US lawmakers

Democratic lawmakers are publicly pledging to challenge the Israeli government over escalating violence against Palestinians, describing the situation as 'out of control'. The vow signals growing friction within the US political establishment over Washington's traditionally strong support for Israel, and points to increased congressional scrutiny of Israel's conduct toward Palestinians in the occupied territories.

President Trump is moving to withhold roughly $800 million in funding that Congress had already approved, according to reports carried by Reuters and multiple US newspapers. The effort raises fresh questions over executive authority and the separation of powers, as lawmakers from both parties weigh whether the administration can refuse to spend money explicitly appropriated by Congress.

The US Senate has voted down a war powers resolution intended to rebuke President Trump over military action against Iran. The measure would have sought to limit or block further hostilities without congressional approval, but it failed to advance. The rejection keeps Trump's Iran policy intact and underscores the ongoing divide in Congress over presidential war authority and US involvement in the conflict.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is lobbying Washington against a fresh round of export restrictions that would hit ASML's China business. US lawmakers are pursuing legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The Dutch intervention highlights tensions between US efforts to curb China's chip ambitions and the interests of Europe's most valuable tech firm.

The United States and China have reached a major trade framework that reportedly cuts the US trade deficit with China in half. The announcement marks a significant step in easing tensions between the world's two largest economies. The exact terms of the agreement and how the deficit reduction will be achieved have not yet been detailed, and reactions from businesses and lawmakers are still coming in.

A Republican congressman says he believes Iran was involved in a terrorist plan targeting a US air base in the United Kingdom that was thwarted. The claim was reported by The Hill. Details about the plot, the lawmaker's evidence, and any official response from US, UK, or Iranian authorities have not been provided, and it is not clear whether intelligence agencies support the assertion.

Lawmakers in Washington are facing renewed pressure to act on artificial intelligence safety, as concerns over the technology's risks move to the centre of the US policy debate. Attention is turning to whether Congress can move beyond hearings and produce meaningful regulation, with critics warning that inaction leaves powerful AI systems largely unchecked.

Bill Gates is calling on the US Congress to write artificial intelligence safeguards into law, arguing that lawmakers should establish rules for how the technology is developed and used. The appeal adds the Microsoft co-founder's voice to the growing debate in Washington over regulating AI, where legislators are weighing how to address risks without stifling innovation.

US lawmakers are facing mounting questions over artificial intelligence safety, with Congress under pressure to act on regulating the fast-moving technology. Coverage highlights the gap between growing public and expert concern about AI risks and the slow pace of legislative response in Washington. Debates continue over how, and how strictly, AI systems should be overseen by federal law.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease official, in contempt of Congress. The vote escalates a long-running standoff between Republican lawmakers and Fauci over documents and testimony connected to the federal response to Covid-19 and the origins of the pandemic. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades before retiring in 2022, remains a frequent target of congressional scrutiny, and the move is likely to deepen partisan fights over pandemic-era decisions.

The New York Times reports that former President Donald Trump has proposed roughly $810 million in cuts to education and health spending, described as defying Congress. The single headline indicates a budget fight over federal funding, but no further posts or details are available, so it is not clear what specific programs are targeted or how lawmakers and the public are responding. Readers should treat this as an early political news item about proposed spending cuts awaiting congressional action.

US authorities have opened an investigation after parts from F-35 fighter jets were diverted to Hong Kong, according to a report picked up by Congress. The incident has raised concerns in Washington about the risk of sensitive American military technology reaching China, given Hong Kong's status and Beijing's control. Lawmakers are expected to press for answers on how the diversion happened and what safeguards failed.

Australian senators have summoned OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to testify at a Senate inquiry into artificial intelligence and datacentres. The inquiry, led by the Greens, follows reported cases in which OpenAI agents accessed Australian and US government websites. The summons signals growing political scrutiny of major AI companies and their operations, including the infrastructure and security practices behind their systems.

Senator Ted Cruz said that beating China in the artificial intelligence race is the 'single most important economic question' facing the United States. His comments frame AI dominance as central to American economic competitiveness and national standing, adding to a growing bipartisan focus in Washington on outpacing Beijing in emerging technology.

The US Supreme Court has blocked for the third time a Republican-drawn congressional map in Missouri, halting its use while litigation continues. The repeated interventions keep the state's district lines in flux heading into upcoming elections, and the ruling is drawing attention from voting-rights advocates and Republican lawmakers who spar over partisan gerrymandering and the court's role in election map disputes.

The US Senate has approved mental health legislation covering pilots and air traffic controllers. The measure is aimed at making it easier for aviation professionals to seek mental health treatment without automatically jeopardising their medical certification or careers. Coverage from aviation and general news outlets notes the step as a significant change to how the industry handles mental health among safety-critical staff.

