USA TODAY is reporting that the Senate narrowly rejected a war powers resolution aimed at ending the Iran war, voting 49-50, with only four Republican senators supporting the measure. It said the resolution, already approved by the House of Representatives, marked one of congressional Democrats' final political moves before the midterm elections. Republicans largely opposed ending the conflict even as it continues to weigh on some of the party's most vulnerable candidates, USA TODAY said. While Republicans claimed victory, Democrats said they succeeded in putting their GOP colleagues on record in support of an unpopular war.
USA TODAY also reported that Senate Republicans are pressing to secure a last-minute legislative win during their final week in Washington before the midterms. It said the remaining agenda items, per Senate Majority Leader John Thune, include a final vote on a bipartisan bill to overhaul college athletics and a House-passed measure to take small steps toward shielding Americans' electricity bills from data centers. Some GOP lawmakers expressed frustration with the pace. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said he had been chasing Thune to do more on the cost of living, adding, "We haven't done a damn thing." Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said the chamber had accomplished quite a bit but not as much as he wished, while Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said, "We're not very functional." Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said the data center bill is good policy but doubted it would produce a sea change in the election.
Separately, USA TODAY reported that all three media outlets President Trump banned from the White House were allowed back in after a judge ruled that the revocation of their credentials probably violated the Constitution. It said CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced their reporters were let back in just after noon, though many were initially denied access in the morning.
USA TODAY also reported that Senate Republicans are vigorously defending Sen. Susan Collins amid a new scandal, with Cornyn calling the allegations "a bunch of BS."