For over an hour Sunday, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico stood on stage and fielded questions and, at times, frustration from Black Texans at a majority-Black town hall in Houston. “I’m voting for James Talarico, and I hope you do, too — but I want y’all to come and …
Read More »GOP Senators Reverse Course on Iran War Powers Vote After Heated Clash With Trump
A Republican-backed effort to advance congressional oversight of U.S. military involvement in Iran collapsed Wednesday night after two key GOP senators reversed their positions following a contentious confrontation with President Donald Trump and a subsequent White House briefing. The Senate voted 47-50-1 against advancing a war powers resolution that would …
Read More »Senate Joins House in Rebuke of Trump Over His War in Iran
The Republican-led U.S. Senate served up a rare public check on President Donald Trump’s agenda Tuesday when it voted to approve a House-passed War Powers Resolution to end hostilities in Iran. Senate approval marked the first time both chambers have agreed in a rebuke of Trump over his war in Iran. …
Read More »Mike Collins Wins Georgia GOP Senate Runoff, Setting Up Showdown With Jon Ossoff
Republican Rep. Mike Collins won Georgia’s GOP Senate runoff Tuesday, defeating former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley and securing the party’s nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races. The Associated Press called the race for Collins at 8:37 …
Read More »Graham Platner Secures Democratic Nomination in Maine Senate Race
Oysterman Graham Platner overcame a series of scandals to secure the Democratic nomination to take on five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. The political newcomer clinched the win with 74.6%, after the Associated Press called the race with 11% of unofficial results counted about 90 minutes after polls …
Read More »Senate Launches Marathon Session to Pass Nearly $70B for ICE, Border Patrol
U.S. Senate Republicans fended off an attempt Thursday to block the Department of Justice from using an “anti-weaponization” fund to pay people who feel they were wrongly prosecuted, as well as another proposal that sought to require congressional authorization for a new White House ballroom. Debate on amendments and motions, …
Read More »Senate Votes to Freeze Members’ Pay During Future Shutdowns
The U.S. Senate approved a resolution Thursday that will prevent lawmakers in that chamber from receiving their paychecks during any government shutdowns that begin after this year’s midterm elections. The voice vote on the measure from Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy will not impact members in the House of Representatives …
Read More »Senate Rejects Latest Effort to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers
The Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a renewed effort to curb President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, marking the first major congressional test of Republican support for the war after the expiration of the War Powers Act’s 60-day limit on unauthorized military operations. The War Powers Resolution failed in …
Read More »No Bets: Senate Bans Lawmakers From Prediction Markets
The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution banning lawmakers and their staff from participating in prediction markets, a move aimed at preventing officials with access to sensitive information from profiting on real-world events. The rule change, adopted by voice vote, takes effect immediately and reflects growing alarm on …
Read More »Senate Again Rejects Attempt to Limit Trump Action in Iran
An effort to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for further war actions in Iran failed in the U.S. Senate for the fourth time Wednesday, with all but one Republican continuing to support the president’s Middle East conflict. Senators voted down the measure, 47-52, with a similar partisan …
Read More »House Retirements Near Historic High as 2026 Election Cycle Accelerates
The number of lawmakers retiring from the House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 elections has climbed to the second-highest level since recordkeeping began nearly a century ago, reflecting an unusually high turnover in Congress as both parties prepare for a competitive election cycle. A total of 53 House members …
Read More »Talarico Wins Democratic Primary for US Senate in Texas; Cornyn and Paxton go to GOP Runoff
In a critical 2026 battle for control of the U.S. Senate, The Associated Press early Wednesday declared James Talarico the winner of the Democratic primary in Texas, while incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will spend weeks to come competing in a runoff election. The AP …
Read More »Senate Republicans Block Attempt to Sue Trump Administration over Epstein Files
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic proposal Thursday to sue the Trump administration over allegations that it did not fully release the Epstein files, as mandated under a law unanimously approved by senators and signed by the president nearly three months ago. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., asked for unanimous …
Read More »Senate Democrats Block Funding Package as DHS Talks Continue, Raising Shutdown Risk
Senate Democrats on Thursday unanimously voted to block a package of six government funding bills, keeping alive the possibility of a partial government shutdown in the coming days as negotiations with the White House continued over restrictions on immigration enforcement. The procedural vote failed 55–45, falling short of the 60 …
Read More »Senate Moves to Display Jan. 6 Plaque After Speaker Johnson Blocks Its Installation
The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution to display a plaque honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack, stepping around House Speaker Mike Johnson after he refused to install the memorial despite a federal law requiring it. The resolution directs …
Read More »
Poli Alert Politics & Civics