U.S. Congress

President Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Turkey and consider selling F-35 warplanes, but experts warn Congress may resist due to longstanding tensions. Turkey's 2019 purchase of Russia's S-400 air defense system has complicated defense ties, and U.S. lawmakers remain critical of Turkey's foreign policy actions.

Nancy Pelosi endorsed Connie Chan, a progressive Chinese-American supervisor, to succeed her in Congress, potentially influencing US-China relations. Analysts suggest this could create marginal opportunities in bilateral ties.

US President Donald Trump's visit to Turkey could facilitate the acquisition of F110 fighter jet engines for Turkey's KAAN stealth fighter project, but the F-35 dispute remains unresolved. Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems led to its exclusion from the F-35 program and CAATSA sanctions, complicating defense cooperation with the US.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand proposed a restriction to prevent members of Congress, the US president, and their spouses from issuing or sponsoring their own digital assets.

Marisa Simonetti, a political candidate, was sentenced to 90 days in Hennepin County Workhouse and two years of probation for throwing a tarantula and other items toward an Airbnb tenant in 2024. The incident involved multiple 911 calls and resulted in Simonetti losing an endorsement from the Third Congressional District Republicans. She is now running for U.S. Congress as an independent.

Donald Trump has been accused of 'brazen crypto corruption' after financial disclosures showed his family's cryptocurrency ventures generated over $1bn in his first year back in the White House. Elizabeth Warren and colleagues called for stricter regulations to prevent political figures from profiting off the crypto industry.

The US Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to nearly all people born in the country, ruling against a key part of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. Trump called the ruling 'too bad for our Country' and urged Congress to address the issue legislatively.

A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances has proposed a $3 billion settlement to restructure the U.S. territory’s power company debt, offering cash and new bonds to bondholders seeking $8.5 billion in claims. The settlement is $1.4 billion higher than a previous offer, aiming to resolve a decade-long debt restructuring effort for Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority.

A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances proposed a $3 billion settlement to restructure the U.S. territory’s power company debt, offering cash and new bonds to bondholders seeking $8.5 billion in claims. The settlement, $1.4 billion more than previously offered, aims to resolve a decade-long debt crisis, though concerns remain about potential funding through higher power bills.

Lawmakers passed a bill to seize Russian assets in the US, signed by the previous president. Biden and Trump have not implemented the seizure to support Ukraine. Congress now aims to enforce the measure.

Anthropic accuses Alibaba of using 'distillation attacks' to illicitly extract capabilities from its Claude AI model through 29 million fraudulent account interactions. The company urged US Congress to impose penalties on firms involved in such activities and highlighted concerns about US AI technology theft.

Israel and Lebanon extended their talks by an extra day as a deal on IDF withdrawal remains unresolved. Trump notified the US Congress about a $700 million jet engine sale to Turkey despite objections.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) in New York supported democratic socialist candidates, leading to primary victories for Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are set to win congressional seats, and Zohran Mamdani, who received early union backing for mayor. The UAW's grassroots organizing, including door-to-door canvassing, helped overcome larger unions' support for opponents.

US President Donald Trump requested nearly $88 billion in additional funding, primarily for the Iran war, amid growing unease in both political parties over the conflict's political costs.

Gov. Katie Hobbs is criticizing her Republican opponents, U.S. Congressmen Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, for supporting a nationwide abortion ban. Both candidates have co-sponsored legislation to grant personhood at conception, which could outlaw abortions. Hobbs has taken actions to protect abortion access in Arizona, including executive orders and vetoing restrictive bills.

The White House requested $87.6 billion from Congress for urgent military needs related to the Iran war and an Ebola response in Africa. The funding includes $67.15 billion for the military, $500 million for Global Health Security, and $800 million for international humanitarian assistance.

President Donald Trump's administration is proceeding with the sale of dozens of jet engines to Turkey worth hundreds of millions of dollars despite objections from the U.S. Congress. The move is described as a significant gesture to Ankara ahead of a NATO summit there next month.

Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, stated that U.S. intelligence agencies concluded Iran is not building nuclear weapons and has not resumed its 2003 nuclear weapons program. The article questions the reliability of evidence on Iranian nuclear weapons.

The US Congress has ordered Trump to withdraw troops involved in a conflict with Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer participated in a press conference with Senate Democratic leaders following a policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Retiring U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer and Jerrold Nadler endorsed former aides who won Democratic primaries to replace them. The endorsed candidates are likely to win in November, continuing a practice where lawmakers influence successor choices, which can be controversial but often effective.

