Senior U.S. senator from Illinois since 1997
The Senate Appropriations Committee is hearing urgent requests for $87.6 billion to support ongoing military operations, with the Pentagon citing threats in the Middle East and ongoing hostilities with Iran. Witnesses warn that without funds, military training and operations will face shortfalls while lawmakers consider broader budget implications amid public debate about the war.
The Biden administration has approved new execution methods, including firing squads, electrocution, and gas asphyxiation, citing drug shortages and legal changes. This move follows a 20-year hiatus and aims to expand options for federal executions, despite declining public support for the death penalty. It will likely take years before executions are scheduled.
Jill Biden has said she was "frightened" watching Joe Biden's June 2024 debate performance and thought he might be having a stroke, according to excerpts from her memoir View from the East Wing and a CBS News interview. The book has recounted concerns about his health before the debate and the chain of events that led to his withdrawal from the 2024 race.
NATO and allied nations are accelerating development and deployment of cheaper, scalable defenses in response to drone threats and rapid battlefield innovation. Ukraine’s front-line feedback is driving faster iteration, with manufacturers delivering updates within days or weeks as the war reshapes planning for 2030-era air defense.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the president can remove leaders of most independent federal agencies, overturning the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent, while carving out an exception for the Federal Reserve. The decisions leave Lisa Cook in place for now but open the door for presidents to exert new control over agencies such as the FTC, shifting regulatory power toward the White House.
The package of kids’ online safety measures has progressed in the House and draws White House attention. Key sticking points include whether to include a duty of care, how to handle age verification, and the balance between preemption of state AI laws and online safeguards. Supporters say safeguards are needed; critics warn of gaps and preemption risks.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is questioning Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, about his past with Trump, the handling of the Epstein files, and a controversial $1.8 billion fund; Republicans and Democrats press on independence and accountability as the nomination moves forward.
Epstein survivors have criticized Todd Blanche after a meeting with him in the DOJ, calling it condescending and noncommittal as Sen. Thom Tillis says a survivors’ meeting is needed to back Blanche’s confirmation. DOJ describes the session as productive. The Judiciary Committee could vote soon, with a single Republican no vote threatening defeat.