Senior U.S. senator from South Dakota since 2005
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with former President Donald Trump over an IRS controversy. The deal bars audits of Trump, his family, and affiliates for existing tax matters and establishes an $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund for allies; the arrangement covers only existing audits, not future ones.
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 signed a $70 billion package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through the end of his term, ending a months-long impasse that began after two civilians were killed during January immigration operations. Republicans passed the measure through budget reconciliation after Democrats demanded enforcement safeguards and blocked funding earlier this year.
Senate and House debates intensify over a $70 billion three-year funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, with lawmakers grappling over a controversial $1.8 billion settlement fund for Trump allies. The measure has sparked intra-party divisions and a series of amendments as leadership seeks to finalize funding through the end of Trump’s term.
The AP and NYT report that Acting Attorney General Blanche faces House questions as Republicans push to set parameters around a $1.776 billion settlement fund linked to Trump allies. The fund’s fate shapes debates over immigration enforcement funding and potential payouts to Jan. 6 defendants.
The Section 702 surveillance law is set to lapse this week. President Trump has named Bill Pulte as acting DNI, triggering bipartisan concern and stalling renewal talks while lawmakers debate guardrails and timing. A Senate gridlock persists as Republicans and Democrats clash over the scope of surveillance and the president’s chosen interim leader.
President Donald Trump has delayed Jay Clayton’s Senate confirmation and said Bill Pulte will remain acting director of national intelligence. Trump has tied progress on renewing Section 702 surveillance authority and Clayton’s confirmation to passage of a voter ID bill and has ordered Pulte to cut ODNI staff and return employees to their home agencies.
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.
Senate leader McConnell has been admitted to hospital and is receiving excellent care. His health issues, including past falls and polio in childhood, have been part of public discussion as he prepares to retire after his current term.
President Donald Trump has delayed the Senate confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton and is keeping Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Trump has tied renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to passage of his SAVE America voter ID bill, making an immediate FISA reauthorization unlikely.
The bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act has cleared major hurdles in both chambers, capping single-family home purchases by large investors at 350 units and removing a seven-year sell-off requirement. The measure aims to boost housing supply and affordability while streamlining environmental reviews and funding housing initiatives.
The Senate has approved a war powers resolution directing the president to halt U.S. military action against Iran unless Congress authorizes such steps. The House already passed a similar measure. The vote is largely symbolic and faces legal questions, but it signals mounting congressional concern over the Iran conflict.
Trump has canceled a Capitol signing of a bipartisan housing bill to pressure Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election-law package. Republicans are divided over priorities, with some backing the housing measure and others pressuring for the voter-ID legislation. The House transmitted the housing bill to the White House; Trump is underscoring the priority of election rules while signaling the timing remains unsettled.
Trump has canceled a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, saying he will not sign until Senate passes the SAVE America Act. The move follows a tense exchange at a Capitol Hill luncheon where Cassidy challenged the administration’s Iran war approach. The episode highlights deep GOP rifts as lawmakers balance housing affordability with stricter voting measures ahead of midterms.
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 has tied support for a housing bill to passage of the SAVE America Act, arguing for stricter voter-ID rules while facing Senate resistance and intra-party divisions. The White House awaits responses as lawmakers maneuver on two intertwined priorities ahead of the midterms.
The Supreme Court has upheld Mississippi’s policy allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five days, a decision that maintains state flexibility and could affect upcoming midterms. Justice Barrett writes for the majority, while Justice Alito dissents.
The House has canceled votes and sent lawmakers home amid a standoff over the defense bill and the SAVE America Act, with Trump insisting on voting-rights provisions. The Senate has moved independently on Iran and war powers, while Republicans face internal divisions as they navigate leadership and policy pressure.
Meta is pursuing a cloud compute business, potentially selling access to excess AI compute power and/or hosted AI models. The move follows high AI infrastructure spending and could reshape the company’s revenue flow beyond advertising. Investors have reacted positively, while rivals and early pilots offer a benchmark for profitability.
State-level AI safety acts are advancing, with Illinois pushing a tough framework for large models, while other states weigh similar steps. National leaders debate federal action as governors push for guardrails and audits to curb catastrophic risks, drawing in industry concerns and public commentary.
The government has proposed ending the affordable housing quotas for new developments of 10 to 49 homes to jumpstart housebuilding. The National Housing Federation warns this could cost up to 32,000 affordable homes over 10 years, hitting rural England hardest. Ministers say the aim is to simplify the process and speed up housing delivery.
Senator Lindsey Graham has died at 71 after a "brief and sudden illness," his office has said. Graham had just returned from a visit to Kyiv and had met President Volodymyr Zelensky. Officials say a preliminary medical examiner found an aortic dissection; South Carolina's governor will appoint a temporary replacement ahead of November's elections.
Senator Lindsey Graham has died after a brief, sudden illness. Tributes pour in from leaders worldwide as President Trump reflects on their friendship and Graham’s long career in the Senate and military service. The New York Times reports on successor plans and ongoing Senate race implications.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has died after a brief illness, leaving allies in Washington and Kyiv recalibrating support amid renewed sanctions talks with Russia. He had just returned from Ukraine, where he was advancing sanctions legislation and strengthening ties with Kyiv. World leaders and lawmakers are paying tribute as Republicans and Democrats weigh the political implications.
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.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has died, and the Senate faces a scramble to fill his leadership role. The update narrows sanctions legislation, reshuffles committees, and tests bipartisan cooperation on Ukraine aid and mixed White House-Senate priorities.
