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Abortion’s next test is the midterms

Michael Jones — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:53:43 GMT

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Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju, pictured speaking alongside Senate Democrats and advocates at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 24, 2023, before the organization rebranded from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Photo courtesy of Reproductive Freedom for All

THE LINEUP

Abortion’s next test is the midterms
Trump’s Harvard pressure campaign hits a legal wall
Lawmakers advocate for better post-disaster pet reunification
DNC listens in on 2024 drop-off voter

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Programming note: Congress Nerd Daily is taking a little summer break for the next two weeks. Once Upon a Hill will still publish Congress Nerd Sunday on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 before returning to regularly scheduled programming the week of Aug. 30, when the House returns from its August recess. Until then, enjoy the last few weeks of summer—and try not to think about September government-funding deadlines.

Abortion’s midterm test: Abortion rights flexed their political muscle again last week as voters in Kansas and Missouri overwhelmingly rejected Republican-backed measures that reproductive-rights advocates warned would weaken protections in both states.

The results extended an extraordinary post-Roe winning streak for reproductive-rights supporters ahead of another major test this fall. Voters in Nevada, Virginia, Idaho and Missouri will decide abortion-related ballot measures alongside races that will determine control of Congress and state governments....

📬 The best stories often start with a conversation. If you’ve got insight, context or something others are missing, my inbox is open. Send me tips, scoops or just say hi: michael@onceuponahill.com.

THE POWERS THAT BE

Trump’s Harvard pressure campaign hits a legal wall: A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard, a setback to its broader effort to use civil-rights enforcement and federal funding to force changes at elite universities. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns found the Justice Department failed to plausibly allege an ongoing Title VI violation…

THE POLICY DESK

Lawmakers advocate for better post-disaster pet reunification: Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.) led 39 lawmakers in asking the Government Accountability Office to examine how pets displaced during federally declared disasters are tracked and reunited with their owners…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

DNC listens in on 2024 drop-off voters: The Democratic National Committee says affordability emerged as the dominant concern from nearly 10,000 extended conversations with voters who cast ballots in 2020 but sat out the 2024 election…

CBC readies agenda for a Democratic House

Michael Jones — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:58:35 GMT

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus speak outside the U.S. Capitol on May 19, 2026. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/AP

THE LINEUP

CBC readies agenda for Democratic House
Durbin, Booker defend First Step Act ahead of SCOTUS
Pallone probes airlines over surveillance pricing
Ossoff seizes on Collins’s Jan. 6 comments

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Leavitt to leave WH: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down at the end of the month to spend more time with her family, President Donald Trump announced this afternoon. Trump said Leavitt will remain one of his “top outside advisors” and an influential Republican voice as the party works to win the midterm elections. He did not announce her successor. Leavitt has served as press secretary since Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Inflation cools as Fed weighs weaker jobs market: Consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in July and 3.4 percent from a year earlier, down from a 3.5-percent annual rate in June, while core inflation ticked down to 2.5 percent annually. Shelter accounted for roughly two-thirds of the monthly increase, while energy prices fell 1.5 percent but remained 14.7 percent higher than a year ago. The cooler inflation reading, combined with a surprisingly weak July jobs report that showed the economy lost 23,000 jobs, has shifted expectations ahead of the Fed’s September meeting, with financial markets increasingly betting policymakers will hold interest rates steady rather than resume rate hikes.

Democratic voters keep choosing change: Tuesday’s primaries offered another sign of Democratic voters’ impatience with the status quo. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan easily defeated Rep. Angie Craig for the Democratic Senate nomination, delivering progressives another major win a week after Abdul El-Sayed upset Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan. But in Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong for the gubernatorial nomination after making electability against Republican Tom Tiffany central to his closing argument. And in Connecticut, former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin soundly ousted 14-term Rep. John Larson in a generational rather than ideological revolt. The results suggest the defining mood of the Democratic primaries may be less left versus center than an appetite for change—with electability still capable of putting limits on it.

CBC readies its majority agenda: The Congressional Black Caucus is putting the finishing touches on an affirmative agenda outlining what its members want Democrats to prioritize if they retake the House this fall, according to a CBC and a person familiar with the planning.

The caucus hopes to release the agenda in September, shortly after lawmakers return from the August recess and in time for the final October campaign sprint, the person said.

The agenda would give the CBC a governing blueprint before voters decide control of the House and put down a marker for what one of the Democratic Caucus’s most influential blocs expects from a potential majority.

CBC Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) told me just before the House left Washington last month that restoring federal voting-rights protections sits at the top of the caucus’s list...

THE POWERS THAT BE

Durbin, Booker defend First Step Act ahead of SCOTUS: Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reverse a Fifth Circuit ruling that limits how federal prisoners can enforce earned-time credits under the bipartisan First Step Act…

THE POLICY DESK

Pallone probes airlines over surveillance pricing: House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) has asked eight major US airlines whether they use customers’ personal information and artificial intelligence to determine how much individual travelers pay for flights…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

Ossoff seizes on Collins’s Jan. 6 comments: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) called on Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins to retract his support for taxpayer-funded payments to people involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, escalating one of the first major contrasts of their Georgia general-election matchup…

Inside the left’s looming moment of truth

Michael Jones — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:40:38 GMT

William Lawrence won the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s competitive 7th District. Now the progressive candidate must build the broader coalition needed to flip the Republican-held seat in November. Photo courtesy of the William Lawrence campaign

THE LINEUP

Inside the left’s looming moment of truth
Jeffries to headline NABJ newsmaker plenary
Study estimates major savings under Medicare for All
Planned Parenthood lines up behind El-Sayed

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Gilman headed home: Russia released Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old American and former Marine who had been imprisoned there since 2022, after President Donald Trump said he personally pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his release.

Trump said Gilman was freed on humanitarian grounds without a prisoner exchange, an account also confirmed by the State Department. Gilman, whose health had seriously deteriorated in Russian custody, is expected to arrive at Joint Base Andrews tonight before receiving further medical treatment in Texas.

Progressives to face their general-election test: The left has spent the primary season proving it can win Democratic nominations, but now comes the test some Democrats have been waiting for: Can progressives help win the House majority?

In conversations in recent days, Democratic sources have increasingly raised the question as left-wing candidates have emerged from primaries with nominations in competitive seats the party needs to turn from red to blue—not simply safe Democratic districts where progressive victories make already-blue seats bluer...

THE POWERS THAT BE

Jeffries to headline NABJ newsmaker plenary: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will open the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention on Thursday in Atlanta with a conversation moderated by NABJ President Errin Haines on the state of the country and the political landscape heading into the midterms…

THE POLICY DESK

Study estimates major savings under Medicare for All: A new Yale-led study estimates Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) Medicare for All proposal could reduce annual U.S. health care spending by more than $1 trillion, or nearly 20 percent, and prevent 114,000 deaths each year by expanding access to care and reducing prescription drug costs, administrative expenses and other spending…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

Planned Parenthood lines up behind El-Sayed: Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, adding another major advocacy group to his general-election coalition…

Democrats confront what comes after FCC ownership vote

Michael Jones — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:35:53 GMT

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr testifies at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee oversight hearing on January 14, 2026, on Capitol Hill. Photo by Jose Luis Magana/AP

THE LINEUP

Democrats confront what comes after FCC ownership vote
Trump orders overhaul of childhood vaccine schedule
Hegseth invokes Graham in Pentagon spending push
House Dems push Johnson for AI CEO hearings
Bipartisan lawmakers seek probe of federal bank surveillance
McBride backs Jones in FL-24

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Trump orders overhaul of childhood vaccine schedule: President Donald Trump signed an executive order this afternoon directing the federal government to support a childhood vaccine schedule covering 11 diseases and encouraging vaccines to be administered separately and across multiple doctor visits, including splitting the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three shots when individual versions are available.

With Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. standing behind him in the Oval Office, Trump called the approach a “gold standard” and “a major victory for parents’ rights,” arguing that spreading out shots could help address autism. Decades of research have found no causal link between vaccines and autism, and Trump acknowledged when pressed that he did not have evidence that the MMR vaccine is dangerous, saying instead that he had “heard” concerns about administering the vaccines together.

The order follows an earlier administration effort to reduce the routine childhood schedule from vaccines against 17 diseases to 11 that was halted by a federal court; major medical groups have opposed the changes and warned that reducing or delaying vaccinations could leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases.

Jeffries heads to New Jersey over ICE detention: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will join Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.) in Morristown, N.J. tomorrow morning for a roundtable with former Delaney Hall detainees and relatives of people who died in ICE custody, followed by a press availability on the Trump administration’s detention policies and Democrats’ immigration agenda. The event gives Jeffries a chance to keep immigration enforcement at the center of House Democrats’ recess messaging as the party continues pressing the administration over conditions in ICE facilities.

Dems eye FCC guardrails: The Federal Communications Commission’s decision to eliminate a decades-old limit on national television ownership has raised a larger question for Democrats on how far they should go if they regain congressional power to rein in an agency they increasingly view as exceeding its authority under President Trump.

The Republican-controlled FCC voted 2–1 last week to eliminate the national audience reach cap, which had prevented a single broadcaster from owning local television stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. households. The commission replaced the hard limit with a case-by-case review process…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Hegseth invokes Graham in Pentagon spending push: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally renamed Joint Base Charleston for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and used the ceremony to press Congress to approve the administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget…

THE POLICY DESK

House Dems push Johnson for AI CEO hearings: Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) and 18 House Democrats called on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to schedule open hearings with the CEOs of the country’s largest AI companies following incidents in which test models from OpenAI and Anthropic allegedly escaped controlled environments and hacked outside organizations…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

McBride backs Jones in FL-24: Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) endorsed Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 24th District, praising the former teacher and longtime state legislator as a “barrier breaker…

Where the Senate stands before recess

Michael Jones — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 21:57:05 GMT

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) looks on during a press conference after the weekly Senate policy luncheons at the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2026. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

THE LINEUP

Where the Senate stands before recess
Kamlager-Dove moves to impeach Vought
Progressives propose AI tax to fund jobs
New Democratic poll shows Jackson ahead in Maine

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Today is the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a remembrance marked by urgent civil rights warnings because the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais effectively dismantled Section 2, the law’s primary remaining tool against racial gerrymandering.

Lawmakers and civil rights organizations and legal experts are using today’s milestone to highlight how the landmark 1965 legislation has been hollowed out, leaving minority voting power highly vulnerable.

“Republican extremists are determined to turn back the clock,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on X this morning. “House Democrats will not rest until the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is the law of the land. And we end the era of voter suppression once and for all.”

Senate state of play: The Senate remains in a holding pattern as Republican leaders work toward a comprehensive time agreement on a series of legislative measures Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) hopes to clear before senators leave Washington for a five-week August recess.

Without unanimous consent, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters the Senate could remain in session through this weekend and into next week to finish the GOP’s agenda.

“Also my best guess, based on our conversations, is that in order to get an agreement with the Democrats, as opposed to just doing stuff by regular order, they’re going to insist on we not take care of all of our business.”

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) told me the burden of governing falls on Republicans, who control the Senate.

“They’re in charge. They set the agenda,” she said. “I hope they get something figured out so that we can take the necessary votes and move on.”

Here’s where the major items under consideration stand…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Kamlager-Dove moves to impeach Vought: Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) introduced articles of impeachment against Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, accusing him of abusing his power by withholding congressionally appropriated funds and failing to execute federal law faithfully…

THE POLICY DESK

Progressives propose AI tax to fund jobs: Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas), joined by Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), introduced legislation that would tax large AI companies and use the revenue to create a new federal Work Protection Administration aimed at offsetting AI-driven job losses…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

New Democratic poll shows Jackson ahead in Maine: A new Senate Majority PAC survey of 802 likely Maine voters finds Democratic nominee Troy Jackson leading Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) 49% to 45%, with 6% undecided, while Collins’ job approval sits underwater at 46% approve to 52% disapprove…

How El-Sayed plans to turn a primary upset into a Senate win

Michael Jones — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:53:38 GMT

Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a news conference at the Spirit of Detroit shortly after winning the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Michigan on August 5, 2026. Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

THE LINEUP

How El-Sayed plans to turn a primary upset into a Senate win
Democrats seek Pentagon watchdog probe
Senate confirms CDC director
Chuck Edwards calls it quits amid House Ethics fallout

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Michigan Democrats moved quickly to unite behind Abdul El-Sayed after the progressive physician defeated Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) in Tuesday night’s Senate primary, with retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) telling me this morning that the party’s immediate task is bringing Democrats together before a closely watched general election against Republican Mike Rogers.

“The party has to all come together right now,” Peters said. “We don’t have a lot of time, but everybody has to come together and understand that as Democrats, whatever differences we have between us as Democrats are minor compared to the differences between our Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate.”

Peters told me he spoke to El-Sayed first thing this morning and described the conversation as “very positive.”

Asked whether Stevens’ supporters will ultimately coalesce around the nominee, Peters replied: “We’re going to work hard to make sure that happens.”

Pressed on whether El-Sayed should moderate any of the positions that helped him win the primary, Peters declined to offer campaign advice.

“I’m not going to speak for the candidate,” he said. “Obviously, he has to make those kinds of decisions as to how he approaches his campaign in the general [election]. It’s going to be up to him.”

Peters’s comments came as national and state Democratic leaders rapidly consolidated behind El-Sayed…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Democrats seek Pentagon watchdog probe: Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) in asking the Defense Department’s inspector general to investigate reports that more than $3.2 billion in Pentagon contracts, loans and other awards have gone to companies with ties to President Trump’s sons…

THE POLICY DESK

Senate confirms CDC director: The Senate voted 51-44 to confirm Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ending nearly a year without a Senate-confirmed leader at the nation’s top public health agency…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

GOP loses another incumbent: Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) ended his reelection campaign, becoming the latest House Republican to step aside after the House Ethics Committee recommended he be censured over findings that he engaged in inappropriate conduct toward two female staffers…

Merkley looks beyond Trump with constitutional reform blueprint

Michael Jones — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:24:46 GMT

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) speaks during a hearing to review of the President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2026. Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

THE LINEUP

Merkley looks beyond Trump with constitutional reform blueprint
Ethics panel to review Miller allegations
Senate Dems unite against Medicaid rule
HMF targets Kean in new digital ad

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) this morning unveiled a sweeping package of democracy reforms designed to curb presidential power and rebuild constitutional guardrails after President Donald Trump’s second term.

The For Our Republic Act has virtually no path through the Republican-controlled Congress, and Merkley readily acknowledged as much during an off-camera briefing this morning. Instead, the Oregon Democrat described the package as an effort to shape the debate ahead of the 2028 election and prepare a future Congress to respond to what he called the erosion of the separation of powers under Trump.

