John Curtis

Republican Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas is taking sides in the Lone Star State's burgeoning GOP Senate primary battle, endorsing state Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Sen. John Cornyn

New York State lawmakers led by Minority Leader Ortt, Sens. Chan, Weber and Martins, launched bills to fix the MTA amid cost and crime concerns.

Powerful forces are arguing for the accounting change, but fiscal watchdogs are sounding the alarm.

'This bill pushes back on Beijing’s inclination to bully smaller countries and limit Taiwan’s global network of partners,' Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance voted along party lines Tuesday to advance Dr. Mehmet Oz's nomination to run Medicare and Medicaid services to a full Senate vote.

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

Most Utahns like candidates having the option of gathering signatures to qualify for party primaries, a new poll found.

‘The United States shouldn’t tolerate pressure from China to undermine the Taiwanese people,’ Sen. John Curtis said.

Air Force fighter jets on Sunday intercepted a civilian aircraft flying in the temporarily restricted airspace near President Donald Trump’s Florida home.

The House on Thursday voted to censure an unrepentant Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, for disrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress.

GOP senators told Musk about an obscure legislative tool that could bring legal heft to his effort and enshrine the cuts into law.

For a brief period, while the rest of the government is gathered together, a designated survivor is kept away to ensure someone in the line of succession stays alive.

Attorneys for federal workers say in a lawsuit Elon Musk violated law with his weekend demand that employees explain their accomplishments or risk being fired.

Lawmakers in both parties said that Musk's mandate may be illegal, while unions are threatening to sue.

Multiple major agencies, including the FBI, State Department and Pentagon, have directed employees not to respond to Musk’s email.

Staffers carry pizzas from We, The Pizza across the windy and frigid East Front plaza into the Capitol for the budget votes on Thursday night.

A wrap-up of news from around Iowa this past week, including legislative bill hearings, new ownership for a business in Waterloo and state board approval for a Cedar Rapids casino.

Tulsi Gabbard is seeking to assuage senators’ concerns about her in a new opinion piece explaining why she thought "traitor" was too harsh a word for Edward Snowden.

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced on Tuesday that he will support Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to become director of national intelligence, paving the way for her to reach a floor vote and increasing her chances of winning full confirmation. Young had been considered a crucial Intelligence Committee GOP swing vote on Gabbard's nomination. "I appreciate Tulsi [...]

Republicans appear to be rallying behind President Donald Trump’s health secretary nominee

As White House staff secretary, he plays a key role in overseeing the flow of information and business to and from the president.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense would be following President Trump's orders immediately and end DEI programs.

JD Vance's first big moment as vice president sits on the horizon as the Senate prepares to confirm Pete Hegseth and John Ratcliffe, which could require a tiebreaking vote.

Senate Republicans are steamrolling ahead on Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon, and a new report detailing allegations of abusive behavior by the nominee have seemingly not dissuaded them. The Senate is set to hold an initial procedural vote on the nomination Thursday, even as Democrats attempt to delay final passage. Shortly after news [...]

WASHINGTON — Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, sought to reassure Democratic senators Wednesday that her Justice Department would not prosecute anyone for political purposes but refused to rule out the potential for investigations into adversaries of the...

As President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, prepares for questioning from senators on Wednesday, only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” confident that the Department of Justice will act in a fair and nonpartisan manner during his second term, a poll finds.

Democrats grilled Trump’s defense secretary pick over ugly allegations against him. But barring a last-minute surprise, he appears on track to be confirmed.

Democrats say Hegseth’s lack of experience, comments about women and Black troops, and allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct make him unfit to serve. Some takeaways from the hearing:

With the vast majority of 2024 in the rearview mirror, it's time to start looking at the most anticipated films primed to take the silver screen in 2025. Full of adaptations, sequels, and reboots of beloved properties, viewers will not have difficulty finding something familiar to enjoy. These are just some of the most anticipated movies of 2025.

