Epstein files controversy consuming Capitol Hill has fueled less fire at first lawmaker town halls of summer recess

Epstein files controversy consuming Capitol Hill has fueled less fire at first lawmaker town halls of summer recess

The Jeffrey Epstein files saga at times all but ground Capitol Hill to a halt last month — driving a wedge between Republicans in the House as Democrats went on offense to pressPresident Donald Trump's Justice Department to release more investigative material. But since returning to their districts for summer recess, lawmakers aren't hearing much about Epstein at public town hall meetings they've hosted so far. The debate that's dominated Washington in recent weeks didn't come up at all in some town halls Republican and Democratic House members have held — includinga raucous event Thursdayhosted by Wisconsin GOP Rep. Bryan Steil and two more mild-mannered affairs held by Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman. During others, it's been the topic of just one or two questions. In Wisconsin on Thursday, Rep. Mark Pocan — a Democrat who hosted a town hall in Prairie du Chien, in neighboring Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden's district — brought up Epstein himself, as part of a response to a question about whether Trump might declare martial law and cancel elections. "It's a step too far to say you're going to release something and then say, 'No, there's nothing there to look at,'" he said. Only one questioner raised the topic of Epstein — and she did so to call it a distraction. Pocan kept his comments focused largely on theRepublican tax and cuts spending billthat Trump signed into law on July Fourth — repeatedly warning that cuts to Medicaid could gut Wisconsin's public health insurance programs and force the state to spend tax dollars filling holes left by the federal government. The Democratic congressman said afterward that's why he mostly avoided talking about Epstein. "I keep it to economics. I'm an economic, progressive populist. I think that's how most people make decisions when they go to elections. That's how Donald Trump won the election. That's why Donald Trump's doing poor in the polls," he said. The woman who'd brought up Epstein, Krista Brown, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mother from Viroqua, said she has bigger concerns than Epstein — such as whether steep cuts in staffing at the Department of Education will delay action on a Title IX complaint she'd submitted on behalf of her children, or whether National Weather Service offices will be staffed. "It has more to do with the things that people need as a foundation than it does about arguing over things that the administration wants us to spend our oxygen on. I'm just not interested in that," Brown said. "When you live rural, you care about who's going to plow your goddamn roads — when it's going to get plowed, if the buses can get through, how cold it is, if the weather's going to be reported," she said. "That's what matters. And the rest is just going to float away, because pretty soon it's going to get so hard in real life that there's not even going to be time to talk about that." The relative lack of focus on Epstein at town halls reflects the broader priorities of Americans. Arecent CNN pollconducted by SSRS found that the economy and immigration-related concerns are the issues Americans consider most important. The poll also found increased Democratic attention to government spending, concerns about separation of powers and the rule of law, and Trump himself. The amount of information the federal government has released on the Epstein case was an issue that didn't rise to prominence, with just one respondent mentioning it as the most important problem. Still, even if Epstein isn't Americans' top priority,half of respondents saidthey are dissatisfied with the amount of information released about the Epstein case after the Justice Department released a memo saying there is no evidence the convicted sex offender kept a so-called client list or was murdered. That includes 56% of Democrats, 52% of independents and 40% of Republicans. Democrats, in search of an advantage against Trump and administration officials who pledged prior to taking office to release Epstein-related files, have sought to force the issue. In the Senate this week, ahead of its own recess, Democrats areusing an arcane procedural toolto try to force the Justice Department to release all of the files related to Epstein, including audio, video and any other relevant documents. Republican leadership, meanwhile, is eager to stay away from the topic of Epstein. House Speaker Mike Johnson cut legislative business short and sent members home early last week to avoid being forced to hold votes on releasing Epstein-related files. The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm, encouraged House Republicans in a memo to use the August recess to focus on selling Trump's agenda. "With the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law just a few weeks ago, this is a critical opportunity to continue to define how this legislation will help every voter and push back on Democrat fearmongering," the NRCC memo said. Some House Republicans who have held town halls have been asked about the Epstein files. Utah GOP Rep. Mike Kennedy compared the unreleased Epstein files to "a festering oil-infected wound with pus underneath" in response to a question about whether he would vote in favor of releasing the documents during a virtual town hall last week. Kennedy pledged to push for "full transparency" in the matter and that he would "vote immediately to get all that released," permitted that the identities of victims are concealed. As Republican Rep. William Timmons of South Carolina fielded questions at a telephone town hall last week, one caller shared his "outrage" over the Epstein files – asking why the House adjourned "when this hasn't been dealt with." "If there's a group of pedophiles out there who are just getting away with it, this is an outrage, and I don't care who they are. I don't care if they're the president of the United States," the caller said. Timmons responded that "there is evil in this world, and we have to protect the innocent, so we need to get to the bottom of it." "The president and the attorney general are doing the work necessary to release all of the information," he said. "The Republican Congress should not be attacking the president," the GOP lawmaker said. "The president has earned our trust, has earned the right for us to defer to him on issues at the executive branch." But other issues have dominated town halls so far this summer — including the GOP's "big, beautiful bill," border security and deportations and federal funding cuts. At a Hageman town hall earlier this week, Jane Sanderson, 75, of Worland, who voted for the congresswoman, asked her why the Department of Government Efficiency's spending cuts hadn't put a dent in the United States' national debt. Timmons, the South Carolina congressman, was asked about health care, tariffs and aviation safety. Trump's golf habits came up as often as Epstein. At the same time Pocan held court in Prairie du Chien, Steil, a three-hour drive away in Elkhorn, was accused of doing Trump's bidding too frequently. "President Trump seems to run Southeast Wisconsin through you," one audience member told him. Steil faced criticism over the Trump administration's treatment of undocumented immigrants. He was shouted down as he defended Trump's implementation of tariffs on imports from a host of trading partners. And the town hall ended amid shouting after he began to answer a question about starvation in Gaza — an issue that is splintering the right, as Trump pushes Israel to address the humanitarian crisis as its military actions there continue. "To me, the easy answer to address this crisis is for Hamas to surrender and release the hostages. That ends the war tomorrow," Steil said, in a comment that was met with a mix of cheers and shouts of disagreement. "Israel was unfairly, unjustly attacked, their civilians were killed and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists." CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi, Sarah Davis, Jenna Monnin and Betul Tuncer contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