“We can’t wait until there is a blue president,” Merkley told reporters. “We have to start thinking now about how we have to address this.”…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Ethics panel to review Miller allegations: The House Ethics Committee announced it is reviewing allegations that Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) may have engaged in domestic violence, abuse or illegal drug use, while emphasizing that opening the review does not indicate any violation occurred. The announcement came hours after Miller said he would seek an ethics investigation himself, saying he would provide the committee with “all necessary documents” to clear his name…

THE POLICY DESK

Senate Dems unite against Medicaid rule: All 47 Senate Democrats insisted that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services withdraw its rule implementing Medicaid work reporting requirements…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

HMF targets Kean: House Majority Forward launched a new digital ad targeting Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) to call out his previous opposition to expanding paid family and sick leave before he took more than 15 weeks of leave from Congress earlier this year. The spot is part of the Democratic super PAC’s August offensive, following its announcement of more than $15 million in television and digital reservations targeting battleground House districts.

Can the Senate find time for college sports?

Michael Jones — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:18:48 GMT

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) walks from the Senate floor on July 23, 2026. Photo by Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images

THE LINEUP

Can the Senate find time for college sports?
Ethics panel recommends Edwards censure
CBC warns of civil rights setback
House Dems go on offense in 19 battleground districts

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Senate Commerce Committee leaders painstakingly assembled one of the broadest bipartisan coalitions Congress has seen this year around legislation to overhaul college athletics.

Now they’re running into a different obstacle: the Senate calendar.

With government funding, Russia sanctions, cryptocurrency legislation, a budget resolution and nominations all competing for floor time before lawmakers leave for August recess, it’s increasingly unclear whether the Protect College Sports Act will even receive a vote before senators head home…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Ethics panel recommends Edwards censure: The bipartisan House Ethics Committee recommended that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) be censured after concluding there is substantial reason to believe he violated House rules governing sexual harassment and hostile workplaces through a pattern of inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers…

THE POLICY DESK

CBC warns of civil rights setback: The Congressional Black Caucus condemned the Trump administration’s decision last month to rescind the longstanding disparate impact standard under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

House Dems go on offense: House Majority Forward launched a $15 million television, radio, digital and mail campaign targeting 19 battleground House districts, marking one of the Democratic-aligned super PAC’s earliest major advertising investments of the 2026 midterm cycle…

Inside the deeper divide between Trump and Thune

Michael Jones — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:45:35 GMT

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on July 29, 2026. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

THE LINEUP

Inside the deeper divide between Trump and Thune
Schumer proposes independent anti-corruption bureau
Inflation slows as spending cools
Barnes exits Wisconsin governor’s race

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

War in Iran: The Senate narrowly rejected Senate Democrats’ latest effort to curb Donald Trump’s military operations in Iran, with three Republicans joining Democrats in a failed bipartisan bid to reassert Congress’ war powers.

The chamber voted 49-50 against advancing Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)’s resolution, with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) once again breaking with most Republicans to support the measure while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) remained the lone Democrat to oppose it.

The vote came hours after Trump ordered renewed “heavy” strikes on Iran, prompting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to accuse Republicans of continuing to “rubberstamp” the administration’s war and pledge to keep forcing votes aimed at ending U.S. involvement.

The Blanche blockade: Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general remained in limbo as Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and the White House dug in over demands from the retiring lawmakers to rewrite portions of a controversial IRS lawsuit settlement before allowing the nominee to advance.

Cornyn said the Justice Department has refused to put in writing Blanche’s Judiciary Committee testimony that a $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund is permanently dead and that audit protections won’t shield President Trump, his family or businesses from future IRS scrutiny, while Trump threatened to withdraw the nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office rather than make the requested changes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), however, insisted he still sees “a path forward” if the administration resolves the senators’ concerns.

”I try and stay in my lane”: President Trump and Leader Thune increasingly appear to be talking past one another.

Trump measures success almost exclusively by results: Did Republicans pass another reconciliation bill? Did they send the SAVE America Act to his desk? If Senate rules, traditions or internal processes stand in the way, they’re obstacles to overcome.

Thune, by contrast, has spent much of his first term as majority leader sending a different message that the Senate’s institutional guardrails still matter, even when they frustrate the party in power.

It’s a distinction that has come into sharper focus as Trump has intensified his public pressure campaign against the South Dakota Republican. After Trump was asked Wednesday whether Thune remained the right person to lead Senate Republicans, the president replied, “We’ll find out. I’ll let you know.”

When reporters asked Thune about the remark, he brushed it aside.

“Well, that’s nice of him, I guess,” Thune said. “That’s a decision made by my colleagues.”

The exchange underscored an important difference in how the two men view power…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Schumer proposes independent anti-corruption bureau: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) unveiled legislation to create the nation’s first independent Anti-Corruption Bureau…

THE POLICY DESK

Inflation slows as spending cools: The Commerce Department reported that its personal consumption expenditures price index—the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge—rose 3.7% from a year earlier, down from 4.1% in May, while core inflation eased to 3.3% and consumer spending increased a modest 0.3%, suggesting price pressures continued to ease even as household spending lost some momentum…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

Barnes exits Wisconsin governor’s race: Former Lt. Gov. and 2022 Democratic Senate nominee Mandela Barnes suspended his campaign for governor, saying “it’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be”…

How New Dems plan to cut through Democrats’ identity debate

Michael Jones — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:54:13 GMT

NewDem Action Fund Chair Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) speaks at an event celebrating the launch of the bipartisan U.S.-Mexico Congressional Caucus and the American Mexican Leadership Council in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2026. Photo courtesy of Rep. Greg Stanton/Facebook

THE LINEUP

How New Dems plan to cut through Democrats’ identity debate
Fauci invokes Fifth in contentious Senate hearing
New polls deepen Trump’s political headwinds
Fed holds rates steady despite growing divide
Obama backs Turek in Iowa

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

The Democratic Party may be consumed by another round of ideological soul-searching after a series of left-wing primary victories in New York and Colorado, but the House Democrats tasked with winning the majority say they’re fighting a different election altogether.

On a NewDem Action Fund press call this afternoon, Chair Greg Stanton (Ariz.), Rep. Emilia Sykes (Ohio), Nebraska Democratic nominee Denise Powell and Arizona candidate JoAnna Mendoza argued that battleground voters remain focused on kitchen-table concerns—not intraparty labels—as Democrats enter the final 100 days before Election Day…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Fauci invokes Fifth in contentious Senate hearing: Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a contentious Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing as he refused to answer Republicans’ questions about the federal government’s COVID-19 response…

THE POLICY DESK

Fed holds rates steady despite growing divide: The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, noting that the economy continues to expand at a solid pace and the labor market remains stable, even as inflation stays above its 2% target…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

Obama backs Turek in Iowa: Former President Barack Obama endorsed Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek on Wednesday in a race Democrats see as a long-shot pickup opportunity after Sen. Joni Ernst’s retirement at the end of her term…

Senate puts Graham’s final foreign policy push to the test

Michael Jones — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:00:10 GMT

A U.S. Capitol Police honor guard stands watch around the casket during a farewell ceremony to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2027. Photo by Jim LoScalzo/Getty Images

THE LINEUP

Senate puts Graham’s final foreign policy push to the test
SCOTUS approval hits new low
Poll shows Talarico with early edge
DCCC adds five to Red to Blue program

