A Donald Trump-backed government spending bill passed the Senate on Friday evening, hours before a midnight deadline to avert a government shutdown.
House Democrats demanded their Senate colleagues reject the measure, which was supported by Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and only a handful of Senate Democrats.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, when asked if he believes the Senate needs new leadership after Schumer said he would support the measure, said “next question.” Meanwhile, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said there’s a “deep sense of outrage” from “across the board, the entire party.”
While voting was underway, Trump unloaded on his political enemies and accused Joe Biden and his administration of launching politically motivated investigations against him in remarks to the Department of Justice, which he has filled with his personal attorneys and purged staff his administration considers disloyal.
Trump is reportedly planning to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to speed up the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, a key campaign pledge that is off to a slow start.
The president suffered fresh legal setbacks Thursday when two federal judges ruled that his administration must reinstate thousands of probationary employees fired by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
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Key Points
- Senate avoids a government shutdown despite Democratic opposition
- Top Democrat won't say whether Chuck Schumer should be out of Senate leadership
- Trump delivers campaign-style remarks to Justice Department
- Trump reportedly planning to invoke Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to speed up deportations
ICE is $2 billion in the hole
13:00
,
Alex Woodward
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reportedly already $2 billion short to keep up its current pace of operations through the end of this fiscal year, as it races to keep up with the Trump administration’s promises to rapidly deport millions of undocumented migrants.
Josh Marcus reports:
Pete Hegseth shutters Pentagon office that helped military leaders plan for possible future wars
12:00
,
Alex Woodward
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has moved to shutter the Pentagon office that helped military leaders plan for possible future wars.
A memo signed by Hegseth dated March 13 reportedly said that civil employees in the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment will be reassigned to other “mission critical positions” as it is dismantled. The office is often referred to as the Pentagon’s internal think tank.
After reports of the memo were published, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement about the “restructuring.”
Rhian Lubin reports:
Nancy Mace sued for defamation by man she named in floor speech and accused of abuse
11:00
,
Alex Woodward
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is being sued for defamation by one of the four men she publicly accused of sexual abuse in a speech she made on the floor of the House of Representatives last month.
Ariana Baio reports:
Full story: Rubio declares South African ambassador to US persona non grata over speech criticizing Trump, Musk and Vance
10:00
,
Alex Woodward
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seeking to expel South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool after the official criticized Donald Trump during a forum on Thursday.
Josh Marcus reports:
Arlington Cemetery scrubs info on famous Black, Hispanic, and female veterans to comply with Trump orders
09:00
,
Alex Woodward
Arlington National Cemetery has purged dozens of pages of information about famous Black, Hispanic and female veterans from its website to comply with Donald Trump’s executive order purging diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal government.
Rhian Lubin reports:
Law launching deportation of Columbia student was condemned in 1996 by a judge – Donald Trump’s sister
07:00
,
Alex Woodward
The White House has said that Mahmoud Khalil, who is not formally accused of breaking any laws, is deportable because a rarely used portion of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act lets the Secretary of State deport people deemed to risk “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Khalil’s lawyers and supporters, meanwhile, argue he is being unlawfully targeted for exercising his First Amendment rights.
Thirty years ago, another figure voiced concerns over the same provision at issue today: Donald Trump’s sister, federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry.
Analysis: Democrats revolt against Chuck Schumer’s cave to Republicans
06:00
With a majority of his caucus revolting against him and activists furious, the longtime Democratic leader faces calls to step aside or have a primary challenge, Eric Garcia writes:
ICYMI: Trump says he asked Putin to spare Ukrainian lives in ‘good and productive’ talks
04:00
,
Alex Woodward
Trump on Friday said he’s asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to order his troops not to commit a massacre of Ukrainian soldiers who they are attempting to dislodge from the Kursk region after months of occupation by Kyiv’s forces.
Full story: Trump accuses the press of ‘illegal’ reporting in Justice Department remarks
03:00
,
Alex Woodward
Trump continued his assault on the press in front of the nation’s top federal law enforcement officials on Friday while taking a victory lap against a justice system that failed to hold him to account.