Epstein files controversy consuming Capitol Hill has fueled less fire at first lawmaker town halls of summer recess

Epstein files controversy consuming Capitol Hill has fueled less fire at first lawmaker town halls of summer recess The Jeffrey Epstein file...

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Trump and his allies mount a pressure campaign against US elections ahead of the midterms

Trump and his allies mount a pressure campaign against US elections ahead of the midterms

A few weeks ago, Republican election officials in Colorado began receiving unsolicited calls and texts from a GOP consultant who said he was working with the Trump administration on "election integrity." In a text to one of the officials, the consultant, Jeff Small, indicated he was acting on a request from Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff. In a phone call with another clerk, Small said he was coordinating with the White House and the Justice Department to "implement" an elections executive order signed by President Donald Trump, recalled Justin Grantham, the top election official in Fremont County. Grantham and Carly Koppes, who oversees elections in Weld County in northern Colorado, told CNN that Small made a specific request: Would they give a third party access to their election equipment? Both declined. "Not only is that a hard no, I mean, you're not even going to breathe on my equipment," Koppes said. The outreach to the Colorado clerks is just one of a flurry of recent federal actions launched by the Trump administration and groups aligned with the president. While the White House distanced itself from Small, Trump and his allies are collecting vast amounts of voter data and working to change the ground rules for next year's midterms, often by invoking federal government authority. Next year's midterms hold enormous stakes for Trump and his opposition. Democrats need to net just three seats in the US House in 2026 to flip control of the chamber from Republicans. A Democratic-led House could block Trump's legislative agenda and launch investigations of the president in the second half of his second term. Samantha Tarazi, CEO of the nonprofit Voting Rights Lab, which has closely tracked state developments, said she believes Trump is gearing up "to use the power of his office to interfere in the 2026 election." "What started as an unconstitutional executive order — marching orders for state action regardless of its fate in court — has grown into a full federal mobilization to seize power over our elections," she said. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said Trump is "fighting for election integrity" and will keep doing so "despite Democrat objections that reveal their disdain for commonsense safeguards like verifying citizenship." "Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our Constitutional Republic, and we're confident in securing an ultimate victory in the courtroom," he said in an email. Restricting who can access election machines and sensitive voting software has grown even more important to election officials in recent years following voting system breaches in states such as Colorado and Georgia. Trump allies had sought access to machines to find evidence that could back up the president's claim that widespread fraud marred the 2020 election. But election watchdogs and some Democratic election officials say activity by Trump and aligned groups since his return to the White House has raised fears of a broader effort to reshape elections. Recent actions by the administration and its allies include: Trump signing anexecutive order in Marchthat sought to force states to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and take "enforcement action" against states that accept mail ballots after Election Day. Federal judges have blocked parts of the executive order, noting that the power to regulate elections rests with the states and Congress, not the president. The Republican National Committee pushing to obtain voter registration records from states. On the day Trump signed the executive order, the RNC sent records requests to 48 states and Washington, DC, seeking information on how they maintain voter registration lists. And the RNC has sued New Jersey – home to a closely watched gubernatorial race this fall – alleging officials there have failed to respond to its requests for voter data and documents related to voting machine audits. A spokesperson for New Jersey's elections division declined to comment on the litigation. The Justice Department asking more than a dozen states in recent weeks to provide voter lists, explain their procedures for removing potential ineligible voters from their rolls or discuss entering into information-sharing agreements to help the agency root out election fraud. The demands range from seekingcopies of voting rollsin political battlegrounds such as Michigan to a broad request in Colorado to provide election records as far back as 2020. Republicans in Texas undertaking a rare mid-decade redistricting, following entreaties from Trump. A map released Wednesday by GOP lawmakers who control the state legislature aims to take over five additional Democratic seats, which would to give the GOP the edge in 30 of the state's 38 congressional districts. The Republican-controlled House in April approving the SAVE Act, which mirrors parts of Trump's executive order requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. The proposed legislation also would make it a crime for election officials to mistakenly register someone to vote who has not provided proof of citizenship. Critics note that it's already illegal for noncitizens to cast ballots in federal elections and say requiring proof of citizenship could disenfranchise eligible voters who lack the needed documents or changed their name through marriage. To justify the redistricting in his state, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott cited a letter from Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, that challenged the legality of four existing congressional districts. Dhillon said in a statement: "Clean voter rolls and basic election safeguards are requisites for free, fair, and transparent elections." She said the agency "has a statutory