Congress

US intelligence assessments indicate Saudi Arabia has kept the option of developing nuclear weapons on the table, while senators in Congress are moving to block or constrain a nuclear deal with Riyadh backed by Donald Trump. Critics argue the agreement lacks safeguards against Saudi enrichment, and the intelligence finding is intensifying bipartisan concern over arms proliferation in the Gulf region.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is pressing Washington to avoid another round of export restrictions on ASML's China business. The appeal comes as US lawmakers pursue legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The dispute puts the Netherlands between American security concerns and the interests of its most valuable technology company, and observers are watching whether the new US Congress moves ahead with the measures.

President Trump is moving to withhold roughly $800 million in funding that Congress has already approved, according to Reuters and other outlets. The effort raises questions over executive authority and the separation of powers, since appropriating money is a core congressional power. The dispute is likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers and legal challenges over whether the administration can refuse to spend money mandated by law.

The Trump administration is using a rarely invoked authority to rescind nearly $1 billion in federal spending that Congress had already approved. The move, reported by PBS, reignites debate over presidential power over the purse and whether the executive branch can block money lawmakers appropriated, a fight likely to draw legal challenges and pushback from Capitol Hill.

A group of Democratic congressional candidates is openly campaigning on their Christian faith, hoping to reconnect with religious voters who have drifted toward Republicans. The strategy is drawing attention as Democrats assess whether emphasizing faith can broaden their appeal in key races, and whether religious language will resonate with moderate and rural constituents in the current political climate.

President Trump has rejected a proposed deal with Iran following a week of high-stakes meetings with advisers and officials, according to The Hill's Sunday shows preview. At the same time, Republicans are scrambling to keep control of Congress ahead of upcoming elections. The weekend talk shows are expected to weigh both the collapsing diplomatic track with Tehran and the GOP's legislative and electoral prospects.

President Trump has moved to cut nearly $1 billion in federal spending without approval from Congress, according to US media reports. The move raises immediate questions over presidential authority and the separation of powers, as spending decisions normally require legislative approval. The cuts and the legal basis for bypassing lawmakers are expected to draw scrutiny and likely challenges from Congress and watchdog groups.

President Trump is moving to cancel $810 million in federal spending that was previously approved by Congress. The step raises fresh questions over executive authority and the balance of power over the federal budget, since Congress holds constitutional control of appropriations. The report comes from The Media Line, which highlighted the scale of the proposed rescission and its potential clash with lawmakers over funds they had already allocated.

Richard Kahn, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime financial manager who appears more than 50,000 times in the Justice Department's Epstein files, was questioned by Congress. Under questioning he confirmed that a woman who accused Donald Trump of sexual abuse received a settlement payment. The testimony has drawn attention to the financial trail behind Epstein's operations and its potential connections to Trump.

President Trump is seeking to cancel close to $1 billion in funds already approved by Congress, a process known as a rescission that requires congressional approval to take effect. The move puts the White House on a collision course with lawmakers from both parties, who control federal spending under the Constitution and have previously resisted similar attempts to unwind appropriations.

The Trump administration is moving to cancel roughly $810 million in previously approved federal funding using a little-known budgetary maneuver called a 'pocket rescission'. The move is drawing attention because it tests the limits of presidential authority over money already appropriated by Congress, reviving debate over executive power and the separation of powers in US budget politics.

Rahul Gandhi is addressing a live press conference from the Congress party's Indira Bhawan headquarters in New Delhi. Large audiences are following the event in real time, with engagement running into the millions as viewers await announcements from the senior Congress leader. The subject of the briefing has not been detailed in advance, adding to public interest.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease official, in contempt of Congress. The vote escalates a standoff with Republican lawmakers who have investigated his role in the federal response to Covid-19 and related research funding. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades before retiring in 2022, has denied wrongdoing.

President Trump has moved to rescind nearly $1 billion in previously approved federal funding, acting without congressional approval. The decision bypasses the legislature's traditional power of the purse, raising questions over executive authority and the fate of programs relying on the money. The move is expected to draw legal and political challenges from lawmakers in both parties.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed creating a Congress of Europe, framing it as a step in the right direction given the scale of the continent's geopolitical challenges. The idea, reported by international media including the Japan Times, is being debated as a possible way to strengthen European unity and coordination on security and foreign policy.

