Politics
Senators strike a deal re-opening government after 69 hours
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a bill reopening the government late Monday, ending a 69-hour display of partisan dysfunction after Democrats reluctantly voted to temporarily pay for resumed operations. They relented in return for Republican assurances that the Senate will soon take up the plight of young immigrant “dreamers” and other contentious issues.
The vote set the stage for hundreds of thousands of federal workers to return on Tuesday, cutting short what could have become a messy and costly impasse. The House approved the measure shortly thereafter, and President Donald Trump later signed it behind closed doors at the White House.
But by relenting, the Democrats prompted a backlash from immigration activists and liberal base supporters who wanted them to fight longer and harder for legislation to protect from deportation the 700,000 or so younger immigrants who were brought to the country as children and now are here illegally.
Democrats climbed onboard after two days of negotiations that ended with new assurances from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the Senate would consider immigration proposals in the coming weeks. But there were deep divides in the Democratic caucus over strategy, as red-state lawmakers fighting for their survival broke with progressives looking to satisfy liberals’ and immigrants’ demands.
Under the agreement, Democrats provided enough votes to pass the stopgap spending measure keeping the government open until Feb. 8. In return, McConnell agreed to resume negotiations over the future of the dreamers, border security, military spending and other budget debates. If those talks don’t yield a deal in the next three weeks, the Republican promised to allow the Senate to debate an immigration proposal — even if it’s one crafted by a bipartisan group and does not have the backing of the leadership and the White House, lawmakers said. McConnell had previously said he would bring a deal to a vote only if President Donald Trump supported it.
Sixty votes were needed to end the Democrats’ filibuster, and the party’s senators provided 33 of the 81 the measure got. Eighteen senators, including members of both parties, were opposed. Hours later the Senate passed the final bill by the same 81-18 vote, sending it to the House, which quickly voted its approval and sent the measure on to President Donald Trump.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders predicted that operations would return to normal by Tuesday morning.
The short-term spending measure means both sides may wind up in a shutdown stalemate again in three weeks.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer lent his backing to the agreement during a speech on the chamber’s floor. “Now there is a real pathway to get a bill on the floor and through the Senate,” he said of legislation to halt any deportation efforts aimed at the younger immigrants.
The White House downplayed McConnell’s commitment, and said Democrats caved under pressure. “They blinked,” principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah told CNN. In a statement, Trump said he’s open to immigration deal only if it is “good for our country.”
Immigration activists and other groups harshly criticized the deal reached by the Democratic leadership.
Cristina Jimenez, executive director of United We Dream, said the members of the group are “outraged.” She added that senators who voted Monday in favor of the deal “are not resisting Trump, they are enablers.”
Other groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union expressed disappointment and shared similar criticism.
A block of liberal Democrats — some of them 2020 presidential hopefuls — stuck to their opposition. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Dianne Feinstein of California, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey voted no, as did Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Feinstein said she wasn’t persuaded by McConnell’s assurances and did not know how a proposal to protect the more than 700,000 younger immigrants would fare in the House.
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana voted no on the procedural motion to re-open the government — the only no vote among 10 incumbent Democrats facing re-election this year in states won by Trump in 2016. Tester said in a statement that the 17-day budget did not include any funding for community health centers that are important to his rural state, nor did the deal include additional resources for border security.
The short-term funding measure includes a six-year reauthorization of the children’s health insurance program, which provides coverage for millions of young people in families with modest incomes. It also includes $31 billion in tax cuts, including a delay in implementing a tax on medical devices.
The votes came as most government offices cut back drastically or even closed on Monday, as the major effects of the shutdown were first being felt with the beginning of the workweek.
Republicans have appeared increasingly confident that Democrats would bear the brunt of criticism for the shutdown. The White House and GOP leaders said they would not negotiate with Democrats on immigration until the government was reopened, and White House officials boasted that Trump didn’t reach out to any Democratic lawmakers during the shutdown.
In fact, Trump, who regularly disrupted negotiations in recent weeks, had been a relatively subdued player in the weekend debate. On Monday, he accused Democrats of prioritizing services and security for noncitizens over U.S. citizens. “Not good,” his first tweet said. In a second tweet, he said, “Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base. They don’t want to do it but are powerless!”
Trump’s first tweet appeared to undercut comments by his legislative affairs director, Marc Short, who told CNN that the immigrants in question are law-abiding and “productive to our society.” Short said the administration wants to “find a pathway for them” to stay in the U.S.
