Nearly the entire Senate Democratic caucus voted to hand President Trump new tariff authority inside a Russia sanctions package, and within weeks he used that leverage to slap 50% duties on Canadian goods, leaving the same Democrats scrambling to explain why they trusted him with the power in the first place. The vote was lopsided. […] The post Senate Democrats voted to expand Trump's tariff power — and now they want a do-over appeared first on American Almanac .
Nearly the entire Senate Democratic caucus voted to hand President Trump new tariff authority inside a Russia sanctions package, and within weeks he used that leverage to slap 50% duties on Canadian goods, leaving the same Democrats scrambling to explain why they trusted him with the power in the first place. The vote was lopsided. The Senate passed the sweeping Russia sanctions bill 86, 11, a bipartisan measure built around punishing Moscow's war economy and the countries that keep buying Russian energy. Only nine Democrats, one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders voted no, AP News reported . The rest of the Democratic caucus voted yes. Buried inside that package was a provision granting the…Open
In a massive show of bipartisanship, 86 senators voted to move forward with a Russia and Iran sanctions bill that had been championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham . Why it matters: The vote came hours after senators gathered to honor Graham's memory, and immediately following a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . - The vote was 86-12. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against it. - It is a procedural vote, but leadership hopes that the strong bipartisan support will allow for an expedited path to final passage. The details: The bill had been led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and reached more than 60 co-sponsors this month. - The legislation would impose 100%…
Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn) and Chris Van Hollen (Md.) are holding a forum Monday afternoon examining President Trump cryptocurrency investments. It comes after Trump’s financial disclosure report for last year revealed he brought in more than $2 billion via various channels. The report, released earlier this month by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, shows Trump received hundreds of millions of dollars from crypto venture World Liberty Financial, which he and his sons helped launch in 2024. Watch the event, scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT, in the video player above.
Senator Lindsey Graham spoke twice by phone from Kyiv on Friday, fresh from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and brimming with news: the Trump White House had given him the green light to move bipartisan legislation imposing steep penalties on buyers of Russian oil. By Saturday, the South Carolina Republican was dead. Graham's […] The post Lindsey Graham spent his final day pushing Russia sanctions from Kyiv — now his unfinished work falls to Congress appeared first on American Almanac .
Senator Lindsey Graham spoke twice by phone from Kyiv on Friday, fresh from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and brimming with news: the Trump White House had given him the green light to move bipartisan legislation imposing steep penalties on buyers of Russian oil. By Saturday, the South Carolina Republican was dead. Graham's passing, after what a CBS News headline described as a brief and sudden illness, ended a career defined in its final years by relentless focus on two foreign-policy priorities: punishing Russia's war economy and brokering normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Both remain unfinished. And the question now is whether Republican leaders in the Senate and House will pick up the work he left…Open
Senators from both parties are rallying around a revised Russia sanctions package to honor the legacy of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Why it matters: Bipartisanship is in short supply in the Senate. Graham's sudden death may briefly revive it. - Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said passing the updated sanctions bill — which has 85 cosponsors — "would be a great tribute to the legacy of Lindsey." - "I urge Senator Thune, in honor of Lindsey, to put the Russia sanctions bill on the floor immediately," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. "It will pass overwhelmingly and help our allies in Ukraine." - "This would be a good way to show us in a bipartisan way coming together on something that he was…
The House on Monday passed the KIDS Act , but key senators say the legislation has little chance of advancing in its current form. Why it matters: The vote sets up a showdown over kids' online safety as the White House works to align Congress behind legislation that would preempt some state AI laws. Driving the news: After garnering broad bipartisan support, House lawmakers fast-tracked a package of kids' online safety measures, including a version of the Kids Online Safety Act, and sent it to the Senate. - The bill passed in a 267-117 vote. - The House version of KOSA does not include "duty of care" language — which would require platforms to take reasonable steps to mitigate harms stemming from design features like endless scroll…
President Trump endorsed suspension of the federal gasoline tax in an interview with CBS News Monday. Why it matters: It marks a reversal for the White House as Republicans face political blowback over high gasoline prices. - Last week the White House told Axios that a suspension was not "currently under consideration." Driving the news: "[W]e're going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we'll let it phase back in," he told CBS. Reality check: Suspending the 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax would require Congress. - Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) posted on X that he'll introduce legislation Monday to suspend the tax. - The White House did not say whether Trump would seek action from Capitol Hill. Catch up quick:…
Sen. Richard Blumenthal told MS NOW the responses from several nominees "demonstrate ... a fear of Donald Trump" that would absolutely indicate their lack of independence."
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assisting at airports during the government shutdown not to wear masks.WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, ICE agents, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Truth Social on Monday amid the ongoing […] The post Trump Orders ICE Agents to Forgo Masks at Airports as They Help TSA Through Dem Shutdown. appeared first on The National Pulse .
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assisting at airports during the government shutdown not to wear masks . WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, ICE agents, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Truth Social on Monday amid the ongoing partial government shutdown , affecting airports across the United States. KEY QUOTE: “I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, etc. Thank you!” – President Trump IMPACT: Over the weekend, Democrat lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries…Open
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a panelist in Sen. Markwayne Mullin's Department of Homeland Security confirmation hearing, discusses the reforms he wants for the agency and shares his views on the Iran war with NPR's Steve Inskeep.
