Tim Kaine in the news? Not directly in these headlines. Virginia senator, ex-Gov, 2013–present Dem, Hillary veep run alum. Still no Kaine-specific flash.
The US Interior Department announced that TotalEnergies will receive nearly $928 million to cancel offshore wind leases off North Carolina and New York. The company will instead invest in US fossil fuel projects, including a liquefied natural gas plant in Texas, reflecting a shift away from renewable energy under the current administration.
The US Navy is conducting a review of Ford-class aircraft carriers, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, amid ongoing deployment challenges. The carrier has been at sea for over 300 days, participating in key military operations, but has faced maintenance issues and a fire. The review aims to assess costs and system effectiveness, with decisions on future carriers pending.
The Cuban War Powers debate continues as Republicans back the president’s approach while Democrats push Congress to restrict unilateral military action. A Senate vote dismissed the Cuba measure, while administration rhetoric signals a broader push across Latin America.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has testified twice before Congress this week about the U.S. war with Iran and a proposed $1.45–$1.5tn Pentagon budget, with officials publicly putting the conflictcost at $25bn. Lawmakers have pressed for a strategy, probed civilian casualties and stockpile depletion, and challenged Hegseth on troop use at US polls and senior officer dismissals.
The 60-day War Powers window has reached its end as officials say hostilities have terminated since the April ceasefire, while Democrats press lawmakers to vote on ending or authorizing the conflict. The administration says the clock has paused during the ceasefire, a reading questioned by critics.
House Republican leaders have pulled a scheduled vote on a Democratic war-powers resolution to compel President Trump to seek congressional authorization for the Iran campaign after defections and multiple absences made it clear they lacked the votes to block the measure. The Senate has recently advanced a similar resolution as some Republicans have joined Democrats.
Trust funds for Social Security and Medicare are projected to run dry within the next decade, triggering benefit cuts unless Congress acts. The latest trustees’ reports place depletion for Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance in 2032 and Medicare’s hospital fund in 2033, with 2034 as the shared horizon if funds are not merged. Politicians face mounting pressure to act as the window narrows.