Republicans who oppose Trump's Cabinet nominees could find themselves with a lump of coal — or a primary challenger — in the next Congress.

“Anybody who wants to give me heat for doing my job, bring it on,” said John Curtis, who was elected to replace the Trump critic in the upper chamber.

Donald Trump's idea of abolishing the debt limit is foundering on Capitol Hill as Democrats line up against it and Republicans uncomfortably try to shoot it down without angering the president-elect.Why it matters: With Trump digging in on the likely unworkable stipulation as part of government spending negotiations, the once-faint prospect of a holiday government shutdown is seeming more and more realistic.The demand comes after Trump torpedoed a bipartisan deal House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) negotiated to fund the government until March.State of play: Democrats would be Trump's most likely partners in eliminating the debt ceiling — an idea that has long been palatable in Democratic circles.But while a handful of Democrats have endorsed his approach, the party's official line is that anything but their deal with Johnson is a non-starter.Many lawmakers are also seizing on Trump policy plans that would raise the deficit — particularly his proposed tax cuts — to justify their opposition.What they're saying: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) set the tone Thursday with a social media post saying "hard pass" on even raising the debt ceiling, let alone eliminating it. "In order to give massive endless tax cuts to Elon Musk and other billionaire oligarchs? I don't know – there might be some wariness to that," Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said of scrapping the debt limit.Some Democrats even acknowledged their long-standing support for getting rid of the statutory limit, but said this case is an exception.Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) told Axios: "There's other things we have to weigh now. Am I for eliminating the debt ceiling? Yes, I was for that two years ago, but we have to look at what's in front of us right now as well."The other side: Many Republicans, by contrast, tried to embrace their party's tendency to oppose even raising the debt ceiling without placing themselves in direct public opposition to Trump."That discussion will occur, but I don't know if it's going to happen," House Freedom Caucus chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) said of raising the debt ceiling.Similarly, Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) told Axios of eliminating the debt ceiling: "I don't think that's going to happen. I don't see that as happening."Zoom in: A handful of Republicans did show a willingness to forcefully reject the idea."There are proposals to raise it, there are proposals to eliminate it. I won't vote for that," said Rep. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who said there are "at least 20 to 30 Republicans who are not for raising the debt ceiling or eliminating it."Paul called the debt ceiling an "important vote" because there "has to be some kind of punishment" for not cracking down on the national debt.Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who lost reelection to a Trump-backed primary rival, is also openly opposed to the idea.Yes, but: Some Republicans also expressed surprising openness to Trump's demand."Overall, we need change. This isn't working. And I don't know that's the idea I would embrace, but I do have some ideas myself," said Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), a senator-elect.Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters the debt limit "hasn't been very effective in constraining the debt, has it? So, I'm open to a discussion."Zoom in: Johnson spent Thursday huddled in his office with various groups of GOP lawmakers trying to work out a last-minute solution before government funding runs out Friday.But Trump's abrupt opposition to the deal Johnson struck and his intransigence on the debt ceiling is making that a tall order.Axios' Stef Kight and Erin Doherty contributed reporting for this story.

Sen. Mitt Romney's colleagues praised the departing Utahn for his bipartisanship and willingness to compromise in Congress.

Hegseth is running into questions amid a sexual assault allegation, which he has denied, and other emerging reports about his work conduct and history.

Meet the Republican and Democratic senators will will determine whether Trump's Cabinet picks will be confirmed next year.

Utah's motion seeks direct hearing before the nation's highest court to determine if federal agencies can 'indefinitely hold public lands.'

