Samantha Freeman

Editorial intern @PunchbowlNews
Formerly @CapitolNewsIL

Northwestern Medill graduate candidate

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he expects a vote on voter ID but is not sure when yet.

When asked if there was any other scheduling news, Thune laughed and said: “Hold that thought.”

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said her meeting with Todd Blanche yesterday “was a good meeting,” but she wouldn’t comment about whether she’d vote to confirm him.

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Sen. John Cornyn said they still don’t have the votes yet to confirm Todd Blanche.

The current holdouts are Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Bill Cassidy.

“I don’t think there's more we can tell them,” Cornyn said.

[Punchbowl News @PunchbowlNews]

🚨 NEW FLY OUT DAY SOON ✈️

Fly Out Day’s season finale featuring President Donald Trump comes out tomorrow. @JakeSherman sits down with him to talk the SAVE America Act, Iran, Blanche's nomination and MUCH more.

Don't miss it! Subscribe now! https://t.co/J7N15a1OlS

[Anthony Adragna @AnthonyAdragna]

Todd Blanche in the basement

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

When asked if the budget resolution will be adopted before August recess, Thune said “Um... I'm probably just better not making protections on that.”

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of a reconciliation plan: “It’s not clear yet, but it’s getting less cloudy.”

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of a reconciliation plan: “It’s not clear yet, but it’s getting less cloudy.”

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Sen. John Kennedy said there’s not an agreement on the budget resolution.

“I still don't have clarity about what we’re going to do and when we are going to do it.”

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Sen. John Cornyn said there’s no consensus on the budget resolution.

On whether he expects a vote this week: “I think it’s up in the air.”

[Anthony Adragna @AnthonyAdragna]

.@lisamurkowski: “No consensus on anything” in GOP lunch.

Also won’t comment on Blanche nomination.

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

When asked if she’d vote to confirm Todd Blanche, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she’s not going to comment at this time.

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

On his way out of the Senate lunch today, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said they had “a very good conversation” about the Protect College Sports Act, and he hopes there will be a vote this week.

“I outlined everything that's in the bill, and the very broad coalition that's supporting it. And it was a very positive conversation.”

[Samantha Freeman @samfreereports]

Budget Committee Chair Ron Johnson said the closed-door meeting this morning on the budget resolution “went well,” and their first priority is to fund the government.

“The Budget Committee members are certainly supportive of, you know, having a vote-a-rama and passing that this week. But we need first to fund the government. That's also something I think we agree on.”

[Laura Weiss @LauraEWeiss16]

NEWS: Senate Judiciary Committee votes 12-10 to advance Todd Blanche’s AG nom

Vote along party lines after DOJ deal w/ Cornyn/Tillis

Now it goes to the floor, where a few R skeptics haven’t said yet how they’ll vote. Without a time agreement, soonest final vote could happen is Saturday