ElectionCalendar - Ballotpedia

The Senate rejected a Republican-led stopgap funding bill (a continuing resolution, or “CR”) that had already passed the House.  

• That bill would have funded the government through Nov. 21.  

• Democrats opposed it because it lacked funding for healthcare priorities: restoring Medicaid cuts and extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.  

• Only a few crossover votes: one Democrat in the House supported it (Jared Golden), and one Democrat in the Senate (John Fetterman). Two Republicans opposed.  

• At the same time, Democrats floated an alternative CR that included those healthcare elements and other priorities.  

• The deadline for funding (start of the new fiscal year) is October 1, so a shutdown is now looking increasingly possible if no agreement is reached.  

• Other political drama:

• Charlie Kirk’s death continues to reverberate through the conservative movement: it’s become a unifying moment for factions in the GOP.  

• There are signs of intensifying conflict between parties over how to handle federal priorities and negotiations. Democrats are pushing hard for policy wins; Republicans are largely insisting on a “clean” funding bill (i.e., without extra policy additions) or putting off concessions.  

CDC vaccine-advisory panel shifts COVID guidance — A key CDC advisory committee this week voted on changes to COVID (and measles) vaccine recommendations, moving away from stricter prescription-style limits and toward an “individual decision-making” approach while keeping access open for high-risk people. The panel narrowly rejected making COVID shots prescription-only.  

• Why it matters: This lowers the centrality of a one-size-fits-all federal instruction and hands more discretion to clinicians and individuals — which can reduce centralized public-health messaging and give political actors room to argue for less federal involvement in vaccination policy.  

• How it could play out: States, insurers, and providers will be the front line for access; Congress may hold hearings or try to legislate access/coverage; expect both public-health officials and partisan commentators to use the decision to push competing narratives about safety vs. personal choice.  

• Jimmy Kimmel’s show was pulled / suspended — big free-speech firestorm — ABC (Disney) indefinitely preempted Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Kimmel’s monologue about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk prompted conservative station groups (and pressure from the FCC chair, allies and Trump) to pull the program. 

Major station groups (e.g., Nexstar, Sinclair) also preempted the show, and the move has provoked widespread backlash from fellow hosts, comedians, and free-speech advocates.  

• Why it matters: The suspension has become a flashpoint about political pressure on broadcasters, corporate capitulation, and the boundaries of editorial commentary — turning late-night comedy into a political battleground re censorship.