President-elect Donald Trump is poised to kick off his second term by sending the Senate an unconventional slate of nominees for powerful executive branch positions, seeing his 2024 victory as validation of a voter desire for disruption.But how much disruption will America’s “cooling saucer” tolerate?The soon-to-be Republican-led chamber is already showing it has its limits by effectively sinking Trump’s choice of far-right former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., for attorney general amid allegations of sexual misconduct and concerns about his qualifications.The Senate will be split between 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats in the new session, meaning Republicans can lose no more than three votes to confirm nominees without requiring some bipartisan support. A 50-50 tie can be broken by Vice President-elect JD Vance.Here are nine key senators to watch in the nomination battles.Sen. Susan Collins, R-MaineThe five-term centrist Republican is the sole remaining Republican senator representing a blue state. She has survived politically due to her willingness to buck her party at times, such as her vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges of inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.Collins intends to run for re-election in 2026 in a state that Trump just lost by 7 points, meaning she’s certain to be a top Democratic target. Trump’s cabinet picks present an opening for Collins to demonstrate her independent streak if she chooses to vote against some of his more controversial or radical picks.An added dynamic for Collins: She’s about to become the chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee. That gives her an opportunity to cut bipartisan deals on government spending bills, but it could also deepen her allegiance to the party that’s elevating her to that coveted role.Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AlaskaA member of an endangered species known as moderate Republicans, Murkowski is set to wield a significant amount of power during Senate votes on some of Trump’s more controversial policies and nominees. Murkowski has already shown she will be outspoken in her opposition to Trump’s picks for his cabinet, telling reporters of the Gaetz pick, “I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general. That’s Lisa Murkowski’s view.”Murkowski is also a rare Republican who supports bringing back the abortion-right protections included in Roe v. Wade, which could play a role in her votes on health care-related personnel and a potential new Supreme Court vacancy. And she isn’t up for re-election in deep-red Alaska until 2028.Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.The incoming majority leader is nobody’s idea of an ultra-MAGA Republican, but he understands his assignment: advance the Trump agenda. Thune will have to balance that with the institutionalist instincts that have earned him respect on both sides of the aisle.The nominations will be the first big test of his leadership style. Where does he defer to Trump? Where does he draw the line? Does he choose to be a heat shield for members who quietly want to buck Trump without doing so publicly? And how does he manage his relationship with Trump?The answers will set the tone for a long-awaited new era facing the Senate GOP.Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.McConnell is the ultimate free agent as he relinquishes the job of Senate Republican leader after a record 18 years. His quarrels and disagreements with Trump are well-documented. As GOP leader, McConnell’s style was usually to read the political winds within his party and follow them. Now, he doesn’t have to. He turns 83 in a few months and has two more years on his Senate term. The cabinet nominees could be an opportunity to flex his muscle and use his vote to shape Trump’s agenda.Will McConnell use his clout and reservoir of goodwill within the caucus to say no to some Trump picks? Or will he err on the side of acquiescence to the MAGA leader’s wishes? He’s offered one hint so far: Though he didn’t say anything publicly, McConnell was one of at least five Republican senators, including Collins and Murkowski, who privately made clear that they would oppose Gaetz for AG.McConnell is an outspoken Russia hawk who favors NATO and the post-World War II order and has signaled that he plans to use the coming years to battle the isolationist forces that have found a home in Trump’s “America First” agenda. As one example, how will he respond to the Russia-sympathetic views of former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence?Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.Tillis faces re-election in 2026 after winning his first two elections by less than 2 points. He’ll undoubtedly be a Democratic target in an election year where they have few Senate pickup opportunities. North Carolina is a tricky state even for a Republican — he’ll need to be renominated by a GOP base that can be attracted to far-right figures and balance that with appealing to a general electorate in the purple state.How closely does Tillis stick to Trump in a cycle where, unlike in 2020, the president-elect won’t be on the ballot to give him coattails? The nominations will provide a clue.Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.Heading into a Trump presidency, Cassidy is expected to be front-and-center as the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. His committee is expected to look into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as the Health and Human Services Secretary (though the Senate Finance Committee will be tasked with reporting the nomination to the full Senate). And Cassidy, a physician himself, has kept his cards close on how he feels about the vaccine-skeptic.As HELP chairman, Cassidy will also be knee-deep in any discussions about the future of health care policy, including Medicare and Medicaid.He’s up for re-election in 2026, and his vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial for inciting an insurrection, as well as any feud over nominees, could play a part in whether Trump chooses to support Cassidy or a potential primary challenger.Sen.-elect John Curtis, R-UtahStepping into the seat vacated by outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, many are wondering whether Curtis will be more like the institutionalist senator he is replacing, or fellow Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee, a hard-right figure who has become a Trump ally. The answer may be something in the middle.“He is not Mitt Romney and he is not Donald Trump. He’s got his own brand and he was very clear about that in his primary and his general election,” former GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida told NBC News recently.Speaking during his primary debate in June, Curtis said of Trump, “I’m not going to give him an unconditional yes to anything that he wants.”Curtis has already made his presence known by joining the private reesistance to Gaetz. But Gaetz was just the first real test for Senate Republicans in a second Trump presidency, raising the question: Will Curtis be the same kind of check on Trump that Romney was on both nominees and policy?Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.Fetterman has made a name for himself in the halls of the Capitol for his brash, unfiltered way of communicating (and the way he dresses). But Fetterman has also carved out a unique identity by breaking with his party’s left — through his unrelenting support of Israel despite the civilian casualties caused by its military campaign in Gaza and his remark that Democrats “lost ourselves” when it came to key issues like immigration.In a party that’s currently doing some soul-searching, Fetterman’s voice could play a major role in that conversation for Democrats. And has expressed a willingness to support some of Trump’s picks for Cabinet jobs, including for his former 2022 rival, Mehmet Oz, to run Medicare and Medicaid.“He’s going to pick people that are going to disagree with me, and they’re never going to be my first choice,” Fetterman told NBC News. “So that’s kind of how democracy tends to work. ... I’m not going to be part of the collective freakouts.”Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.Ossoff faces re-election in 2026 in a state where Trump just snapped a Democratic winning streak that dates back to the first-term senator’s 2020 election win. He’ll probably be a top GOP target for defeat next cycle. The executive nominations could provide him some opportunities to show bipartisan bona fides, at least when it comes to Trump’s more mainstream picks.The confirmation battles will also provide some early hints as to how Ossoff is planning to position himself ahead of an undoubtedly difficult re-election bid in Georgia, where Democrats will seek to prove that their victories in 2020 and 2022 were not a fluke.This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:Senator introduces bill to compel more transparency from AI developersTop federal prosecutor in New York announces resignationGOP senator argues Americans ‘don’t care’ who conducts background checks for Trump Cabinet picks

