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President Trump threatened on Wednesday to take the unprecedented step of adjourning Congress with his executive powers so he can make recess appointments of stalled nominees. Speaking at the daily White House coronavirus task force briefing, Mr. Trump said his administration has been hamstrung by a lack of personnel because Senate Democrats have held up nominees. He criticized the Senate and House for holding “phony” pro forma sessions, instead of adjourning, which prevents him from making recess appointments.

It happened late Wednesday night, so it didn't get much coverage: Speaker Nancy Pelosi cast the deciding vote when the House voted, 210-209, to adjourn. That's significant because, by custom, the speaker ordinarily doesn't vote except on issues of special importance. And because Pelosi, who has shown impressive ability to deliver Democratic majorities on one tough roll call after another for four years, was scrambling to prevail on what is ordinarily a routine vote. It wasn't routine this time, because the Republicans wanted a roll call on extending all the George W. Bush tax cuts, which are set to expire...

WASHINGTON - Jurors completed a shortened, eighth day of deliberations Friday without a verdict in the perjury trial of ex-White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. They resume work on Monday. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton granted their request to leave three hours early Friday to attend to personal, professional and medical obligations. On their way out, they handed Walton two questions, which will be addressed in court Monday. The questions were to be released publicly Friday afternoon. The seven women and four men got the case near midday on Feb. 22. They normally work from 9 a.m. to 5...

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<p>Contracts that Gov. Gray Davis' administration negotiated with politically powerful state employee unions to save money this year will jack up costs in the future, and Republican lawmakers said Thursday they might withhold support.</p> <p>"It looks to us like the deals are pretty sweet," said Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks.</p>