Congressional lawmakers are scrambling to formulate a response to President Donald Trump’s slashing of the federal government as one group takes a front and center role: military veterans.

After days of threats and demands, Donald Trump had little to show for it once lawmakers passed a budget deal.

President Donald Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk used his outsize influence on X to help kill a bipartisan funding proposal that would have prevented a government shutdown, spreading multiple false claims in the process.

Republican Dan Crenshaw wins reelection to U.S. House in Texas' 2nd Congressional District.

The small business owner featured in the ad previously shared memes calling 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic inside jobs and mocking U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

President Joe Biden is trying to sweeten his pitch for more money for Ukraine by mixing in billions of dollars for securing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Texas has by far the largest Republican delegation in the House, and gaining their support would be a major boost for any candidate as the conference meets to pick new leaders next week.

In January, some Republican Texans led the charge to challenge McCarthy’s leadership bid. But this time, all Texas Republicans who were present voted to save McCarthy and every U.S. House Democrat voted to remove him.

The Republican from Texas introduced the legislation after meeting with Mexico’s president and calling for more cooperation between the two countries.

The Houston Republican has alarmed Mexico and Democrats with previous calls for a military response to the criminal organizations.

The Secure the Border Act would resume construction of the border wall, limit asylum eligibility and require asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico. It faces tough going in the Senate.

On the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s office mounted pressure on several federal agencies earlier this month leading up to Abdul Wasi Safi’s release on Tuesday.

What others see as dysfunction and chaos, many of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s opponents see as democracy at work.

In November, The Texas Tribune reported that Beto O’Rourke had given back a $1 million donation that Bankman-Fried had donated to his campaign.

House Republicans are promising aggressive oversight of the Biden administration once they assume the majority next year.

Members of a Republican Congressional delegation took the stage at this year’s U.N. climate talks Friday to tout the benefits of fossil fuels.

The representative from Houston said fellow Republicans admitted behind closed doors that the 2020 election wasn’t stolen, and he warned that such messaging could dangerously mislead voters.

The event came as a younger, more diverse generation of Americans increasingly flocks to the left of the Democratic Party.

In an interview at The Texas Tribune Festival, Crenshaw harshly criticized extremists at both ends of the political spectrum.

The first steps toward change at CNN have been slow and incremental — at least until the network cancelled its long-running media criticism show ‘Reliable Sources’ and cut loose its host, Brian Stelter.

Facing yet another community grieving after a mass shooting, the president replied, ‘We will.’ But Congress hasn’t managed to change gun policy for decades.

The National Rifle Association is beginning its annual convention in Houston.

One by one, speakers took the stage at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Houston and denounced the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across the state.

The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to “reflect on” -- and deflect any blame for -- the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Just seven Republicans, along with most Democrats, used remote voting in the House when voting-from-somewhere-else was first allowed two years ago as the pandemic erupted.

Crenshaw, who mentioned the House Freedom Caucus while making the criticism, sought to clarify later that he largely was not referring to the group.

Republicans are blasting President Joe Biden, threatening lawsuits and going as far as to call for civil disobedience to block his new vaccination mandates.

Republicans are blasting President Joe Biden, threatening lawsuits and going as far as to call for civil disobedience to block his new vaccination mandates.

How have we changed since Sept. 11, 2001?

Ellzey and Wright are vying to succeed her late husband, U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, in the 6th District in North Texas. Early voting for the runoff started Monday and ends Friday.

Political figures unwilling to say they believe in the results of last year's presidential election pose a quandary for some in television news.

Congressman Dan Crenshaw is back to work.

Earmarks were banished from Congress over a decade ago, but the funding for lawmakers' pet projects is marking a sudden return.

Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw shared an update Thursday on his progress since his emergency eye surgery earlier this month.

Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw says he has undergone surgery on his eye and will be virtually sightless for a month.

Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw says he has undergone surgery on his eye and will be virtually sightless for a month.