The US Congress passed a symbolic resolution rebuking President Donald Trump over the Iran war, with the Senate voting 50-48 and the House passing it after bipartisan support. The resolution, lacking legal force, calls for ending hostilities unless Congress authorizes action, as Trump seeks a diplomatic deal with Iran.

US Congressman Derek Tran has called for the release of Palestinian-American student Sama Safi, detained in an Israeli prison after her arrest in the occupied West Bank. Tran criticized the Israeli government for denying Palestinians due process and urged the Trump administration to secure her release.

A Republican lawmaker proposed a bill to ban insider trading in prediction markets. The bill does not prohibit members of the US Congress from using these platforms or placing sports bets but targets policy-related wagers. White House officials are excluded from the proposed restrictions.

The Trump administration will no longer cut a major U.S. ocean science research program after Congress passed legislation to protect it. The U.S. National Science Foundation had initially planned to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative but reversed its decision following bipartisan pressure.

Puerto Rico's governor's administration faces a political crisis over corruption allegations involving Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech and former economic development chief Sebastián Negrón. Domenech submitted sworn statements against Negrón, while over 10 officials resigned from the economic development agency amid claims of government interference and conflicts of interest.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe, threatening to withhold NATO dues if allies fail to meet defense spending commitments. He criticized allies for not supporting the U.S. during its war with Iran and confirmed immediate reductions in U.S. contributions to NATO's crisis forces.

The article argues that improving global health should be a top U.S. policy priority, citing the hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks as reminders of global health interdependence. It highlights PEPFAR's success in saving lives and enhancing U.S. reputation, introducing 'strategic health diplomacy' as a policy approach linking global health to national interests.

President Donald Trump said he would send an interim deal to end the war with Iran to Congress for review. Lawmakers, including many Republicans, expressed uncertainty about the pact's details. The U.S.-Iran agreement, announced recently, has generated optimism about ending a conflict that has caused significant casualties and economic disruption.

Fourteen Republican state attorneys general and 19 GOP members of Congress are urging the EPA to classify the abortion medication mifepristone as a water contaminant, citing a 1996 FDA statement. Environmental experts and the Center for Biological Diversity state there is no evidence mifepristone harms water systems or humans, while state lawmakers in seven states introduced bills addressing medication abortion's environmental impact.

A key U.S. surveillance provision, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, is set to lapse as Congress failed to renew it before a recess. The law allows intelligence agencies to collect electronic communications of foreigners outside the U.S., with companies still legally required to comply even after expiration, though some lawmakers and experts warn of potential risks.

A US federal judge extended a block on the Trump administration’s $1.8bn settlement fund aimed at compensating individuals claiming to be victims of a weaponized government. The administration previously created the fund to address a lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns, but plans were scrapped amid bipartisan backlash.

US lawmakers demand the restoration of medical evacuations from Gaza after a six-year-old Palestinian boy with leukemia, named Ghazal, died awaiting approval to leave for treatment. The lawmakers highlighted that no hospital in Gaza is fully functional and Israeli approval is required to exit, urging the Trump administration to establish a medical evacuation corridor.

President Donald Trump initially threatened to strike Iran and seize oil infrastructure but later retracted the threats, citing diplomatic discussions with Iranian leadership. The House approved a resolution to halt hostilities against Iran, while tensions escalated after an Iranian military force shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter.

The U.S. Congress passed a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in February after a year of delays that caused a temporary lapse in the trade program. China simultaneously expanded duty-free access to 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

Epstein's massage fixer appeared terrified during a congressional hearing and revealed a 'blackmail' theory. The session involved explosive questioning by Congress.

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie called for a new investigation into Israel's 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, which killed 34 Americans and wounded 171. Israel apologized, stating it mistook the vessel for an Egyptian ship, while US sailors claimed the attack was deliberate.

The U.S. Congress reconvenes as the public comment periods for the GENIUS platform conclude, and the jobs report is highlighted for the upcoming week in cryptocurrency. Key developments in Congress and regulatory updates are anticipated to impact the crypto market.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson announced she will not run for re-election in 2025, citing strategic considerations related to Florida’s new congressional map. Wilson, who has represented parts of North Miami-Dade and south Broward since 2010, previously served in the Florida House, Florida Senate, and Miami-Dade School Board. Democratic State Sen. Shevrin Jones and GOP Rep. Carlos Giménez praised her legislative work.

The author's son, Itay, was one of 46 Americans killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, at the Gaza border. The author calls for a U.S. congressional investigation, citing precedents like the Benghazi and Khobar Towers incidents, and criticizes the lack of formal action despite the higher casualty count compared to past events.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress to supply Patriot PAC-3 missiles and air defense systems to counter Russia's escalating ballistic missile campaign, warning of insufficient deliveries.