Politics - Monday, March 23, 2026

President Trump postponed his threat to strike power plants in Iran, citing “productive conversations” with the Iranians. But officials said the talks were in an early stage and not substantive.

Congress faces a steep political battle over a $200 billion Iran war spending request, with Trump sending mixed signals on whether the funds are needed.

The president is using the standoff over funding the Department of Homeland Security as leverage to pass a strict voter ID bill. Critics say the bill would place an undue burden on eligible voters.

As the DHS shutdown enters its sixth week, House Republicans are forcing votes to pressure Senate Democrats. Meanwhile, unpaid TSA agents call out, leaving travelers facing chaos.

Every PM hopes to emerge having said nothing that makes the news, and with Iran centre-stage Keir played a blinder What a difference a week makes. At last week’s prime minister’s questions , Keir Starmer tried to persuade us he knew less than he did. His memory was so bad that he could barely remember who Peter Mandelson was, let alone why he had appointed him as ambassador to the US. Fast forward to Monday’s appearance before the liaison committee, the supergroup of select committee chairs, and Keir was desperate to convince us he knew more than he did. He had the inside track on Iran. He was in control. He also wasn’t altogether convincing. Mind you, it’s hard not to feel some sympathy for Starmer. The whole point of being prime minister is that you’re expected to know more than the rest of us. And most of the time you do. State secrets are your life blood. Only, just occasionally the veil slips. Having threatened to obliterate Tehran’s power plants just days earlier, on Monday morning Donald Trump announced on Truth Social – along with a strange witch reference – that he was going to delay the bombardment for five days as constructive talks with the Iranian regime were taking place. Continue reading...

Over 300 Angel Families represented by The American Border Story are urging Congress to support Markwayne Mullin for DHS, arguing he understands the stakes at play.

The journalists said in the complaint that the administration was trying to force them to be a “mouthpiece” and that one official demanded “loyalty” if reporters wanted to “keep their jobs.”

Amid a war with Iran, rising gas prices and a government shutdown, the president detoured on a trip to Memphis to visit the king of rock’s mansion.

Virginia Rep. Donald Beyer says the redistricting push is about stopping Trump and taking back the House, not restoring fairness for Virginia voters.

Any taxpayer-funded financial help will be likely to go to poorest households, rather than to everyone, PM indicates Ministers are looking at providing support for household bills next winter, Keir Starmer said, as he suggested the energy price shock unleashed by the Iran conflict could continue for months to come. The prime minister indicated he would prefer to focus any taxpayer-funded help on the poorest households, rather than an expensive universal bailout, ahead of an emergency meeting on the economic fallout of the Middle East crisis. Continue reading...