THE LEAD

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

The Senate’s Russia stress test: The Senate will take its first procedural vote this evening on bipartisan legislation aimed at ratcheting up economic pressure on Russia, setting up an early test of whether supporters can assemble the kind of overwhelming bipartisan coalition they believe is necessary to accelerate consideration in the Senate—and ultimately pressure House Democrats to accept legislation that also expands President Trump’s tariff authority.…

THE POWERS THAT BE

SCOTUS approval hits new Gallup low: Gallup found just 33% of Americans approve of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job, while 61% disapprove—the Court’s lowest approval rating in Gallup polling dating back to 2000…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

Poll shows Talarico with early edge: A new Texas Public Opinion Research poll conducted by Democratic firm Slingshot Strategies found Democratic nominee James Talarico leading Republican nominee Ken Paxton 45% to 40% in the Texas Senate race, with 14% of likely voters still undecided…

Trump presses Thune to delay August recess over stalled SAVE Act

Michael Jones — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:46:35 GMT

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on July 23, 2026. Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you. President Donald Trump traveled this afternoon to Michigan’s 7th Congressional District—a top House Democratic pickup target—to tout tariffs alongside General Motors executives, argue they have fueled the automaker’s strongest year ever and campaign with GOP gubernatorial candidate John James, House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain and the district’s incumbent member, Tom Barrett. During remarks at the GM proving grounds, Trump also renewed his push for the SAVE America Act (much more on that below), attacked mail voting and said the U.S. was engaged in “very friendly negotiations” with Iran over a potential deal.

THE LINEUP

Trump presses Thune to delay August recess over doomed SAVE Act
McConnell remains out of public view
Schiff unveils trip of online safety bills
Craig wins Walz backing

THE LEAD

With fewer than 100 days until an election that will determine the balance of power in Washington and shape the final two years of his presidency, President Trump has yet to pivot to the kitchen-table issues that polls consistently show voters care about most.

Instead, he has remained focused on legacy projects such as the White House East Wing ballroom and proposed Triumphal Arch, the war in Iran and the SAVE America Act—the conservative election bill that would impose new federal restrictions on nearly every stage of the voting process.

Before leaving for August recess last week, House Republicans adopted a budget blueprint that would unlock $10 billion through the reconciliation process to encourage states to adopt parts of the SAVE America Act’s voter ID requirements. But the House-passed framework lacks the support needed to advance in the Senate.

After a conservative influencer urged the Senate to remain in session until it passed the SAVE America Act, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) pledged on X to withhold his consent to adjourn once the chamber finishes its work next Thursday. At least five other Senate conservatives have since joined him.

Trump escalated the pressure this morning, urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) in a Truth Social post not only to pass the SAVE America Act but also to eliminate the legislative filibuster to do it.

“The Dumocrats will do it on day one, and can’t believe how lucky they got with this Senate leadership,” Trump wrote. “Remember, stupidity always brings LOSING & DEATH!”…

THE POWERS THAT BE

McConnell remains out of public view: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement this afternoon he is working to return to a full Senate schedule but will miss this weekend’s Fancy Farm picnic as he continues physical therapy following his June fall.…

THE POLICY DESK

Schiff unveils trio of online safety bills: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced three bills to update federal guardrails for the digital age…

Available for iOS and Android

THE TRAIL

Craig wins Walz backing: Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz endorsed Rep. Angie Craig in the Democratic Senate primary, calling her the strongest candidate to keep the seat in blue and citing her record of winning competitive races statewide.…

Trump bets voluntary pledge can head off electricity backlash

Michael Jones — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:43:29 GMT

President Donald Trump speaks at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C. on July 23, 2026. Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Congress sent mixed signals today on President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, with the House approving a bipartisan war powers resolution seeking to require congressional authorization for continued U.S. military action while the Senate narrowly failed to advance a similar measure just hours later.

The House approved its resolution, 214-208, with unanimous Democratic support and four Republicans—Reps. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)—joining in favor. In the Senate, a resolution sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) fell short, 47-49. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was the only Republican to vote yes after Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who previously backed similar legislation, missed the vote. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) switched from supporting an earlier resolution to opposing this one.

The votes came as congressional Republicans continue searching for a path to approve tens of billions of dollars in emergency military funding requested by the Trump administration. House Republicans have already advanced a reconciliation framework that would unlock up to $73 billion in additional defense spending, but Senate Republican leaders have been reluctant to embrace reconciliation as the vehicle, leaving the administration’s broader funding strategy in limbo heading into the August recess.

THE LINEUP

Trump bets voluntary pledge can head off electricity backlash
Schumer honors fallen Capitol Police officers
Democrats renew nationwide IVF legislation
Democrats dominate independents in new survey

THE LEAD

President Donald Trump this afternoon expanded the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, enlisting more governors, utilities and technology companies in a voluntary effort designed to reassure Americans they won’t end up subsidizing the electricity needed to power the artificial intelligence boom…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Schumer honors fallen Capitol Police officers: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) commemorated the 28th anniversary of the fatal 1998 shooting at the U.S. Capitol, honoring Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut for sacrificing their lives to protect the Capitol…

THE POLICY DESK

Democrats renew nationwide IVF legislation: Senate Democrats reintroduced the Right to IVF Act, a legislative package that would establish a nationwide right to access in vitro fertilization, require most employer-sponsored and public health insurance plans to cover fertility treatment, expand IVF benefits for servicemembers and veterans, and require coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program…

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THE TRAIL

Democrats dominate independents in new survey: New Emerson College polling suggests Democrats continue to hold a sizable national advantage ahead of this year’s midterms, with likely voters favoring a Democratic congressional candidate over a Republican by 11 points, 53% to 42%…

Inside House Democrats’ new affordability push ahead of the midterms

Michael Jones — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:45:10 GMT

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 13, 2026. Photo by Jose Luis Magana/AP

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Johnson scored a House sweep: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) notched three major victories on the House floor this afternoon, steering the annual defense authorization bill, a purported congressional stock trading ban and a budget resolution unlocking a third reconciliation package through his narrow majority.

None is guaranteed a path through the Senate, where Republicans remain divided over a third reconciliation bill, while the stock trading ban and the House-passed NDAA face uncertain prospects in the upper chamber. But after weeks of floor setbacks and conservative revolts, the votes demonstrated Johnson’s ability to hold together a narrow and ideologically divided Republican majority when it mattered most.

The NDAA cleared the House 216-212 with seven Republicans opposed and six Democrats crossing party lines to support it. The congressional stock trading ban passed 232-198 with 13 Democrats joining most Republicans. The reconciliation budget resolution squeaked through 216-214 with every Democrat opposed alongside Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) and independent Kevin Kiley of California, who conferences with Republicans. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) missed all three votes and has not voted this week.

THE LINEUP

Inside House Democrats’ new affordability push ahead of the midterms
Schumer’s bid to block AF1 spending fails
Warnock rolls out voting rights agenda
Talarico targets AI data centers

THE LEAD

House Democratic leaders this evening began laying out both the message and governing agenda they want members to campaign on during the August recess, rolling out a new affordability-focused slogan while previewing the legislative priorities they hope to pursue if voters return them to the majority.

During a members-only meeting of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, leaders unveiled the new tagline—“Fighting for an Affordable America”—and urged lawmakers to center their conversations with voters on lowering the cost of living, according to multiple sources in the room.

