US lawmakers

The United States has signed a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia that could permit the kingdom to enrich its own uranium, moving away from the "gold standard" non-proliferation commitments Washington demanded from the UAE in 2009. Lawmakers from both parties are warning the agreement could undermine non-proliferation efforts and raise regional tensions.

The US Senate has blocked a Republican-backed bill that would have restricted stock trading by members of Congress. Supporters of such measures argue lawmakers have access to insider information and should not trade individual stocks while in office, while opponents of the bill raised concerns about its design. The vote stalls a long-running bipartisan push for stricter ethics rules, and debate over banning congressional stock trading is likely to continue.

US Senator Rick Scott says Congress is unable to regulate artificial intelligence, a striking admission from a sitting lawmaker as Washington debates how to oversee the fast-moving technology. Critics call the position an abdication of legislative responsibility, while supporters argue existing agencies or states are better suited to the task. The remark lands amid ongoing congressional hearings and proposals on AI safety and rules.

US senators have introduced a bill aimed at foreign support fueling Sudan's civil war, which has devastated the country since fighting broke out between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in 2023. The legislation would target external actors arming or financing the warring sides. Details of the bill's provisions and its chances of passage are not yet clear.

Pete Hegseth delivered a 'State of the Force' address outlining a series of new US military initiatives. The announcement, published by the Department of War, is drawing attention as observers assess what the proposed changes mean for the US armed forces and defense policy. Details of the individual initiatives and reactions from lawmakers and military analysts are still emerging.

Congress is seeking to curb the authority of federal agencies over energy projects, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The effort would tighten congressional oversight of agencies involved in permitting and approving energy infrastructure. The move comes amid ongoing debates in Washington over how much power regulators should have to delay or block energy development.

The US Senate has postponed action on a bill that would permanently ban Chinese cars from the American market, pushing consideration until after the midterm elections. The delay means the legislation will remain in limbo while voters go to the polls. The proposal has drawn attention amid ongoing concerns in Washington over Chinese technology and competition with domestic automakers, with lawmakers divided on timing and scope.

The Center on Global Energy Policy has laid out ways Congress can back the NLIC Initiative, an effort calling for legislative support. The piece outlines steps lawmakers could take to advance the initiative, though details beyond that outline are limited. The proposal is drawing attention in US energy policy circles as a blueprint for congressional action.

US Senator Todd Young is pressing the Senate to take up and pass the Stop Insider Trading Act, legislation aimed at restricting members of Congress from trading stocks based on non-public information. The renewed push comes as congressional stock trading remains a contentious issue in Washington, with supporters arguing new rules are needed to restore public trust in lawmakers.

An Oklahoma court has ruled that the state health department cannot change gender designations on birth certificates. The decision means transgender Oklahomans will be unable to update the gender marker on their birth records, drawing attention from civil rights groups and lawmakers as similar battles over identity documents continue across several US states.

US senators are holding debate over who should be held legally responsible when autonomous AI agents act in harmful or unexpected ways. The discussion centres on how existing liability frameworks apply to software that can take actions on its own, with lawmakers weighing whether developers, deployers or users should bear the cost of 'rogue' behaviour.

A group of US lawmakers from both parties has introduced a bill that would ban cellphone use in schools across the country. The proposal reflects a growing movement among states and districts to restrict phones in classrooms, driven by concerns over student focus, mental health and bullying. Support and opposition are shaping up along questions of local control and enforcement.

Policy analyst Satya Marar argues that age-gating the internet will not actually make children safe online. Writing in commentary published by the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Marar contends that online age-verification mandates are an ineffective approach to child safety. The piece adds to an ongoing debate over laws requiring websites to verify users' ages, which critics say threaten privacy and free expression while being easy to circumvent.

The US Senate has confirmed Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor. Sonderling, a former Labor Department official and Florida-based attorney, now takes charge of the department overseeing workplace rights, wages and unemployment programs. Details beyond the confirmation vote remain limited, and reaction from lawmakers and labor groups is not yet clear.

The US Senate has blocked legislation concerning data centers and congressional stock trading, with the votes failing ahead of the November midterm elections. The stock trading measure, which would have restricted lawmakers' ability to trade individual stocks, has been a subject of bipartisan public pressure but stalled in the chamber. The outcomes may shape campaign messaging as candidates weigh in on congressional ethics and technology issues.

