US Congress

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is pressing Washington to avoid another round of export restrictions on ASML's China business. The appeal comes as US lawmakers pursue legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The dispute puts the Netherlands between American security concerns and the interests of its most valuable technology company, and observers are watching whether the new US Congress moves ahead with the measures.

President Trump has rejected a proposed deal with Iran following a week of high-stakes meetings, according to The Hill's Sunday shows preview. The roundup also highlights Republicans' efforts to keep control of Congress heading into upcoming elections. The twin storylines are expected to dominate the Sunday political talk shows and shape the week's political conversation in Washington.

President Trump has moved to cut nearly $1 billion in federal spending without approval from Congress, according to US media reports. The move raises immediate questions over presidential authority and the separation of powers, as spending decisions normally require legislative approval. The cuts and the legal basis for bypassing lawmakers are expected to draw scrutiny and likely challenges from Congress and watchdog groups.

The US Senate has voted down a war powers resolution intended to rebuke President Trump over military action against Iran. The measure would have sought to limit or block further hostilities without congressional approval, but it failed to advance. The rejection keeps Trump's Iran policy intact and underscores the ongoing divide in Congress over presidential war authority and US involvement in the conflict.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease official, in contempt of Congress. The vote escalates a standoff with Republican lawmakers who have investigated his role in the federal response to Covid-19 and related research funding. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades before retiring in 2022, has denied wrongdoing.

Several Republican members of Congress from Iowa publicly broke with the president on a number of issues over the past month, according to a political roundup from Iowa news coverage. The divergence highlights occasional tensions within the party as Iowa's congressional delegation weighs constituent interests against alignment with the White House.

Lawmakers have introduced legislation in Congress that would lower the US retirement age to 60, allowing some Americans to claim retirement benefits earlier than under current rules. The proposal is drawing attention as debates continue over Social Security's solvency and the adequacy of retirement savings, with discussion focused on who exactly would qualify under the new threshold.

The crypto industry is increasingly working directly with US regulators rather than waiting for Congress to pass comprehensive crypto legislation. The shift reflects frustration with stalled market-structure bills and a pragmatic turn toward engaging agencies such as the SEC on rulemaking and compliance. Commentators see it as a sign that policy is now being shaped in regulatory channels rather than on Capitol Hill.