U.S. Senate News
This section focuses on the upper chamber of Congress, from major policy debates to confirmation hearings. The Daily Signal provides a conservative look at Senate priorities.
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news
Will the House Do as the Senate Tells It on Reconciliation?
In the wee hours of Thursday morning, the Senate adopted a budget framework to provide funds for immigration enforcement that Democrats have denied since February. But getting that framework through the House in order to ultimately send a bill to the president’s desk may be a challenge. Senate Republicans are pursuing a two-track approach—a party-line… -
exclusive
Thune Wants Senators to Stop Talking About This Trump Priority
Senate Majority Leader John Thune encouraged senators to stop talking about President Donald Trump’s stated priority of nuking the filibuster, according to two sources familiar with the matter. After a few moderates at the Senate’s Wednesday steering lunch urged the Republican conference not to talk about nuking the filibuster, Thune agreed that the move lacks… -
news
Senate Advances Massive Border Funding Plan. Will It Survive?
The Senate is rapidly pursuing a plan to inject funds into Department of Homeland Security immigration agencies that Democrats have denied funding. Congressional leaders will have the potentially difficult task of uniting their slim majorities around the plan and settling disagreements on how ambitious it should be ahead of midterms that could strip Republicans of… -
opinion
SCORE Act Offers Permanent Fix to College Sports Disorder
College sports generate excitement and bring communities together in a unique way. They inspire pride in our schools, create lifelong memories, and enable young Americans to pursue education while excelling in sports. But the future of this prized institution is far from guaranteed and requires legislative action to permanently fix long-standing issues. New uncertainties took… -
news
Dem Senator Clarifies ‘Sarcastic’ Post About Iran Breaking US Blockade
Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut faced backlash for his reaction to news of Iranian shadow fleet vessels bypassing a U.S. blockade before clarifying on Tuesday that his original social media post was “sarcasm.” On Monday, Murphy reposted a report on X of at least 26 Iranian shadow fleet vessels breaking through a U.S. blockade… -
news
Tillis ‘Loved’ Kevin Warsh’s Fed Philosophy, But Maintains ‘No’ Vote
Sen. Thom Tillis praised President Donald Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, but he maintained that he will not support Warsh as long as Trump is investigating current chair Jerome Powell. “I look forward to supporting your nomination, and I look forward to this investigation being taken down,” the North Carolina Republican told… -
opinion
Opportunities for Improvement in the Senate’s Housing Act
The Senate’s 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a compendium of smaller housing acts, contains much that could help working Americans. Most notably, it contains provisions that would make receiving permits easier, update rules for building modular and manufactured houses, and reduce duplicative government reviews. The bill has its weaknesses, though—primarily a tendency to lapse into the… -
news
4 Senate Race Predictions Shift in Political Forecast
As midterm elections loom, a major political forecaster is shifting its predictions in four Senate races to be more favorable for Democrats. While it is an uphill climb for Democrats to take back the upper chamber, changing Cook Political Report race ratings suggest there might be a chance. “With an increasingly sour national environment for… -
news
Georgia Official Charged With COVID-19 Fraud Runs for State Senate, While 2 Others Plead Guilty
A suspended member of the Georgia House of Representatives announced she will run for the state Senate despite being charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with COVID-19 unemployment fraud, while two of her former colleagues have already pleaded guilty to similar offenses. Former state Reps. Dexter L. Sharper and Karen L. Bennett, along with… -
news
GOP Announces a Historic Investment to Save the Senate Majority
The Senate Leadership Fund, a conservative super PAC, announced it is investing $342 million across eight different 2026 Senate races. The massive advertisement buy, announced Monday, is the largest investment SLF has ever made in an election cycle, and it represents a different approach. “[The] Senate Leadership Fund is better positioned than ever to execute… -
news
GOP Rising Star Backs Paxton’s Senate Bid
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate primary bid just received a big endorsement from one of the Republican Party’s rising stars. On Thursday, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, officially endorsed Paxton’s effort to primary Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “I am officially endorsing [Ken Paxton] to be our next senator from Texas,” Gill wrote on X…. -
news
A GOP Senator’s Fight for Life Continues on Capitol Hill
Taxpayers’ money once spent on funding abortions could now be permanently safeguarded for pregnancy centers to support women and families. The federal government grants more than $16 billion every year to support families, and soon that could include protecting life. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has reintroduced the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act… -
news
Paid Family Leave Receives Bipartisan Push in Ohio Senate
Father with a newborn baby beautiful photos of a young adult man holding little son, paternity leave – stock photo With love of photography (Getty Images) -
news
Shutdown Drags On: House Votes to Fully Fund DHS After ‘Inappropriate’ Senate Deal
The House of Representatives on Friday rejected the Senate’s deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security without funding border security, instead voting to fully fund the department until May 22. The House passed a continuing resolution to fully fund DHS for 60 days on a mostly party-line vote with three Democrats defecting to join… -
news
Senate Jams House With DHS Funding Bill in Dead of Night
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate voted to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security while excluding funding for immigration law enforcement agencies. The deal, which passed by unanimous consent at around 2:30 a.m., could put an end to chaos at airports across the nation but may upset hardliners in both… -
news
Why Can’t the Senate Come to a Deal on DHS?
In the sixth week of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, the Senate still cannot come to a deal to fund the agency, despite both sides having presented a wide spectrum of proposals. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced he had sent Democrats “what I think is our last and final [offer],… -
news
Maine Mamdani? Hard-Left Senate Candidate Surges in New Poll
Graham Platner, a hard-left Democrat who has accused Israel of “genocide” and called for “Medicare for All,” leads every candidate in a new poll for Maine’s 2026 Senate race. Republican Sen. Susan Collins is seeking reelection and has two major challengers in the Democrat Senate primary: Platner and Gov. Janet Mills. In new polling from… -
news
Talking, Nuking, or Voting on the Filibuster: Where Does GOP Senate Infighting Go From Here?
The SAVE America Act has split the Senate GOP on the filibuster. As the election integrity measure struggles through the Senate slog, one Republican senator is calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to nuke the filibuster. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., wrote an opinion in the Wall Street Journal calling on his Republican colleagues… -
news
House Activates GOP Grassroots to Put Pressure on Senate to Pass SAVE America Act
House Republicans are activating the grassroots to pressure the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act. The Senate is currently engaged in an extended debate of the voter integrity legislation called for by President Donald Trump. The bill includes requiring proof of citizenship to vote and nationwide voter ID. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., is also… -
news
Ousted FBI Agents Sue Before Senate Prepares to Uncover New Details of ‘Arctic Frost’
Days before the Senate is set to delve into the Justice Department’s potentially politicized conduct during the Biden administration, two ousted FBI agents involved in the “Arctic Frost” operation sued the Trump administration. The two special agents, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, worked from November 2022 to June…