Senator

• De Senaat heeft wetgeving goedgekeurd die het salaris van congresleden zou inhouden tijdens federale government shutdowns, waardoor de vergoeding van wetgevers wordt gekoppeld aan de uitkomsten van budgetonderhandelingen. • Het voorstel is een procedurele stap om gekozen functionarissen financieel verantwoordelijk te houden voor de verstoringen van federale operaties en publieke diensten als gevolg van shutdowns. • De maatregel weerspiegelt de groeiende frustratie over terugkerende budgettaire impasses en de impact daarvan op de functionaliteit van de overheid en het levensonderhoud van federale werknemers.

• De toevoeging van de Tasmaanse crossbencher betekent dat Labor een zetel heeft gewonnen in de Australische senaat – maar nog steeds geen meerderheid heeft • Volg onze liveblog over het nieuws uit Australië voor de laatste updates • Ontvang onze e-mail met breaking news, onze gratis app of dagelijkse nieuwspodcast

Ronald dela Rosa, door het Internationaal Strafhof beschuldigd van misdaden tegen de menselijkheid, in impasse met autoriteiten

• Queenslander staat onder druk na YouTube-interview waarin hij zei dat hij het ‘niet uitsloot’, maar dat hij ‘de feiten nog niet had’ • Volg onze Australia news live blog voor de laatste updates • Ontvang onze breaking news-email, gratis app of dagelijkse nieuwspodcast

Republican senator for Maine, facing tough re-election battle, says she has had benign essential tremor for decadesUS politics live – latest updatesSusan Collins, the Republican Maine senator seen by Democrats as vulnerable in November’s midterm election, has revealed a decades-old medical condition she said affects her appearance, but not her ability to do her job.Collins, 73, told News Center Maine, an NBC affiliate, that she has a benign essential tremor she treats with medication, which sometimes causes her hands, arms and head to tremble. Continue reading...

• Senators Ron Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. labeled federal handling of COVID origins and vaccine deaths a 'major scandal' with alleged coverups. • They cited new evidence pointing to lab leaks and unreported adverse events. • The claims fuel demands for investigations as public trust in health agencies erodes.

TPOR poll of 1,018 likely voters puts Talarico ahead of John Cornyn by three percentage points and Ken Paxton by fiveUS politics live – latest updatesDemocrats’ hopes of winning control of the US Senate in November’s midterm elections have been boosted by a poll showing James Talarico, the party’s candidate in Texas, leading in a head-to-head matchup against two potential Republican opponents.The Texas public opinion research (TPOR) survey has Talarico, a Democratic state legislator, ahead of the GOP incumbent senator, John Cornyn, and his internal party challenger, Ken Paxton, in one-on-one contests. Continue reading...

Images in Helen Polley’s post included a marching band, people laying wreaths and ex-serving members giving speeches set to a track by US rapper ChingyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA federal Labor senator has deleted a social media video which mistakenly included audio of an explicit rap song over a carousel of photos of Anzac Day commemorations.Senator Helen Polley, a former shadow minister and current chair of parliament’s committee on law enforcement, posted a video compilation of images paying respect to Australia’s defence forces. Continue reading...

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump, says president’s feud with the pope is a ‘distraction’A Republican lawmaker has condemned what he refers to as Donald Trump’s “holy war” against Pope Leo XIV.Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a long supporter of Trump and the ultraconservative Maga movement, condemned the president’s attacks on the pope during a Fox News interview on Saturday. Continue reading...

• Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot returned to noncontact practice on Tuesday, signaling a faster-than-anticipated recovery from injury. • Chabot has recorded 31 points (7 goals, 24 assists) in 55 games this season while averaging 22:34 of ice time before his injury. • The early return to practice suggests the Senators could have Chabot available sooner than originally projected for the remainder of the regular season.

Democrat Tammy Duckworth writes letter to TSA calling on agency to reinstate the shoes-off airport security policyNine months after US airports allowed passengers to pass through scanners without taking off their shoes, rescinding the stringent policy after almost two decades, a top senator claimed the “reckless” move could put passengers in danger.The policy amounts to a “potentially catastrophic security deficiency”, according to Tammy Duckworth, Democrat for Illinois, and ranking member of the Senate commerce, science and transportation (CST) aviation subcommittee. Continue reading...

Richard Blumenthal says company acts like it has ‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ as records show it upping fees to cut lossesTicketmaster quietly raised other fees after US crackdown on hidden chargesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenators slammed Ticketmaster for raising ticket fees following a regulatory crackdown on hidden charges as revealed in a report by the Guardian last week.The Federal Trade Commission last May began requiring Ticketmaster to disclose concert ticket fees upfront – a practice known as all-in pricing. The company eliminated the order processing fee it charged at the the end of a transaction to comply with the rule. Continue reading...

