Senate Republicans

Government Shutdown Becomes Longest in U.S. History at Day 36

| Importance: 9/10

The Trump administration’s government shutdown reached its 36th day on November 5, 2025, officially surpassing the previous record of 35 days set during the December 2018-January 2019 shutdown under Trump’s first term. Over 1 million federal employees continued working without paychecks, …

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Senate Republicans Change Rules to Confirm Trump Nominees in Batches Without Individual Scrutiny

| Importance: 9/10

Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, changed chamber rules to allow confirmation of Trump’s sub-Cabinet, ambassador, and executive branch nominees in batches rather than individually, drastically reducing oversight and debate. The ’nuclear option’ procedural …

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Senate Republicans Vote 51-49 to Block Full Epstein Files Disclosure

| Importance: 9/10

Senate Republicans voted 51-49 to block Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s effort to force a vote requiring full release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, with only Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul breaking ranks. The vote prevents Congressional action on releasing Treasury Department …

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Budget Bill Attempts Schedule F Through Financial Coercion of Federal Employees

| Importance: 6/10

House version of reconciliation bill contained Section 90002 requiring new federal employees to choose between keeping civil service protections while paying 9.4% of salary toward retirement (versus current 4.4%) or becoming at-will employees with no job protections. Senate initially proposed rates …

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DNI Tulsi Gabbard's Secret Assad Meeting and Russian Ties Alarm Intelligence Allies

| Importance: 9/10

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed by a narrow 52-48 Senate vote, faces intense scrutiny over her 2017 secret meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and consistent pro-Russia positioning. Her minimal intelligence experience and controversial past have raised significant …

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McConnell Says Trump "Practically and Morally Responsible" Minutes After Voting to Acquit

| Importance: 10/10

Minutes after voting to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered an extraordinary and scathing floor speech declaring: “There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the …

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Senate Acquits Trump Despite Proven Abuse of Power; Romney Only Republican to Convict

| Importance: 10/10

The Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump on both impeachment articles on February 5, 2020, despite overwhelming evidence that he abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe Biden while withholding military aid. On Article I (Abuse of Power), the vote was …

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Senate Votes 51-49 to Block Witnesses in Impeachment Trial, Ensuring Trump Acquittal

| Importance: 10/10

The Senate voted 51-49 on January 31, 2020 to block witness testimony and document production in President Trump’s impeachment trial, making it the first Senate impeachment trial in American history conducted without witnesses or new evidence. Only two Republicans—Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan …

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Bolton Book Manuscript Reveals Trump Directly Tied Ukraine Aid to Biden Investigation

| Importance: 10/10

The New York Times obtained portions of former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s unpublished book manuscript on January 26, 2020, revealing that President Trump explicitly told Bolton in August 2019 that he wanted to continue freezing military aid to Ukraine until Ukrainian officials …

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Senate Acquits President Clinton on Both Impeachment Articles

| Importance: 8/10

The U.S. Senate votes to acquit President Bill Clinton on both articles of impeachment following a five-week trial. On the perjury charge (Article I), the Senate votes 45-55, with 45 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting “not guilty.” On the obstruction of justice charge (Article II), the …

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