How Lindsey Graham got Trump to yes on Iran

The war launched Saturday is a full-circle moment for the veteran GOP senator, who spent decades pushing for military action against the Islamist regime.

Cornyn, Paxton in ugly runoff: 5 takeaways from Texas, North Carolina primaries

Texas Republicans are bracing for an ugly Senate runoff, while Democrats wait to see the outcome of its contest for the upper chamber, with primary season in full swing. Voters in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas headed to the polls Tuesday to kick start the 2026 midterm

Gonzales forced into House GOP runoff amid affair allegations

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera are projected head into a runoff after allegations of an affair with a former staffer rocked the lawmaker's candidacy, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gonzales and Herrera will head into a May runoff in the

Crenshaw ousted by Toth in Texas GOP primary upset

Texas State Rep. Steve Toth (R) is projected to pull off a victory in Tuesday’s primary, unseating fourth-term incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), according to Decision Desk HQ. Toth’s win all but ensures he will represent the deep-red Texas 2nd Congressional District in

Trump met with Coinbase CEO before bashing banks over crypto bill

Laurie Buckhout wins GOP primary in North Carolina, will face Don Davis in general

Former Pentagon official Laurie Buckhout is projected to win the Republican primary in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Buckhout defeated four other GOP candidates: Asa Buck, Robert Hanig, Eric Rouse and Ashley-Nicole Russell. She will

Abbott, Hinojosa to face off in general election for Texas governor

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa were projected to win their respective primaries for Texas governor on Tuesday, setting up a November showdown. Abbott is seeking a fourth term leading the red state, which hasn’t elected a Democratic governor

Teixeira secures GOP nod in bid to succeed Roy in Texas

Retired professional baseball player Mark Teixeira is projected to win the Republican primary in Texas’s 21st congressional district, according to Decision Desk HQ. Teixeira defeated a crowded GOP field in the race to succeed Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who is running for

Roy, Middleton head for May runoff in Texas attorney general GOP primary

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Texas state Sen. Mayes Middleton (R) are projected to head into a May runoff for the GOP nod to succeed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), according to Decision Desk HQ. The two men were among four Republicans competing for the nomination. The

Texas GOP Senate primary heads to runoff, with Cornyn, Paxton on ballot

The competitive Republican primary for Senate in Texas is headed to a runoff, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection. The race will head to a May 26 showdown between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as Republicans scramble to keep the seat

Texas Supreme Court halts lower court ruling on extended voting hours in Dallas

The Texas Supreme Court halted a lower court’s ruling on Tuesday that extended voting hours in Dallas County amid Democratic voter confusion at poll locations. The Lone Star State’s high court temporarily paused a lower court’s decision to extend Dallas County’s voting hours

Canadian PM Carney says US and Israel's strikes on Iran mark 'failure of the international order'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday lamented the “failure of the international order” that led to the ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Carney said in Sydney, Australia, that his country “has long seen Iran as the principle source of instability and terror

Holladay wins Arkansas special election in key Democratic pickup

Democrat Alex Holladay is projected to win the special election to represent Arkansas’s House District 70, edging out Republican Bo Renshaw, according to Decision Desk HQ. The race was seen as a pickup opportunity for the Democrats after Holladay, in 2024, narrowly lost his bid

Comer asks Bill Gates, others for transcribed interviews on Epstein

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) is requesting voluntary testimony from seven additional people as part of the committee’s investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Those Comer sent letters to include Microsoft

Trump posts photo of Mamdani with Declaration of Independence in Oval Office

President Trump on Tuesday shared a photo of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) standing next to the Declaration of Independence in the Oval Office, the latest turn in their unique relationship. Trump posted the photo of Mamdani lightly smiling next to a framed copy of the

Rubio briefs senators as questions pile up about Iran conflict: 4 takeaways

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top Trump administration national security officials on Tuesday briefed senators on the U.S. conflict with Iran as questions about the goals, timelines and scope of the operation pile up. The session, which lasted about 80 minutes, comes

