Senate Struggles to Reach Border Deal and Ukraine Aid Package

As negotiations continue, Colorado court blocks Trump from state's primary ballot while Nikki Haley gains momentum in New Hampshire

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced last week he would hold his chamber in session past the start of their holiday recess, with the goal of crafting a last-minute southern border deal that would open up aid to Ukraine. However, that goal now looks far out of reach, and the extra workdays for senators are amounting to more of a “check off some last-minute business” week.
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed nearly a dozen nominees for top military posts, marking the end of Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) remaining holds over senior promotions.
Unlikely to pass before the holidays is a new Ukraine aid package. Senators working to reach a border deal continued to hold hours-long meetings in the Capitol as they made slow progress on the proposal with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Colorado’s highest court on Thursday knocked former President Trump off the state’s Republican primary ballot under the 14th Amendment, making it the first state to block him from seeking the presidency because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is seeing clear signs of momentum as the best alternative to Trump in the early voting state of New Hampshire.