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Attack target 25
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Jul 22, 2026 The House of Representatives passed the NDAA with war funding, voting restrictions, and a Pentagon renaming provision Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
Bundling defense policy with election restrictions and war measures showed Congress using must-pass vehicles for major democratic changes.
Supporting reports
- House passes $1.15tn defense bill — The US House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with a 216-212 vote.
Jul 22, 2026 House Republicans approved a $73 billion Iran-war budget plan and a separate budget resolution for a $95 billion reconciliation bill Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
War funding and reconciliation maneuvers tested how far Congress would support executive conflict expansion and attach voting changes to fiscal bills.
Supporting reports
- House Republicans approve $73bn war budget — House Republicans approved a budget plan authorizing $73 billion for the ongoing war with Iran.
- House Republicans pass budget resolution for $95bn bill — On Wednesday, House Republicans passed a budget resolution with a narrow 216-214 vote, initiating the process to draft a $95 billion reconciliation bill.
- House Votes on Budget Resolution for GOP Reconciliation Package — The House of Representatives is voting on a budget resolution that sets the stage for a third GOP reconciliation package.
Jul 19, 2026 Representative James Comer said the House was essentially done working before the midterms Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
Openly winding down House work before elections signaled weakened oversight and a legislature operating more as campaign stage than governing body.
Supporting reports
- House of Representatives Ceases Work Before Midterms — James Comer has admitted that the House of Representatives is essentially done working before the upcoming midterm elections.
May 13, 2026 The Senate rejected a war powers resolution to end U.S. involvement in Iran Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The vote left military action in place and showed Congress failing to reassert its institutional role over hostilities.
Supporting reports
- Senate Rejects War Powers Resolution to End US Involvement in Iran — On May 12, 2026, the US Senate voted 49-50 against a war powers resolution aimed at ending American involvement in the conflict with Iran.
May 12, 2026 Senate Republicans advanced a $72 billion enforcement package through reconciliation Corroborated Institutions and Governance
Using reconciliation for a large enforcement bill showed how procedural rules could narrow debate and speed major institutional change.
Supporting reports
- Senate Republicans push $72 billion enforcement package through reconciliation — Senate Republicans are advancing a $72 billion reconciliation package that includes significant funding for ICE, CBP, and Secret Service security upgrades related to Trump's East Wing ballroom project.
Apr 23, 2026 Republicans blocked a Democratic bill to end the Iran war Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The blockage showed Congress failing to constrain executive war policy, weakening legislative control over military engagement.
Supporting reports
- Democrats' Bill to End Iran War Blocked — Democrats introduced a bill aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Iran, but it was blocked by Republicans.
Apr 22, 2026 House Republicans introduced bills to honor Trump with symbolic federal tributes Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The proposals used legislative machinery for symbolic leader promotion rather than oversight or policy, reflecting institutional drift toward performance politics.
Supporting reports
- House Republicans Propose Trump-Centric Legislation — House Republicans introduced several bills to honor former President Trump, including proposals to carve his face into Mount Rushmore, rename airports, and create a "Trump Peace Prize." These legislative efforts come
Mar 21, 2026 The Senate rejected another motion to advance DHS funding legislation Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The repeated failure to fund DHS disrupted federal operations and showed legislative breakdown over immigration and shutdown governance.
Supporting reports
- Senate Rejects DHS Funding Bill — On March 21, 2026, the Senate rejected a motion by Democrats to take up legislation aimed at reopening the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and paying workers who are currently without paychecks due to a
Jan 10, 2026 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE officials blocked members of Congress from inspecting a Minnesota detention facility Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The denial obstructed legislative oversight of federal detention operations and weakened transparency around immigration enforcement.
Supporting reports
- House Members Blocked from Visiting ICE Facility in Minnesota — On January 10, 2026, Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig were blocked from entering an ICE detention center near Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Restriction on congressional oversight of ICE facilities — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem implemented a policy restricting members of Congress from conducting oversight of ICE facilities, which was revealed after Democratic representatives were denied entry to a
Dec 20, 2025 House Republicans and Democrats forced Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The move showed rank-and-file lawmakers using procedure to compel action on a blocked issue, testing internal legislative accountability.