We talk about COVID Relief, efforts to reach bipartisan agreements, the immigration crisis at the border and Republican efforts to revamp voting rights in states across the country, on this week’s Houston Newsmakers and here on Newsmakers EXTRA with Rep. Lizzie Fletcher. They never lost their job.”Congressman Dan Crenshaw, (R) 2nd says the American Rescue Plan is overloaded with spending not needed. “Is this really fair?” he said on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall. Also this week, the challenge of working across the aisle on other issues such as infrastructure and his highest priorities local on Newsmakers EXTRA with Rep. Dan Crenshaw. More Information:Chief Art Acevedo, Houston Police Chief· Website: https://www.houstontx.gov/police/chief/· Twitter: @ArtAcevedoU.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D), 7th Congressional DistrictAd· Website: https://fletcher.house.gov/· Twitter: @RepFletcherU.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R), 2nd Congressional· Website: https://crenshaw.house.gov/· Twitter: @RepDanCrenshaw

Here are things to know for Tuesday, March 2:1. Crenshaw said his legislation would also ensure that the president could not impose national lockdowns or bans on interstate travel. Waitlist for NRG Park coronavirus vaccine clinic being expandedThe waitlist for the NRG Park coronavirus vaccine clinic is being expanded. Williams said the large number of vaccines that can be administered at the NRG Park site necessitated the widening of those who qualify for the waitlist. Espinosa’s family — like many in Texas — is again facing that same choice between buying groceries or paying rent on time.

HOUSTON – U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Houston) introduced anti-lockdown legislation Monday that he said would end the economic shutdown during the coronavirus pandemic. In order to qualify for COVID recovery aid, the End Lockdowns Now Act would require states and localities to submit economic reopening plans. Crenshaw said his legislation would also ensure that the president could not impose national lockdowns or bans on interstate travel. AdAccording to Crenshaw, the bill also requires that the Treasury Department Inspector General take steps to recover funds if the disclosure requirements are not met. The bill will not intervene in steps taken to protect the public under the Public Health Services Act and will allow governors the authority to limit travel to their state in the event of a disaster declaration, according to Crenshaw.

“Texas is a gas state,” said Michael Webber, an energy resources professor at the University of Texas at Austin. While Webber said all of Texas’ energy sources share blame for the power crisis, the natural gas industry is most notably producing significantly less power than normal. We didn’t run out of natural gas, but we ran out of the ability to get natural gas. At least they show us where idiots live.”While wind power skeptics claimed the week's freeze means wind power can't be relied upon, wind turbines — like natural gas plants — can be "winterized," or modified to operate during very low temperatures. Natural gas power plants usually don’t have very much fuel storage on site, experts said.

Following Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) shared his thoughts of those challenging the electoral count, explaining they misunderstand how America elects its presidents. “On Wednesday the Capitol of the most powerful nation the world has ever known was stormed by an angry mob. The congressman went on to explain Jan. 6 attack of the Capitol is the exact situation the founders of this nation sought to avoid. For this reason, the Founders opted to diffuse responsibility to electors from each state,” Crenshaw wrote. Ultimately, Crenshaw’s op-ed communicated those who challenge the electoral count misunderstand the process of electing United States presidents.

“I like many people voted for President Trump in the 2020 election and hoped for a different result,” tweeted U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin. Over the ensuring hour, scenes emerged of Trump supporters storming barricades, breaching the Capitol and even reaching at least one of chambers. The Capitol building has been breached and both chambers are locked down,” wrote U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Texas Democrats, meanwhile, were explicit in linking the harrowing scene to Trump’s refusal to accept the election outcome and belligerent rhetoric. “This is what Trump wanted,” tweeted U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw as seen in his "Georgia Reloaded" video on YouTube, as collected on Dec. 16, 2020. HOUSTON – U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw had some fun with the upcoming Senate runoff election in Georgia with an “Avengers”-style video that is going viral Wednesday on YouTube. The video has more than 100,000 views, whereas his previous videos on the account average about few thousand. The video entitled “Georgia Reloaded” shows Crenshaw being called into service to fight for the Georgia runoff election, standing in support of Republican incumbent Georgia Sens. The video also includes clips of New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris.

