WASHINGTON—When former U.S. Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., served in Congress in the early 2000s, he entertained women on a yacht in the Potomac River. A defense contractor who was bribing the congressman provided the lavish accommodations in exchange for Cunningham’s earmarking of funds for his company.

President Joe Biden and his allies are attempting to force a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package through Congress. House Committees are approving the package piecemeal this week, and the Senate Finance Committee and other panels are expected to fast-track the bill once the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump wraps up. The proposed economic stimulus is expected to become law by mid-March, before additional unemployment benefits expire. But it faces unexpected opposition from some voices on the left who warn the price is simply too high.

WASHINGTON—On a cold Tuesday night, the cremated remains of former Capitol Hill Police Officer Brian Sicknick arrived to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. Sicknick died on Jan. 7, a day after he sustained injuries from a riotous mob that forced its way into the Capitol. He was 42.

On Wednesday, lawmakers held a formal ceremony to mourn the loss.

WASHINGTON—Officer Brian Sicknick is only the fifth person to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Lawmakers and members of the Capitol Police force gathered on Wednesday for a ceremony honoring the officer who died from injuries sustained during the Jan. 6 riot at the seat of U.S. government. Sicknick’s remains rested in a wooden box engraved in gold lettering with his date of birth and death beside a folded American flag.

WASHINGTON—Only the power of the filibuster stands in the way of Senate Democrats enacting their aggressive, pro-abortion agenda in this Congress. And just a handful of moderate senators are protecting that power.

One of those senators in particular, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, has drawn the attention and efforts of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. The organization spent $200,000 this week on a radio and social media ad campaign to thank Manchin for saying he would not vote to end the filibuster and to encourage him to stick to his word.

When President Joe Biden took his seat behind the Resolute desk hours after his inauguration Jan. 20, he wasted no time in dismantling key pieces of the Trump administration’s policy with 17 executive orders, proclamations, and memorandums. Some laid out the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, halted construction of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, ended the so-called “Muslim travel ban,” extended a moratorium on evictions during the pandemic, recommitted the United States to the Paris climate accords, and revoked construction permits for the Keystone XL pipeline.

WASHINGTON—After taking the oath of office Wednesday, President Joe Biden wasted no time repudiating the Trump administration’s policies—particularly on immigration. By the end of Day One, Biden released executive orders to reverse travel and immigration bans on some Muslim-majority countries and others hostile to the United States such as North Korea.