Steven T. Dennis
@steventdennis.bsky.social
I cover the U.S. Senate for Bloomberg News. You may know me from #FridayNightZillow, but C-SPAN is more my natural habitat. #Introduction
I'm also @steventdennis on the other places. Opinions mine. Email: sdennis17@bloomberg.net
I'm also @steventdennis on the other places. Opinions mine. Email: sdennis17@bloomberg.net
Pinned
Carolyn June Dennis, 1944-2025
“There is no perfection on the physical plane.”
This was a saying that my mother, who died October 21, 2025 at 81 after a long period with Alzheimer’s, used to repeat often, especially when confronted with some daily frustration or tragedy of life. Cont'd. 🧵
“There is no perfection on the physical plane.”
This was a saying that my mother, who died October 21, 2025 at 81 after a long period with Alzheimer’s, used to repeat often, especially when confronted with some daily frustration or tragedy of life. Cont'd. 🧵
All the tweets I’m seeing tonight from angry liberals are extremely similar to the backlash tweets against Republican leaders who reopened government in 2013 after failing to force Obama to repeal the ACA.
The typical way to force changes in policy is to win elections. Democrats lost a bunch.
The typical way to force changes in policy is to win elections. Democrats lost a bunch.
November 11, 2025 at 4:07 AM
All the tweets I’m seeing tonight from angry liberals are extremely similar to the backlash tweets against Republican leaders who reopened government in 2013 after failing to force Obama to repeal the ACA.
The typical way to force changes in policy is to win elections. Democrats lost a bunch.
The typical way to force changes in policy is to win elections. Democrats lost a bunch.
The fight tonight was over about $25 billion. Thats about 2.5% of the Defense budget. Would cover a year of the enhanced ACA credits. Republicans said that’s unaffordable.
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 AM
The fight tonight was over about $25 billion. Thats about 2.5% of the Defense budget. Would cover a year of the enhanced ACA credits. Republicans said that’s unaffordable.
Reposted by Steven T. Dennis
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
November 11, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
Mitch McConnell prevailed over Rand Paul one more time, passing a ban on intoxicating hemp products as part of the bill to reopen the government.
November 11, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Mitch McConnell prevailed over Rand Paul one more time, passing a ban on intoxicating hemp products as part of the bill to reopen the government.
A lot of happy Republican senators tonight. Susan Collins vows there will be a real effort to extend some ACA subsidies, but also said the ACA is not affordable….
November 11, 2025 at 3:38 AM
A lot of happy Republican senators tonight. Susan Collins vows there will be a real effort to extend some ACA subsidies, but also said the ACA is not affordable….
Near the end of the vote to reopen the government Jeanne Shaheen and John Thune shook hands.
November 11, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Near the end of the vote to reopen the government Jeanne Shaheen and John Thune shook hands.
In about 2 days, the Epstein Files resolution will have its 218th signature
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
In about 2 days, the Epstein Files resolution will have its 218th signature
40 Days and 40 Nights:
*Moses to deliver the Ten Commandments
*Temptation of Christ
*Great Flood / Noah
*Reach deal to end shutdown
*Moses to deliver the Ten Commandments
*Temptation of Christ
*Great Flood / Noah
*Reach deal to end shutdown
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
40 Days and 40 Nights:
*Moses to deliver the Ten Commandments
*Temptation of Christ
*Great Flood / Noah
*Reach deal to end shutdown
*Moses to deliver the Ten Commandments
*Temptation of Christ
*Great Flood / Noah
*Reach deal to end shutdown
60-40! Procedural vote passes
November 10, 2025 at 3:50 AM
60-40! Procedural vote passes
I sense a lot of “vote no, hope yes” from Democrats. This shutdown has not been an enjoyable exercise.
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
I sense a lot of “vote no, hope yes” from Democrats. This shutdown has not been an enjoyable exercise.
Dems who voted with GOP on ending shutdown:
DURBIN
SHAHEEN
HASSAN
FETTERMAN
ROSEN
CORTEZ MASTO
KAINE
And KING (I)
On track for 60-40 vote
DURBIN
SHAHEEN
HASSAN
FETTERMAN
ROSEN
CORTEZ MASTO
KAINE
And KING (I)
On track for 60-40 vote
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Dems who voted with GOP on ending shutdown:
DURBIN
SHAHEEN
HASSAN
FETTERMAN
ROSEN
CORTEZ MASTO
KAINE
And KING (I)
On track for 60-40 vote
DURBIN
SHAHEEN
HASSAN
FETTERMAN
ROSEN
CORTEZ MASTO
KAINE
And KING (I)
On track for 60-40 vote
Rick Scott, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson have not voted. They appear to be negotiating something with Thune in the back of the Senate chamber.
