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1 House Passes Bill To Release Epstein Files, Senate Moves To Unanimously Approve It With No Objections
The Senate unanimously agreed yesterday afternoon to approve a bill calling for the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer came to the floor just hours after the House passed the bill with a 427 to 1 vote and asked for it to be approved immediately when it arrives from the House, and there were no objections. The measure requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days of it becoming law. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he's "deeply disappointed" the Senate passed the bill without amendments. Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the idea of amending the bill, noting it passed the House by an overwhelming margin and the president said he'd sign it.
2 Affordable Care Act Subsidies Will Expire According To Senators
Affordable Care Act tax credits that help millions of Americans pay for health insurance are likely to expire at the end of the year as President Trump has ruled out extending them. About 22 million people could see their health insurance premiums jump by thousands of dollars per month when the funding runs out on December 31st. Virginia Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans has introduced a bill to extend the subsidies for one year as a temporary fix, but only 14 Republicans have signed on. Trump wrote on social media that he'll only support sending money directly to people, possibly through health savings accounts or cash payments, rather than continuing the current system where funds go to insurance companies. Any plan would need 60 votes in the Senate, meaning at least seven Democrats would have to support it.
3 Federal Court Blocks Texas From Using New Congressional Map For Next Year's Elections
A federal court blocked Texas from using its new congressional map for the 2026 elections, ordering the state to use the 2021 map instead. The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the redrawn map is likely an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The new map, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in August, would have created five GOP-friendly seats. President Trump had pushed Texas lawmakers to redraw the map to help Republicans keep their House majority. Abbott said the state will appeal to the Supreme Court, calling the ruling "clearly erroneous." The judge wrote that while politics played a role, substantial evidence shows Texas racially gerrymandered the map by setting and following racial targets.