The Latest Breaking News from John Thune

Senate plots its final week before elections with potential data center electricity vote

The Senate will return next week to wrap up business before the November midterm elections, seeking to take action on an affordability issue and score a political win for an endangered Republican incumbent. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Thursday that a wide array of bills could potentially…

Roll Call · Sep 25

‘The assumption is yes,’ Thune says of another leadership run

As the Senate tries to navigate its final business before the midterms, Republicans are facing another question — who will steer the ship once they’re done? So far, they’re not straying far from their current captain, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, with no viable rival emerging as yet.  “The assumption…

Roll Call · Sep 24

Permitting bill off until after midterms even as talks close in

Senate Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said Thursday that the process of papering, selling and voting on a potential deal to take up legislation overhauling the federal permitting system will likely push consideration to the lame-duck session in November. Speaking at a news conference, Whitehouse said…

Roll Call · Sep 24

Before the final midterm whistle, Senate spends time on sports

The last thing the Senate does before the midterms could be a bill on college athletics. It’s been on the to-do list for a while, but as senators think about their closing message ahead of the election, not everyone is sure it’s the best call. Many Republicans blame Democrats for…

Roll Call · Sep 18

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84

The Arizona senator shepherded the confirmation of conservative supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh

The Guardian - US · Sep 17

Frail Mitch McConnell appears to need assist from fellow Republicans after he nearly votes wrong way in Senate

McConnell is accused of nearly voting with Democrats by mistake at Agriculture committee meeting

The Independent UK · Sep 16

Push for AI regulation mounts as talk of AI's "existential" risks go mainstream

Fears of AI "killing all humans" broke into the mainstream discourse last week. But what happens as a result of the debate remains far from clear.

Fortune · Sep 15

College NIL bill moves forward on Senate floor

A potentially landmark Senate college sports bill easily cleared a procedural hurdle on Tuesday, moving the bipartisan legislation one step closer to advancing out of the chamber. The Senate voted 74-24 on the procedural step, which opens a path to an eventual vote on passage.  Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., one…

Roll Call · Sep 15

AI threats confront a Congress far from erecting guardrails

In the wake of recent dire warnings from industry about the national security risks of frontier artificial intelligence models, lawmakers have been quick to express concern and call for industry or legislative guardrails. But action before the midterm elections looks unlikely as neither party has coalesced around a legislative plan…

Roll Call · Sep 15

Mitch McConnell Says Recovery Has Been 'Long and Often Frustrating' as He Returns to Senate

Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate after more than 90 days away, saying recovery from a June fall remains long, frustrating and incomplete.

International Business Times UK · Sep 15