It took Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, just a few weeks to make his mark on the Senate — even before he'd actually take the oath of office to replace retiring Sen.

Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal as a candidate for attorney general illustrates roadblocks Trump could face converting his campaign of “retribution” into a governing coalition.

Incoming Sen. John Curtis was one of at least four Republican senators in the next Congress who were implacably opposed to Matt Gaetz's nomination.

Trump can afford three defections within the Senate GOP conference and still get his picks confirmed.

Republicans have won full control of Washington, but Democrats will retain two key levers of power to shape legislative outcomes in Donald Trump’s second term.

Republican senators want details of the Ethics Committee investigation into Matt Gaetz after Trump selected him to run the Justice Department as attorney general.

Curtis Hertel conceded to U.S. Army veteran Tom Barrett in a 3 a.m. statement.

Republicans seized control of the U.S. Senate late Tuesday after flipping Democratic held seats, holding onto GOP incumbents and wresting away the majority for the first time in four years.

Utah voters will cast ballots for the full range of federal and state offices in the Nov. 5 general election, including president, Congress, governor, state Legislature and others

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is a lead backer of a China tech investment notification proposal.

Now, lawmakers from one of the most chaotic and unproductive legislative sessions in modern times are trying to persuade voters to keep them on the job.

Members of a bipartisan House task force investigating the Trump assassination attempts emphasized during their first hearing Thursday that the Secret Service, not local authorities, was responsible for the failures.