Suspending The Rules

President Donald Trump will attempt to thread the needle in his State of the Union address Tuesday, demanding money for a border wall while calling for bipartisan compromise on other issues, Bloomberg Government White House reporter Cheryl Bolen says on this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules." She previews the speech alongside BGOV legislative analyst Michael Smallberg, who also discusses the latest on spending negotiations.Democrats last week reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would expand penalties for wage discrimination based on sex. In the second segment, legislative analyst Danielle Parnass breaks down that measure, while legislative analyst Adam M. Taylor discusses a 100-bill lands package, S. 47, that the Senate has teed up for floor action.Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass, Michael Smallberg.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Senate Republicans have no appetite for another government shutdown, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told Bloomberg Government homeland security reporter Michaela Ross at BGOV's 2019 Hill Watch event on Jan. 30. He spoke about congressional budget negotiations and his plans for military cybersecurity as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. Hear their conversation and questions from the live audience on this special episode of "Suspending the Rules."The event also included budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick's interview with House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), as well as a panel discussion among members of the BGOV legislative analyst team. Both conversations are available as special episodes in this podcast feed.

Democrats oppose linking the debt limit to the border debate.  Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), the new chairman of the House Budget Committee, outlined that position and Democratic priorities -- including on "Medicare for All" -- in an interview with Bloomberg Government budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick at BGOV's 2019 Hill Watch event on Jan. 30. This special episode of "Suspending the Rules" includes that conversation and the audience questions that followed.Following the interview, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) spoke with BGOV homeland security reporter Michaela Ross. That conversation will be available in an upcoming special episode. The event also included a panel discussion among members of the BGOV legislative analyst team, which is available in a previously released episode in this podcast feed.

Congress could tackle a host of policy issues this year, once the spending fight is resolved, including infrastructure, tax, health care, climate, and more. Members of the Bloomberg Government legislative analyst team took the stage at BGOV's Hill Watch event on Jan. 30 to discuss the outlook for those issues. Hear their panel discussion, including audience questions, in this special episode of "Suspending the Rules."Earlier in the event, House Budget Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) spoke one-on-one with BGOV reporters on their priorities for the year. Those interviews will be available in upcoming special episodes.Panelists: Adam Schank, Sarah Babbage, Danielle Parnass, Adam M. Taylor.

Congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump reached agreement to reopen the government until Feb. 15. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick and legislative analyst team lead Adam Schank discuss the prospects for full-year appropriations bills, the debate over border security, and the new dynamics of the spending fight. House and Senate committees will hold hearings this week on drug pricing, renewing a push to address the high costs Americans pay for medicine. In the second segment, health policy reporter Alex Ruoff and legislative analyst Danielle Parnass break down the efforts and potential legislation around drug prices. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass, Adam Schank.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta. 

The Senate will act on legislation to open the government, fund the border wall, and make changes to asylum and other immigration programs. Democrats have rejected that proposal and the House is planning votes on a separate funding package this week. Adam Schank and Michael Smallberg from the Bloomberg Government legislative analyst team discuss the state of play on this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules." In the second segment, Bloomberg Law labor policy reporter Tyrone Richardson and BGOV legislative analyst Danielle Parnass discuss Democrats' recent proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and the outlook for the legislation in Congress. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is the new top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, assuming the mantle as his party moves into the minority. In this special episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," transportation policy reporter Shaun Courtney sits down with Graves to break down his goals for the next two years and plans to work with new chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and the White House. This is the second of two special episodes focused on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Our interview with DeFazio was released on Jan. 11. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Sarah Babbage. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

The partial government shutdown that began Dec. 22 is now the longest in U.S. history. Bloomberg Government budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick discusses the impasse and options President Donald Trump has floated -- such as an emergency declaration to build a wall on the southern border –- that could lead to a solution. In the second segment, Fitzpatrick breaks down the reasons why the Senate hasn't taken up the House-passed spending bills, which are nearly identical to Senate bills from last year, and how the dynamic has led to a standstill in the chamber. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has been elevated to chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee under the Democrats' new House majority. In this special episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government transportation policy reporter Shaun Courtney sits down with DeFazio to discuss his priorities and plans for the committee during the 116th Congress. This is the first of two special episodes focused on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. An interview with the new ranking member, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) will follow. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Sarah Babbage Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

House Democrats unveiled their first signature piece of legislation in the majority: H.R. 1, which would impose new ethics rules on federal officials, expand access to voting, and make changes to the campaign finance system. On this edition of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, legislative analysts Sarah Babbage and Michael Smallberg break down the bill and discuss the motives behind it, as well as its prospects. The House plans to take up two health-related bills this week, and the new House rules package allows the chamber to intervene in a lawsuit that could strike down the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Senate has teed up a bill focused on security in the Middle East. Legislative analysts Danielle Parnass and Naoreen Chowdhury discuss both topics in the second segment. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Adam Schank. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

House Democrats unveiled a spending package that will be considered this week to end the partial government shutdown. On this episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," deputy news director Loren Duggan breaks down the spending debate and the state of play of the shutdown as it nears the end of its second week. The spending fight could offer a preview of the forthcoming debate over federal debt limit, which is scheduled to come back into effect on March 19, and discretionary spending caps. Those issues and the new rules for the House under the Democratic majority are discussed in the second segment. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

