GOP lawmakers

President Trump confronted Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana during a meeting with Republican senators, criticising his vote on a war powers resolution. The exchange exposed tensions within the party over Congress's authority to authorise military action, with lawmakers increasingly willing to break ranks on the issue despite pressure from the White House.

Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas says he is stepping down from Congress, according to ABC News. The announcement removes a sitting GOP lawmaker from the House and adds to questions about the party's lineup heading into upcoming elections. Further details about his reasons or timing had not been reported in the initial coverage.

Congress has wrapped up its session on a muted note, with the New York Times reporting that Republicans are preparing for potential losses in the upcoming midterm elections. The paper frames the departure of lawmakers as lacking major accomplishments, while the GOP confronts an uncertain political climate heading into the vote.

Republican lawmakers are increasingly taking aim at large corporations, marking a shift from the party's traditionally pro-business stance toward a more populist economic agenda. Reports describe GOP figures framing big companies as out of touch with working-class voters, with potential implications for regulation, antitrust policy and the party's future coalition ahead of upcoming elections.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Donald Trump in 2023, testified again before Congress on Tuesday, this time before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Coverage highlights a confident performance from Smith and an awkward moment for Republican questioners, with commentators framing the hearing as a test of the investigations into the now-president.

White House border czar Tom Homan publicly defended US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, challenging critics by asking them to name a single case where enforcement went too far. His comments come as a growing number of Republicans have voiced concern over the scale and tactics of the ICE crackdown, splitting the party on immigration enforcement.

Republicans representing deep-red districts are increasingly seeking distance from Donald Trump over his immigration enforcement agenda, particularly the role of ICE, according to the New York Times. The move reflects concern among GOP lawmakers that aggressive deportation tactics are becoming politically costly, even in areas that strongly backed Trump, as the 2026 midterm season intensifies.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona pressed the state Land Department over its handling of solar leases on public trust land, arguing more consideration should be given to alternative uses. The hearing highlighted Republican concerns that large-scale solar development is being prioritized over grazing, mining and other traditional land uses, setting up a broader policy debate over how state lands should be managed as renewable energy projects expand.

Senator Marsha Blackburn has filed a lawsuit against former special counsel Jack Smith over the obtaining of her phone records. The case centres on records gathered as part of Smith's investigations into Donald Trump, which Republicans have criticised as improper surveillance of lawmakers. The lawsuit escalates GOP efforts to scrutinise Smith's methods while Smith faces his own congressional inquiries.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona are pushing to change how state trust land is used, favouring housing development over large-scale solar projects. The proposal signals a shift in priorities at the legislature, where Republicans argue land should go to homes as the state grapples with housing costs. Critics are likely to see it as a setback for renewable energy expansion on public land.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona are pushing to shift how the state manages its trust lands, favoring residential development over large-scale solar projects. The proposal would make it easier to open state-owned parcels to homebuilding while limiting renewable energy leases. Supporters frame it as addressing the state's housing shortage; critics argue it works against Arizona's growing solar industry.