Thom Tillis joins McConnell in warning withdrawal would aid rivals and threaten US securityUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA second Republican senator spoke out in defense of Nato on Thursday, joining Mitch McConnell and the Democrats, after Donald Trump said that he was “absolutely” considering withdrawing from the alliance after it refused to take part in the joint assault with Israel against Iran.“Nato stood by America when we were under attack and came to our aid after the September 11th attacks. Their soldiers fought and died alongside our troops in Afghanistan,” said Thom Tillis, a Republican, and Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, who co-chair the Senate Nato observer group. Continue reading...

• Senators introduced the Fiscal Commission Act mirroring House version to create commission recommending fiscal health policies. • Commission aims to tackle rising U.S. debt through targeted policy proposals amid ongoing budget concerns. • Bill provides structured approach for bipartisan fiscal reforms without specifying exact recommendations upfront.

Top prediction market sites usher in new guardrails after senators introduced bill that could limit booming industryKalshi and Polymarket, the two biggest prediction market sites, rushed to institute new industry guardrails and add new surveillance tools on Monday after two key senators announced legislation that could severely curtail the industry’s prospects.Kalshi said it would ban political candidates from trading on their own campaigns, and it would preemptively block anyone involved in college or professional sports from trading contracts related to the sports they play or are employed by. Continue reading...

• Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) announced a tentative agreement with White House officials Friday on cryptocurrency legislation addressing the clash between banks and digital asset firms over stablecoin yield payments. • The agreement aims to bar yield payments 'on a passive balance' to prevent deposit flight from traditional bank accounts to cryptocurrency platforms, addressing Wall Street concerns about customer capital migration. • The breakthrough could unblock landmark crypto regulatory legislation stalled in Senate Banking Committee since January and represents potential progress toward comprehensive digital asset framework.

• Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) criticized the Republican SAVE Act on March 18, 2026, as 'one of the most extreme voter suppression bills in recent history.' • The bill mandates in-person proof of citizenship like passports, which 140 million Americans lack, banning online, mail, and automatic registration. • It would disenfranchise rural voters, veterans, and women changing names, despite existing laws prohibiting noncitizen voting under penalty of perjury.

• President Trump confronts a pivotal Iran war decision on deploying U.S. troops to seize Tehran's enriched uranium, deemed essential by nuclear experts but politically risky amid vows against prolonged Middle East conflicts. • Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) warned that securing uranium requires a physical U.S. presence, criticizing Trump's 'confused and chaotic objectives,' while Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) noted no briefing exists on alternatives to boots on the ground. • Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) cited multiple plans on the table without details, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized available options without specifics; Trump claimed strikes neutralized the nuclear threat.

Midwestern state has a slate of competitive races with money flowing in from donors including AipacSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxIllinois voters on Tuesday will decide between a crowded field of Democratic candidates vying to be the state’s next senator as the midwestern state also nominates candidates for five open congressional seats.Longtime Illinois senator Dick Durbin’s retirement leaves a competitive race that includes two US representatives and the lieutenant governor vying to replace him, with massive infusions of money coming to the candidates from outside groups, including donors affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), that are spending millions to sway voters. Continue reading...

• Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, inheriting issues like immigration enforcement disputes, disaster response backlash, and a monthlong DHS funding lapse due to Democratic demands for ICE reforms. • Democrats seek bans on masks for deportation officers, end to roving patrols, and judicial warrants for home entries, while Republicans resist; Mullin must balance mass deportation pressures versus targeted enforcement on criminals, per former ICE acting director John Sandweg. • Mullin's congressional ties to Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader John Thune position him to ease funding battles, with Thune calling it the 'change Democrats wanted,' though Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) insists reforms go beyond leadership swaps.

David Pocock’s comments come as new photos show scale of damage and government official says its ‘quite possible’ bodies disturbedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe bodies of Australian soldiers buried in Gaza have “very likely” been disturbed, the independent senator David Pocock says, as new photos tendered to parliament show widespread damage of graves by Israeli bulldozers.About 146 of the 263 graves of Australian soldiers buried in Gaza have been damaged, Senate estimates heard last week. Continue reading...

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined colleagues to introduce the Working Americans' Tax Cut Act on March 13, 2026, aimed at reducing taxes for millions of working Americans through targeted relief measures. The bipartisan bill seeks to provide immediate financial relief amid rising living costs, focusing on wage earners in key sectors. Supporters emphasize its potential to boost disposable income for over 100 million taxpayers. Next steps include committee review and potential floor votes as midterm elections approach.