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CQ Budget

by CQ Roll Call

CQ Roll Call’s budget tracker David Lerman explains how lawmakers in Congress spend the nation’s money.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Sep 28, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Power of the purse challenged

    The Trump administration announced plans to cancel $810 million, mostly for health and education programs,that Congress had already appropriated, in a so-called pocket rescission. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to discuss the funding at stake, the programs...

  2. Iran war funding dilemma

    The price tag of the Iran war is $43 billion and counting, but Congress has yet to agree on a funding plan. CQ Roll Call's John M. Donnelly joins host David Lerman to discuss the latest cost estimates, projections of future costs, and prospects for funding the war by year's end. Learn more about...

  3. Winter funding fight brewing

    While Congress’ fall priorities — cryptocurrency, college sports and permitting — are not budget-related, a new December spending deadline is setting the stage for another funding fight. CQ Roll Call's Peter Cohn, Savannah Behrmann and Aidan Quigley assess the fall agenda and the prospects for a...

  4. Congress punts on big issues

    Congress avoided a shutdown fight until December, but passed on several sticky problems it will need to address after Election Day. CQ Roll Editor in Chief Jason Dick and CQ Roll Call Budget Editor David Lerman outline the major fights looming in November in a very special Political Theater and…

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  5. Unfinished business

    The Senate left town for its August recess with much of its agenda put on ice, including a third budget reconciliation package. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to assess what the pile-up of work means for September and a lame-duck session following the…

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  6. Senate funding patch secured

    With a bipartisan deal in hand to avoid a partial government shutdown, Senate leaders hope to pass the stopgap measure this week. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to assess the obstacles to passage that lie ahead and what else could cross the finish line before...

  7. Funding patch expands

    The Senate wants to pass an expanded version of a House-passed stopgap funding bill before it leaves town for the August recess. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak join host David Lerman to discuss the prospects for a funding extension and why work on reconciliation 3.0 is being put...

  8. House spending push

    Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is trying this week to adopt a budget resolution and pass the annual defense authorization bill and stopgap spending measure. CQ Roll Call’s Aris Folley and Jacob Fulton join guest host Aidan Quigley to discuss the prospects of the continuing resolution and the budget...

  9. New push on reconciliation 3.0

    The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., triggers a Senate Budget Committee shake-up as House Republicans make a new push this week for a third reconciliation package. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and Aidan Quigley join host David Lerman to assess the impact of Graham's death and prospects for…

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  10. Leadership test in House

    A push for new voting restrictions has held up business in the House, including appropriations bills. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Aris Folley join host David Lerman in assessing the leadership test facing Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and what it means for spending bills and a third...

  11. Spending split

    While House appropriators move forward with their fiscal 2027 spending bills, the usually bipartisan Senate process has run into major roadblocks with disputes over spending levels and amendments. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and Aidan Quigley discuss the status of appropriations in both chambers…

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  12. Reconciliation 3.0 hurdles

    House Republicans are scrambling to produce a third reconciliation bill focused on defense spending and combating fraud, but they face numerous obstacles. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak join host David Lerman to assess the bill's prospects and all the complications that lie…

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  13. At the finish line

    Republicans appeared set to clear a Senate-passed reconcilation bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies through the rest of President Donald Trump's term. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and Paul M. Krawzak join host David Lerman to discuss the final chapter of the reconciliation battle and how…

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  14. 'Anti-weaponization' fund retreat

    The Trump administration began to back down from its push for a $1.8 billion Justice Department fund rewarding alleged victims of past administrations. CQ Roll Call's Michael Macagnone and Aidan Quigley join host David Lerman to discuss what the apparent retreat might mean for a GOP…

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  15. Immigration funding bill derailed

    The surprise creation of a Justice Department "anti-weapononization" fund outraged Senate Republicans and disrupted plans to pass their reconciliation bill for immigration enforcement before the Memorial Day recess. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and Jacob Fulton join host David Lerman in assessing…

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  16. Reconciliation race

    Republicans are scrambling to rewrite portions of the $72 billion budget reconciliation bill after the Senate parliamentarian advised against key parts, including Secret Service funding connected to the White House ballroom project. CQ's Paul M. Krawzak and Aidan Quigley discuss the...

