Wednesday morning news: September 6, 2023

Lawmakers return to DC as funding deadline looms » Lawmakers are back on Capitol Hill this week after summer vacations. And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they have no time to waste.

SCHUMER: By the end of this month, the House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, all must get on the same page about keeping the government open.

Congress faces a September 30th deadline to pass a funding bill and avert a partial government shutdown.

But House conservatives like Congressman Chip Roy say Republicans can’t once again kick the can down the road and must take a stand against runaway spending and spiraling debt.

McConnell health » Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is also back in Washington. He says he’s healthy and hard at work after a couple of recent health scares, when the minority leader froze up during news conferences.

But McConnell had no troubles on the Senate floor Tuesday.

MCCONNELL: Now, one particular moment of my time back home has received its fair share of its attention in the press over the past week. But I assure you, August was a busy and productive month.

McConnell’s office released a letter from his attending physician saying that tests showed “no evidence” of a stroke, a seizure disorder or anything like Parkinson’s disease.

Some speculated that the 81-year-old may be suffering from one of those conditions.

McConnell fell and suffered a concussion earlier this year.

Chinese spies » Chinese spies may have infiltrated U.S. military bases and other sensitive sites as many as a hundred times in recent years, according to a new report. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. government sources, says military police have discovered Chinese nationals on American military bases without authorization.

In another incident, authorities found Chinese nationals at a U.S. missile range in New Mexico. And in Florida, Chinese scuba divers were caught in waters near a government rocket-launch site.

The Journal reports that officials believe Beijing is testing U.S. security at sensitive government sites.

It adds that the Pentagon huddled with the FBI and other agencies last year about how to stop these violations.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Russia/North Korea » North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is expected to travel to Russia soon, to meet with Vladimir Putin.

Moscow needs more ammunition for its war in Ukraine.

White House National security adviser Jake Sullivan:

SULLIVAN: I think it says a lot that Russia is having to turn to a country like North Korea to seek to bolster its defense capacity in a war that it expended, expected would be over in a week.

In return, some experts say Kim will likely ask for food aid, energy shipments, and help in developing more high-tech weapons.

It is unclear when and where the meeting will take place.

PATRICK: I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will impartially try Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr., Attorney General of Texas.

Paxton trial » Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick presiding over the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton. He faces allegations including bribery, abuse of office, and misleading public officials.

Paxton’s attorney Tony Buzbee entered his client’s plea on 16 articles.

BUZBEE: Attorney General Ken Paxton is innocent and therefore pleads not guilty.

Patrick yesterday ruled that Paxton cannot be forced to testify, and he is not required to be present throughout the trial.

All 12 Senate Democrats will likely to vote to convict Paxton, but they’ll need at least nine of 19 Republicans to agree in order to impeach him.

Alabama map » A federal court has ordered Alabama to go back to the drawing board, literally. WORLD’s Christina Grube explains.

CHRISTINA GRUBE: Republican state lawmakers redrew congressional district lines back in July, after the U.S. Supreme Court said the map violated the Voting Rights Act by marginalizing black voters.

And on Tuesday, a three-judge panel said the state’s revised map still doesn’t cut it.

Roughly one out of every four Alabama residents is black, but the state only has one majority-black district. And the latest GOP proposal doesn’t change that, though it does increase the percentage of black voters in another district from 30 to 40 percent.

This time, the judges appointed an independent special master to redraw the lines instead of giving lawmakers a third chance.

The state’s Republican attorney general says he will appeal the ruling.

For WORLD, I’m Christina Grube.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the latest effort to upend America’s two-party political system. Plus, something that’s ahead but not immediately straight ahead.

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