Key facts
- House Republicans are pushing to revive Section 702 of FISA.
- Section 702 of FISA, which allows for warrantless spying, expired on June 12.
- Democrats are blocking the renewal of Section 702.
- President Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
- The House of Representatives rejected a war powers resolution aimed at halting President Donald Trump's actions against Iran.
- The vote on the Iran war powers resolution was 212-219.
- Postmaster General David Steiner confirmed a plan to withhold mail-in ballots.
- Mail-in ballots will be withheld from states refusing to share voter data with the federal government.
- This plan aligns with a proposed Trump administration rule to prevent voter fraud.
House Republicans, under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson, are attempting to reinstate Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a provision that permits warrantless spying and expired on June 12. This effort faces significant opposition from Democrats, who are citing President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence as a point of contention. The renewal of FISA's warrantless spying powers is a key legislative priority for House Republicans.
In parallel, the House of Representatives narrowly voted against a war powers resolution that aimed to curb President Donald Trump's military actions targeting Iran. The resolution was defeated with a vote of 212-219, underscoring the deep divisions within Congress regarding the ongoing conflict and the extent of the president's authority to conduct military operations without explicit congressional authorization.
Furthermore, Postmaster General David Steiner has confirmed a directive that the U.S. Postal Service will withhold the delivery of mail-in ballots to states that decline to share sensitive voter data with federal authorities. This policy aligns with a proposed rule from the Trump administration intended to combat voter fraud. The Postal Service's stance could impact election integrity in states that do not comply with the data-sharing requirements.