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
Climate Protesters Aside, Energy Nominee Gets Mostly Warm Reception From Senate Panel
Chris Wright, nominated to lead the Department of Energy, received a generally warm welcome from senators of both parties at his Senate committee confirmation hearing Wednesday—despite raucous protests from climate activists. Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a natural gas company based in his home state of Colorado. Wright made clear in his opening…George Caldwell -
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AG Nominee Bondi Clashes With Democratic Senators in Confirmation Hearing
Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi vowed Wednesday that her focus, if confirmed, would be on restoring integrity to a politicized Justice Department and to “make America safe again,” as she fended off criticism from Democratic senators. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. While Republicans on…Fred Lucas -
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Pete Hegseth Survives Contentious Hearing in Key Senate Confirmation Battle
Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, veterans advocate, and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Some senators tested the nominee’s mettle on defense issues, while others—primarily Democrats on the panel—honed in on allegations, most of them made anonymously, of…Bradley Devlin -
- Opinion
‘They’re Missing the Point.’ Pastor and Member of Congress Responds to ACLU Pro-Illegal Immigrant PR Campaign
The American Civil Liberties Union has launched a publicity campaign aimed at pushing back on President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport illegal aliens. But pastor and Congressman Mark Harris, R-N.C., says the ACLU is “missing the point that not all of these folks that are coming are asylum seekers.” “If you really were compassionate and…Virginia Allen -
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Dem Senators From Laken Riley’s Home State Won’t Say How They’ll Vote on Namesake Bill
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—The two Democratic senators representing Laken Riley’s home state of Georgia remain noncommittal on legislation bearing her name nearly a year after she was murdered by an illegal migrant. The Senate is slated to hold a procedural vote on the Laken Riley Act, legislation that requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law…Adam Pack -
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Thune Officially Minted Senate Majority Leader, Promises to Keep Filibuster
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., took office as Senate majority leader Friday, telling fellow senators in his introductory speech that he would be a moderating force in government as Republicans attempt to pursue an aggressive agenda in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Thune promised to protect the filibuster rule—which Trump has previously criticized—in order…George Caldwell -
- Opinion
Why Is Congress Funding the Failing Department of Education?
Since its creation in May 1980, the Left has demanded Republicans justify opposing federal intervention in U.S. education. However, with President-elect Donald Trump‘s Department of Government Efficiency now promising to “outright delete” the Department of Education, it’s time to flip the script. The real question isn’t, “Why should we eliminate the Department of Education?” It’s, “How can Congress possibly…Kevin Roberts -
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What’s Hidden in Spending Bill Congress Must Pass to Keep the Government Open?
President-elect Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans on Wednesday to renegotiate a spending bill designed to avert a partial government shutdown. Entering the final month of Joe Biden’s presidency, leaders of Trump’s government efficiency panel also strongly oppose the so-called continuing resolution as drafted. The 1,547-page spending bill would increase congressional salaries from $174,000 to $243,000,…Fred Lucas -
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Congress Sneaks Massive Pay Raise for Itself Into Spending Bill as Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Members of Congress are slated to receive a pay raise for the first time in 15 years if the massive spending bill released by House leaders Tuesday evening passes both chambers and is signed into law. The 1,574-page bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), contains language allowing for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA),…Adam Pack -
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Football Coach-Turned-Senator’s Playbook for Saving Women’s Sports
Between transgender-identifying men competing in women’s sports and women’s limited athletics funding coming from so-called Name, Image, and Likeness policies, Sen. Tommy Tuberville says, there will be no women’s sports left in five years unless something is done. Tuberville, R-Ala., a former Auburn University football coach, met with President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
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EXCLUSIVE: Conservative Leaders Urge Senators to Block Woke Efforts to Pack Supreme Court
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A coalition of conservative leaders, led by a think tank founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, is urging the Senate to maintain the integrity of the Supreme Court by passing a constitutional amendment. “With the recent election representing a resounding rejection of such proposals,” the letter to U.S. senators says,…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
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Hunter Biden Corruption ‘Deeper’ Than ‘Drug and Gun Crimes,’ GOP Senator Says After Pardon
The presidential pardon of Hunter Biden underscores the corruption of the Biden-Harris Justice Department and leaves unanswered questions about the depth of the president’s son’s crimes, Republican members of Congress say. “While the FBI intentionally covered up 17 audio recordings of Joe and Hunter Biden to shield them from accountability, it showed no remorse in…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
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Does DOGE Need Congress for Massive Budget Cutting?
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, met over the weekend with President-elect Donald Trump and his choices to slash billions if not trillions of dollars in federal spending—entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The Musk- and Ramaswamy-led Department of Government Efficiency is expected to work closely with the new Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget to…Fred Lucas -
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The Most Trumpian Lawmaker Should Replace Vance in Ohio’s Senate Seat
Sen. JD Vance just won a promotion to vice president. The Ohio Republican lawmaker and his incoming boss—once-and-future President Donald Trump—did so in mandate-producing fashion. Beyond just their trouncing of Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Trump and Vance also outperformed just about all down-ballot Republicans. That makes the Senate Republicans’ choice as their leader—K…Seton Motley -
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Heritage Launches $1 Million Campaign to Expedite Senate Confirmation of Trump’s Cabinet Picks
The Heritage Foundation and its independent partner, Heritage Action for America, on Thursday launched what they describe as a $1 million campaign aimed at expediting Senate confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump’s second-term Cabinet appointments. The campaign will officially start in the middle of January 2025 and will continue for the entirety of the Senate…Christina Lewis -
- Opinion
Democrats’ Brazen Hypocrisy on Senate Filibuster
Addressing the Democratic National Committee’s summer meeting Sept. 10, 2022, in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, Vice President Kamala Harris boasted about how, as president of the Senate, she had broken “John Adams’s record of casting the most tiebreaking votes in a single term.” Harris was reliving how, a month earlier on Aug. 7, she had…Peter Parisi -
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How Many of 20 Senate Republicans Who Voted for Merrick Garland as AG Now Have Doubts About Matt Gaetz?
Some of the 20 Senate Republicans who voted to confirm President Joe Biden’s pick of Merrick Garland for attorney general already are shaking their heads at President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee as the nation’s top law enforcer. Several of those GOP senators have spoken out against Trump’s choice last week of Matt Gaetz for attorney…Christina Lewis -
- Opinion
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Ted Cruz on the Judicial Appointments Senate Fistfight
Sen. Ted Cruz joins “The Tony Kinnett Cast” to discuss President Donald Trump’s first 100 days, whether President Joe Biden’s remaining judicial nominees will get confirmed, and what the American people want lawmaekrs to do. Watch above or read a lightly-edited transcript below. Tony Kinnett: Welcome back to “The Tony Kinnett Cast” here on The Daily…Tony Kinnett -
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Senate Republicans Choose New Leader for First Time in 18 Years
For the first time in 18 years, Republicans in the Senate have a new leader. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., will replace outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as the conference’s frontman. The new leader will have the hard task of passing President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda through the upper chamber of Congress. Though Republicans have…Bradley Devlin -
- Opinion
Key Endorsements for Rick Scott Shake Up Senate Leadership Race
As the race to become the new Republican Senate leader goes down to the wire, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is gaining momentum. A slew of endorsements came in for Scott over Veterans Day weekend as the Senate GOP conference prepared to choose a new leader for the first time in 18 years. Scott is pitted…Bradley Devlin