A Senate committee hearing reignited political divisions over the US response to COVID-19, with Republicans criticizing Anthony Fauci and reviving the Wuhan lab leak theory, despite no conclusive evidence.
Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at a Senate hearing, refusing to answer questions from Senator Rand Paul regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response and alleged perjury, citing potential prosecution.
Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing led by Sen. Rand Paul, refusing to answer questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing potential self-incrimination. This move followed years of accusations by Paul that Fauci lied about the pandemic, which Fauci termed 'preposterous'. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service faces scrutiny over its ability to deliver mail ballots on time ahead of the midterms.
Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing, refusing to answer questions about his role in the US COVID-19 response, citing legal advice. The hearing, led by Senator Rand Paul, focused on alleged misleading statements about the pandemic's origins and US-funded research in Wuhan, China.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Trump's $87.6 billion emergency defense spending request for the Iran war, which has cost $37.5 billion so far, during a heated Senate hearing. Democrats questioned the funding scale and strategy, warning of a "forever war" amid public division and rising casualties.
Two Trump administration nominees for high-profile health roles, Erica Schwartz for CDC director and Sean Kaufman for ASPR assistant secretary, failed to gain support during Senate health committee hearings. Schwartz was criticized for evasiveness and lack of awareness, while Kaufman faced anger for past anti-vaccine rhetoric and contradictory stances on mRNA research, leading to their effective rejection.
Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros suggests a nihilistic violent extremist network, '764', may have influenced perpetrators of a deadly school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured 20. The information has been sent to the National Bureau of Investigation for verification.
Cody Carbone, CEO of The Digital Chamber, testified on how digital assets could solve affordability issues, but received a muted response from most senators, with some dismissing his claims.
Cody Carbone, CEO of The Digital Chamber, testified before the Senate Banking Committee on how digital assets could address affordability issues. However, most lawmakers showed little interest, with Senator John Kennedy dismissing his points and Senator Jim Banks asking a specific question about remittances.
Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a Senate hearing for his Director of National Intelligence (DNI) nominee, Jay Clayton. Trump cited the need to ensure Jamie McDonald, a lawyer involved in one of his cases, is approved as US Attorney before replacing Clayton.
During a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Booker criticized the Trump administration's Iran policy, stating the US is "begging" to return to a deal they "tore up." Secretary Rubio defended the administration's stance, asserting Iran is the one in a weaker position due to sanctions and economic hardship.
The US is pausing a $14bn arms sale to Taiwan to prioritize munitions for the Iran war, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed. The sale awaits Trump's approval and has drawn strong opposition from Beijing.
The US has paused a $14bn arms sale to Taiwan to ensure sufficient munitions for the Iran war, confirmed acting Navy secretary Hung Cao. Taiwan's presidential office stated they have no information on the adjustment, while President Trump views the sale as a "negotiating chip" with China.
US official warns China is rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities to surpass the US within a decade, citing new missile silos, mobile and submarine forces, and long-range bombers.
FBI Director Kash Patel denied allegations of excessive drinking and clashed with Senator Chris Van Hollen during a Senate hearing, countering with accusations of hypocrisy and misuse of public funds.
A protester disrupted a Senate hearing for U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth, shouting accusations of war crimes before being removed by security. The incident underscores public dissent regarding foreign policy and defense.
A protester disrupted a Senate hearing involving U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth, shouting accusations and calling him a war criminal before being removed by security. The incident underscores public anger regarding foreign policy and defense spending.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has expressed strong support for restoring Pluto's planetary status during a US Senate hearing, stating he is 'very much in the camp of make Pluto a planet again.' Isaacman indicated NASA researchers are working on studies that could help reopen the scientific debate nearly two decades after Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman wants Pluto to be a planet again. He voiced this support in a Senate hearing. Nasa researchers are studying Pluto's status. Pluto was a planet until 2006. The International Astronomical Union reclassified it as a dwarf planet. This decision is still debated by scientists and the public. Isaacman believes Pluto should be a planet.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks questioned Health Secretary Robert Kennedy during a combative Senate hearing about his proposal for national 'wellness farms' based on San Patrignano, an Italian addiction recovery community. Alsobrooks cited Kennedy's past comments about 'reparenting' Black children on such farms. Kennedy said he has no memory of making those statements and apologized if he did. Critics, including addiction experts at Yale, warn that San Patrignano's abstinence-only approach could be dangerous in the U.S. where opioid overdoses kill tens of thousands annually. San Patrignano's leaders say the model cannot be safely scaled and acknowledge past scandals including residents held against their will.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended her efforts to dismantle the Education Department in a heated Senate hearing Tuesday, facing criticism from Democrats over proposed cuts to special education, TRIO programs for low-income students, and the Office for Civil Rights funding. Republicans were divided on some cuts, with some supporting school choice expansion while others expressed concern about TRIO program reductions.
Trump's $185 billion Golden Dome missile shield faces congressional scrutiny as a senior Pentagon official admits the US currently has no defence against hypersonic or cruise missiles. The assistant secretary of defence for missile defence told a Senate hearing the shield will strengthen deterrence by denying adversaries ability to achieve objectives through coercion, specifically targeting China as the 'pacing competitor'.
A senior Pentagon official told Congress that the US has "no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles" as President Trump's US$185 billion Golden Dome missile shield faces continued skepticism. The space-based interceptor system, targeted for operation by January 2029, is designed to counter Chinese and Russian missile arsenals, with the price tag increasing from an initial US$175 billion estimate.
Sen. Bernie Sanders confronted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Senate hearing over his rejection of germ theory, the scientific foundation that specific pathogens cause specific diseases. Kennedy defended his fringe view promoting terrain theory over germ theory, citing studies arguing vaccines did not significantly reduce mortality. Sen. Bill Cassidy fact-checked Kennedy by reading from the same studies Kennedy cited, showing they actually credited vaccines with eliminating deaths from diphtheria, pertussis, measles, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
