All articles tagged with #congress
President Trump told key Republicans he wants a straight, 18-month extension of the Section 702 surveillance program with no changes, ahead of the April 20 lapse. White House aides are lobbying for a clean extension, but in the House a coalition of privacy hawks and skeptical lawmakers could block it or demand reforms, making the renewal's fate uncertain.
Democrats loudly disrupted Trump's State of the Union from the moment he entered, defying leadership guidance not to interrupt; notable moments included Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib heckling, a sign referencing a racist video by Rep. Al Green, and several others shouting during immigration and crime segments, with some members escorted out. The incident underscores a growing norm of partisan interruptions at presidential addresses.
At least 30 lawmakers skip President Trump's State of the Union to attend a livestreamed counter-event called the People’s State of the Union, organized by MeidasTouch and MoveOn. The program starts at 8 p.m. ET, runs for several hours, and streams at moveon.org/live and the MeidasTouch YouTube channel, featuring Congress members and other advocates.
Rep. Tony Gonzales says he has no plans to resign amid growing calls from fellow House Republicans after allegations he had an affair with a staff member who later died after setting herself on fire; the Texas Republican also faces a tough primary in his sprawling border district.
President Trump is set to unveil a new personal and corporate tax cut proposal during the State of the Union, aiming to push it through a second reconciliation in Congress. With Republicans holding a slim 218-214 House majority, passage would require near-unanimous GOP support, making the path forward uncertain.
In an exclusive CBS Evening News interview, House Speaker Mike Johnson says the allegations that Rep. Tony Gonzales had an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide are detestable and are under review by the Office of Congressional Conduct; Gonzales denies the affair and says he will not resign, with Johnson stressing that the facts are being allowed to play out, and noting the allegations originate from text messages that included a request for a “sexy pic” and other sexual banter.
The House voted 264-133 to reject the Senate-passed ROTOR Act, stalling a bipartisan air-safety measure and highlighting a split within Republicans over aviation policy. House leaders and key chairs opposed the ROTOR Act, pushing their own ALERT Act alternative, while victims’ families and the NTSB supported ROTOR; the Pentagon had reversed course on ROTOR due to budget and security concerns. With ROTOR defeated, a House markup of the rival ALERT Act is anticipated, and cross‑chamber talks on aviation safety and related funding and policy issues continue in a fractious political environment.
As Trump prepared to deliver the State of the Union, Democrats pressed for the White House to publicly outline its Iran strategy after a classified briefing on potential military action, with lawmakers urging the president to make the case to the American people and detail goals and safeguards. The briefing was part of a broader set of Capitol Hill actions around security and funding, including ongoing tensions over Homeland Security funding and partisan disagreements on how to proceed with aviation safety and other policy priorities.
Judges warn that aging federal courthouses are deteriorating and pose safety risks, urging Congress to transfer building and maintenance authority from the General Services Administration to a new Judiciary Buildings Service; GSA disputes the crisis depiction, citing budget constraints. The feed then shifts to other Capitol Hill updates, including Iran briefings ahead of the State of the Union, attendance choices for lawmakers, and clashes over a key aviation-safety bill (ROTOR) and related legislation.
Demi Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie—Democrat and Republican—will sit together during Trump’s State of the Union, symbolizing a rare cross‑party connection over calls for transparency on Jeffrey Epstein’s political and financial ties; the live updates also cover Democrats pressing Trump on Iran policy after a classified briefing, Katherine Clark skipping the address, GOP leadership discussions around aviation safety and policy retreats, and other Capitol Hill developments surrounding the evening.
The designated survivor is a Cabinet member who, under presidential eligibility rules, sits at a secure location during the State of the Union to maintain continuity of government if the President is incapacitated; the practice dates to the Cold War and has seen previous Trump-era seconds serve (Interior, Energy, Agriculture Secretaries). This year, Congress has announced Rep. Mike Thompson as the designated survivor, though the White House has not yet named one.
Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales says he will not resign amid affair allegations, signaling he intends to remain in Congress despite scrutiny and pressure.
The chair of the Congressional Democratic Women’s Caucus called for Rep. Tony Gonzales’s removal and an investigation into allegations of an affair with a staffer who died by suicide, which Gonzales denies. While some Republicans and his primary challenger press for resignation, Democrats largely defer to Republicans on handling the matter, and House Speaker Mike Johnson says it is too early to prejudge the situation.
Democrats plan a strategic push to flip Trump-won districts in 2026 by expanding their target list to 44 seats and backing a ‘Red to Blue’ program, betting big on large swings in GOP-leaning districts; Virginia redistricting could tilt a few seats in their favor, while primary battles and fundraising are shaping the field.
Texas Tribune reporting shows U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales pressed his district director for an explicit photo, which she refused; her husband later alleged an affair and provided texts to the Tribune. A police report indicates Santos-Aviles told officers she set herself on fire after learning her husband was involved with her best friend. Gonzales denies the affair and has faced calls to resign as he competes in a primary, with opponents accusing him of exploiting the tragedy for political points.