Kevin Freking, Author at The Rapid City Post

Many House Republicans will back a bill to release Epstein files, leaders of the effort say

November 16, 2025

Lawmakers seeking to force the release of files related to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein are predicting a big win in the House this week. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie says a “deluge of Republicans” could vote for the bill, bucking the GOP leadership and President Donald Trump. The bill would force the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in federal prison. House Speaker Mike Johnson also expects the House will decisively back the bill. He says the House will “just get this done and move it on.”

FILE - House Democrats prepare to speak on the steps of the Capitol to insist that Republicans include an extension of expiring health care benefits as part of a government funding compromise, in Washington, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

A historic shutdown is nearly over. It leaves no winners and much frustration

November 11, 2025

The longest government shutdown in history could conclude as soon as Day 43 with almost no one happy with the final result. Democrats didn’t get the heath insurance provisions they demanded added to the spending deal. And Republicans, who control the levers of power in Washington, didn’t escape blame, according to polls and some state and local elections that went poorly for them. The fallout of the shutdown landed on millions of Americans, including federal workers who went without paychecks and airline passengers who had their trips delayed or canceled. An interruption in nutrition assistance programs contributed to long lines at food banks and emotional distress.

Food and milk sit in a shopping cart during a Forgotten Harvest distribution event held at Woodside Bible Church, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Pontiac, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

Trump administration won’t tap contingency fund to keep food aid flowing, memo says

October 24, 2025

The Trump administration says it won’t use a roughly $5 billion contingency fund to keep food aid flowing in November amid the government shutdown. The administration also says that states temporarily covering the cost of food assistance benefits next month will not be reimbursed. The declarations are part of a two-page Agriculture Department memo that surfaced Friday. The memo blames Democratic lawmakers for food assistance benefits not going out on Nov. 1. But House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the administration has the resources to ensure than not a single American goes hungry on Nov. 1. The program helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.

Construction workers atop the U.S. Treasury, bottom right, watch as work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

What lawmakers are saying about Trump’s demolition of the East Wing

October 23, 2025

Members of Congress are divided largely along party lines on the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make room for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom that President Donald Trump wants to build. The stunning images of the teardown this week have left Democratic lawmakers incensed. Republicans, meanwhile, are likening it to a long line of White House renovations over the years. House Speaker Mike Johnson says “the ballroom is going to be glorious.” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is calling it a vanity project. Trump says the White House needs a large entertaining space and the construction will be paid for with donations.

FILE - Paul Ingrassia, arrives before Trump speaks during a summer soiree on the South Lawn of the White House, June 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump’s nominee to lead a watchdog agency hits trouble over MLK and ‘Nazi streak’ text messages

October 21, 2025

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead an office charged with protecting whistleblowers appears to be in jeopardy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he hopes the White House withdraws Paul Ingrassia’s nomination. The growing opposition to Ingrassia comes after a Politico report of a text chat that showed him saying the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.” Ingrassia described himself in the chat as sometimes having “a Nazi streak.” Ingrassia’s lawyer says the text messages might have been manipulated. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said Tuesday he’s opposed to Ingrassia’s nomination for the Office of Special Counsel job. Democrats say Trump should pull Ingrassia’s nomination.

A sign that reads "Closed due to federal government shutdown," is seen outside of the National Gallery of Art on the 6th day of the government shutdown, in Washington, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Shutdown impact: What it means for workers, federal programs and the economy

October 18, 2025

The federal government shutdown is approaching the second longest on record and there’s no end in sight. Some lawmakers predict it could surpass the 35-day shutdown from President Donald Trump’s first term. The nation’s 1.3 million active-duty service members have gotten a temporary reprieve. But hundreds of thousands of federal civilian employees are being furloughed and facing financial stress. The travel economy is taking a big hit with tourist sites such as Smithsonian museums in the nation’s capital closed. There have been air controller shortages in some cities and flight delays. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more it could be a drag on the economy.

The U.S. Capitol is seen at sunrise on the 6th day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Pressure points ahead could bring a quicker end to the shutdown

October 8, 2025

The first week is the easy one. The pressure to resolve the federal shutdown will gradually build as the shutdown enters its second week and government workers miss paychecks, and important programs begin to run out of money. Missed paychecks by workers, airline delays, closed parks and museums are just some of the pressure points that could help force a resolution. The impact on tourism and the economy could also play a role. Members of Congress are increasingly focused on the possibility of a missed payday for the nation’s military service members on Oct. 15.

