All-Nighter

Capitol Hill has been burning the midnight oil.

The Senate worked through Friday until 4:56 AM Saturday (guess their longest all-nighter here), crossing a few outstanding items off the to-do list before heading into a five-day recess.

The votes included:

• Confirming (50-49) Todd Blanche as Attorney General in a narrow, party-line vote.
• Passing (90-6) a stopgap funding bill to keep the government bankrolled through December 11, avoiding a shutdown on September 30, weeks before midterms.
• Advancing (86-11) new sanctions and visa bans on top Russian officials, plus tariffs of up to 500% on Russian exports and up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas. The bill was named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, its biggest backer.

Still on the table: President Trump’s SAVE America voter reform act, which Senators promised to revisit after September 14.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Whether you’re critical of your government or think it’s unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even when we feel like they haven’t earned it.

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way… Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:9–10, 13 (CSB) (read full passage)