Congress takes midterm shutdown fight off the table

▪ Postal Service whistleblower issues warning

Members of both parties came together Tuesday as the House easily approved a short-term funding measure to keep the government open into December and rule out the possibility of a shutdown battle with the midterms fast approaching.

The House passed the continuing resolution (CR) by a vote of 370-48, sending it to President Trump ’s desk for his signature. The Senate previously approved the legislation by a similarly wide margin last month.

The bill will keep the federal government fully funded through Dec. 11, punting any battle over spending until the lame-duck Congress ahead of the holidays.

The Hill’s Helen Huiskes notes that passing a CR so early in the year — almost a month before government funding is set to run out on Sept. 30 — is rare. But what was clear from the votes in both chambers of Congress and across both parties is that lawmakers were eager to avoid any politically risky funding battle before voters head to the polls.

This Congress has already dealt with two record-long shutdowns, as the parties battled each other over expiring health insurance subsidies and the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies.

Democratic strategist Doug Wilson said if either party had attempted to use the CR and the current situation to push a legislative demand, they could have faced political backlash.

“With economic headwinds from the war along with a rattled bond market, both parties had no choice but to vote on a CR,” Wilson told Morning Report.

Months ago, some Republicans predicted that Democrats would reject an agreement and shut the government down to get a political boost just as voters are casting their ballots. But Democrats have been trending upward recently and seem to like their current political standing.

Their lead in the generic congressional ballot has varied over the months but currently stands at a comfortable 6 points in the Decision Desk HQ tracker .

Trump’s approval rating has continued its downward slope as inflation and gas prices remain high amid the Iran war, which has now lasted six months despite the president’s initial expectation that it would only last four to five weeks.

Republican leadership had made clear for months that they had no interest in a shutdown fight , having suffered politically in the most recent battles. Polling mostly showed during the record-long full government shutdown last fall more people blamed the GOP for the situation than did the Democrats.

With only a few of the 12 appropriations bills passed to cover government funding for the full upcoming fiscal year, a short-term measure was the only immediate option.

“When we passed our continuing resolution over here, we knew it would change when it got to the Senate,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said on the floor just before the vote.

“Some of those changes I actually agree with, some of them I don’t. But they don’t really change the substance of the fact, we bought the time that we need to get through the election cycle and hopefully the time that we need to get down to serious bargaining on the other side of it.”

▪ The Hill : Lame-duck agenda balloons as Congress punts priorities.

▪ The Hill : Russia sanctions bill hits House roadblocks.

DEM DEFECTIONS : A handful of Democrats broke with their party in key votes Tuesday, but a pair of defections on a rule vote is causing particular consternation in the minority caucus.

Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) crossed the aisle to vote in favor of advancing a group of Republican-backed bills, essentially bailing out Speaker Mike Johnson ’s (R-La.) agenda and preventing hardline conservatives from tanking the vote series.

The rule included a GOP-supported bill to denounce socialism, a key part of the party’s messaging ahead of the midterms. Eight Democrats ultimately voted with Republicans on that resolution.

The move from Golden and Gluesemkamp Perez to support the rule blindsided House Democratic leaders , who said neither member gave a heads up about their plans. The majority party traditionally votes in favor of rules, which set up debate and a final vote on a piece of legislation, while the minority party opposes them, regardless of whether a lawmaker ultimately supports a bill.

House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) put out an angry statement Tuesday night.

“The decision by two of our colleagues to blindside the entire House Democratic Caucus and join with the Republican majority to pass a procedural rule on the brink of failing represents a significant breach of trust. It is an action that necessitates a serious response, and we have asked the Committee on Caucus Rules to take this up in short order,” they said.

▪ The Hill : House censures Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) over allegations of inappropriate behavior.

The Trump administration is touting its agreement with Venezuela on what it’s describing as the “biggest oil deal in world history.” According to the White House, the U.S. will have “majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in Venezuela.” I asked State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott when that could bring relief at the pump for Americans here at home.

“We’re going to see the ability to have offtake rights over the short-term here, and then we’re going to see that scaling,” Pigott said . “We’re going to see the scaling over the next several months and years, and what’s going to happen here is the fact that we’re going to have more secure reserves, lower gas prices,” he added.

What the “short term” turns out to be remains one of the big questions going forward. Keep in mind, Venezuelan oil has different refining needs before it can ever get into an American gas tank, and Venezuela’s facilities need to be modernized as well.

Burman hosts “The Hill” weeknights, 6 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. CDT on NewsNation.