Funding for about one-quarter of the federal government -- including the Homeland Security, Treasury, and State departments, and the EPA -- will run out at midnight Friday unless a new spending deal is enacted before then. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick and deputy news director Loren Duggan look at the latest appropriations state of play. Last Friday, a federal court judge in Texas ruled that the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional. In the second segment, BGOV senior health policy reporter Alex Ruoff breaks down the immediate implications and the reactions from Capitol Hill and the White House. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Last week, lawmakers announced a deal to advance legislation to establish a national safety framework for self-driving cars. Almost immediately, one prominent group withdrew its support, causing its chances for passage to crash. This week on "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government transportation policy reporter Shaun Courtney and legislative analyst Sarah Babbage discuss what's in the compromise and if it will get a green light this Congress. The House is scheduled to take up a handful of health-care bills this week under a procedure reserved for noncontroversial measures. In the second segment, BGOV senior health policy reporter Alex Ruoff and legislative analyst Danielle Parnass break down a bill to penalize drugmakers that misclassify products under Medicaid to avoid paying higher rebates, as well as other measures on the docket. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Adam Schank. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

After cancelling votes following the death of former President George H.W. Bush, Congress likely won't resume legislative business until Dec. 10. Topping the hefty to-do list will be finalizing the seven full-year spending bills that weren't completed before the fiscal year began on Oct. 1. On this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick and deputy news director Loren Duggan provide an update on Bush's funeral arrangements at the Capitol and the fiscal 2019 spending negotiations. Lawmakers are also working to finalize the farm bill, which would set agriculture and food support program policy for the next five years. In the second segment, BGOV agriculture policy reporter Teaganne Finn breaks down what we know about the agreement reached by top negotiators. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Sarah Babbage. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

House Democrats will select their leaders for the 116th Congress in closed-door caucus elections on Wednesday. On this week's episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," congressional reporter Katherine Scott discusses the state of play for speaker and other Democratic leadership races. The National Flood Insurance Program is scheduled to lapse on Friday, potentially roiling coastal real estate markets. In the second segment, BGOV legislative analyst Michael Smallberg explains the program and how various reauthorization bills would change it. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Danielle Parnass Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a compromise criminal justice measure last week that would ease mandatory minimum sentencing rules and expand programs to curb recidivism. On this Thanksgiving week episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government legislative analysts Naoreen Chowdhury and Michael Smallberg break down the proposal and its chances of advancing during the lame-duck session. Also last week, the Senate passed a Coast Guard reauthorization measure after reaching a compromise on environmental provisions that had stalled the bill's progress. In the second segment, legislative analyst Sarah Babbage and defense policy reporter Roxana Tiron describe the bill and the Coast Guard's vessel fleet needs. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Danielle Parnass Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

Congress returns to Washington this week following the midterm elections where Democrats won control of the House. On this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government congressional reporter Katherine Scott and lobbying reporter Megan Wilson break down the House leadership races for the 116th Congress and what they'll mean for lobbyists on K Street. The House has 15 noncontroversial bills on its agenda this week, as well as a more divisive measure that would end protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. In the second segment BGOV legislative analysts Adam M. Taylor and Naoreen Chowdhury preview the slate of bills. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Adam Schank, Danielle Parnass Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

Congress will look very different when it gavels in next year with a new House Democratic Majority and an expanded Republican Senate. On this special post-election episode of "Suspending the Rules," our reporters and legislative analysts break down the implications of a divided Congress for a variety of key issues. In this episode: • Bloomberg Government senior congressional reporter Nancy Ognanovich dives into the election returns and dynamics in the new Congress. • Bloomberg Government health policy reporter Shira Stein discusses what's in store for the Affordable Care Act, "Medicare-for-All," and drug pricing. • Bloomberg Government homeland security reporter Michaela Ross reviews potential moves on immigration. • Bloomberg Environment editor Rob Tricchinelli talks about what the election could mean for climate policy and environmental regulations. • Bloomberg Tax reporter Stu Basu discusses Democrats' tax priorities and plans to seek President Donald Trump's tax returns. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Pa

Democrats are favored to take control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans are projected to retain their Senate majority. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan and elections reporter Greg Giroux provide a final preview before voters go to the polls on Tuesday. The first segment focuses on key races in the House and what a Democratic majority would look like operationally and legislatively. The second segment hones in on the Senate, including the reasons why Republicans are favored to retain their majority and where bipartisanship may emerge in the next Congress. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Danielle Parnass Engineer: Nicholas Anzalotta-Kynoch

Sanctions on Iran's energy sector are slated to come back into effect on Nov. 5 after President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. On this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government Legislative Analyst Naoreen Chowdhury discuss the history of the deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama and what is covered by the returning sanctions. As Election Day approaches super PACs and outside groups are pouring money into tight races across the country. In the second segment, Bloomberg Government's Ken Doyle, senior editor for money and politics, talks about where the money might be coming from and the biggest races those funds are going to. Hosts: Danielle Parnass and Adam Schank Engineer: Nico Anzalotta