Republican lawmakers

Republicans are publicly distancing themselves from Donald Trump as polling numbers weigh on the party. Candidates and lawmakers in competitive races have begun emphasizing their independence from the former president, while party strategists debate whether his continued dominance is an electoral asset or liability. Commentators see the move as a sign of anxiety within the GOP heading into upcoming elections.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, escalating a long-running confrontation between the former chief medical adviser and Republican lawmakers over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The move could set up a full Senate vote or further legal action. Supporters of Fauci call it political retaliation, while critics say he has failed to cooperate with oversight.

Former special counsel Jack Smith is testifying publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee as Republican lawmakers examine the Justice Department investigations he led into Donald Trump. The hearings, covered live by major outlets, are expected to focus on how the classified documents and election interference cases were conducted. The appearance marks a rare public account from Smith, who brought two federal criminal cases against Trump.

Senator Chris Van Hollen is featured in a discussion examining why Congress has not done more to check President Trump's power. The conversation, published on Lever News, focuses on the reluctance of lawmakers—particularly in his own party—to confront the administration, and what it would take for Congress to assert its constitutional role as a co-equal branch of government.

NPR is examining what lies ahead for the House Freedom Caucus, the hard-right group of Republican lawmakers known for pushing party leadership to the right. The discussion comes amid questions about the faction's influence and direction, though the available details are limited to the headline itself.

President Donald Trump shared more than 13 social media posts attacking Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida on Saturday, escalating a feud that began after she broke with his immigration crackdown earlier this month. The volume of posts underscored Trump's willingness to target members of his own party over dissent on immigration policy, drawing attention to tensions within the GOP.

Donald Trump has posted a series of attacks targeting a Republican congresswoman after she criticised his immigration policies, according to multiple news outlets. The public feud within the GOP highlights continuing tensions over the party's immigration stance and Trump's dominance over it. Details of the congresswoman's remarks and Trump's specific responses are still being reported.

A Republican lawmaker is calling for the United States to slow China's economic rise while ramping up America's own economy. The comment, made in remarks carried by Fox Business, frames economic policy in explicitly competitive terms with Beijing. It reflects a continued hardline consensus in the GOP on trade, industrial policy and competition with China.

Senator John Fetterman has joined fellow Democrats in issuing a warning to Senator Mark Mullin and the Department of Homeland Security over election interference concerns. The move pairs the often independently minded Pennsylvania Democrat with his party on an election-security matter, pressing federal authorities and Republican counterparts to take the threat more seriously ahead of upcoming votes.

Government-funded advertisements featuring Donald Trump are facing criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers as the midterm elections approach. Critics question the use of public money for political messaging, with the controversy cutting across party lines ahead of a competitive election season.

The US Senate has voted down a Republican-led bill that would have restricted stock trading by sitting members of Congress. The proposal was part of a long-running debate over lawmakers trading individual stocks while having access to non-public policy information. Supporters of such bans argue the current rules create conflicts of interest, while opponents question the need for new restrictions.

President Donald Trump has publicly attacked Representative María Elvira Salazar, a Miami-area Republican, in posts on his Truth Social platform, deepening an escalating rift within the Florida GOP. The exchange between the president and the second-term congresswoman is drawing attention as a test of Trump's influence over Republican lawmakers in South Florida, where Salazar has built her own political brand.

Democrats have put forward a plan aimed at preserving the Department of Education, according to Politico. The proposal comes as the department's future has become a subject of political debate in Washington, with Republicans having long pushed for its downsizing or elimination. Details of the plan's specific provisions were not provided in the available reporting, and it is not yet clear how much support it has among lawmakers.

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.

Several Republican senators facing competitive re-election contests are publicly distancing themselves from former President Trump on immigration enforcement, calling for ICE to coordinate with local police departments. The push marks a rare public break within the party on a core issue, with the lawmakers seeking positions that appeal to moderate voters in their states. The story is being carried across multiple local US news outlets.

Republican concern is mounting that Donald Trump's attention is drifting away from issues that matter most to voters. The worry, reported in US media coverage, centers on the party's economic standing and whether the president's priorities are hurting Republicans politically. The debate within the party comes as lawmakers weigh how to respond publicly to the White House's agenda.

Ohio Republicans have introduced a bill that would establish a $360 million fund to reimburse school districts for special education costs. The proposal aims to ease the financial burden on districts that say state support has not kept pace with the actual expense of serving students with disabilities. Debate is expected over funding levels and how reimbursements would be distributed.

Immigration enforcement operations by ICE are creating political headaches for vulnerable Republicans facing tough reelection battles. Politico reports that the raids and heightened deportation activity are forcing at-risk GOP lawmakers to navigate between backing the administration's hardline agenda and responding to constituents alarmed by arrests in their communities, complicating their survival strategies heading into the next election cycle.

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.

Democrats in Congress blocked a bill that would have restricted stock trading by lawmakers, denying Republicans a legislative win ahead of the midterm elections. The measure had drawn bipartisan public support, with advocates arguing members of Congress should not trade individual stocks using information from their positions. The stalemate leaves the issue unresolved and likely to remain a campaign talking point.

Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted Donald Trump, has given closed-door testimony to House Republicans investigating the federal cases against the president. Lawmakers had hoped he would provide damaging revelations, but according to Politico the session produced little of substance, with attention instead falling on a misstep by Smith. The hearings are part of ongoing Republican scrutiny of the prosecutions.

US Senator Rick Scott is speaking out on two hot-button issues: rising healthcare costs and a proposed ban on stock trading by members of Congress. The Florida Republican weighed in on both topics during a news appearance, arguing for action on affordability while addressing ethics concerns about lawmakers trading individual stocks while in office.

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.

Special counsel Jack Smith testified before Congress and defended his investigations into Donald Trump, telling lawmakers his team's work was justified and conducted properly. Smith's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee marked his first public testimony about the federal cases brought against the president-elect, which were abandoned after Trump's 2024 election victory. Republicans sharply questioned him over the prosecution's conduct.

US Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman, has responded to online speculation claiming she has an OnlyFans account. Rather than issuing a flat denial, Mace leaned into the joke, reportedly telling people to 'subscribe right now,' fueling further viral chatter about the claim.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona are raising concerns over state land leases granted for solar energy developments. The legislators are questioning the terms and oversight of agreements that allow solar projects on state trust land, a growing source of renewable energy expansion in the state. The debate highlights tensions over land use and clean energy development in Arizona.

President Trump is pressing for a rapid expansion of AI data centers, and the push is creating a political dilemma for some Republican lawmakers. Reporting by the New York Times outlines how members of the president's own party are caught between backing his energy- and infrastructure-heavy AI agenda and responding to constituents' concerns about power demands, land use and local impacts, leaving several in a difficult position heading into election season.