A commentary argues that the United States' nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia is flawed and that Congress should step in to fix it. The piece calls on lawmakers to strengthen the deal's terms before it moves forward, reflecting ongoing debate in Washington over nuclear cooperation with Riyadh and the safeguards attached to it.

US lawmakers are working to clarify and refine how digital assets are taxed, addressing long-standing gray areas that have left investors and businesses uncertain about their obligations. Current rules were largely designed before cryptocurrencies existed, creating ambiguity around staking, trading, and asset treatment. Tax professionals and industry participants are closely watching the effort, which could significantly change how crypto holders report and pay taxes.

US lawmakers are moving toward eliminating the penny, raising questions about whether the one-cent coin will remain legal tender and how everyday cash transactions would work without it. The debate touches on the Treasury's rising cost of minting pennies, with retailers and consumers asking how prices would be rounded once the coin disappears from circulation.

Immigration-related bills are under discussion in California's legislature, according to local coverage from LAist. The reports focus on measures being weighed by state lawmakers, though details of the specific proposals remain limited. Immigration policy continues to draw attention across the United States as states advance their own legislation.

A Quinnipiac University poll has found that 71% of voters want stricter guardrails on artificial intelligence. The result points to broad public concern about AI's risks, spanning political lines, and adds pressure on lawmakers weighing new regulation of the fast-moving technology. The poll is drawing attention as AI policy debates heat up in Washington and beyond.

A group of US senators has introduced a roughly 400-page bill designed to accelerate the permitting process for energy projects in the United States. The legislation, details of which were reported by trade outlet Upstream, aims to cut red tape around approvals for energy infrastructure. Reaction so far has been limited as lawmakers and industry groups review the lengthy text.

The US Senate has blocked legislation that would have restricted stock trading by members of Congress, according to Reuters. The measure aimed to address long-standing concerns that lawmakers could benefit from insider knowledge when trading financial markets. The failure will renew debate over congressional ethics and conflicts of interest, with supporters likely to push for similar reforms again.

The US Senate has left Washington for an extended recess that will last until after November's midterm elections, with final legislation failing to advance before lawmakers went home. The breakdown leaves a range of pending bills unresolved, and members will now campaign while major items remain stuck in the chamber, with action deferred to a post-election session.

A US lawmaker says Congress is pressing the Trump administration to speed up arms sales to Taiwan following the recent summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Concern centres on fears that Washington may slow or de-prioritise weapons deliveries to Taiwan as part of a broader US-China accommodation, prompting lawmakers to seek guarantees that defensive commitments remain intact.

A group of US senators has clinched a deal on construction permitting reform, reaching agreement just before lawmakers leave Washington for the election campaign period. The agreement would streamline approval processes for building projects, a long-stalled issue. With congressional time running out before the elections, the timing of the breakthrough is drawing attention to whether the deal can advance further.

Washington State Congressman Adam Smith, a longtime Democratic ally of Israel, says feedback from his constituents has changed his position on Israel's war effort and on continued US support. Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, says the shift reflects the views of voters in his district who have pressed him on the conflict.

A new Senate bill would exempt small stablecoin purchases from taxation and close the wash-sale loophole that lets crypto investors claim losses and quickly repurchase assets. If passed, the change would affect how Bitcoin and XRP holders realise losses and manage small transactions. The proposal signals renewed congressional interest in clarifying US digital asset tax rules.

American consumer advocacy organisations are calling on Congress to open an investigation into scams proliferating on major technology platforms. The groups want lawmakers to examine how fraudsters exploit social media and online marketplaces, and what responsibility the companies bear. The push adds to growing political pressure in Washington over platform accountability and consumer protection.

Democratic senators are pressing Trump administration officials over an oil deal involving the Pentagon and Venezuela, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive. The lawmakers are questioning the terms and oversight of the arrangement, which links US military structures to Venezuelan oil interests amid ongoing political tensions with Caracas.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a speech billed as a 'State of the Force' address, announced the creation of a new drone command and a reduction of about 20% in the number of generals and admirals. The moves are part of efforts to streamline the military's top ranks and prioritize unmanned systems, drawing attention from defense observers and lawmakers awaiting details on how the cuts will be carried out.

An election infrastructure group has restructured its federal lobbying team, a move that alters who represents the organization before US lawmakers and regulators. Details on the reshuffle, including the personnel involved and their prior roles, have not been made available, and no public reaction from lawmakers or watchdog groups has been reported so far. The change comes amid ongoing scrutiny of companies and organizations that supply voting systems and election technology.