If you thought the Congressional appropriations process couldn’t get any worse, I present you with 2026. And perhaps beyond.

The Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, running on pocket lint, nickels lost between the couch cushions and faded S&H Green Stamps (look ‘em up, kids). Congress hasn’t funded DHS for two months. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., torqued himself into a political pretzel – opposing, then supporting, then not acting on – a Senate-approved package to fund most of DHS.

As we always say, it’s about the math, and when it comes to DHS money, it appears that lawmakers have locked a box to which they lack the combination. There is apparently no sequence of votes in the House and Senate which can crack the DHS safe as a traditional, standalone appropriations bill. 

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: WHY TRUMP MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FORCE CONGRESS BACK OVER THE DHS SHUTDOWN

The U.S. capitol building in Washington, D.C., (left); An Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Officer arrives at a scene (right). (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images (left); Reuters (right))

Now, Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are turning to one of the few methods which might work to fund DHS – something called budget reconciliation.

The Congressional budget reconciliation process is not customarily used for appropriations bills – although lawmakers can plug the measure with money to spend on federal programs. However, reconciliation is inoculated from filibusters. Thus, Republicans don’t need 60 votes. They can – ostensibly – pass a DHS bill on its own without help from Democrats if they hold their narrow coalitions together in both the House and Senate.

Congressional Republicans intend to stuff this reconciliation package with only money for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. Nothing for disaster aid. Nothing for farmers. Nothing about the SAVE America Act. The president agrees. The goal is to finish this by June 1 – months after the latest DHS funding lapse.

But it’s more complicated than that. 

GOP INFIGHTING REPLACES CLASH WITH DEMS, DERAILS PATH TO END HISTORIC DHS SHUTDOWN

The House and Senate must take a number of steps to approve a shell of a budget resolution in order to have the filibuster-proof reconciliation tool available to them. Republicans undertook a similar endeavor last winter and spring. It was absolutely harrowing and consumed months before finally approving the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, via reconciliation. Republicans don’t have that kind of time now. Then again, DHS has either been unfunded or held together by interim spending bills since last October.

We haven’t even mentioned how Trump is using a somewhat dubious authority to pay TSA workers and others from other funds – without Congressional approval.

Travelers experienced extensive wait times Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (left, middle) and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (right) due to the partial government shutdown. (WVUE)

That leaves some to question why the administration didn’t do this to start with. But the bigger issue is an alarming pattern of Congress ceding its most precious prerogative – the power of the purse – to the executive branch. That’s to say nothing as to whether Trump’s gambit to pay workers is even Constitutional. And, it establishes a precedent which may be hard to ignore during other funding impasses.

However, here’s the bigger problem: the Congressional paralysis to pass appropriations bills on a timely basis. That’s been an issue for years now.

Historically, Congress has missed the Oct. 1 fiscal deadline, relying on “Continuing Resolutions” (CR’s) which simply renew all funding on a temporary basis. Or, lawmakers cobble together a set of the 12 annual spending bills in a “minibus” appropriations package. Lawmakers who might oppose an individual bill are willing to support a group of bills – because there’s something in there which they like or support.

But turning to reconciliation as a way out of the appropriations box canyon is also another precedent which likely agitates Congressional appropriators. Sure. They’ve done that before. And in this instance, it might finally get DHS funded. But what does this mean for the future?

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that congressional Democrats got “zero” reforms in the DHS funding deal.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Which brings us to Oct. 1, 2026. That’s when the federal government pivots from Fiscal Year 2026 to start Fiscal Year 2027. 

Congress has struggled to fund the federal government since early 2025, when it began work on appropriations bills for this year. The FY ’26 funding crisis – which spawned the record-breaking, 43-day, government-wide shutdown in the fall, another partial government shutdown last winter and the current DHS stalemate – has been an issue since lawmakers were working on bills for this cycle around this time LAST spring. So how pray tell is Congress going to avoid a shutdown THIS autumn for FY ’27?

In fact, few are even speaking about that possible peril – because no one can wrap their heads around the present appropriations saga. And it’s possible that this fall’s problems could be worse than last fall’s impasse. The reason? The midterm elections hit in November. It’s doubtful that either side will be willing to make much of a deal right before voters head to the polls.

The scenarios are frightening to fathom, so people are just kind of ignoring them.

