The January 30, 2026, episode of Congress in Context provides a high-stakes look at the Senate’s passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a massive funding milestone that secured 96% of the government while isolating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a temporary two-week extension. This episode captures the "two visions" competing for America's future: one side demanding urgent reforms to rein in ICE—including ending "roving patrols" and "secret police" tactics—and the other side warning that failing to enforce national sovereignty leads to "collapse by abdication". Listeners will hear the intense debate over the Laken Riley Act and Senator Graham’s aggressive push to criminalize sanctuary city policies, alongside urgent discussions on civil liberties following the arrest of journalist Don Lemon and the nomination of Kevin Warsh to the Federal Reserve. Ultimately, the episode reveals how "hard power" and budgetary control remain the primary tools for congressional oversight in an increasingly polarized era.
Congressional Record Analysis of the following dates:
January 30, 2026
https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/browse-by-date