Cooper, Whatley set November match-up in North Carolina Senate race

Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) won their respective Senate primaries on Tuesday, setting up a November match-up as Democrats eye a pickup opportunity in North Carolina. The rivals, both of whom were

Trump says more than 9,000 Americans have returned from Middle East since launch of Operation Epic Fury

More than 9,000 Americans have made a safe return back to the U.S. from the Middle East since the launch of strikes on Iran this past weekend, President Trump said on Tuesday. The U.S. and Israel launched attacks against the country as part of a joint operation, dubbed

Rubio grilled over why US started Iran attacks

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Rubio grilled over why US started Iran attacks Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on a barrage of questions from reporters about conflicting

Lawmakers anticipate Trump will seek emergency funding for ‘open-ended’ Iran war

Top Trump administration officials briefed Congress on the U.S. military onslaught Tuesday but did not say whether they will ask for supplemental defense funding.

Army identifies 4 of 6 killed in drone attack in Kuwait

The Army on Tuesday released the names of the four U.S. service members initially killed after an Iranian drone struck the tactical operations center they were working from in Kuwait. Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of

Trump endorses candidate for Montana House seat following Zinke's retirement

President Trump on Tuesday endorsed a Montana radio host who launched his House campaign just more than an hour after Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) announced he was retiring from Congress. "It is my Great Honor to endorse Aaron Flint, who is running to represent the tremendous

Government maintains spot atop list of Americans' concerns: Gallup

The most pressing concern on Americans’ minds is still the government, according to results from a new survey released Tuesday. The Gallup poll found that 29 percent of U.S. adults ranked factors related to the government or politics as the most important problem in the

What to know about the deadly Austin bar shooting

A fatal shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning has resulted in at least three deaths and 14 injuries, with an FBI agent saying Sunday there may be a connection to terrorism. The gunman, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, opened fired at Buford’s on West Sixth Street

Trump's insurance move for oil

Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump moves to give oil ships financial cover President Trump took steps Tuesday to prevent a sharp decline in global oil supply and give maritime shipping

Tuberville on US deaths in Iran operation: 'It's going to get worse before it gets better'

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Monday said that the war and number of deaths of U.S. service members following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran will "get worse before it gets better." He praised President Trump for "doing the right thing" in carrying out the strikes on

Graham predicts Gulf states will join US-Israel assault on Iran

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) predicted on Tuesday that Gulf states will join the United States and Israel in its assault against Iran in the coming days. "I've been on the phone all day with our Arab allies, and quite the opposite is unfolding. So I'm here to tell you the good

Trump wants US to insure Mideast oil shippers

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Trump wants U.S. to insure Mideast oil shippers President Trump took steps Tuesday aimed at preventing a decline in global oil supply and giving shipping companies financial protection amid the war in Iran. ©

House Republicans are publicly cheering Trump’s Iran war. Privately, many are worried.

One House Republican suggested Trump’s shifting rationale “sounds a little bit like President Lyndon Johnson going into Vietnam.”

Assessing Trump’s Claims on Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities

In discussing his reasoning for launching U.S. airstrikes on Iran, President Donald Trump said, "An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American." But arms control experts have disputed his claim that Iran "soon"

Democrats whip against DHS funding bill despite GOP pressure on Iran

Top Democrats are whipping against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill expected to come to the floor this week, even as Republicans press them to support it in the wake of the U.S. attacks on Iran. The White House and Democrats have been locked in an impasse

Bill Gates, Kathryn Ruemmler among new targets in House Oversight’s Epstein investigation investigation

Trump takes aim at banks over crypto bill talks

Rubio fends off barrage of questions about why US started Iran attacks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on a barrage of questions from reporters about conflicting statements with the president over the intent and timing of the joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. President Trump on Tuesday said it was his opinion that Iran was going

Ted Cruz, Tim Scott asking Treasury to approve $200B tax cut without congressional approval

