The upper chamber of Congress that shapes law, budgets and national policy.
Trump is increasing pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to scrap the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, as Republican divisions over voting legislation intensify ahead of the August recess. The White House and Trump allies are pushing for a party-line vote, while lawmakers warn of votes and timing concerns amid a tenuous midterm landscape.
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.
The Senate has passed a bipartisan short-term funding bill 90-6 to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11. The measure blocks the administration from transferring funds to the Border Patrol, delays a national ban on intoxicating hemp products by one month, and pauses a proposed White House grants rule while negotiations on full-year spending continue.
RWE has relinquished its offshore wind leases in the US after a settlement with the Trump administration. The company will reinvest about $1.2 billion into a Louisiana LNG terminal and 15 natural gas peaker plants, while winding down projects on New York, California and Louisiana coasts. The move follows a pattern of government buybacks of offshore wind leases.
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.
The US Senate confirmed Brett Matsumoto as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reinstating a crucial leadership role after President Donald Trump abruptly fired his predecessor last year.
A wave of new open-weight AI models from Meta and Nvidia complements Meta’s Muse Glimmer and Spark 1.2 releases, while CNBC and Axios report on the broader open-source push. The industry is increasingly mixing open access with major proprietary platforms, signaling a shift toward more distributed AI development and consumer-ready on-device tools.
Francesca Hong leads a four-candidate field in Wisconsin’s governor race, while David Crowley is backing a bid as the field tightens. In Minnesota, race dynamics center on electability ahead of the U.S. Senate contest as progressives threaten to reshape the party’s trajectory.
Karoline Leavitt has announced she will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump has said she will remain a top outside adviser; the White House has not named a successor and senior officials are expected to brief reporters temporarily.
Chief Justice John Roberts has issued a temporary order allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal. Lower courts had ordered a halt, finding the project requires congressional approval. The administration argues the work is vital to national security; preservationists say Trump acted without legal authority.
The NYT reports a recent meeting between Jared Kushner and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York discusses housing, immigration and affordability as Democrats eye potential gains in November. Jeffries says the affordability crisis is not a hoax and Democrats will deliver transformational change, while Republicans push back and warn against overreaching. If Democrats win, they plan a robust oversight agenda.
The Justice Department and FBI have seized web domains for two hacking platforms, QScan and QTRouter, that investigators say a China-linked group, QTFY, used since 2018 to hide the origin of intrusions into US government agencies and private firms including DOE labs, NIH, NASA, the Federal Reserve and the US Senate.
Republicans have planned a first‑ever midterm convention in Dallas for September 9–10 to rally support and raise money, but dozens of House candidates have told Politico they will skip it. Organisers have set high ticket and donor prices, including roundtables priced up to $250,000 and a photo with the president for $88,600, prompting criticism inside the party and from donors.
MAGA Inc. has opened a $10 million television and digital ad campaign to boost Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate bid against Democrat James Talarico in a race that has become unexpectedly competitive in Texas. The buy is the first major general-election spend from Trump’s super PAC this cycle and will run positive spots for Paxton and attack ads against Talarico.
A federal judge has ruled that North Carolina can hear a case accusing Senator Kyrsten Sinema of alienating a spouse. Nine text messages sent by Sinema to a security officer in the state establish jurisdiction, prompting comment from the involved parties and detailing the timeline of the relationship and subsequent actions.
In New Hampshire, Democrats have channeled support behind Rep. Chris Pappas, while Republicans rally behind former Sen. John Sununu. The contest for the state’s Senate seat is part of a broader national battle for control of Congress, with both parties aiming to influence the Senate in November. Primary results and endorsements have shaped the field, as Sununu and Pappas gain or lose ground amid ongoing scrutiny of national politics.
Trump has pledged a $5,000 dividend for every American if Republicans retain control of Congress; the plan faces legal, fiscal and political hurdles and is criticized by experts and opponents as economically risky.
President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both chambers in the November midterms. The White House has released only a short fact sheet; Republicans, legal experts and budget analysts have questioned the plan’s legality, its roughly $1.2–1.4 trillion cost and how the payments would be funded or authorised without Congress.
The inspector general has found that the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility violated multiple detention standards, including space, hygiene and recreation. Detainees were held in cramped 18-square-foot cages and faced poor food, water and medical care. The facility, opened last year and closed this summer, is under ongoing legal scrutiny.
