Former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is encountering significant Republican opposition as she seeks confirmation as director of national intelligence (DNI). With the Senate Intelligence Committee evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, Gabbard cannot afford to lose a single GOP vote to secure her nomination.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) highlighted his America First Act during a Senate Budget Committee meeting on Wednesday, reiterating its goal of banning illegal immigrants from accessing welfare and other federal benefits. Originally introduced in December 2024, the legislation seeks to block billions of taxpayer dollars from being used to support individuals paroled into the United States through questionable asylum claims.
Paul Abbate, the acting FBI director, announced his unexpected retirement on Monday, just minutes before President Donald Trump was sworn into office. Abbate had been deputy director under Christopher Wray, who recently stepped down after more than seven years as FBI director. Abbate’s sudden departure comes after just one day at the helm of the agency, leaving questions about interim leadership.
A new bill seeking to prohibit the addition of fluoride to public water systems in Tennessee passed its first consideration in the state Senate last week. This marks the initial step in what is expected to be a lengthy process of votes and debates over water fluoridation in the state.
On Monday, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, unveiled a proposal to reintroduce a tariff-focused system for funding the federal government, which he referred to as the “External Revenue Service.” Lutnick announced the initiative at a rally in Washington following Trump’s inauguration, calling it a cornerstone of the administration’s plan to restore American economic greatness.
The Thomas Moore Society, a conservative legal group, is calling for President-elect Donald Trump to pardon 21 pro-life activists prosecuted by the Biden administration.
Scott Bessent, nominee for Treasury Secretary under the incoming Trump administration, is set to outline a bold economic agenda during his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday. According to prepared remarks, Bessent will emphasize the need to permanently extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while advancing new policies to reduce the tax burden on manufacturers, service workers, and seniors.