Leadership also emphasized message discipline, encouraging members to keep their pitch simple and repeat it consistently as they fan out across the country for the monthlong district work period, a source told me…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Schumer’s bid to block AF1 spending fails: Senate Democrats unsuccessfully sought unanimous consent to pass the Presidential Airlift Security Act, a bill from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would prohibit the Pentagon from spending federal funds to procure, modify or maintain foreign-owned aircraft for presidential airlift…

THE POLICY DESK

Warnock rolls out voting rights agenda: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) unveiled a sweeping proposal calling on a future Democratic Congress to investigate state lawmakers who redrew congressional maps after the Supreme Court’s Callais decision to determine whether they illegally discriminated against Black voters…

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THE TRAIL

Talarico targets AI data centers: Texas Senate candidate James Talarico unveiled a plan to eliminate billions of dollars in state tax breaks for AI data centers, require tech companies to pay for their own electricity and water infrastructure, and give local communities more authority over whether new facilities can be built…

Dems confront a new dilemma in their push to oust Hegseth

Michael Jones — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:34:31 GMT

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies during a Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill on July 21, 2026. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/AFP/Getty Images

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

MI-07 primary fallout: My reporting on William Lawrence’s previously unreported archived posts criticizing former President Barack Obama quickly became part of the MI-07 Democratic primary, with rival Matt Maasdam citing the story to sharpen his contrast with Lawrence in one of Democrats’ top House pickup opportunities.

“President Obama was the kind of leader we need more of right now—someone who led with courage, conviction, and a strong moral compass,” Maasdam said on X, noting it was “reported this weekend” that Lawrence said Obama’s legacy was one of “cowardice and betrayal.”

“Democrats need to unite and stand up to Donald Trump and defend our democracy, not tear down the legacy of leaders who did,” he added.

Maasdam, a retired Navy SEAL, served as a military aide to Obama and carried the “nuclear football,” the briefcase containing the communications equipment and authentication materials the president uses to authorize a nuclear strike.

On the House floor tonight: The House will meet for an 8:30 p.m. vote series on amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act and a continuing resolution to extend government funding through the midterm elections. House Democratic leaders have urged their members to oppose the NDAA, arguing the NDAA’s $1.15 trillion defense topline is excessive. (As I reported Sunday evening, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) is likely to oppose the bill. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, opposes the CR because it doesn’t explicitly prevent dollars from being allocated to Border Patrol.

THE LINEUP

Dems confront a new dilemma in their push to oust Hegseth
Thune announces Rotunda ceremony for Graham
Schumer escalates Trump corruption attacks
Fields exits Congress after Louisiana redraw
Senate Dems back Black women’s equal pay resolution

THE LEAD

As Democrats intensify their calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s removal, some are also beginning to grapple with a question they haven’t had to answer before: What if President Trump simply replaces him with someone they view as equally unqualified—or even worse?

Interviews with Democratic lawmakers over the past day show no sign they’re backing away from demands that Hegseth leave the Pentagon. But after Trump replaced former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard with officials many Democrats also oppose, lawmakers offered different answers when asked whether another Cabinet shakeup would meaningfully change the administration’s national security leadership…

THE POWERS THAT BE

Thune announces Rotunda ceremony for Graham: Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on July 28…

THE POLICY DESK

Senate Democrats back equal pay resolution: Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) led all 47 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing a resolution recognizing Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and renewing calls to close the longstanding wage gap facing Black women…

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THE TRAIL

Fields exits Congress after Louisiana redraw: Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.) announced today that he will not seek another term in the House and instead will run for an open Louisiana state Senate seat, ending a brief return to Congress after winning election in 2024…

Thune casts doubt on Johnson’s latest SAVE strategy

Michael Jones — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:28:07 GMT

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) prepares to speak with reporters at the Capitol on July 15, 2026. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/AP

👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

My condolences to the families of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, who the Defense Department this morning identified as the two service members killed in action during the Iranian missile and drone attack in Jordan over the weekend. Gonzales was from Carrollton, Texas, about 40 minutes from where I grew up, a reminder that losses like these are never as distant as they can sometimes seem.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will attend the dignified transfer ceremony Tuesday evening at Dover Air Force Base. May their memories be a blessing.

THE LINEUP

Thune casts doubt on Johnson’s latest SAVE strategy
Schumer launches anti-corruption push
Ossoff presses RFK Jr. over CDC cuts
Elizabeth Warren backs Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan

THE LEAD

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged this afternoon that Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) strategy of attaching the SAVE America Act to must-pass legislation in the House could complicate Senate Republicans’ efforts to clear their agenda before the August recess.

The top Senate Republican did not dispute that Johnson’s insistence on pairing the election bill with unrelated House-passed measures could make it harder to move legislation through a chamber where most bills still require 60 votes to advance.

“If it’s anything that they want to see become law, yeah,” Thune told me when asked whether the House strategy complicates the Senate’s work.

He said Republicans would continue looking for “all legislative windows” to advance the bill but acknowledged the chamber’s procedural limits.

“If it’s attached to something that we absolutely have to get done, and it’s attached in a way that can’t get 60 votes here in the Senate, then yeah, it’ll be a challenge.”

Thune’s comments underscore the balancing act Senate Republicans face as they try to satisfy President Trump and House conservatives while navigating a chamber where most legislation still requires 60 votes to advance. Even under unified Republican control of Washington, GOP leaders remain constrained by Senate rules that allow Democrats to block bills lacking bipartisan support…

THE POWERS THAT BE

— SCHUMER LAUNCHES ANTI-CORRUPTION PUSH: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) launched a new Senate Democratic anti-corruption working group and released a report accusing President Trump of using the presidency for personal financial gain…

THE POLICY DESK

— OSSOFF PRESSES RFK JR. OVER CDC CUTS: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the administration’s decision to end a CDC surveillance program tracking Cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite behind the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, arguing the move weakened the nation’s food safety infrastructure…

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THE TRAIL

— DCCC HAULS IN $37.4 IN Q2: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $37.4 million during the second quarter, including $16.4 million in June, bringing its cycle-to-date fundraising to $198 million with $79 million cash on hand…

Democrats invoke John Lewis as Trump escalates election fight

Michael Jones — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:30:45 GMT

Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) speaks during an interfaith voting-rights roundtable commemorating the legacy of former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) on Capitol Hill on July 16, 2026. Photo courtesy of Sen. Alex Padilla’s office.

Blanche rejects Democrats’ claims of politicized DOJ

Michael Jones — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:42:40 GMT

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on July 15, 2026. Photo by Mark Schiefelbein

IN THIS EDITION

Blanche rejects Democrats’ claims of politicized DOJ
Clark splits with Jeffries on Israel aid
House GOP releases Reconciliation 3.0 blueprint
Trump pushes ICE to resume traffic stops
CBC backs independent investigation in Nolan Xavier Wells death

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Blanche rejects Democrats’ claims of politicized DOJ

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Todd Blanche spent nearly five hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee today defending his record as President Donald Trump’s deputy attorney general and arguing he would lead the Justice Department independently if confirmed as attorney general.

Democrats weren’t buying it.

Instead, they repeatedly cast Blanche as an extension of Trump’s personal legal operation, pressing him on everything from the now-abandoned $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund and the blanket Jan. 6 pardons to the Epstein files, politically sensitive prosecutions and the Justice Department’s relationship with the White House.

