US lawmakers

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the War Powers resolution deadline does not apply to US forces because a ceasefire with Iran is in place. The claim comes as lawmakers have pressed the administration to withdraw troops involved in strikes against Iran, arguing legal deadlines for congressional approval have passed. The dispute centers on whether hostilities have truly ended and whether Congress should have a say.

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 between Republican lawmakers and Fauci, who has faced repeated congressional scrutiny over the federal response to Covid-19 and related documents. The contempt measure now moves toward a full Senate consideration, keeping the dispute in the political spotlight.

The US Senate has advanced legislation that would overhaul the college sports system, marking its first formal step toward reshaping how college athletics are governed. The move comes as college sports face mounting pressure over athlete compensation, name-image-likeness deals and the future of the NCAA. Details of the proposed framework remain limited, but lawmakers signal growing bipartisan interest in setting national rules for college athletes.

Polling is drawing attention to a potential US Senate race in Texas between incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn's orbit, with Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico emerging as leading possible contenders. Outlets including The Guardian are examining whether Talarico could help Democrats compete statewide in Texas, as surveys test matchups and fuel speculation about the 2026 contest.

Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley, together with Senator Ed Markey, have announced legislation aimed at stopping major US banks from financing fossil fuel projects. The measures would curb what the lawmakers describe as Wall Street's role in bankrolling the climate crisis. The announcement is expected to renew debate over banks' lending to oil, gas and coal companies and pressure financial institutions over their climate records.

US Senator Rick Scott has stated that Congress cannot regulate artificial intelligence, a claim drawing attention amid ongoing debate in Washington over how, or whether, to set rules for AI development. The remark feeds into a wider partisan divide over AI oversight, with lawmakers split between those urging safeguards and those wary of constraining the industry.

The US Farm Bill has expired, leaving federal agriculture and nutrition programs without renewed authorization as Congress faces a tight deadline to pass new legislation. The lapse puts pressure on lawmakers to reach agreement on subsidies, crop insurance, and food assistance funding. Farmers and rural communities are watching closely to see what happens next.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, escalating a long-running effort by Republican lawmakers to investigate his role in the federal response to Covid-19. The vote follows Fauci's refusals to comply with committee demands, including requests for testimony and records related to pandemic-era decisions and federal research funding. The move now heads toward a possible full Senate or Justice Department decision on enforcement.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotion of several Navy officers to one-star admiral rank, according to ABC News. The move affects officers awaiting confirmation to their first general or flag rank. It is the latest example of the Pentagon leadership intervening in senior military promotions, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and concern within the armed forces about the criteria behind such decisions.

A resolution introduced in the US Congress calls for formal recognition of the Nakba, the 1948 displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the creation of Israel. The measure has drawn attention as part of ongoing debates in Washington over Palestinian history and US policy toward Israel, drawing support from progressive lawmakers and criticism from others.

The US Senate has voted down an effort to require a report on Israel's human rights practices, turning aside a push from lawmakers who sought formal scrutiny of Israel's conduct. The rejection highlights continued divisions in Congress over conditioning oversight of a close ally, with human rights advocates voicing disappointment and opponents of the measure arguing existing review channels are sufficient.

An editorial argues that protecting the nation from foreign propaganda has become a critical mission, insisting the concern crosses party lines. It points out that Republican lawmakers have raised the same alarms as others, framing the threat to public discourse as a shared, nonpartisan issue rather than a complaint from one political side.

A documentary-style film called 'Super Intelligence,' featuring US House Speaker Mike Johnson, is intensifying public concern about the risks of advanced artificial intelligence. The film adds to a wider debate in Washington about whether powerful AI systems could pose catastrophic dangers, with Johnson's involvement drawing fresh attention to the issue among lawmakers and commentators.

The US Supreme Court opens a new term expected to address several of the country's most divisive issues, including immigration, gun rights and voting rules, along with other major cases. The docket could produce significant rulings affecting policy and elections, drawing close attention from lawmakers, advocacy groups and the public as arguments begin.