Some members of Congress are openly questioning whether the legislature is equipped to regulate artificial intelligence, with one lawmaker describing the institution as 'barely capable of email.' The remarks reflect growing concern inside Washington that the technical complexity of AI is outpacing lawmakers' understanding, raising doubts that meaningful oversight or legislation can be passed in the near term.

The White House says President Trump is pressing Congress to cut short its recess and return to Washington to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security as the government shutdown continues. The standoff has left DHS operations under strain, and Trump is publicly blaming Democrats while lawmakers remain back in their districts, with no immediate sign of a deal to reopen the government.

The Trump-backed SAVE America Act would require voters to show photo ID and provide documentary proof of US citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. Supporters say the measure protects election integrity, while critics argue it could disenfranchise eligible voters who lack easy access to citizenship documents.

The World Uyghur Congress has issued its weekly brief focusing on Uyghur human rights concerns, its advocacy work at the United Nations, and reports of forced labour affecting Uyghurs. The organisation regularly documents alleged abuses in Xinjiang and lobbies international bodies for accountability, and the brief updates supporters and policymakers on its latest efforts.

The United Arab Emirates has opened the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, hosting the global gathering alongside the launch of a new initiative called Pledge4Justice. The UAE announced the first pledge of up to USD 5 million to support the campaign. Reports from multiple outlets note the congress brings international attention to crime prevention and justice cooperation.

An author of an Appalachian memoir has launched a run for Congress, telling reporters plainly: 'I'm not JD Vance.' The candidate is positioning themselves against the caricature of the region popularized by Vance's 'Hillbilly Elegy,' arguing their own lived experience of Appalachia offers a truer representation. The race is drawing attention because it frames mountain communities as more than a political symbol.

North Carolina's attorney general is calling on Congress to establish safeguards around artificial intelligence following a series of bot attacks. The state's top legal officer argues federal action is needed to address misuse of AI-driven automated accounts. Details about the nature of the attacks, who was targeted, and what specific regulations are being proposed remain limited.

The US Senate has voted down a war powers resolution intended to rebuke President Trump over military action against Iran. The measure would have sought to limit or block further hostilities without congressional approval, but it failed to advance. The rejection keeps Trump's Iran policy intact and underscores the ongoing divide in Congress over presidential war authority and US involvement in the conflict.

NPR reports on a group of Democratic congressional candidates who are making their Christian faith central to their campaigns, hoping to connect with religious voters who have traditionally leaned Republican. The piece examines whether openly faith-based campaigning can broaden the party's appeal in the 2026 midterms, and observers are weighing whether this strategy will translate into electoral gains.

The Supreme Court has rejected a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for the third time. The repeated rejections mean the contested district boundaries drawn with the former president's support will not take effect as drafted, leaving Missouri's congressional representation governed by existing lines while Republicans consider how to respond to the court's stance.

A Trump-endorsed candidate known for making a fortune in the sticker business is drawing attention for an unusual path toward a seat in Congress. Reporting has focused on the candidate's backstory, combining an unconventional business career with high-profile backing from the former president as the election approaches.

Some Republican members of Congress from Iowa publicly disagreed with President Trump during the past month, breaking with the White House on issues before Congress. The monthly 'Inside Iowa Politics' roundup from KTIV highlights those moments of dissent, drawing attention to tensions within Iowa's GOP delegation and how its lawmakers are balancing loyalty to the president with constituent concerns back home.

News of a Congress sweep in Gujarat is circulating widely in India, with reports and commentary saying the party won 24 seats while the BJP won none — described in Hindi as a complete rout for the BJP. The results are being framed around senior figures Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, with supporters of both parties debating the scale of the setback for the BJP in PM Modi's home state.

India's Congress party is holding a pan-India protest, with demonstrators gathering at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in what supporters are calling 'Jantar Mantar 2.0'. The protests feature devotional song sessions, or bhajans, directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing criticism of his government and heavy attention on social media.

News outlets are turning their focus to the 2026 United States midterm elections, with early coverage of congressional polls and campaigns taking shape. All 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate will be up for grabs in November, and political watchers are beginning to track polling, candidate announcements and party strategies that could reshape Congress and test President Donald Trump's second term.

Pete Hegseth continues to enjoy firm backing from President Trump, who has stood by him through repeated controversies, but the Wall Street Journal reports that his support among members of Congress is slipping. The report highlights a growing gap between the White House's loyalty to the Defense Secretary and lawmakers' increasing skepticism, raising questions about his political standing.