{"id":2641542,"date":"2026-08-06T19:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T23:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-scrambles-for-the-exit-amid-outstanding-to-do-list-clear-as-mud\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T19:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T23:15:12","slug":"senate-scrambles-for-the-exit-amid-outstanding-to-do-list-clear-as-mud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-scrambles-for-the-exit-amid-outstanding-to-do-list-clear-as-mud\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate scrambles for the exit amid outstanding to-do list: &#8216;Clear as mud&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-scrambles-for-the-exit-amid-outstanding-to-do-list-clear-as-mud%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641542&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senators aiming for a monthlong recess found themselves detained by a backlog of unfinished business, with disagreements within the Republican ranks and Democratic opposition threatening to keep the Senate in session. Many key legislative items, including funding bills and nominations, remain unresolved, and several topics like a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill and a measure to confirm additional Trump appointees are under consideration. Efforts to pass a government funding bill and regulate cryptocurrencies are stalled over contentious provisions, such as delaying the hemp-derived products ban. The chamber faces uncertainty about recess timing amid internal conflicts and political pressures, especially as some GOP members face upcoming reelections and lobbying from the White House influences specific legislative delays. the Senate&#8217;s agenda is hampered by division and unresolved priorities, casting doubt on when the chamber will adjourn for recess.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">Senators<\/a> hoping to escape Washington for a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congressional-recess\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congressional-recess\/\">monthlong recess<\/a> instead found themselves trapped Thursday by a growing pile of unfinished business, with Republican infighting threatening to keep the chamber in session.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several items on the Senate\u2019s end-of-session agenda appeared ready to be punted for September as Republican leaders confronted disagreements within their own conference as well as Democratic opposition.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4678609\/senate-scrambles-for-exit-amid-outstanding-to-do-list-funding-bill-clear-as-mud\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate scrambles for the exit amid outstanding to-do list: \u2018Clear as mud\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4677982\/mcconnell-absence-gop-farm-bill-august-recess\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>McConnell absence foils GOP plans to advance farm bill before August recess<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4677294\/watch-live-senate-panel-votes-holding-fauci-contempt-refusing-answer-questions\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Senate panel votes on holding Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer questions<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not helping the Senate\u2019s case was that none of the outstanding bills and nominations the GOP-controlled chamber had hoped to accomplish by Thursday afternoon were must-pass items. But for some, more time in Washington means less time on the campaign trail, as several GOP incumbents face competitive November reelections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have no idea what we\u2019re going to do,\u201d Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told reporters following a closed-door GOP lunch with Vice President JD Vance. \u201cI\u2019m not kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chamber could also vote as early as Thursday evening on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that was delayed by Democrats, as well as on a measure to confirm another 74 of President Donald Trump\u2019s nominations. Other priorities, however, seem hopelessly stuck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GOP efforts to advance a funding bill to keep the government running through the November elections and avert an Oct. 1 shutdown have been delayed over a provision delaying a ban on hemp-derived products such as gummies and vapes sold at gas stations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But even more in jeopardy than the bipartisan government funding patch was a bipartisan measure to regulate cryptocurrencies and digital assets, a framework for the GOP\u2019s latest party-line reconciliation spending bill to advance Trump\u2019s agenda, and the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, who\u2019s serving in an interim capacity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s clear as mud right now,\u201d Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said of the Senate\u2019s pathway to recess. She and outgoing Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) are standing in the way of Blanche\u2019s confirmation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vance attended Thursday\u2019s GOP lunch amid lobbying from the White House to keep the delay on the ban for hemp-derived THC products attached to the government funding bill. A delay would likely benefit the son-in-law of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who runs a company that manufactures and distributes hemp-derived products. The White House has denied any involvement from Wiles. Opponents to pushing back the ban cite easy access for minors at common stores such as gas stations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26169622052783.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) is behind an amendment to strip out the delay and spoke with Trump earlier this week about his effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the vice president did not sway the reefer madness debate among his former Senate colleagues. The only hemp-related question Vance fielded was one made in jest about whether he\u2019s ever smoked hemp while attending Yale University, to which he declined to address, according to Kennedy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4675007\/senate-gop-agenda-budget-save-america-act-threatened\/\">SENATE GOP AGENDA ON BUDGET BILL AND SAVE AMERICA ACT THREATENED BY UNCERTAINTY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was really funny because he said he came prepared to talk about hemp, but nobody asked him any questions about hemp,\u201d Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) placed on the Senate calendar Thursday a GOP voter ID proposal and a bipartisan bill to ban stock trades for members of Congress, but he said it was unclear when they might receive votes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senators face delays, GOP infighting stalls recess plans<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4067,"featured_media":2641543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26169622052783.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[39629,80996,40963,40137,3740],"class_list":["post-2641542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-government-shutdown","tag-legislative-backlog","tag-political-chaos","tag-political-crisis","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26169622052783.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4067"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641542"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641542\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641545,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641542\/revisions\/2641545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}