Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Jun 23, 2026

Congress Passes 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (Senate 85-5, House 358-32) — Trump Cancels Signing Ceremony

Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing-affordability bill in decades, with the Senate approving it 85-5 on June 22, 2026 and the House passing it 358-32 on June 23, 2026. All 32 House no votes and all five Senate no votes were Republicans; all Democrats present voted yes. The bipartisan package streamlines federal housing-finance regulations, lets some builders bypass environmental reviews, creates a grant program for preapproved housing designs, and limits large institutional investors from buying single-family homes. It was led by Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren, and House Financial Services Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters. In a twist, President Trump abruptly canceled the planned signing ceremony, calling the bill "a yawn" and vowing not to sign it until Congress passes the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

Trump and Pezeshkian Sign US–Iran Ceasefire Memorandum; Hormuz Standoff and Invasion Threat Follow

On June 17, 2026, President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remotely signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding extending the 2026 Iran war ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and lifting the US naval blockade while negotiators pursued a final nuclear deal. The framework drew sharp bipartisan criticism in Washington, with Republican hawks calling the terms a capitulation and Democrats saying Iran had "won" the negotiation. The truce frayed on June 20 when Iran's IRGC Navy declared it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, though US Central Command said traffic continued to flow. On June 21 Trump warned in a Fox News phone interview that if Iran closed the strait "you won't have a country," and separately threatened to impose US tolls on the waterway if a final deal was not reached within 60 days. On June 23 the Senate advanced a war powers resolution rebuking Trump's handling of the conflict.

Fight Over Clean FISA Section 702 Reauthorization

A conservative revolt in the House derailed President Trump's push for a clean 18-month reauthorization of FISA Section 702, the warrantless surveillance authority set to expire April 20. After Speaker Mike Johnson pulled the procedural rule vote on April 15 when it became clear he couldn't hold his caucus, leadership tried again on April 16 — but roughly 20 Republicans joined Democrats in tanking both a 5-year and the 18-month extension. In a chaotic late-night session, the House passed a 10-day stopgap extension through April 30 via voice vote at 2 AM on April 17. Rebels demanded warrant protections for Americans' communications and attachment of the SAVE America Act. Trump called FISA 702 vital for "SUCCESS on the battlefield," while civil-liberties critics from both parties — Raskin, Davidson, Wyden, Massie, Boebert, Luna — argued the administration had dismantled oversight safeguards. The fight resumes before April 30.

Trump Claims California Primary Is Being "Stolen"; AG Bonta Calls Claims "Unhinged"

Following California's June 3, 2026 primary elections, President Trump repeatedly posted on Truth Social claiming Democrats were "stealing" the vote as mail ballots continued to be counted — a normal process in a high-mail-vote state. The US Attorney's office in California opened "multiple" election fraud investigations at Trump's urging with no specific evidence provided. California AG Rob Bonta called Trump's claims "truly embarrassing, unhinged, wild-eyed, dangerous, reckless, desperate," and Gov. Newsom's press office mocked the president. Analysts warned the episode previewed midterm election denial tactics.

Iran and Israel Trade Missiles for First Time Since April Ceasefire; Trump Claims "Total Victory" Near

Iran fired approximately 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on June 7–8, 2026 — the first such attack since an April 8 ceasefire — after Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanon. Israel retaliated with strikes on central and western Iran before both sides announced a halt to hostilities on Day 100–101 of the Iran war. Trump publicly called for an "immediate ceasefire" while privately warning Netanyahu he might be "left alone," and declared "total victory" would come within two weeks. JD Vance acknowledged that US and Israeli interests had "diverged" in the conflict, and Trump told the Financial Times "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn't call the shots."

Senate Confirms Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair in Closest Vote in Modern Era

The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as Chairman of the Federal Reserve on May 13, 2026, in a 54-45 vote — the narrowest margin for a Fed chair in the modern era of Senate confirmations (since 1977). Warsh replaces Jerome Powell, whose term expires May 15. The confirmation came in two steps: the Senate first confirmed Warsh as a Fed Board Governor (51-45) on May 12, then as Chairman (54-45) on May 13. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to cross the aisle in both votes; Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) voted yes on the governor confirmation but not the chair vote. President Trump has repeatedly pressured the Fed to lower interest rates and once declared that "anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman." Democrats warned the confirmation would give Trump effective control over the central bank. Warsh pledged at his April 2026 hearing to be "an independent actor" and said the president never asked him to commit to any specific rate decision.

