Senate Chaplain Barry Black on Monday offered a pointed prayer, saying he hopes lawmakers remember that “no gold medals given” for breaking shutdown records. “Eternal God, our king,

BOSTON ― Unhappy with what he views as a political blame game being spread by taxpayer-funded state communications, state Sen. Ryan Fattman shut down the Senate’s session after just a few minutes Monday, Oct. 27, and suggested he might do the same Oct. 30 unless the messaging changes.

President Donald Trump is in Asia this week, while back in Washington the partial government shutdown shows no sign of ending. The Senate this week is expected to take up three joint resolutions that would terminate emergency declarations by the president that have been used to impose tariffs.

TRUMP IN JAPAN: President Donald Trump is in Japan, the second stop of his three-country tour of Asia. He met with newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi this morning, and will soon address U.S. troops on board the USS George Washington.

A Senate committee sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Monday, asking for details about the league's approach to investigating potential gambling violations.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House out of session since Sept. 19, and the unfinished work is piling up as the shutdown drags into its sixth week.

Three candidates are running in the heavily conservative district: Republicans Leigh Wambsganss and John Huffman, and Democrat Taylor Rehmet.

Senate Republicans are set to face their latest unity test this week on President Donald Trump’s tariffs and import taxes, which have created heartburn for GOP lawmakers since the White House imposed them earlier this year.