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.

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.

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.

Attention is turning to which US lawmakers will take up the Crypto Clarity Act in the next Congress, a bill aimed at settling how digital assets are regulated. The question comes as crypto firms and investors press Washington for clear rules on whether tokens are securities or commodities. The composition of the incoming Congress, including control of key committees, is expected to shape who leads the drafting effort.

Lawmakers in Washington are facing renewed pressure to act on artificial intelligence safety, as concern grows over the risks posed by rapidly advancing AI systems. Bloomberg reports that Congress is being pressed to clarify its position on regulation, with debates intensifying over how to balance innovation against potential harms. The issue continues to divide policymakers and industry leaders alike.

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.

A proposed Truth and Healing Commission to investigate the history of US federal Indian boarding schools remains pending before Congress as the Day of Remembrance approaches. The commission would document abuses and lasting harms inflicted on Native American children at the schools. Advocates say formal reckoning and acknowledgment are overdue, keeping pressure on lawmakers to advance the legislation.

Immigration raids carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement are creating political headaches for vulnerable Republicans facing tough reelection fights. According to Politico, the operations are forcing these lawmakers to balance support for tough enforcement with backlash from constituents affected by arrests in their districts, adding pressure as they battle 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.

Democratic lawmakers are signalling a firmer stance on Palestine, framing a potential flip of the US House of Representatives as an opening for greater human rights accountability in US policy toward Israel and the Palestinians. The discussion centres on whether a new House majority could change committee oversight, conditions on military aid, and congressional scrutiny of the occupation and Gaza.

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.

The chief executives of OpenAI and Anthropic have been called to appear before an Australian parliamentary inquiry into artificial intelligence. Lawmakers in Australia are examining the risks and regulation of advanced AI systems, and the summons signals Canberra's interest in holding leading US AI developers publicly accountable. The move adds to growing global scrutiny of AI companies by governments and regulators.