We are at 56-40
Also waiting on Cornyn
We are at 56-40
Also waiting on Cornyn
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Rick Scott, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson have not voted. They appear to be negotiating something with Thune in the back of the Senate chamber.
We are at 56-40
Also waiting on Cornyn
We are at 56-40
Also waiting on Cornyn
Durbin voting to advance the new GOP deal to end the shutdown. Retiring No. 2 Democrat. Schumer, his former roommate, is a no.
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Durbin voting to advance the new GOP deal to end the shutdown. Retiring No. 2 Democrat. Schumer, his former roommate, is a no.
*SENATE DEMOCRAT KAINE SAYS HE BACKS NEW GOP BILL TO END SHUTDOWN; WINS NEW RESTRICTIONS ON RIFS
November 10, 2025 at 12:13 AM
*SENATE DEMOCRAT KAINE SAYS HE BACKS NEW GOP BILL TO END SHUTDOWN; WINS NEW RESTRICTIONS ON RIFS
*KEY SENATE DEMOCRATS PLAN TO ADVANCE GOP BILL TO END SHUTDOWN
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
*KEY SENATE DEMOCRATS PLAN TO ADVANCE GOP BILL TO END SHUTDOWN
! A key group of Senate Democrats is leaning toward voting for a deal to end the shutdown, provided final details can be worked out like worker protections (Gift link)
(Deal does NOT include an ACA extension.)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
(Deal does NOT include an ACA extension.)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Thune Plans Test Vote on Shutdown, Saying Deal Is Getting Closer
Senate Republican leader John Thune said a deal is “coming together” as he planned a test vote Sunday on a narrow spending package that would end the 40-day government shutdown.
www.bloomberg.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
! A key group of Senate Democrats is leaning toward voting for a deal to end the shutdown, provided final details can be worked out like worker protections (Gift link)
(Deal does NOT include an ACA extension.)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
(Deal does NOT include an ACA extension.)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Saw Ds chatting with Thune in back hallway, including Hassan, who has been part of bipartisan talks to end shutdown and has not been talking about them with the press. R appropriator Britt thinks we'll be voting this weekend.
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Saw Ds chatting with Thune in back hallway, including Hassan, who has been part of bipartisan talks to end shutdown and has not been talking about them with the press. R appropriator Britt thinks we'll be voting this weekend.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen says it's clear Rs won't accept Schumer's offer and they need to work on a new path to end shutdown; she's hoping appropriations will be part of it.
November 8, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Senator Jeanne Shaheen says it's clear Rs won't accept Schumer's offer and they need to work on a new path to end shutdown; she's hoping appropriations will be part of it.
A one-chamber bill and $3 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
November 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
A one-chamber bill and $3 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
Thought the Dem play this week might be to announce backing for the Nov. 21 CR to give Rs a chance to do what they've promised - negotiate on ACA with govt open - but with a short leash. They have gone a different route.
November 6, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Thought the Dem play this week might be to announce backing for the Nov. 21 CR to give Rs a chance to do what they've promised - negotiate on ACA with govt open - but with a short leash. They have gone a different route.
House of Representatives still absent is not helping resolve the shutdown. It was a strategy designed to pressure Ds but instead angered them and made them dig in. (Same with tactics like blocking the NY-NJ tunnel, etc. etc.)
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
House of Representatives still absent is not helping resolve the shutdown. It was a strategy designed to pressure Ds but instead angered them and made them dig in. (Same with tactics like blocking the NY-NJ tunnel, etc. etc.)
Waiting for Democrats to exit lunch
November 6, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Waiting for Democrats to exit lunch
“We’re not going to do that”
- McConnell stops to tell me in rare hallway comment on Trump’s call to nuke the filibuster.
- McConnell stops to tell me in rare hallway comment on Trump’s call to nuke the filibuster.
November 5, 2025 at 8:54 PM
“We’re not going to do that”
- McConnell stops to tell me in rare hallway comment on Trump’s call to nuke the filibuster.
- McConnell stops to tell me in rare hallway comment on Trump’s call to nuke the filibuster.
Dems urging SCOTUS to overturn Trump’s emergency tariffs
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Dems urging SCOTUS to overturn Trump’s emergency tariffs