Kelsey Snell

Congress appears to be on the verge of avoiding a partial government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's plan would delay a fight over border wall funding until February.

New talks on Capitol Hill about a government spending proposal signal the White House is backing down from its demand for $5 billion for a border wall as they try to fashion a deal before Friday's deadline

President Trump wants $5 billion to build a border wall, but Democrats won't agree to more than $1.3 billion in border security. If they don't reach a deal by Friday there will be a partial shutdown.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi cut a deal with a group of Democrats who opposed her to support her bid for speaker a day after she showed her negotiating prowess at the White House over spending.

Lawmakers are expected to vote this week to overhaul how Congress handles accusations of sexual misconduct. The deal follows a nearly yearlong standoff over member liability and other issues.

President Trump and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer quarreled openly at the White House over border wall funding. Trump said he'd take ownership over any government shutdown.

Leaders have vowed to pass a bill changing how Congress handles claims, but the House and Senate versions have big differences. Taxpayers are still paying for settlements involving lawmakers.

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are still fighting over President Trump's demand to include $5 billion for a border wall in the annual spending bill and have until Dec. 21 to get a deal.

After the death of former President George H.W. Bush top Hill leaders decided to prepare a two-week funding bill to postpone a fight over President Trump's demand for $5 billion for a border wall.

South Carolina GOP Sen. Tim Scott said he would oppose Thomas Farr, President Trump's nominee to the federal bench, due to reports he helped suppress the vote in political campaigns.

Sen. Tim Scott, the lone black Republican in the Senate, said he would not support Thomas Farr. The nominee came under scrutiny over possible voter suppression efforts in North Carolina.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi won an internal caucus vote to serve as speaker of the House, but she isn't totally in the clear for the floor vote in January.

Sixteen Democrats who are critical of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi argue it is time for new leadership, and say they will vote against her for speaker. Pelosi, however, remains confident.

Wildfire continues in California, raising the death toll to 63. Democrats are facing important decisions now that their party is in control of the House. And the vote counting continues in Florida.

The president's support is a big win for activists who have been pushing for criminal justice measures that roll back the stiff penalties imposed as a part of America's decades-long "war on drugs."

With Democrats winning control of the House in the midterm elections, GOP representatives and party freshmen elected leaders to run a smaller, more conservative conference in the next Congress.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi outlined Democrats' priorities for when they take control in January. With Republicans keeping their Senate majority, the divided Congress will pursue different agendas.

The speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011 is eyeing a return to that post despite calls from many in her party for fresh leadership. Wednesday, both she and the president spoke of working together.

Democrats have promised to provide a check and balance to President Trump. At the same time, Republicans will still have the Senate and all the power of the White House.

The midterm elections have delivered a divided Congress — with the Republicans building on their majority in the Senate, and the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives.