House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to face a major test on Tuesday as the House of Representatives votes on a two-step proposal to fund federal agencies and avert a government shutdown. Johnson will need the support of Democrats to pass the measure, as well as the backing of House Republicans who have shown reluctance to shut the government down. The outcome of the vote will be a major indicator of Johnson's ability to lead the House and work with both sides of the aisle.
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Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, testified in a San Francisco federal trial on Monday about the night he was attacked by a hammer-wielding intruder at his home. The suspect, David DePape, has already admitted to breaking into the Pelosi home and hitting Paul Pelosi with a hammer, and has pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping and assault. DePape testified in his own defense on Tuesday, offering rambling explanations for the attack. The trial is ongoing and a verdict is expected soon.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the suspect in the 2021 mass shooting at a Colorado King Soopers supermarket, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in a Boulder County court on Tuesday. Judge Ingrid Bakke set Alissa's bond at $100 million and he is currently being held in the Boulder County Jail awaiting trial. The Boulder District Attorney's Office is continuing to investigate the case and is working to ensure that Alissa is held accountable for his alleged actions.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is seeking an emergency protective order after confidential video recordings of key witnesses in her election interference case against former President Donald Trump were leaked to two news outlets. The videos include statements from lawyers Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro and bail bondsman Scott Hall, with Ellis saying a senior White House official insisted Trump had no plans to leave office despite losing the election. Willis's office believes the leak was intended to intimidate witnesses and is now seeking an emergency protective order to prevent further disclosure.
Thousands of people from around the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for the March for Israel rally in support of Israel, to free hostages, and to protest the increasing antisemitism in the U.S. since the Israel-Hamas war began last month. Attendees expressed their commitment to justice and their belief in the state of Israel, while remaining critical of the government's policies.
On Tuesday, a heated exchange between Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Sean O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, almost turned into a fistfight during a Senate hearing on labor unions. Mullin, a former MMA fighter, had challenged O'Brien to a physical fight for charity, but the exchange was eventually brought back to order. Mullin and O'Brien have since apologized for their behavior, sparking a debate over the appropriateness of physical confrontations in the Senate.
Indiana University students and other supporters joined together on Monday to speak out in support of Israel in the March for Israel. President Biden weighed in on the situation, expressing his hope for less intrusive action relative to hospitals in the Gaza Strip. Tahl Ben-Yehuda, a cantor from Overland Park, Kansas, attended the march to lend her voice to denounce antisemitism and to be a voice for her two cousins taken by Hamas.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is attempting to pass a short-term spending bill with the support of Democrats in order to avoid a government shutdown, despite opposition from the House Freedom Caucus. Johnson is hoping his newness and honeymoon glow will help him pass the resolution without any further issues, but it is unclear if the far-right Republicans will accept it. If the resolution fails, it could have serious repercussions for the country.