July 2026
As Trump threatens the Smithsonian, Congress is on the sidelines
As the White House accuses the Smithsonian Institution of “ideological capture,” it’s put members of Congress in a tough spot as they weigh what, if anything, they can do. A 162-page White House report released last weekend singled out the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, saying it “no longer treats the American story as […]
At the Races: As Maine goes …
Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. By Mary Ellen McIntire and Daniela Altimari Maine Democrats have less than three weeks to find a challenger to Sen. Susan Collins after Graham Platner […]
Jockeying to replace Platner on Maine ballot has already begun
A pseudo Senate primary has formed in Maine as Democrats wait on Graham Platner to potentially end his campaign in the face of an allegation of sexual assault. Platner, the Democratic nominee to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall, has denied the accusation but said Monday that he was reassessing the future of his […]
GOP leaders tried to quell McConnell health questions. It’s not working
As online speculation swirls over Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization and scant public updates from his staff, the Kentucky Republican’s top allies spoke up this week, insisting he remains alert. But those assurances have done little to quash demands for proof of life, including from the state’s governor. The episode has reignited a debate over lawmakers’ […]
Justices to face Congress after contentious court rulings
Supreme Court justices are scheduled to appear before both Senate and House appropriators next week, marking the first time since 2019 that justices will face lawmakers. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are slated to testify before the Senate and House Financial Services Appropriations subcommittees on July 14 to discuss the high court’s fiscal […]
Little clarity on Iran from Trump, but new help ahead for Ukraine
Lawmakers and European officials hoping to get clarity on the U.S.-Iran conflict from President Donald Trump at a NATO summit likely left disappointed. During a Wednesday evening press conference in Ankara, Turkey, the first reporter to question him characterized the Iran standoff as a “strategic dead end for you” and asked why Trump has been […]
Contractor curbs on repair data causing Marines ‘significant’ issues
The Marine Corps is facing “significant” challenges keeping some of its most important weapons in working order, because Marines too often must rely on contractors for equipment upkeep, the service’s second-ranking general recently wrote to a Senate panel. Gen. Bradford Gering, the Marine Corps assistant commandant, described for the Armed Services Committee cases involving several […]
So far, Trump’s midterm campaign schedule slightly behind 2018 pace
President Donald Trump’s midterms campaign schedule has been lighter this year than his pace of hitting the road for Republican candidates during a 2018 midterm elections cycle that saw big Democratic gains. The GOP campaigner in chief had, between Jan. 1, 2018 and July 7, 2018, held nine road shows to boost Republican congressional hopefuls, […]
Progressive staff group urges sexual misconduct overhaul
Sweeping moves to address sexual misconduct at the Capitol may not be coming anytime soon, given the slow pace of change in Congress. But even “low-hanging fruit” could make a difference, some staffers say. The Congressional Progressive Staff Association laid out some ideas in a letter sent to lawmakers on Tuesday. “Staff safety is crucial,” […]
Congress faces its own summer heat dome
The sweltering Fourth of July weekend is over, but for both parties in House and Senate leadership, the heat is still cranked up. Both chambers are likely to return next Monday to the same sweat-inducing tangle of legislative problems that left them stumped as they headed out of town at the end of June. Speaker […]