A select group of Republicans on the House Budget Committee were called to Camp David for a “hush-hush” Reconciliation 3.0 meeting with House leadership Friday. After months of planning, Republicans are now acting on legislation that could determine if they keep the majority in the midterms. Committee members who were invited met at the White House on Sunday afternoon. After their phones were taken, the select Republicans boarded a bus for a two-hour drive to the secret meeting. Following the meeting, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced that the committee will take its first steps on legislation President Donald Trump calls a “must pass.” According to Johnson, Reconciliation 3.0, which will begin on Wednesday with a markup of the budget resolution, “will include our nation’s most immediate priorities.” In recent months, Republican committee members have met with congressional leadership and Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, multiple times to discuss attempts at Reconciliation 3.0. However, the meeting at Camp David revealed the White House’s involvement. While there are whispers the president attended, a meeting at Camp David was not on his schedule. Johnson confirmed that White House officials and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise were present. Other committee members who attended the meeting include Brandon Gill and Chip Roy of Texas, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, and Mike Carey of Ohio. Committee members who did not attend include Erin Houchin of Indiana and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma. Arrington will brief all committee members about the Camp David meeting on Monday night. Three GOP staffers familiar with the event confirmed that rank-and-file members had their phones taken before boarding the bus. The meeting was described as “last minute,” “hush-hush,” and “mostly unstaffed.” “We were a little caught off guard by it,” one source familiar with the meeting said. The meeting, which was planned on Friday, required members to rush back to Washington early while many were in their districts for the weeklong recess. Secret Service officials could not be reached to confirm whether the meeting’s protocol followed standard procedure. Reconciliation 3.0 Reconciliation is a Senate procedure that allows budget legislation to pass with 51 votes instead of the required 60 votes, avoiding the filibuster. The last major reconciliation package was the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” which delivered more than $1.6 trillion in tax cuts to Americans. In June, Congress passed Reconciliation 2.0, the Securing America Act, which provided funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Reconciliation 3.0, which is still awaiting a bill name, will include Republicans’ final efforts before the midterm season. They have less than eight days in session to meet their deadline. In June, The Heritage Foundation released “Setting the American Opportunity Agenda,” a special budget and spending report meant to guide Congress toward a successful third reconciliation. It includes lowering health care costs through price transparency, reducing fraud, expanding opportunities for families, ending federal funding for abortion, and protecting American workers and taxpayers. The House Freedom Caucus, represented on the Budget Committee by Brecheen, Roy, Gill, and Stutzman, also has released goals for reconciliation. Members are pushing to undo President Joe Biden’s climate policy, end federal funding for abortion, eliminate fraud, and prevent the possibility of another Democrat shutdown. The caucus also seeks to prioritize dollar-for-dollar spending cuts.

A top conservative legislator in the U.S. House of Representatives is pushing a bill to require hospitals to report the immigration status of Social Security recipients after allegations of illegal immigrants and unlawful residents have risen in recent years. The Illegal Alien Reporting Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, would “amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require hospitals participating in Federal health care programs to report certain information related to immigration status.” “For too long, Washington has ignored the financial impact that illegal immigration has on our nation’s health care system,” Roy told the Daily Signal. “Taxpayers deserve an honest accounting of how federal health care dollars are being used and whether hospitals are bearing costs associated with treating those who are in the country illegally.” As stated in the bill, hospitals who do not meet the requirements outlined in the legislation will be exempt from participating in any federal health care programs. One of the requirements outlined in the bill includes a request that the patient indicate their immigration status, in addition to requiring hospitals to report if a patient is charged with any state or local criminal offense under section 274, 275, or 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or under Title 18 of the United States Code. The legislation is being welcomed by conservative operatives. Heritage Action Government Outreach Director Daniel West told the Daily Signal that Congress owes it to the American people to identify how their tax money is being spent when it comes to social programs such as Social Security. “The Illegal Alien Patient Reporting Act is a commonsense reform bringing essential transparency and accountability to our strained healthcare system,” West said. “This bill sheds light on the massive burden on taxpayers driven by illegal immigrants stealing health care.” “The American people deserve to know the true costs of illegals siphoning care. Congressman Roy’s legislation is a responsible step toward fiscal sanity and the rule of law,” he added. This bill marks the latest effort from the representative to stop the flow of taxpayer money from going into the hands of unlawful residents. This spring, for instance, the representative led a hearing in the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution that examined whether taxpayer money should be used in public schools to serve illegal aliens. Roy argued that free education for illegal immigrants only incentivized more illegal immigration. “Decades ago, the Supreme Court’s erroneous decision in Plyler v. Doe set a misguided precedent by extending taxpayer-funded public education to those in the country illegally,” Roy previously told the Daily Signal. “As our schools face growing strain, it’s time for Congress and the courts to reexamine this decision and put American students and taxpayers first.” Roy’s efforts come after he penned a letter to the Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights to undo a President Barack Obama-era policy that prevented public school administrators from collecting the immigration data of their students.

