Pressure is rising on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to call the House back in session for a vote on ensuring military pay during the shutdown.  President Trump said a standalone military pay bill “probably will happen” in remarks to reporters Wednesday, while bipartisan legislation allowing service members to be paid amid the shutdown is gaining momentum in the House. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), the chair …

The White House on Thursday denied claims from Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro that the latest U.S. military strike in the Caribbean struck a boat carrying Colombian citizens. Petro on Wednesday said last week’s operation on a vessel that the Trump administration argued was smuggling drugs into the country targeted a boat with Colombians on board. The Colombian leader added that he hopes the families will come …

President Trump on Thursday hosted Finnish President Alexander Stubb, where the two leaders announced an agreement for the U.S. to add 11 icebreaker ships to its fleet. Trump said as part of the agreement, the U.S. would purchase four icebreakers built in Finland, while seven additional ships would be constructed in the United States. Icebreakers are ships that are designed to navigate through ice-covered waters. “We have a …