U.S. Edition
(CNN) – President Obama has canceled a trip to Indonesia and Brunei due to the government shutdown, the White House announced Thursday night. Secretary of State John Kerry will lead delegations to both countries instead of the president, the press release said.
Washington (CNN) – House Speaker John Boehner told a group of House GOP members he would be willing to rely on Democrats to help pass a measure to raise the debt limit, setting aside a practice conservatives insist he follow known as the “Hastert rule,” according to one House Republican who attended a private session with Boehner on Wednesday.
The "Hastert rule," adopted by former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert, is the practice of not permitting a vote on any legislation in the House unless a majority of House Republicans back it. Boehner never pledged to follow the rule when he assumed his post and has drawn the ire of some House conservatives and several outside groups for those instances when he allowed votes on measures that passed with more Democrats than Republicans. FULL POST
Washington (CNN) - Democrats and Republicans held their ground on Thursday, the third day of the federal government shutdown, refusing to budge from their positions about who is to blame for the crisis and how to resolve it.
Leaders from the two parties offered rhetoric similar to what they've been saying for days, providing little hope for a breakthrough tied to Congress' inability to agree on a spending plan for President Barack Obama to sign.
(CNN) – After weeks of buildup, Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis formally kicked off a bid for governor Thursday on the same stage where she graduated from high school.
"All of you deserve to have your voices heard. Because our future is brightest when it's lit by everyone's star," Davis told an ebullient crowd of supporters. "That's why today, I am proud to announce my candidacy to be the 48th governor of this great state." FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – In an interview with CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused House Speaker John Boehner of being more worried about his job than the country amid a government shutdown.
The Nevada Democrat also talked for the first time Thursday about Boehner reneging on an agreement between the two over a “clean” spending bill, and admitted he directed his chief of staff to leak embarrassing e-mails that they say indicate Boehner changed his position on Obamacare subsidies for Congress. FULL POST
CNN's GUT CHECK | for October 3, 2013 | 5 p.m. – n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle
BREAKING: SHOTS FIRED ON CAPITOL HILL… Police near the U.S. Capitol opened fire just hours ago on a car being chased by authorities, The shots hit a woman driving the vehicle that also contained a young child. The chaotic scene, with gunfire erupting near the heart of the U.S. government, brought a swarm of emergency vehicles and caused Congress and surrounding offices to be temporarily locked down. – Tom Cohen
D.C. POLICE: The female motorist who led police on a chase through the heart of Washington was hit by gunfire and pronounced dead, said D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
TWO TAKEN TO HOSPITAL: Two people, including a police officer, were transported to a local hospital. President Barack Obama was briefed on the situation, which occurred on the third day of a government shutdown due to a stalemate in Congress over government funding.
SCARY TIMING: “I’ll tell you the timing on this was really kind of scary,” Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas told CNN. “Capitol Hill Police are at a lower personnel level because of the shut down and I can tell you that my office has been getting more emotional calls than we have gotten on any other issue.”
FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – President Obama highlighted Kentucky’s Obamacare roll-out efforts Thursday noting that almost 11,000 people in that state have applied for health insurance. But even a state that earned presidential praise for its smooth execution is experiencing some hiccups.
When Kentuckians visit the health exchange’s login website, they are greeted by a warning that suggests their personal information could be disclosed to state and even foreign officials.
Updated 10/3/2013 at 7:02pm
Washington (CNN) - When word of shots fired near the Capitol first came in, Rep. Blake Farenthold worried it might be related to the government shutdown.
"The timing on this was all really kind of scary," the Texas Republican told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "The Capitol Hill police are at a lower personnel level because of the shutdown." FULL POST
(CNN) - U.S. Capitol Police say an officer was injured in a crash resulting from a car chase from near the White House to Capitol Hill. Police are working two accident locations, 1st and Constitution Avenue and 2nd and Maryland Avenue. The officer was hurt at the first intersection and was transported to a hospital.
(CNN) – Minutes after shots were heard on Capitol Hill, Congress went into lockdown and many members took to Twitter.
Sen. Sanders was walking outside the Capitol when he heard about 5 gunshots. Bernie is safe and his thoughts are with the injured. — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 3, 2013
Sen. Sanders was walking outside the Capitol when he heard about 5 gunshots. Bernie is safe and his thoughts are with the injured.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 3, 2013
Shots fired outside the Capitol. We are in temporary lock down. — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) October 3, 2013
Shots fired outside the Capitol. We are in temporary lock down.
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) October 3, 2013