Senate Majority Leader

Michigan lawmakers passed an $85 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year after an all-night session, avoiding a government shutdown. The budget includes $63 billion for state agencies and $22.9 billion for K-12 and higher education, with funding sourced from general and school aid funds. Lawmakers addressed a $1 billion revenue shortfall through cuts and efficiencies but did not implement new taxes proposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has endorsed left-leaning challengers to two longtime Seattle legislators, including a rival to Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen. The challengers are positioned as alternatives to the incumbent Democrats.

President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans face growing tensions as Trump delays a nominee's confirmation and demands changes to a surveillance law renewal, prompting public criticism from senators. Republican senators, including Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis, have openly criticized Trump's Iran war deal and voting legislation, marking a shift from earlier close collaboration. The rift has stalled Senate business and pressured Senate Majority Leader John Thune to resist Trump's demands on the SAVE America Act.

President Trump announced a potential peace deal with Iran, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the U.S. naval blockade. The agreement, to be signed in Switzerland, also involves Iran committing to halt nuclear weapon development and the U.S. possibly lifting sanctions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated expectations for congressional hearings on the memorandum.

President Donald Trump appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, a decision influenced by Roger Stone and MAGA allies. Pulte, lacking intelligence experience, is expected to prioritize accelerating declassification of sensitive documents, including those related to Trump's 2020 election claims. Senate Republicans and Democrats have expressed skepticism about Pulte's confirmation due to his lack of national security background and potential conflicts with oversight.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune had a productive phone call with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton following Paxton's primary victory over Sen. John Cornyn. The GOP establishment is beginning to reconcile with Paxton, a candidate they previously invested in defeating.

The article discusses the Republican Party's internal struggles, highlighting Senate Majority Leader John Thune's failure to retain GOP senators like John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy in primary elections. It attributes these losses to voter anger over the party's inaction and refusal to abolish the filibuster, despite Donald Trump's endorsements of candidates like Ken Paxton.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticizes the Trump administration's decision to set up a $1.8 billion compensation fund for MAGA allies targeted by the Biden-era Department of Justice. Thune questions the purpose of the fund, expressing his disapproval. The fund is intended for allies who were targeted by the Department of Justice.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has proposed a 45-day extension of FISA surveillance authorities to prevent a potential expiration of warrantless spy powers under Section 702 by Thursday's end. The move aims to avoid a temporary blackout in surveillance capabilities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are clashing over Homeland Security funding, complicating efforts to end a 72-day government shutdown. Johnson seeks to modify a Senate-passed bill to secure House votes, while Thune emphasizes ensuring proper funding. The dispute centers on language zeroing out ICE and Border Patrol funding in the Senate bill, with potential delays until mid-May if reconciliation is delayed.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces Republican criticism for fast-tracking a bill to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants, which opponents accuse him of prioritizing over American interests. The effort coincides with a funding standoff over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as House Republicans previously defied Trump to shield Haitians from deportation.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) accused Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to investigate. Gallego denied the allegations, with his spokesperson dismissing them as 'right wing conspiracy theories.'