SENATE UPDATE: The 'Arctic Frost' Scandal Grows

Last Week

Last week, Senate Democrats voted down the bill to fund and reopen the federal government — for the 13th time! Senate Republicans, meanwhile, confirmed four more judges, including an appellate judge for the Seventh Circuit.

As the government shutdown enters its second month, more federal programs and services are being squeezed, including food stamps and air traffic control. Families are losing assistance. Flights are being canceled. And Democrats don’t seem to care.

Usually mild-mannered Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-SD) took to the Senate floor to hurl a fiery indictment at the Democrats for hurting the country to score political points.

Now there are reports that Democrats may finally agree to reopen the government after this week’s off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. Democrats are running extreme, flawed candidates in Tuesday’s blue-state races and don’t want to disappoint their base by caving to President Trump before election day.

If that sounds like a weird, cynical, and embarrassing strategy, well, welcome to today’s Democrat Party!

Conservative Spotlight

RON JOHNSON — Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-WI) investigation into the Biden FBI’s “Arctic Frost” operation is the biggest political story in America today. Thanks to Johnson — and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — we now know that the Biden Administration was spying on 20% of Republican Senators! They secretly subpoenaed private records of more than 400 conservative individuals and organizations. And the leftwing judge who approved the subpoenas gagged anyone from talking about them. Multiple Senators — from Eric Schmitt to Ted Cruz — are now calling for the judge’s impeachment. House conservatives will be ready to take up this fight when they reconvene after the shutdown.

JOSH HAWLEY — Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is once again on offense in his fight to protect American kids from Big Tech predators. Last week, Hawley introduced legislation banning AI chatbots from engaging in sexual conversations with minors. With 70% of kids using companion bots — and at least one AI app already caught having “sensual” interactions with children — Congress needs to outlaw AI grooming before it claims more victims.

This Week

The Senate has one vote scheduled for the week so far to advance the nomination of Eric Tung — a former law clerk to Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Antonin Scalia — to a seat on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, a court known for its liberal leanings.

The Senate is expected to also vote on more judicial nominations, and — for the 14th time — to try to reopen the government.

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