Senate reaches FY26 spending bills deal, Pres. Trump nominates Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair, Justice Dept releases three million Epstein files

House barely passes a package of government spending bills to end a partial shutdown. One bill for the Homeland Security Department runs two weeks, intended to provide time to develop  federal immigration agent conduct & accountability reforms; Brothers of Renee Good, who was shot & killed during an ICE protest in Minneapolis, testify in Washington at a Democratic forum; House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-KY) announces former President Bill Clinton & former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will sit for depositions  at the end of February in the committee's investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The agreement puts on hold House votes holding the Clintons in contempt of Congress for not obeying a subpoena to testify; more Congressional reaction to President Donald Trump's call for Republicans to 'nationalize' and 'take over' elections; National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya answers questions about vaccines & autism before the Senate Health Committee; Senate hearing on Netflix buying Warner Brothers and antitrust implications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s day three of a partial government shutdown, as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill today with renewed talks aimed at keeping the disruption brief and reopening shuttered parts of the federal government. As negotiations continue, we’ll also take a closer look at developments in Minneapolis, where questions about federal enforcement and local response remain in focus. Plus, the Trump administration is rolling out a new health initiative, and President Donald Trump is outlining plans for a memorial arch spanning the Potomac River — a proposal drawing early attention on Capitol Hill and beyond. Those stories, and more, on Washington Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Weekly Podcast: A Review of the Week in Washington takes a clear look at the major political and policy developments shaping the nation’s capital. Each episode breaks down the top stories from Congress, the White House, the courts, and across the country, with context on why they matter and what comes next. This week: It was a cold, snowy week in Washington — as the White House named the next chair of the Federal Reserve, the Senate worked to avoid a government shutdown, and protests continued around the country over immigration enforcement and ICE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: A conversation with Jillian Snider – a former law enforcement officer and senior fellow at the R Street Institute. We talk about ICE operations in Minneapolis – and best practices for law enforcement in the wake of another fatal shooting there. Then: Amid the fallout in Minnesota, President Trump tried to pivot back to the economy and efforts on affordability. We dig into the numbers with Natalie Baker of the Center for American Progress and Brittany Madni from the Economic Policy Innovation Center. Finally: President Trump may have backed off his threat to takeover Greenland – but relations are still frayed between the U-S and Europe. That conversation with Andrew Roth of The Guardian -- and Stefanie Bolzen of the German News channel VELT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate reaches a deal to pass six federal spending bills before funding expires tonight, five as a package & Homeland Security for just two weeks while Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) reforms are negotiated, but still there will be a weekend partial government shutdown because the House does not return to session until Monday; Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is among four journalists arrested and charged by the Justice Department after they covered an anti-ICE protest in a church in Minnesota where an ICE official serves as a pastor; President Donald Trump nominates Kevin Warsh to be Federal Reserve Chair; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announces the release of 3 million files related to the late sex offender the Jeffrey Epstein, half of the total files reviewed; President Trump signs an Executive Order to have an IndyCar race around the National Mall in Washington, DC as part of the country 250th anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate does not advance a package of six FY2026 spending bills ahead of Friday's deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown, but Senators and the White House are reportedly working on a deal to pass five bills as a group and separate out Homeland Security funding and extend it for a short period to allow for more talks on how to reform ICE; President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting, but does not call on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem or Attorney General Pam Bondi to speak and does not take any reporters' questions; White House Border Czar Tom Homan says he has ordered federal immigration authorities to work on an eventual drawdown plan for federal law enforcement in Minnesota, operations until then will be targeted and he is “staying ‘til the problem’s gone”; Suspect in the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) at a town hall this week faces federal charges, as she blames President Trump's rhetoric for threats to her safety; updates from the White House Cabinet meeting on the war in Ukraine, U.S. military build up near Iran, and the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Phase 2; President's National Security Agency Director nominee testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee; Senate Agriculture Committee passes a bill to regulate the digital assets market; some in Europe are talking about boycotting the World Cup matches in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged, ending a streak of three consecutive quarter percentage point cuts; Senate Democrats present their demands for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to get their votes to pass a Homeland Security spending bill and avoid a partial government shutdown. Those demands include: ending roving patrols, tightening the rules for warrants, barring federal offices from wearing masks and requiring them to wear body cameras. We will talk about it with The Hill's Alex Bolton (19); Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells the Senate Foreign Relations Committee there has been 'good and decent progress' in Venezuela since the U.S. military removed President Nicolas Maduro; Veterans Affairs Secretary testifies before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on improving the VA health care system; musician & entertainer Kid Rock testifies before a Senate Commerce Subcommittee about what he sees as unfair business practices in the selling and reselling of tickets to concerts & sporting events; today is the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump calls for "a very honorable and honest investigation" of the shooting death in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, and the president defends Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while Congressional Democrats are calling for her impeachment; Senate returns to session just a few days before the deadline to pass a Homeland Security spending bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, with Democrats demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the price for their votes; President Trump travels to suburban Des Moines, Iowa to talk about the economy and affordability; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) testifies before a Maryland House committee about the Congressional redistricting bill that could lead to the only U.S. House seat in the state held by a Republican flipping to Democratic control in 2026; National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) holds its final hearing on the mid-air collision last year between an American Airlines regional jet and Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney denies he walked back criticism of President Trump's foreign policy in a phone call with the president this week; Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves its symbolic Doomsday Clock to the closest it has ever been to midnight; United Nations Secretary General marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a snow day in the nation's capital…. Much of the federal government is closed…. The House is in a district work period this week… The Senate is in today… but votes have been postponed until tomorrow because of the weather… Of course, the Senate must pass a 6-bill spending package by Friday at midnight to avoid a government shutdown…. The legislation includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security through September 30th, which several Senate Democrats have said they will not support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. It's been a whirlwind week on the diplomatic front with President Trump announcing a "framework deal" on Greenland after weeks of threats. We speak with Washington Times White House Reporter Jeff Mordock on what the deal entails – and the geopolitical fallout. Then – a preview of the 2026 midterm elections and key SENATE races to watch with Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report Finally: Democrat Robin Kelly of Illinois joins us to talk about her move to impeach Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices