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Emine Yücel

@emineirmakyucel.bsky.social

28K followers 70 following 146 posts

covering Congress @Talkingpointsmemo.com • formerly Washington Week, NewsHour Weekend & NPR investigations signal: eyucel.76

Posts Replies Media

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My latest: Following Wednesday's failed bid by Senate Dems to block Trump's pocket rescission, Trump WH, once again, trampled over Congress’ power of the purse. Several experts point out their use of the “pocket rescissions” loophole is more an admission of guilt than a clever trick.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Update: Sen. Ron Johnson shutdown the UC effort, blocking the Dem effort. He said he was “happy” to reject the UC request, claiming both that the Impoundment Control Act is poorly written and that the pocket rescission request from the White House was not big enough

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

NEW: Sens. Murray and Merkley will try to pass a bill Wednesday to block the “pocket rescission” the Trump WH sent over to Congress last Friday. The proposed bill would also prevent the president from attempting to use a pocket rescission in the future. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/senate-...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Senate Dems Will Attempt to Stop Trump White House’s Latest Illegal Pocket Rescission

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senate Budget Committee...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 29/09/2026

@emineirmakyucel.bsky.social and @jragazzo.bsky.social talk about Mike Johnson's claim that this was the "most productive" Congress ever, GOP infighting, and what will happen if the Dems retake the House: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS05...

Congress Is Leaving Town. What Do Lawmakers Have to Show for Themselves? | TPM Live

YouTube video by Talking Points Memo

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 17/09/2026

The drama came just a day after Massie introduced eight impeachment articles against Hegseth, accusing the Defense Secretary of conducting an illegal war against Iran, among other charges.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Johnson Sends House Members Home Until After the Midterms, Avoiding Massie’s Vote to Impeach Hegseth

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is being accused of running away from...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 02/09/2026

From congressional leadership to 2028 presidential hopefuls, a growing number of big names are getting behind the idea.

talkingpointsmemo.com

What Democrats Have, and Haven’t, Said About Supreme Court Reform

A once controversial issue pushed only by the most progressive members of...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The OLC opinion "has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese,” Charles Tiefer, professor emeritus at the University of Baltimore School of Law, told me. “It’s clearly a devious tactic to try to cover up the investigations into Trump’s corruption before they even get started.”

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 14/08/2026

🚨 We only have $16,002 left to go in our annual journalism fund drive! 🚨 As a reminder, your contributions go towards all of the below. If you’re able, please help us get over the finish line. We appreciate you. accounts.talkingpointsmemo.com/contribute

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

My inbox: Me:

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TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 12/08/2026

The memo was widely interpreted as preparation for a world in which Dems again have the oversight power to launch probes into two years of White House misconduct.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Dems Sound the Alarm Over Trump DOJ’s Attempt to Block Oversight: ‘He Knows Accountability Is Coming’

Top congressional Democrats on Tuesday pushed back on a new memo from...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 07/08/2026

UPDATE: Cassidy caves. “I’ve learned that some of the cases that have been publicly reported to be under investigation by the Department of Justice have been dismissed or no longer being pursued,” he said on the Senate floor this morning.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Blanche Nomination on Track After Cassidy Says He Will Support Him

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said he will support Todd Blanche’s nomination for...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

NEW piece from me @joshkovensky.bsky.social looking at instances of Trump admin admitting in court to terminating clean energy grants, in part or entirely, to punish the president’s perceived political enemies. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Trump Administration Has Repeatedly Confessed in Court to Withholding Money From Blue States

Late last year, Department of Justice (DOJ) officials agreed to make a...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

ICYMI: Democrats and a couple of Republicans included a significant provision in their CR that would delay the Trump White House and the OMB from finalizing a grantmaking rule change it proposed in May.

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 28/07/2026

Beshear’s letter comes as McConnell and the Office of the Attending Physician released an update on the senator’s condition on Monday.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Kentucky Gov. Demands McConnell Give Verbal Address as Proof He Can Serve

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has once again formally requested proof of...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Thune’s response to Trump: “If somebody can show me how we get an outcome … I’m all for it.” “We could stay here until Christmas and the Democrats aren't voting for this and Republicans are not getting rid of the legislative filibuster.”