US senators say a vote on the Trump administration's nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia will likely come only after the midterm elections. The 123 agreement would open the door to American nuclear technology and cooperation with Riyadh, and its timing and conditions remain closely watched in Congress as lawmakers weigh proliferation and oversight concerns.

Congressional candidates have debated the Iran war, laying out sharply different positions. Some candidates took a critical view of the military conflict, while others urged a more cautious approach, reflecting broader divisions among US lawmakers over America's role in the confrontation with Iran.

Environmental advocates, including voices from Colorado's Aspen area, are calling on Congress to safeguard the Roadless Rule, a Clinton-era measure that blocks road construction and logging on millions of acres of national forest. The renewed appeal asks constituents to press lawmakers to defend the policy amid ongoing political pressure to open protected forest lands to development.

Former Republican Congressman David Rivera of Florida has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for secretly lobbying on behalf of the Venezuelan government. Prosecutors said he failed to register as a foreign agent while taking millions of dollars from Venezuela, including work related to a US government indictment against a Venezuelan official. Rivera, who served in the House from 2011 to 2013, denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal.

The fight over Flock Safety's automatic license plate reader network has moved to Congress, according to Smart Cities Dive. The company's cameras, widely deployed by local police and installed in neighborhoods across the US, have faced growing pushback from privacy advocates and some city councils, and the dispute is now being taken up by federal lawmakers.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has waived human rights conditions attached to $320 million in military aid to Egypt, clearing the way for the funds to be released. The move sidesteps requirements that Cairo improve its human rights record before receiving certain security assistance, and is likely to draw criticism from rights groups and some lawmakers.

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.

A bipartisan megabill is moving through Washington with the stated goal of making it easier for the United States to build again, targeting permitting and infrastructure delays. Coverage is walking through what the legislation actually contains, and debate is focusing on whether the bill can speed up construction of roads, energy projects and other infrastructure while keeping environmental safeguards intact.

US lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at supporting the recovery of endangered species, moving in the opposite direction from the Trump administration, which has been rolling back protections under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal would strengthen recovery efforts and funding for threatened wildlife. The clash highlights a growing political fight in Washington over the scope of federal environmental protections, with conservation groups backing the bill and industry interests generally supporting the administration's deregulation.

US workers currently pay Social Security payroll tax on earnings up to a wage cap of $184,500, and some lawmakers are proposing changes that would reduce or eliminate benefits for higher-income workers who paid into the system. The debate raises questions about fairness for people who contribute but may receive nothing in return.

US lawmakers are discussing legislation that would establish durable regulatory rules for banks and the cryptocurrency industry, replacing shifting regulatory guidance with more permanent statutory frameworks. The debate covers how much oversight banks should have over digital assets and how crypto firms should be integrated into the traditional financial system. Details of specific bills and their prospects remain unclear.

US states are expanding public investment in early childhood, directing funding toward programs that support children in the first years of life. The report examines how state-level policies and budgets are addressing early development, a growing focus for lawmakers and families as awareness of the importance of early years increases.

A congressional committee led by Kentucky Representative James Comer is seeking a study into the brain health of US naval aviators. The move would examine potential neurological risks faced by military pilots, a concern that has drawn attention amid reports of unexplained health incidents among service members. Details on the study's scope and timeline have not yet been made public.

Legislation concerning college sports has advanced in the US House of Representatives, but its fate on the floor remains unclear. The bill's progress comes amid ongoing national debate over athlete compensation, name-image-likeness rules and the governance of college athletics, with lawmakers divided on how federal law should apply to universities and student-athletes.

More than 150 new US military programs are reportedly at risk of delay if Congress funds the Pentagon through a continuing resolution rather than a full appropriations bill. Continuing resolutions generally hold spending at current levels and block the launch of new initiatives, meaning planned weapons, technology and modernization programs could be pushed back until a budget is passed.