Senate battle lines over immigration funding loom as Trump-era measures clash with GOP and Dem factions. Key players span Mnangagwa-era Zimbabwe debate to US DHS, Warsh Fed chair chatter. Stay tuned.
Following the US and Israel's recent attack on Iran, Congress is debating whether to limit President Trump's military actions. The vote, set for today, highlights divisions over the legality and scope of US involvement in the conflict, with many lawmakers demanding clearer congressional authority amid ongoing regional tensions.
On March 4-5, 2026, a US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters near Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors and widening the US-Iran conflict. The US Senate blocked a resolution to limit President Trump's war powers. Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah continue fighting in Lebanon, and Iran launched missile strikes on Israel and Kurdish targets.
U.S. congressional hearings are examining the Middle East conflict initiated on February 28, focusing on intelligence assessments and the resignation of Joe Kent, a top counterterrorism official. Critics argue the war was unnecessary, citing lack of imminent threat from Iran, while officials defend the campaign's success.
Senator Mullin was confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary in a 54-45 vote, supported mainly by Republicans and two Democrats. His appointment comes during a period of scrutiny over DHS's immigration enforcement tactics and ongoing government shutdown. Mullin aims to rebuild trust and work with Democrats on funding and policy reforms.
The House of Representatives did not take up a Senate-passed funding bill, prolonging the DHS partial shutdown that began on February 14. The deadlock centers on immigration enforcement funding, with Democrats demanding reforms and Republicans opposing them. The shutdown affects airport security and federal workers' pay, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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.
A mix of polling and local accounts show the once-dominant Republican coalition is fracturing as nonwhite voters and working-class voters drift from the party. While Trump remains a central figure, approval has fallen and Democrats have secured several off-year wins, signaling strategic headwinds for the GOP ahead of elections.
Courts and lawmakers are negotiating mid-decade redistricting amid a Supreme Court ruling that weakens the Voting Rights Act. Alabama and Florida are among states revisiting congressional maps, with August special primaries and a looming federal review of district lines.
States are widening efforts to block proposed utility rate increases and rethink financing for major upgrades, citing how AI data centers are driving energy demand and bills. In Texas, Hill County has paused data-center development to study effects, while other states weigh similar actions amid affordability concerns.
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.
Since mid-May 2026, Republican-led Southern legislatures have been moving to redraw U.S. House maps after a Supreme Court ruling weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act. Federal judges in Alabama have blocked a new map, South Carolina lawmakers have stalled a Trump-backed redistricting push, and Tennessee and Louisiana have enacted plans that would dilute Black-majority districts.
The United States and Iran have described a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and dispose of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Negotiations are unfolding in stages, with a 60-day window for finalizing remaining nuclear terms, while broader issues are staged for later rounds.
Newsom has announced plans to levy a 100% state tax on payouts from Trump’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund, asserting the move can be enacted through legislation or a ballot measure. The fund is part of a settlement related to a lawsuit against the IRS. Bessent and Newsom have a history of public sparring.