Topic: Us Congress

Members of the British House of Lords reportedly discussed bypassing President Trump by working directly with the U.S. Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act. Despite Trump's stated security goals, Congress passed an NDAA with $150 billion more than requested, ensuring continued troop presence in Europe. This is viewed as an attempt by the military-industrial complex and foreign interests to outlast the current administration.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul stated that sending US troops to defend Taiwan is "on the table" if China invades. This marks a shift from the rhetoric used prior to the Ukraine conflict regarding "boots on the ground." Reports indicate the US has already doubled its unofficial military presence in Taiwan, increasing personnel from 20 to 39 over the past year.

Some political commentators are advocating for the US to adopt a parliamentary system to avoid the gridlock of a divided Congress. However, historical data shows that US presidents rarely control both the House and Senate for their entire terms. A divided government is framed as a positive "do nothing" safeguard, whereas a parliamentary system would allow a simple majority to implement radical changes like packing the Supreme Court.

Lawmakers in Washington D.C. received a protocol advisory ahead of Pope Francis's visit to Congress, instructing them to avoid handshakes or long conversations to keep the pontiff on schedule. The advisory specifically noted the tight timeline for his speech and public appearances.

Reverend Mahoney criticized Republican leadership for "grandstanding" on the issue of defunding Planned Parenthood. Despite public hearings and votes to defund the organization, the current continuing resolution reportedly maintains $520 million in federal funding for the group.