Sasse likely to resign from Senate, putting all eyes on Ricketts

Sasse likely to resign from Senate, putting all eyes on Ricketts-politico:  Ben Sasse is likely to accept a job as the president of the University of Florida and resign his Senate seat in the near future, according to two people familiar with the Nebraska Republican’s plans.

Senators seek to clear procedural hurdles on unfinished business

Senators seek to clear procedural hurdles on unfinished business-rollcall:  Senate leaders are looking to clear legislation that would expand veterans health and disability benefits after passing a semiconductor manufacturing incentives and science package, but getting both bipartisan priorities done next week will require cooperation from all 100 senators.

Test vote on ‘chips-plus’ bill teed up in Senate

Test vote on ‘chips-plus’ bill teed up in Senate-rollcall:  Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer pledged to move ahead with a procedural vote Tuesday afternoon on legislation that would, at minimum, fund semiconductor manufacturing grants and tax incentives through 2026.

Dems stand back and watch Chuck and Joe show

Dems stand back and watch Chuck and Joe show-politico:  The fate of Senate Democrats’ yearlong drama over the party’s signature bill essentially boils down to two people: Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin.

Schumer's Senate shocker: Bills are passing

Schumer's Senate shocker: Bills are passing-politico:  It’s the Capitol’s election-year surprise: The 50-50 Senate is actually working. After high-profile partisan failures on President Joe Biden’s signature domestic policy bill and on weakening the filibuster for voting reform, the chamber’s racked up a series of bipartisan accomplishments lately — some of which had eluded Congress for years.

What's in a name? Trio of Johns vies to succeed McConnell

What's in a name? Trio of Johns vies to succeed McConnell-politico:  When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which won’t happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him.

Strange but true: Bernie takes a 'very pragmatic' turn

Strange but true: Bernie takes a 'very pragmatic' turn-politico:  Bernie Sanders gave Washington whiplash this week — and it was all part of his plan.  Barely 24 hours after the Vermont senator publicly rejected a $3.5 trillion spending deal following a Monday meeting with President Joe Biden, he turned around to tout it as the most transformational policy proposal in nearly 100 years.

Democrats reach turning point with Manchin

Democrats reach turning point with Manchin-thehill: Democrats say they’re at a turning point with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).  Manchin’s decision to make known his opposition to the party’s sweeping voting rights legislation, a top priority for many Democrats, has raised serious questions about whether they can enact the bold agenda envisioned for President Biden’s first term.

Democrats set to begin chaotic three-week sprint

This week: Democrats set to begin chaotic three-week sprint-thehill: Senate Democrats are returning to Washington on Monday to kick off a three-week sprint that will define Capitol Hill between now and when they leave at the end of the month for their next recess.

Val Demings to run for Senate against Rubio

Val Demings to run for Senate against Rubio-politico:  Florida Rep. Val Demings is planning to run for the U.S. Senate, rather than governor, providing Democrats with a big-name candidate to take on Republican Sen. Marco Rubio next year.

Chuck Grassley is the 80-something everyone's waiting on

Chuck Grassley is the 80-something everyone's waiting on-politico:  Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. The 87-year-old does push-ups, too.  “You want me to do 35 for you?” he responded when asked about his regimen as he waited for a burger at Bambino’s, a haunt in this town of about 800 people.

Biden win sets off rush for Harris’ Senate seat in California

Biden win sets off rush for Harris’ Senate seat in California-politico:  Launching Kamala Harris into the White House as vice president come January has officially kicked off one of Gov. Gavin Newsom's biggest political decisions: appointing California's next U.S. senator.

America's new power couple: Mitch and Joe

America's new power couple: Mitch and Joe-politico:  During Barack Obama’s presidency, Joe Biden’s propensity for cutting deals with Mitch McConnell became a running source of aggravation for liberals. Now it will be the key to getting anything done at all.

Amid impeachment saga, a kitchen sink of legislative dealing

Amid impeachment saga, a kitchen sink of legislative dealing-rollcall: The holiday rush on Capitol Hill is in full swing, and the bipartisan legislative lethargy is showing signs of easing even as the House debates articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Senate and House negotiators are still trying to reach an agreement on a bundle of spending bills, but there has been a relative abundance of other bipartisan deal-making and even actual legislation passing in the Senate.

Senate clears stopgap spending bill, averts shutdown

Senate clears stopgap spending bill, averts shutdown-politco: The Senate today passed stopgap spending legislation that would ward off a looming government shutdown and keep federal funding on autopilot through November 21. The upper chamber easily cleared the bill, H.R. 4378, in an 81-16 vote. President Trump is expected to sign it. Current federal funding runs out Monday.

Democrats see golden opportunity to take Georgia Senate seat

Democrats see golden opportunity to take Georgia Senate seat-thehill: Democrats are feeling bullish about their chances to win a Senate seat in Georgia in the wake of GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson’s decision to retire. The announcement, Democrats argue, gives them a golden opportunity to expand the Senate battleground map heading into 2020 and chip away at the GOP’s Senate firewall.

Nervous Republicans focus energy on protecting Senate “firewall"

Nervous Republicans focus energy on protecting Senate “firewall”-thehill: The GOP majority in the Senate is shaping up as a firewall for Republicans who are worried that President Trump might falter and lose the White House next year. Republicans see winning back the House majority as a tough climb in 2020, and head-to-head matchups between Trump and various Democratic presidential contenders show the president behind his potential challengers.

Hickenlooper announces Senate bid

Hickenlooper announces Senate bid-thehill: Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), who last week ended his 2020 presidential campaign, announced on Thursday that he will seek a seat in the U.S. Senate. “I’m not done fighting for the people of Colorado,” he said in a video attacking Washington over preexisting conditions, prescription prices and the opening of public land to developers.

Hickenlooper ends presidential bid

Hickenlooper ends presidential bid-thehill: Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary on Thursday, fueling speculation that he will launch a Senate bid in his home state. He becomes the second major candidate after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to drop out of the crowded primary field, leaving 23 still vying for the nomination.

Democrats look to demonize GOP leader

Democrats look to demonize GOP leader-thehill: Democrats want to flip the script on Republicans by using Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as the poster boy for next year’s congressional elections. They think they can use the self-described “Grim Reaper” in swing races in the same way Republicans have demonized Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in previous election years.