Lawmakers

Bipartisan group warns HHS that older adults and people with disabilities risk being pressured to end their livesLawmakers urged the Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, on Thursday to establish strict hospice reporting rules to prevent discrimination and coercion in medically assisted suicide.The bipartisan group of members of Congress warned that older adults, people with disabilities, or those with disaffected caregivers face a particular risk of being pressured to end their lives. Continue reading...

• European lawmakers are moving forward with the "Chat Control" bill, which allows Big Tech companies to scan personal texts, emails, and social media messages. • The measure aims to identify and combat the spread of child abuse material online, despite a majority of lawmakers previously voting against the proposal. • This development is significant as it bypasses legislative opposition and raises critical concerns regarding the privacy and encryption of citizens' personal communications.

• US lawmakers are considering new restrictions to limit the adoption of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence models by American companies. • The House Committee on Homeland Security and the Select Committee on China launched a joint investigation in April to assess the risks of this tech integration. • As part of the probe, legislators have contacted firms such as Airbnb and Cursor to determine their level of exposure to Chinese-built AI systems.

• European lawmakers are calling for a formal investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding his conduct and external influences. • The probe centers on concerns that Infantino may have had improper contact with Donald Trump to allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play in a match against Belgium despite a red card. • This development highlights ongoing scrutiny over transparency and potential political interference within FIFA's disciplinary processes.

• South Korean lawmakers and investors are expressing growing unease over leveraged ETFs, which are criticized for potentially amplifying market volatility. • Policymakers are now demanding regulatory fixes to address the risks associated with these high-risk financial instruments. • The issue matters as these products can lead to significant losses for retail investors during sharp market swings, threatening overall financial stability.

Democrat Jamie Raskin seeks ‘comprehensive accounting’ and requests interview with outgoing Bard presidentHarvard University and Bard College are facing new questions about the institutions’ relationship with Jeffrey Epstein amid allegations that the convicted child sex trafficker leveraged his ties to the universities and their faculty to traffic women, while also burnishing his reputation to avoid detection.Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, said in a statement that Harvard and Bard had both previously attempted to investigate the role their universities and leadership played in facilitating Epstein’s abuse, but that those attempts either failed or fell short of a full accounting of what occurred. Continue reading...

Lisa Murkowski, a Republican senator, joins Democrats in bid to stop dismantling the Ocean Observatories InitiativeUS politics live – latest updatesA group of Democratic senators and one Republican, as well as two Democratic House committees, sent letters on Monday to the National Science Foundation asking it to reverse course on its plan to dismantle a sprawling ocean monitoring network, with House lawmakers going further and accusing the agency of acting illegally.The Ocean Observatories Initiative is a network of more than 900 ocean sensors built at a cost of $386m. Over the last decade it has tracked ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, climate change and extreme weather, producing data freely available to the public and informing more than 500 scientific publications. The project was slated to run another 15 to 20 years. Continue reading...

Government urged to reconsider proposal for 1,100 Afghans, currently stranded in Qatar, who worked with US forcesDozens of US lawmakers urged the Trump administration on Thursday to roll back any plans to ship to unsafe third countries Afghan nationals who worked with US forces during the war in their homeland.In a letter seen by Reuters, more than 80 House of Representatives members, including at least three Republicans as well as Democrats, appealed to secretary of state Marco Rubio to reconsider plans for 1,100 Afghans who have been stranded in Qatar awaiting relocation. Continue reading...

• Former President Trump signed an executive order in April titled “Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness” to fast-track research and drug approvals for psychedelic-assisted therapy. • The order aims to increase clinical trial participation and explore innovative research models to treat serious mental health conditions. • This federal push provides a new path for psychedelic research in Missouri, where state lawmakers have failed for several years to pass similar legislation.

• Primary election races are currently unfolding across six states, including New Jersey, California, and Iowa, as candidates advance toward midterm battles. • In separate political developments, Senator Marco Rubio is engaging with lawmakers to answer critical questions regarding government policy. • The Trump administration is weighing a decision to relocate certain groups to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the region's severe humanitarian crisis.

