In this episode of Congress in Context, we analyze the high-stakes legislative session of February 5, 2026, which was dominated by a deepening standoff over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding as Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer clashed over ICE’s enforcement tactics and the potential for a "travel disaster" if the TSA lapses. The Senate also saw the contentious confirmations of judicial nominees Brian Charles Lea and Justin R. Olson, the latter sparking intense debate over his involvement in litigation regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports. Listeners will hear about the escalating legal battle for transparency regarding the Epstein files, including a Democratic resolution to sue the administration for failing to release millions of documents ...