6 mins read

Trump linked Iran’s Hormuz attacks, midterms. Senators have doubts

Some foreign-policy-minded senators are dismissing President Donald Trump’s assessment that Iranian officials have been disrupting the Strait of Hormuz to influence the midterm elections. Several senators — Democratic and Republican — furrowed brows or shook their heads Wednesday when asked about Trump a day earlier replying “probably” when asked if the Islamic Republic’s aggressive actions […]

5 mins read

Amish Shah wins Democratic nod for key Arizona seat over DCCC-backed rival

Former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah has won the Democratic primary for a fiercely contested swing district in Arizona, delivering another blow to national Democrats who put support and money behind former broadcast journalist Marlene Galán-Woods. “I have always prided myself on being a hardworking, grassroots candidate,’’ Shah, an emergency room physician, said on social […]

5 mins read

GOP budget blueprint adopted in House as Senate resists

The House adopted a GOP-backed budget resolution along party lines Wednesday, taking a critical first step toward passing a $95 billion reconciliation package focused mostly on the Iran war. The vote on the fiscal 2027 budget blueprint was 216-214, with only two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio —joining […]

7 mins read

Revised GOP crypto package doesn’t assuage Democrats’ concerns

Senate Republicans released a revised cryptocurrency regulatory framework bill on Wednesday with an added section intended to address public officials’ potential crypto conflicts of interest. But more work remains to be done before the measure can get to the floor. Democratic negotiators, incensed at President Donald Trump’s wealth being turbocharged by income from his family’s […]

5 mins read

Congressional stock-trading bill passes the House

Lawmakers took a step Wednesday toward reining in their own stock trading, a move Republicans hope will burnish Congress’ image as they head home for an extended August break. In a mostly party-line 232-198 vote, the House passed a GOP-led bill that would bar members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from buying new […]

4 mins read

Jay Clayton heads toward DNI confirmation vote 

The Senate is on track to vote next week on President Donald Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, after he cleared a key committee hurdle. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., filed cloture on the nomination Wednesday, a day after the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced it 9-8 along party lines. A cloture […]

4 mins read

Bill to ban certain Chinese cars approved by Senate panel

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a series of six nominations and seven bills on Wednesday, including a measure to limit the use of vehicles and vehicle technologies developed by foreign entities of concern on American roadways. The bill, introduced by Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and co-sponsored by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., would […]

3 mins read

Fight at the museum 

Lawmakers went for a Smithsonian sequel this week, as a top museum official and a nearly identical group of witnesses appeared for their second congressional hearing.  Republicans have thrust the National Museum of American History into the spotlight and accused it of rewriting history two days in a row, first at the House Oversight Delivering […]