Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press.

Higher taxes on millionaires? Trump says he's open, but many in his party are not

Higher taxes on millionaires? Trump says he's open, but many in his party are not

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Why not tax the millionaires?

Talk of raising taxes on millionaires swirls as Republicans draft Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
Law firms, universities and now civil society groups are in Trump's sights for punitive action

Law firms, universities and now civil society groups are in Trump's sights for punitive action

WASHINGTON (AP) -- First the nation's top law firms. Then its premier universities. Now, President Donald Trump is leaning on the advocacy groups that underpin U.S. civil society.

Tentative deal is reached in House Republican fight over proxy voting for new parents

Tentative deal is reached in House Republican fight over proxy voting for new parents

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A tentative deal has been reached with the Florida Republican leading a bipartisan push to allow proxy voting in the U.S. House for new parents, potentially ending a standoff that halted legislative work for days and threatened to delay a vote this week to advance President Donald Trump's agenda.

Tentative deal is reached in Republican fight over proxy voting for new parents

Tentative deal is reached in Republican fight over proxy voting for new parents

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A tentative deal has been reached with the Florida Republican leading a bipartisan push to allow proxy voting in the U.S. House for new parents, potentially ending a standoff that halted legislative work for days and threatened to delay a potential vote this week to advance President Donald Trump's agenda.

Republicans moving ahead with Trump's 'big' bill of tax breaks and spending cuts amid tariff uproar

Republicans moving ahead with Trump's 'big' bill of tax breaks and spending cuts amid tariff uproar

WASHINGTON (AP) -- After a long wait, the Senate is launching action on President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" of tax breaks and spending cuts at a risky moment for the U.S. and global economy.

Republicans eye actions against the courts and judges as Trump rails against rulings

Republicans eye actions against the courts and judges as Trump rails against rulings

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Angry over the crush of court rulings against the Trump administration, Republicans in Congress are trying to slap back at the federal judiciary with proposals to limit the reach of its rulings, cut funding and even impeach judges, tightening the GOP's grip on government.

Senate Democrats refuse to go along with GOP spending plan, as shutdown deadline nears

Senate Democrats refuse to go along with GOP spending plan, as shutdown deadline nears

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A day before a shutdown deadline, Senate Democrats are mounting a last-ditch protest over a Republican-led government funding bill that already passed the House but failed to slap any limits on President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to gut federal operations.

'In DOGE we trust': House GOP governs by embracing Trump's effort to cut government

'In DOGE we trust': House GOP governs by embracing Trump's effort to cut government

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A familiar scene has played out over and over in the U.S. House: Republicans, unable to approve federal funding legislation on their own, edge toward a risky government shutdown, until Democrats swoop in with the votes needed to prevent catastrophic disruptions.

'In DOGE we trust:' House GOP governs by embracing Trump's effort to cut government

'In DOGE we trust:' House GOP governs by embracing Trump's effort to cut government

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A familiar scene has played out over and over in the U.S. House: Republicans, unable to approve federal funding legislation on their own, edge toward a risky government shutdown, until Democrats swoop in with the votes needed to prevent catastrophic disruptions.

House GOP campaign chairman says voters will 'reward us' for the Trump-Musk DOGE cuts

House GOP campaign chairman says voters will 'reward us' for the Trump-Musk DOGE cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Almost two months into President Donald Trump's second term, the chairman of the House Republican campaign committee is already predicting his party will pick up seats in the midterm elections some 20 months away.

Elon Musk comes to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans who discuss turning DOGE cuts into law

Elon Musk comes to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans who discuss turning DOGE cuts into law

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Billionaire Elon Musk arrived on Capitol Hill Tuesday and learned about something new -- budget rescissions, an obscure legislative tool that could bring legal heft to his federal budget slashing effort and enshrine the cuts into law.

Rep. Al Green shouts down Trump and may face censure by the House for the outburst

Rep. Al Green shouts down Trump and may face censure by the House for the outburst

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas wasn't the first lawmaker ever to blurt out a shout of protest during a presidential address to Congress.

Speaker Johnson tells GOP lawmakers to skip town halls after an onslaught of protests

Speaker Johnson tells GOP lawmakers to skip town halls after an onslaught of protests

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson is encouraging Republican lawmakers to skip town halls that have been filled with protesters decrying the Trump administration's slashing of federal government, echoing the president's claims that the demonstration's are fueled by professional protesters.