Governor Andy Beshear has pressed for a direct public update on Mitch McConnell’s health, urging him to prove his capacity to serve or resign. The push follows McConnell’s hospitalization after a June 14 fall and limited public updates from his office. Several lawmakers stress transparency amid ongoing questions about the senator’s ability to return to the Senate.
Darline Graham Nordone has been appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to fill the late Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat for the remainder of the term, with a special election to determine a longer-term successor. President Trump has publicly endorsed the appointment, highlighting family ties as observers question democracy implications. The appointment will last until January 2027.
Legislation updating Russia sanctions has gained White House backing and is advancing in the Senate, with debate centring on tariffs for the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and potential waivers. The measure has broad support and could reshape U.S. pressure on Moscow, as Graham’s legacy guides the approach.
Meta has faced a federal lawsuit alleging its internal AI systems and monitoring tools discriminated against workers on legally protected leave in a May layoff round totaling about 8,000 jobs. The suit seeks an injunction to pause separations and an independent audit of the selection process while claims proceed in arbitration.
House Republicans have advanced a reconciliation budget resolution that would channel roughly $60 billion to the Iran war, boost Pentagon and farm aid and include parts of President Trump’s elections package. Democrats have opposed the plan’s high spending and social riders. Separately, more than 100 House Democrats voted to withhold military aid to Israel, exposing a deep intra-party split ahead of the midterms.
President Trump has delivered a primetime address releasing declassified intelligence he says shows China acquired large volumes of U.S. voter data and that officials hid reports about foreign efforts to target U.S. elections. Journalists, former intelligence officials and state authorities have said the documents do not prove foreign actors altered 2020 vote counts and many of the administration's claims have been disputed.
The Sunshine Protection Act has passed the House to make daylight saving time permanent in most of the United States. Senate consideration is uncertain and health experts warn permanent DST could disrupt sleep, while some communities push for permanent standard time. The decision hinges on balancing public health, regional impacts, and the logistics of time-zone alignment.
Trump Media & Technology has unveiled Truth API, a paid low‑latency feed that will deliver real‑time posts from the platform’s top 10 accounts from Aug. 1. Executives discussed charging institutional customers up to $100,000 a month (or $60,000 on three‑year deals). Lawmakers, regulators and market participants have warned it will let traders profit from presidential posts and raise conflict‑of‑interest and market‑manipulation concerns.
Anthropic and a web of AI safety groups are boosting political advertising through large donations to allied super PACs and nonprofits. FEC filings show rising spending as midterms approach. Major donors include Anthropic executives and OpenAI-aligned figures.
South Carolina Republicans are lining up to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat after his death. Darline Graham Nordone is seeking a full term with Trump’s backing, while Ralph Norman and Russell Fry are mounting primary challenges ahead of the Aug. 11 vote. Filing closes July 28 and the November general election will determine the six-year term.
The National Defense Authorization Act has cleared the House with a 216-212 vote, boosting military spending and strengthening US-Israel defense cooperation. The measure now faces Senate scrutiny, with Democrats criticizing the price tag and war-related provisions while Republicans defend funding for readiness and security. The package also includes provisions tied to the SAVE America Act and election-related funding.
Trump has endorsed Darline Graham Nordone in the South Carolina special Senate race, prompting rival candidates to pledge loyalty to the president and outline paths to victory. Sanford, Fry, Norman and Lynch have entered the race, while Gowdy remains a potential wildcard. The field is consolidating around pro-Trump positions and policy priorities.
A synthesis of several New York Post articles shows Democratic and Republican figures trading sharp rhetoric over party directions, with figures like Joe Scarborough criticizing the left and Fetterman emphasizing Israel support while navigating internal tensions.
The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence, replacing acting DNI Bill Pulte. Clayton has faced questions about his stance on the 2020 election and national security credentials, while Republicans push for steadier leadership in the intelligence community as major policy debates continue.
The Senate and House are pressing ahead with scheduling amid talks on government funding, crypto regulation, and voting integrity. Republicans push for votes on the SAVE Act and the CLARITY Act, while Democrats warn that bipartisan support is required to avert a lapse in funding and to address other urgent policy items.
Funeral services for Senator Lindsey Graham have taken place in Washington and South Carolina after his sudden death on July 11. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have attended memorials that have highlighted Graham’s influence on U.S. foreign policy and set off a scramble for his Senate seat in South Carolina.
Conferences back the Protect College Sports Act after last-minute concessions on NIL deals and associated entities. The bill now faces a possible floor vote before the August recess, with ongoing negotiations over a retention pool, cap rules, and alignment with the House settlement.
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.
Industry leaders warn that AI infrastructure investments have sparked a ferocious race among hyperscalers. Earnings calls show wide investor scepticism about when returns will materialise, even as compute demand remains strong.
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.
A Financial Times poll conducted for the Financial Times finds Americans nationwide are in a worse financial position than a year earlier. Democrats hold a small edge on the midterm generic ballot, while President Biden’s approval remains low. Analysts warn that the Republican agenda could be endangered if Democrats regain control of Congress; Trump supporters are fixated on monuments and other policy symbols. The data add to a challenging political climate ahead of November’s elections.
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.
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.
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund and to change product features for young users, adding to a $375 million jury award from March and bringing Meta’s total liability in the case to $942 million. The bulk of the new fund — $420 million — is allocated for youth mental-health treatment; other measures include limits on notifications and enhanced age-assurance steps.