Things have gotten ugly in Washington since the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election — and they’re about to get uglier.

US lawmakers waited on Sunday for details of a confidential report into an investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election that has cast a pall over Donald Trump’s presidency and raised questions about possible collusion between the Republican’s campaign and Moscow.

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee are sharply disagreeing with Republicans on the panel who say they do not see any evidence of collusion or coordination between President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

A public clash between the US president and the FBI is simmering after the agency said it had "grave concerns" over the accuracy of a classified memo on the Russian collusion probe which Donald Trump wants to be released.

Growing number of politicians from both parties believe action needed to prevent more massacres.

House Democrats have ended their more than 25-hour sit-in on the chamber's floor that they have been staging to demand votes on gun control.

Democrats demanding action on gun control continue to stage a sit-in on the floor of the US House of Representatives with one saying she would stay "until hell freezes over".

Senate leaders took command of efforts to avert a US Treasury default and end the partial government shutdown last night after a last big effort by Republicans abruptly collapsed.

Barack Obama is hosting senior Republicans today to seek an opening in an impasse that has shut down much of the government and threatens a catastrophic federal default.

The White House and Republican congressional leaders offered no meaningful proposals for rolling back automatic spending cuts that will slash €64bn from the national budget.

House of Representatives Republican leaders have offered President Barack Obama a three-month reprieve to a looming, market-rattling debt crisis.

US politicians who hoped to resolve any uncertainty over the so-called “fiscal cliff” before financial markets reopen tomorrow ran into trouble today as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives objected to urgent legislation approved by the Senate in a New Year drama unlike any other in the history of Congress.

DEMOCRATS in the US House of Representatives might decide not to support a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling when they meet today, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said last night.

The Republican-controlled House and Democratic-run Senate remained deadlocked today over debt legislation required to avoid a first-ever default on US financial obligations.

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama warned yesterday that polarised lawmakers were “almost out of time” to forge a deal averting a disastrous debt default that could send shockwaves though the world economy.

The Republican party is poised for head-to-head clashes with President Barack Obama as it takes charge of the US House of Representatives today, promising an era of smaller government and less spending.

Washington: US President Barack Obama yesterday called for Congress to consider simplifying the byzantine US tax code next year as lawmakers struggled to prevent tax rates rising for most Americans in January.

An angry Barack Obama defended his tax deal with Republicans and hit back at critical fellow Democrats, warning them against becoming too ideologically pure and self-satisfied.

Republicans rode a wave of voter discontent and conservative outrage to capture a House of Representatives majority from President Barack Obama’s Democrats, rolling up historic gains and ending the Democrats’ reign after just four years.

OPERATIVES in Afghanistan and Pakistan who have worked for the US against the Taliban or al-Qaida may be at risk following the disclosure of thousands of once-secret US military documents, former and current officials said.

Barack Obama's bid to overhaul the US healthcare system was in doubt today as politicians rejected the quickest route for achieving it in the aftermath of this week's shock Republican Senate victory.

The leader of the House of Representatives said today that she lacks the votes to move the Senate’s sweeping healthcare reforms Bill through the House, dealing a jarring blow to Democrats’ hopes of finally speeding US President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority through Congress.

Democrats confidently predicted today that President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul would clear the US Senate after it passed the second of three critical procedural votes.

Jubilant US Senate Democrats secured the 60th and decisive vote for historic health care reform legislation, putting President Barack Obama’s top domestic policy issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.

US President-elect Barack Obama kicks off his three-state 'Whistle Stop Tour' today mirroring Abraham Lincoln’s historic 1861 journey by train from Philadelphia to Washington.

Wall Street’s anxiety about Detroit carmakers welled up today, sending stocks sharply lower in an afternoon sell-off as investors grew fearful that a bill to rescue the companies would not get through the Senate.

A $14bn (€10.6bn) rescue package for the US car industry was in danger today from Republicans who threaten a Senate revolt.

Stock markets, political leaders and millions around the world will be on tenterhooks today as the lower house of the US Congress tries again to pass a $700bn (€506bn) rescue package for the nation’s economy.

President George Bush told Congress’ lower house today that the state of America’s troubled economy “demands” that it followed the Senate’s lead and passed a €487bn rescue package.

The US Senate passed a €487bn rescue package for the nation’s troubled economy today.

Shares in Halifax Bank of Scotland closed 21% higher on London's FTSE index tonight amid hopes a rescue takeover by Lloyds TSB will go ahead as planned.

Leading US politicians said they were confident that an amended $700bn (€482bn) rescue package for the nation’s troubled economy would be passed in the US Senate tonight.

Senate leaders will vote tonight in a surprise move to resurrect US president George Bush’s $700bn (€482bn) Wall Street rescue plan.

US political leaders will go “back to the drawing board” and try to revive a €487bn financial rescue package today after Wall Street shares plunged to record lows as the Bill was rejected.

A $700bn (€482bn) rescue package for the United States’ troubled economy was in tatters tonight after it was rejected by the lower house of the US Congress.

Hillary Clinton is ending her historic bid to become the first female president and will back rival Barack Obama on Saturday, capping a 17-month quest that began with the words “I’m in it to win it” with a more humble plea for party unity.

Wall Street ended a volatile week with a sharp decline today as investors again succumbed to nervousness about rising interest rates and souring subprime loans. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 185 points.

A war spending bill is to be debated by the US Senate today that could set a non-binding goal of March 31 next year for the removal of combat troops from Iraq.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives are expected to vote next week on a stripped-down resolution condemning President George Bush’s decision to send more forces to Iraq, but declaring support for the troops, according to party aides.

Tired of waiting for an opportunity to try to stop the war in Iraq, some US Democrats say they want to use legislation approving billions of dollars in war spending to insist that President George Bush not send more troops.

The 110th US Congress convened today with Democrats in control of both the House of Representatives and Senate for the first time in a dozen years.

Jubilant Democrats prepared to elect Nancy Pelosi as the first woman to run the US House of Representatives as the party takes control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in 12 years.

Democrats in the House of Representatives defied newly elected Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi today by ignoring her recommendation and selecting Rep Steny Hoyer as Pelosi’s top lieutenant.

George Bush and the House of Representatives’ Speaker-in waiting Nancy Pelosi pledged over lunch to stop squabbling and cooperate.