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For congressional Republicans led by John Thune, left, and Mike Johnson, the enactment of the sweeping tax and domestic spending package was a highlight of the year.

Congress

Government shutdown, reconciliation law highlight turbulent year in Congress

Despite rise in rancor, lawmakers did manage a few bipartisan achievements

By Niels Lesniewski
Posted December 16, 2025 at 5:00am

Sen. Ted Cruz, left, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, right, hold a press conference Monday with families who lost loved ones in the January 2025 DCA plane crash. Christina Stovall, third from left, who lost her son Michael "Mikey" Bret Stovall, is comforted by Amy Hunter, who lost her cousin, Peter Livingston. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

Policy

Reagan National airport safety looms as appropriations issue

By John M. Donnelly
Posted December 15, 2025 at 6:35pm
Democrat Mikie Sherrill's victory in the New Jersey governor's race was among several results that buoyed her party in 2025. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images file photo)

Campaigns

Democrats close year emboldened by 2025 electoral successes

By Mary Ellen McIntire
Posted December 16, 2025 at 6:00am
An artist sells prints of Donald Trump riding an elephant outside the Capital One Arena on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. Cold temperatures forced the Inauguration to move indoors. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Heard on the Hill

Roll Call’s 2025 feature photos of the year

By Bill Clark and Tom Williams
Posted December 16, 2025 at 6:00am

Heard on the Hill

Capitol Lens | Making Christmas music together

By Bill Clark
Posted December 16, 2025 at 7:30am

Capitol Ink | Invasion of the attention snatchers

By R.J. Matson
Posted December 16, 2025 at 7:00am
Rosie Rios, chair of the America250 commission, is photographed at the Ronald Reagan Building on Dec. 11.

A balancing act in planning for America’s 250th birthday party

By Valerie Yurk and Mike Magner
Posted December 16, 2025 at 6:59am

2026 State Legislative Sessions Calendar

By Chhayrithy Chhuan
Posted October 3, 2025 at 10:26am
Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, is withdrawing from his bid for Tarrant County judge.

Texas Rep. Veasey ends county judge bid

By Niels Lesniewski
Posted December 16, 2025 at 5:53am
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., speaks during a news conference in the Capitol on Sept. 17, 2024.

House clears whole milk for school menus

By Olivia M. Bridges
Posted December 15, 2025 at 6:06pm
Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and Darrell Issa, R-Calif., leave a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Dec. 4, 2024.

House GOP unveils draft health bill package

By Lia DeGroot, Sandhya Raman and Jessie Hellmann
Posted December 15, 2025 at 4:33pm

2026 State of Government Affairs

By Chhayrithy Chhuan
Posted November 20, 2025 at 4:08pm
Half a century ago, typewriters were Congress’ tool of choice for replying to constituent letters. But more than technology has changed since then, Fitch writes.

From electric typewriters to AI, constituent engagement has changed

By Bradford Fitch
Posted December 15, 2025 at 4:03pm
Freshman members of the 119th Congress pose for a class photo on the House steps last November. Now that they’ve seen the workings of the Capitol, what do they think?

One year in, what do these newcomers think of Congress?

By Nina Heller
Posted December 15, 2025 at 3:38pm
Strickland attends a House Armed Services Committee markup on April 29, 2025.

In the Spotlight: Marilyn Strickland

By Nick Eskow
Posted December 15, 2025 at 2:53pm

Read the latest issue

By Chhayrithy Chhuan
Posted March 23, 2020 at 11:36am
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is seen from the top of the Washington Monument on Nov. 17.

Lawsuit to stop work on Eisenhower building withdrawn

By CQ Roll Call Staff
Posted December 15, 2025 at 2:50pm
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., talks with reporters after a Nov. 5 briefing in the Capitol with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on military strikes against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean.

Warner: No reason not to release Sept. 2 strike video

By Mark Satter
Posted December 15, 2025 at 2:45pm
Constellation's Clinton Clean Energy Center’s single nuclear reactor power plant is seen on July 25, 2025 in Clinton, Ill. Meta recently signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation for the output from the plant.