The U.S. Capitol is seen, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Will the government shutdown affect next year’s election? Recent history provides clues

October 5, 2025

Political leaders in Washington are spending much of their energy these days blaming the other party for what could be a significant government shutdown. That effort includes shaping the narrative for next year’s midterm elections. The Democratic campaign arm for House members has taken out digital ads critical of the Republican incumbents in 35 congressional districts it considers in play. Meanwhile, the House Republican campaign organization has digital ads running in dozens of swing districts. But recent history would suggest shutdowns play a limited role in subsequent elections as voters soon move on to other priorities.

The Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, with just days to go before federal money runs out with the end of the fiscal year on Tuesday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

What will happen if there’s a government shutdown at day’s end

September 29, 2025

Washington is just hours away from yet another federal government shutdown. Prospects are looking rather bleak for a last-minute compromise in Congress to avoid federal closures beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. A lot of government would continue during a shutdown. FBI investigators, CIA officers, air traffic controllers and agents manning airport checkpoints continue to work. So do members of the Armed Forces. But they won’t get paid until the lapse in federal funding ends. In a provocative move, the White House is also threatening the mass firing of federal workers if a shutdown begins Wednesday.

What we know about how a government shutdown would unfold

September 25, 2025

The threat of a government shutdown has become a recurring event in Washington. Another one of those moments has arrived as the beginning of the fiscal year approaches Wednesday. This time, however, prospects for a last-minute compromise look rather bleak. A lot of government would continue during a shutdown. FBI investigators, CIA officers, air traffic controllers and agents manning airport checkpoints continue to work. So do members of the Armed Forces. But they won’t get paid until the lapse in federal funding ends. In a provocative move, the White House is also threatening the mass firing of federal workers if a shutdown begins Oct. 1.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and defended employers who take action against their workers whose comments go too far, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House voting on funding patch as parties trade blame for potential shutdown

September 18, 2025

Republicans and Democratic lawmakers show no signs of budging as the House takes up a bill to avert a partial government shutdown in less than two weeks. The bill to be voted on Friday would generally continue existing funding levels through Nov. 21. Democratic leaders are adamantly opposed. They say Republicans did not allow them to have a say on the measure, even though some Democratic support will be needed to get a bill signed into law. House Speaker Mike Johnson sounded confident leading up to the vote. Still, President Donald Trump, in a sign it will be close, said on his social media site that “Every House Republican should UNIFY, and VOTE YES!”

Republicans unveil a bill to fund the government through Nov. 21. Democrats call it partisan

September 16, 2025

House Republicans are unveiling a stopgap spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded through Nov. 21. They are essentially daring Democrats to block it knowing that the fallout would likely be a partial government shutdown that would begin Oct. 1. The bill would generally fund agencies at current levels, with a few exceptions, including an extra $88 million to boost security for lawmakers and members of the Supreme Court and the executive branch. The proposed boost in security funding comes as lawmakers face an increasing number of personal threats, with their concerns heightened by the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

August recess can’t hide tensions ahead for Congress on spending and Trump nominations

August 4, 2025

Lawmakers have left Washington for the annual August recess, but a few weeks of relative quiet at the U.S. Capitol can’t mask the partisan tensions that are brewing on government funding and President Donald Trump’s nominees. It could make for a momentous September. On government funding, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries sent their Republican counterparts a sharply-worded letter Monday calling for a meeting this week. They said it will take bipartisanship to avert a “painful, unnecessary shutdown.” On nominees, Republicans are considering changes to Senate rules to get more of Trump’s nominees confirmed.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., looks over notes as Senate Republicans work to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved spending targeted by DOGE, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Government shutdown talk is starting early ahead of a difficult funding fight in Congress this fall

July 29, 2025

Congressional leaders are already starting to trade blame for a government shutdown, two months before the funding deadline. The posturing sends a signal the threat of a stoppage is more serious than usual. Democratic leadership from both chambers and the two panels responsible for drafting spending bills met behind closed doors recently to discuss the strategy ahead. The Democrats emerged asserting Republicans need to work with them. But the Democrats carefully avoided spelling out red lines if Republicans opt not to go that route. Republican lawmakers view the Democrats as itching for a shutdown after a series of political losses this year.

Trump signs bill to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid, public broadcasting funding

July 24, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed a bill to cancel about $9 billion that had been approved for public broadcasting and foreign aid. Republicans are working to lock in cuts to programs targeted by the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency. The White House had billed the legislation as a test case and said more such rescission packages would be on the way if Congress went along. The bulk of the spending being clawed back is for foreign assistance programs. About $1.1 billion was destined for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR and PBS, though most of that money is distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country.

