Author: Hailey Bullis, Washington Examiner
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Trump defends lifting sanctions on Iranian oil despite possible $14 billion revenue boost
President Donald Trump on Monday defended the Treasury Department‘s easing of sanctions against Iranian oil, saying he wants to have “as much oil in the system as possible.” Trump was asked about the sanctions relief, which could possibly produce $14 billion in revenue for Iran, while boarding Air Force One in Florida on Monday. “We…
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RNC bets on courts to enact voter integrity measures as SAVE America Act stalls
As the SAVE America Act draws attention on Capitol Hill despite long odds of passage, the Republican National Committee is pursuing a far-reaching legal strategy that could reshape the nation’s election rules through the courts. The RNC is involved in over 100 cases in 30 states regarding voter ID laws, election administration, noncitizen voting, and…
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Mike Waltz confirmed by Senate as Trump’s UN ambassador after monthslong delay
President Donald Trump’s pick for ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, was confirmed by the Senate on Friday. Waltz, who was Trump’s national security adviser, was confirmed 47-43. Three Democrats, Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) voted to confirm Waltz, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the sole GOP…
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Senate rejects dual Democrat and GOP funding bills ahead of shutdown deadline
The Senate on Friday rejected two proposals to temporarily fund the government, setting the stage for a government shutdown on Oct. 1 when current funding expires. The dual funding packages, one from Democrats and one from Republicans, were rejected after neither party could surpass the 60-vote threshold for passage. The Senate is now expected to…
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State Republicans signal mail voting here to stay despite Trump ire
President Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda are not shy when it comes to bending conservative norms. In his second term, states’ rights, once a rallying cry for conservatives, are under pressure. Trump has strong-armed private companies and universities, and is putting pressure on state election authorities. This Washington Examiner series, Upend the Orthodoxy, will…
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Hurricane watch: Trump’s remade weather agencies in the eye of the DOGE storm
President Donald Trump’s slimming down of the federal government is having ripple effects on how the United States’s weather agencies operate ahead of hurricane season. In Trump’s second term, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has faced budget cuts and staffing reductions, while the National Weather Service has dealt with personnel shortages. A budget blueprint…
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House takes up ‘Gulf of America’ renaming legislation next week
The House is poised to take up legislation next week to rename the coastal body of water that stretches from Florida to Texas the Gulf of America. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to vote on advancing the legislation on Monday, sending it to the full floor for a vote later in the week. The…
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Trump ‘gold card’ proposal faced pushback during House Judiciary budget talks
President Donald Trump‘s proposal to sell $5 million “gold card” visas caused friction during the House Judiciary Committee‘s talks for his “one, big beautiful bill” after a member unsuccessfully pushed for its inclusion. Its absence from the 116-page legislative text dealing with immigration fees comes as Trump administration officials tout the gold cards as an…
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Cornyn asks DOJ to investigate whether proposed Muslim-focused community violates federal law
EXCLUSIVE — Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is asking the Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into a proposed Muslim-focused community development in Josephine, Texas. In a letter to the Justice Department sent Friday, Cornyn asks the agency to investigate whether the community, which would cater to Texas’s Muslim population, would violate the…
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Michael Bennet launches bid for Colorado governor to succeed term-limited Jared Polis
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) will run for governor of Colorado and attempt to keep the state under Democratic control after the term-limited Gov. Jared Polis steps down. The state’s senior senator announced his entrance into Colorado’s 2026 gubernatorial race in a video on Friday. Polis, who has led the state since 2019, is term-limited and…