Supporting reports
- House Republicans force vote on healthcare tax credits — Four Republicans in the House of Representatives joined Democrats to compel Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on extending premium tax credits for purchasing healthcare insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Dec 20, 2025 Speaker Mike Johnson sent House members home for the holidays Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The scheduling move limited deliberation on pending oversight and policy disputes, showing leadership control over whether Congress acts at all.
Supporting reports
- House speaker Johnson sends representatives home — House Speaker Mike Johnson sent congressional representatives home for the holidays, likely to avoid further conflict over extending premium tax credits and the release of the Epstein files, which were required by law.
Oct 22, 2025 The state of Arizona and Adelita Grijalva sued the House over the delay in swearing her in Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The lawsuit sought judicial enforcement of representation rights when House leadership used procedure to block an elected member from serving.
Supporting reports
- Arizona Sues House Over Delay in Swearing-In Representative — The state of Arizona and representative-elect Adelita Grijalva filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives due to Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to swear Grijalva in, which deprives her constituents of
Oct 20, 2025 House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to seat Adelita Grijalva Corroborated Institutions and Governance
Blocking a duly elected member from taking office denied constituents representation and turned House procedure into a tool of partisan power.
Supporting reports
- House Speaker Refuses to Seat Elected Representative — House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to seat Adelita Grijalva, a representative-elect from Arizona, who was chosen by voters on September 23, 2025.
- Rep.-elect Grijalva blocked from being sworn in — Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva has been blocked from being sworn in by Speaker Mike Johnson, an unprecedented move that prevents her from voting on critical legislation.
Oct 18, 2025 The federal government remained shut down as Congress deadlocked over funding and health policy Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The prolonged shutdown disrupted basic governance, weakened legislative capacity, and put public services and benefits at risk through partisan stalemate.
Supporting reports
- Federal government shutdown continues amid Medicaid cuts dispute — The federal government shutdown persists as Democrats demand Republicans address recent Medicaid cuts under Donald Trump and extend health insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
- Senate Fails to Pass Funding Resolution Amid Government Shutdown — The U.S.
- Government shutdown continues, affecting legislative processes — As of October 21, 2025, the U.S.
Oct 11, 2025 The Senate failed repeatedly to advance bills to end the government shutdown Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The repeated failures left core government functions stalled and showed Congress struggling to perform basic budgeting and governing duties.
Supporting reports
- Senate votes fail to resolve government shutdown — Seven Senate votes have taken place without any breakthroughs, as lawmakers from both parties block each other's proposals from reaching the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.
- US Senate Rejects Republican Plan to End Government Shutdown — On October 13, 2025, the US Senate voted against a Republican proposal to end the ongoing government shutdown, marking the eighth failed attempt to advance the bill.
- Ninth Senate Vote Fails to Restore Government Funding — The US Senate failed to advance legislation to restore government funding for the ninth time, prolonging the federal government shutdown into its third week.
Oct 11, 2025 Speaker Mike Johnson canceled House sessions during the shutdown Corroborated Institutions and Governance
Keeping the House out of session reduced legislative capacity, delayed representation, and weakened Congress as a functioning check on executive power.
Supporting reports
- House Speaker cancels sessions, delaying legislative work — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the cancellation of another week’s session, marking four weeks of inaction for House members.
- House Republicans Criticized for Lack of Action — House Republicans, under Speaker Mike Johnson, have faced criticism for their decision to keep the House out of session during the government shutdown.
- House adjourned for 74 of the last 86 days — Speaker Mike Johnson has had the House of Representatives adjourned for 74 of the last 86 days, raising concerns about legislative inaction during a government shutdown.
Oct 7, 2025 The Senate failed again to pass competing bills to end the shutdown Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The repeated deadlock showed Congress unable to perform basic funding functions while public services and workers absorbed the costs.
Supporting reports
- Senate Rejects Rival Funding Bills Amid Government Shutdown — The U.S.
