Senate

Seemingly arcane exercises in the days and weeks ahead will in fact represent – and may even resolve — real conflicts over national issues of enormous importance.

"I cannot imagine more worthy recipients than the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend this temple of democracy," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says.

President Biden continued his hands-off approach to the impeachment trial of his predecessor. Asked whether he would watch the trial, Biden said: "I am not."

Congressional committees now move to the next stage of finalizing the details of President Biden's $1.9 trillion bill. Democrats are using a process that can pass the legislation on a party-line vote.

The budget process allows the party in control in Congress to pass most big-dollar legislation without having to worry about a filibuster. But the process can be risky.

Some Republicans are arguing that former President Donald Trump should not face a Senate impeachment trial because he's a private citizen. That was argued before — and rejected narrowly — in 1876.

The Senate minority leader pointed to statements by two moderate Democrats who oppose ending the legislative maneuver. Both sides claimed victory, but the truce could be short-lived.

Austin's near-unanimous confirmation came despite concerns raised on both sides of the aisle that he hadn't been out of uniform for the legally mandated minimum seven-year period.

Normally, the Senate confirms a few Cabinet officials before Inauguration Day. But President-elect Joe Biden will need to turn to career civil servants for help because of delays.