  17. Ballroom blitz

    Democrats are taking aim at $1 billion in the GOP's reconciliation bill for security funds connected to plans for a White House ballroom. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak joins host David Lerman for a look at the procedural challenges facing the security money and how it could complicate passage of…

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  18. GOP friction over shutdown finale

    Passage of a bill to end the record-breaking shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security exposed widening tensions between House and Senate Republicans. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Aris Folley join host David Lerman to discuss what it took to end the shutdown, the source of simmering...

  19. Critical test for immigration funding

    House Republicans will try to adopt a budget resolution that emerged from the Senate in a first step toward funding immigration agencies. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman discuss the challenge for House leaders and the road ahead for the budget reconciliation…

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  20. Reconciliation picks up, again

    President Donald Trump has backed Senate Republicans' plan for two more reconciliation bills, the first of which would focus solely on immigration enforcement funding. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and Aris Folley describe the prospects of the bill and the next steps for the fiscal 2027 spending...

  21. New budget, same problems

    President Donald Trump's fiscal 2027 spending request sets the stage for another partisan clash over guns versus butter, while calling for at least one more reconciliation bill that would test Republican unity. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman assess the prospects for...

  22. GOP leadership schism

    The House and Senate standoff over homeland security funding exposed a stunning disconnect between the top two Republican leaders. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman discuss the clash over funding strategies between the two chambers, the prospects for reaching a deal and whether a...

  23. Fiscal 2027 budget outlook

    President Donald Trump is preparing to send Congress a fiscal 2027 budget request, even as lawmakers try to find a deal on this year's Homeland Security funding and consider a potential supplemental funding package for the Iran war. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman…

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  24. Uncertain path for Iran war funding

    The Trump administration has sent mixed signals about plans for a supplemental war funding package, while providing Congress with little information about the costs of military operations against Iran. CQ Roll Call's John M. Donnelly and David Lerman assess the potential timing for a war funding...

  25. New threat to funding

    President Donald Trump threatened to block all legislation until Congress passes an expanded voter ID bill that Democrats oppose. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman assess what the president's stance means for long-stymied Homeland Security funding and a potential emergency military...

  26. War impact on funding standoff

    The war against Iran gave Republicans a new line of attack in a push to end the partisan standoff over Homeland Security Department funding. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and David Lerman assess how the war might impact negotiations over an immigration enforcement overhaul compromise that could…

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  27. Tug-of-war over tariffs

    A landmark Supreme Court ruling upended federal revenue projections and sent the Trump administration scrambling for alternative tariff authorities. CQ Roll Call's Michael Macagnone, Aris Folley and David Lerman discuss the long-awaited court verdict, its fiscal impact and what it means for...

  28. Immigration enforcement standoff

    As a partial Homeland Security Department shutdown enters its first full week, there's no sign of a bipartisan immigration deal that could unlock a full-year funding bill. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Savannah Behrmann and David Lerman assess the major sticking points to reaching a deal and the...

  29. Homeland Security spending spat

    Lawmakers are staring down a Friday deadline for Homeland Security funding, with little hope to avoid a partial shutdown. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Chris Johnson and Valerie Yurk examine the Democrats' demands for changes to immigration enforcement policies and the limited potential areas for...

  30. Struggle for votes to end shutdown

    House leaders face a difficult challenge to muster the votes for ending the second partial government shutdown of this fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman examine how mounting Democratic opposition and a fractious GOP conference put a $1.2 trillion spending...

  31. Immigration funding impasse

    A glide path for a final fiscal 2026 spending package suddenly evaporated after the second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis citizen in an immigration crackdown. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Jacob Fulton and David Lerman assess the chances for finding an escape route from another partial…

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  32. Close to the finish line

    The House has passed all 12 spending bills for the current fiscal year and the Senate is on track to clear them by the Jan. 30 deadline to avoid another shutdown. CQ Roll Call's Jessica Wehrman, David Lerman and Aris Folley recount the drama of the House dealmaking and the state of the...

  33. Homeland Security punt and reconciliation talk

    House and Senate appropriators had to punt on a compromise Homeland Security bill as they race toward a Jan. 30 funding deadline. And behind the scenes, talks continue on a potential second "big, beautiful" reconciliation bill. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley, Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman outline...

