Hello readers. Kathryn Palmer here, and welcome back to On Politics! Happy February. Here's a roundup of today's top politics news. |
It's another shutdown. When could this one end? |
A partial government shutdown entered its third day today, as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill in hopes of making the funding lapse a brief one. It's less likely this shutdown will drag on a record-breaking 43 days like the one last fall did, and it is significantly narrower in its impact, though important programs and services, such as air traffic control and the IRS, are affected. Many federal workers have started the work week today on furlough. Senate Democrats negotiated a deal with the White House late last week to pass a revised spending package while reworking a Department of Homeland Security funding bill amid concerns with immigration enforcement since a U.S. citizen was killed amid federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. Now, that package is going back to the House. Follow USA TODAY's live coverage of the shutdown throughout the day here. | A view of the U.S. Capitol dome on day two of a partial government shutdown in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2026. Ken Cedeno, REUTERS |
Trump Kennedy Center will close for two years |
Its board was gutted, then its name was changed, then it faced artist backlash and cancelled programs. Now, Washington, DC's flagship venue for the arts is facing yet another obstacle, after the president announced yesterday that the renamed Trump Kennedy Center would close for two years for renovations. Its doors will shutter on July 4, Trump said on social media, and remain closed for a revamp. He said funding has already been secured, but offered no other information about who would pay for it. Historically, the center has hosted hundreds of events each year, but it has been grappling with a domino-like spate of cancellations from performers in protest of Trump's takeover of the venue. |
Trump says 'we'll find out' to Iran leader's warning |
Iran's supreme leader warned a regional conflict could unfold if the United States attacked, amid frantic regional diplomatic talks to try to lower the temperature between Tehran and DC. The Iranian leader was quoted by the state-run media, saying that if the U.S. started a war, "this time it will be a regional war." Trump has been ratcheting up his threats against the Middle Eastern nation over the past several weeks, first floating U.S. military action in response to Iran's violent crackdown on protesters last month. Now, he's sent several warships to the region and is threatening force unless Iran comes to the table to reach a nuclear deal. "Hopefully, we'll make a deal," Trump said in response to the Iranian leader's comments. "If we don't make a deal, then we'll find out whether or not he was right." | | "Melania" was panned by critics. Still, the film made history, illustrating the divide between Hollywood and Trump's hold on his MAGA base. | | It's a partial shutdown, but that still means some things are changed. | | | | Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated for a Grammy for the audio book of her memoir, "Lovely One." She lost to the Dalai Lama. | | | | President Trump threatened to sue Grammys host Trevor Noah over a joke he made about Trump and Bill Clinton visiting Jeffrey Epstein's island. | | | | Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election, flipping a district that Trump had won by 17 percentage points in 2024. | | | | | Sign up for the news you want | Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. | | | | | |
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