Trump's speech to Congress comes as he wields vast power almost daring lawmakers, courts to stop him

Trump's speech to Congress comes as he wields vast power almost daring lawmakers, courts to stop him

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump arrives this week on Capitol Hill to deliver a speech to Congress, a coequal branch of government he has bulldozed past this first month in office, wielding unimaginable executive power to get what he wants, at home and abroad.

Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate session

Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate session

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The budget resolution from Republicans was on the agenda in the Senate, but the late-night debate encompassed so much more.

Senate GOP pushes ahead with budget bill that funds Trump's mass deportations and border wall

Senate GOP pushes ahead with budget bill that funds Trump's mass deportations and border wall

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans pushed ahead late Tuesday on a scaled-back budget bill, a $340 billion package to give the Trump administration money for mass deportations and other priorities, as Democrats prepare a counter-campaign against the onslaught of actions coming from the White House.

McConnell tests the strengths and limits of his power opposing a trio of Trump's Cabinet nominees

McConnell tests the strengths and limits of his power opposing a trio of Trump's Cabinet nominees

WASHINGTON (AP) -- No longer in charge, Sen. Mitch McConnell has been speaking his mind, the long-serving GOP leader rejecting President Donald Trump's more high-profile Cabinet nominees -- alone at times, among the Republicans, casting his no votes.

Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearings

Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearings

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Conspiracy theories about vaccines. Secret meetings with dictators. An enemies list.

Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his Cabinet

Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his Cabinet

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet on Inauguration Day.

Senators are preparing to vote on Marco Rubio as secretary of state, a first in Trump's Cabinet

Senators are preparing to vote on Marco Rubio as secretary of state, a first in Trump's Cabinet

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senators are preparing to vote Monday on Sen. Marco Rubio as President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, a first Cabinet pick to be considered on Inauguration Day.

Senators are working into the evening hoping to confirm Trump's first Cabinet nominees

Senators are working into the evening hoping to confirm Trump's first Cabinet nominees

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senators returned to the Capitol Monday for a late-evening session pushing ahead on President Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, with voting possible to confirm Sen. Marco Rubio as the nation's secretary of state on Inauguration Day.

Trump's outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support for confirmation

Trump's outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support for confirmation

WASHINGTON (AP) -- One by one, all the president-elect' s men, and women, are falling into place in his Cabinet.

Trump is planning 100 executive orders starting Day 1 on border, deportations and other priorities

Trump is planning 100 executive orders starting Day 1 on border, deportations and other priorities

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump is preparing more than 100 executive orders starting Day One of the new White House, in what amounts to a shock-and-awe campaign on border security, deportations and a rush of other policy priorities.

Congress is ready to certify Trump's election win, but his Jan. 6 legacy hangs over the day

Congress is ready to certify Trump's election win, but his Jan. 6 legacy hangs over the day

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As Congress convenes amid a winter storm to certify President-elect Donald Trump 's election, the legacy of Jan. 6 hangs over the proceedings with an extraordinary fact: The candidate who tried to overturn the previous election won this time, and is legitimately returning to power.

Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to save his job as a new Congress convenes

Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to save his job as a new Congress convenes

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The new Congress convenes Friday with one major task at hand -- the election of the House speaker.

With a nod to her mentor Shirley Chisholm, Rep. Barbara Lee exits Congress as a renegade herself

With a nod to her mentor Shirley Chisholm, Rep. Barbara Lee exits Congress as a renegade herself

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Barbara Lee has always stood apart, a matter-of-fact renegade with a long list of firsts.

Shutdown saga exposes new fault lines for Speaker Johnson and tests his grip on the gavel

Shutdown saga exposes new fault lines for Speaker Johnson and tests his grip on the gavel

WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of the most turbulent sessions of Congress in the modern era is about to make way for the next one.

After investigating Jan. 6, House GOP sides with Trump and goes after Liz Cheney

After investigating Jan. 6, House GOP sides with Trump and goes after Liz Cheney

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wrapping up their investigation on the Jan. 6 2021 Capitol attack, House Republicans have concluded it's former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney who should be prosecuted for probing what happened when then-President Donald Trump sent his mob of supporters as Congress was certifying the 2020 election.

Speaker Johnson's 'epic' weekend with Trump shows strengths and limits of his power

Speaker Johnson's 'epic' weekend with Trump shows strengths and limits of his power

WASHINGTON (AP) -- There was House Speaker Mike Johnson walking behind President-elect Donald Trump's entourage into Saturday night's UFC fight at Madison Square Garden, his stature overcome by the enormity of the scene around him.

