U.S. Senate News
This section focuses on the upper chamber of Congress, from major policy debates to confirmation hearings. The Daily Signal provides a conservative look at Senate priorities.
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House Republicans Slam Senate for Dog Parade
A parade for dogs in the United States Capitol Complex has drawn backlash from House Republicans and conservative commentators demanding Senate action on a voter ID bill. On Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., held a Mardi Gras-themed “Bipawtisan Doggi Gras Pawrade” in the Hart Senate Office Building. Tillis, who is not seeking reelection in…George Caldwell -
Jeremy Carl Joins ‘The Signal Sitdown’ Following Tense Senate Hearing
The following is a preview of Daily Signal Politics Editor Bradley Devlin’s interview with Jeremy Carl, President Donald Trump’s nominee for assistant secretary of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs at the State Department, on “The Signal Sitdown.” The full interview premieres on The Daily Signal’s YouTube page at 6:30 a.m. Eastern on Feb. 18. Last…Bradley Devlin -
House Republicans Pressure Senate to Force Vote on SAVE America Act
A group of House Republicans, accustomed to pressuring their own chamber’s leadership, is now publicly calling for the Senate to use a “talking filibuster” in order to pass voter identification legislation. “I don’t think the votes are there [in the Senate] to eliminate the filibuster, but they might be there to actually force the Democrats…George Caldwell -
4 Takeaways From Senate Probe of ‘Arctic Frost’ Data Collection
Telecom executives didn’t give satisfactory answers to senators when asked about assisting former special counsel Jack Smith’s team in scooping up phone data of members of Congress. Lawyers for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon testified on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law about why they willingly cooperated with investigators’ demands,…Fred Lucas -
Who Will Blink First in DHS Shutdown Battle?
With a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security looming at the end of the week, the Senate is not close to resolving fundamental disagreements on immigration law enforcement. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed openness to a new funding extension to provide time for talks between the White House, Senate Republicans,…George Caldwell -
Thune Saves Funding Deal in Senate
The Senate passed legislation to fund the government by a 71-29 vote on Friday, setting the stage for what is expected to be a brief, partial government shutdown over the weekend. The deal, if passed by the House and signed by President Donald Trump, will fund a number of federal agencies and buy time for…George Caldwell -
Sen. Graham Receives Concessions After ‘Hold’ on Senate’s Funding Deal
The Senate—with a possible government shutdown looming—has crafted a deal to break a funding logjam between Republicans and Democrats, but ahead of the deal being clinched, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham demanded a guarantee of votes on two legislative priorities. Graham, R-S.C., sought opportunities to vote on legislation to criminalize local officials disobeying federal immigration law,…George Caldwell -
Bill to Defund Taliban Faces Senate Vote
Legislation to defund nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan that have allegedly been hijacked by the Taliban has cleared the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and is headed to the chamber’s floor for a full vote, despite having been voted against by Democrats. The legislation was introduced after the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reported in…Pedro Rodriguez -
‘HUGE DEAL’: Thune Pledges Election Security Vote in Senate
Some Senate Republicans supported Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s promise to hold a vote on an amended election security bill. Thune, R-S.D., on Wednesday called for adding a voter ID mandate to a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in a federal election. “At some point, we’ll have that vote,” Thune said of the…Fred Lucas -
Republicans Defect as Senate Funding Vote Fails, Making Shutdown Likely
Eight Senate Republicans joined Democrats in blocking a six-bill funding package Thursday, greatly increasing the probability of a partial government shutdown. The Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to end debate on a package that would fund the State Department and financial regulators, as well as agencies overseeing homeland security, war, education, labor,…George Caldwell -
Senate Dems Could Freeze ICE Funding, Trigger Shutdown
Amid debate over Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota, it appears Congress is frozen in a standoff that could lead to another government shutdown. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed on Saturday to “vote no” on an upcoming funding package if a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security…George Caldwell -
Another Schumer Shutdown? Top Dem Vows Senate Dems Won’t Support DHS Funding Bill
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Hours after Border Patrol fatally shot an armed man Saturday in Minneapolis, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he and other Democrats will not back a legislative package including a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), potentially risking a partial government shutdown. The Senate has until Jan. 30 to pass…Anthony Iafrate -
Could the Senate Trigger Another Shutdown in a Week?
With the House having passed its final batch of appropriations bills, it is now up to the Senate to pass the spending package or risk sending the federal government into a partial shutdown. Despite the pressure to keep the government open, however, a significant number of Senate Democrats and Republicans have complaints about the spending…George Caldwell -
Can the Senate Keep the Government Open and Fund ICE?
When the Senate returns from a weeklong recess, it will have just days to avoid a partial government shutdown. The funding deal that ended the last government shutdown, the longest shutdown in American history, is set to expire on Jan. 30. The Senate has passed six of the 12 spending bills to fund the government…Virginia Grace McKinnon -
Michigan Senate Race a Nail-Biter, New Poll Shows
A new poll reveals the 2026 Senate race in Michigan will likely be a fiercely contested battle, with Republican Mike Rogers holding narrow leads in hypothetical matchups against Democrat candidates. The poll, “conducted Jan. 2-6 for The Detroit News and WDIV-TV,” matches up Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers against three leading Democrat candidates in…George Caldwell -
‘Why Is It Taking So Long?’ Senate Health Chair Urges Immediate FDA Action on Abortion Pill
The Food and Drug Administration should “immediately” restore in-person dispensing requirements for the abortion pill, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told The Daily Signal. The senator cited safety concerns in pressing the administration to act. “You don’t have to have a review to know that if a woman has an ectopic pregnancy, she’s gonna have a…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
Husted Officially Files for Race That Could Determine Control of the Senate
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is officially running to keep his Senate seat come 2026. The Daily Signal was on the ground in Columbus to speak to Husted as he filed his paperwork on Friday morning with Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office. In the 2026 midterm election, Husted will likely face former Democrat Ohio Sen….Rebecca Downs -
Indiana’s GOP Supermajority Senate Could Vote Against Map That Could Save Trump From Impeachment
Today, the Indiana State Senate will vote on redistricting legislation that could help Republicans hold the House in the midterms and save President Donald Trump from future Democrat impeachments. The bill to change Indiana’s congressional map from a 7-2 Republican advantage to a 9-0 sweep will be voted on by Indiana’s Senate this afternoon. The…Jacob Adams -
‘WADA Shame’: Senate Panel Examines Olympics Doping
A Senate subcommittee on Tuesday heard a lack of confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s ability to combat cheating at the Olympics. The hearing, “WADA Shame: Swimming in Denial Over Chinese Doping,” comes after an April 2024 report detailed how top Chinese swimmers tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug just months before they were allowed to…Jacob Adams -
GENIUS or Not? Senate Passes Major Cryptocurrency Law
The Senate on Tuesday afternoon passed the GENIUS Act, which would standardize regulations for a growing cryptocurrency market, stablecoins. The bill passed on a bipartisan 68-30 vote. GENIUS Act proponents say it will save money for American businesses and boost the dollar's value, but opponents call it a “weak bill" that would risk financial stability…George Caldwell