House Republicans are attempting to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 20th, ahead of the September 30th shutdown deadline, with negotiations ongoing regarding the inclusion of additional security funding for the legislative branch. Democrats, however, claim no substantive negotiations are occurring, with a spokesperson for Senator Schumer stating that Republicans, by not engaging with Democrats, are solely responsible for pushing the country towards a shutdown. Senator John Kennedy noted that Republican unity is crucial for advancing their plan, with the outcome then depending on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's political considerations. This development occurred within the reporting window of 9:15 AM to 12:48 PM UTC on September 15th, 2025. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife Jeanette visited Jerusalem's Old City, walking towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, according to a post from the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem, JP, ML, PL, MA account. In legal news, Texas and Florida's attorneys general are seeking to join a Biden-era lawsuit concerning an abortion pill, potentially creating an awkward situation for the Trump administration if their request is granted. Separately, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade issued an apology for remarks suggesting that mentally ill homeless people should be executed, as reported by NBC News. Previous reports detailed President Donald Trump's intent to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding TikTok's future, following progress in principal level talks in Madrid. FBI Director Kash Patel had also confirmed that DNA evidence from the Charlie Kirk murder investigation matched Tyler Robinson. These points are noted for context as the current reporting window focuses on legislative and other developments.
