Unfinished business

Congress has five legislative weeks left to avoid a partial government shutdown, while Republicans try to pass their third reconciliation bill to fund defense and other priorities before they lose power next year. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak join host David Lerman to assess the outlook for the lame-duck session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration announced plans to cancel $810 million, mostly for health and education programs,that Congress had already appropriated, in a so-called pocket rescission. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to discuss the funding at stake, the programs affected, and the likely court battle to come over whether the move is legal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The price tag of the Iran war is $43 billion and counting, but Congress has yet to agree on a funding plan. CQ Roll Call's John M. Donnelly joins host David Lerman to discuss the latest cost estimates, projections of future costs, and prospects for funding the war by year's end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Congress’ fall priorities — cryptocurrency, college sports and permitting — are not budget-related, a new December spending deadline is setting the stage for another funding fight. CQ Roll Call's Peter Cohn, Savannah Behrmann and Aidan Quigley assess the fall agenda and the prospects for a final fiscal 2027 spending deal during the lame-duck session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress avoided a shutdown fight until December, but passed on several sticky problems it will need to address after Election Day. CQ Roll Editor in Chief Jason Dick and CQ Roll Call Budget Editor David Lerman outline the major fights looming in November in a very special Political Theater and CQ Budget podcast collaboration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate left town for its August recess with much of its agenda put on ice, including a third budget reconciliation package. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to assess what the pile-up of work means for September and a lame-duck session following the midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a bipartisan deal in hand to avoid a partial government shutdown, Senate leaders hope to pass the stopgap measure this week. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to assess the obstacles to passage that lie ahead and what else could cross the finish line before the Senate adjourns for its August recess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate wants to pass an expanded version of a House-passed stopgap funding bill before it leaves town for the August recess. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak join host David Lerman to discuss the prospects for a funding extension and why work on reconciliation 3.0 is being put on the back burner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is trying this week to adopt a budget resolution and pass the annual defense authorization bill and stopgap spending measure. CQ Roll Call’s Aris Folley and Jacob Fulton join guest host Aidan Quigley to discuss the prospects of the continuing resolution and the budget resolution in the House’s final week before August recess.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., triggers a Senate Budget Committee shake-up as House Republicans make a new push this week for a third reconciliation package. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and Aidan Quigley join host David Lerman to assess the impact of Graham's death and prospects for a new reconciliation bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices