Senate Republicans to move forward on Trump agenda as House stalls on budget
Senate Republicans say they'll move forward with their own plan to approve key parts of the Trump agenda beginning next week, amid House delays.
United States Senate
Vance flexes political power in new role
Republican senators cite Vice President JD Vance as a key negotiator in moving President Trump's nominees out of committee and reassuring wavering senators.
Vance pushing to confirm Trump nominees
Two of President Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks are moving forward to a full Senate vote, and Vice President JD Vance appears to have played a role in their advancing. CBS News' Fin Gómez and Caitlin Huey-Burns report.
How RFK Jr. secured Sen. Bill Cassidy's vote
The Senate will soon vote on the confirmations of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard after two panels opted to advance their nominations on Tuesday. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, once a critic of Kennedy, voted to support his bid for health secretary. CBS News congressional reporter Taurean Small explains what made Cassidy change course.
Doug Collins confirmed as veterans affairs secretary
Collins has promised to cut regulations across the department and elevate the quality of care for veterans.
How Ken Martin became the new DNC chair
The longtime leader of Minnesota's Democratic Party has a new job: To lead the Democratic National Committee. CBS News political reporter Hunter Woodall explains how Ken Martin won despite failing to get the backing of top Democrats in Washington, D.C. Then, political strategists Justin Sayfie and Chuck Rocha join with analysis.
Senate confirms fossil fuel CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary
The key post will promote President Trump's efforts to achieve U.S. "energy dominance" in the global market.
Doug Burgum confirmed as interior secretary with support from Democrats
More than half of Senate Democrats joined all 53 Republicans in voting for Doug Burgum.
Takeaways from Gabbard, Patel hearings
Senators grilled several of President Trump's picks for key Cabinet positions on Thursday, namely FBI director nominee Kash Patel, director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion has more.
Menendez's courtroom reaction to sentencing
Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for corruption and bribery. CBS News political reporter and attorney Katrina Kaufman reports.
RFK Jr. faces questions in contentious hearing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions from senators in a hearing that last more than three hours Wednesday as he strives to be confirmed as President Trump's director of the Department of Health and Human Services. He was pressed about controversial statements he has made in the past on vaccines and abortion. Dr. Jon LaPook has more on the hearing.
Senators grill RFK Jr. on vaccines
Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended some of his past controversial vaccine statements on the first day of his confirmation hearings Wednesday. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion has more on the reaction of Democrats.
Abortion opponents praise RFK Jr., after he vows to follow Trump
Kennedy pledged to do "whatever" Trump wants on abortion pills, as the nation's top health official.
What RFK Jr. told senators about his views
President Trump's nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appeared for a confirmation hearing before senators Wednesday on Capitol Hill. As Republicans heaped praise, Democrats worked to pick apart Kennedy's views on everything from vaccines to abortion. CBS News' Nikole Killion and Olivia Rinaldi have the latest.
Breaking down RFK Jr. confirmation hearing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before senators on Capitol Hill, President Trump signed the first bill of his second presidency and the White House recalibrated its order to pause all funding on federal grants and loans. Political strategists Maura Gillespie and Hyma Moore join "America Decides" to unpack the day's top political stories.
Menendez after sentencing: "Trump is right"
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to 11 years in prison in his bribery case. A jury convicted Menendez in 2024 on 16 felony counts. CBS News political reporter and attorney Katrina Kaufman has the details.
Hawaii Gov. Green makes case against RFK Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, made his case to senators Wednesday on Capitol Hill. But as lawmakers consider Kennedy's nomination, Hawaii's Democratic governor has a message for them. Gov. Josh Green joins "America Decides" to explain why he believes confirming Kennedy could have deadly consequences.
Former N.J. Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in prison
Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
Buttigieg taking "serious look" at Senate run
Pete Buttigieg, former transportation secretary, is seriously looking at running for Senate in Michigan, according to a source close to him. A seat opened up in the battleground state Tuesday after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion has the details.
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters says he won't seek reelection
The announcement by Sen. Gary Peters creates an open seat in battleground Michigan, which has flipped from red to blue to red again in the last three presidential elections.
Judge temporarily halts federal funding pause
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily halted President Trump's federal funding freeze on Tuesday to allow further litigation. Nancy Cook, senior national political correspondent for Bloomberg News, and Juliegrace Brufke, senior political correspondent for The Daily Beast, join "America Decides" with analysis.
FBI insider raises concerns about Kash Patel
An FBI whistleblower is accusing Kash Patel, President Trump's nominee to lead the bureau, of violating government protocol by commenting publicly about an ongoing hostage rescue in 2020. CBS News investigative reporter Dan Klaidman has the details.
Senate confirms Pete Hegseth as defense secretary; Vance casts tiebreaking vote
Pete Hegseth's nomination once appeared on shaky ground amid allegations that included sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement.
Murkowski, Collins to vote against Hegseth
Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins on Thursday became the first Republicans to say they won't vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. Plus, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily stalled President Trump's plans to end birthright citizenship, calling the executive order "blatantly unconstitutional." CBS News' Scott MacFarlane and Olivia Rinaldi have the latest.
Where does RFK Jr.'s nomination stand?
Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to appear before senators on Capitol Hill next week. It's a highly anticipated confirmation hearing partly because of the former presidential candidate's well-documented history of spreading false and misleading vaccine claims. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, joins "America Decides" to discuss the state of Kennedy's nomination.
As Trump makes autism announcement, Tylenol maker and medical experts push back
The Trump administration announced it believes acetaminophen is linked to autism risk, but the maker of Tylenol and medical experts have strongly pushed back on the claims.
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return to air Tuesday, Disney says
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" had been pre-empted on Wednesday following comments Kimmel made on the show in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump to meet with Schumer and Jeffries as government shutdown looms
Democrats have pleaded with Republicans to negotiate before government funding expires at the end of the month.
Trump executive order labels antifa a "domestic terrorist organization"
President Trump is following through on his vow to designate antifa as a terrorist group — but the move's legal impact is unclear.
Supreme Court lets Trump fire FTC commissioner for now and takes up dispute over removal
President Trump moved to fire Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from her position as a member of the Federal Trade Commission in March.
Sarah Ferguson dropped by U.K. charities over reported Epstein email
Newspapers in the U.K. published an email that Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson reportedly wrote to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
4 soldiers killed in Black Hawk helicopter crash identified by Army
Andrew Cully, Andrew Kraus, Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good were part an elite team that does nighttime missions.
Man accused of trying to assassinate Trump in Florida rests his case without testifying
A man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year has chosen not to testify in his own defense.
The night Jeffrey Epstein claimed his cellmate tried to kill him
New internal documents reveal details of an incident that left Jeffrey Epstein injured and on suicide watch days before his death.