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Senate fails to advance their Iran WPR in a 47-49 vote. Two Rs (Paul & Murkowski) who previously voted in favor of the WPR did not vote. And Cassidy, who also supported it before, voted no. Collins was a Yes. Fetterman also voted against it.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The House passed their Iran WPR again, 214-208. Rs supporting: Fitzpatrick, Davidson, Barrett & Massie

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The House and Senate are expected to vote again on Iran war powers resolutions today. That comes as airstrikes continue. It’s been 12 straight days of bombings. Trump warned yesterday that the U.S. would destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 22/07/2026

Sen. Cornyn's office said he got “confirmation that all unobligated PEPFAR funds expiring in September will be obligated as expeditiously as possible."

talkingpointsmemo.com

Cornyn Threatens to Block Trump Noms Over Unreleased PEPFAR Funds — And Quickly Relents

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) on Tuesday threatened to vote against President Donald...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 20/07/2026

Trump’s post comes as House Republican leadership is gearing up for a floor vote this week on the budget resolution the budget panel advanced out of committee last week.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Trump Comes to Terms With the Fact That the Entire SAVE Act Can’t Be Stuffed in Budget Bill

President Donald Trump posted on his favorite social media platform Monday morning,...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

Allegra Kirkland @allegrak.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

In the Weekender: ranking some of Trump's most absurd pardons @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social on the GOP's Save Act Lite (ie plot to distract Trump) Hegseth being a huge weirdo about testosterone @rothschildmd.bsky.social on Butler 2024 vs. Dallas 1963 + more talkingpointsmemo.com/the-weekende...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Fraudsters, Politicos and Trump Pals: Ranking Trump’s Most Egregious Pardons

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Josh Kovensky @joshkovensky.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Brian W. Lynch is co-director of a national task force to implement NSPM-7. He marched on the Capitol on January 6, I confirmed today talkingpointsmemo.com/news/exclusi...

talkingpointsmemo.com

EXCLUSIVE: Trump DOJ’s Top ‘Antifa’ Prosecutor Marched with Crowd on Jan. 6

On Jan. 6, 2021, a man approached the Capitol who looked like...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

"Just to be clear, the President ... has not agreed in writing to delete the weaponization fund?" Cornyn asked, adding that there is no guarantee that he doesn't file a breach of contract lawsuit in the future. Blanche admitted that “they could bring a lawsuit and then we would litigate it.”

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

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Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Sen. Tillis also pushed back on the slush fund, saying that they should pass a legislation in Congress to make sure this does not go forward. Blanche says he is in support of that. He said the same thing to Cornyn.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Cornyn told CNN he is "undecided" on how he will be voting for the Blanche nomination. During the hearing, he questioned Blanche about the so-called "anti-weaponization" fund

Reposted by Emine Yücel

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15/07/2026

CORNYN: The president, who's a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the weaponization fund, and there's no guarantee that he or one of the other plaintiffs might raise that issue by way of a breach of contract lawsuit? BLANCHE: I suppose they could bring a lawsuit

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Cornyn pointed out: there is no update/change to the part of the agreement that is about the slush fund, they are just simply taking Trump's word on it

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Todd Blanche is currently testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Comm for his confirmation hearing. We're about an hour and half into the hearing and so far the line of questioning that has stuck out most to me has been from Sen. Cornyn.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

SC Gov. Henry McMaster just announced he is appointing Lindsey Graham's sister to fill out his term until Jan. That comes after President Trump said he is recommending her for the temporary position this AM. Here is a list of people who may be running for the position for the next term:

Reposted by Emine Yücel

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

You know you are a real Senate sicko if you immediately thought "Who will replace Graham on Budget" and "who will be the top Republican on Judiciary next Congress when Grassley becomes the top Republican on Finance?"

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Sen. Adam Schiff on NBC’s Meet the Press says he will introduce a new Iran war powers resolution when the Senate is back in session this upcoming week. That comes after Trump declared the ceasefire dead earlier this week. Hostilities continue.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Sen. Lindsey Graham died suddenly Saturday night, according to a statement from his office. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/lindsey...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Lindsey Graham, Longtime South Carolina Senator, Dies From ‘Brief And Sudden Illness’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died Saturday evening from a “brief and sudden...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

“Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate,” Gov. Beshear wrote in a Wednesday letter to Sen. McConnell.