He suggested that press coverage that criticized judges influenced their decisions in cases against him and should be “illegal.” Trump himself, however, continues to rage against judges that have blocked parts of his agenda, while his allies call for their impeachment and removal from the bench.
Newspapers “are really no different than a highly paid political operative,” Trump said.
“And it has to stop. It has to be illegal,” he said. “It’s influencing judges. It’s really changing law. And it just cannot be legal. I do not believe it is legal.”
ICYMI: Bomb-sniffing dogs are the latest DOGE casualty
03:00
,
Alex Woodward
K-9 bomb sniffer dog units have become the latest victims of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, just as the White House celebrated a national day honoring the heroic animals.
Mike Bedigan reports:
DOJ to investigate Columbia and its students for terrorism, top official says
01:12
,
Josh Marcus
The Department of Justice announced it will investigate recent events at Columbia University for potential terrorism offenses that occurred over the last two years during campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
Keep reading:
Appeals court lifts block on Trump's DEI order
01:03
,
Katie Hawkinson
An appeals court lifted a block on President Donald Trump’s executive orders ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout the government Friday, the Associated Press reports.
This means the orders can be enforced even while a lawsuit challenging them plays out.
Read the full story:
‘He’s underwater on everything:’ Fox News host breaks down latest Trump approval polling
01:00
,
Alex Woodward
Trump is “underwater on everything” when it comes to his approval ratings, a Fox News host declared Thursday.
Advocacy group slams spending bill passage
00:33
,
Katie Hawkinson
Robert Weissman and Lisa Gilbert, co-presidents of the non-profit Public Citizen, condemned the Senate’s passage of the spending bill today.
“The CR is a harmful, partisan slush-fund bill for Trump and Musk,” the statement reads. “Public Citizen fought this bill tooth and nail, and we are incredibly disappointed at the refusal of Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats to hold the line and oppose the bill.“
“The GOP’s long-term CR is not the clean continuation of previous funding commitments that we need,” the statement continues. “Instead, it enables Trump and Musk to claim much greater authority to violate the separation of powers and refuse to spend appropriated funds. In fact, Vice President Vance has made clear that the administration intends to do this.”
“While no one wanted a shutdown, a temporary lapse in funding in fact would have been better than a devastating CR. This bill is a disgrace."
Read the full story on the government spending bill from The Independent’s Eric Garcia:
California Democrat believes Trump and his allies are creating a ‘civil war’
00:00
,
Alex Woodward
Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California encouraged her colleagues and the public to fight back against President Donald Trump’s attempts to remake the government in his vision through nonviolence – believing the president is “on the edge of creating a civil war.”
A deadline for federal agencies to submit DOGE firings has passed. Nobody knows what’s in the plans
Friday 14 March 2025 23:30
,
Alex Woodward
Federal agencies were required to submit downsizing plans by Thursday night as part of the DOGE plan to carry out mass firings across the government — but it’s unclear what comes next.
Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington, D.C.:
Law behind Mahmoud Khalil's deportation was condemned by a judge in 1996: Donald Trump’s sister
Friday 14 March 2025 23:00
,
Alex Woodward
The White House has said that Mahmoud Khalil, who is not formally accused of breaking any laws, is deportable because a rarely used portion of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act lets the Secretary of State deport people deemed to risk “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Khalil’s lawyers and supporters, meanwhile, argue he is being unlawfully targeted for exercising his First Amendment rights.
Thirty years ago, another figure voiced concerns over the same provision at issue today: Donald Trump’s sister, federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry.
Josh Marcus reports:
Just in: Senate approves spending bill, sending to Trump to sign
Friday 14 March 2025 22:45
,
Alex Woodward
Only two Democratic senators — Jeanne Shaheen and Angus King — gave final approval to a spending bill that is now headed to Donald Trump’s desk.
The Senate voted 54 to 46, largely on party lines.
Arlington Cemetery scrubs info on famous Black, Hispanic, and female veterans to comply with Trump orders
Friday 14 March 2025 22:30
Arlington National Cemetery has purged dozens of pages of information about famous Black, Hispanic and female veterans from its website to comply with Donald Trump’s executive order purging diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal government.
