Friday, April 24, 2026

Senate rejects gas, grocery cost measures

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On Politics

Thu Apr 23 2026

Kathryn Palmer | Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers. Kathryn Palmer here, welcome back to On Politics. It's our last edition of the week, so here's what to know until I'm back in your inbox on Monday.

Senate rejects measures meant to lower the cost of gas, groceries

In a flurry of rapid-fire votes this morning, the bulk of Senate Republicans spurned a group of measures Democrats said would lower everyday costs for Americans.

Democrats claim the amendments, which they tried to attach to a federal budget blueprint, would have brought down rates for gas, groceries, health care and school meals. GOP lawmakers accused their counterparts of orchestrating political stunts and said they were prolonging the record-long shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

At the same time, Republicans cleared a key hurdle toward fully funding DHS − while also directing more money to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, both top priorities for Republicans.

A view of the U.S. Capitol building at night in Washington on March 2, 2026.

Kylie Cooper, REUTERS

A politics roundup:

•	Trump administration eases the regulation of state-licensed marijuana
•	Virginia judge blocks redrawn congressional maps approved by voters on Tuesday
•	Virginia Roberts Giuffre's brother wants King Charles to "look me in the face" at state visit
•	Congressman David Scott dies at 80: Remembering his legacy in Atlanta politics

Gallery: US Navy chief John Phelan is out, Pentagon says

Israel, Lebanon to hold talks in DC today

Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to end the fighting there are set to resume today in Washington, DC, at the State Department. At a previous meeting, the nations agreed to a 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group that operates out of Lebanon. It expires Sunday, April 26.

A State Department official told USA TODAY on Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee would join the talks.

Talks between the United States and Iran have stalled. Vice President JD Vance scrapped a planned trip to Pakistan for negotiations earlier this week, while Iran has sent mixed, yet uncommitted, messages regarding the talks and the administration's demands. The president says he’s awaiting a "unified proposal" for peace, though the White House has declined to set a timeline for Iran’s response.

David Jackson, longtime White House correspondent for USA TODAY, dies

In news that hits close to home for many on USA TODAY's politics team, longtime White House correspondent David Jackson has died. He was 66 years old.

Those of you who have followed USA TODAY's coverage for the last several years will undoubtedly recognize his byline. Before retiring last year, he spent roughly 20 years reporting on the White House for USA TODAY.

As USA TODAY National Correspondent Michael Collins writes, Jackson "fit the mold of the stereotypical, hard-driven newspaper reporter, with his rumpled appearance and his sometimes curmudgeonly manner."

“I got to see the funny side of David, I got to see the serious side of David, and I, of course, got to see the dogged reporter,” said Catalina Camia, who worked with him for years as a reporter and editor. “I’m honored to have called him a friend.”

Thanks for reading! Scroll down for more stories. You can reach me at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ KathrynPlmr.