• Missouri State Rep. Dave Griffith is advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat veterans suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. • The initiative follows an April executive order signed by Donald Trump titled “Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness,” which aims to speed up drug approvals and clinical trial participation. • The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate at least $50 million to support state governments developing programs for psychedelic drugs.

• Driven by public demand and survivor advocacy, members of the U.S. Congress are attempting to set aside party politics to seek accountability for Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse network. • The effort focuses on identifying those who enabled Epstein, though survivors argue that the U.S. response has been insufficient compared to international efforts. • In contrast to the U.S., senior government officials in the UK, Sweden, Norway, and Slovakia have already been forced to resign due to their ties to Epstein.

• The Hungarian Parliament voted 133-37 to repeal a previous decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), reversing a move initiated by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. • The withdrawal had been announced by Orban as a gesture of support for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant, with Orban claiming the court had become "political." • The reversal was driven by a bill introduced by the new Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, signaling a shift in Hungary's international legal alignment.

• Hungarian lawmakers voted 133 to 37, with five abstentions, to formally repeal a law that would have seen the country exit the International Criminal Court (ICC). • The decision reverses a previous initiative led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to withdraw from the global judicial body. • This legislative move is significant as it ensures Hungary remains a member of the ICC, maintaining its commitment to international justice and legal accountability.

• The Office of the Ombudsman has discovered irregularities in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of several members of the House of Representatives. • These lawmakers are currently implicated in a scandal involving flood control projects, suggesting a potential link between project funds and unexplained wealth. • This development is significant as it indicates a deeper investigation into corruption and financial transparency within the Philippine legislative branch.

Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura leads action after Republican speaker rescinds promise to bring bill to vote Democratic state representatives in Minnesota staged an overnight sit-in in their house chamber on Thursday after the Republican speaker failed to put a gun violence prevention bill up for a vote.Samantha Sencer-Mura, a Democratic representative from Minneapolis, first announced the plan on Wednesday from the floor of the state’s house of representatives, giving speaker Lisa Demuth, a candidate for governor, 24 hours to give the bill a vote before the sit-in would start. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Senate approved a measure prohibiting members of Congress and their staff from placing bets on prediction markets, announced on May 8, 2026. • Chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reported the action from Capitol Hill, targeting political gambling amid rising concerns over insider trading. • The ban addresses ethical issues in financial markets forecasting political outcomes, responding to recent scandals involving lawmakers' wagers.

Seven Republican state senators battle for re-election against candidates backed by Donald TrumpIndiana voters go to the polls today in a test of the Republican party’s staying power after the party’s state lawmakers resisted Donald Trump’s bruising campaign to pressure them into redrawing the congressional districts.The vote has turned into a statewide referendum on political retribution. Continue reading...

• Several Democratic lawmakers are calling for President Trump's removal following controversial threats against Iran that warned of devastating consequences. • Some leaders are pushing for impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment, while others characterize the statements as political rhetoric rather than serious policy threats. • The push for removal reflects deep partisan divisions over how to interpret Trump's foreign policy statements and whether they constitute actionable threats.

Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures are at risk of losing their seats in Alabama’s Black congressional districts after rulingThe lawmakers who represent Alabama’s two Black congressional districts, who are now at risk of losing their seats after the supreme court effectively decimated the Voting Rights Act, said the decision sends the US “backwards”.The 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v Callais on Wednesday weakens a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, opening the door for Republicans to eliminate majority-minority congressional districts across the south, and representatives Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures stand in the crosshairs. Continue reading...

• U.S. lawmakers and foreign policy analysts have reached bipartisan consensus that Russia and Iran have formed a "transformational" military alliance that extends far beyond diplomatic convenience, fundamentally reshaping conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. • The alliance involves weapons transfers, intelligence sharing, and sanctions-evasion tactics, with experts describing the relationship's trajectory as shifting "from turbulent to transactional to transformational" following Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. • Senator Tom Tillis emphasized the lethal implications for American personnel, stating that intelligence and satellite data sharing between Moscow and Tehran directly endangers U.S. service members deployed globally.