SEE IT: LAWMAKERS CAUGHT ON VACATION AMID RECORD-BREAKING SHUTDOWN WHILE DHS WORKERS GO UNPAID

We have entered a new period of semi-perpetual funding standoffs – exacerbated by mistrust between the sides, narrow Congressional margins in both the House and Senate, parliamentary mathematical equations which don’t balance and an unwillingness by Trump to broker deals or even negotiate with Democrats.

Yes. They have options to cover DHS into next year, but it’s the other 11 spending bills which could be problematic.

Imagine trying to pass a defense spending bill which has a price tag 44% higher than the one last year? Or tacks a bunch of money on for the war in Iran?

Where’s the vote combination to approve a CR, let alone an individual bill? Will Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., be willing to help Republicans hit the 60 vote threshold to fund things? Especially if he sees the possibility of emerging again as Majority Leader? Probably not.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats aren’t backing down from their list of DHS demands as the partial government shutdown rages on. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

And let’s say Democrats win the House, Senate or both in the fall? Do you really think these spending standoffs get better over the final two years of Trump’s term?

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Back to Chevy Chase and Clark Griswold. There’s a second part to that iconic quotation from Christmas Vacation: “We’re at the threshold of hell!” he declares.

Pretty funny, but not if you’re trying to keep the government open after the adventures of the past year. This is not hilarious to millions of federal workers who suffer from paycheck PTSD. Another round of spending mayhem could only erode further trust between federal workers and their employers. It will damage morale – which is already subterranean. That’s to say nothing of courting people to work for the government.

Yes. Things can get a lot worse. The political schisms are deep and the vote matrices to pass the bills simply don’t exist.

It may be spring, but the Christmas Vacation movie provides insight into where we stand with the Congressional appropriations bills: “It’s Christmas and we’re all in misery,” declares Ellen Griswold, played by Beverly D’Angelo.

Yeah. And wait to see what Congress has in store for THIS Christmas.

MIAMI — The main attraction early at UFC 327 on Saturday night wasn’t any of the fighters, but President Donald Trump.

Trump entered the Kaseya Center shortly after 9 p.m. to watch the light heavyweight fight between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg. He was accompanied by Dana White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, and several members of the Trump family.

As a Kid Rock song blasted from the speakers, Trump walked to his seat where Secretary of State Marco Rubio was waiting. Also nearby was Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India.

Trump shook hands with attendees on the floor and made a point of greeting Joe Rogan, the podcaster who also works as a UFC color commentator.

Trump gave several smiles to the cameras.

Earlier, on his way to the arena, Trump’s Truth Social account posted an advertisement that appeared to be for a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, on what would be Trump’s 80th birthday.

A crowd of onlookers could be seen filming the presidential motorcade upon arrival.

With former champion Alex Pereira vacating the belt to move up and challenge for the interim heavyweight crown at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Ulberg (14-1-0) earned his spot across Prochazka (32-5-1) in the main event of Saturday’s card.

In the co-main event, Azamat Murzakanov (17-0-0) used a right roundhouse to the head to drop Paulo Costa (15-5-0) and end the bout at the 1:23 mark of the third round.

Murzakanov stepped onto the apron of the Octagon after his victory to shake Trump’s hand, and the president praised him. Murzakanov acknowledged Trump during his post-fight interview with Rogan.

Josh Hokit (9-0-0) and Curtis Blaydes (19-6-0) battered each other in the slugfest of the night, with Trump excitedly watching the heavyweights as fans chanted “This is awesome!” as the fighters bloodied each other’s faces. Hokit won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

In a light heavyweight clash, Dominick Reyes (16-5-0) defeated Johnny Walker (22-10-0) with a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Featherweight Cub Swanson (32-14-0) ended a celebrated career with a devastating first-round TKO of Nate Landwehr (18-9-0). The 42-year-old Swanson overmatched Landwehr with a bevy of punches to the head before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight with 54 seconds left in the opening round.

___

AP MMA:

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed on Saturday it is launching an investigation into Californian Rep. Eric Swalwell, over an alleged sexual assault involving a former staffer in 2024, according to a new report.

Swalwell’s former staffer — who has not been identified — told CNN that after a night of drinking with her former boss in April 2024, she was heavily intoxicated and woke up to him having sex with her in his hotel bed.