mandate to enforce our federal voting rights laws, and ensuring the voting public's confidence in the integrity of our elections is a top priority of this administration." Trump has been blunt about his partisan goals in Texas, and he has suggested that other GOP-controlled states should pursue their own redistricting efforts – a move that threatens to set off an all-out redistricting war this year with Democrats in California and other Democrat-led states. The administration's recent actions have unsettled some election officials, who have endured years of threats and harassment following the 2020 election and the conspiracy theories about election fraud that flourished in its aftermath. Election officials "are surfing on quicksand," said David Becker, executive director and founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research and a former DOJ voting rights attorney. "They don't know what the executive order means, if it has any meaning whatsoever," he said. "They don't know if they will be investigated just for having done their jobs. They don't know if the vast power of the federal government is going to be weaponized against them. They don't know if the Department of Justice is going to be suing them." A recent survey of 858 local election officials by the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's Law School bears that out. It found more than half of local election officials – 59% – say they are concerned about political leaders engaging in efforts to interfere with how election officials do their jobs. And 46% said they were concerned about politically motivated investigations of their work or that of their fellow election officials. In early July, aspreviously reportedby The Washington Post and media outlets in Colorado, Republican election clerks began receiving calls and texts from Small. Small, who has worked for Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert and for the US Interior Department during Trump's first term, now is a principal with a Denver public affairs firm. County officials interviewed by CNN said Small told them he was reaching out specifically to Republican clerks in blue states in a push to help advance Trump's executive order. Grantham, the election clerk in Fremont County, said Small's outreach to only Republican officials was an early red flag during their conversation. Another concern arose, he said, when Small mentioned gaining access to the county's election equipment. "My response was, 'I didn't believe that the president had the authority in the Constitution to write executive orders to affect elections and that until the Supreme Court found that he could, I would not let anybody access my voting equipment." CNN reached out to Small, and his attorney, Suzanne Taheri, responded to CNN's inquiry. In a text, Taheri said Small's outreach "supported efforts by allies in the administration to encourage officials to participate in President Trump's election security executive order." He undertook the activity "on a volunteer basis, during his own free time, while on paternity leave," she added. Neither Small nor Taheri answered questions about who exactly in the administration asked him to contact the clerks. The White House distanced itself from Small's actions in a statement. "Jeff Small does not speak for the White House nor was he ever authorized to do official business on behalf of the White House," a White House spokesperson said in an email to CNN. Miller did not respond to CNN requests for comment. In Colorado, election officials say, there is heightened sensitivity around who can access election equipment, after thehigh-profile prosecutionof former Mesa County elections clerk, Tina Peters. She became a celebrity among pro-Trump activists who have advanced false claims that voting machines had been rigged to flip votes from Trump to then-candidate Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Many state laws set strict security standards for voting machines to prevent tampering with elections. Colorado has specifically barred third parties from accessing election equipment. Last year, a judge sentenced Peters to nine years in prison after she was convicted on state charges for her role in a breach of her county's election system as part of an unsuccessful hunt for fraud. Trump and his administration have taken up Peters' cause, however. Earlier this year, the Justice Department said it was reviewing her case as part of a broad mandate from Trump to counter prosecutions it said were aimed at "inflicting political pain than toward pursuing actual justice." And in a social media post in May, the president weighed in personally, calling Peters an "innocent Political Prisoner" and directing the Justice Department to "to take all necessary action to help secure" her release. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told CNN that her office has provided recent voter data to the Justice Department that's generally available to the public. But she said she declined to comply with a request related to records from the 2020 election because the federal government has no "legal basis" to seek it. Federal law only requires the preservation of election data in federal races for 22 months. Griswold, a Democrat, said Trump's recent actions demonstrate the president "is using the power of the federal government to undermine American elections and undermine voter confidence in them." In Colorado, a state Trump lost in all three of his White House bids, tensions over election administration remain high. Koppes, the Republican clerk of Weld County, said she faced so many threats for her outspoken defense of the 2020 election results – and her county's use of Dominion Voting machines – that she began to vary her routes to and from work, a practice she continues today. Crane, the head of the clerk's association, said it took a "lot of courage" for county clerks to rebuff the recent overtures, given the climate of suspicion and harassment that still persists. He noted that an elections office in southern Colorado housing Dominion machines was firebombed recently. No one was injured in the after-hours incident. "The threats against election officials are very real," he added. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

