A last-minute 'slush fund' snag and 4 other key shutdown-ending moments
Johnson brought the House back after a lengthy recess and said Republicans would seek to repeal a controversial provision.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates AOL.com, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page identifies USA TODAY as the article’s original publisher, an established national newsroom with professional reporting standards. AOL attributes the reproduced article to USA TODAY, though the page provides little detail about corrections or the individual reporter beyond the byline text.
- Source type — The reporting is attributed to USA TODAY, an established national news organization.
- Transparency — The page states that the article originally appeared on USA TODAY and includes the reporter’s name and contact information.
- Editorial standards — The identified original publisher has the profile of a professional national newsroom, though this page does not describe its standards.
The report gives the vote tally, explains the main dispute and includes attributed comments from lawmakers on different sides. It offers limited direct sourcing and little detail on the funding package beyond the contested provision and the health-care disagreement.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The report describes the parties’ different positions and includes comments from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. It provides little direct explanation from supporters of the contested provision or broader context about the package.
- Counterarguments presented — The article reports the broad Republican and Democratic positions but gives limited detail on the arguments for the package.
- Source diversity — Lawmakers from both parties are quoted or described, though most perspectives are from political figures.
- Omitted context — The article offers little policy detail on the funding package or the disputed provision.
The article uses straightforward reporting language, attributes the competing views and describes the political disagreements without adopting an evident partisan position.
- Language tone — Mostly factual narration without sustained loaded language.
- Framing — Organizes the story around notable events and disputes rather than an explicit partisan argument.
- Source selection — Includes attributed perspectives from Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Republished with credit
Republished from USA Today, with credit to the original publisher.
21 stories · 79–81 · updated Oct 13, 2026
This is USA Today's own score, and this article is credited to USA Today. The host score in the Source Check is AOL.com's.
The House voted 222-209 to approve a Senate funding package and end the government shutdown. The article highlights disputes over the package, Speaker Mike Johnson’s handling of the House and the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva.
The House approved the Senate-passed funding package by a 222-209 vote. Most Republicans supported it, while almost all Democrats opposed it, saying it did not do enough to address rising health-care costs. The article also describes lawmakers’ efforts to return to Washington and Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to bring the House back after a lengthy recess.
Community verdict
13 VOTESCounts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 20
- Readers of left-leaning coverage: 55% good look
- Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
Votes cast on this page
Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0
People in this story
SWIPE →House Speaker who managed the House’s return and criticized a provision in the shutdown-ending package
Newly sworn-in Arizona representative whose arrival enabled a vote on releasing Epstein-related government files
Grijalva's version of this story ↗South Carolina senator who could sue under the disputed provision
Wisconsin representative who returned to Washington after an event related to his gubernatorial race
Oklahoma representative who said House Republicans did not know about the disputed provision
Senate majority leader whom Johnson called about the disputed provision
Massachusetts representative who criticized the disputed provision
Illinois representative criticized by another Democrat over the process for choosing his successor
Part of a bigger story
20 OUTLETSThe House passed a funding package that President Trump signed, ending the 43-day government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson backed the measure and urged its passage. Center outlets mostly report the vote and reopening, emphasizing the unresolved health-care subsidy dispute and, in some articles, debate over Johnson’s handling. Right-leaning outlets portray Johnson as holding firm against Democrats and often blame them for the shutdown.
- ARTICLES
- 20
- OUTLETS
- 20
- AVG CRED
- 69
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