section
Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
3652 stories archived
H.R. 4122: Health Care for Energy Workers Act of 2025
Ordered Reported: Last Action: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 0. Explanation: The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on June 25, 2026.
H.R. 2555: Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025
Ordered Reported: Last Action: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15. Explanation: The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on June 25, 2026.
H.R. 9203: Student Protection and University Accountability Act
Ordered Reported: Last Action: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15. Explanation: The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on June 25, 2026.
H.Res. 1383: Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts.
Bill Text: This resolution's text for status (June 25, 2026) is now available.
Papua New Guinea faces severe food shortages as El Niño brings frost and drought
Oxfam predicts PNG will be worst-hit country in Pacific from the weather pattern, with up to 3 million people affected nationwide Families across Papua New Guinea’s Highlands are facing depleted harvests and the threat of hunger after the El Niño weather pattern brought frost and prolonged dry conditions that have destroyed food gardens providing sustenance and income for thousands of households. The effects of El Niño emerged in recent weeks, bringing drought conditions, falling water levels and frost that are threatening food security in some of the country’s most agriculturally productive regions. Continue reading...
Motion to Proceed on S.J.Res. 185: A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
Vote: Motion to Proceed Rejected 47/50 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Yea Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Yea
Teen found not guilty of plotting terror attack on Peter Dutton after court hears of ‘edgy joke’
Queensland boy, now aged 17, wrote of ‘autistic interest in bombs’ alongside notes speaking to his troubled state of mind, court told Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A teenager accused of plotting nailbomb attacks against the then opposition leader Peter Dutton and a Labour Day march has been found not guilty of preparing a terrorist act. The jury returned its verdict on Thursday after two days of deliberation. Continue reading...
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Matthew A. Schwartz, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit: Matthew A. Schwartz, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit
Vote: Cloture Motion Agreed to 52/45 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay
Trump kicks off America’s 250th celebration with campaign-style rally
President on National Mall rattles off list of apparent victories and says ‘I am thrilled to declare America is back’ Donald Trump kicked off what was intended to be a “spectacular birthday party” for American’s 250th year of independence with a political rally touting his presidency. “I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump said at the opening ceremony for the Great American State Fair in Washington DC, held on the National Mall. “As you know very well, a short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us any more.” Continue reading...
Victorian Liberal party in turmoil as MP denies colleague’s accusations of assault
Police confirm they are investigating as sources close to accused MP say he vehemently denies the allegations and is considering legal action Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A female Victorian Liberal MP has accused a member of her party room of assaulting her at a community event, throwing the party into turmoil just five months out from the state election. Sources close to the accused MP said he vehemently denies the allegation and is considering a defamation legal action against his colleague. Continue reading...
Motion to Proceed on S.J.Res. 196: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Pr
Vote: Motion to Proceed Rejected 45/52 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Yea Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Yea
Duck off: World Cup hero Merlín barred from Mexico game due to Fifa’s animal ban
World’s sixth-most famous duck falls short of dream Two-year-old must watch Czechia game from distance Merlín the duck ’s bid to see his beloved Mexico live has hit a snag after he was barred from El Tri’s match with Czechia on Wednesday. Merlín has become a folk hero in Mexico after becoming a symbol of El Tri’s World Cup campaign on home soil. His fans had launched a campaign for Merlín to attend Wednesday’s match alongside his human family. But his journey was cut short by Fifa regulations. Continue reading...
Trump news at a glance: US president holds a rare bipartisan bill hostage
Trump says he’ll sign housing bill aimed at lowering costs only after Senate passes restrictive voting measure – key US politics stories from Wednesday 24 June at a glance Despite rare and overwhelming bipartisan support, a US bill aimed at lowering the cost of housing for Americans is being held hostage by Donald Trump . The president said he won’t sign the 21st Century Road to Housing Act until the Senate meets his demand to pass the Save America Act , which would dramatically change voting regulations by requiring proof of citizenship at voter registration and significantly curtail mail-in voting. Continue reading...
Venezuela earthquakes live updates: buildings collapse in Caracas as officials warn ‘high casualties’ likely
Two powerful earthquakes – with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 – sent residents running into the streets as buildings shook and collapsed Venezuela earthquake: powerful back-to-back quakes collapse buildings in capital Caracas Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas. The US Geological Survey said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón , located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas . The quake had a depth of 13km (8 miles). Continue reading...
Venezuela rocked by powerful back-to-back earthquakes
Homes and buildings collapse in first magnitude 7.1 earthquake, with tremors felt in neighbouring Colombia A strong earthquake shook north-central Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, west of Caracas, with residents in neighbouring Colombia also reporting feeling tremors. The earthquake registered at a magnitude 7.1 in Venezuela, about an hour west of the city Valencia at a depth of 13km (8 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. Continue reading...
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Arthur Roberts Jones to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas: Arthur Roberts Jones, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas
Vote: Cloture Motion Agreed to 50/44 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay
Met gets extension to AI project with spy tech firm Palantir after mayor blocked deal
Sadiq Khan said procurement rules had been broken but allows police another 12 months to operate pilot in London The Metropolitan police has been granted a 12-month extension to a pilot project with the spy tech firm Palantir while the force carries out a procurement process. The development comes weeks after the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, blocked a £50m deal between the Met and the US company to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations. Continue reading...
Last Islamic State-linked Australian woman from Syrian camp to return despite previous ban
Home affairs minister Tony Burke says return permit ‘has to be issued’ following advice from agencies and lawyers Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An Australian woman linked to the Islamic State group has been given authorisation to return to Australia, after the government was advised it could no longer enforce a criminal exclusion order. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the woman would face an unprecedented level of security monitoring once she arrives in the country, including constant monitoring and requirements to report to authorities regularly. Continue reading...
Four in five under-16s in Australia using social media despite ban, study shows
Experts say law not enough to stop children accessing harmful content online and more ‘convincing strategy is required’ More than 80% of under-16s in Australia said they were still using social media three months after legislation banning them from it came into force, research shows. Australia is the first country to ban social media for children. Since December 2025, under-16s have been prohibited from having accounts with many social media platforms including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Continue reading...
‘It’s unimaginable’: deadly shooting shatters sense of safety in California city
Teen fatally shot two people on Monday at library in Chico, which has faced deadly wildfires and nearby shootings Even before a teenager strolled into the public library in Chico where police say he fatally shot two people on Monday afternoon, this building stood apart in the northern California community. It is the only public library that serves the city of about 107,000 people, and most residents have some connection to it. Continue reading...
Bill Gates says Epstein sought to blackmail him over extramarital affairs
Transcript of congressional testimony shows Microsoft founder spoke of ‘veiled’ threats made by late sex offender Microsoft founder Bill Gates told US members of Congress that the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had sought to “blackmail” him over his extramarital affairs, according to a transcript of the testimony. The tech pioneer testified behind closed doors before the House oversight committee on 10 June regarding his friendship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 as he awaited trial for sex crimes. Continue reading...
On the Nomination PN930-2: Michael J. Hendershot, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio
Vote: Nomination Confirmed 50/44 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay
H.R. 915: Small Business Technological Act of 2025
Vote: Passed 414/4 Rep. Krishnamoorthi [D-IL8]: Yea
H.R. 7401: Small Business Lending Fraud Prevention Act
Vote: Passed 415/0 Rep. Krishnamoorthi [D-IL8]: Yea