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Jay Clayton sworn in as U.S. director of national intelligence

Jay Clayton sworn in as U.S. director of national intelligence

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Jay Clayton was sworn in Monday as the U.S. director of national intelligence after a contentious Senate confirmation hearing in which he refused to directly acknowledge that President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election.
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Congress Adjourns Without Healthcare Deal, Faces January Funding Deadline

Congress Adjourns Without Healthcare Deal, Faces January Funding Deadline

Congress has adjourned for the winter break without reaching an agreement on healthcare subsidies or a federal spending plan for fiscal year 2026. The lapse in enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which expired at the end of 2025, is expected to increase out-of-pocket premiums for approximately 20 million Americans. The House has passed a measure to extend these subsidies, but it faces challenges in the Senate. The unresolved issues are set against a backdrop of a looming January 30 deadline to fund the government, following the longest funding lapse in U.S. history.
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Why CAATSA Marked a Turning Point in American Foreign Policy

Why CAATSA Marked a Turning Point in American Foreign Policy

The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) represents a significant legislative effort by the United States to impose sanc...
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Congressional Offices Embrace ChatGPT for Legislative Efficiency Amid AI Spending Surge

Congressional Offices Embrace ChatGPT for Legislative Efficiency Amid AI Spending Surge

Congressional offices are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence tools, with OpenAI's ChatGPT accounting for a significant portion of AI spending in the House of Representatives. According to a CNBC analysis, ChatGPT represented approximately 88% of the $113,740 spent on identifiable AI tools by House offices from April 2025 to March 2026. This adoption is part of a broader trend where AI is used to streamline legislative processes, such as summarizing legislation, drafting memos, and preparing hearing materials. Representative Julie Fedorchak highlighted the efficiency gains, noting that AI tools have saved her staff considerable time in preparing for meetings and advancing legislation. Despite the benefits, the use of AI in Congress is not without challenges, as it has also increased the volume of information that staffers must manage.
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Lawmakers Push for Enhanced Epstein Files Transparency Act Amid DOJ Challenges

Lawmakers Push for Enhanced Epstein Files Transparency Act Amid DOJ Challenges

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is advocating for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II (EFTA II) to address shortcomings in the original act signed by President Trump. The EFTA II aims to enforce compliance by allowing state attorneys general, local district attorneys, Epstein survivors, and Congress members to challenge the Department of Justice in court if it fails to release required files. The proposed legislation seeks to provide unredacted records to survivors and prosecutors, enhancing transparency and accountability. Despite its potential, the bill faces political hurdles and practical challenges in passing into law.
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Rep. Alma Hernandez embraces term limits despite Democratic criticism

Rep. Alma Hernandez embraces term limits despite Democratic criticism

Arizona lawmaker Alma Hernandez faces backlash from Democrats for her push to implement congressional term limits.
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Voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on economy for first time in a decade, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on economy for first time in a decade, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Americans picked Democrats over Republicans as better stewards of the economy for the first time in nearly a decade in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, which also found their approval of President Donald Trump's performance falling to 35%.
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Cornyn and Tillis Support Blanche for Attorney General After Ending 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund

Cornyn and Tillis Support Blanche for Attorney General After Ending 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund

Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have announced their support for Todd Blanche's nomination as Attorney General following an agreement to terminate the controversial 'anti-weaponization' fund. The fund, part of a settlement with the IRS, was intended to compensate individuals claiming government 'weaponization' against them. The Justice Department has issued a formal order ending the fund, addressing concerns about its scope and potential misuse. With the senators' backing, Blanche's nomination is expected to advance in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Congressman Don Bacon Criticizes President Trump's Rhetoric on Ukraine Conflict

Congressman Don Bacon Criticizes President Trump's Rhetoric on Ukraine Conflict

Don Bacon, a Republican congressman from Nebraska, has publicly criticized President Trump's comments regarding the Ukraine conflict. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, accused the White House of creating 'moral ambiguity' in its approach to the conflict. He emphasized that Russia is solely responsible for initiating the war. Bacon's criticism came after President Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should simply 'end the war.' Bacon argued that such statements could undermine the clarity of the U.S. stance on the conflict and potentially weaken long-standing security alliances. He has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine in Congress and has expressed concerns about the potential weakening of U.S. alliances under Trump's leadership.
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Senate Passes Grassley-Durbin Bankruptcy Bill to Aid Small Businesses

Senate Passes Grassley-Durbin Bankruptcy Bill to Aid Small Businesses

Senate Passes Grassley-Durbin Bankruptcy Bill to Aid Small Businesses
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Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season

Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season

Key senators have unveiled a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown during the middle of campaign season
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US Senate Hearing on Fauci and COVID-19 Origins Highlights Political Divisions

US Senate Hearing on Fauci and COVID-19 Origins Highlights Political Divisions

A recent Senate committee hearing has reignited the debate over the origins of COVID-19, focusing on the role of immunologist Anthony Fauci in the U.S. government's pandemic response. The hearing, led by Senator Rand Paul, revisited claims that the virus originated from a lab in Wuhan, China, rather than through natural transmission from animals to humans. This session is part of ongoing political scrutiny, particularly from Republicans, who have criticized Fauci's handling of the pandemic. Despite extensive investigations and reports, including a 2024 report by a Republican-led subcommittee, no conclusive evidence has been found to support the lab leak theory over natural zoonotic spillover. The hearing underscored the deep partisan divides and did little to advance the understanding of the virus's origins.