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.

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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 →