Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) Passes Away, 90

A number of US outlets reporting that Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) has passed away aged 90. The late senator's health had been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent months given the tight margins of Democrat control in the US Senate. Feinstein had served as a senator for the US' most populous state since 1992, and her passing leaves the US Senate split 50-49 in the Democrats' favour (taking into account three independents that usually caucus/vote with the Dems). Amid the down-to-the-wire efforts in both the House and Senate to avoid a looming gov't shutdown on Saturday Feinstein's death is likely to cast a pall over negotiations. Given her recent poor health, Feinstein was not expected to have voted on any measures intended to avoid a shutdown over the coming days.