GOP Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Tim Scott (S.C.) are asking the Treasury Department to approve a $200 billion tax cut without prior authorization from Congress. The two senators have asked the Trump administration to cut capital gains taxes on investors by adjusting the basis

OpenAI feels the heat

{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story OpenAI plays defense while Anthropic surges OpenAI is in the hot seat this week over the artificial intelligence company’s new deal with the Pentagon, struck just hours after the agency’s negotiations with competitor Anthropic

Netanyahu: Iran won't be 'endless war'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that the U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran, which have so far killed hundreds of Iranians and the country's supreme leader, will not be an "endless war." "I hear the people are saying you’re going to have an

Leaked documents unveil new details on Trump's review of history at national parks

Leaked documents related to the Trump administration’s review of history at national parks reveal new details about the breadth of the administration’s efforts to reshape the telling of America's story. A database that was first reported by The Washington Post lays out hundreds

Trump slams banks over crypto bill holdup, urges Congress to pass act 'ASAP'

President Trump criticized the banking industry Tuesday, alleging that the stablecoin bill he signed into law last year is “being threatened and undermined by the banks.” The Senate’s efforts to pass a key cryptocurrency market bill has remained at a standstill in recent weeks,

Drone strike hits US consulate parking lot in Dubai

A fire in the parking lot of a building near the U.S. consulate in Dubai has been put out following a drone strike. No one was injured, according to the Dubai Media Office. “Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security," a post on the

States roll back HIV drug access as federal funds stagnate

Presented by the Coalition to Strengthen America's Healthcare {beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story States roll back HIV drug access as federal funds stagnate With more than a decade of unchanged federal aid for HIV medication, states are beginning to make hard

House Ethics trial for Cherfilus-McCormick postponed as lawmaker seeks new lawyer

Mace moves to force vote on requiring Ethics Committee to release sexual misconduct reports

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) took to the House floor on Tuesday with a motion to force a vote on her resolution directing the House Ethics Committee to preserve and publicly release all reports on investigations into members of Congress regarding allegations of sexual harassment of

$35M settlement between Epstein estate, accusers wins preliminary approval

A U.S. judge in New York on Tuesday granted preliminary approval to an agreement that requires Jeffrey Epstein’s estate to pay up to $35 million to settle a lawsuit that accused two of Epstein's advisers of intentionally assisting and facilitating his sex trafficking of women

Live results: Green goes head-to-head with Menefee in Texas House primary

Rep. Al Green (D) is running in a Tuesday primary in the Lone Star State's 18th Congressional District after he was redistricted out of Texas's 9th Congressional District earlier this year. He is facing off with incumbent Rep. Christian Menefee, teeing up a generational battle

Live results: Gonzales faces tough Texas House primary

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales is facing a tougher than expected primary bid in the solidly red 23rd Congressional District of Texas, after explosive allegations over an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide came to light. The southwestern Texas-area congressman has

Live results: Foushee fights to keep House seat in primary

Tuesday's Democratic primary race for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District is a repeat of the 2022 contest between Rep. Valerie Foushee and Nida Allam, a Durham County commissioner backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Although the seat will almost surely stay in

Live results: Crockett, Talarico seek Democratic nod in Texas Senate race

Texas state Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett are facing off Tuesday in the Democratic primary for incumbent Sen. John Cornyn's (R) seat. One candidate must secure more than 50 percent of Tuesday's vote to avoid a runoff in May. Follow Decision Desk HQ’s live

Live results: Arkansas holds House primaries

A handful of primary contests for all four House seats are underway in Arkansas on Tuesday. Incumbent Republican Reps. Rick Crawford of the 1st Congressional District, Steve Womack of the 3rd Congressional District and Bruce Westerman of the 4th Congressional District are not

Live results: Allred seeks to oust Johnson in Texas House primary

Former Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, who ran for U.S. Senate last cycle, is seeking to upset Rep. Julie Johnson (D), who currently represents the 32nd Congressional District, in the redrawn 33rd Congressional District. The redrawn 32nd District, now expected to vote solidly