“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told the outlet. “He didn’t stop.”

The staffer — who is one of four women to recently come out with allegations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell — said the incident occurred after she stopped working in his office.

“We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373,” the DA’s office said in a statement to the outlet.

“Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.”

The embattled pol denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and assault in a video statement on Friday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he revoked the lawful permanent resident status of family members linked to Masoumeh Ebtekar, a spokeswoman for the Islamic terrorists who stormed the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 hostage crisis.

Rubio said the individuals were placed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending removal from the United States. 

He said the Obama administration granted visas to Ebtekar’s son and his family in 2014 and later approved green cards through the Diversity Visa Program in 2016.

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Masoumeh Ebtekar, a spokeswoman for the militants involved in the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis, speaks at a press conference in Tehran on Jan. 29, 2019. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

“Masoumeh Ebtekar —  also known as ‘Screaming Mary’ —  was the spokeswoman for the Islamic terrorists who stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostages for 444 days — subjecting them to beatings, starvation, and mock executions,” Rubio wrote on X.

Rubio said her family should never have been allowed to benefit from the extraordinary privilege of living in the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he revoked the lawful permanent resident status of family members linked to Masoumeh Ebtekar, a spokeswoman for the militants who stormed the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 hostage crisis. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek)

“America can never become home for anti-American terrorists or their families — and under the Trump administration, it never will,” Rubio said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

One of President Donald Trump’s top Democratic foes running for the Senate is taking a page from his and conservatives’ playbook in their pitch to reform the filibuster.

Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who is running to unseat longtime Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, released her policy platform in recent days. Among several pitches to voters is a call to reform the filibuster. 

Mills, if elected, said in the 19-page document that she would require “Senators to remain on the Senate floor and actually speak, rather than simply threatening a filibuster to delay action.”

The filibuster has become a flashpoint in the Senate, particularly for Republicans, given that its current 60-vote threshold requires legislation to be bipartisan in nature. And Mills’ position, which has been previously supported by Democrats, is one Trump and some in the GOP are pushing for to pass a massive election integrity bill.

GRAHAM EYES ‘DOWN PAYMENT’ ON TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT

Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who is running to unseat longtime Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, released her policy platform in recent days.  (Getty Images)

Her desire to change the filibuster echoes one made by Trump and conservatives, both in Congress and online, that have demanded Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., launch a talking filibuster to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.

“Washington is broken, and Maine people are paying the price,” Mills said in a statement introducing the platform. “Donald Trump and Washington Republicans are undermining our fundamental rights and driving up costs, all while Congress fails to solve the big problems facing Maine people. Enough is enough. Maine people deserve better than what D.C. is giving them.”

Mills and Trump have an adversarial relationship that reached a chaotic crescendo in 2025 when, during a meeting of governors at the White House, she declared, “We’ll see you in court,” over the president’s executive order to deny federal funding to states that allowed transgender athletes to participate in sports.

THUNE ACCUSES CRITICS OF ‘CREATING FALSE EXPECTATIONS’ AMID BACKLASH OVER STALLED SAVE AMERICA ACT

Maine Gov. Janet Mills and President Donald Trump have an adversarial relationship that reached a chaotic crescendo in 2025.  (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Senate GOP’s main campaign arm, warned that Mills’ desired change to the filibuster was a dog whistle for Democrats’ plan to slow-walk Trump’s agenda.

“Janet Mills is saying the quiet part out loud: If she goes to Washington, she will use every tool at her disposal to push her radical anti-Trump agenda on Americans,” NRSC spokesperson Samantha Cantrell told Fox News Digital.

Trump has asked Republicans to go a step further and nuke the filibuster altogether — an unlikely scenario in the Senate, given the lack of support to do away with the guardrail in its current form.

MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE CITES COMBAT TRAUMA WHEN CONFRONTED ON ‘TERRIBLE’ POSTS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT

Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine, left, and two-term Gov. Janet Mills are facing off in the state’s Democratic Senate primary. (Sophie Park/Getty Images; Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

A talking filibuster, as Mills suggested, would require senators to debate a bill rather than falling back on the typical 60-vote threshold.