But a large number of GOP members of the Texas delegation still have not acknowledged Biden's victory. Upon Biden securing 306 electoral votes during Monday's meeting of the Electoral College, The Texas Tribune polled all Texans in Congress with the question: "With a majority of the Electoral College voting for Biden today, do you accept Joe Biden as the president-elect?" Until the Monday ceremonial vote, many Republicans resisted the idea of a Biden victory. More than a dozen Texas Republicans joined a last-ditch lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to overturn the results: U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, Michael Cloud, Mike Conaway, Bill Flores, Louie Gohmert, Lance Gooden, Kenny Marchant, Randy Weber, Roger Williams, Ron Wright and Crenshaw. Here is what the Texas lawmakers had to say:

No candidate cleared 50% of the vote in the respective races, and Georgia law requires a runoff in such cases. Earlier this week, Castro, the former U.S. housing secretary and San Antonio mayor, spent two days in Georgia stumping with both Ossoff and Warnock. Another high-profile Texas Republican, Crenshaw, has already visited the state and plans to return before the end of the month. The state party has been mobilizing volunteers on its Mighty Texas Strike Force to head to Georgia, with the largest deployment expected to happen after Christmas. In a sign of how the political world has gone all in on Georgia, the campaigners from Texas have not gone unnoticed by other out-of-state surrogates.

“The response of Secretary Wilkie and senior VA officials to the veteran’s complaint of sexual assault was troubling,” Missal said in a statement. “The tone set by Secretary Wilkie appears to have influenced aspects of the initial VA police investigation and the conduct of other VA employees,” the report said. On Thursday, Biden said he will nominate Denis McDonough, who served as President Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff, to be VA secretary. VA officials did not examine the information, the report said. A study released by the VA last year found 1 in 4 female veterans using VA health care reported inappropriate comments by male veterans on VA grounds.

The only way to stop the pandemic is through personal actionsU.S. Representatives Dan Crenshaw, (R) 2nd and Al Green, (D) 9th, are from different political parties with sometimes wildly different ideas about how to get things done for the benefit of America. Yet somehow both say personal responsibility plays a big role in helping to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 250 thousand American lives. We can’t conquer this alone.” See more of this conversation on this week’s NEWSMAKERS EXTRA with U.S. Rep Al Green . Other top topics:Challenge of passing COVID Stimulus BillRecognition of President-Elect BidenTrump Impact on current and future U.S. PoliciesMore Information:U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R), 2nd Congressional District-Website: https://crenshaw.house.gov/-Twitter: @RepDanCrenshawU.S. Rep. Al Green, (D), 9th Congressional District-Website: https://algreen.house.gov/-Twitter: @RepAlGreen

WASHINGTON – Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has reversed the COVID-related cancellation of an annual wreath-laying event at Arlington National Cemetery next month, following criticism on social media and pleas to the White House. President Donald Trump said later Tuesday it was he who had reversed “the ridiculous decision” to cancel the event. Each year, volunteers around the country place wreaths on the tombstones and markers of veterans as part of Wreaths Across America. The tradition began in 1992 when a Maine wreath maker donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington. On Monday, Arlington National Cemetery announced that it was “with great regret,” cancelling the Wreaths Across America event scheduled for Dec. 19, due to COVID-19.

Texas Democrats are hoping to flip several congressional seats held by Republicans on Election Day. At least five Republican incumbents whom Democrats targeted cruised to reelection, according to races called by Decision Desk HQ. Similarly, U.S. Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, also held off a challenge from Democrat Lulu Seikaly in Collin County's 3rd Congressional District. Three new members-elect in safe Republican seats also won their races, according to Decision Desk HQ. In the 4th Congressional District that covers the northeastern part of the state, State Sen. Pat Fallon will replace John Ratcliffe, who is now director of National Intelligence.

A freshman congressman has won a second term in Congress in U.S. House District 2, according to a projection by the Associated Press. The oddly shaped district, which runs from southwest Houston, out to west Harris County, up to north Houston and then east to the Kingwood area, has been in Republican hands since 2005. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, the Republican incumbent, won election after former U.S. Rep. Ted Poe retired from Congress. Sima Ladjevardian, the Democratic challenger, served as a senior advisor and finance chair to the O’Rourke campaign during both his 2018 Senate bid and his 2020 presidential run. U.S. Representative, District 2 View All CandidatesYou can get more election results here.