Library of Congress says an adversary hacked some emails

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Library of Congress has notified lawmakers of a "cyber breach" of its IT system by an adversary, a hack of emails between some congressional offices and library staff, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.

Trump is already testing Congress and daring Republicans to oppose him

Trump is already testing Congress and daring Republicans to oppose him

WASHINGTON (AP) -- After a resounding election victory, delivering what President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans call a "mandate" to govern, an uneasy political question is emerging: Will there be any room for dissent in the U.S. Congress?

Speaker Johnson begins fight for the House gavel, winning nod from Trump

Speaker Johnson begins fight for the House gavel, winning nod from Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Speaker Mike Johnson is beginning the hard fight for his gavel, a weeks-long campaign that starts Wednesday during internal House Republican leadership elections and will establish the new power centers in Congress for a Washington dominated by President-elect Donald Trump.

Speaker Johnson begins fight for the House gavel promising to be Trump's 'quarterback'

Speaker Johnson begins fight for the House gavel promising to be Trump's 'quarterback'

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Speaker Mike Johnson is beginning the hard fight for his gavel, a weeks-long campaign that starts Wednesday during internal House Republican leadership elections and will establish the new power centers in Congress for a Washington dominated by President-elect Donald Trump.

GOP picks up more key House seats while Democrats insist they still have a path to a majority

GOP picks up more key House seats while Democrats insist they still have a path to a majority

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican leaders projected confidence Thursday that they will keep control of the U.S. House as more races were decided in their favor, while Democrats insisted they still see a path toward the majority and sought assurances every vote will be counted.

It's a fight to the finish in races that will determine control of Congress

It's a fight to the finish in races that will determine control of Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The final doors are being knocked, ads are blaring and candidates are making a last pitch to voters. Even with the high-energy final push, the races for control of Congress are at a stalemate, essentially a toss-up for the House and fight to the finish for the Senate.

Hakeem Jeffries chooses calm over chaos as Democrats work to win the House majority

Hakeem Jeffries chooses calm over chaos as Democrats work to win the House majority

PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) -- This election, he has warned, is about the economy. Freedom. Stopping Project 2025 and the MAGA extremes.

Speaker Mike Johnson is pulling closer to Trump to save the GOP's House majority

Speaker Mike Johnson is pulling closer to Trump to save the GOP's House majority

HOLLAND, Ohio (AP) -- Wherever House Speaker Mike Johnson goes, Donald Trump, seemingly, is not far away.

The first presidential election since the Jan. 6 attack will test new guardrails from Congress

The first presidential election since the Jan. 6 attack will test new guardrails from Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) -- This presidential election, the first since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, will be a stress test of the new systems and guardrails that Congress put in place to ensure America's long tradition of the peaceful transfer of presidential power.

How Project 2025's rightward vision became a flashpoint in this year's election

How Project 2025's rightward vision became a flashpoint in this year's election

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For the past year, Project 2025 has endured as a persistent force in the presidential election, its far-right proposals deployed by Democrats as shorthand for what Donald Trump would potentially do with a second term at the White House.

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stumps in California in a bid to reclaim House control

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stumps in California in a bid to reclaim House control

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries crisscrossed Southern California over the weekend in communities far from the presidential battlegrounds -- Little Saigon in Orange County and the high desert of Antelope Valley -- as he works to wrest control of the U.S. House from Republicans.

Filing in Trump case details remarkable schism with Pence over rejecting 2020 election loss

Filing in Trump case details remarkable schism with Pence over rejecting 2020 election loss

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Days before rioters roamed the halls of the U.S. Capitol threatening to "hang Mike Pence," Donald Trump told his vice president that people are going to "hate your guts" and "think you're stupid" if he failed to stop the 2020 election certification.

Speaker Johnson demands Zelenskyy remove Ukraine's ambassador to US after Pennsylvania visit

Speaker Johnson demands Zelenskyy remove Ukraine's ambassador to US after Pennsylvania visit

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fire his country's ambassador to the U.S. as Republicans criticize the war-torn leader's visit to a swing-state Pennsylvania site producing munitions for the Russia-Ukraine war as a political stunt.

A year ago Kevin McCarthy was booted as House speaker. Mike Johnson is trying to avoid that fate

A year ago Kevin McCarthy was booted as House speaker. Mike Johnson is trying to avoid that fate

WASHINGTON (AP) -- One year since Kevin McCarthy was booted from the House speaker's office after Congress voted in a bipartisan way to fund the government and prevent a federal shutdown, the new House Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself courting, but so far avoiding, a similar political fate.