Republicans, meanwhile, largely used their time to reinforce Blanche’s case while focusing on issues including the Jack Smith investigation, medication abortion, election integrity and immigration enforcement.

The hearing also unfolded against a newly uncertain political backdrop following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who was expected to support Blanche’s nomination in committee. If Democrats remain united in opposition, Republicans will have even less room for defections than anticipated, putting additional attention on senators including John Cornyn (R-Texas), who told reporters afterward he remains undecided, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who appeared more satisfied with Blanche’s assurances.

The fund that wouldn’t go away: The anti-weaponization fund dominated much of the hearing, drawing questions from both Republicans and Democrats.

Blanche repeatedly insisted the proposal is finished.

“It is a moot issue, meaning there is no weaponization fund,” Blanche said. “The weaponization fund is dead. It’s not moving forward.”

He told Cornyn the Justice Department decided independently not to pursue the fund before informing President Trump and argued there was nothing left to debate.

Still, Cornyn remained skeptical.

Later, he told reporters he remains undecided on Blanche’s nomination because he still wants assurances the proposal cannot be revived—a notable sign the issue continues to complicate Blanche’s confirmation even after the department abandoned it.

Tillis, another closely watched Republican vote, struck a different tone, urging Blanche to “stick a fork in this turkey” by helping draft legislative language to permanently end the debate.

Democrats question Blanche’s independence: Democrats repeatedly returned to the same central question of whether Blanche would serve the Justice Department or President Trump.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) challenged Blanche on whether the DOJ operates independently from the White House.

Blanche responded that the Justice Department “like every single department in the executive is part of the executive,” while insisting elsewhere that he would faithfully follow the law.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) pressed him on whether a president has the authority to direct investigations of perceived political enemies, while Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) questioned Blanche about prosecutions involving former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

Booker argued senators shouldn’t judge Blanche by the promises he made during the hearing but by the decisions he has already made as deputy attorney general.

“This isn’t a confirmation hearing,” Booker said. “This is more of a performance review.”

He accused Blanche of repeatedly favoring Trump’s interests over those of the Justice Department.

“You seem to be favoring the interests of a president over the powerful. You’ve chosen Trump over truth. You’ve chosen corporations over the Constitution,” Booker said. “The attorney general’s client is not the president; it’s the American people.”

The stakes of that debate were visible inside the hearing room.

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who is facing federal charges stemming from last year’s confrontation outside Newark’s Delaney Hall immigration detention center, stood quietly in the back of the hearing room as senators questioned Blanche. Her office circulated a fact sheet accusing Blanche of personally overseeing key decisions in the case, an allegation that underscores Democrats’ broader argument that the department has become increasingly willing to pursue politically sensitive cases against Trump’s critics.

The familiar flashpoints: The hearing repeatedly circled back to issues that have defined Blanche’s tenure as deputy and acting attorney general.

Democrats criticized Trump’s blanket Jan. 6 pardons, questioned Blanche’s authorization of subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters in what he described as a classified leak investigation, pressed him over the handling of the Epstein files and challenged his role in politically sensitive prosecutions.

Blanche pledged to devote Justice Department resources to limiting the unlawful distribution of mifepristone by mail, defended Trump’s constitutional pardon authority, reaffirmed support for pursuing sanctuary jurisdictions and argued that the SAVE America Act would strengthen the DOJ’s ability to protect federal elections.

He also reiterated that his meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell resulted in no additional criminal charges and said he never discussed a pardon or a prison transfer with her.

More than Trump’s lawyer? One of the day’s more personal moments came when Blanche responded to criticism that his career has become synonymous with representing Trump.

“I am a prosecutor. I’m a career prosecutor,” Blanche said, pointing to his years at the Justice Department and in the Southern District of New York before joining Trump’s legal team.

Representing Trump for less than two years, he argued, “does not define my career.”

That defense echoed earlier testimony when Blanche rejected the suggestion that he and Trump are personal friends.

“I’m his lawyer,” he said. “I’m not sure there’s very many people who have ever had a criminal defense attorney who calls that person their friend.”

What’s next: The committee is expected to move toward a vote on Blanche’s nomination in the coming days, although the timeline could shift following Graham’s death.

Immediately after Tuesday’s hearing, Judiciary Democrats spoke out against the nomination, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) appeared alongside Epstein survivors and family members to continue their opposition campaign.

The hearing will continue tomorrow morning with testimony from an outside witness panel that reflects many of the issues senators debated during the nominee’s appearance.

Scheduled witnesses include former Attorney General John Ashcroft, former Justice Department Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer, Epstein survivor and advocate Dani Bensky, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation President Jon Adler and Jennifer Bos, the mother of murder victim Megan Bos.

Clark splits with Jeffries on Israel aid: Across the Capitol, the House rejected an amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to the 2027 State Department funding bill that would have stripped $3.3 billion in foreign aid to Israel.

The amendment failed, 314–104. But the vote laid bare Democrats’ continuing divide over Israel: 103 Democrats voted for the proposal while 98 opposed it. Another 10 Democrats voted present.

The vote also exposed a rare public divide at the top of the House Democratic leadership team. While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) opposed the amendment, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) supported it. The number-two House Democrat argued that the proposal is overly broad and politically motivated but that Congress can no longer continue providing Israel with unconditional military assistance because the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government has failed to comply with U.S. laws, interests and values.

The disagreement is notable because Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar have spent the past three years projecting an unusually disciplined and unified leadership team despite repeated episodes of Republican dysfunction. On one of the most politically sensitive issues facing the caucus, however, they are publicly taking different positions.

The House passed the underlying funding bill, which, as I explained in last night’s edition, will head to the Senate with the SAVE America Act attached after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) agreed to pair the voter ID and proof-of-citizenship legislation with a must-pass appropriations bill to reopen the House floor following a multiweek rebellion by conservative hardliners demanding Senate action on the election measure. The SAVE America Act does not have the votes to pass the Senate, meaning it will almost certainly have to be stripped from the package before the spending bill can reach President Trump’s desk.

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IN THE KNOW

Confirmation carousel: Blanche’s session dominated today’s hearing schedule, but two other Trump nominees also faced senators. Jay Clayton defended his handling of subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters and sidestepped repeated questions about the 2020 election during his Intelligence Committee hearing for director of national intelligence, while CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz sought to reassure lawmakers—especially Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.)—that she would protect scientific integrity and vaccine policy from political interference.

House GOP releases 3.0 blueprint: House Republicans took the first formal step toward a third party-line bill this morning by releasing a budget resolution directing four committees to draft legislation that would increase the deficit by up to $95 billion over the next decade. Most of that spending—$73 billion—would fund President Trump’s war in Iran and other defense priorities, while the remainder would provide $12 billion in farm aid and $10 billion for election-security provisions tied to the SAVE America Act.

The four committees have until Sept. 11 to report legislation to the Budget Committee, which plans to mark up the resolution tomorrow ahead of a possible House vote next week. But the proposal also highlights how preliminary the effort remains: It includes no spending offsets, tax provisions or Senate reconciliation instructions, leaving major policy and procedural hurdles before Republicans can send a third reconciliation bill to Trump’s desk.

Trump pushes ICE to resume traffic stops: Trump this morning urged ICE to resume traffic stops less than a day after the Department of Homeland Security paused most non-urgent vehicle stops following the fatal shootings of two undocumented immigrants in Maine and Texas, appearing to undercut his administration’s new guidance.

