Senate

A Republican senator has publicly called on President Trump to bring the war with Iran to an end. The appeal from within the president's own party highlights growing unease among some GOP lawmakers about the conflict's costs and direction, and adds to pressure on the White House to outline how it plans to wind down military involvement.

Senator Chris Coons reacted to the foiling of a terror attack in the United Kingdom, saying it serves as a reminder of why international alliances matter. His comments highlight the role of intelligence-sharing and cooperation between the US and UK security services in preventing attacks, and come amid ongoing debate in Washington about the value of American partnerships abroad.

Senator John Thune said the war with Iran has overtaken all other issues in the minds of American voters, saying it has 'trumped everything else.' His comments come as the conflict dominates political debate in Washington, crowding out discussion of the economy, domestic policy and other campaign priorities ahead of upcoming elections.

Fresh polling in the Texas Senate race is circulating among political watchers, fueling debate about the contest's trajectory and what the numbers could mean for control of the chamber. Commenters are weighing which candidates the surveys favor and whether recent polling shifts might reshape campaign strategies in the months ahead.

Former special counsel Jack Smith is testifying publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a hearing pushed by Republicans examining the investigations into Donald Trump, including the federal cases over classified documents and election interference. The testimony puts Smith's conduct and decision-making under scrutiny and is drawing close attention from both parties.

CNN's Harry Enten rounds up the key political storylines gripping American politics, including competitive Senate races, signs of potential Democratic 'blue wave' momentum, and ongoing corruption allegations surrounding Donald Trump. The roundup distills polling data and trends into a snapshot of where the battle for Congress and the political narrative currently stands heading into upcoming elections.

US Senate lawmakers are moving forward with legislation aimed at regulating name, image and likeness deals in college sports. The bill would create federal rules for the payments college athletes can receive from endorsements and sponsorships, an issue currently governed by a patchwork of state laws and NCAA policies. The move signals growing congressional interest in bringing order to the fast-growing college sports economy.

Donald Trump addressed former senator David Perdue's reported comment that Trump offered Xi Jinping arms sales, saying Perdue 'was probably talking about Taiwan.' The remark touched on the sensitive question of US arms policy toward Taiwan and dealings with China, drawing attention as voters and commentators weighed the implications of the statement for future US-China relations.

Attention is turning to the 2026 US midterm elections, with coverage asking which party is ahead in the battle for control of Congress. With all 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate up for grabs, early analysis focuses on polling, fundraising and which districts may swing. The midterms will be the first major nationwide test of voter sentiment since the 2024 election.

Former Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema's ex-bodyguard, who was also her romantic partner, has been arrested for allegedly breaking into her home and throwing 22 paintings into her swimming pool. The unusual details of the alleged break-in have drawn wide attention, with many reacting to the bizarre nature of the destruction and the close personal connection between the suspect and the former senator.

News outlets are publishing early coverage of the 2026 United States midterm elections, with a focus on polls for Congress and key races. The coverage signals the start of sustained political attention ahead of the contests that will determine control of the House and Senate during the second half of President Trump's term.

The Republican primary contest between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn-allied rival, featuring Talarico on the Democratic side of Texas's U.S. Senate race, is on track to become the most expensive Senate campaign in Texas history, with campaign spending projected to far exceed the previous state record. The high-profile matchup has drawn intense attention as both sides pour money into advertising and outreach ahead of the election.

Flávio Bolsonaro is a top search term in Brazil. The Catholic bishops' conference, CNBB, published an official clarification note denying false information circulating involving the institution's name. The connection between the senator and the CNBB statement is what is drawing attention, with the note spreading widely on social media and fueling discussion about misinformation in Brazilian politics.

Maine Senator Susan Collins is running her first re-election campaign since voting to confirm Supreme Court justices who later helped overturn federal abortion rights. Her 2022 vote for Brett Kavanaugh has become a central issue, with opponents and voters revisiting her assurances that Roe v. Wade would remain settled law. Coverage from Spectrum News and PBS highlights how the abortion decision continues to shape her race.

The Protect College Sports Act, described as a landmark bill for college athletics, has advanced to a final vote in the US Senate. The legislation is seen as a potentially pivotal moment for the governance of college sports, and coverage is walking readers through what the bill would do and what its passage could mean as it reaches this crucial phase.

Senator Roger Marshall's re-election campaign in Kansas has drawn attention to credit card policy, with reporting noting the race as the latest sign that the Trump era has scrambled the traditional alliance between Republicans and the banking industry. Commentators are watching how financial-sector issues could shape the contest and what it signals for broader GOP relations with banks.

The US Senate is expected to take up the Protect College Sports Act, a bill concerning college athletics. The chamber's consideration of the measure is being carried live, drawing attention from viewers following the debate over the legislation's provisions.