The House Freedom Caucus renewed a push to enshrine President Donald Trump’s border directives into federal law after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., allegedly promised the chamber’s more conservative members that he would bring the border bills up for a vote in exchange for their votes on certain legislation, a source familiar with the matter told the Daily Signal. Johnson’s office did not respond to the Daily Signal’s request for comment. If enacted, the bill, H.R.9199, the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, would “secure the borders of the United States” through strict immigration reforms, the implementation of immigration parole enforcement, visa overstay penalties, enhanced migrant vetting, ongoing wall construction, tactical surveillance and infrastructure implementation, border security investments, asylum status reforms, and mandatory reporting on foreign drug cartels. Throughout his second term, Trump signed several executive orders that demanded the immediate shutdown of the southern border. While those orders have been put into effect by other federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, conservatives fear they will be undone under Democrat-led administrations. “The democratic socialists want to turn America into a sanctuary for illegal aliens. We can’t let them,” Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Andy Harris told the Daily Signal.“President Trump delivered on his promise to close the southern border with executive action. Now we need to codify President Trump’s border policies into law so no future radical administration, like another Biden administration, can erase our border security with a single pen stroke,” Harris added. “Time is running out to save America from the democratic socialists. Let’s get this done now.”  Similarly, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who introduced the legislation in question in 2025, told the Daily Signal, “Trump successfully halted the Democrats’ premeditated border invasion, but we risk losing this progress if we fail to codify his agenda into law.” The representative made the argument that “America’s borders should not be dependent on which political party is in power.” Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., who echoed his colleagues’ remarks, told the Daily Signal that if Democrats retake the White House, “they could unravel these effective deterrents with the stroke of a pen.” “Given that they unleashed a crisis on our nation for four years and have gone to great lengths to oppose voter ID, they will undoubtedly attempt to launch another invasion,” Crane added. Partisan Battle to Codify Despite having the majority of the chamber and championing conservative policy and strong border rule, Republicans have not been able to pass major border security and illegal immigration reform legislation since the passage of the Laken Riley Act in the spring of 2025. Conservatives in Congress believe the priorities of the House and Senate leadership have gotten in the way of passing popular legislation, such as H.R.2 in the House and the SAVE America Act in the Senate. In statements made to the Daily Signal, members of the caucus accused congressional leadership of running a messaging campaign in favor of border security and voter integrity rather than taking legislative action. “We already have sound legislation on the table in H.R.2. This bill would prevent any future administration from flooding our communities with criminal aliens, narcotics, and human trafficking,” Crane told the Daily Signal. “It’s imperative that we prioritize passing it through both chambers.”  Roy echoed those remarks and added in his statement to the Daily Signal that “if Congress believes in national sovereignty and the rule of law, it must codify President Trump’s border policies into permanent law.” “Border security is too important to be undone whenever Democrats take back power,” Roy said. “It’s time for Congress to stop talking and start acting.” 