The Senate is currently doing a version of the talking filibuster in the GOP’s bid to shine a light on Senate Democrats’ refusal to support the SAVE America Act. But it won’t lead to the legislation passing because the GOP isn’t unified to block Democratic amendments that could drastically alter the bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who handpicked Mills to run in Maine against Collins, has dubbed the legislation “Jim Crow 2.0” and rallied his caucus behind defeating the measure.

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Before Mills has a chance to square off against Collins, she’ll first have to survive a tough primary battle against insurgent candidate Graham Platner, an oyster farmer who has the backing of Schumer’s left flank.

Fox News Digital reached out for comment from Mills, Platner and Collins, but did not hear back by publication.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., was forced to make an emergency landing Friday after experiencing in-flight engine failure while piloting a plane.

According to Sheehy’s chief of staff, Mike Berg, the senator was conducting a routine flight training exercise that he completes twice a year.

“This afternoon, Sen. Sheehy was engaged in a routine flight training exercise which he completes twice a year,” Berg said in a statement. “The aircraft experienced a mechanical engine failure.”

Berg said Sheehy and his co-pilot made an emergency landing in a field.

“Neither pilot was injured,” he added.

The plane landed in a field in Ennis, Montana, according to KBZK.

The outlet reported that Sheehy is an FAA-certified commercial pilot and certified flight instructor.

Reached for comment, Sheehy’s office referred Fox News Digital to Berg’s statement.

Some Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors are pushing back on first lady Melania Trump’s call for public congressional testimony, as House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed Friday “we will have hearings,” following a rare public statement Thursday by Trump at the White House where she came out swinging at those who have linked her to Epstein.

The first lady also called on Congress to conduct hearings “specifically centered around the survivors.”

“Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony,” Trump said. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record.”

But a group of 15 Epstein victims released a joint statement Friday against the move.

“First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors,” they said. “Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” they added. “Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice.”

MELANIA TRUMP DENOUNCES ‘LIES’ CONNECTING HER WITH DISGRACED FINANCIER JEFFREY EPSTEIN IN WHITE HOUSE EVENT

First lady Melania Trump delivers a statement Thursday at the White House denying any link to Jeffrey Epstein, while calling for a congressional hearing to allow survivors of his abuse to share their stories. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Comer said such hearings have always been on his radar.

“I agree ​with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have ⁠hearings,” Comer told Fox News’ Sandra Smith. “I’ve always planned on having hearings with the victims.

“My attorneys on the Oversight Committee have been communicating on a constant basis for months with the attorneys representing Epstein victims,” he added. “There are some victims who are willing to come in, [but] most victims aren’t, and I completely understand that, but we have always planned on having a hearing with Epstein’s victims once the depositions have been completed.”

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both sat for closed-door depositions with the House Oversight Committee in February for questioning related to Epstein, and a deposition is forthcoming for Microsoft founder Bill Gates in June.

EPSTEIN’S LAWYER ‘NOT AWARE’ OF ANY RELATIONSHIP TRUMP HAD WITH LATE CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, COMER SAYS

House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., says “we will have hearings” with Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images)

“The first lady accomplished three things [Thursday] as it relates to the disgraceful Epstein,” the first lady’s senior advisor, Marc Beckman, told “Fox & Friends” Friday. “First, she cleared her record; she set the record straight, she debunked all of the lies surrounding her and Epstein.”

MELANIA TRUMP ADVISOR SAYS SHE’S HAD ‘ENOUGH’ AFTER BREAKING SILENCE TO DENY JEFFREY EPSTEIN CONNECTION

Epstein abuse survivor Teresa Helm speaks during a news conference with lawmakers on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Nov. 18, 2025, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images, File)

“Second, she became a champion for these women, for the victims, and finally, third, she’s a real leader in Washington, D.C. She’s calling on Congress to act now.”

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It is unclear when or how many of the survivors will come forward to testify.

“Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs,” the survivors said in the statement.

Four women have accused married Eric Swalwell of horrific acts of sexual assault and misconduct — including a former staffer who claims he raped her.

The California governor candidate’s campaign was hanging by a thread Friday when the alleged victims aired bombshell details of what they say happened to them.

One of the women, a former staffer, claimed he raped her when she was drunk and left her bruised and bleeding during the alleged 2024 attack.

She also claimed she woke up naked next to him in a hotel room in 2019 after a heavy night of drinking and felt physically like they had sex.