HOUSTON – There are hundreds of races being decided by Houston-area voters on Election Day. Here are the five biggest races to watch. Senator View All CandidatesU.S. House District 2Republican and freshman congressman Dan Crenshaw is up for reelection this cycle. U.S. Representative, District 2 View All CandidatesU.S. House District 7Democratic U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher is also a first-term member of Congress who is up for reelection this time around. U.S. Representative, District 7 View All CandidatesU.S. House District 22This seat is wide open after Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Olson announced he is retiring.

Republicans and President Donald Trump have repeatedly tried to sow doubt over the reliability of voting by mail, alleging it allows for widespread fraud. During the interview with Politico’s Tim Alberta, Crenshaw raised concerns about voting practices in Pennsylvania and Nevada, falsely saying that Pennsylvania was sending unsolicited ballots to voters. Crenshaw suggested in the interview that he worried that some ballots might be mailed to the wrong addresses, inviting fraud. Just 372 possible cases of double voting or voting on behalf of dead people were identified, the Post reported. “It’s no secret that in the suburbs and especially amongst women, that they’re simply turned off by Donald Trump,” Crenshaw said, later adding, “They have a personal dislike for him.”

They discuss the successes in Crenshaw’s first term while also taking aim at his opponent, Democrat Sima Ladjevardian, who accuses Democrats of “drug pricing lies." Crenshaw also defends President Donald Trump’s coronavirus response and pushes back against Senate Democrats who voted against the Republican “skinny” stimulus bill. On President TrumpIn newly released audio-recorded comments between Trump and journalist Bob Woodward and Trump, Trump admits that he downplayed the danger of the coronavirus. Crenshaw took issue with the comment that the United States has not done well when compared to other countries. John Hopkins University’s Global Map for COVID-19Missed breast cancer diagnosesAn estimated 80 thousand breast cancer diagnoses have been missed because of the pandemic.

Sima Ladjevardian immigrated to the United States from Iran as a child and embraced the American dream. She hopes to take that dream to a higher level by defeating 1st term Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw in November. The 2nd has been the district where opponents of former Congressman Ted Poe routinely lost by huge margins. Crenshaw, in his first run for congress in 2018, beat Todd Litton by 7 percentage points and Democrat Ladjevardian sees an opening. For more than 20 years The Madd Hatta morning show was a staple in Houston.

Pence, whose future political aspirations could hinge on November, has campaigned aggressively for the president. Pence has helped steer the White House response to the coronavirus, leading a task force and frequently working with the nations governors. The GOP convention has mentioned the virus far less than Democrats did last week, but Pence could throw it back into focus if he speaks about the work hes led. Conway, whose husband has become an outspoken Trump critic, says she is stepping away to spend more time with her family. Clarence Henderson, a civil rights activist from the 1960s, is expected to speak on the true meaning of peaceful protest."

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, will speak Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. Credit: REUTERS/Carlos BarriaU.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw will take the stage at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night as the sole GOP elected official from Texas with a prime time speaking slot. Hell appear alongside New York Rep. Elise Stefanik before an address by Vice President Mike Pence. Crenshaw and Stefanik, both 36, are the youngest Republicans members of the House. Heres what you need to know about the Houston Republican:Before running for office in 2018, Crenshaw served 10 years as a Navy SEAL.

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2018. Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune(Audio unavailable. Click here to listen on texastribune.org.) In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Alex and Patrick about the incoming hurricane, the first week of college classes and the Republican National Convention.

But there are qualified people still waiting for their stimulus money. According to Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Bill Spencer, here are four things you can do that might help you get your stimulus money faster:Sign up for the stimulus programIf you haven’t already, go to the IRS payment portal and see if you qualify for a payment. Make sure you use direct depositIf you have a bank account, make sure you choose direct deposit for your payment. You’re more likely to get your money faster than having a check sent in the mail. 2nd District - Rep. Dan Crenshaw7th District - Rep. Lizzie Fletcher8th District - Rep. Kevin Brady9th District - Rep. Al Green10th District - Rep. Mike McCaul14th District - Rep. Randy Weber18th District - Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee22nd District - Rep. Pete Olson29th District - Rep. Sylvia Garcia36th District - Rep. Brian Babin