The New York Times published an analysis on September 28, 2026, asking who is winning the race for Congress, as the midterm campaign season draws attention to which party is favored to control the House and Senate. The piece examines the state of the congressional contests and the political landscape heading into the elections.

The US Senate is set to vote on a sweeping bill affecting college sports. The legislation would establish federal standards for how college athletes are treated, touching on issues such as name, image and likeness payments and athlete protections that have so far been handled in a patchwork of state laws. Coverage has focused on what the bill would actually change for schools, athletes and the NCAA if it passes.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senator Cory Booker and fellow Democrats have reintroduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, which would repeal the Helms Amendment, the decades-old US policy barring federal foreign aid funds from being used for abortion services overseas. Supporters argue the restriction harms women in low-income countries, while opponents continue to defend the longstanding prohibition.

France's far-right National Rally made gains in the country's Senate elections, marking a further advance for the party in national institutions. The result underlines the continued rise of Marine Le Pen's movement, which has already made significant inroads in the National Assembly and European elections, and is being closely watched for what it signals ahead of future national contests.

The New York Times asks which party is winning the race for control of Congress, a question at the center of American political debate as election coverage intensifies. No specific findings from the analysis are included in the available material, so the state of the contest remains open. Readers are weighing in on the outlook for both the House and the Senate.

The US Senate is approaching a vote on legislation that would impose new limits on how college athletes are paid and how freely they can transfer between schools. The bill would mark a significant federal intervention in college sports, reversing some of the freedoms athletes gained through name, image and likeness deals and relaxed transfer rules in recent years.

The United States Senate has passed a major bill to overhaul college sports, according to CNN. The legislation would mark the most significant federal intervention in college athletics in years, an area traditionally governed by the NCAA and individual conferences. Details of the bill's provisions and its prospects in the House were not included in the initial report.

Senator John Fetterman has joined fellow Democrats in issuing a warning to Senator Mark Mullin and the Department of Homeland Security over election interference concerns. The move pairs the often independently minded Pennsylvania Democrat with his party on an election-security matter, pressing federal authorities and Republican counterparts to take the threat more seriously ahead of upcoming votes.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, held a public forum focused on President Trump's immigration policy. The event gave the senator a platform to examine and criticize the administration's approach to immigration enforcement. It comes as immigration remains one of the most contentious policy fights in Washington, with Democrats sharply opposing Trump's border and deportation measures.

A bill aimed at reforming college sports is expected to clear the US Senate, but its prospects in the House of Representatives remain uncertain. The legislation would address issues such as athlete compensation and governance in collegiate athletics. Lawmakers and college sports officials are watching closely to see whether the measure can win approval in both chambers and become law.

US intelligence assessments indicate Saudi Arabia is keeping open the option of acquiring nuclear weapons, even as Washington discusses a civil nuclear cooperation deal with Riyadh. A group of US senators is targeting the Trump administration's proposed agreement, citing proliferation concerns, with the intelligence findings likely to intensify congressional resistance to the deal.

Discussion is growing over Mitch McConnell's medical condition, with commentators arguing it raises serious questions about his capacity to continue serving in the Senate and in Republican leadership. The longtime Kentucky senator has faced repeated public episodes raising concerns about his health, and observers are debating what it means for the future of GOP leadership.

France's far-right National Rally has made significant gains in elections to the French Senate, an institution long dominated by mainstream conservative and centrist forces. The result marks a notable advance for the party of Marine Le Pen in a chamber where it previously held little representation. The surge is being read as another sign of the far right's growing foothold in French institutions following its recent national breakthroughs.

The contest for control of the US Senate is shaping up as the most expensive election in American history, according to Bloomberg. Competitive races keep emerging in new states as the map shifts, drawing surging ad spending and fundraising from both parties. With Senate control hanging on a handful of states, campaigns and outside groups are pouring unprecedented sums into the fight.

The Senate Finance Committee has voted to advance several of the administration's nominees overseeing health and tax policy, moving them a step closer to confirmation by the full Senate. The committee's approval sends the nominations forward for floor consideration, where senators will debate and vote on each appointee. Attention now turns to whether the nominees can secure enough support amid broader partisan tensions over health and tax policy.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent questions to Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft regarding tax subsidies connected to their artificial intelligence investments. The inquiry targets whether the tech giants are benefiting from tax breaks tied to massive AI data center spending. The move adds to Washington's scrutiny of how the largest technology companies fund and profit from the AI boom.

North Carolina Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley dismissed a poll showing Democrat Roy Cooper with a large lead in the state's 2026 U.S. Senate race, calling it a 'trash poll.' The race is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country, and Whatley's sharp response underscores how seriously Republicans are taking Cooper's potential candidacy.