Republicans are trying a new approach to abortion in the race for Congress
Bernie Sanders preparing resolutions to block $20B in US arms sales to Israel

Bernie Sanders preparing resolutions to block $20B in US arms sales to Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Bernie Sanders is preparing several resolutions that would stop more than $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel, a longshot effort but the most substantive pushback yet from Congress over the devastation in Gaza ahead of the first year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war.

2 Black women could make Senate history on Election Day

2 Black women could make Senate history on Election Day

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate has the potential for history-making this fall, with not one, but two, Black women possibly elected to the chamber, a situation never seen in America since Congress was created more than 200 years ago.

Two Black women could make US Senate history this election. But they strive to make a difference

Two Black women could make US Senate history this election. But they strive to make a difference

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate has the potential for history-making this fall, with not one, but two, Black women possibly elected to the chamber, a situation never seen in America since Congress was created more than 200 years ago.

Tight race for control of Congress could be decided by just a handful of campaigns

Tight race for control of Congress could be decided by just a handful of campaigns

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The race for control of Congress is as close as ever, with barely two dozen House seats and a handful in the Senate likely to determine the majority this November and whether a single party sweeps to power with the White House.

'It's our time': As Harris accepts the nomination, many women say a female president is long overdue
Pelosi says it's her life goal to ensure 'that man' Trump never steps in the White House again

Pelosi says it's her life goal to ensure 'that man' Trump never steps in the White House again

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nancy Pelosi's influence can be seen all across the Democratic Party shakeup that in a few short, agonizing weeks has reengineered the 2024 presidential ticket and the race for the White House.

Project 2025's new leader Kevin Roberts postpones his own book launch until after the election

Project 2025's new leader Kevin Roberts postpones his own book launch until after the election

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As Project 2025 hits turmoil, the head of the influential, far-right Heritage Foundation is postponing the release of his potentially fiery new book until after the November presidential election.

Pelosi warns in her new book that political threats and violence 'must stop'

Pelosi warns in her new book that political threats and violence 'must stop'

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nancy Pelosi thought briefly she might have died on Jan. 6, 2021.

Pelosi and Democratic leaders try to guide their party through Biden uproar

Pelosi and Democratic leaders try to guide their party through Biden uproar

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nancy Pelosi's phone lit up the night of President Joe Biden's debate performance with a question that has yet to be fully resolved: Now what?

Biden's candidacy faces new peril, including first Senate Democrat saying he should exit race

Biden's candidacy faces new peril, including first Senate Democrat saying he should exit race

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden's imperiled reelection campaign hit new trouble Wednesday as House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said merely "it's up to the president to decide" if he should stay in the race, celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run and Democratic senators and lawmakers expressed fresh fear about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump.

Biden's candidacy faces new peril, as first Senate Democrat says he should exit race

Biden's candidacy faces new peril, as first Senate Democrat says he should exit race

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden's imperiled reelection campaign hit new trouble Wednesday as House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said merely "it's up to the president to decide" if he should stay in the race, celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run and Democratic senators and lawmakers expressed fresh fear about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump.

Biden's candidacy faces new peril as Pelosi, Clooney and more Democrats weigh in

Biden's candidacy faces new peril as Pelosi, Clooney and more Democrats weigh in

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden's imperiled re-election campaign hit new trouble Wednesday as House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said merely "it's up to the president to decide" if he should stay in the race, celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run and Democratic senators and lawmakers expressed fresh fear about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump.

Pelosi says 'it's up to the president' to decide whether to stay in the race

Pelosi says 'it's up to the president' to decide whether to stay in the race

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday "it's up to the president to decide" if he should stay in the 2024 race despite President Joe Biden's insistence he is still running for re-election, showing how unsettled the question remains among prominent Democrats and Capitol Hill.

Pelosi says 'it's up to the president' to decide to stay in the race

Pelosi says 'it's up to the president' to decide to stay in the race

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday "it's up to the president to decide" if he should stay in the race despite President Joe Biden's insistence he is still running, showing how unsettled the question remains among prominent Democrats and Capitol Hill.

Biden tells Hill Democrats he won't step aside amid party drama and "it's time for it to end'

Biden tells Hill Democrats he won't step aside amid party drama and "it's time for it to end'

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden, in a letter to congressional Democrats, stood firm against calls for him to drop his candidacy and called for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his dismal public debate performance.