American lawyer and Democratic politician, U.S. representative since 1998; former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (2021–2023)
The NATO summit in Ankara is shaping up as a test for alliance unity as President Trump’s threats to curb U.S. involvement collide with Turkey’s bid to leverage its ties with Trump. Turkey’s foreign minister says the Erdogan-Trump rapport could ease tensions, while other members weigh new security arrangements amid funding and defence-spending debates.
The Senate has advanced the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill, with bipartisan support and a high-profile backdrop including Zelenskyy’s Washington visit. The package targets Russia’s energy sector and its so-called “shadow fleet,” while expanding sanctions to Iran. House passage remains uncertain as August recess looms.
The Senate has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 86–11, granting the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on top buyers of Russian oil and expanding sanctions on Russia and Iran. The bill now heads to the House, which will consider it after its August recess.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and President Trump has signed it into law. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
The Trump administration has notified Congress of a proposed $2.8bn arms package to Israel that includes 40,000 2,000‑pound bombs. Rep. Gregory Meeks has said he will not clear the transfer, citing "grave, unresolved concerns" about use in densely populated Gaza and Lebanon, but the administration can bypass Congress by declaring an emergency.
A string of congressional actions signals renewed congressional scrutiny of Israel's conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. Democrats push for human rights reporting and accountability, while Republican support for Israel persists ahead of midterms.