Increasing Chinese coast guard, navy, and research activity inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone has resulted in confrontations, collisions, and several Philippine injuries, bringing renewed attention to the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S.

In Washington, the US Senate on Monday evening failed to pass a short-term budget to keep federal agencies open. Legal experts suggest, Democrats have almost no chance of extracting real concessions from the Republicans.

The Senate on Monday is voting again on competing measures to reopen the US government, but neither resolution is expected to pass and the federal shutdown will probably continue for at least a few more days.

Senate advances Emil Bove's nomination . The Senate on Thursday advanced the nomination of controversial Trump ally Emil Bove, while the Justice Department fired the daughter of a

Republican congressman Wesley Hunt is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, defying Senate GOP leadership and adding a new element to an already contentious primary campaign.

The vote, which could take place as early as Wednesday, is in response to the Trump administration's recent strikes on drug ships in the Caribbean they claim are primarily coming from Venezuela.

Per sources: Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum from appearing on @ESPN since his @outkick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama. ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus.

Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer opened his residence to the public yesterday for a meet and greet gathering with Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls (D-Coralville), who is running for Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)’s seat in the United States Senate.

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib says he has President Trump's support amid scrutiny and delay in the Senate over of his nomination to be ambassador to Kuwait.

Is the United States Senate What Our Founders Envisioned? With the shutdown ball squarely in the Senate’s court, a fair question feels timelier than ever: Is the United States Senate what our Founders envisioned it to be — or has it fallen short of their design?