Vue lecture

Johnson Cuts Short House Business to Avoid Vote on Releasing Epstein Files

The Republican speaker truncated the legislative schedule for the week ahead of a summer recess, moving to deny Democrats the chance to force votes on whether to release the Epstein material.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Johnson Says He Won’t Hold Vote Calling on Trump to Release Epstein Files This Summer

The Republican speaker of the House had said last week that the government should release “everything” in the Jeffrey Epstein files, in a rare break with the president that turned out to be short-lived.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol last week.

Massie Moves to Force House Vote on Epstein Files Release

The Kentucky Republican, a frequent critic of President Trump, teamed with a Democrat in a maneuver that could force G.O.P. leaders to hold a vote on the matter within weeks.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, left, has taken steps toward forcing a vote on the House floor on releasing the Epstein files.

For Some Republicans, Trump’s Shift on Epstein Is Just the Latest Breach

Right-wing Republicans have also criticized the president’s stances on Iran and Ukraine, hinting at a broader fraying of his political coalition.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

“I don’t accept it, and I don’t think anyone else should accept it,” Marjorie Taylor Greene said of the decision not to release more information about Jeffrey Epstein.

Schumer Says Trump Bill Boosts Democrats’ Hopes in 2026 Midterm Elections

The top Senate Democrat said the law would lead to widespread pain for voters, imperiling Republicans who supported it and allowing his party more openings to contest control of the Senate.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, on Capitol Hill this week. “The three issues we’re going to most campaign on: costs, jobs, and health care,” he said in an interview on Thursday.

Tillis Suggests He Regrets Vote to Confirm Hegseth, Calling Him ‘Out of His Depth’

The North Carolina senator, who recently said he did not plan to run for re-election, said the defense secretary’s decisions had been amateurish and showed he was unfit to lead a large organization.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Senator Thom Tillis, right, the North Carolina Republican, listening to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a rally last month at Fort Bragg.
❌