Trump and his allies mount a pressure campaign against US elections ahead of the midterms

Trump and his allies mount a pressure campaign against US elections ahead of the midterms A few weeks ago, Republican election officials in ...

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WNBA Game Halted Once Again After Sex Toy Flies onto Court for Second Time This Week

WNBA Game Halted Once Again After Sex Toy Flies onto Court for Second Time This Week

Shaina Benhiyoun/SPP/Sipa The Golden State Valkyries and the Chicago Sky faced off during a game on Friday, Aug. 1, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago However, during the second half of the game, a patron threw a green sex toy onto the court This marks the second time this week a sex toy was tossed onto the court in the middle of the game Another WNBA game was halted due to an object being thrown onto the court. On Friday, Aug. 1, the Golden State Valkyries faced the Chicago Sky, and 7 minutes and 42 seconds into the third quarter, a patron threw an unexpected object onto the court of the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The broadcast caught footage of a green sex toy being thrown on the sidelines just shy of the court, later shared onX. The referee quickly blew the whistle, halting the game, and the announcer is heard saying, "Got a whistle away from the basketball." A second referee went over to the object and kicked it off the sidelines, and then another staff member went to pick it up with a towel to remove it from the vicinity. Patrick McDermott/Getty https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf This marked the second time a sex toy was tossed onto the basketball court. On Tuesday, July 29, during the Golden State Valkyries' game against the the Atlanta Dream,a green sex toy landed on the courtduring the game's final seconds. "Something flies on the court actually from the crowd. And you can see the object... the green thing bounces and it goes to the sideline," sports announcer Morgan Ragan said. "We're not exactly sure where it came from," she continued, as a timeout was called and the game was paused. After the object was identified, she said, "Oh my gosh, OK. OK, inappropriate. Get them out of here, whoever it is [that threw it]." Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Following the second incident, Chicago Sky player Angel Reese wrote a cheekyX postand joked about Indiana Fever player, Sydney Colson, "hey @SydJColson,  why do you keep throwing your mean green in different arenas…. it's getting weird." Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham also shared anX post: "stop throwing dildos on the court… you're going to hurt one of us." The owners of the two sex toys have yet to be publicly identified, but if the arena had identified the perpetrators, they would have been immediately removed from the space due to the WNBA policy. According to the WNBA'sFan Code of Conducton its website, "Guests who engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the court will be immediately ejected from the arena." Read the original article onPeople