A procedural vote on the Clarity Act has failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, leaving the crypto-regulation bill in limbo as lawmakers head into the midterms. The measure, which would establish a federal framework for digital assets, faces divided support and ongoing opposition over ethics provisions and broader regulatory concerns.
Sen. Mitch McConnell has returned to the Capitol after a three-month absence following a June fall and pneumonia. He describes his recovery as long and often frustrating, with lingering effects from childhood polio. He is vowing to be present for tough votes as the Senate reconvenes ahead of the midterms.
Bitcoin has lingered near two-year lows around $60,000 after a lengthy decline from its 2025 peak. A recent rebound faded amid doubts over a Federal Reserve rate hike and a crypto bill in the U.S. Clarity Act. CoinEx is winding down operations with withdrawals open until December as regulators push stricter rules. Trading volumes have slumped, suggesting waning market participation, while industry watchers warn that higher regulatory costs and competition from AI could sustain pressure.
The Senate war powers debate has progressed with Republicans leaning toward endorsing a resolution to end the Iran war as fuel prices remain high and voters demand relief. Lawmakers have increasingly tied costs of living to military actions while Democrats press for accountability ahead of the midterms.
Democrats are moving to block funding for Trump's planned memorial projects in memorial circles, using the appropriations process and new legislation to protect presidential memorials from demolition. Merkley and Murkowski will push bills next week, signaling a procedural fight that could constrain funding this year.
As the midterms approach, polling shows Trump’s approval at a record low while Democrats gain momentum in key Senate and House battlegrounds. Voters cite economic concerns and foreign policy in shaping their choices ahead of the election.
The Iran war continues to drive global energy volatility. US forces maintain a naval blockade; oil prices have risen sharply, pressuring consumers as fuel costs stay elevated amid ongoing clashes and attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ukraine has reported that Starlink's military variant, Starshield, was slowed in mid‑October, degrading its drone and air‑defence operations. The Wall Street Journal has reported Donald Trump phoned Elon Musk and asked him to restore full service; Trump and SpaceX deny a formal White House order. Kyiv says speeds have only been partially restored and the disruption has cost defensive capability.
Democrats have intensified ads tying Republican candidates to the president as affordability and Iran policy dominate voters’ concerns. Republicans are defending deep red districts, while Democrats see opportunities in rural areas previously considered safe for the GOP.
Voters head to the polls as midterm campaigns intensify. Polls show Democrats leading on economy and inflation concerns, while Trump-aligned candidates seek to close gaps. Early voting indicates high turnout in several key states.
The Guardian, New York Post and CNBC report that Michael Bloomberg has spent about $80 million to back Democratic candidates since September, aiming to broaden the House majority beyond the 218 seats and bolster allies like Everytown for Gun Safety and House Majority PAC. Trump counters with plans to spend $400 million to aid Republicans, while Bloomberg’s adviser says resources matter and he “expects a result.”
The Texas Senate race has intensified as James Talarico accuses Elon Musk of trying to buy influence, citing funding from Musk-linked groups. Musk has donated hundreds of millions to pro-Paxton outfits while Talarico touts grassroots support and a widening fundraising gap ahead of the November vote.
Democrats have consolidated leads in final polls and forecasters ahead of Tuesday's midterms, making House control likely and giving them a real chance at the Senate. Early network calls on Wednesday have declared Abdul El‑Sayed the winner in Michigan's Senate race, making him the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate and a symbolic pickup for Democrats.
A federal judge has dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit that sought applicant‑level admissions records from Harvard, ruling the agency did not take required administrative steps to secure voluntary compliance. The ruling rests on narrow procedural grounds and does not resolve whether Harvard has discriminated or whether agencies can ultimately obtain the data.
Voters are deciding control of Congress in a key midterm cycle. The House and Senate face tight races, with turnout and district maps shaping effects on policy for the next two years.
Greenland’s lawmakers have ratified a trilateral deal with the United States and Denmark. The accord expands the U.S. military presence in Greenland with two bases while keeping Greenland under Danish sovereignty and maintaining a path to possible future independence. Ratification clears the way for the pact to take effect after parliamentary approvals, with Denmark and Greenland set to proceed on their side.
Democrats have secured further control of the U.S. Senate, with key wins in Michigan and other states, signaling a broader shift as campaigns conclude. The party has expanded its majority, while Republicans face tightened margins in several contests.
President Trump has announced that Stephen Miller will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff on Monday, November 9, 2026. Wiles will move to the Trump Political Operation. Miller is a long-time adviser and the architect of the administrations hardline immigration policies; Democrats have vowed to oppose and investigate him.