Even Amy Acton, the Democrat nominee for Ohio’s governor, acknowledges that protecting women from having to compete against men is “settled law” in the state. In doing so, she’s irked progressives. Her comments appeared in a June 30 article from The Toledo Blade, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states are allowed to protect women’s sports. Although the cases, Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., came out of Idaho and West Virginia, they upheld state laws in several states, including Ohio. “I do not support boys playing in girls sports. This is already settled law in Ohio, and as governor I will enforce and uphold the law,” Acton said. Those comments have gained attention in recent days. Last Wednesday, the Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus called out Acton. Their statement offered that Democrats win when they “unapologetically defend victims of MAGA fearmongering” and “Make clear their plan to improve the material conditions of everyday Ohioans.” Allowing males to compete in female sports has resulted in over 600 females losing 890 medals to males, according to a report from the United Nations released in 2024. Female athletes have also been injured when forced to compete against males. Acton’s comments also addressed how she “will always stand up for fairness and protect kids’ health and safety.” She further expressed commitment to working on priorities such as “lowering costs.” The caucus addressed concerns about costs as well. “ZERO Ohioans have become better able to buy groceries by keeping child sport players away from their favorite sport. Our hearts break for those kids. Those who disagree with that will never vote – let alone doorknock – for Amy Acton,” the statement read. Nevertheless, the statement expressed a desire to work with Acton. “Despite our disagreement on this issue, we remain ready to work with her to achieve our shared goals to improve life in Ohio.” “Currently her inner circle does not include a voice representing the newest and largest constituency caucus in Ohio. We believe she will be best equipped to win in November by having a FULL picture of what her constituents want. We hope she will allow us to provide our missing piece of that picture as she goes forward,” the statement concluded. The Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus is unhappy with Amy Acton over a statement she recently saying she does not support "boys playing in girls sports," and calling the issue settled law in Ohio.The group says that statement will cost her votes and volunteers. pic.twitter.com/FO93B0WN09— Andrew Tobias (@AndrewJTobias) July 9, 2026 The statement from the Ohio Democratic Progressive Caucus does not actually show up on its Facebook page. As Signal Ohio’s Andrew Tobias pointed out on X, the statement appears to have been taken down. The Daily Signal reached out to the caucus for comment but did not hear back. Since I got a question about this: The Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus appears to have taken down the Facebook post not long after I posted about it.— Andrew Tobias (@AndrewJTobias) July 9, 2026 The Buckeye Flame last week also published a headline declaring “Dr. Amy Acton betrays Ohio’s trans community and yet again forces us into the ‘lesser of two evils’ debate.” On Monday, NBC4 covered progressives’ frustrations, including a statement from Maria Bruno, executive director for Ohioans Against Extremism. “It’s frustrating to see an otherwise strong candidate take the bait by trying to triangulate a response rather than just being frank: can we please just leave trans kids alone and get back (to) talking about how we can make life more affordable for Ohioans?” Bruno said. Acton again expressed a desire to focus on lowering costs. “We are in the middle of political season, and one of the hallmarks of political season is pitting us against one another and intentionally creating fear and chaos for people who are already dealing with a lot, and I think that’s a crime,” she said last Wednesday. “Nonetheless, this is settled law in Ohio as well as now the Supreme Court, and what I am hearing from Ohioans is they want me to focus on lowering costs in this state.” Bruno is further quoted as saying that “Democrats don’t have to play along” with such rhetoric. HB 68, which went into effect in 2024 after the state legislature overrode a December 2023 veto from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, includes protections for minors against transgender procedures and prevents males from competing against females in sports. Dave Yost, Ohio’s former attorney general and current vice president of strategic research and innovation for Alliance Defending Freedom, spoke to the Daily Signal last week about the court cases, celebrating how “the Supreme Court legalized biology.” Yost also pointed out during that conversation that liberal groups in Ohio, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, are trying to argue the issue based on a state constitutional provision passed in 2011, the Health Care Freedom amendment. The Daily Signal reached out to the Acton campaign for comment but did not hear back.

Just months after courting moderates, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is defending closer ties with the Democratic Socialists of America, even after a leaked video showed a member of the group calling for America’s takedown. “The most important thing that we can do is take that empire down from within,” the DSA member said. DSA Members: "The most important thing we can do is take America down from within" pic.twitter.com/phicruCxKe— DSA Watch (@DSA_Watch) July 8, 2026 Newsom, speaking at a press conference last week, said he is “for addition, not subtraction” when asked about working with the Democratic Socialists of America on issues including free community college, higher minimum wages, subsidized child care, and lowering carbon emissions. Newsom’s comments drew criticism from conservatives, who argue that socialist ideology extends far beyond mainstream Democratic Party politics.  According to the Democratic Socialists of America website, the group is the largest socialist organization in the United States, with more than 90,000 members nationwide. When asked whether he would support one of their candidates, Newsom said he is open to working with the organization. “As I have said, I’m for addition, in the spirit of academia, not for subtraction. I think … parties are better off when they have some grace and humility. There are fundamental shared values that unite us together.” The governor added, “We have to take back the House of Representatives or we’re going to lose this republic.” Newsom’s comments represent a shift in tone from last year, when he sought to cultivate a moderate image through interviews with conservative commentators such as Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.  Gavin Newsom is completely pathetic!He’s a complete puppet of his party, now embracing the socialist wing of the party especially after imposing socialist policies on all of California.We need fewer taxes and regulations, not more! pic.twitter.com/rSGjCXyglW— Steve Hilton (@SteveHiltonx) July 11, 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton called Newsom’s comments “completely pathetic.” “Newsom is a follower, not a leader. He doesn’t believe in anything other than his own political ambition,” Hilton said. Whether Newsom’s stance expands the Democratic Party’s coalition or alienates moderate voters is likely to become a key question as candidates position themselves ahead of the midterm election and beyond.