Another woman, who said she first met Swalwell online, alleged she also awoke next to him in a hotel after a drunken night out, adding he allegedly kissed her and touched her leg without consent.

And social media influencer Ally Sammarco, claimed he had sent her nudes on Snapchat after they started talking about politics on X.

Democrats came out in force on Friday demanding Swalwell pull out of the governor’s race, including Nancy Pelosi who said an investigation should be launched.

The father of three, who has been married to Ritz-Carlton sales director Brittany Watts since 2016, has issued a blanket denial over the claims and sent cease and desist letters to at least two of the women.

In a statement to CNN, Swalwell said: “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor.

“For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.

“My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

The former staffer described harrowing details on the night she was allegedly raped, telling CNN of the 2024 incident: “I was pushing him off of me, saying no. He didn’t stop.”

She claimed the episode forced her to obtain tests for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and said she had sent texts to her friend about the alleged attack.

In a separate account published by the San Francisco Chronicle a staffer also gave a vivid account. It is not clear if it is the same woman.

She claimed she woke up next to him feeling disorientated with vaginal bleeding and bruising.

The woman claimed she began working for his 2019 presidential campaign after graduating from college. She was later hired into his Castro Valley district office, the Chronicle reported.

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Within weeks, she claimed, Swalwell began messaging her explicit photos and requesting nude images, which she said she provided in part out of concern about upsetting her boss.

During a car ride after a donor event in San Francisco, she claimed, Swalwell tried to kiss her and suggested their online exchanges had been leading to that moment.

In another instance weeks later, she alleged he exposed himself in her car and asked for oral sex, which she began to perform in a parking lot before stopping out of fear of being seen.

Another woman, who was considering working in politics, allegedly began messaging with Swalwell online last year after she commented on one of his Instagram stories.

She said she was “shocked” when Swalwell took an interest in her. They met for dinner and drinks at a steakhouse in what she initially thought was a professional conversation.

They reportedly continued the evening at a bar, when Swalwell allegedly began making more aggressive physical contact with her — including kissing her in the middle of the bar as she began to feel “fuzzy,” CNN reported.

“He was sitting against me, and so I kind of moved away from him, and every time that I would move away from him, he would get closer to me,” she said.

The woman claimed she ended up in Swalwell’s hotel with little memory of what occurred, leaving at 5:41 a.m. and later sending him a long text message reading: “All you did was harm me.”

“I won’t bother you again!” Swalwell allegedly responded. “Sorry.”

Other women alleged Swalwell began reaching out to them online, sometimes through disappearing message app Snapchat, where the congressman allegedly sent photos of his genitals, once allegedly pleasuring himself on an airplane in a video sent to the former staffer.

Swalwell was crowned the “Snapchat king of Congress” in 2016 over his enthusiasm for the app, which was then popular among teens and young millennials.

Social media creator Sammarco claimed she messaged Swalwell on Twitter in 2021 asking about his history growing up in a Republican family.

She claimed he began sending her provocative late-night messages, referring to her as a “bad angel,” and eventually switched their communications to Snapchat where he allegedly shared photos of his penis.

He allegedly “ran by her apartment building several times,” giving her hugs but not coming inside.

Another woman, who said she works in marketing, claimed Swalwell sent her unsolicited videos of his penis and drooled over bikini pictures she shared on Instagram, writing: “That swimsuit. F***.”

The reports are the culmination of days of rumors about Swalwell’s behavior with women.

Multiple people quit Swalwell’s staff on Friday and powerful allies, including Sen. Adam Schiff and the SEIU, pulled their support of his campaign.

Swalwell’s fundraising and endorsement pages were yanked late as backlash grew — including a call for an investigation by powerful former House Speaker Pelosi, who also demanded he pull out.

The embattled congressman’s lawyers got out ahead of the claims breaking, revealing they had sent cease and desist letters to two of the women.

The letter from attorney Elias Dabaie said: “It has come to our attention that you made false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounters.

“Mr. Swalwell takes these allegations seriously, both because they are false and because they are being injected into the gubernatorial race only 24 days before voters go to the polls.”

The letter raised the possibility of a defamation lawsuit, writing that the recipients, who have not been identified, are “subject to liability for defamation.”

Swalwell has been approached for further comment.