Senate Republicans

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, escalating a long-running confrontation between the former chief medical adviser and Republican lawmakers over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The move could set up a full Senate vote or further legal action. Supporters of Fauci call it political retaliation, while critics say he has failed to cooperate with oversight.

New polling in the Texas US Senate race is drawing attention as voters and commentators assess where the contest stands. Recent surveys are fueling debate about the state of the race, candidate positioning, and whether the margin reflects a competitive contest in a state that has often leaned Republican in recent election cycles.

A Republican senator has publicly called on President Trump to bring the conflict with Iran to an end. The remarks put the senator at odds with more hawkish voices in the party and add to pressure within GOP ranks over the direction of US policy toward Iran. Details of the senator's identity and reasoning were not immediately available.

Former special counsel Jack Smith is testifying publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee as Republican lawmakers examine the Justice Department investigations he led into Donald Trump. The hearings, covered live by major outlets, are expected to focus on how the classified documents and election interference cases were conducted. The appearance marks a rare public account from Smith, who brought two federal criminal cases against Trump.

Senator Roger Marshall's re-election campaign in Kansas has drawn attention for how credit card issues are playing into the race. Commentators describe it as the latest example of how the Trump era has scrambled the traditional alliance between the Republican Party and the banking industry, with payments policy emerging as an unexpected campaign issue.

Senator Chris Van Hollen is featured in a discussion examining why Congress has not done more to check President Trump's power. The conversation, published on Lever News, focuses on the reluctance of lawmakers—particularly in his own party—to confront the administration, and what it would take for Congress to assert its constitutional role as a co-equal branch of government.

The Republican primary contest between Ken Paxton and_chip Roy rival Colin Talarico for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas is on track to break the state's record for campaign spending in a Senate election, according to Houston Public Media. The race is drawing heavy financial investment from both sides as the contest intensifies.

Discussion is growing over Mitch McConnell's medical condition, with commentators arguing it raises serious questions about his capacity to continue serving in the Senate and in Republican leadership. The longtime Kentucky senator has faced repeated public episodes raising concerns about his health, and observers are debating what it means for the future of GOP leadership.

Jim Justice, the West Virginia governor and US senator, is back in the political conversation as commentary resurfaces around the midterm cycle. A Vox piece examining how Democrats miscalculated on immigration enforcement, including ICE, has put figures like Justice back into discussion about the broader electoral landscape and party strategy.

Senator John Fetterman has joined fellow Democrats in issuing a warning to Senator Mark Mullin and the Department of Homeland Security over election interference concerns. The move pairs the often independently minded Pennsylvania Democrat with his party on an election-security matter, pressing federal authorities and Republican counterparts to take the threat more seriously ahead of upcoming votes.

The US Senate has blocked a Republican-backed bill that would have restricted stock trading by members of Congress. The measure, aimed at addressing concerns over conflicts of interest among lawmakers, failed to advance. Efforts to ban or limit congressional stock trading have drawn bipartisan public support but repeatedly stalled in the chamber.

North Carolina Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley dismissed a poll showing Democrat Roy Cooper with a large lead in the state's 2026 U.S. Senate race, calling it a 'trash poll.' The race is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country, and Whatley's sharp response underscores how seriously Republicans are taking Cooper's potential candidacy.

Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is being named in political discussion as a possible vice-presidential pick on a JD Vance ticket for the 2028 US presidential election. The talk is speculative at this stage, with no announcement from either politician, but it reflects early jockeying over the Republican field once Donald Trump's second term ends.

Senator Eric Schmitt is facing scrutiny over possible perjury in connection with former special counsel Jack Smith, according to Fast Company. The piece suggests Schmitt shows no indication he believes he did anything wrong, and the story is drawing attention as observers debate the legal and political consequences for the Missouri Republican.

Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in Ohio on Saturday alongside U.S. Senator Jon Husted. The event comes as Husted's race remains closely contested, and observers are watching whether Trump's appearance can energize Republican voters and tip the balance in the final stretch of the campaign.

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff is a focus of online search interest in the United States. The discussion comes as Republicans weigh their 2026 Senate prospects: Senator Thom Tillis said the North Carolina race cannot be treated as a lost cause, arguing the party must fight for 'the higher purpose of keeping a majority.' Ossoff's seat is seen as a prime Republican target.

Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is generating discussion as a possible vice presidential pick on a ticket with JD Vance in the 2028 election. Commenters are weighing his prospects and profile as early speculation about the next Republican ticket begins to build.

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before Congress, facing questions over his investigations into Donald Trump. The hearing came after a Republican senator publicly accused Smith of perjury, but that accusation failed to hold up under scrutiny during the proceedings. The clash drew wide attention, with critics accusing the senator of grandstanding and defenders arguing Smith's testimony raised legitimate questions about the federal cases against the president.

Senator Ted Cruz wants his Republican colleagues to make a bill on college sports a campaign issue, according to Semafor. The measure concerns the regulation of college athletics, an area where Congress has faced growing pressure to act on issues such as athlete compensation. Beyond the call to campaign on it, details of the bill's provisions and prospects were not given.

Senate Democrats blocked legislation to ban or restrict stock trading by members of Congress, denying Republicans a legislative win ahead of the midterm elections. The measure would have barred lawmakers from trading individual stocks, an issue with broad public support but disagreement over details and timing. The failed vote leaves the dispute unresolved heading into the campaign season.

Bob Chew, a third-party candidate for the US Senate in Colorado, is increasing his advertising spending in the state by $1.5 million. The investment is a notable sum for a candidate outside the two major parties and signals an effort to raise his profile among Colorado voters. The move comes as the Senate race draws attention, with his campaign seeking to compete for visibility against better-funded Democratic and Republican contenders.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Donald Trump in 2023, testified again before Congress on Tuesday, this time before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Coverage highlights a confident performance from Smith and an awkward moment for Republican questioners, with commentators framing the hearing as a test of the investigations into the now-president.

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt pressed former special counsel Jack Smith during congressional testimony, suggesting Smith attended a 2024 basketball game in Atlanta and may have met Fani Willis, the prosecutor who pursued a case against Donald Trump in Georgia. The line of questioning drew attention as Smith defended himself, and the exchange quickly became a talking point in coverage of the hearing.

The US Senate has adjourned until November, leaving senators to return only for the final stretch before the midterm elections. Republicans leave Washington worried about their prospects, with party members increasingly fearful they could lose their Senate majority. The break sets up an intense final campaign period with control of the chamber at stake.

Mississippi Democrats are expressing cautious optimism that a US Senate seat long considered out of reach could be competitive. State party figures are weighing whether shifting political conditions could make the race winnable, though the state remains solidly Republican in recent election cycles.