Deliberative upper chamber of the legislature
Senator Markwayne Mullin has been confirmed as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem. His appointment occurs during ongoing funding disputes and controversy over immigration enforcement, including recent police shootings. Mullin aims to reduce DHS's public profile and focus on homeland security efforts.
Travelers at US airports are experiencing hours-long security delays due to a partial government shutdown, with TSA staffing shortages and increased use of private security. Digital tools like CLEAR see surges in interest, but service disruptions persist at several major hubs.
Congress has approved a short-term extension of a FISA surveillance authority, sending the temporary patch to President Donald Trump after negotiations stalled over warrant protections and unrelated provisions. Lawmakers have been holding marathon overnight sessions and face a fraught path to a longer-term renewal that Republicans and the Senate are disputing.
Mr. Plankey has withdrawn his nomination to lead the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency after facing delays and political hurdles. His decision reflects ongoing challenges within CISA, which is experiencing staffing issues and political scrutiny amid broader government downsizing.
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.
The NAACP has launched the Out of Bounds campaign urging Black athletes, families and supporters to withhold athletic and financial support from public universities in states perceived as weakening Black voting representation. The move targets flagship programs in several Southern states as part of a broader response to gerrymandering and a Supreme Court decision affecting the Voting Rights Act.
A wave of local and state actions is driving a pause in new data-center approvals as officials weigh electricity demand, water use, and community impact. Governors and legislators are considering temporary bans or moratoria while studies assess environmental and economic effects. Industry groups warn against overreach while residents push for local control and benefits.
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.
Zimbabwe’s draft constitutional bill would extend the presidency and other public offices to seven-year terms and defer 2028 elections. Parliament is set to debate it next week, with critics warning of legal challenges and protests.
The Senate has cleared a path to debate a roughly $70 billion bill funding ICE and CBP, with Republicans rallying to pass it via budget reconciliation. Democrats are set to offer amendments, including a bid to permanently ban a $1.776 billion settlement fund tied to allies who supporters say were persecuted.
Prime Minister has announced a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion to tackle antisemitism as hate crimes surge to levels not seen since World War II. The government is also providing funding for security in faith-based institutions and expanding data on hate incidents, in response to calls from Jewish groups.
President Donald Trump has named Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will keep his housing posts, has no known intelligence experience and can serve up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, prompting bipartisan concern about politicising the intelligence community.
Zach Lahn has won the Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, challenging Trump’s pick Randy Feenstra. Democrat Rob Sand is seeking to flip the governorship, arguing for balanced government amid a Republican trifecta in Des Moines. The primary outcome also intersects with potential shifts in California and a Democratic Senate bid in Iowa.
The New York Times, The Guardian, CNBC, Al Jazeera and other outlets report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, moving from acting to permanent head of the Justice Department. The nomination faces a Senate confirmation battle amid scrutiny of Blanche’s ties to the Epstein files, the $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund and past actions at the DOJ.
The Senate has passed a border-enforcement measure after a tense vote-a-rama, highlighting deep splits within the Republican Party over Trump-aligned priorities. The package now heads to the House, where support and objections are both likely to shape its fate in a politically charged election year.
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 has endorsed both South Carolina runoff candidates in a bid to influence the outcome of the gubernatorial race as polls show a tight contest ahead of the June 23 runoff.
Former Oregon senator Bob Packwood has died at 93. His obituary notes a career defined by fiscal conservatism and social liberalism, but overshadowed by a 1993 ethics probe into sexual and official misconduct. He resigned in 1995 and later became a lobbyist; his legacy is marked by tax reform and controversy over his treatment of women.
Parliament’s impeachment committee has resolved to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent interdict to halt its work on the Phala Phala report. Ramaphosa seeks to revive the report’s legal status after a Constitutional Court ruling, while the committee and key parties push forward. The High Court will consider orders to pause parliamentary proceedings as the process resumes.
Trump faces growing political peril as Republicans fracture over strategy on Iran; Democrats push to force a U.S. withdrawal from hostilities while the public grows weary of war footing and cost.
A new cross-party look shows blue-collar white voters growing skeptical of Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, a shift that threatens his political coalition. Democrats are boosting effort and fundraising in Republican turf as Trump’s approval on the economy has fallen across most groups. The strategy centers on linking economic pressures to cost of living and energy prices while reaching working-class voters where they reside.
The National Science Foundation has halted plans to remove or descale the Ocean Observatories Initiative, after lawmakers and scientists warned of risks to climate data, weather forecasts and coastal safety. An expert panel will assess future needs while equipment already removed will be redeployed. The move follows bipartisan pressure and a Senate bill to block decommissioning.
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.
Parliament has approved constitutional amendments to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency and shift to parliamentary selection for the president. The changes extend terms from five to seven years and delay the 2028 vote to 2030. The bill now goes to the Senate for a second vote and who signs it remains a key question.
Lawmakers have approved a war powers resolution directing President to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran. The measure, filed under the War Powers Act, passes the Senate and House with largely party-line votes, though questions remain about its legal force and potential constitutional challenges. The White House calls the move symbolic, while supporters say it reasserts congressional authority. Negotiations on a broader Iran deal continue in parallel.
The 21st Century Road to Housing Act has advanced to President Trump’s desk after an 85-5 Senate vote. The package aims to boost housing supply, curb private-equity activity in single-family homes, and streamline environmental reviews, while House conservatives push for broader election safeguards. Expect a White House decision soon as lawmakers tout affordability gains ahead of the 2026 elections.
The White House has has asked Congress for billions in supplemental spending to fund the Iran war, plus aid for farmers and other projects. Republicans are divided over the cost and scope, while Democrats vow to scrutinize the package. The package includes a major defense outlay, health of the defense industrial base, and a plan to modernize Penn Station.
The Senate has passed a war powers resolution directing the President to withdraw forces from hostilities with Iran or seek explicit authorization. The House had approved a similar measure earlier this month. The move is largely symbolic but signals growing congressional unease over the conflict.
The president has cancelled a Capitol signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a priority Republicans say would curb noncitizen voting and tighten voter ID. The House and Senate-backed housing package remains on track, while the White House and GOP leadership trade signals about timing.
A Massachusetts judge has blocked key parts of President Trump’s executive order on elections, converting a tentative injunction into a permanent ban. The ruling underlines that states and Congress retain authority over elections, and that the administration’s citizenship-proof and mail-voting provisions violate the separation of powers. The decision adds to a string of legal challenges surrounding Trump’s attempts to reshape U.S. election rules.
Anthropic has accused Alibaba-linked operators of carrying out the largest known distillation attack to illicitly extract Claude’s capabilities, with millions of exchanges using thousands of fake accounts. The claim, addressed to US Senators, heightens tensions over AI security and national competitiveness.