Senate

Chamber advances bill for first time as four Republicans join all but one of Senate’s DemocratsThe Senate voted on Tuesday to advance a war powers resolution aimed at forcing Donald Trump to end the war in Iran unless he receives congressional authorization to continue it.Tuesday’s vote marks the first time the chamber has advanced the bill. Continue reading...

US president calls Paxton an ‘America First Patriot’ and ‘MAGA Warrior’ ahead of runoff against John CornynUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has endorsed the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, in the state’s Republican primary, bolstering his bid to unseat the incumbent US senator, John Cornyn.The US president praised Paxton, who has pitched himself as a political warrior for Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, as an “America First Patriot” in a post on social media on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair nominee, resolving a weeks-long standoff over Republican demands for a probe into outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell's conduct. • Warsh's confirmation represents a significant shift in Federal Reserve leadership as the administration prioritizes new economic policy direction amid ongoing inflation concerns. • The confirmation eliminates a major partisan bottleneck that had delayed central banking leadership decisions during a period of elevated business costs and consumer price pressures.

• The Senate advanced legislation that would withhold congressional pay during federal government shutdowns, linking lawmaker compensation to budget negotiations outcomes. • The proposal represents a procedural step toward holding elected officials financially accountable for shutdown-related disruptions to federal operations and public services. • The measure reflects growing frustration with recurring budget impasses and their impact on government functionality and federal employee livelihoods.

• FBI Director Kash Patel denied drinking allegations raised during a Senate budget hearing, addressing questions about his conduct while leading the federal law enforcement agency. • The testimony occurred as the Senate reviewed FBI budget appropriations and operational oversight priorities for the fiscal year. • Patel's public defense signals the continuation of scrutiny regarding leadership practices at the Bureau during a period of significant policy transitions.

If state’s house passes bill, redrawn map could could give state Republicans a 5-1 congressional majoritySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailOn Thursday, the Louisiana state senate voted 27-10 to pass a new congressional map that would eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black House districts. The resulting map could give Louisiana Republicans a 5-1 congressional majority.The supreme court’s recent decision in Louisiana v Callais, a case that centered on the state’s congressional maps, severely weakened the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The fallout from the decision was swift, with several other southern states calling special sessions to pass redistricting maps that would limit Black voting power. Continue reading...

Groups say supreme court justice, who owns oil stocks, may be violating ethics codes by participating in certain casesSupreme court justice Samuel Alito, who owns stock in oil companies, may be violating court ethics codes by participating in certain cases that could benefit big oil, government watchdog groups say.In a Thursday letter, a coalition of watchdog organizations called on the Senate judiciary committee to investigate Alito, the sole supreme court justice with holdings in energy companies. Continue reading...

Senator Ronald dela Rosa is wanted by the ICC for his alleged role in country’s deadly anti-drug crackdown that saw thousands killed Philippine authorities are seeking to confirm reports that a lawmaker wanted by the international criminal court (ICC) secretly left the Senate premises where he had spent days evading arrest, an official said.Presidential communications undersecretary Clare Castro told a press conference that authorities were trying to confirm the whereabouts of senator Ronald dela Rosa, after reports suggested he had slipped out of the heavily guarded building undetected before dawn. Continue reading...

• The Senate voted 49-50 on Wednesday to block continued U.S. military action in Iran, falling short even as three Republicans joined Democrats in support. • Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Susan Collins backed the resolution, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman again opposed his party’s effort. • The vote underscored widening GOP unease as the war becomes more unpopular and gas prices rise, adding pressure on Trump’s handling of the conflict.

Cindy Burbank, who bested an alleged Republican plant, plans to step aside for Dan Osborn in general electionSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA Democratic challenger who said she intends to drop out of November’s race for the US Senate in Nebraska to clear the way for an independent candidate has won the state’s Democratic primary.Cindy Burbank ran against William Forbes, who Democrats contended was a Republican plant in the race, with the intent to drop out if she won. Forbes, a pastor who has voted for Trump and opposed abortion access, is currently registered as a Democrat. Continue reading...

Resolution failed in a 49-50 vote, with Lisa Murkowski and fellow GOP members Rand Paul and Susan Collins voting in favorThe Senate on Wednesday rejected the seventh attempt by Democrats to force an end to American involvement in the war on Iran, even as the ranks of Republicans opposed to Donald Trump’s strategy grew.The war powers resolution proposed by Jeff Merkley, a Democratic senator of Oregon, failed in a 49-50 vote. All Democrats with the exception of John Fetterman of Pennsylvania supported its advancement. Continue reading...

Warsh will serve four-year term as chair, taking over amid rising inflation and pressure from Trump to lower ratesThe US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as chair of the Federal Reserve, one of the most powerful roles in the federal government that holds enormous sway over the economy.The 54-45 Senate vote on Wednesday was split along party lines, with the exception of Democratic senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, who joined the Republican majority. Warsh was confirmed for a four-year term as chair and a 14-year appointment on the Fed’s rate-setting board. Continue reading...

Ronald dela Rosa, accused of crimes against humanity by international criminal court, in standoff with authoritiesGunshots have been fired in the Philippine senate, as a senator who is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC) remained holed up in the building to evade arrest.The Philippine senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is accused of crimes against humanity for his role in overseeing the former president Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called war on drugs, has spent two nights in the country’s senate in a standoff with the authorities. Continue reading...

• House Republicans are pressing forward with modifications to a Senate-passed housing package on May 12, even after President Trump urged passage of the original version without changes. • The effort coincides with administration pushes for $1 billion in security funding within a larger party-line spending package focused on immigration enforcement, potentially supporting Trump's ballroom project. • Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to secure backing, amid Trump's June 1 deadline for lawmakers to clear the legislation.

