The federal government remains partially shut down while the House returns Tuesday to vote on a Senate-backed short-term funding deal that President Trump supports. Speaker Mike Johnson faces a razor-thin effective margin and likely needs near-unanimous Republican support to pass the measure. Democrats are split largely over continued DHS and ICE funding amid controversy in Minneapolis, where the two officers in Alex Pretti's death have been publicly identified. Other developments include newly released Epstein-era emails that mention Elon Musk, D.C.'s troubled snow response and prolonged school closures, a $7M documentary opening for Melania, and the death of actress Catherine O'Hara at 71.
Shutdown Showdown: One-Vote Margin as House Faces Divisive DHS Funding Fight
Shutdown Showdown
The federal government is partially shut down and will remain so at least until the U.S. House of Representatives returns to work on Tuesday. Over the weekend the Senate passed a short-term funding deal backed by President Donald Trump, but House passage is uncertain as Speaker Mike Johnson scrambles to secure votes.
Narrow Republican Majority
Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the House—currently 218–213 and soon to be 218–214—and Johnson acknowledged the fragile math.
"I have a one-vote margin, yes, for the rest of 2026,"he told CNBC. To advance the Senate package, Johnson likely needs near-unanimous Republican attendance and support in Washington, D.C.
Democratic Resistance Over DHS And ICE
It remains unclear whether any House Democrats will back the Senate deal. Recent controversies over immigration enforcement in Minneapolis have driven many Democrats to oppose additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Senate measure would keep DHS funding at current levels for two weeks, creating a short window for bipartisan negotiations over accountability measures for ICE.
Some House Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D–Calif.), have publicly urged colleagues to reject continued ICE funding. At the same time, a private Sunday call suggested a handful of Democrats might still be open to supporting the package.
Minneapolis Shooting: Officers Identified
ProPublica published the names of the two immigration enforcement officers involved in the Minneapolis incident that resulted in the death of Alex Pretti. They were identified as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35. Media reports indicate Ochoa joined CBP in 2018, while Gutierrez began with the agency in 2014 and serves in CBP's Office of Field Operations on a special response team.
Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) has requested further information and asked that senior immigration enforcement officials testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Appearing on 60 Minutes, Paul disputed elements of the administration's account and said he did not believe the footage showed Pretti assaulting officers.
Epstein Files: High-Profile Correspondence
Newly released emails from the Jeffrey Epstein archives continue to draw attention. Among them is a November 2012 message from Elon Musk to Epstein asking, "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?" That exchange appears at odds with Musk's prior statement that he declined invitations to Epstein's island. Other notable names in the released correspondence include Richard Branson, Andrew Farkas, and Steve Tisch.
Local Impact: D.C. Snow Cleanup And School Closures
Washington, D.C., residents have criticized the municipal response to a recent heavy snowstorm. The city has deployed heavy equipment to clear streets and large ice accumulations, but many school districts in the D.C. metro area remained closed for a sixth consecutive day, frustrating families and workers.
Culture And Entertainment Notes
The documentary Melania opened to about $7 million—strong for a documentary but likely insufficient to recoup production costs. At the Grammys, artists including Bad Bunny used their platform to criticize ICE. Separately, Elon Musk expressed irritation over casting rumors for Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, which suggested Lupita Nyong'o might portray Helen of Troy.
Campus Protest And Notable Death
Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted an event at Sarah Lawrence College featuring New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, despite the speaker's known positions. In entertainment news, beloved actress Catherine O'Hara has died at age 71.
Correction: This article summarizes reporting from multiple outlets, including ProPublica, The Guardian, and network interviews. All facts reflect the information available at publication.
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