Climate experts and advocates warn House and Senate bills will protect polluters at the cost of the climate Republican lawmakers are attempting to shield big oil from having to pay for its contributions to the climate crisis, alarming environmental advocates.New House and Senate bills, led by Harriet Hageman, a Wyoming representative, and Ted Cruz, a Texas senator, respectively, would give oil and gas companies broad legal immunity from policies and lawsuits aimed at holding the industry accountable for damages caused by its emissions. Continue reading...

Analysis finds 53 allegations against 30 lawmakers; nine still in office amid wave of resignations in CongressFifty-three allegations of workplace sexual harassment have been made against at least 30 House and Senate lawmakers over the past two decades, an advocacy group said in a study that was released Tuesday amid a spate of ethics-fueled resignations in Congress.Most of the lawmakers from 13 states and Guam who have faced allegations have since left office, but nine continue to hold seats, the nonpartisan National Women’s Defense League (NWDL) said. Continue reading...

The hearing marks a key hurdle Kevin Warsh must overcome in order to succeed Jerome Powell when his term ends on 15 MayHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve will commit to protecting central bank independence on interest rates at a crucial confirmation hearing later today.Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump’s labor secretary, resigned from her role with the administration. She said it was “an honor and a privilege to serve” to serve and that she would take on a job in the private sector. The departure came after she became entangled in a string of political and personal controversies. Democrats celebrated, writing “this administration is imploding”.Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, called for Kash Patel’s immediate resignation following a report from the Atlantic detailing the FBI director’s alleged excessive drinking and absences. Patel has sued the magazine for defamation with his attorneys calling the article a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece”.Donald Trump signed memorandums related to coal supply chains, natural gas and grid infrastructure on Monday. The president invoked the Defense Production Act in the energy-related memos, writing that increasing energy production is “essential to United States national defense”.The crowded field of Democratic candidates in the California’s governor’s race appears to be narrowing as Betty Yee — a former state controller— announced Monday she planned to end her campaign. Meanwhile, the California Democratic party chair Rusty Hicks continued to urge candidates trailing in the polls to exit the race. Continue reading...

Republicans call on Trump to ‘finish the job’ while top Democrats warn against resuming hostilitiesSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe failure of negotiations to end the US war with Iran has unleashed a barrage of starkly partisan political responses, with leading Republicans making hawkish calls for Donald Trump to “finish the job” while top Democrats warned that it would be disastrous for the president to resume hostilities.The former UN ambassador during Trump’s first presidency, Nikki Haley, led the Republican charge. She told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that the current two-week ceasefire was a test of nerves. Continue reading...

Tabloid outlet has covered Republicans and Democrats relaxing at places like Disney World as shutdown drags onWhen US federal workers were missing paychecks and the partial government shutdown entered its seventh week, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, was doing what any responsible lawmaker would do: riding Space Mountain and carrying a bubble wand at Disney World in Florida.Naturally, TMZ had photos of the vacationing senator on its homepage a few days later. Continue reading...

• U.S. lawmakers and Silicon Valley leaders are converging on policies to counter China's rapid AI advances, viewing it as a strategic economic battle. • House Speaker Mike Johnson urged tech firms to keep chips, data centers, and AI systems domestic and away from geopolitical rivals. • Proposed GAIN AI Act would mandate prioritizing U.S. access to advanced AI chips and require export licenses to countries of concern.

• Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation Wednesday to pause new data centers in the United States until national safeguards are established for worker protection, consumer safety, and environmental impact. • A typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, contributing to record U.S. electricity consumption hit in 2024 that is expected to continue rising as data centers expand. • The bill is unlikely to advance in either chamber but signals deep progressive concerns about AI infrastructure's rapid expansion and its effects on working families, democracy, and technology equity.