The major conservative party in the United States
The Oversight Project has released roughly three hours of audio and 117 pages of heavily redacted transcripts of Joe Biden’s 2016–17 interviews with his ghostwriter for Promise Me, Dad. The recordings, obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s documents probe, show Biden discussing retained notes and at times struggling with dates and details; Republicans say the tapes prove decline, Biden calls the release political.
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 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.
The Iran war has drawn ongoing political scrutiny as costs rise and public opinion shifts. New polling shows flaw lines across MAGA voters, with some calling for end of the conflict while others press for decisive action. Officials argue the administration will stay the course, citing national security needs.
The FCC has ordered early license reviews for eight ABC stations, prompting ABC to accuse the agency of retaliating for politically unpopular content and urging broadcasters to uphold public-interest obligations. Former commissioners, civil‑liberties groups and advocacy organisations have filed opposing arguments; conservative groups warn the move could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
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 Independent reports that Donald Trump remains fixated on renovations, monuments and Iran, with insiders warning this focus undermines his party’s midterm prospects. Polls show broad discontent with his leadership, while GOP candidates seek to defend the party’s Senate chances as competition tightens.
Todd Blanche has posted written orders that rescind a May directive creating a $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund and that limit broad IRS audit protections in a settlement with Donald Trump. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have said they will support advancing his nomination to the full Senate, though Democrats and legal experts have said the written assurances leave room to revive the fund.
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.
The Independent reports that President Trump is tying Blanche’s U.S. attorney general nomination to conditions on the IRS immunity shield and the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, signaling political maneuvering as Republicans seek tighter guardrails.
Fauci has repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a heated hearing, citing constitutional protections as Republicans press for answers on Covid origins, vaccine guidance, and pandemic policy. A potential contempt vote hangs over the hearing, with Democrats arguing the process could harm public health and Republicans saying more must be disclosed.
The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and he has been sworn in at the White House. Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April, previously served as the president’s private lawyer, and has rescinded a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund amid bipartisan concern about politicising the department.
Crowley has secured a narrow Democratic primary victory in Wisconsin and will face Republican Tom Tiffany in November. Hong’s near-win signals ongoing tensions within the party between centrist and progressive wings, with implications for the general election in a battleground state.
The Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary has shifted from a projected landslide to a narrow loss for Francesca Hong. David Crowley’s centrism prevails, inflaming debates on polling accuracy and the role of prediction markets in shaping campaigns.
State Senator Aisha Wahab has won the special election to serve the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term in California’s 14th district. She will take the seat through January and will face Melissa Hernandez again in November for a full term. Outside groups tied to AIPAC spent millions supporting Hernandez; Wahab called the spending an attempt to buy the seat.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point as President Trump has threatened to declare the waterway a U.S. territory amid a costly Iran confrontation. Oil prices have climbed as the conflict continues, and the administration is pursuing a blockade until Iran concedes.
The Michigan Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers has seen AIPAC’s influence wane as campaigners recalibrate amid shifting support, with El-Sayed leading in the open-seat contest and both parties reassessing the lobby’s role ahead of the November vote.
The race for the Texas Senate seat is tightening. Paxton has secured the GOP nomination and is pursuing funding from Trump's MAGA network to fend off a strong Democratic challenger backed by polls and internal data. Other races show Trump’s endorsements affecting outcomes and the broader GOP landscape as Republicans weigh fundraising and support strategies.
The Fourth Circuit has set aside an FCC policy that extended the lowest unit charge for pre-election TV ads to political parties and joint fundraising committees. Republican committees plan to appeal to the Supreme Court as campaigns brace for the 2026 midterms. Democrats argue the ruling favors bigger war chests and stress grassroots fundraising.
Abdul El-Sayed has apologized for remarks linking a Temple Israel attack to broader context as he campaigns in Michigan. He has been distancing himself from Hasan Piker amid internal party tensions and facing questions over Israel policy as Democrat Mike Rogers presses the race.
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.
The acting Navy secretary has been nominated by the president to a permanent post as U.S. forces confront intensified strikes with Iran. The Lincoln has spent nine months at sea, while domestic political shifts accompany the military movements.
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.
Sen. John Fetterman has recorded a one-minute video praising Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and saying he will work with President Trump to defend Pennsylvania’s steel industry. The clip has intensified Democratic doubts about Fetterman’s party loyalty, prompted fresh talk of a possible party switch and handed Republicans a high‑profile talking point ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
Federal and state judges have issued competing orders over Missouri’s congressional map for the November election. The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled the Republican-drawn 2025 map is not legally enacted and ordered the 2022 map used while a referendum proceeds; a federal judge has temporarily ordered officials to use the 2025 map while litigation continues and both sides are appealing to higher courts.
