American senator from Texas; long-serving Republican figure
Since late May, Trump-endorsed candidates have reshaped key Republican primaries: Ken Paxton has beaten John Cornyn in Texas and will face Democrat James Talarico in November; in South Carolina Trump has backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Sen. Lindsey Graham has secured the president's endorsement for his fifth-term bid. Democrats are raising funds and recalibrating strategy in response.
President Donald Trump has confirmed he angrily confronted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a recent phone call over Israel's strikes in Lebanon, saying he told Netanyahu to stop. Trump has insisted the pair still have a strong relationship while US-mediated talks with Iran are continuing and fighting in Lebanon remains active.
President Donald Trump has named Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will keep his housing posts, has no known intelligence experience and can serve up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, prompting bipartisan concern about politicising the intelligence community.
Zach Lahn has won the Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, challenging Trump’s pick Randy Feenstra. Democrat Rob Sand is seeking to flip the governorship, arguing for balanced government amid a Republican trifecta in Des Moines. The primary outcome also intersects with potential shifts in California and a Democratic Senate bid in Iowa.
Trump has claimed a peace deal with Iran could be signed soon, a repeated assertion that has yet to materialize. Markets have reacted with optimism and volatility as talks remain fragile and conflict persists. The narrative centers on the tension between optimism and reality as political statements influence oil and equities.
Republican factions in Congress have rebuked President Trump on Iran, the White House ballroom funding, and the anti-weaponization fund, while Ukraine aid moves forward. The party faces growing fractures as it weighs next steps ahead of Election Day.
Recent Republican runoffs in Georgia and Alabama have produced mixed results for former President Donald Trump. In Georgia, Mike Collins has won the Senate nomination while Rick Jackson — a self-funding billionaire who spent over $100 million — has defeated Trump’s choice for governor, Burt Jones. In Alabama, Trump-backed Barry Moore has prevailed in a Senate runoff, reinforcing the influence of endorsements across parts of the GOP.
Cornyn has acknowledged his defeat in the Texas Senate race, warning that Trump’s continued loyalty requirements risk fracturing the party. He says Republicans will grapple with a bumpy seven months ahead while colleagues gain more room to maneuver.
At the Texas GOP convention in Houston, delegates debate the party platform amid pressure for unity. An elephant mascot, Paige, disrupts proceedings when she urinates in the aisle, drawing national attention as Abbott weighs a more assertive stance on key issues.
Recent reporting shows Donald Trump has publicly labeled Democrats and candidates allied with democratic socialism as “communists,” arguing this stance threatens religion and the American way of life. He cites New York primary victories by Mamdani-backed progressives as evidence of a leftward shift, while analysts warn the tactic risks conflating democratic socialism with communism.
Trump-backed Julia Letlow has won the Louisiana Senate runoff, consolidating support for his slate in Republican primaries. The race highlights Trump’s continued influence while Democratic challengers eye a path to regain control of Congress.
Trump has announced a midterm national convention in Dallas for September 9–10, a break from tradition. The event aims to energize GOP voters ahead of the 2026 midterms, with attention on Texas races such as Paxton vs. Talarico as Democrats seek to counter Trump’s influence. Democrats considered but did not pursue a similar convention.
Mitch McConnell has stated he did not suffer fractures, a concussion, heart attack, stroke, tumors or hemorrhages after a fall that left him briefly unconscious. He is moving from hospital to rehabilitation and will not return to the Senate floor yet, while continuing to work with staff and Kentucky aides.
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 challenged acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during hearings and a closed-door meeting, accusing him of evasiveness and prioritising confirmation over accountability. Senate Republicans are considering whether to advance Blanche’s nomination, with a vote hinging on whether Tillis meets survivors and the handling of Epstein materials.
Protests across the Big Bend region intensify as officials waive environmental laws to expedite a border-wall project tied to a $46.5 billion federal package. Local residents, activists, and officials say the plan threatens wildlife, river access, and regional tourism while the CBP defends phased deployments and reviews.
The political landscape remains deeply divided as parties press their bets ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats emphasize affordability and candidate momentum while Republicans highlight concerns about messaging and a changing economy. Trump’s address and congressional responses shape the campaign climate.
President Trump’s Cabinet meeting at Camp David has become a focal point as he faces Republican pushback on a tax-audit immunity deal and the fate of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Comments on an Anti-Weaponization Fund are circulating, while lawmakers seek written assurances from the White House. The briefing follows related talks about immunity provisions tied to the Trump family.
Max Miller faces mounting calls to resign amid domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife and other sources. The House Ethics Committee has opened a probe as Republicans weigh potential action while Miller pledges to stay in the race. Political fallout intensifies as several senators and Trump allies weigh in.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed as attorney general in a 50-49 vote, ending weeks of Republican opposition surrounding the handling of Epstein documents and an anti-weaponization fund. Cassidy voted in favor; Collins and Murkowski opposed. Blanche will lead the DOJ, continuing the department’s alignment with the White House while facing scrutiny from survivors and critics.
Lawmakers have advanced a stopgap funding package to keep the government running through Dec. 11, while negotiations over full-year funding and policy riders continue. The measure blocks funding transfers to border enforcement, delays a hemp ban by one month, and avoids a government shutdown ahead of midterm elections.
Blanche secures confirmation as U.S. attorney general after Republicans accept a written order clarifying that the nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund has been terminated. The order also narrows the scope of a tax-audit immunity deal to cover only the plaintiffs named in the IRS settlement, while leaving the broader immunity in place.
Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary, reshaping the path to the Senate for 2026. The result complicates incumbent dynamics and tests Democratic unity ahead of November as Republicans eye a potential pickup in a 50/50 battleground.
Sen. Bill Cassidy has announced he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, giving Trump’s nominee a crucial edge as several Republicans oppose him. With Collins and Murkowski opposed and McConnell absent, Cassidy’s stance could push Blanche over the line, though resistance remains among a faction of GOP senators.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and sworn in at the White House. He has served as acting attorney general since April, previously represented the president, and has rescinded a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund while facing criticism that he is politicising the Justice Department and presiding over mass departures.
Ukraine has handed proposals to US negotiators for a plan to end the war with Russia. Zelenskyy states the US can strengthen Ukraine’s defences, especially air defences, to press Moscow toward peace. Kremlin leaders indicate willingness to negotiate only if Russia’s four claimed regions are fully ceded and root causes addressed. Separately, Washington reports a freed American detainee after a Russian decision to release on humanitarian grounds.
Texas politics are shifting as districts face rising backlash over data centers. A four-point plan aims to curb Chinese tech, protect children, and cut tax exemptions, while opponents accuse leaders of courting big tech and dodging local concerns. Polls show broad cross‑party opposition to new centers, potentially altering the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Texas Attorney General Paxton has won the GOP nomination and is facing a tight race against Democrat James Talarico. Paxton is seeking funds from Donald Trump and Republican allies as polls show a close contest, with cash on hand significantly lagging behind his opponent. The race has drawn in national attention and fundraising debates as Republicans weigh support.
As Michigan’s Senate race tightens, Abdul El-Sayed apologizes for past remarks and pursues Jewish outreach amid scrutiny of ties to controversial online figures. Republicans warn of the risk to party unity as donors and voters weigh Aliasing positions and Israel policy ahead of the midterms.