Congressional

• The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) faces an uncertain future following a recent Supreme Court ruling that threatens the stability of Black political power in Washington. • As a critical bloc in the U.S. House, the CBC currently holds enough members to represent approximately one-fourth of the votes required to reach a 218-vote majority. • This shift is significant because the caucus includes some of the most senior and influential Democrats, meaning any loss of clout could disrupt legislative strategies and representation.

House Democratic subcommittee report outlines web of alleged corruption, wire fraud and pay-to-play schemesDonald Trump staged a hostile takeover of the US’s 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data and promote Christian nationalist ideology, according to a congressional investigation released on Thursday.The interim report, “From Vanity to Insanity: How the White House Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday”, outlines a web of alleged corruption, wire fraud and pay-to-play schemes orchestrated through a shadow corporation embedded within the National Park Foundation (NPF). Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling blocking President Donald Trump's efforts to limit birthright citizenship, marking a significant judicial setback for his administration. • In response to the defeat, Trump has signaled a shift in strategy, moving away from courtroom challenges to pursue a new congressional approach. • This move matters as it demonstrates the administration's persistence in attempting to overhaul U.S. immigration policy despite a decisive legal barrier.

House committee seeks records after two agency scientists were charged over undeclared samplesThe US House committee on energy and commerce is “examining concerns” about the National Institutes of Health after two NIH scientists were charged with allegedly smuggling mpox into the United States and misleading investigators.Federal law enforcement alleges that Dr Vincent Munster, 53, a Dutch national and chief of the virus ecology section at the NIH’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Montana, and Claude Kwe, 38, a research fellow from Cameroon, transported vials containing monkeypox, now known as mpox, into the country without declaring them to customs and then “lying about it”. Continue reading...

• A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee hearing escalated into a heated shouting match between Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. • The confrontation centered on accusations of hypocrisy during the exchange, reflecting deep partisan tensions within the congressional oversight process. • This clash highlights the ongoing friction between Democratic lawmakers and the Department of Homeland Security's leadership regarding policy implementation and governance.

• Pro- and anti-AI interest groups spent a combined $24 million on a single congressional race in New York's 12th district. • The spending was funneled through Super PACs, which are permitted to raise and spend unlimited funds to support or oppose specific candidates. • This high-spending contest serves as a bellwether for how the AI industry intends to influence political outcomes through massive financial injections.

Pro- and anti-AI groups spent $24m on a congressional contest in New York, but it’s unclear to what endUS politics live – latest updatesWhen the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th congressional district was called on Tuesday night, the result capped off one of the most expensive races of its kind in the state’s history. More than $24m poured into the Manhattan contest from tech-backed financial groups as the campaign turned into a battleground for pro- and anti-AI groups to test their influence.Much of the spending targeted candidate Alex Bores, a member of the state assembly who sponsored an AI safety bill and subsequently became a lightning rod for the tech industry. Pro-AI political action committees (Pacs) put more than $8m into the race to oppose Bores, according to Tech Influence Watch, while industry groups supporting regulation spent more than $16m to counter the attacks. Continue reading...