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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed confidence on Thursday that he has secured the necessary votes to pass a stopgap funding bill, aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown. The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), is scheduled for a House vote on Friday. If approved, it will proceed to the Senate for further consideration before reaching Republican President Donald Trump for final approval. Johnson emphasized the importance of keeping the government operational during an interview on Fox News’ ‘Special Report with Bret Baier,’ stating, ‘We’ll do the right thing: keep the government open.’ The move comes as Congress faces a tight deadline to reach a funding agreement, with just two weeks remaining to avert a shutdown. The ongoing negotiations highlight the challenges of bipartisan cooperation in a politically divided landscape.

In a significant move reflecting the deepening partisan divisions in the U.S. Senate, President Donald Trump’s nominees for various diplomatic, military, and administrative positions were confirmed en masse on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The confirmation, which passed with a 51-47 vote, saw 48 nominees approved for ambassadorial and sub-cabinet level roles. Notably, the vote was strictly along party lines, with Republicans supporting the nominations and Democrats opposing them. Two Republicans abstained from voting.

Among the high-profile confirmations were Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News personality and fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., who was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Greece. Callista Gingrich, former ambassador to the Vatican and wife of ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, was confirmed as the Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The confirmation process was expedited after Republicans invoked the ‘nuclear option’ earlier this month, altering Senate rules to limit the minority party’s ability to delay nominations. This procedural change allows the majority to bundle large groups of nominees for a single confirmation vote, rather than addressing them individually. However, the new rules do not apply to the confirmation of federal judges or heads of presidential Cabinet agencies.

The approved nominees also included key positions within the Defense Department, such as assistant secretaries for defense, the Army, and the Air Force. Additionally, roles in the Agriculture, Housing, Interior, and Transportation departments were filled.

Since President Trump’s second term began on January 20, 2025, the Senate has witnessed increasing polarization, with Republicans largely backing the president’s nominees and initiatives, while Democrats have consistently opposed them. Both parties have accused each other of refusing to compromise, further exacerbating the political divide.

The confirmation vote underscores the ongoing challenges in the U.S. political landscape, where partisan loyalty continues to shape legislative outcomes.

In a pivotal moment on Capitol Hill, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), a prominent liberal figure, called on his Democratic colleagues to support a Republican resolution honoring the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The resolution, introduced in the wake of Kirk’s assassination last week in Utah, has ignited a nationwide political storm. President Donald Trump and his allies have seized the moment to condemn left-leaning groups, accusing them of threatening national unity. Raskin, addressing the House Judiciary Committee, urged lawmakers to focus on the core message of the resolution—condemning political violence—rather than its partisan undertones. ‘We must rise above the political trap and unite as Americans to denounce all forms of violence,’ Raskin asserted. The resolution, which lauds Kirk’s influence in rallying young voters to the MAGA movement, is expected to pass the Republican-controlled House. Kirk’s controversial statements, including critiques of transgender Americans and affirmative action, had previously drawn sharp criticism from progressives. The debate over the resolution has already had ripple effects, with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel facing backlash and being temporarily pulled off the air for comments deemed offensive by Trump supporters. As the nation grapples with the fallout from Kirk’s death, Raskin’s plea for unity underscores the deepening political divides in the U.S.