Protests against Donald Trump's immigration policies, initially focused in California, have now spread nationwide, with demonstrations occurring in at least 17 cities. The deployment of Marines to California is seen as a key catalyst for the protests' spread, The current situation is explicitly compared to the 1969 People's Park protests in Berkeley, where then-Gov. Ronald Reagan deployed 2,700 National Guard troops

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has deployed the National Guard in Texas to suppress protests, specifically mentioning peaceful demonstrations in San Antonio and ongoing protests in Austin

Hegseth's Senate hearing was described as "pretty poorly," with senators finding him "clearly in over his head." Hegseth consistently refused to answer key questions, such as which side he wanted to win the war in Ukraine, Budget and Readiness Concerns, Lack of Transparency, Insider Trading Allegations

House Republicans are warning Senate Leader John Thune (R-SD) against "budget gimmicks" in the reconciliation bill. The expiration of the 2017 tax cuts next year complicates the baseline.

Military Base Renaming Controversy

Challenges to Government Authority and Accountability

CFPB Under Attack: Republicans are attempting to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by changing its funding mechanism in the reconciliation bill from "up to a maximum of 12% of the Fed's operating budget" to "0%." Parliamentarian as a Check: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) plans to challenge this provision with the Senate Parliamentarian, who could rule it impermissible in a reconciliation bill, thereby saving the CFPB.