Despite a much ballyhooed bipartisan spending agreement, several obstacles remain that Congress may not be able to get around and avoid a government shutdown.

The Iowa Legislature reconvened Monday, marking a subdued start to a session launched just one week before this year's presidential caucuses.

If the last month has made anything clear, it is that President Joe Biden does not have the respect of his staff, from his Cabinet down to the most irrelevant interns. That is the biggest takeaway from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s unexplained absence, aside from the fact that Austin should not remain in his job. […]