American politician and businessman serving as U.S. senator from North Carolina since 2015
Trump Media & Technology has unveiled Truth API, a paid low‑latency feed that will deliver real‑time posts from the platform’s top 10 accounts from August 1. Executives have discussed charging institutional customers up to $100,000 a month (or $60,000 on three‑year plans). Lawmakers and ethics experts have warned it will let traders profit from presidential posts and raise conflict‑of‑interest and market‑manipulation concerns.
The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence by a 51-47 vote, removing acting DNI Bill Pulte. Clayton has faced tough questioning over his refusal to plainly say Joe Biden won the 2020 election and about his willingness to resist political pressure. His confirmation clears the way for renewed talks on reauthorising Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
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.
President Trump’s Cabinet meeting at Camp David has become a focal point as he faces Republican pushback on a tax-audit immunity deal and the fate of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Comments on an Anti-Weaponization Fund are circulating, while lawmakers seek written assurances from the White House. The briefing follows related talks about immunity provisions tied to the Trump family.
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.
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.
The Senate faces a narrowed path for Todd Blanche as Collins’s opposition narrows the GOP margin and keeps two undecideds in play. With McConnell absent and others undecided, Blanche’s confirmation remains uncertain as negotiations over fund termination and audit protections evolve.
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.
The US Army has awarded an $11.26 million contract to TERN to deploy AI-based navigation and vehicle health systems that can operate offline, providing independent positioning when GPS is disrupted. The system preloads a local map, works offline, and updates when connections return, with cybersecurity considered. The move aims to reduce GPS vulnerability on the battlefield.
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has resigned following tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a wave of personnel changes reshapes top leadership. Lawmakers are demanding accountability and a faster push to modernize the force, including drone and counter-drone capabilities.
The Defense Secretary has faced resignations and blocked promotions amid a broader clash over modernization and culture-war priorities. Critics say leadership is being hollowed out as top brass depart and the Pentagon reshapes itself.
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.
AI executives and researchers are urging regulators to slow frontier AI development amid rising risks. While some leaders back voluntary restraints, others push for concrete oversight, with political factions weighing guardrails and potential legislation. The debate intensifies as rogue AIs trigger renewed urgency for policy action.
Policy leaders warn that unchecked AI risks could reshape the economy and elections. Democrats are weighing committees and guardrails, while Republicans push for industry-led standards amid a fragmented political debate.
The Senate has rejected a War Powers Resolution that would require President Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from Iran absent congressional approval. The vote follows prior House action and reflects ongoing debate over constitutional authority and war powers as the administration faces mounting public concern over the conflict.
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.
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 Federal Reserve's inspector general has found major management and oversight failures in a $2.4bn–$2.5bn renovation of two Fed buildings but has not found reasonable grounds to refer criminal charges against former chair Jerome Powell. The report has fuelled political attacks and prompted Warsh to order an independent audit of project costs.
The GOP is shifting resources to Kansas as the Senate fight tightens, with veteran strategist Chris Grant joining Marshall’s team and outside groups pouring money into the race. Hamilton counters with new endorsements and a robust campaign. The move follows polling that keeps the seat competitive in a state Trump carried in 2024.
60 Minutes has rebounded in viewership this season, reaching about 10.2 million viewers for a recent episode, according to Nielsen data. The numbers follow a weaker season debut and reflect a broader reboot under Nick Bilton and Bari Weiss. The program is navigating leadership changes while pursuing stable ratings and social reach.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said Nidal Hasan, convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shootings, is scheduled for execution by firing squad on Dec. 3 and that the military will make the execution public. The Department of Defense has declined to comment on how the execution will be presented to spectators or whether it will be broadcast.
Tennessee death-row inmate Christa Pike has survived after officials administered two doses of pentobarbital on Sept. 30 that failed to kill her. She has returned to the Deborah K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center and is receiving ongoing medical care; Tennessee has paused executions while it investigates how the attempt failed.
The president’s move to allow Russian diesel into global markets has drawn swift criticism from lawmakers who say Congress was not consulted. Officials warn the policy could fund Moscow’s war while doing little to relieve U.S. fuel prices amid ongoing energy volatility.
The plan to publicly livestream the Fort Hood firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan has drawn praise from supporters and sharp condemnation from opponents. Officials say the decision reflects a hardline stance on crime, while critics warn it could boost terrorism recruitment and risk American personnel overseas.
The Supreme Court has not taken up Moore’s defamation appeal, leaving in place an 11th Circuit ruling that erased a jury verdict against Senate Majority PAC in a campaign ad case. Moore had alleged the ad falsely implied soliciting sex from minors; the PAC contends the ad was truthful. The decision follows earlier rulings and signaling ongoing disputes over campaign messaging and defamation standards.
Religious leaders, including Archbishop Broglio, are opposing the Pentagon's plan to livestream the Dec. 3 execution of Nidal Hasan, a Fort Hood shooter. They argue the broadcast could demean human dignity, harm the US military’s image, and set a dangerous precedent for public executions.
President Trump has issued an executive order waiving implementation of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act and approved a deal to import Russian diesel. Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the move, saying it undermines sanctions meant to punish Russia for its war on Ukraine and could strengthen Moscow financially as Ukraine faces winter attacks.
Trump has waived new Russia sanctions and tariffs on energy buyers, aiming to unlock Russian diesel exports. The move has exposed rifts within the GOP and drawn criticism from Zelenskyy, as the diesel deal is framed as an incentive to ease war pressures while global diesel costs rise.
The United States has seen shifting policy toward Ukraine as President Trump has waived sanctions on Russia and floated a diesel deal, complicating support for Kyiv. SpaceX Starlink/Starshield disruptions and reports of talks on a Moscow–Beijing settlement surface, while Zelenskyy urges renewed sanctions support.
US envoy Steve Witkoff has met Putin in Saint Petersburg to push for a peace framework on Ukraine; Oslo talks with Zelensky and European partners have yielded meaningful progress. Washington emphasizes continued support for Kyiv, including Starlink, while Trump pressures Ukraine to settle.