Trump said he would nominate acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent job in the aftermath of the past Navy chief, John Phelan, resigning from the role in April. Cao served in the Navy for years in the 1980s and 1990s and has led the branch through a tumultuous time amid the Iran war.

The jury in the trial of Lindsay Clancy remains deadlocked after a fourth day of deliberations in the case to decide whether the Massachusetts mother should be held criminally responsible for killing her three young children. The judge told jurors to keep trying to reach a unanimous decision.

The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments today on whether voters can force a referendum on the ballot regarding the state’s redistricting moves this November as they seek to prevent it from going into effect. The court’s ruling could be key to deciding whether Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Mo.) can win another term this year.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., questions Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

INCUMBENTS STRIKE BACK : Incumbents had a good night in Massachusetts’s primaries as multiple members of Congress comfortably fended off primary challengers despite some expectations of an upset.

In the most high-profile race of the night, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) routed Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) in the Democratic primary for another term as senator, currently on track to win by about 30 points.

Moulton sought to tap into the generational debate taking place within the Democratic Party and raise concerns about Markey’s age, but he ran from the moderate wing of the party and his campaign never caught fire .

Longtime Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) was looking like he might be in trouble heading into primary day against well-funded opposition from attorney Patrick Roath . The challenger outraised Lynch and had support from high-profile Massachusetts Democrats, including former Gov. Deval Patrick , and sought to attack the congressman for several of his past votes.

But Lynch won fairly easily , leading by 10 points with some 95 percent of votes counted.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) briefly appeared that he could be facing an upset as the first votes came in in his western Massachusetts district, but he ultimately dispatched teacher Jeromie Whalen .

▪ The Hill : Markey shrugs off Moulton: Three takeaways from the primaries.

▪ The Hill : Former Biden official wins open House primary.

FRESH STRIKES: The U.S. ramped up its attacks on Iran Tuesday in the latest round of violence, with Trump threatening further escalation if Tehran launches retaliatory strikes.

U.S. Central Command said it had struck air defense sites, radar systems, maritime facilities, mine laying capabilities, among other targets. Iranian officials said significant damage was inflicted on targets in port cities near the Strait of Hormuz, while the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that four civilians were killed at a wedding ceremony.

The U.S. strikes came after the IRGC fired one-way attack drones and missiles at the King Hussein and Azraq military bases in Jordan and, according to Iranian media, targeted U.S. Central Command forces and helicopters at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

Trump called the U.S. attack “retaliation” for Iran’s “failed attempt” to destroy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and for attacks in Jordan.

“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened Tuesday to “economically asphyxiate” the IRGC and track down and freeze its global assets, arguing Iran would only return to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) under significant financial pressure.

“We know where in the British Virgin Islands your accounts are, at these trust companies, we know the $100 million houses you have around the world, we’re going to freeze those,” Bessent said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would return to the MOU, signed in June with the Trump administration, if the U.S. similarly adheres to its commitments in the documents.

▪ The Hill : Bessent predicts strait will be ‘worthless’ in 2 years.

▪ KATV : Vladimir Putin voices solidarity with Iran as US strikes resume.

FEAR OF FAILURE : A whistleblower complaint is warning that the U.S. Postal Service’s computer system intended to verify mail-in ballots and voter eligibility has significant errors that could jeopardize mail-in voting in November.

The report from the unidentified whistleblower, released by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), states that the Postal Service has attempted to create a complex system in a three-month window that started around June 15 in time for the midterms. It said that process would usually take a year or longer.

The portal was intended to be launched as part of the president’s March executive order that states submit lists of voters who are eligible to vote by mail to the federal government, among other provisions. The Postal Service would only deliver mail-in ballots to those on the list and that meet certain design requirements.

Trump’s order is currently blocked following a lawsuit from a group of Democratic-led states, and the administration has appealed the ruling .

If the order were to be upheld, the tight timeline ahead of the midterms would be a major logistical hurdle. The whistleblower raises other concerns as well, alleging that testing of the portal was eliminated in the interest of time, creating the risk of “catastrophic failure” of the system.

▪ CNN : Whistleblower describes plans for voting by mail hidden from public.

▪ The New York Times : Which states vote by mail the most?

SENATE SCRUTINY : Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was “disappointed” that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is resigning and raised concerns about the turnover of top military officers.

“I’m hearing the same rumors everybody else is that he was frustrated with some of his top generals being released. That’s not the first time I’ve heard that. I think that points to questions that we’re going to be asking when we get back,” he told reporters.

