By Richard Cowan and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Bipartisan talks in the U.S. Senate to end the federal shutdown have taken a positive turn, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Saturday,

Republican leaders say they need just a ‘handful’ of votes to reopen government, but there are few signs of progress.

Taking to Truth Social on Friday afternoon, Trump wrote, "The United States Senate should not leave town until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown. If they can’t reach a Deal, the Republicans should terminate the Filibuster, IMMEDIATELY, and take care of our Great American Workers!"

Democrats face an uphill battle to recapture a U.S. Senate majority in the November 2026 midterm elections, as Republicans are defending just two seats seen as competitive by nonpartisan analysts and hold a 53-47 majority.

Senate blocks resolution to Venezuela war powers measure as Schumer warns Trump is “leading troops over the Rubicon”

Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr has officially filed to run for U.S. Senate. The Republican submitted his candidacy paperwork Friday morning at the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, making his Senate campaign for 2026 formally underway.

Senate Democrats moved to center stage in the U.S. government shutdown drama on Thursday, as they met behind closed doors to consider what the chamber's top Republican said was an offer to reopen shuttered federal agencies as early as this weekend.

Three Democratic candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat met with voters Saturday in Cedar Rapids, emphasizing common ground on key issues despite running against each other in the primary.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune adjourned the Senate on Saturday with no vote held to reopen the government but the chamber will resume session on Sunday.

A group supporting Derek Dooley's campaign is blaming GOP U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins for the federal government shutdown.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected legislation that would resume paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers ​during the longest shutdown in U.S. history, as Democrats and Republicans remained at odds over how to reopen ‌the government.