- US Senate Rejects Competing Bills to End Government Shutdown — On Wednesday, the US Senate failed to pass competing bills from Democrats and Republicans aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown.
- Senate deadlocked over government shutdown
Oct 4, 2025 House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed swearing in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The delay denied full representation to a district and obstructed House action on pending transparency and oversight matters.
Supporting reports
- House Speaker Delays Swearing-in of New Representative — House Speaker Mike Johnson postponed the swearing-in of newly elected Arizona representative Adelita Grijalva, which has been interpreted as a delay tactic regarding a vote on releasing files related to the
- House Speaker delays swearing in of new congresswoman — House Speaker Mike Johnson has postponed the swearing in of newly elected Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva, which is necessary for a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, raising concerns about representation
- House Republicans blocked swearing in of Arizona Democrat — House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, refused to swear in Arizona's newly elected Democrat, Adelita Grijalva.
Sep 26, 2025 The Trump administration said it expected a government shutdown and did not plan to negotiate with Democratic leaders Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The stance treated shutdown risk as a political instrument rather than a problem for institutional resolution.
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Expects Government Shutdown — The Trump administration anticipates a government shutdown next week, with no plans to negotiate with Democratic leaders.
Sep 25, 2025 Governor J.B. Pritzker criticized Trump for avoiding negotiations over government funding Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The criticism underscored the breakdown of ordinary interbranch bargaining during a live funding dispute.
Supporting reports
- Democrats criticize Trump for avoiding negotiations — Illinois Governor J.B.
Sep 23, 2025 President Trump canceled meetings with Democratic leaders on government funding Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The cancellation weakened legislative bargaining during an appropriations crisis and increased shutdown risk.
Supporting reports
- Trump Cancels Meetings with Democratic Leaders — President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would cancel meetings with Democratic congressional leaders intended to prevent a government shutdown.
- Trump cancels meeting with Democratic leaders on government funding — President Trump canceled a planned meeting with Democratic leaders to discuss government funding, citing "unserious and ridiculous demands" from Democrats.
Sep 11, 2025 Senate Republicans lowered the vote threshold for considering presidential nominees to a simple majority Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The rule change reduced minority leverage in confirmations and further weakened deliberative checks in the Senate.
Supporting reports
- Senate Republicans Lower Vote Threshold for Nominees — Senate Republicans changed a rule to lower the vote threshold for considering presidential nominees to a simple majority, further eroding the filibuster and making it easier to confirm nominees.
Jul 20, 2025 Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans blocked or delayed votes on releasing Epstein-related records and sent the House home early Corroborated Institutions and Governance
House leaders used procedure to avoid a transparency vote, weakening deliberation and public accountability in Congress.
Supporting reports
- Speaker Mike Johnson Blocks Epstein Files Resolution — Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not bring a bipartisan resolution to release the Epstein files to the floor before the August recess.
- Speaker Mike Johnson shuts down the House — Speaker Mike Johnson closed the House of Representatives early for summer recess, canceling all scheduled votes and business to prevent a vote on a bipartisan motion to release the Epstein files.
- US House calls early summer recess to block voting on release of Epstein files — The House of Representatives, led by the Republican majority, announced an early recess, cutting the workweek short to avoid voting on the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Jul 10, 2025 Governor Greg Abbott announced a plan to redraw Texas congressional districts Corroborated Institutions and Governance
Mid-cycle redistricting through state institutions threatened electoral fairness by using legislative power to shape representation.
Supporting reports
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott Announces Plan to Redraw Congressional Districts — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced a plan to redraw the state's congressional districts, a move that has been criticized by opponents as an attempt to favor Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
Jul 9, 2025 The Miami City Commission postponed the 2025 municipal election to 2026 without voter approval Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
Extending current officials' terms without a vote directly weakened electoral accountability and voter control over representation.
Supporting reports
- Miami City Commission Cancels 2025 Election — The Miami City Commission voted 3-2 to amend election laws, postponing the 2025 municipal elections to 2026 without voter input.