FBI director also dismisses allegations of unexplained absences as Democrats challenge him over Atlantic reportUS politics live – latest updatesEmbattled FBI director Kash Patel has denied under oath allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences on the job, dismissing them as “baseless” during a fiery congressional hearing.Patel sought to push back as Democrats challenged him over the “extremely alarming” reports, which ran in the Atlantic, which they argued would a mount to a “gross dereliction” of duty. Continue reading...

Candidates jostle to represent the second congressional district, and a Republican’s Senate seat looks ripe to flipUS politics live – latest updatesNebraska Democrats are bullish about Republican losses in the right-leaning Plains state – but their prospects depend on today’s Democratic primaries, which include accusations of planted candidates and inadvertently depriving Democrats of power.A crowded Democratic primary in the state’s second congressional district, referred to as its “blue dot”, has focused around concerns that if a state senator wins, the Republican governor will replace him with a Republican who would help overturn Nebraska’s divided electoral college vote system. Continue reading...

• A $140 million super PAC war chest is poised to attack Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown as he aims for Senate return in 2026. • Funding from Republican donors aims to highlight Brown's voting record and economic policies in battleground state. • Escalation matters for GOP's narrow Senate majority defense amid high-stakes midterm environment.

Former police chief Ronald dela Rosa spends night at senate office after another Duterte ally offers protective custodyThe unusual pursuit was captured on CCTV cameras inside the Philippine senate. Ronald dela Rosa, a longtime ally of the former president Rodrigo Duterte, raced along the hallways of the upper house complex, stumbling on the staircase, as he fled government agents.“They want to forcibly bring me to The Hague, to surrender me there,” Dela Rosa said later on a Facebook livestream, pleading for public support. Continue reading...

• E.J. Antoni, nominated for a senior position, faces potential confirmation complications due to extensive commentary on conservative talk radio and podcasts, including Steve Bannon's "War Room." • Antoni has built a public profile as a frequent pro-Trump media commentator, raising concerns among senators about potential conflicts of interest and partisanship. • Democratic senators are likely to question whether his media activities demonstrate sufficient independence for the government role he seeks.

Chuck Schumer accuses GOP of ‘asking working families to pay the price while Trump pockets the perks’ in letterUS politics live – latest updatesChuck Schumer, the US Senate’s top Democrat, has vowed to oppose a Republican plan to spend $1bn on security improvements for the ballroom Donald Trump is seeking to build on the White House’s former East Wing.The money is set to be included in a measure Republicans plan to pass that would allocate about $70bn to the federal agencies leading Trump’s mass deportation campaign, with the intention of keeping them operational through the remainder of the president’s term. Continue reading...

• Tensions between House and Senate Republicans are escalating, directly threatening the party's unified legislative agenda. • Divisions center on key bills, with high animosity stalling progress on spending, taxes, and reforms. • The rift matters as it weakens GOP messaging and momentum heading into critical 2026 midterms.

Warsh would succeed outgoing Fed chair Jerome Powell as Trump continues his push to influence the US central bankSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The US Senate is expected to confirm Kevin Warsh this week as chair of the Federal Reserve, as Donald Trump continues his campaign to influence the world’s most important central bank.The Fed’s influence over the economy spans from the job market to mortgage rates, and its every move is carefully scrutinized by investors on Wall Street. Warsh’s confirmation comes at a turbulent time for the central bank, which has fallen under intense scrutiny from Trump for not lowering interest rates. Continue reading...

• Nigeria's Senate engaged in heated drama over amendments to its Standing Orders, attempting to impose stricter eligibility rules for the Senate Presidency to favor insiders ahead of 2027 elections. • The proposed changes, criticized as exclusionary by figures like Adams Oshiomhole, faced immediate legal scrutiny for constitutional contradictions, prompting an embarrassing U-turn. • Critics argue the episode highlights misplaced priorities amid national economic hardship, diverting focus from pressing public issues.

• The Nigerian Senate on May 8, 2026, reversed controversial amendments to its Standing Orders concerning the election of presiding officers due to concerns over constitutional inconsistencies. • It passed for second reading a bill sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong to amend the Electoral Act 2026, assigning Federal High Court original jurisdiction over pre-election disputes for National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly elections, with appeals to the Court of Appeal. • The Senate approved the N2.285 trillion 2026 Federal Capital Territory budget, allocating N1.741 trillion for capital projects to boost infrastructure in Abuja and satellite communities.

• A super PAC with a $140 million war chest is preparing to challenge Ohio Democrat Senator in the 2026 election cycle. • The funding aims to prevent the incumbent's return, intensifying Republican strategies as reported on May 8, 2026. • This financial firepower underscores the high stakes for Senate control amid Trump's midterm focus.

• 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.

A group of prominent Senate Democrats sent a letter to FCC chair, Brendan Carr, to protest the commission’s order last week challenging ABC’s licensesA group of prominent Senate Democrats sent a letter on Thursday to Brendan Carr, the Trump-aligned Federal Communications Commission chair, asking him to rescind the US media regulator’s order last week requiring ABC to apply early to renew its television licenses.The eight ABC-owned station licenses were not originally up for renewal until 2028 at the earliest and 2031 at the latest; now, the renewal requests must be filed by the end of May. Continue reading...

• The FBI searched the office of a top Democratic lawmaker in Virginia as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, according to an AP source. • Agents conducted the raid on the Virginia Senate leader's office, marking a significant escalation in the probe into alleged misconduct. • The action underscores rising scrutiny on state-level political figures amid national concerns over corruption ahead of the 2026 midterms.