American lawyer and politician, Speaker of the U.S. House since 2023
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has published an essay calling for frontier AI development to slow and has committed Anthropic to embed third‑party evaluators with employee‑level access. OpenAI's Sam Altman and xAI's Elon Musk have publicly backed the proposal, lawmakers and markets are reacting, and President Donald Trump has dismissed the slowdown argument.
President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both houses in November’s midterms. The White House has provided only a short fact sheet; Republicans, legal experts and budget analysts have questioned the plan’s legality, cost (about $1.2–1.4 trillion) and how it would be funded.
The AI sector is under pressure as leaders call for a measured pace while others warn of safety risks. Governments are weighing guardrails as major players push for coordinated rules to manage rapid development.
Trust funds for Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Medicare face earlier depletion than previously forecast. PWBM projects depletion by 2033 for OASI and 2034 for combined funds, while the official trustees warn longer-term pressures. Lawmakers face urgent choices on taxes, benefits, and program integrity as costs rise for aging Americans.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has moved toward ending federal monitorship after decades of oversight. Barbara Jones oversees the process with a path to a permanent compliance role; the union has implemented internal controls and vowed tougher discipline. The development follows ongoing mergers of union leadership and the approval of related reforms.
The UK government has announced plans to block children under 16 from major social media platforms and to restrict livestreaming and stranger contact on gaming services, following Australia’s model. Legislation is expected before Christmas with protections due to take effect in spring 2027; Ofcom will design "highly effective" age checks.
The White House has requested $87.6 billion in supplemental spending, primarily to replenish Pentagon munitions and operational costs tied to the Iran war, and to fund farm aid, Ebola response and domestic projects. OMB Director Russell Vought has urged Congress to act quickly; lawmakers in both parties are questioning whether to approve tens of billions more for the conflict.
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.
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.
Tom Kean Jr. has explained that his four-month absence from Congress was due to inpatient treatment for depression. He says he is healthier and ready to resume his duties, while Republicans argue for transparency and Democrats scrutinize the absence in a closely watched New Jersey district ahead of the November election.
A socialist-led slate backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani has swept several New York Democratic primaries, defeating incumbents and signaling shifts within the party. The results prompt questions about titles like House speaker and the future of the caucus as 2026developments unfold.
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.
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.
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.
Trump is rallying defense leaders and investors in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to spotlight a robust defense budget and U.S. industrial ties amid concerns over war funding, inflation, and a volatile security landscape. The event features top defense officials and corporate leaders as Republicans push for greater investment while critics warn of deficits.
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.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told the Senate Appropriations Committee the US-Israel war on Iran has cost $37.5bn so far and that the Pentagon needs an $87bn supplemental request, including about $67bn for the Iran campaign. Lawmakers have challenged the figures, criticised shifting rationales for the conflict and warned funding gaps will force cuts to training and readiness.
The Iran conflict has escalated with threats of strikes and shifting diplomacy as both sides test red lines. U.S. officials warn of hard actions while Iran asserts control over Hormuz. A ceasefire cycle and domestic political pressures frame new steps as global oil markets react.
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.
Jin Mingri, a prominent Chinese pastor jailed since October, has been released and flown to the United States after President Trump raised his case with Xi Jinping in May. Authorities say the charges have been dropped, and Jin has described the events as a “miracle” while noting the lack of clarity on any bargain behind the release.
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.
Rep. Max Miller has refused to withdraw from Ohio's 7th congressional race after his ex-wife accused him of domestic abuse and the House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry. Party leaders missed the deadline to replace him on the general-election ballot, and Democratic groups have moved to boost challenger Brian Poindexter with millions in ad spending.
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.
The Jones Act waiver has been narrowed and extended for 90 days, with case-by-case reviews for voyages. The extension aims to keep fuel moving amid Iran-related disruptions, as prices remain volatile and the Strait of Hormuz remains contested.
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.
Natalie Harp, a longtime Trump aide known as the “Human Printer,” is drawing renewed scrutiny as reports detail her proximity to the president and influence over information reaching him. The coverage centers on her letters to Trump and her visibility at events, with lawmakers weighing the implications for governance and access.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has met Jared Kushner to discuss housing, immigration and affordability as Democrats eye potential gains in November. Officials say the conversations are part of broader groundwork as Jeffries signals willingness to work with the White House on policy changes while maintaining a tough stance on accountability.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix has brought IndyCar racing to Washington, D.C., with President Trump waving the green flag to start the race as political pageantry surrounds the event. The spectacle continues amid ongoing debates about security, cost, and the symbolism of the presidency’s capital makeover.
Rep. Chuck Edwards has been censured by the House Ethics Committee for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The move follows Axios reporting that he singled out two young female staffers. Edwards, who has dropped his reelection bid, argues the conduct was not sexual harassment and defends gifts and interactions with staffers.
Lawmakers have approved a short-term bill to fund the government through December 11, avoiding a shutdown as elections approach. The measure now goes to President Trump for signature. The package preserves current funding levels and includes a delay on a new grant-cutting rule until December.
Republicans have held an unprecedented two‑day midterm convention in Dallas that has placed President Donald Trump at the centre of the party’s campaign. Trump and Vice‑President JD Vance have delivered hardline attacks on Democrats and offered a controversial $5,000 "Trump dividend" pledge if Republicans win both houses. Attendance by vulnerable GOP lawmakers has been uneven and many candidates have chosen to stay in their districts.
The midterm contests are intensifying as key Senate races move toward toss-ups amid headwinds from Trump-era unpopularity and internal party divisions. Republicans hold a fragile Senate edge while Democrats seek gains in Michigan, Maine, Texas, Iowa, Alaska and Ohio; fundraising and redistricting battles shape outcomes.
The SEC has discussed potential action against LSU in a federal lawsuit surrounding Lane Kiffin’s bid to roster former NFL players. LSU has finalized its 2026 roster without Wright or Harris, deeming the issue moot. The clash now centers on conference rules and leadership’s response as a Thursday meeting considers possible sanctions or dissolution.
Democratic leaders and AI executives are pushing for tougher guardrails as concerns over safety and job disruption grow. California has begun implementing state-led safety measures, while Congress remains divided and the White House weighs executive action.
Leaders of the largest AI labs have endorsed slowing model development, while policymakers press for safeguards. Governments weigh emergency measures, with UK officials resisting a national kill switch and urging targeted interventions.
Families of 9/11 victims have pressed President Trump to declassify records on Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in the attacks. Trump has said he will look at the requests upon returning from Ireland, amid long-running litigation and calls to stand with victims and survivors.
Protect Democracy finds 34.8 million Americans have moved districts since 2024; Missouri’s redistricting chaos culminates as the Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed maps and reverts to 2022-24 boundaries ahead of November elections. Lawsuits allege election interference and misused funds, while voters face confusion over district placement.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and sent it to President Donald Trump. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Public voices warn of AI risks at Washington rally; Sanders and Bannon urge speed limits and safety rules, while Trump downplays concerns as lawmakers debate approaches.
Representative Thomas Massie has filed privileged articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, forcing the House to consider the measure within two legislative days. Speaker Mike Johnson has moved to end the pre-election session early, delaying any vote past the midterms and complicating Massies parallel effort to force release of Epstein-related files.
The House has voted by unanimous consent to hold former Apollo CEO Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he refused to appear for a September deposition and to produce nondisclosure agreements tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The referral now goes to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to pursue charges.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has cleared both houses, expanding sanctions on Russia and Iran and allowing tariffs of up to 100% on the top buyers of Russian energy. The bill carries broad support and highlights tensions with China and India, while drawing scrutiny over potential domestic costs.