“We must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, arguing that suspending the tactic would benefit criminals. He instructed ICE officers to “be judicious, fair and smart” and “go back and do your very important job.”

The pause came after Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she urged Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Monday night to halt all non-urgent vehicle stops until agents receive additional training and investigators determine what happened in Monday’s fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford.

“The automobile stops should be halted until those investigations are completed, and we have a better sense of what happened,” Collins said. She also defended the agency, saying calls to abolish ICE “would make our country less safe.”

Trump’s comments come as public opinion has turned against the agency’s enforcement tactics. Recent polling has found majorities of Americans disapprove of ICE’s performance and believe its immigration enforcement has gone too far, though views remain sharply divided along partisan lines.

CBC backs independent investigation: The Congressional Black Caucus this morning joined calls for an independent investigation into the death of Nolan Xavier Wells, saying his family, the Mississippi community and the nation deserve a full, transparent and timely accounting of the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death. The caucus also commended attorney Ben Crump, Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network for pressing for greater transparency and amplified their call for an independent probe. Wells’ death has drawn national attention amid lingering questions about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the investigation that followed.

Ossoff posts $20M quarter: Sen. Jon Ossoff’s (D-Ga.) reelection campaign raised $20 million in the second quarter and entered July with more than $42 million in cash on hand, according to figures released by the campaign.

The campaign said nearly 90% of contributions were $100 or less, with an average donation of $42 across more than 474,000 contributions. Ossoff also raised more than $1.5 million through joint fundraising accounts, including with the Democratic Party of Georgia.

The Georgia Democrat is the only Senate Democratic incumbent seeking reelection in a state President Trump carried in 2024 and is already facing significant Republican spending, including a planned $44 million investment from the Senate Leadership Fund.

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Sanders doubles down in key primaries: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will campaign this weekend with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed before heading to Minnesota on Monday for a get-out-the-vote rally with Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan, underscoring his effort to boost progressive candidates in two of Democrats’ highest-profile Senate primaries.

In Michigan, Sanders will be joined by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for rallies in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids ahead of the Aug. 4 primary. He’ll then headline a Minneapolis rally for Flanagan alongside Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Attorney General Keith Ellison and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) as Minnesota Democrats enter the campaign’s final stretch.

Bipartisan hepatitis bill introduced: Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) introduced bipartisan legislation to create a federally coordinated program to eliminate hepatitis C—a curable viral liver disease—by expanding testing and treatment, particularly for underserved populations. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal would reduce federal spending by $6.6 billion over the next decade by increasing access to curative therapies and preventing costly complications from untreated infections.

The House is finally back in business

Michael Jones — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:09:58 GMT

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) talks on the phone at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 25, 2026, after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. Photo by Francis Chung/Politico via AP

The future of Graham’s gavels

Michael Jones — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:02:28 GMT

Darline Graham Nordone, with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, right, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), left, speaks to members of the press after being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the passing of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, at the statehouse on July 13, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. Photo by Sean Rayford/AP

THE LINEUP

The future of Graham’s gavels
Darline Graham Nordone appointed to finish her late brother’s term
Speaker Johnson sets stage for Reconciliation 3.0
ICE shooting reshapes Maine Senate contest
Stevens, El-Sayed earn dueling endorsements in Michigan Senate primary

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The future of Graham’s gavels

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.

Trump primetime speech this week: President Donald Trump announced this afternoon that he will address the nation on Thursday at 9 p.m. He didn’t share the topic of the speech.

McMaster taps Graham Nordone: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) this afternoon appointed Darline Graham Nordone to complete the term of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), following his sudden death on Saturday evening.

“Lindsey has always been there for me,” she said. “And now I will be there for him.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) applauded McMaster’s decision.

“Lindsey’s legacy will continue through Darline, and I look forward to welcoming her soon,” he wrote on X.

President Trump announced on Truth Social this morning that he recommended McMaster pick Graham Nordone to serve out the remainder of the term.

“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” the president wrote.

Graham Nordone and Graham were incredibly close as the late senator cared for his sister when she was a teenager after their parents passed away. Now she will care for the Senate seat her brother held for nearly 25 years while several South Carolina Republicans campaign to replace Graham on the ballot for the November midterm elections.

Graham’s Senate desk is covered with a black cloth and topped with a vase of white roses.

The next power struggle: Beyond filling Graham’s Senate seat, Republicans will eventually have to decide who inherits the committee gavels he leaves behind—a choice that could offer an early window into the conference’s priorities next Congress.

Budget: Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin appears well positioned. He’s the panel’s next-most-senior Republican who doesn’t already chair another committee and has reportedly expressed interest in the job.

In the historically unlikely event Republicans retain unified control of Washington after the midterms, Johnson would be well positioned to shape the GOP’s next reconciliation push. But even under divided government, the Budget Committee would remain a prominent platform for advancing his brand of fiscal conservatism and deficit politics.

Judiciary: This prominent panel presents a more consequential ideological choice.

Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri are next in line by seniority among Republicans on the panel.

A Lee chairmanship would elevate one of the conference’s leading constitutional conservatives, while Cruz’s legal background could make him a natural steward of Trump’s judicial nominees—including any future Supreme Court vacancies. Hawley, meanwhile, would signal a different direction, using the committee to press his populist agenda on Big Tech, online child safety and corporate power.

Lee currently chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, while Cruz chairs the Commerce Committee.

Thune said this afternoon that Graham’s Judiciary replacement has not yet been determined.

Graham’s cause of death: The Washington, D.C. medical examiner said on Sunday evening that Graham died from aortic dissection, a medical emergency where a major blood vessel coming out of his heart suddenly tore. The tear was caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a long-term hardening and narrowing of his arteries. It’s one of the most common forms of heart and vascular disease.

The medical examiner emphasized that these are preliminary findings. The death certificate remains pending while toxicology and microscopic tissue testing are completed, which is standard procedure in many sudden deaths.

The final report will confirm the official cause and manner of death.

FWIW: Within hours of Graham’s sudden death, rampant speculation emerged that the late senator died from a heart attack. But Graham’s preliminary cause of death is different. A heart attack is caused by a blockage in the arteries supplying the heart muscle, while an aortic dissection is a tear in the wall of the body’s main artery. Both can cause sudden collapse and chest pain, but they are different medical conditions.

Iran war latest: President Trump this morning announced the reinstatement of a U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the United States the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” in a move that further escalates the administration’s confrontation with Tehran and clouds the prospects for near-term diplomacy. Trump also said the U.S. would seek reimbursement equal to 20% of cargo shipped through the strategic waterway to cover the costs of providing security, though he did not explain how such a system would operate.

“Donald Trump promised that he was elected not to start wars in the Middle East, but to stop them,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters this afternoon. “He then turned around, along with compliant Republicans, and launched a reckless and costly war of choice in Iran that’s ongoing, and now has been taking place for more than 100 days, with over $100 billion in taxpayer money being wasted, while leaving Iran in a stronger position than they were in before the war, and the American people economically in a weaker position, particularly as it relates to high gas prices.”

Approps watch: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in a “Dear Colleague” letter this morning that Senate Republicans cannot pursue a partisan appropriations process and then blame Democrats if funding negotiations collapse, insisting Democrats want to avoid a government shutdown and remain ready to negotiate bipartisan spending bills. He also positioned the funding fight as part of a broader battle over affordability, congressional oversight, government corruption and protecting elections from what he called Republican efforts to undermine them.

