DC BUREAU

Our Washington, D.C., bureau reports on congressional delegations and key Supreme Court and administrative decisions that affect our state.

STAFF

Jane Norman

DC Bureau Chief

Jane directs national coverage, managing staff and freelance reporters in the nation’s capital and assigning and editing state-specific daily and enterprise stories.

Jacob Fischler

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jacob covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. His coverage areas include climate, energy development, public lands and infrastructure.

Ashley Murray

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Jennifer Shutt

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Ariana Figueroa

DC Bureau Reporter

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

STORIES

Democrats’ struggle to keep U.S. Senate majority complicated by Manchin decision 

BY: , and - November 10, 2023

Senate Republicans only need to win two seats to gain a full majority, if they can retain all 11 of their current seats in the 2024 election. Democrats and Republicans could also end up with a 50-50 split again

U.S. House votes to censure Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib over Israel remarks

BY: - November 7, 2023

The resolution would be a formal statement that a majority of the chamber disapproves of Tlaib’s statements on Israel.

Spending mess in Congress could arch over into pivotal 2024 election year

BY: - November 6, 2023

Next year, the entire House and one-third of the Senate will be up for reelection, with possibly acrimonious congressional primaries on both sides of the aisle and the battle over selection of a Republican presidential nominee.

U.S. House GOP in spending bills takes aim at federal LGBTQ, racial equity policies 

BY: - November 3, 2023

U.S. House Republicans are continuing to use government spending bills to engage in culture war battles, with legislation debated during the past week that would ban pride flags on some federal buildings, strip funding from a new museum for Latino history and target certain LGBTQ and racial equity policies and programs. The hot-button provisions in […]

U.S. Senate GOP colleagues fight Tuberville hold as top military nominees trickle through

BY: - November 2, 2023

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are pushing back on Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of hundreds of U.S. military promotions as the upper chamber fills the remaining vacancies on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Senators on Thursday approved Adm. Lisa Franchetti in a 95-1 vote to be the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy. Gen. David […]

U.S. House pushes through Israel-only aid bill with dim future in Senate

BY: - November 2, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday approved a $14.3 billion spending bill to aid Israel in its war against Hamas, but the measure stands no chance of passing the Senate and has elicited a veto threat from the White House. The 14-page bill, one of the first major tests for newly elected GOP Speaker […]

White House, Sen. Casey urge Congress to pass emergency anti-opioid funding

BY: - November 1, 2023

The Biden administration last month asked Congress to provide billions in additional spending on domestic issues, including $1.55 billion for State Opioid Response grants that would go towards providing treatment, harm reduction and recovery for opioid addiction.

Mike Johnson of Louisiana picked as newest GOP nominee for U.S. House speaker

BY: and - October 25, 2023

Johnson is the fourth Republican nominee attempting to break the deadlock in the lower chamber that has been without a leader since Oct. 3, following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California).

Israel, Ukraine, global aid and border funding would hit $106 billion under Biden request

BY: - October 20, 2023

The funding request includes $92.2 billion for national security, including $61.4 billion for Ukraine and $14.3 billion for Israel, and $13.6 billion for border security, including money to hire more U.S. Border Patrol agents and inspection machines meant to detect fentanyl. 

Jim Jordan’s bid to be U.S. House speaker ends after rejection by GOP in closed meeting

BY: and - October 20, 2023

GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania voted against Jordan Friday, one of three votes added to Jordan’s earlier deficit.

U.S. House gripped by paralysis again after GOP punts proposal for speaker pro tem

BY: , and - October 19, 2023

No new floor vote is scheduled for speaker nominee Jim Jordan of Ohio, House Republicans said following a tense, closed-door meeting on Thursday.

Members of U.S. House GOP describe threats sparked by votes against Jim Jordan for speaker

BY: and - October 19, 2023

A handful of House members reported threats and the targeting of family members after opposing the Jim Jordan's bid for Speaker of the House.