RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 4 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * Ahead of Labor Day Weekend, Michael Whatley's Iran War is Causing "Record High" Fuel Prices & Benefiting His Big Oil Stocks * As "diesel hit[s] a record price" and high gas prices squeeze North Carolina families during Labor Day Weekend, DC insider and Big Oil lobbyist Michael Whatley is continuing to push for the Iran War, saying just this week that "I think that is where we need to be" while his oil and gas stocks spiked. Associated P more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- American University issued the following Q&A on Sept. 4, 2026, involving Shadi Mokhtari, professor in the School of International Service: * * * How Did 9/11 Change Human Rights Politics in the U.S. and Middle East? SIS professor Shadi Mokhtari unpacks some of the ways the United States' War on Terror shifted human rights landscapes in the U.S. and Middle East. By Emma Vitale In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the War on Terror transformed not only United States foreign policy and national security practices, bu more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * As U.S. Oil Reserves Hit 44-Year-Low, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman August Pfluger Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Study Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization, Strengthen U.S. Energy Security * Bill introduction comes as SPR has undergone two major emergency drawdowns in four years-first during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and now during the war in Iran-and sits at its lowest level since the 1980s Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fle more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 [Category: ThinkTank] -- Groundwork Collaborative, a think tank and progressive advocacy group, posted the following news release: * * * August Beige Book Reveals Widespread Strain Among Working Families * WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Reserve released the latest edition of the Beige Book this week, providing an updated snapshot of economic conditions across all 12 Federal Reserve Districts. The report adds to the mounting evidence that families are under substantial financial pressure: high gas prices are raising the c more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: * * * Baldwin Blasts Trump Admin for Diverting Billions from Lifesaving Medical Research to Pentagon * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee that funds the National Institute of Health (NIH), blasted the Trump Administration after the Department of Defense (DOD) announced that it was diverting billions of dollars Congress spe more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis issued the following commentary on Sept. 4, 2026, by Ivo Hlavacek, former director-general at the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs: * * * Europe and U.S. Need a Plan for Economic Friendly Fire New US sanctions legislation is on a collision course with the European Union's anti-coercion rules. Sensitivity is needed on both sides to avoid a damaging clash of allies. - The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by 86 votes to 11 on Au more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Betty McCollum Votes for Temporary Funding Measure to Keep Federal Government Open * WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement on Tuesday upon passage of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 11: "I voted for this bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the federal government more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following commentary on Sept. 4, 2026, by Jose Ignacio Hernandez, senior associate (non-resident) with the Americas Program: * * * Understanding the Implications of the U.S.-Venezuela Oil Deal On August 31, 2026, the White House published a fact sheet on the "Historic Oil Agreement to Secure American Energy Dominance and Drive Venezuela's Economic Recovery." The agreement is based on the "100-year concessions for 17 oil fields with proven reserves of approx more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Sept. 4, 2026: * * * IN THE STATES: Under Trump's Failing Economy, Americans Enter Another Holiday Weekend They Can't Afford As Americans prepare to celebrate Labor Day weekend by hitting the roads or hosting a backyard cookout, they will be spending even more on their holiday plans. Under Trump's failing economy, this year's Labor Day is shaping up to be one of the most expensive ever with gas, cookout staples like ground beef and hot dogs, and air more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Gillibrand Statement On Record High Diesel Prices * Today, in response to Donald Trump and Republicans driving diesel to record high prices and gas to over $4 on Labor Day for the first time ever, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "Because of Donald Trump, New York families, small businesses, and farmers will be paying record high prices this Labor Day weekend," said Senator Gillibrand. "Every time New Yorkers  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Hoyer Statement on August Jobs Report * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement on the August jobs report: "Today's jobs report continues to demonstrate the urgency with which the current Administration must address the affordability crisis. While our economy saw an increase of 162,000 jobs in August, inflation is rising faster than average household earnings. In fact, wage gains are rising a more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on Sept. 4, 2026, by senior fellow Luke Coffey to Arab News: * * * Trump Is Picking a Needless Fight over the Falklands Another crisis is brewing in the transatlantic relationship, this time between the US and the UK over the status of the Falkland Islands. The Falklands are one of 14 British Overseas Territories and are located in the South Atlantic, about 500 km off the more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on Sept. 4, 2026, by research fellow Zineb Riboua to City Journal: * * * The West Faces Two Islams A long-forecast civilizational struggle increasingly plays out not in the Middle East but in Western countries themselves. - Published in 1996, Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations predicted that, with the end of the Cold War, global conflict would center on the divid more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (TNSrep) -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Baldwin Wraps Up Week 2 of the "Ending Chaos, Lowering Costs" Tour * WISCONSIN - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) wrapped up the second week of her "Ending Chaos, Lowering Costs" statewide tour with stops in Wausau, Green Bay, Monona, Waterloo, and the Twin Ports to meet with Wisconsinites and discuss how she is fighting to end the high costs and chaos that Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump have caused  more PR

NEW YORK, Sept. 2 -- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul stood together at a press conference to call on the federal government to release $87 million in withheld counterterrorism funding owed to the city and state. Joined by state Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Terence O'Leary and local emergency leadership, officials warned that the 40% reduction in federal grant allocations directly defunds critical public safety infrastructure, including certified bomb squads, transit security units, and emergency more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 [Category: ThinkTank] -- Groundwork Collaborative, a think tank and progressive advocacy group, posted the following news release: * * * Noisy Jobs Report Offers Little Comfort for Jobseekers Across Stumbling Economy * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today's jobs report shows the economy added 162,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. Job gains averaged just 31,000 per month over the past year and labor force participation remains near recent lows at 61.6%. Today's noisy report offers little guidance f more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news: * * * Investigation Time: Hegseth Secretly Raiding NIH Disease Research Money to Fund Defense Department Activities In a stunning abuse of taxpayer money at the expense of public health, the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee has discovered Pete Hegseth's Defense Department signed a secret interagency agreement - "without notifying Congress" -- that allows DoD to sap billions of dollars from the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NI more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (TNSletter) -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, issued the following letter with Vice Ranking Member Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, to Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania: * * * Here is the text of the letter: August 31, 2026 The Honorable Glenn "GT" Thompson Chairman Committee on Agriculture U.S. House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman, Earlier this summer, the American Farm Bureau released another staggering report highlighting the grave state of the farm econom more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * Rob Wittman Humiliates Himself on National TV * Wittman refused to answer whether he agrees with J.D. Vance that the Iran war is "not a war"... after voting five times to continue it After nearly 20 years in Washington, career politician Rob Wittman has gotten used to dodging questions. But Wittman's latest dodge is uniquely humiliating. Asked on a live TV interview whether or not he agrees with J.D. Vance that the Iran War  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 4, 2026: * * * Senator Warren Statement on August 2026 Jobs Report United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, released the following statement: "Since Donald Trump took office, the economy has added fewer than 40,000 jobs a month on average, far below the 120,000-a-month average in more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release on Sept. 4, 2026: * * * U.S. Sanctions Dismantle the Iranian Regime's Revenue Streams The United States remains committed to cutting off the Iranian regime's access to the international financial system and the resources it uses to destabilize the region and threaten U.S. interests and partners. Today's U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions on Turkiye-based Golden Global Bank mark the latest step in Operation Economic Outcast, a whole-of-government effort  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11474) by legislative attorney Christopher T. Zirpoli: * * * Tariff Authorities in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 On August 7, 2026, the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (the Sanctioning Act). In addition to authorizing various sanctions against the government of the Russian Federation and Russian individuals and entities, the Sanctioning Act autho more PR