Although the Democrats initially dug in on a demand for an immigration deal, they had shifted to blaming the shutdown on the incompetence of Republicans and Trump. The Democrats seemed sensitive to being seen by voters as willing to tie up government operations to protect immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
In an impassioned closed-door meeting, Schumer told his members that McConnell’s pledge was the best deal they were going to get.
On the Senate floor, No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Cornyn of Texas said that for shutting down the government, the Democrats “got nothing.” He added that even though McConnell promised to take up the immigration bill by February, “he was going to do that anyway.”
While lawmakers feuded, signs of the shutdown were evident at national parks and in some federal agencies. Social Security and most other safety-net programs were unaffected by the lapse in federal spending authority. Critical government functions continued, with uniformed service members, health inspectors and law enforcement officers set to work without pay.
Florida
Puerto Ricans Urge Former State Rep. Daisy Morales to Consider 2026 Run Amid Representation Decline
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (FNN) — Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has officially announced his campaign for mayor of St. Petersburg, setting up what is expected to be a closely watched local election.
Crist, who previously served as Florida governor, attorney general and a member of Congress, enters the race with decades of political experience and statewide name recognition. His campaign is expected to focus on economic development, public safety, affordable housing and the future growth of St. Petersburg.
Crist’s entry into the mayoral race immediately adds national and statewide political attention to the contest as local leaders and voters prepare for the upcoming election cycle.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins is positioning his military background and “warrior leadership” philosophy as a central message in his campaign for governor as he works to gain momentum in Florida’s competitive Republican primary race.
FNN Politics & Power Talk Show with host Jenny Rosario
Speaking during a South Lake Chamber of Commerce business roundtable in Clermont and later in an exclusive interview with FNN Politics & Power host Jenny Rosario, Collins emphasized leadership shaped by military service, resilience and crisis management rather than traditional politics.
“I don’t consider myself a politician,” Collins said during the discussion. “I consider myself a warrior focused on service, leadership and solving problems.”
A 23-year Army veteran and former Green Beret, Collins spoke openly about the severe combat injuries he sustained during military service, including the loss of a leg while deployed overseas. He described moments during combat operations when he performed emergency medical treatment on himself while under extreme conditions.
Collins said those life experiences helped shape the leadership approach he believes Floridians are seeking in their next governor.
Throughout the event, Collins repeatedly stressed the importance of decisive leadership during times of economic uncertainty, natural disasters and national security concerns. He pointed to his leadership role with Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit organization that has helped provide more than 1.65 million hot meals to Florida communities impacted by hurricanes and other disasters.
The roundtable discussion focused heavily on Florida’s economy, workforce development, education reform and agriculture.
Collins highlighted Operation F3 — Fortifying Florida’s Workforce — an initiative aimed at expanding workforce opportunities in aerospace, aviation, manufacturing, skilled trades and national security industries. He said Florida must continue strengthening domestic manufacturing and preparing students for future job markets.
Education reform also remained a major focus of the discussion. Collins advocated for what he described as a more classical approach to education centered on foundational academics, critical thinking, civic understanding and workforce readiness.
Raised in rural Montana after being adopted by his grandparents, Collins shared personal stories about growing up in poverty on a farm, experiences he said taught him discipline, perseverance and appreciation for agriculture and small-town communities.
Now residing in Odessa in Hillsborough County, Collins said he remains committed to protecting Florida’s agriculture and maritime industries while supporting continued economic growth statewide.
Additional topics discussed during the event included H-1B visas, national security, economic stability and the recent Raul Castro indictment, which Collins connected to broader concerns about leadership accountability and public safety.
As Florida’s 2026 governor’s race continues to take shape, Collins faces growing competition in the Republican primary field. Byron Donalds is currently viewed by many political observers as the Republican front-runner following an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
When asked about Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, Collins said he believes Trump has not yet had the opportunity to know him personally. He also emphasized that DeSantis selected him as lieutenant governor because he trusted Collins’ readiness to lead the state if needed.
Collins closed the event by saying his campaign is ultimately focused on creating greater opportunities for future generations and leaving Florida stronger for his children and families across the state.
Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary election is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026.
Florida1 day agoFlorida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Pushes “Warrior Leadership” Message in Race for Governor
Florida15 hours agoFormer Florida Governor Charlie Crist Enters St. Petersburg Mayor’s Race
Florida14 hours agoPuerto Ricans Urge Former State Rep. Daisy Morales to Consider 2026 Run Amid Representation Decline
