliation 3.0 would be a "bumpy one."
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In fewer than 48 hours, Darline Graham Nordone went from a career helping find jobs for people with disabilities to becoming the first woman selected to represent South Carolina in the Senate.
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Darline Graham Nordone accepted the Republican governor's interim appointment of her yesterday in Columbia, South Carolina.
Grant Baldwin / Stringer
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Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to complete the remainder of the term for her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham , after the longtime Republican died unexpectedly last weekend. Graham Nordone is set to be sworn in today at 2:30 p.m. ET. Read more about her background.
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Barrett's bulletproof vest |
In rare testimony today, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said increased threats against the court "have required me and my children to think about and see things that children should not have to see or think about."
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"I didn’t expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one," Barrett told a congressional panel reviewing the court’s request for more money to address security concerns.
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Zachary Schermele is the congressional correspondent for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com.
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Congress just lost arguably its most effective liaison with President Trump.
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President Trump is expected to give remarks Thursday about alleged fraud in the 2020 election, while GA Senator Jon Ossoff has called out 'obsession.'
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Supreme Court justices face a 38% rise in threats, prompting requests for more security funds. In rare congressional testimony, justices are making their case.
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