North Carolina becomes the first state to broadly distribute mail ballots as legal challenges loom over Trump’s executive-order changes to ballot handling and USPS rules. Courts are blocking the new rules for now, while officials prepare for a midterm that could determine control of Congress.
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 White House is facing renewed scrutiny over Natalie Harp, Trump’s close aide known as the “human printer,” as reports of her role and gifts surface during the Irish visit. Independent reporting shows Harp’s proximity to the president has sparked internal tensions and renewed questions about media access and internal communications.
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 Supreme Court has ordered that Missouri must use the 2022 district map for the November elections after a series of rulings and appeals involving the state’s redistricting map and a referendum petition.
Republicans have held a two-day midterm convention in Dallas dominated by President Donald Trump and Vice‑President JD Vance. Vance has delivered a high-profile 40-minute speech that elevated his status as a potential 2028 standard-bearer while Trump has repeated ambitious claims — including a $5,000 payment pledge — and rhetoric that multiple outlets say includes misleading assertions about investment and the economy.
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.
Trump Jr. has addressed staff and diplomats in Dublin, praising his son’s marriage while jokes about Melania and past conflicts surface. The remarks come amid talk of his broader family influence and political theater as doors open for 2028 coverage.
Vice President Kamala Harris has appeared with Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed at a Detroit-area roundtable on Black maternal health as Democrats push to flip a pivotal Michigan Senate seat now less than six weeks from Election Day. El‑Sayed has faced criticism over his positions on Israel; Harris is aiming to boost turnout among Black voters in Wayne County.
The FAA has paused some incoming flights to Los Angeles International Airport due to staffing shortages at SCT, the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control. The delay affects arriving and departing schedules as authorities work to manage air traffic in a major regional airspace.
President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, saying they publish "fake news." The outlets and press groups have condemned the move as unconstitutional; CNN, MS NOW and Politico have said they will sue and ask a federal judge to restore their press credentials.
Oil markets face renewed volatility as Iran-aligned attacks tighten supply routes. China has leveraged a large strategic reserve to weather disruption, while Saudi Arabia faces pipeline outages, prompting regional and global safeguards.
Trump will meet New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion before the UN General Assembly to discuss issues facing New York City and its residents. The White House has confirmed the meeting, and Mamdani's office notes the engagement follows a cordial history, with the mayor criticising Republicans at times.
Mary Peltola’s Alaska Senate campaign is narrowing its lead as new reporting details amplify questions about campaign staff dynamics and personal events. The race remains tight under Alaska’s ranked-choice system, with voters weighing the candidate’s conduct against the broader political stakes.
The White House has used a pocket rescission to cancel funding across 11 programs and agencies, arguing some spending is no longer necessary. The Government Accountability Office says the tactic is illegal if Congress has not approved the action, raising constitutional questions and prompting Democratic and Republican lawmakers to weigh next steps.
The government has spent millions on TV ads featuring President Trump and other officials, labeled as public service announcements. Democratic senators have demanded answers, arguing the funding may be illegal and constituted a misuse of taxpayer dollars as midterms approach. The ads have drawn broad criticism and questions about independence of agencies.
The president has traveled to Ohio to bolster Republican candidates ahead of the midterms, highlighting data-center policy and energy costs while facing questions about the economy and Iran-related tensions. The trip underscores concerns about inflation and turnout in key battleground districts.
The United States has expanded military deployments in the Middle East, adding carrier strike groups, amphibious units and thousands of personnel as tensions with Iran rise ahead of the November midterm elections. Washington says the posture keeps options open for potential action while diplomacy continues.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has told Semafor that Democrats remain united and expect to win control of the Senate despite a widening fundraising gap with Republicans. He warns that large GOP war chests could threaten the party's chances, even as he asserts confidence in Democratic candidates and the current political climate.
Multiple articles report US envoy comments pressuring Tehran to meaningfully reduce enrichment as a condition to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Tehran questions US intentions amid ongoing talks.
A U.S. judge has halted taxpayer-funded political advertisements after a challenge argued they violated limits on government publicity. The two-week order directs the administration to pause all commercials and related activities, as questions rise over the use of public funds to promote a candidate amid the midterms.
Elon Musk has given roughly $366m this cycle to Republican groups, including $158m to the Senate Leadership Fund and about $76m to his own America PAC, filings show. Much of the money is financing heavy advertising and turnout operations in Texas and other battlegrounds, reviving vulnerable campaigns and freeing national GOP resources for other contests.
The articles report that President Trump has paused sanctions on Russia to pursue a peace deal in Ukraine, arguing it may bring negotiations back to the bargaining table. He cites hostage talks progress and suggests Europe’s support and US fuel concerns are factors, while Kyiv and allies react with shock and concern over fuel prices and broader war dynamics.