DOE using its own land to help pair AI centers, nuclear reactors

By Kelly Livingston and Allison Mollenkamp
Posted December 15, 2025 at 11:13am
Chef Fred Johnson adds icing around the base of the sugary dome on top of this year’s Capitol gingerbread model.

This week: Congress has much to do before holiday recess

By Niels Lesniewski
Posted December 15, 2025 at 5:57am
Donald Trump is sworn in as president by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. in the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20 as first lady Melania Trump looks on.

Trump to cap unprecedented year that skirted Congress, tested court system

By John T. Bennett
Posted December 15, 2025 at 5:00am
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said other Republicans share his reservations about the president's approach to Russia.

Bacon calls Trump ‘the new Chamberlain’ over Russia policy

By John M. Donnelly
Posted December 12, 2025 at 8:53pm
Gene Simmons’ testimony at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing on Tuesday highlights this week’s Congressional Hits and Misses.

Rock and Roll Call all nite (and political party every day) — Congressional Hits and Misses

By Chris Hale
Posted December 12, 2025 at 4:24pm
Rep. Henry Cuellar, seen here in May, is now one step closer to regaining his senior subcommittee post.

Cuellar wins a key nod to regain a top House Appropriations post

By Aris Folley and Aidan Quigley
Posted December 12, 2025 at 3:39pm
A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200 plane passes by the Capitol as it comes in for a landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Nov. 9.

Senate eyes NDAA passage next week amid aviation safety worries

By John M. Donnelly
Posted December 12, 2025 at 2:59pm
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Penn., on Dec. 9. Trump discussed his administration’s economic agenda and its efforts to lower the cost of living.

FactChecking Trump’s economic speech

By FactCheck.org
Posted December 12, 2025 at 1:56pm
The ballroom construction project at the White House is seen from the top of the Washington Monument in November.

Historic preservation trust sues Trump over White House ballroom

By David Jordan
Posted December 12, 2025 at 1:30pm
The top of the Washington Monument peaks above a fog bank over the Washington area at sunrise on Sunday morning.

Photos of the week | December 5-11, 2025

By Bill Clark and Tom Williams
Posted December 12, 2025 at 9:22am
President Donald Trump hands a pen to Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI Sriram Krishnan after signing the AI executive order while Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, second from left, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick look on in the Oval Office on Thursday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

With executive order, Trump moves to undo state AI laws

By Allison Mollenkamp
Posted December 11, 2025 at 9:04pm
The Indiana Senate chamber as seen in July 2022. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

GOP-led Indiana Senate rejects new congressional map in blow to Trump

By Daniela Altimari
Posted December 11, 2025 at 6:04pm

Capitol Lens | The Vex-orcist

By Tom Williams
Posted December 11, 2025 at 4:05pm, Updated at 5:46pm
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Michael Glasheen, operations director, National Security Branch, FBI, are sworn in Thursday at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing titled “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland."

Trump’s FEMA review group abruptly cancels final report meeting

By Chris Johnson
Posted December 11, 2025 at 4:40pm, Updated at 5:40pm
Maryland Democrat David Trone is the latest former lawmaker to announce a House comeback.

Former Rep. David Trone launches primary challenge to successor in Maryland

By Mary Ellen McIntire
Posted December 11, 2025 at 5:22pm
House Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. is pictured outside the Capitol in September. Pallone and other Democrats objected to GOP revisions to the Kids’ Online Safety Act proposal.

House panel advances kids online safety bills

By Allison Mollenkamp
Posted December 11, 2025 at 4:41pm

At the Races: Another health care election?

By Mary Ellen McIntire, Daniela Altimari and Niels Lesniewski
Posted December 11, 2025 at 3:04pm
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., arrives at the Capitol on Wednesday for a news conference to urge the Senate to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Lawmakers hold hope for health care even with partisan Senate votes

By Lia DeGroot
Posted December 10, 2025 at 6:29pm, Updated December 11, 2025 at 9:30am
Roll Call political cartoonist R.J. Matson presents his 12 favorite cartoons of 2025.

‘Cap’-py days are here again — Capitol Ink’s best of 2025

By R.J. Matson and Chris Hale
Posted December 11, 2025 at 7:30am

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Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is leading some GOP moderates in a push for a short-term extension of health insurance subsidies.
Last chance for the year

CQ Budget Podcast

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