Lisa Desjardins

@lisad.bsky.social

Correspondent for PBS NewsHour. Lover of Chester Arthur. Lucky mom, sister, wife and former SC state fair baking contest first place winner.

NOW. Smithsonian cyber attack. The Smithsonian has sent out a notice of an "ongoing denial of service" cyber attack at the African American History/Culture Museum, the Natl Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American History. Note: all museums Pres. Trump has criticized.

CONFIRMED: President Trump will meet in Washington with Cong. Dem leaders Schumer and Jeffries to talk government funding this week, per source familiar. Date, time still TBD. Also TBD, if Thune and/or Johnson will join.

House funding vote - some MATH DRAMA GOP can only lose 2 (if all Dems vote no) and so far we have 2 GOP no's: Massie, Spartz. Before folks get too excited - R leadership has clearly signaled they believe they have the votes. (And Spartz told me yesterday she thinks they do too.)

Chances of a shutdown? I have seen a lot of these situations. Usually chances are MUCH lower than you think. But in this case, even with 11 days to go, rn I give it ... 80%. *As always anything can and will change.

Good morning all from the House chamber. The House is poised to pass a GOP CR to keep government funded ... and Senate Dems are poised to block that, offering their own. Which Senate Rs will reject. Watching to see if there are any party switchers, though.

KIMMEL. NO SUBPOENA for the FCC Chair, but possible testimony. Rs on the House Oversight Committee just blocked a D effort to subpoena Brendan Carr regarding Jimmy Kimmel. But the Ranking Democrats says both parties are talking about inviting him to testify.

NEW: The U.S. Senate has voted to make Oct. 14, 2025 a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. The resolution, sponsored by @SenRickScott passed unanimously by voice vote. Oct. 14 would have been Kirk's 32nd birthday.

KIMMEL, Dem reax. Rep. @GregCasar: If Watergate happened today, we have to ask - would (journalists) be allowed to publish their reporting? @RepHoulahan: We have to restrain from twisting tragedy into an excuse for muzzling our enemies.

Bild

NOW: Democrats on Capitol Hill intro’ing bill to block targeting of non-profits, media, colleges for political speech. Sen. Chris Murphy began by decrying the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Then charged POTUS + AG Pam Bondi are openly targeting ppl, for political speech

Bild

PBS hello. Thank you for those sending good thoughts for PBS and esp. @NewsHour. It means the world. We're as determined to ever. If interested, yes, we could use support: 1. EASY one - let's build. Folo me - @LisaD. Folo @pbsnews.org Repost this.

Also told by this source that the State Dept has begun cancelling awards/aid programs in disaster zones that can be life and death, including food aid. Some programs have been cancelled in Yemen, Syria, Gaza, Basra. The source said this is contrary to states waiver policy.

Myanmar US firings: I am told these are PSC’s - personal service contractors. They are still on the ground in Myanmar now. I do not know the date their termination takes effect. But they have been told they are being fired. I have asked the State Dept for comment.

BREAKING - U.S. team in quake zone told they are fired, per source. The 3-person disaster assessment team sent to Myanmar for the U.S. received termination notices while staying/sleeping outside — US AID workers were told on an all hands call today, per a source familiar.

NOW: the fate of gov funding is in doubt at the moment. There appeared to be 9-10 Senate Dem votes for the House-passed CR this am but after an intense presure campaign from opposing Senators and House Dems, the Senate has DELAYED THE VOTE. We expected cloture by now.

GOV SHUTDOWN - where are we? - Sources in both parties expect the CR to get 60 votes later today - Though there are not YET publicly-declared yesses from the 8 Democrats needed. - Schumer's public "yes" is expected to mean those votes are there. - When? Key vote around 2:30p/3p

Rest in Peace Rocky Desjardins. Yesterday our beloved cat, a superstar + @ratemyskyperoom legend, passed away from kidney disease. We know @NewsHour viewers loved him too. That means the world. For those interested, something good in his memory: giveahand.com/fundraiser/i...

in memory of Rocky Desjardins

If anyone is inclined, please join me in raising funds to support Animal Friends Of North Central West Virginia Inc.  Check their website out here. UPDATE: We are amazed by your response to this and s...

giveahand.com

NOW: President Donald Trump has entered the House chamber, returning after four years out of office. Half of the chamber is on its feet celebrating, half in their chairs motionless.

Hello from the House chamber. FBI Director Kash Patel is in the First Lady's box, near the top. @elliskkim pointed out that he is sitting next to Ashley Kavanaugh, Justice Kavanaugh's wife.

NEW: Trump says that EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin plans to cut 65% of the workforce there. The EPA has roughly 16,000 employeees. Cutting 65% would be more than 10,000 positions.

BREAKING: House passes budget bill outlining $4.5 Trillion in tax cuts, $2 trillion in spending cuts and a two year lift of the debt ceiling. Final vote: 217-215. Republicans could not afford to lose a single other vote.

House Republicans have the votes to pass their budget bill, with 217 yesses. One Republican, Thomas Massie, voted no. We are waiting for the vote to close with two Democrats still to vote.