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

WNBA Game Halted Once Again After Sex Toy Flies onto Court for Second Time This Week

WNBA Game Halted Once Again After Sex Toy Flies onto Court for Second Time This Week Shaina Benhiyoun/SPP/Sipa The Golden State Valkyries an...

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Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck to undergo Tommy John surgery, Alex Cora announces

Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck to undergo Tommy John surgery, Alex Cora announces

PitcherTanner Houckwill undergo Tommy John surgery,Boston Red Soxmanager Alex Cora told reporters (via MassLive's Chris Cotillo) on Saturday. Houck, 29, has been on the injured list with a flexor pronator strain in his right forearm since May 13. Such an injury is often a precursor to a tear that requires reconstructive surgery, but the Red Sox hoped Houck would recover with rest and rehabilitation. However, Houck's rehab assignment was cut short on July 9 when he wasstill feeling sorenessin his right arm. Last week, the Red Soxshut him down from throwing, making a 2025 return seem unlikely. At the time, Cora said surgery wouldn't be necessary. But orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister recommended a procedure after viewing his MRI results. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Now, Houck will not only miss the remainder of the 2025 season but by undergoing surgery in August, he will likely be sidelined for the 2026 campaign as well. In nine starts before going on the IL, Houck registered an 8.04 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. Boston's first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) in 2017 out of Missouri, Houck has compiled a 3.97 ERA and 24-32 record in 113 appearances (80 starts), averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He was named to the MLB All-Star team last season, finishing with a 3.12 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings. Houck's uncertain status made getting another starting pitcher a priority for the Red Sox at the MLB trade deadline. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acquired Dustin May (6-7, 4.85 ERA) from the Los Angeles Dodgers, in addition to reliever Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals. However, critics asserted that the team didn't add nearly enough when it'sfour games out of first placein the AL East and has a tenuous hold on one of the league's three wild-card playoff berths. The Red Sox rank 12th in MLB with a 4.01 ERA from their starters, with a Cy Young Award candidate in Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello also pitching well. However, Walker Buehler has been disappointing, while Lucas Giolito has been inconsistent. Additionally, Hunter Dobbins suffereda season-ending right ACL tearbefore the All-Star break and Patrick Sandoval has not fully recovered from left elbow surgery and isdoubtful to pitch in 2025after signing as a free agent. "Tough year for him, tough year for us," Cora said,via MLB.com. "But he'll kill the rehab, he'll do his job, and when he comes back, he's going to be OK."

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck to undergo Tommy John surgery, Alex Cora announces

Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck to undergo Tommy John surgery, Alex Cora announces PitcherTanner Houckwill undergo Tommy John surgery,Boston Re...

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Senate leaving Russia sanctions power fully in Trump’s hands