  34. Appropriators get busy

    Congressional leaders have big hopes for the new year: passing all the remaining, long-delayed spending bills by a Jan. 30 funding deadline. But can they pull it off? CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman assess the outlook for appropriations and what accounts for a new...

  35. Last chance for the year

    House Republicans face a showdown vote this week over health care affordability as enhanced insurance subsidies are set to expire at the end of the month. And Senate leaders are holding out hope for taking up a major spending package despite objections from GOP conservatives. CQ Roll Call's…

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  36. Defense spending uptick

    A new compromise defense authorization bill calls for a higher level of defense spending than President Donald Trump requested for the current fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's John M. Donnelly, Aidan Quigley, and David Lerman assess the new bill and what it means for the defense appropriations…

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  37. Two months to go

    As appropriators aim to finish the nine remaining fiscal 2026 spending bills ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline, CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley and Aidan Quigley discuss two recently released Senate spending bills and the two chambers' competing approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

  38. Appropriations back on track?

    Now that the partial government shutdown is over, can Congress make up for lost time and get long-delayed appropriations bills moving again? CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman assess the political and logistical obstacles of passing appropriations by the Jan. 30 funding...

  39. Politics of a shutdown

    Enough Senate Democrats finally broke ranks with their party to clear a path for ending the longest partial government shutdown in history. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman assess the political fallout of the shutdown, what it means for the Democratic Party, and the…

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  40. Shutdown pressures on the rise

    The Senate is under growing pressure to find a way out of the partial government shutdown that is set to become the longest in history. But President Donald Trump signaled no willingness to negotiate with Democrats on health insurance concerns until the government is reopened. CQ Roll Call's…

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  41. Shutdown pain growing as November nears

    The largest union of federal employees has called on Congress to pass a "clean" continuing resolution as crucial Nov. 1 deadlines for the start of health care open enrollment and food stamp funding near. CQ Roll Call's Aris Folley, Jacob Fulton and Aidan Quigley discuss the prospects of…

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  42. 'Power of the purse' at stake

    President Donald Trump's decision to divert Pentagon research and development funds to pay the troops during the partial shutdown has ignited a fierce debate among budget and legal analysts over whether the move is legal. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman explain the...

  43. Shutdown stalemate

    Neither party shows any sign of blinking in the standoff over a partial government shutdown that enters its third week. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Aris Folley and David Lerman assess how long the shutdown could last, which party may have the upper hand, and whether any pressure points remain...

  44. Trapped in a shutdown

    A partial government shutdown enters its second week with both parties dug in for a protracted fight and congressional leaders unwilling to negotiate. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Peter Cohn and David Lerman assess the roadblocks to a deal that could reopen government and how long it might take…

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  45. Health subsidies standoff

    A partisan divide over extending health insurance subsidies that expire at year's end threatens to trigger a partial government shutdown next week. CQ Roll Call's Sandhya Raman and David Lerman explain what the fight is about, why it's been so intractable, whether a compromise is in sight and…

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  46. Search for an end game

    With barely three weeks to spare, Congress and the Trump administration are struggling to settle on a strategy for a funding extension that would avoid a partial government shutdown next month. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman discuss the competing interests at play, the status of...

  47. 'Pocket rescission' showdown

    Democrats are warning that Republicans risk a partial government shutdown next month if they don't resist President Donald Trump's plan to claw back $4.9 billion in foreign aid through a so-called pocket rescission. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman explain how the White House push…

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  48. Rough-and-tumble September

    The effort to avert a partial government shutdown next month could be uglier than usual after Congress left town for its August recess with partisan tensions at a fever pitch. As the Trump administration seeks to claw back funding, fights over Senate confirmations and the files of convicted sex...

  49. Politics of appropriations

    The appropriations process is under threat from a poisonous political climate as Republicans seek cooperation from Democrats while pursuing partisan reconciliation and rescissions measures. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman discuss the state of the appropriations process at a recent...

  50. Big test on rescissions

    The Senate will take up a bill to claw back $9.4 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds that Democrats warn would blow up the bipartisan appropriations process. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman assess the political importance of the Trump…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

CQ Roll Call’s budget tracker David Lerman explains how lawmakers in Congress spend the nation’s money.

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CQ Roll Call

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CQ Roll Call’s budget tracker David Lerman explains how lawmakers in Congress spend the nation’s money.

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