Rhian Lubin reports:
Analysis: Democrats revolt against Chuck Schumer’s cave to Republicans
Friday 14 March 2025 22:21
,
Alex Woodward
With a majority of his caucus revolting against him and activists furious, the longtime Democratic leader faces calls to step aside or have a primary challenge, Eric Garcia writes:
Full story: Rubio declares South African ambassador to US persona non grata over speech criticizing Trump, Musk and Vance
Friday 14 March 2025 22:03
,
Alex Woodward
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seeking to expel South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool after the official criticized Donald Trump during a forum on Thursday.
Josh Marcus reports:
Watch: New Canadian prime minister Mark Carney rejects Trump's claim Canada should become 51st state
Friday 14 March 2025 22:00
,
Alex Woodward
The Democrats who joined Republicans to avert a government shutdown
Friday 14 March 2025 21:54
,
Eric Garcia
The Senate voted to advance a spending bill to keep the government open until September 30, despite dozens of congressional Democrats urging their Senate colleagues to reject it.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced late on Thursday that he would support the legislation, but that did little to quell the opposition against the bill, as more senators came out to oppose it. In the end, only nine Democratic Senators voted to advance the legislation when the Senate invoked cloture and prevented a filibuster.
-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York)
-Brian Schatz (Hawaii)
-Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
-Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin
-Angus King (Independent-Maine)
-Kirsten Gillibrand (New York)
-Gary Peters (Michigan)
-John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
-Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
-Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
South Africa ambassador 'persona non grata' in US, Rubio says
Friday 14 March 2025 21:38
,
Alex Woodward
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called South Africa's Ambassador to the United States Emrahim Rasool “a race-baiting politician who hates America” and Trump
He is “no longer welcome” in the country, Rubio said.
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” he added.
“I think what Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency, at home, and ... abroad as well,” Rasool said in recent remarks.
“We see it in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement ... as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48 percent white. And that the possibility of a majority of minorities is looming on the horizon.”
That future “needs to be factored in, so that we understand some of the things that we think are instinctive, nativist, racist things,” he added.
South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 14, 2025
Emrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.
We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.https://t.co/mnUnwGOQdx
Nancy Mace sued for defamation by man she named in floor speech and accused of abuse
Friday 14 March 2025 21:30
,
Alex Woodward
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is being sued for defamation by one of the four men she publicly accused of sexual abuse in a speech she made on the floor of the House of Representatives last month.
Ariana Baio reports:
Just in: Senate clears path to avoid a government shutdown despite Democratic opposition
Friday 14 March 2025 21:13
,
Alex Woodward
The Senate passed key procedural vote to keep the government open despite the majority of Senate Democrats objecting to the legislation as an overly partisan bill.
All but one Republican senator, Rand Paul voted for the bill, along with 10 Democrats, which proved to be enough to break a filibuster.
Eric Garcia reports from Washington, D.C.:
Donald Trump claims news outlets that are critical of him are 'illegal'
Friday 14 March 2025 21:00
,
Alex Woodward
In his remarks in front of federal prosecutors and Justice Department officials, Trump claimed that news outlets that “literally write 97.6 percent bad about me” are “political arms of the Democratic party.”
“In my opinion they’re really corrupt and they’re illegal. What they do is illegal,” he said.
Newspapers “are really no different than a highly paid political operative,” he said.
“And it has to stop. It has to be illegal,” he said. “It’s influencing judges. It’s really changing law. And it just cannot be legal. I do not believe is is legal.”
He also listed off a list of what he called “fake news” outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and baselessly alleged they are conspiring with Democratic officials to smear him.
“It’s totally illegal what they do,” he said.
JD Vance says TikTok will 'almost certainly' land American deal
Friday 14 March 2025 20:30
,
Ariana Baio
Vice President JD Vance told NBC News aboard Air Force Two that there will, “almost certainly be a high-level agreement” that “satisfies our national security concerns” for TikTok and an American company.
“There will almost certainly be a high-level agreement that I think satisfies our national security concerns, allows there to be a distinct American TikTok enterprise,” he said Friday.