Senate leaving Russia sanctions power fully in Trump's hands

Republican senators are getting ready to leave Washington without advancing a major sanctions bill against Russia, giving President Trump sole discretion over whether to follow through on his threats against Russian President Vladimir Putin if he refuses to halt his war against Ukraine. Trump has given an Aug. 8 deadline for Putin to stop fighting or risk tariffs on countries that import Russian oil. As a preview,he announced 25 percent tariffs on India, a major importer of Russian energy. That's far below the 500 percent secondary tariff power Congress laid out in draft legislation. While Senate Ukraine hawks wanted to see their sanctions bill pass before the monthlong break, they ultimately left the decision entirely in Trump's hands, at least for the summer. "I think he's going to be very careful about what he does," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said when asked by The Hill if Trump can be trusted to impose costs on Putin. "But I think he is clearly disappointed in Putin and I think he is now coming around to recognizing that many of us were right." Democrats have expressed skepticism Trump will punish Putin, even as the president has shown increasing frustration with the Russian leader's refusal to accept a ceasefire. Trump said Friday he ordered nuclear submarines to the region in response to threats of nuclear weapons use from Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, current deputy chair of the security council and frequent online provocateur. "Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances," Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social. Trump told reporters Thursday that his special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Russia following a visit to Israel on Friday. Trump described Russia's ongoing attacks against Ukraine as "disgusting." "We have about eight days. … We're going to put sanctions," he said. Even as Trump has shortened the deadline for Russia to get serious about peace talks, the president is hedging on the impact U.S. financial penalties will have on Putin's country. "I don't know that sanctions bother him. You know? They know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions, and tariffs and everything else. I don't know if that has any effect. But we're going to do it." While the U.S. has steadily ramped up sanctions on Russia throughout the war, the Senate bill would have marked a major economic escalation, seeking to isolate Moscow from trading partners that have kept its wartime economy afloat. "Maintaining pressure on Russia economically, and going after its oil revenues in particular, remain crucial to containing and limiting Russia's current and future military and foreign policy options," experts with the Center for Strategic and International Studieswrote in a reportlate last month. Steep tariffs on Russia's trading partners would also risk shocks to the global energy market and further strain on U.S. relations with major economies such as India, China and Brazil. Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said deciding which sanctions are imposed — if Russia passes Trump's deadline — "are a work in progress," speaking with The Hill on Friday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), coauthor of the Russia sanctions bill with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), said he would view it as a win if Trump imposed even a fifth of what the Senate was proposing. "We propose in our bill 500 percent. If it's 250 percent, I could live with it. Even if it's 100 percent, possibly. But you ought to impose bone-crushing sanctions that will stop them from fueling Russia's war machine," Blumenthal said. The Connecticut senator said even as he holds out hope for Trump to give Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) the green light to bring the sanctions bill to the floor, the bill has already moved U.S. policy. "It has given credibility and momentum to the idea of sanctions so that now, even President Trump, who was seemingly Putin's best buddy, is giving him deadlines to stop the war or face sanctions," he said. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pointed to Trump's 25 percent tariffs on India as further evidence of this impact. Indian state oil refiners have already moved topause imports of Russian oil, with the tariff set to go into effect Aug. 7. "Clearly, India was paying attention to that. I think it's positive progress that the president is looking at ways in which he can put more pressure on Russia," she said. Graham said Trump has "adopted the theory of the case" — going after countries that purchase Russian oil and don't help Ukraine. "He can do it through executive action, or with the bill," he said. "I think the bill, as you say, gives him leverage, and we're in good discussions, so stay tuned." But some Republican senators pointed to a missed opportunity in adjourning before a vote on the Graham-Blumenthal bill. "I don't think there are enough sanctions we can place on Russia. I think we should keep hammering them and make sure Ukraine's armed," said Sen. Pete Ricketts (Neb.), the No. 2 Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rounds told The Hill he believed the time is now to put the sanctions bill on the floor. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, said he wanted a Senate vote on the sanctions package so the House could be ready to take it up when they come back in September. "I think having that tool in your tool chest, ready to go, would be a good thing and keep the pressure on Russia," he said. "I think it gives [Trump] more leverage. You can always hold it ready to go, send it over to the House if needed and then to the president's desk. I think that's not a bad strategy." Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed. "I think that's why it's important for us to have this teed up and ready — it gives [Trump] an option, and the more options he has the better," he said. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill on Wednesday that Thune was "absolutely aware" of his desire to vote on the Russia sanctions bill before the August recess. "I certainly think it would be an excellent thing to do." Thune's office told The Hill on Friday it had no scheduling announcements related to the Graham-Blumenthal bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

Senate leaving Russia sanctions power fully in Trump’s hands

Senate leaving Russia sanctions power fully in Trump's hands Republican senators are getting ready to leave Washington without advancing...

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Democratic governors throw support behind Newsom, back partisan redistricting

Democratic governors throw support behind Newsom, back partisan redistricting

A number of high-profile Democratic governors are ready to fight -- ardently throwing support behind their colleagues who have said they will draw new Congressional maps to favor Democrats before the 2026 midterm elections in order to directly counterTexas Republicans' movesto do the same for their party. Texas GOP lawmakers just this week released their first draft of the state's new congressional map that could flip three to five Democratic seats in next year's midterms. On Thursday, California Gov.Gavin Newsompromptly responded, saying he'd spoken with state legislators and members of Congress about holding a special statewide election on Nov. 4 for Californians to vote on new congressional maps -- ones that would likely favor Democrats. Convening later in the week for a summer policy retreat on the shores of Madison, Wisconsin, a number of leading Democratic governors have backed Newsom and any other blue state leaders who are taking an offensive position on redistricting. MORE: Texas Republicans propose new congressional maps that could allow GOP gains The Democrats each did so reluctantly, calling Texas Republicans' efforts "unconstitutional" and "un-American" with hopes that the courts intervene before any new maps steered by either party are implemented. In the meantime, they said it's time to fight against the Trump-championed GOP redistricting, especially now that other Republican-led states, including Missouri, might follow suit. "That is so un-American, and it's a constant threat to our democracy," Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said about Republican proposals. "So I'm really pissed, frankly, and we are going to do whatever we can do to stop this from happening." Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas, the Chair of the Democratic Governors Association, explicitly got behind Newsom, Kathy Hochul of New York, JB Pritzker of Illinois and any other governors who are weighing counteraction through special elections, special sessions or additional means of redrawing congressional maps. "I have never believed in unilateral disarmament, and so while I may not want to participate in certain activities, if I have to, in order to level the playing field, I would support my Democratic colleagues who decide to answer in kind," Kelly said in an interview. "If the other side is going to pursue this, regardless of the obvious unconstitutionality of it, then I don't think we have any other choice but to go there. You just don't go to the front lines without your bullets," Kelly said. Kelly said her strong "preference" would still be for courts to intervene. "In fact, it might actually work to our benefit, you know, to play like this. Okay, we'll play this game too, and we all go to court." Then, Kelly said, "we all lose." MORE: First to ABC: DNC ramps up anti-redistricting efforts in Texas with calls to 'persuadable' GOP voters The process of redistricting could prove to be an uphill battle for Democrats, who have less of an opportunity to gerrymander nationwide than their peers across the aisle because of the varied rules of each state. It's the responsibility of partisan legislatures in many Republican-led states to draw the boundaries of all electoral districts. Many more Democratic states use independent citizen-redistricting commissions -- a practice used to maintain fairness and combat gerrymandering. "I do worry," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said during the press conference in Madison, about the outcome for Democrats if they decide to get in the redistricting fight. But, Kelly jumped in, "there's a bigger risk in doing nothing." "You know, we can't just let this happen and act like it's fine and hope that the courts fix it. We have no idea, quite honestly, at this point, what the courts might do, but by virtue of us responding in kind, we do send a message," Kelly added. "We will put up a fight." Evers, who campaigned for governor twice on ending gerrymandering in Wisconsin -- culminating with their Supreme Court's decision to strike down the state's non-contiguous state legislative maps as unconstitutional -- said that Wisconsin would not be making any changes to their maps. Other states, though, who may be "up against the wall" should make modifications, Evers said. "We're not changing our maps. Here in the state of Wisconsin, we worked hard to get fair maps, and we're going to continue to do so … in my heart of hearts, this is where we have to be. But when ... you have a gun against your head, you got to do something," Evers said. Govs. Kelly, Walz, and a number of other Democratic governors also said they'd steer clear of redrawing their maps this cycle, either because they lead predominantly Republican states or because their redistricting processes wouldn't allow for a swift process to combat current GOP efforts. The idea of retaliating against Republicans on the matter of redistricting is a notable shift in strategy for Democrats, who have long touted their reverence for "playing by the rules" on constitutional issues. For years, Democrats have championed independent redistricting and rules meant to encourage fairer maps are now holding them back in some areas and making it more challenging for them in certain districts. "Democrats are expected to have the decorum. We're expected to protect the institution. We're expected to follow the rules on this," Walz said, saying time for the party to go aggressively on offense to combat the Trump administration. "We're not playing with a normal administration. We're playing one that is throwing all the rules out of there, and if the courts that he has packed aren't going to do that, then I think it is incumbent upon states that have the capacity or the ability to make sure that we are responding in kind," said Walz. "It is a terrible spot we're in as a country, but not responding is going to make it even worse."

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

Democratic governors throw support behind Newsom, back partisan redistricting

Democratic governors throw support behind Newsom, back partisan redistricting A number of high-profile Democratic governors are ready to fig...

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Katie Ledecky wins seventh consecutive world title in 800-meter freestyle

Katie Ledecky wins seventh consecutive world title in 800-meter freestyle

Katie Ledeckystubbornly refused to give up her 800-meter freestyle crown Saturday at the world championships in Singapore, winning that race for a seventh consecutive time and fending off Canada's Summer McIntosh, who led a field of talented, young would-be usurpers. The seven world wins put Ledecky at the top of the chart for the most triumphs in a single event, as she passed her own record of six victories in the 1500 free and Sarah Sjöström of Sweden's six titles in the 50 butterfly. Ledecky said she didn't feel too much pressure coming into this race, satisfied with how she's been training all year. "It's been a really great season and I think coming into tonight, no matter what the outcome was, I was gonna be really happy with my season," she told NBC Sports. "And I think I just took the pressure off and allowed me to enjoy the race and kind of appreciate that moment." Ledecky forced the early pace, with McIntosh keeping her in close range. The young Canadian then took a brief, 0.14-second lead after 700 meters, with Ledecky's dominance appearing to teeter. But the veteran found another gear and quickly regained the lead before heading into the final 50 with a 0.25-second edge over McIntosh, an advantage the American extended as she closed out another win. McIntosh fell to third behind Australia's Lani Pallister. "That last 100 was pretty stressful," Ledecky said. "Lani was and Summer was right there." Ledecky clocked in at 8:05.62, Pallister at 8:05.98 and McIntosh 8:07.29. It was by far the closest worlds win of Ledecky's seven in the 800 free. A disappointed McIntosh said she didn't swim as well as she wanted to, but will turn the page and concentrate on her next race, in the 400 individual medley. "So it's just the beginning and I know I have lots of time in my career to do better at it,"she told the CBC. McIntosh vowed to use Saturday's disappointment as fuel for future 800-meter efforts. "I really wanted to swim my own race and I didn't do that," said McIntosh, who congratulated Ledecky and called her an "inspiration of mine." "I think what I did tonight actually makes me want to keep doing it more, to see how much better I can get at it because I know I can be way faster than I was tonight." The suburban Washington, D.C., native Ledecky said she's now looking forward to some time off, time with loved ones and a few dips in the pool she swam in as a youngster. "I'm looking forward to that," she said. "It's home to me but I'm with the people that I love, around the pool." The niece ofNew York Islanders co-owner Jon Ledeckyhas also been dominating the 800 free at the Olympics, having wongold in this race at the 2012 Gamesin London, 2016 in Rio, 2021 in Tokyo andlast summer near Paris. She's the only woman to win the same individual event at four Olympics, in any sport. The only other swimmer to pull off such a four-peat was American legend Michael Phelps, who took the 200 individual medley in 2004, 2008, 2012and 2016. At age 28, Ledecky was the field's oldest swimmer, and she outdueled her youngest and most fierce competitor, the 18-year-old Toronto native McIntosh. Ledecky's air of 800 invincibility was dented last year when a 17-year-old McIntoshbeat the Americanat the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 8. The Canadian prodigy opted against swimming in the 800 in France to concentrate on other events. She took gold in the 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley to become one of thebreakout stars of last summer. If McIntosh takes on the 800 free inLos Angeles, Saturday's race offered a tantalizing preview of what could be in store for 2028.

byMario Satorik

in

August 02, 2025

Katie Ledecky wins seventh consecutive world title in 800-meter freestyle

Katie Ledecky wins seventh consecutive world title in 800-meter freestyle Katie Ledeckystubbornly refused to give up her 800-meter freestyle...

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