Recent articles
August 8, 2026
Senate Bows to Reality, Leaving Trump’s Voting Bill Undone
The summer exit confirmed what had been apparent for weeks: that Republicans lacked the votes to pass the voting restrictions the president has made a top priority.
www.nytimes.com
August 8, 2026
Senate Bows to Reality, Leaving Trump’s Voting Bill Undone
The summer exit confirmed what had been apparent for weeks: that Republicans lacked the votes to pass the voting restrictions the president has made a top priority.
www.nytimes.com
August 8, 2026
Lindsey Graham Loved to Gab With Reporters. His Sister Won’t.
Senator Darline Graham, who took her brother’s place after his death and is now seeking to succeed him, has mostly declined to answer questions from reporters at the Capitol.
www.nytimes.com
August 7, 2026
Bill Cassidy Will Back Todd Blanche as Attorney General, Salvaging His Confirmation
The Louisiana senator said that, despite reservations, he would back President Trump’s pick for attorney general, giving Republicans enough votes for a majority.
www.nytimes.com
August 4, 2026
Todd Blanche Clears Committee Vote, Nearing Confirmation as Attorney General
Todd Blanche’s nomination now advances to the Senate floor, where it was not immediately clear whether he would be confirmed given that he can afford to lose only two senators on a party-line vote.
www.nytimes.com
August 3, 2026
Blanche Gives G.O.P. Senators Written Assurances on Trump’s I.R.S. Deal
Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general has been held up over concerns about a planned $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies and the president’s immunity from tax scrutiny.
www.nytimes.com
July 31, 2026
Trump Escalates Feud With Senate Over Blanche
The president’s comments threw the confirmation of Todd Blanche, his pick to be attorney general, further into doubt.
www.nytimes.com
July 31, 2026
Defying Trump, Cornyn Uses His Lame-Duck Power
In standing in the way of Todd Blanche, President Trump’s choice for attorney general, a liberated Senator John Cornyn is wielding his leverage.
www.nytimes.com
July 30, 2026
Trump Threatens to Withdraw Blanche as Attorney General, Dealing Blow to Nomination
President Trump’s threat followed a day of fruitless negotiations with two Republican holdouts, Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis.
www.nytimes.com
July 29, 2026
Vote on Blanche in Doubt After Senators Express Skepticism Over I.R.S. Provision
Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis accused the attorney general nominee of refusing to put on paper his promise to kill aspects of the deal he cut to settle President Trump’s suit against the age...
www.nytimes.com
July 28, 2026
What’s Going on With Mitch McConnell? Kentucky’s Governor Has Questions.
Gov. Andy Beshear called on Senator McConnell, who has been hospitalized since June, to prove his capacity to serve, or resign.
www.nytimes.com
July 28, 2026
Senate Democrats Press Blanche on Times Subpoenas
Days before a committee vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general, Democrats demanded answers about the since-withdrawn subpoenas.
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2026
Trump and Thune Clash Over SAVE America Act
A White House spokeswoman said President Trump’s patience was running thin. The top Senate Republican said she should try finding the votes.
www.nytimes.com
July 22, 2026
House Republicans Have Tied the Defense Policy Bill to Trump’s SAVE Act
House Republicans have tied their entire legislative agenda to President Trump’s voting restriction measure, as he has demanded.
www.nytimes.com
July 21, 2026
How Republicans Made Olive Garden Into a Voter ID Talking Point
Republicans claim that Olive Garden polices its Never-Ending Pasta Bowl more tightly than the United States does its elections. It’s not that simple.
www.nytimes.com
July 17, 2026
Trump’s Election Claims and SAVE Act Push Find Muted Response From G.O.P. Lawmakers
Most G.O.P. lawmakers had little to say about the president’s claims of election vulnerabilities, and he did not appear to move the needle on the voting restriction bill he championed.
www.nytimes.com
July 15, 2026
Todd Blanche, Trump’s Attorney General Pick, Faces Crucial Hurdle After Rocky Hearing
Even a single Republican “no” vote would block Mr. Blanche’s nomination from consideration by the full Senate, which could sink his confirmation.
www.nytimes.com
July 14, 2026
Graham’s Death Complicates G.O.P. Agenda in Congress
Senators returned to the Capitol mourning their colleague, who played pivotal roles on multiple issues confronting lawmakers.
www.nytimes.com
July 10, 2026
Trump Says He Won’t Sign Housing Bill, in Protest Over Stalled Voting Measure
The president did not say he would veto the housing legislation, so it would still become law unless he does. But his pronouncement reflects a growing rift between him and Senate Republicans.
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2026
Promising Much to Many, Johnson Loses His Grip on the House
Republicans are growing frustrated with Mr. Johnson’s approach to governing with a razor-thin majority, saying that he promises more than he can achieve, frustrating the disparate groups in his cau...
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2026
House G.O.P. Revolt Blocks Pentagon Bill
Ultraconservative lawmakers refused to back a critical procedural measure as they pressed for action on voting legislation championed by President Trump.
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2026
What Are the Paths Forward for the Housing Bill After Trump Refused to Sign It?
President Trump abruptly scrapped plans to sign a major housing bill. It could still become law, with or without a presidential signature. But Mr. Trump could also try to kill it.
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2026
Trump Refuses to Sign Housing Bill Until Divisive ‘SAVE’ Voting Act Passes Congress
The president’s announcement declared the bill to be “of minor importance” at the same time that House Republican leaders were heralding it as a major accomplishment.
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2026
After Trump’s Outburst, Senate G.O.P. Reverses Course on Iran
In a late-night vote aimed at mollifying the president, Senate Republicans rejected a resolution directing him to end the war against Iran, a day after a bipartisan rebuke.
www.nytimes.com
June 24, 2026
Trump to Meet With G.O.P. Senators Amid New Divisions
The president has been unhappy with pushback from Republican senators and a resistance to abandoning the filibuster to pass new voting restrictions.
www.nytimes.com
June 15, 2026
In the Dark on U.S.-Iran Deal, Senators Refrain From Praising It
Democrats demanded an immediate briefing and even Republicans conceded they had no information on an agreement the administration has declined to release.
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2026
Bondi, Pressed Over Epstein Files, Places Responsibility on Blanche and Patel
Her remarks, delivered during a closed-door interview before the House Oversight Committee, were a candid admission of her own powerlessness.
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2026
G.O.P. Break With Trump Reflects Limits of Party’s Post-Jan. 6 Truce
Republicans, seeing President Trump’s personal agenda diverging from their political interests, vented their outrage about paying those who threatened their lives on Jan. 6, 2021.
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2026
GOP Pulls Measure on Trump’s War Powers in Iran, Lacking Votes to Defeat It
House Republican leaders abruptly scrapped a planned vote on a measure to direct President Trump to end the conflict or win authorization for it, amid party defections and absences.
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2026
Republicans Delay Budget Votes as They Balk at Trump’s Fund
The G.O.P. abandoned its plan to quickly pass a $72 billion immigration crackdown bill as senators revolted over his plan to pay people who claim government persecution.
www.nytimes.com