President Donald Trump holds his signed signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Washington, as House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., left, watches and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., takes a photo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Budget office says Trump’s tax law will add $3.4 trillion to deficits, leave 10 million uninsured

July 21, 2025

President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cut bill will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034. That’s a slight increase compared with a prior estimate from the Congressional Budget Office that had been made just before Republicans made final tweaks to get the legislation passed. Meanwhile, the picture for the number of people who would become uninsured improved. That estimate dropped to 10 million more uninsured in 2034, compared with 11.8 million in the prior projection. Republicans have insisted that economic growth will exceed the CBO’s projections for the next decade. But nonpartisan watchdogs have also said the bill would greatly increase future deficits.

FILE - Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., talks after a policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

A Senate vote this week will test the popularity of DOGE spending cuts

July 14, 2025

Senate Republicans are putting the popularity of Department of Government Efficiency spending cuts to the test this week. The GOP lawmakers are looking to pass President Donald Trump’s request to claw back $9.4 billion in spending on public media and foreign aid. Senate Democrats are looking to kill the measure. The House has already approved the rescissions package on a mostly party line 214-212 vote. The Senate has little time to spare to beat the 45-day deadline for the Republican president’s signature. If Congress fails to act by Friday, then the spending stands.

FILE - Josh Waldron, co-founder and CEO of SilencerCo, holds a 9mm handgun with a suppressor embedded into the barrel, Jan. 17, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lisa Marie Pane, File)

Republicans hit major setback in their effort to ease regulations on gun silencers

June 27, 2025

Republican efforts to loosen regulations on gun silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns have been dealt a big setback. The Senate parliamentarian advised Friday that the proposal would need to clear a 60-vote threshold if included in President Donald Trump’s big tax and immigration bill. Lawmakers said the provision was deemed by the Senate parliamentarian to be in violation of the “Byrd Rule,” which stipulates that the budget changes sought in the legislation cannot be “merely incidental” to the policy changes. Gun-control groups celebrated the parliamentarian’s ruling, saying the items have been regulated for nearly 100 years because of the threat to first responders and communities.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center left, speaks to reporters along with members of the Republican leadership, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Meet the Senate parliamentarian, the official tying Republicans in knots over their tax bill

June 26, 2025

A few Republicans are reacting with indignation after the Senate parliamentarian advised that some of the measures in their tax and immigration bill could not be included in the legislation. The ruling from Elizabeth MacDonough was a blow to the GOP’s efforts to wring hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid over the next decade. Senate Republicans could opt to try to override her recommendations, but they are unlikely to do so. It’s hardly the first time the parliamentarian’s normally low-key and lawyerly role has drawn a blast of public criticism, sometimes from Democrats.

Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought testifies during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the rescissions package on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Senators challenge Trump’s proposed cuts to foreign aid and public media in contentious hearing

June 25, 2025

Republicans and Democrats on a key Senate panel are challenging the merits of cancelling billions of dollars in spending for foreign aid and public media, as requested by President Donald Trump. The objections came as part of a contentious hearing Wednesday examining the White House’s request for the cuts. The House has already voted to claw back the $9.4 billion in spending. Now, the Senate is preparing to take up the package with a July 18 deadline for action. If the Senate declines to approve a measure by then, the Trump administration must obligate and spend the funds in question.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is joined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., left, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, as he talks to reporters about Senate Republicans' efforts to pass President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending agenda with deeper Medicaid cuts, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Republican attempt to discourage Trump lawsuits has hit a big obstacle

June 23, 2025

Republicans have hit a roadblock in an effort that could deter nonprofits, individuals and others from filing lawsuits to block President Donald Trump’s executive actions. Republicans sought in their big tax bill to bar federal courts from issuing temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions against the federal government unless the plaintiffs post what in many cases would be a massive financial bond. The proposal was found to be in violation of the Senate’s rules, which means it is likely to be abandoned. Critics warned the proposal would have a chilling effect on potential litigants at a time when Trump is facing lawsuits nationwide.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters following closed-door party meetings at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

How Senate Republicans want to change the tax breaks in Trump’s big bill

June 20, 2025

House and Senate Republicans are taking different approaches when it comes to the tax cuts that lawmakers are looking to include in their massive tax bill. Republicans in the two chambers don’t agree on the size of a deduction for state and local taxes. They are also at odds on such things as allowing people to use their health savings accounts to help pay for their gym membership, or whether electric vehicle and hybrid owners should have to pay an annual fee. How they work out their differences in the coming weeks will help determine how successful they are at passing their marquee legislation.

Kevin Freking.