This show of opposition came just as Trump was celebrating what he called a breakthrough in trade talks with China. After meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump announced that he would lower tariffs on China.

Trump administration briefed Republicans on Wednesday about US military strikes on suspected drug boats without telling Democratic members about the briefing, according to a top Senate Democrat and a source with direct knowledge of the incident.

If they are confirmed, the new members nominated by President Trump can be sworn in. They were named to replace Biden nominees he fired.

The U.S. Senate is meeting Thursday to vote at 11:45 a.m. on various bills, though the House-passed bill to reopen the government is not on the agenda.

The Senate majority leader is unwilling to pursue the “nuclear option” to blow past a Democratic filibuster and reopen the government.

A busy “To The Point” for you this weekend as we discuss the state budget, ranked choice voting and the U.S. Senate race.

Shades of optimism filled the Senate this past week as bipartisan talks on a way out of the government shutdown increased.