It's Official: We Have a New Director of National Intelligence, and Democrats Are Hopping Mad

'Get it done!' Trump fumes at Senate Republicans blocking 'first step' for election plot

President Donald Trump fumed at Senate Republicans on Tuesday over their continued blockage of his legislative agenda. Trump has repeatedly called for Senate Republicans to pass his SAVE Act, which would overhaul the way U.S. elections are conducted, before their August recess. However, Republicans have shot down those calls, arguing that there are not 60 votes to pass the bill and that they are unwilling to eliminate the filibuster to do so. Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social that Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has a scheme up his sleeve to pass part of the bill before the recess, which he called a "critical first step." He then fumed at Republicans to "get it done!""Senator Ron Johnson is working hard with Senate Republican Leadership to adopt a Budget Resolution before the August recess," Trump wrote. "This is the first step towards getting as much of THE SAVE AMERICA ACT as possible in a Budget Bill, funding our Troops, and helping our Farmers." "I am calling on the Senate to get this critical first step done before the August recess," he added. "This Resolution can be adopted at a simple Majority threshold. GET IT DONE!"

Senate confirms Jay Clayton as new director of intelligence

The Senate approved federal prosecutor Jay Clayton as the next director of national intelligence.

Senate Advances Graham’s Russia Sanctions Bill

As Washington remembered Senator Lindsey Graham, his colleagues cleared away a hurdle to passage of his long-stalled bill to penalize Moscow.

86 senators vote to move forward with Graham Russia sanctions bill

In a massive show of bipartisanship, 86 senators voted to move forward with a Russia and Iran sanctions bill that had been championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.Why it matters: The vote came hours after senators gathered to honor Graham's memory, and immediately following a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The vote was 86-12. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against it.It is a procedural vote, but leadership hopes that the strong bipartisan support will allow for an expedited path to final passage.The details: The bill had been led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and reached more than 60 co-sponsors this month.The legislation would impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas.The bill also targets Russia's "shadow fleet" — the network of aging tankers used to evade Western sanctions while exporting Russian oil.It was also updated to renew sanctions on Iran set to expire after the end of the year.Between the lines: The sanctions package has long had wide bipartisan support, but concerns from the White House held it up for months.Graham had been the key negotiator with the White House, trying to adjust language to ensure President Trump's signature.After the senator's unexpected death, Trump indicated they would work to get the package done.Zoom in: Some Democrats were hesitant to vote for the package, concerned about Trump's use of tariffs,Zelenskyy and Finnish President s Alexander Stubb gave compelling arguments for the need for the sanctions and tariffs package, arguing that Russia is in a losing position, sources tell Axios.Zelenskyy watched the vote from the Senate chamber.

Outrage after Trump's spychief confirmed along party-line vote: 'GOP should be ashamed'

Democratic lawmakers were furious after the Senate voted to confirm President Donald Trump's nominee Jay Clayton as the new Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday.Following a party-line 51-47 vote, the Senate approved Clayton to be the nation's top spy chief. Trump picked Clayton to be the permanent DNI following former DNI Tulsi Gabbard announcing her resignation in May. After her exit in June, Acting DNI Bill Pulte was appointed by the president to serve in the interim role.After the vote, Senate Democrats took a stance and made their positions known on social media. "I voted against confirming Jay Clayton as President Trump’s Director of National Intelligence. This position must be guided by facts, not conspiracy theories or blind political loyalty. Refusing to acknowledge that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election is disqualifying for a role responsible for delivering objective intelligence, following the rule of law, and keeping our nation safe," Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) wrote on X."I just voted NO on Jay Clayton's nomination to be Director of National Intelligence. Why should someone who can’t acknowledge who won the 2020 election oversee our intelligence agencies?" Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) wrote on X."When the position of the DNI was created by Congress after the 9/11 attacks, the law laid out a simple qualification for the position: that the DNI 'shall have extensive national security expertise.' Jay Clayton fails that foundational, statutory test," Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote on X, sharing a thread with his thoughts on Clayton. "His record and his answers under oath to the Senate make it clear Clayton is not a leader who can be counted upon to make decisions on the serious national security threats facing our country, if those decisions would bring him into conflict with the personal or political preferences of the President," Schiff added."BREAKING: Senate Republicans just confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence—an election-denier and Trump sycophant. The GOP should be ashamed for enabling Trump’s dangerous and deranged conspiracy theories," Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) wrote on X. BREAKING: Senate Republicans just confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence—an election-denier and Trump sycophant. The GOP should be ashamed for enabling Trump’s dangerous and deranged conspiracy theories. pic.twitter.com/zS0VLkXL0h— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) July 28, 2026

Jay Clayton confirmed as Trump's new spymaster in party-line vote

The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as President Donald Trump's new Director of National Intelligence, in a 51-47 vote following party lines, reported CBS News.The vote gives Trump his pick in an office responsible for coordinating all of America's intelligence agencies.Previously, the DNI role was held by former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, but she exited office after a number of reported ideological differences over the Iran war. Gabbard denied this was the reason for her exit, citing personal reasons instead.Trump initially wanted to replace Gabbard with loyalist Bill Pulte, his head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and installed Pulte in the agency on an acting basis. However, after bipartisan pushback, he instead selected Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.Democrats initially considered this an improvement, but remained opposed to Clayton's nomination after his hearing, due in part to his refusal to acknowledge the result of the 2020 presidential election, and his involvement signing off on a controversial set of subpoenas against New York Times reporters.Clayton enters an Office of DNI that is already in turmoil, thanks to Pulte making a series of ideological purges of intelligence officers.

Senate Confirms Jay Clayton to Lead U.S. Intelligence Community

Mr. Clayton, who shed Democratic support after he refused to clearly say Joseph R. Biden Jr. won the 2020 election, will take over the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from Bill Pulte.