International Affairs
Trump's Russia Sanctions Waiver Draws Bipartisan Backlash
President Trump waived a recently enacted bipartisan Russia sanctions law, drawing criticism from members of both parties. The New York Times reported that...
Reimposed Sanctions Raise Questions Over Iran's Nuclear Program
Congress faces renewed questions about how to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons as disputes over international sanctions, limited access for...
North Korea's Nuclear Missile Threats Under Scrutiny
The Trump administration continues to navigate diplomacy and deterrence on the Korean Peninsula, and a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report...
Trump Defends Russian Diesel Deal as Bipartisan Criticism Mounts
A reported diesel deal under which Russia would supply more than 300,000 metric tons has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties, and President...
Faster Expanding 2026 Ebola Outbreak Is Second Largest on Record
The 2026 Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus has rapidly become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, according to a new Congressional Research...
Congress Weighs Taiwan Defense and Cross-Strait Conflict
A central tension in U.S.-Taiwan policy centers on how the United States can support Taiwan's defense without triggering a cross-Strait conflict. A...
Trump Administration Expands Tariffs Under Alternative Trade Laws
A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report outlines how the Trump administration has used alternative legal authorities to impose tariffs after a...
China Remains Key Source of Fentanyl Precursors Despite Controls
Since China's 2019 domestic controls curtailed almost all direct fentanyl shipments to the United States, China has become the primary source of the...
Congress Weighs El Salvador Immigration Policy Amid Human Rights Concerns
The status of more than 170,000 Salvadorans living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) remains unresolved as Congress weighs...
Iran Conflict Exposes Gulf Security and Energy Vulnerabilities
The Iran conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in Gulf security and energy infrastructure while leaving the United States' military presence and partnerships...
Defense Industrial Base Falls Short of Allied Integration Goals
The United States and four allies have a shared framework for defense research and production, but analysts say it has not achieved the integration Congress...
U.S. Reports 81 Aircraft Lost or Damaged in Iran Operations
A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report identifies 81 U.S. fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, including drones, reportedly lost or damaged in...
Senate Panel Grills 5 State Dept. Nominees on China, Sahel
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing Sept. 30 titled "Hearings to Examine Certain Pending Nominations," with five nominees listed as...
Senate Panel Warns of Narrowing Window on Nicaragua Crisis
The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues...
Congress Enacts First Law Restricting U.S. Investment in China
Congress has enacted the first ever program to regulate investment in China. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report published Oct. 1 examines the...
Southeast Asia Scam Centers Cost Americans $12.5B in 2025
Americans lost an estimated $12.5 billion in 2025 to online scam centers operating from Southeast Asia, and the problem is growing, according to a new...
UAE-U.S. Ties Tested by War, AI Deals, and Sudan Arms Concerns
U.S.-UAE relations are facing several simultaneous pressures. The UAE hosts U.S. forces, has purchased more than $33.5 billion in Foreign Military Sales...
Congress Examines Governance of US-Canada Shared Bodies of Water
What happens when an applicant violates an International Joint Commission (IJC) Order of Approval?
