Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) announced this morning she’ll act next week to force a vote on whether to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), an extraordinary move highlighting the tremendous internal turmoil in the GOP.  But the effort is all but certain to fail after Democratic leaders said they would vote to protect the Speaker… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 29, 2024

Congress is set to reconvene this week amid bitter GOP infighting and explosive protests on college campuses nationwide, two issues that are expected to dominate the dialogue on Capitol Hill in the coming days.  Lawmakers are likely to weigh in on the pro-Palestinian protests roiling college campuses across the country that are pitting some members… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 24, 2024

The Senate on Tuesday night passed a package to deliver $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, a bipartisan win months in the making.  The package also gives TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, 270 days to sell TikTok. Failure to do so would lead to significant consequences, TikTok would be prohibited from US… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 23, 2024

The Senate has begun consideration of a package, H.R.815 – Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, to deliver $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.  The legislation, which includes four bills, passed the House over the weekend with bipartisan support. President Joe… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 22, 2024

The House voted resoundingly on Saturday afternoon to approve $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) put his job on the line to advance the long-stalled aid package by marshaling support from mainstream Republicans and Democrats.  The vote was 311 to 112 in favor of the aid… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 19, 2024

The House just advanced legislation to send aid to Ukraine and other embattled U.S. allies overseas, clearing a key procedural hurdle after Democrats stepped in to back the measure, a rare move by the minority party, but one that was crucial to move the package forward in the face of fierce conservative opposition.  Three Republicans… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 18, 2024

Facing a divided party and pressure to act, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) finally  rolled out three bills Wednesday to provide assistance to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, with the hope of holding final votes on Saturday night. The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 The Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 The Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 17, 2024

Facing a very divided Republican party, pressure to act, and a threat to his young speakership, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) says he is close to releasing the text of his plan to send aid to U.S. allies, including Ukraine, despite sharp criticism from conservatives in his caucus.  Speaker Johnson informed GOP lawmakers in a text… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 16, 2024

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has unveiled an outline of his plan to move foreign aid through the House, pitching four separate bills to address aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other national security priorities that he says will all get votes before the end of the week.  The strategy sparked an immediate predictable backlash from… Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
April 15, 2024

Both the House and Senate are in session today, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) expected to finally put foreign aid legislation on the floor — a move that is taking on increased importance after Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend, and one that still comes with a number of political pitfalls as Representative Marjorie… Read More