The Latest Breaking News from McClatchy Washington Bureau

Cornyn's pragmatic approach to border issues hits a wall in Trump's Washington

WASHINGTON_As Washington approached a possible partial government shutdown over the U.S.-Mexico border wall this past week, Texas Sen. John Cornyn was once again pitching more pragmatic solutions to ease the crisis at his state's border.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 14, 2018

Latest threat to Trump's wall? House Republicans leaving Washington

WASHINGTON _ A lot of House Republicans are heading out of Washington as their lame-duck session drags on _ and their absences from Congress could be a big barrier to President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 13, 2018

Top lawmakers in Congress push to protect Venezuelans facing deportation

WASHINGTON _ A bipartisan pair of lawmakers unveiled a new plan Thursday to protect Venezuelans living in the United States from being forced to return to the troubled South American country.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 13, 2018

McConnell knows he will be a Democratic target in 2020. Enter the hemp issue

WASHINGTON _ Mitch McConnell acknowledges he'll be one of national Democrats' top targets in 2020 when he runs for re-election. But he'll boast an unusual tool on the campaign trail: his success at reviving hemp, a one-time Kentucky cash crop.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 12, 2018

How Mitch McConnell got to 'yes' on a criminal justice vote

WASHINGTON _ Mitch McConnell had been defying the president and the president's son-in-law _ along with the Republican Party in his own home state _ as he refused to allow a vote on an overhaul of the nation's criminal justice laws.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 11, 2018

Farm bill's food stamp changes are largely symbolic despite GOP bid to tighten rules

WASHINGTON _ Republicans fought for months to crack down on what they saw as abuse of the federal food aid program. But in the massive farm policy bill that was unveiled Monday night, the requirements for qualifying for aid remain largely untouched.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 11, 2018

Farm bill sails through Senate. Now it's up to wavering House Republicans

WASHINGTON _ Rural Republicans in the U.S. House now face a stark political choice: either saying no to a bill farmers in their districts desperately need or saying yes and surrendering in their battle to crack down on the federal food stamp program.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 11, 2018

Khashoggi's friends are being watched. The US can do little about it

WASHINGTON _ For years, Ali Al-Ahmed felt grateful to be in the United States, enjoying a safe life, much like his friend, the slain writer Jamal Khashoggi did. Now the dissident Saudi says he is "freaked out."

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 11, 2018

As Google chief takes hot seat, lawmakers search their phones and cry 'bias'

WASHINGTON _ When members of Congress search their phones, they don't much like what they see.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 11, 2018

If early vote totals were leaked, state GOP says new election in NC's 9th is a must

WASHINGTON _ The chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party said if early vote totals in Bladen County were leaked before Election Day, "this fact alone would likely require a new election" in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District.

McClatchy Washington Bureau · Dec 11, 2018