Episodes

  • Last chance for the year

    Last chance for the year
    Dec 15 2025
    House Republicans face a showdown vote this week over health care affordability as enhanced insurance subsidies are set to expire at the end of the month. And Senate leaders are holding out hope for taking up a major spending package despite objections from GOP conservatives. CQ Roll Call's Sandhya Raman, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman assess the challenges on health care and appropriations in the final week of this year's legislative session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Defense spending uptick

    Defense spending uptick
    Dec 8 2025
    A new compromise defense authorization bill calls for a higher level of defense spending than President Donald Trump requested for the current fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's John M. Donnelly, Aidan Quigley, and David Lerman assess the new bill and what it means for the defense appropriations process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 mins
  • Two months to go

    Two months to go
    Dec 1 2025
    As appropriators aim to finish the nine remaining fiscal 2026 spending bills ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline, CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and Aidan Quigley discuss two recently released Senate spending bills and the two chambers' competing approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • Appropriations back on track?

    Appropriations back on track?
    Nov 17 2025
    Now that the partial government shutdown is over, can Congress make up for lost time and get long-delayed appropriations bills moving again? CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman assess the political and logistical obstacles of passing appropriations by the Jan. 30 funding deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Politics of a shutdown

    Politics of a shutdown
    Nov 10 2025
    Enough Senate Democrats finally broke ranks with their party to clear a path for ending the longest partial government shutdown in history. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman assess the political fallout of the shutdown, what it means for the Democratic Party, and the steps still required to finally reopen government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
  • Shutdown pressures on the rise

    Shutdown pressures on the rise
    Nov 3 2025
    The Senate is under growing pressure to find a way out of the partial government shutdown that is set to become the longest in history. But President Donald Trump signaled no willingness to negotiate with Democrats on health insurance concerns until the government is reopened. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Jacob Fulton and David Lerman assess the state of shutdown negotiations and whether there is a path toward a deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • Shutdown pain growing as November nears

    Shutdown pain growing as November nears
    Oct 27 2025
    The largest union of federal employees has called on Congress to pass a "clean" continuing resolution as crucial Nov. 1 deadlines for the start of health care open enrollment and food stamp funding near. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley, Jacob Fulton and Aidan Quigley discuss the prospects of stand-alone legislation to pay federal workers and provide food aid and the chances of the shutdown reaching its conclusion in coming weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • 'Power of the purse' at stake

    'Power of the purse' at stake
    Oct 20 2025
    President Donald Trump's decision to divert Pentagon research and development funds to pay the troops during the partial shutdown has ignited a fierce debate among budget and legal analysts over whether the move is legal. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman explain the arguments on both sides and what the decision may mean for the "power of the purse" that the Constitution reserves for Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 mins