The US Senate successfully avoided a government shutdown mere hours before a Friday night deadline, as 10 Senate Democrats joined nearly all Republican members to clear a significant obstacle for a six-month stopgap funding bill.
This vote has left many Democratic activists and House Democrats frustrated, as they had urged their Senate colleagues to oppose the bill, fearing it would strengthen the influence of Donald Trump and Elon Musk over the US government.
Simultaneously, the US president delivered a speech at the Department of Justice, framed as a policy address meant to highlight the administration’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration and drug trafficking, while also expressing his personal grievances with the department.
Here’s a rundown of the most significant US political developments of the day:
Senate averts shutdown but Democrats dismayed
On Friday, the US Senate voted to approve a Republican measure to fund federal agencies until September, thereby preventing a government shutdown just hours ahead of the midnight deadline due to Democratic acquiescence.
The bill secured passage in the Senate with a 54-46 vote, despite significant opposition from Democrats. It will now be forwarded to Donald Trump for his signature.
Read the full story
Putin praises Trump, likely raising alarm bells in Ukraine and Europe
Vladimir Putin expressed approval of Donald Trump for his efforts in enhancing relations between Moscow and Washington, following Trump’s recent comments about having “very good and productive discussions” with Putin.
This exchange of pleasantries between Trump and Putin is expected to intensify concerns in Kyiv and across Europe, where officials are already uneasy about indications that the new US administration may be warming up to Moscow while applying pressure on Ukraine.
Read the full story
Vance booed at classical concert
JD Vance, the US vice president, was met with boos as he took his seat at a National Symphony Orchestra concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Thursday night.
Exclusive footage from The Guardian reveals that booing and jeering erupted when Vance and his wife, Usha, entered the box tier where they were seated.
Read the full story
Newsom under fire for Bannon podcast
California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash for inviting far-right provocateur Steve Bannon onto his podcast.
Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky and a potential future Democratic presidential candidate, stated, “Bannon espouses hatred” and emphasized, “I don’t think we should provide him a platform, ever, anywhere.”
Read the full story
Mark Carney says Canada will never be part of US
Mark Carney declared that Canada will never become a part of the US, after taking the oath as the country’s 24th prime minister in a surprising ascent to power.
“We will never, in any shape or form, be part of the US,” stated the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, while addressing a gathering outside Rideau Hall in Ottawa, in response to Donald Trump’s annexation threats. “We are fundamentally a different country.”
Read the full story
Pro-Israel group touts US ‘deportation list’ of ‘thousands’ of names
A far-right organization has claimed responsibility for the arrest of a Palestinian activist and permanent US resident that the Trump administration is seeking to deport, stating it has submitted “thousands of names” for similar actions.
Mahmoud Khalil, an activist who recently finished his graduate studies at Columbia University, was detained this week, and Donald Trump remarked that this arrest is “the first of many.” Betar US quickly took credit on social media for providing Khalil’s name to authorities, asserting that it has “been working on deportations and will continue to do so.”
Read the full story
Democratic senator ditches his Tesla over Musk cuts
Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly announced his decision to abandon his Tesla, citing Elon Musk’s role in cutting federal budgets and staffing, which he believes threatens social benefit programs.
“Each time I enter this car over the past couple of months, it serves as a reminder of the significant harm that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are inflicting on our country,” the former Navy pilot said in a video shared on X.
Read the full story
60% of US voters disapprove of Musk cost-cutting
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are encountering rising opposition to their efforts to cut federal budgets and staffing after two judges overturned the firing of probationary employees, with public polling revealing strong disapproval of Musk’s methods. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 60% of voters do not approve of how Musk and his so-called department of government efficiency are managing federal personnel, while only 35% expressed approval.
Read the full story
What else happened today:
Trying to catch up? Here’s a summary from March 13.
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·