“Typically, some of these deals that are much smaller and involve much less capital take months to close,” said Vance, who worked in venture capital before entering politics as a Senator from Ohio. “We’re trying to close this thing by early April. I think that the outlines of this thing will be very clear. The question is whether we can get all the paper done.”
Full story: Trump tells Justice Department his win gives ‘mandate’ for ‘far reaching investigation’ into Democrats and news organizations
Friday 14 March 2025 20:23
Trump on Friday delivered a scathing condemnation of the Department of Justice’s efforts to enforce criminal laws against him and his friends in his remarks to the Justice Department — lashing out at previous leaders and commanding his hand-picked team of loyalists to launch investigations into his political opponents.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.:
From the halls of where the charges were approved, Trump calls cases against him 'bull****'
Friday 14 March 2025 20:17
,
Alex Woodward
Donald Trump praised District Judge Aileen Cannon, who he appointed in 2020, for dismissing the classified documents case against him.
“The case against me was bullshit, and she correctly dismissed it,” he said.
He called his criminal defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove — now top Justice Department officials — “warriors” for him in his criminal cases.
Trump also attacked Norm Eisen, an attorney and legal analyst.
Turning to Justice Department prosectors, he said that lawyers who have opposed his agenda are “horrible people, they’re scum, and you have to know that.”
Pete Hegseth shutters Pentagon office that helped military leaders plan for possible future wars
Friday 14 March 2025 20:00
,
Alex Woodward
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has moved to shutter the Pentagon office that helped military leaders plan for possible future wars.
A memo signed by Hegseth dated March 13 reportedly said that civil employees in the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment will be reassigned to other “mission critical positions” as it is dismantled. The office is often referred to as the Pentagon’s internal think tank.
After reports of the memo were published, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement about the “restructuring.”
Rhian Lubin reports:
Trump delivers campaign-style remarks to Justice Department in stunning reversal of law enforcement independence
Friday 14 March 2025 19:59
,
Alex Woodward
In his remarks at the Department of Justice, Trump assailed his political rivals with a campaign-style speech loaded with grievances against Joe Biden and the multiple investigations against him.
“We must be honest about the lies and abuses that have occurred within these walls,” Trump said.
The agency is now staffed with his personal counsel and criminal defense attorneys in top roles, erasing the independence of federal law enforcement while accusing his predecessor of “weaponizing” it against him.
Biden officials and Democratic lawyers “did everything within their power to prevent me from becoming” president, he claimed.
Trump officials previewed the speech as his remarks on “law and order” but has largely focused his speech on himself and attacks against the previous administration.
Trump and Bondi arrive at the Justice Department
Friday 14 March 2025 19:39
,
Alex Woodward
As the strains of Elvis Presley’s “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” played over loudspeakers as a crowd waited for their remarks, Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi arrived together at the Department of Justice for remarks from the president, a stunning and rare appearance that dissolves the invisible line between the White House and the nation’s ostensibly independent federal law enforcement arm.
Two more Columbia students deported, Homeland Security says
Friday 14 March 2025 19:30
,
Alex Woodward
The Department of Homeland Security reports that two more Columbia University students have been deported following the Trump administration’s targeting of pro-Palestine demonstrations on the campus.
But unlike Mahmoud Khalil, neither student was a lawful permanent resident, though officials baselessly accused them of supporting Hamas or terrorism, without evidence, because they supported demonstrations against Israel’s U.S.-backed devastation in Gaza.
Legaa Kordi, who is from the West Bank, overstayed her student visa and didn’t apply to change her status.
Ranjani Srinivasan — a national from India who received a Fulbright scholarship and had previously taught at New York University and had a master’s in design from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design — self-deported to Canada via the CBP Go App on March 11.
She reportedly missed two court summons for obstructing traffic and failing to disperse during a protest.
“It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country. I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home app to self-deport.”
ICE is $2 billion in the hole – even as Trump wants to increase deportation efforts
Friday 14 March 2025 19:10
,
Alex Woodward
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reportedly already $2 billion short to keep up its current pace of operations through the end of this fiscal year, as it races to keep up with the Trump administration’s promises to rapidly deport millions of undocumented migrants.
Josh Marcus reports: