Politics & World Affairs — August 9, 2026
U.S. Senate passes short-term funding bill to avert shutdown. The Senate passed a temporary measure funding federal agencies through Dec. 11 in an 89-4 procedural breakthrough, defusing a shutdown threat weeks before the midterm elections.
Reuters · Read more
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham. The bill, allowing tough new tariffs against major importers of Russian energy, cleared the Senate and heads to the House; it honors the late senator, who died in July.
NPR News · Read more
Trump signs immigration actions on birthright citizenship and ‘birth tourism.’ President Trump signed two executive actions seeking again to limit birthright citizenship and crack down on ‘birth tourism,’ setting up a fresh round of legal challenges after an earlier Supreme Court setback.
AP News · Read more
See a mistake? Report an error
More from the August 9, 2026 Brief
Politics & World
El-Sayed Upset Headlines Split Democratic Primary Night
Progressive Abdul El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens 48.5% to 47.5% in Michigan’s Democratic…
Politics & World
Iran Sets New Conditions for Reopening Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s military said the Strait of Hormuz will reopen only if the U.S. accepts Tehran’s conditions…
Business
U.S. Economy Unexpectedly Sheds 23,000 Jobs in July
U.S. nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, missing forecasts for a gain of about 83,000, while…
Politics & World
Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General
The Senate voted 50-49 early Saturday to confirm Todd Blanche, President Trump’s former personal…