Several US states are weighing temporary suspensions of their gasoline taxes, known as gas tax holidays, as the midterm elections approach. With pump prices a major voter concern, governors and lawmakers see tax relief as a way to ease cost-of-living pressure and signal action on inflation before voters head to the polls.

The US Senate has passed legislation addressing mental health support for pilots and air traffic controllers. The measure aims to reduce barriers that discourage aviation professionals from seeking mental health care, a long-standing concern in the industry. Reporting by Reuters, the bill is drawing attention amid broader debate over aviation safety and workforce well-being.

The US Senate has approved legislation aimed at updating mental health guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers. The measure addresses long-standing concerns that strict medical certification rules discourage aviation professionals from seeking mental health care, for fear of losing their licenses. Supporters say the bill could modernize how federal regulators assess and support the psychological wellbeing of safety-critical aviation staff.

Intensified US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations are creating political headaches for vulnerable Republicans heading into elections, according to Politico. Lawmakers in competitive districts are caught between backing the administration's hardline immigration enforcement and responding to constituents alarmed by raids and detentions in their communities. The reporting suggests the operations are becoming a live issue in races where Republicans are fighting for political survival.

A new opinion piece argues that US Congress should address online child exploitation as a public health crisis rather than a piecemeal legal problem. The article calls on lawmakers to adopt a coordinated, health-focused response to protect children from abuse and exploitation on digital platforms, framing the issue as a systemic crisis requiring sustained legislative action.

The US Supreme Court has once again blocked the use of a Republican-favored congressional map in Missouri, preventing the state from implementing new district boundaries that had been advanced by GOP lawmakers. The repeated intervention comes amid an ongoing legal fight over redistricting in the state, with courts weighing whether the map complies with constitutional and voting-rights requirements.

A coalition of 23 US states is pushing for federal regulation of artificial intelligence following a series of alarming incidents involving AI systems. The states argue that state-level rules alone cannot address risks that cross borders, and are calling on Congress to set nationwide standards covering safety, accountability and oversight of AI technologies.

Congressional leaders have opened an investigation into how components for US F-35 fighter jets ended up diverted to Hong Kong. Lawmakers want to determine whether the parts reached Chinese hands through suppliers or intermediaries, raising concerns about export controls and potential exposure of sensitive stealth aircraft technology to Beijing.

Lawmakers have introduced legislation in Congress that would lower the US retirement age to 60, allowing some Americans to claim retirement benefits earlier than under current rules. The proposal is drawing attention as debates continue over Social Security's solvency and the adequacy of retirement savings, with discussion focused on who exactly would qualify under the new threshold.

A Democratic lawmaker has launched an effort to impeach Linda McMahon, calling the conduct at issue 'completely out of bounds'. McMahon serves as US Education Secretary, and the move signals deepening Democratic opposition to the Trump administration's education agenda. The effort faces steep odds in the Republican-controlled Congress but adds to growing political friction over federal education policy.

Democratic lawmakers are signaling a firmer stance on Palestine, framing a potential House flip as a chance to pursue human rights accountability in US policy toward Israel and the Palestinians. The discussion centres on what a change in chamber control could mean for conditioning aid, oversight, and congressional hearings on rights abuses.

US politician Kennedy has proposed an unwritten rule that no living politician should have a public building named after them, arguing such honours should wait until after death. The remark touches a recurring debate in Washington about naming federal buildings after sitting or recently serving lawmakers, a practice critics say rewards partisanship and self-promotion.

The Jerusalem Post argues that American politicians should not involve themselves in Israel's elections, reigniting debate over foreign interference in the country's political campaigns. The column reflects broader friction between Israel and the United States over political meddling, as Israeli election seasons regularly draw commentary from US officials and lawmakers.

A new commentary argues that criticism of the US Supreme Court is being overused as an explanation for legislative dysfunction, and that Congress's own failures deserve the blame. The piece contends that lawmakers, not the judiciary, are responsible for stalemates on major policy issues. It is likely to fuel ongoing debate about how much responsibility each branch of government bears for the current state of American politics.

25News asked members of Congress whether federal lawmakers should regulate artificial intelligence, putting the question directly to the representatives who would write the rules. The reporting highlights where US lawmakers stand on AI oversight, an issue that divides Congress as lawmakers weigh innovation against risks like misinformation, privacy and job losses.

The US Senate has passed the Hauser Aviation Act, a bill addressing pilot mental health and the medications pilots are allowed to take. The legislation is expected to relax current rules that can ground pilots for seeking treatment, a long-standing concern in aviation safety debates. Details of the vote and next steps in the House remain unclear from available reporting.

US Senators Ted Budd and Lisa Blunt Rochester have introduced legislation to establish a Biometrology Laboratory Program aimed at accelerating development in the biotech industry. The bill would create a federal program to advance measurement science in biotechnology. The bipartisan pairing has drawn attention as Congress weighs support for the US biotech sector.