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Today in Washington
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The U.S. military campaign against Iran has killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and triggered a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices surging and threatening gas price spikes for every American driver. At home, TSA agents are now working without pay on day 27 of a partial government shutdown caused by a deadlock over voter ID legislation, creating mounting airport delays nationwide.
Top Issues
Policy issues making the biggest impact right now
Biomanufacturing Excellence Act of 2025
Sens. Coons and Budd and Reps have introduced the Biomanufacturing Excellence Act of 2025, which authorizes $120 million to establish a National Biopharmaceutical Center of Excellence to scale domestic drug production and train a specialized workforce.
DETERRENT Act
Bicameral legislation has been introduced to lower the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges to $50,000 and mandate the disclosure of funds received from countries of concern.
Trending News
Bias-rated coverage from across the political spectrum
Bombing won't overthrow ruling clerics, Iran dissidents say
PARIS, March 11 (Reuters) - A senior official from a Paris-based Iranian opposition group said on Thursday that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran would not topple the clerical leadership, arguing that only a popular uprising backed by internal resistance could do so. Almost two weeks of bombing have killed around 2,000 people in Iran including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and damaged much of its military and security apparatus. Iran has responded in kind, throwing global energy markets...
First Week of Iran War Cost More Than $11 Billion, Pentagon Tells Congress
In a Capitol Hill briefing, officials gave their most comprehensive assessment of the cost of the first six days of the war, but the number omitted several aspects of the operation. Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday that they estimated the cost of the war against Iran had exceeded $11.3 billion in the first six days alone, according to three people familiar with the briefing. The estimate did not include many of the costs associated with...
Armenians and Azerbaijanis greet US-brokered peace deal with hope but also caution
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) -- Residents and politicians in Armenia and Azerbaijan responded Saturday with cautious hope -- and skepticism in some cases -- after their leaders signed a U.S.-brokered agreement at the White House aimed at ending decades of hostilities. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the agreement on Friday in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who stood between the leaders as they shook hands -- a gesture Trump...
Xi Enforces His Demand for Ethnic Unity Across China
China's new law seeks to ensure its officially recognized ethnic minorities embrace a common language and culture. Andres Martinez Casares/EPA/Shutterstock Chinese leader Xi Jinping enshrined in law his vision for a powerful China united around a single national identity, the culmination of a long-running campaign to assimilate the country's ethnic minorities. The new law adopted by China's rubber-stamp legislature on Thursday mandates the Communist Party to ensure the country's 55 officially...
Trump's war with Iran is angering some swing voters who want money spent at home
President Trump leaves after a press conference in Miami on Monday. Many of the questions asked focused on the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption Voters who helped reelect President Trump in 2024 say they don't support his decision to go to war in Iran and instead want to see U.S. tax dollars spent tackling mounting economic pressures facing most Americans. NPR observed two online focus groups on Tuesday night with 12 voters from Michigan who supported Joe...
How have US presidents tapped strategic petroleum reserves during war?
WASHINGTON, March 12 - The U.S. plans to release 172 million barrels of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, more than 40% of a wider release coordinated with allies, to help dampen prices spiked by supply disruptions from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The U.S. sale, announced late on Wednesday, is part of a 400-million-barrel release by members of the International Energy Agency. The U.S. Department of Energy said the U.S. drawdown would begin next week and take about four months. The...
17 Democratic States Sue Over Trump Demand Colleges Provide Race Data
The Trump administration wants colleges and universities to share information about the race and gender of applicants to make sure they're not using racial preferences in admissions. Several states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over its mandate that colleges share with the federal government detailed student and admissions data, which the government has said is meant to ensure schools are not using racial preferences. The Trump administration announced in August that schools...
U.S. Readies New Push Against What It Says Are Unfair Trade Practices
The Trump administration is preparing to disclose new tariff probes as soon as Wednesday that could result in higher levies on several nations over what the U.S. deems unfair trade practices, say people familiar with the plans. The investigations, run by the U.S. Trade Representative's office, will require the U.S. to consult with foreign governments and provide hearings and opportunities for comment before levies can be imposed. The tariffs are designed to replace the temporary global duties...
Policy
Executive orders and bills with simple breakdowns
Latest Executive Orders
View all executive orders ›
President Signs Order Targeting International Scam Centers and Creating New Fund for Fraud Victims
Trump Moves to End Tariffs on Imports From China, Mexico, Canada and Dozens of Other Nations
Trump Moves to End $800 Duty-Free Loophole on Small International Packages
Bills to Watch
View all bills ›
House Passes Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, Including $26B Disaster Relief Fund
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
Congress Proposes $26 Billion for Disaster Relief and New Rules for Border Security in 2026 Budget
Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026
Rep. Graves Leads Bipartisan Push for ALERT Act to Prevent Midair Collisions Near Major Airports
ALERT Act
Latest Changes
View all policy ›6 Dem · 0 Rep
Sen. Duckworth Introduces Resolution to End Unauthorized Military Action Against Iran
S.J.Res. 123 · 3 days ago
1 Dem · 0 Rep
Sen. Whitehouse Pushes to End EPA Delay on Oil and Gas Methane Rules
S.J.Res. 121 · 4 days ago
1 Dem · 0 Rep
Sen. Whitehouse Moves to Block EPA Rule Giving Power Plants More Time to Clean Up Wastewater
S.J.Res. 120 · 4 days ago
TribLIVE3 Dem · 3 Rep
Rep. Guthrie Introduces MVP Act to Link Medicaid Drug Payments to Patient Outcomes
H.R. 7871 · MVP Act · 4 days ago
BioWorldTrending Social
What politicians are saying across X, Bluesky, and Truth Social
America is returning to REAL ENERGY DOMINANCE! Today I am proud to announce that America First Refining is opening the FIRST new U.S. Oil Refinery in 50 YEARS in Brownsville, Texas. THIS IS A HISTORIC $300 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL — THE BIGGEST IN U.S. HISTORY, A MASSIVE WIN for American Workers, Energy, and the GREAT People of South Texas! Thank you to our partners in India, and their largest privately held Energy Company, Reliance, for this tremendous Investment. It is because of our America First Agenda, streamlining Permits, and lowering Taxes, that have attracted Billions of Dollars in Deals coming back to our Nation. A new Refinery at the Port of Brownsville, will fuel U.S. Markets, strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be THE CLEANEST REFINERY IN THE WORLD. It will power Global Exports, and bring THOUSANDS of long overdue Jobs and Growth to a Region that deserves it. This is what AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE looks like. AMERICA FIRST, ALWAYS!
As President Trump stated last night, the U.S. Military is making major strides toward achieving our military objectives in Operation Epic Fury.America’s warriors are winning this important fight at an even faster pace than we anticipated.The terrorists will be defeated.
The buck stops with the President, this is his war of choice.
The U.S. military is delivering DEVASTATING power against the Iranian regime. We won't stop until the military objectives are met. https://t.co/n6ABsb1ntu
Through Operation Epic Fury, we are destroying Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and weakening the regime’s ability to threaten the world with terror. None of this would be possible without our Commander in Chief, his cabinet, and our brave men and women in uniform.
America is in a housing crisis. Today, the U.S. Senate is doing something about it.