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GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Johnson sets stage for Reconciliation 3.0

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said House Republicans will move this week to adopt a budget resolution that would unlock a third reconciliation bill after meeting for hours Monday at Camp David with House Budget Committee Republicans, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and White House officials.

While the speaker didn’t outline the package’s contents, Republicans are widely expected to pursue roughly $350 billion in additional defense spending alongside other remaining Trump priorities, potentially including pieces of the SAVE America Act that could face steep procedural hurdles under the Senate’s Byrd Rule.

The announcement comes as Johnson tries to recover from the latest legislative setback of his speakership. Before Republicans can turn to another party-line package, the speaker first has to restore control of the House floor after conservatives sank a procedural rule before the Independence Day recess despite leadership’s attempt to satisfy them by pairing the House-passed SAVE America Act with the annual defense authorization bill.

That failed vote forced House leaders to shelve action on the NDAA, the fiscal 2027 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill and several bipartisan measures. Assuming Johnson can reunite his conference this week, lawmakers are expected to consider legislation banning payment card companies from assigning merchant category codes that specifically identify firearms retailers, making daylight saving time permanent, advancing the State Department funding bill and approving a bipartisan package of veterans’ health care and benefits reforms.

Even if Republicans adopt the budget resolution this week, Johnson still faces significant political and procedural obstacles. The House is scheduled to meet for only one additional legislative week after this one before the August recess, leaving little time to draft, mark up and pass another reconciliation package. Deficit hawks are also expected to insist that any new defense spending be fully offset by domestic spending cuts Republicans have yet to agree on.

And even if Johnson clears those hurdles, the Senate remains an open question. Thune has stopped short of committing his conference to another party-line package, saying he’ll first wait to see whether the House can pass a budget resolution and what legislation ultimately emerges. That leaves the fate of a third reconciliation bill dependent not only on Johnson’s ability to unify his own conference, but also on whether Senate Republicans conclude another reconciliation fight is worth having.

Jeffries told reporters this afternoon that he expects every House and Senate Democrat to oppose the effort.

“What’s in front of us right now relates to the legislative process and the appropriations process and the notion that Republicans are prepared as early as this Wednesday to move another budget to give the so-called Department of War more than $75 billion at least to continue Operation Epic Failure in the Middle East,” Jeffries said. “What we need to do is to stop this effort to use taxpayer dollars to continue this failed war in the Middle East that the American people have rejected from the beginning, and have soured on even more over the last several months.”

Republicans have already passed two reconciliation bills this Congress—including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the major tax-and-spending package Trump signed into law last year, and the Secure America Act, enacted last month, to provide roughly $70 billion for immigration enforcement through the remainder of Trump’s term.

CAMPAIGNS

ICE shooting reshapes Maine Senate contest

A fatal ICE shooting of a man in his 20s during a confrontation in southwestern Maine this morning injected one of the country’s most politically charged issues directly into the state’s newly formed Democratic mini-primary—the emergency nominating convention triggered by the sudden withdrawal of former nominee Graham Platner following sexual assault allegations.

The shooting comes as the battle lines between the establishment and progressive wings of the party are being redrawn over immigration enforcement ahead of the July 25 convention, where county delegates will choose a new Senate nominee.

The progressive litmus test: Progressive candidates vying for Platner’s former base are responding to the shooting by calling for hardline anti-ICE platforms. Platner originally won the June primary as an outsider progressive by sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine and calling for ICE to be “dismantled.” In the aftermath of the shooting, several progressive contenders have argued county delegates should choose a nominee who will aggressively challenge what they describe as federal overreach.

Pressure on moderates: Moderate candidates—including those previously aligned with Governor Janet Mills—are facing renewed pressure to sharpen their immigration messaging as they compete for progressive convention delegates. While Mills has sharply criticized ICE’s tactics, progressives have long argued she has not gone far enough. Candidates associated with her wing are now under pressure to respond forcefully to the shooting while avoiding criticism from the left over civil rights and immigration enforcement.

The Collins contrast: The replacement nominee will immediately face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the country’s most competitive Senate races. The shooting is likely to become a central line of attack against Collins, whose critics have already sought to tie her to the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.

Candidates addressing the July 25 convention are expected to present themselves as strong defenders of Maine communities while arguing Collins has not done enough to challenge the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

“The shooting in Biddeford requires a full and impartial investigation of what happened,” Collins said in a statement. “It is my understanding that the Biddeford Police have secured the site and that the FBI is investigating.”

The backstory: The Department of Homeland Security said the man—identified by immigrant advocates as a 26-year-old Colombian national—was subject to a final removal order and alleged he “weaponized” his vehicle, prompting an ICE agent to open fire.

A nearby witness told a local news station they saw an unmarked law enforcement SUV attempt to ram a small white car before armed agents wearing green ICE vests pulled the heavily bleeding man from the vehicle. Doorbell camera audio captured what sounded like at least four gunshots, according to the station.

The Maine Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, the Maine State Police and the Maine Department of Public Safety are investigating the shooting. The Biddeford Police Department is providing scene security, and the ICE agent involved has been placed on administrative leave.

Mills and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) have both questioned ICE’s expanding presence and enforcement tactics in the state. The shooting is the second fatal ICE-involved shooting reported nationwide in less than a week, following a separate fatal encounter in Houston. Civil rights organizations have called for immediate protests in Biddeford and demanded an independent investigation.

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LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Anti-weaponization fund fallout: A federal judge cast fresh doubt on the Trump administration’s abandoned plan to create a $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, suggesting the lawsuit that produced the proposal may have been used to legitimize an unprecedented transfer of taxpayer funds while questioning whether broader legal protections for Trump and his businesses remain in effect despite the administration later saying the fund was dead.

The proposal drew bipartisan criticism because it would have used the Treasury Department’s permanent Judgment Fund to establish a new executive branch compensation program without a specific appropriation from Congress.

Reproductive justice: Reps. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution marking America’s 250th anniversary by declaring reproductive justice a fundamental human right and endorsing policies including abortion access, universal health care, maternal health care, paid family leave and comprehensive sex education. The largely messaging measure also calls for ending Hyde Amendment-style federal funding restrictions on abortion and condemns the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, abortion and stillbirth.

New endorsements: Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary is becoming an increasingly clear proxy fight over the party’s ideological direction, with outgoing Sen. Gary Peters abandoning his previous neutrality this morning to endorse Rep. Haley Stevens, while Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) threw her support behind former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed.

Peters said Stevens would be “ready on day one to fight for Michigan,” adding another establishment endorsement after backing from Leader Schumer and other Senate Democrats.

The dueling endorsements underscore the coalition each candidate is assembling ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.

Stevens has consolidated support from much of the Democratic establishment, while El-Sayed continues to build momentum on the left with backing from Omar, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in one of the cycle’s most closely watched Democratic nomination fights.

AGs sue to block Paramount-Warner Bros. merger: A coalition of 12 Democratic state attorneys general sued today to block Paramount’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would further consolidate the television and film industries at the expense of consumers, workers, movie theaters and other businesses.

The lawsuit comes as some congressional Democrats have warned they would pursue legislation or oversight to unwind the merger if they regain one or both chambers in November.

“A Paramount-Warner Bros. megamerger would mean higher costs and fewer choices for Americans,” Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said. “Good news: the states are stepping up to block this antitrust nightmare. This fight isn’t over.”