Driscoll submitted his resignation to the president Monday and is expected to leave his position in the coming days. It followed months of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and high-profile departures of top generals and those close to Driscoll.

Republican senators have been expressing concern about the departures for months, The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports.

▪ The Hill : Hegseth imposes will on Army with Driscoll resignation.

▪ NBC News : Hegseth cuts more promotions for Army officers.

The president will meet with U.S. travel executives at 1:30 p.m. He will participate in a pre-taped interview at 4 p.m. and participate in a Rose Garden dinner at 7 p.m.

A Wall Street sign is shown in the Financial District, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

BOND SELL-OFF: Global bond yields surged to some of their highest levels in decades amid a broad sell-off in government debt, as investors acted on fears that an intensifying Middle East conflict and rising oil prices could drive inflation higher.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield briefly hit 4.8 percent on Tuesday, its highest level since January 2025. And the 30-year Treasury bond yield continued to hover above 5.2 percent, maintaining the longest stretch above 5 percent since 2006.

Higher yields indicate lower demand, as investors sell their Treasury notes amid concerns about inflation and the broader economic outlook.

Some of the world’s largest economies saw similar selloffs in government debt. Japan’s 10-year government bond yield surpassed 3 percent for the first time since 1996, while the United Kingdom saw its 30-year yield climb to the highest level since 1998 and its 10-year bond yield rise to the highest point since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Several factors are contributing to the global sell-off, but the renewed military activity between Iran and the U.S. on Tuesday pushed oil prices higher, renewing investors’ fears that a protracted war could keep inflation high.

Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, settled at $94.65 a barrel on Tuesday, up $4.16, or 4.6 percent, from the previous day. The price is also roughly 30 percent higher than before the war started in February.

Bessent, who joined global financial ministers for a Group of 20 meeting in Asheville, N.C., brushed off the market changes.

“I don’t think we’re in any kind of dire situation,” Bessent said in a Fox Business interview Tuesday on the sidelines of the meeting.

▪ The Hill : Europe blasts Russian official’s attendance at G20.

▪ The Hill : The Memo: Bond market turmoil heightens GOP midterm risks.

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a news conference at the base of the Spirit of Detroit monument in Detroit, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

‘MAIN CHARACTER’ ENERGY : Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said Trump is making him the “main character” of the midterms with all the attacks against him.

El-Sayed warned Trump’s attention may backfire as it could give the candidate a “gigantic platform” if he wins his race against Republican Mike Rogers in November.

“Trump is messing around and making me the … front page or the main character of the midterms,” El-Sayed told Michiganders during a campaign stop on Tuesday.

“That allows me then to both move a conversation but also maneuver inside because I can move a conversation across,” he added.

Trump has repeatedly slammed El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim U.S. senator if he wins, referring to him as a “man of hate” during an event in Las Vegas last month and calling him “crazy” and a “jihadist” in Truth Social posts. Vice President Vance also tore into El-Sayed during a campaign-style rally in Michigan on Monday, labeling him “very, very evil.”

El-Sayed hit back on Vance’s comments , accusing him of using a “dog whistle” to evoke Islamophobic attacks against him.

El-Sayed is at the same time trying to walk a difficult political tightrope as his Senate campaign reaches its final stretch. Sarah reports for The Hill Insider that he’s trying to shore up support among skeptical Jewish voters, a key demographic for Democrats, without outright disavowing controversial left-wing streamer Hasan Piker .

She found that El-Sayed’s approach has left some Jewish Michiganders unconvinced, questioning his sincerity.

▪ The Hill : El-Sayed edges Rogers in latest poll.

▪ The Hill : El-Sayed slams trade war with Canada.

A third Trump impeachment looks inevitable, but what kind? The Hill’s Chris Stirewalt writes .

Putin and Trump refuse to accept the realities of their wars , Harlan Ullman writes in The Hill.

In the photo of a computer screen, a Google map showing Lake Ontario renamed as Lake America is seen Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

And finally … MapQuest, a relic of the early internet era, has once again surged in popularity after the digital mapping company declined to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” after Trump signed an executive order to change the name.

“We’re not changing it,” the company posted last week, when the president signed the executive order.

By Tuesday, MapQuest was the No. 1 free app in the Apple app store, surpassing ChatGPT, which is ranked second.

The company said on Monday that hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded the app since last week’s announcement, and usage of the app is running roughly 50 times its baseline.