Government funding, the Epstein files and the National Guard patrolling the nation’s capital are just some of the items on the agenda as members of Congress return to Washington next week after their August recess.

Once again, the threat of a government shutdown is looming over Congress. The new budget year begins Oct. 1, and unless Congress authorizes more spending, many government functions will be put on pause.

Such funding fights almost always go down to the wire, many times ending with Congress kicking the can down the road by passing a continuing resolution, or CR, to maintain current funding levels for a few weeks or months, thus giving them more time to strike a full-year agreement.

Both parties are already blaming the other.

“Americans will witness them [Democrats] attempt to

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