Reposted by Emine Yücel

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Today we kicked off our Annual TPM Journalism Fund Drive. To all our contributors, thank you. To all our readers and members, thank you. Click here to find out more about how you can support our team's work. @talkingpointsmemo.com talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/our-d...

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We Need Your Help

It’s time to kick off this year’s Annual TPM Journalism Fund Drive....

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 06/07/2026

Johnson wants to try to pass the SAVE America Act, which would disenfranchise millions of voters, through the party-line budget reconciliation process. Again.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Johnson Has a Not So New Plan For Passing GOP’s Voter Suppression Bill

For months now, the far-right’s desire to pass the SAVE America Act...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Probably not the best strategy from Rep. Nehls, claiming maybe majority of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck because they don't work as hard as him ... but what do I know

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

ICYMI: House Dems grilled OMB Director Russ Vought on his refusal to release appropriated funds in a timely manner during a Tuesday approps hearing. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/vought-...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Vought Claims OMB Won’t Try to Force Congress to Approve More Rescissions This Year — But Leaves Door Open

House Democrats grilled Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 30/06/2026

Vought's OMB has been sitting on billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funds, refusing to apportion and send them out into the agencies in a timely manner — including for life-saving programs.

talkingpointsmemo.com

Vought Claims OMB Won’t Try to Force Congress to Approve More Rescissions This Year — But Leaves Door Open

House Democrats grilled Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought...

Reposted by Emine Yücel

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 30/06/2026

POCAN: Do you know how much we've spent on the war on Iran so far? VOUGHT: We've spent about 30,000,000,000 P: People are saying it's more like $100b V: I'm just telling you what I heard from the Dept of War P: I'm just going to remember June 30, 2026, you're saying $30b is what we spent

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Kate Riga @kateriga.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

New: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship. Roberts writes for majority, joined by Barrett and the libs. Kavanaugh concurs in part and dissents in part. Jackson writes concurrence joined partially by Sotomayor. Alito, Gorsuch, Thomas all dissent (+ Gorsuch also signs on to Thomas' dissent)

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Sen. Cassidy did reportedly get in a shouting match with Trump during that same luncheon. Hours later, he votes "no" on a Iran WPR when he was an "aye" just a day before on a nearly identical WPR

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Late last night, Senate GOP blocked a procedural vote on an Iran WPR. Just a day after they approved a nearly identical WPR that passed largely due to Senate R absences. Paul and Cassidy both voted with the Ds on Tuesday WPR. Last night, Cassidy was a "no" & Paul "present" Vote breakdown:

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

White House sent a supplemental request to Congress today asking for a total of $87.6 billion. That includes $67.1 billion for the DoD to cover expenses associated with the war in Iran.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

"I don’t know why you’re holding a bill that’s ready for signature hostage over a bill that will never pass in this Congress. Makes no sense to me," Sen. Tillis told reporters Wednesday.

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Layla A. Jones @laylaayanna.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Trump said back in March that he would torpedo the bipartisan housing affordability law if it passed, unless legislators passed the deeply controversial SAVE America Act. Today, he's following through on that promise: talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-s...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Trump Says He’s Concerned About Housing Access. His Policies Are Making it Worse.

It would be unjust to say the U.S. real-estate-mogul-in-chief created today’s housing...

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

President Trump says he is cancelling the housing bill signing until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. The Truth Social post comes literally while the House GOP leadership is on stage for their weekly presser touting the bill.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Senate just passed House's Iran war powers resolution 50-48. This is a largely symbolic rebuke of Trump's war in Iran but now both chambers have voted against the war. Rs in support: Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Paul D opposing: Fetterman Some GOP absences helped: McConnell & McCormick

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Her latest tweet goes as far as saying Trump should veto the housing bill until SAVE America Act is attached to it.

Emine Yücel @emineirmakyucel.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is now threatening to vote "no" on rules and bills and shut down the House floor until Senate takes up/passes the SAVE America Act.