Trump Forces Out FDA Commissioner Marty Makary After 13 Months

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary resigned on May 12, 2026 after President Trump signed off on his ouster — ending a turbulent 13-month tenure marked by conflicts with the White House, anti-abortion groups, and the vaping industry. Makary was caught in crossfire from multiple directions: Trump was furious that Makary tried to block FDA approval of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, citing their appeal to children. Anti-abortion groups including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America demanded his removal for slow-walking a safety review of the abortion pill mifepristone. Pharmaceutical industry allies were also critical of his leadership style. Trump praised Makary as a "wonderful man" who would "lead a good life." Kyle Diamantas, the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Food, was named acting FDA chief pending a permanent replacement requiring Senate confirmation. Democrats praised Makary as someone who resisted White House pressure on vaping, while several Republican senators — unhappy about the mifepristone delay — welcomed his departure and called for a more explicitly pro-life successor.

Trump and Xi Hold High-Stakes Beijing Summit; China Warns Over Taiwan

President Trump traveled to Beijing on May 13-14, 2026 for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — the first U.S. presidential state visit to China in years. Xi placed Taiwan at the center of talks, calling it "the most important issue" and warning that if it is "mishandled," the two countries "will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy." The two leaders agreed on a framework for "constructive strategic stability," that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, and that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons. Trade, tariffs, AI, and rare earths were also on the agenda. A major pre-summit flashpoint: Trump had not formally notified Congress of a $14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan that Congress pre-approved in January 2025. A bipartisan group of eight senators — led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) — sent Trump a letter urging him to proceed with the sale. A second bipartisan letter, led by Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Curtis (R-UT), urged Secretary Rubio to reaffirm U.S. commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Trump Ousts Five Indiana Republicans Who Blocked Redistricting Push

In Indiana's May 6, 2026 state Senate primaries, Trump-backed challengers defeated five incumbent Republican state senators who had voted against Trump's redistricting push last year. The redistricting bill had failed 31-19 in the Indiana Senate, with 21 Republicans joining Democrats to reject it. Trump vowed in November to primary any Republican who voted against the measure, and groups allied with him spent over $12 million across the seven contested races. The victories — including the defeat of 30-year veteran Travis Holdman, the chamber's third-most powerful Republican — cemented Trump's grip over the GOP and sent a stark warning to any Republican who crosses him on redistricting or other issues ahead of 2026 midterms.

Trump Brokers 3-Day Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Ahead of Victory Day

On May 8–9, 2026, President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 3-day ceasefire (May 9–11), coinciding with Russia's Victory Day commemorations, along with a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. Trump called it potentially "the beginning of the end" of the four-year war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The ceasefire largely failed to hold — both sides accused the other of violations, with Russia's Defense Ministry claiming over 23,000 Ukrainian violations and Ukraine reporting Russian drone and artillery strikes on civilian areas of Kharkiv and Kherson that killed at least two people on May 11. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus — co-chaired by Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Quigley (D-IL), Kaptur (D-OH), and Wilson (R-SC) — had backed Ukraine's ceasefire proposal in the days before the announcement, calling on Russia to demonstrate good faith.

Ohio and Indiana May Primaries Test Trump's Midterm Influence

On May 5, 2026, Ohio and Indiana held primary elections that served as early tests of both Trump's hold on the Republican Party and Democratic enthusiasm heading into the 2026 midterms. In Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy — the former biotech entrepreneur and 2024 presidential candidate — won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will face Democratic nominee Amy Acton, the former state health director who gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the marquee US Senate primary, former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown secured his party's nomination to challenge Republican Senator Jon Husted in what is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle. Pre-election data showed Democratic primary turnout outpacing Republican turnout by roughly 11%, a potential indicator of elevated Democratic enthusiasm. In Indiana, Trump invested heavily in ousting state Senate Republicans who had voted against his redistricting agenda, and at least five of seven Trump-backed challengers defeated incumbent GOP state senators — a striking demonstration of Trump's continued primary-election dominance within the party. $13.4 million was spent on Indiana state Senate primary advertising, up from $280,000 in 2024.

Trump Administration Claims Iran War "Terminated" to Dodge 60-Day War Powers Deadline

On May 1, 2026, the Trump administration declared that the Iran war has been "terminated" for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution — a legal maneuver designed to avoid the law's requirement that Congress authorize military action within 60 days of its start. A senior administration official stated that "the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28 have terminated," pointing to the US-Iran ceasefire agreed on April 7 and its subsequent extensions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the ceasefire effectively paused or stopped the 60-day clock entirely. Trump separately sent a letter to congressional leaders formalizing the declaration and called the War Powers Act itself "totally unconstitutional." On May 5, Secretary of State Rubio formally declared Operation Epic Fury — the offensive bombing campaign — concluded, with the US transitioning to the defensive Project Freedom mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Critics and legal experts continued to reject the administration's interpretation. Democrats noted that Senate Republicans had blocked a war powers resolution for the sixth time, while moderate Republicans including Susan Collins and Rand Paul broke with leadership to demand congressional authorization. Congress then left town for a week recess without taking action.

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