Daily Recap: Politics — 6 August 2026

Washington’s political day was marked by clashes over power, accountability and control. On Capitol Hill, a Senate committee voted along party lines to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment throughout a COVID-19 hearing, sending the matter to the Justice Department and escalating a long-running partisan fight over the pandemic. President Trump, meanwhile, signed new executive orders targeting what he calls “birth tourism,” testing the boundaries of the Supreme Court’s recent reaffirmation of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. The day also brought reminders of institutional strain: Mitch McConnell was discharged from rehabilitation and says he will continue recovering at home while working remotely, and the FAA opened an inquiry after Marine One came briefly too close to a passenger jet near Reagan National. In media policy, the FCC scrapped the 39% national TV ownership cap, clearing the way for greater broadcast consolidation.

Top Politics stories

• Senate committee votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt, referral sent to DOJ (39 sources)
• Trump signs new executive orders to restrict birthright citizenship after Supreme Court ruling (27 sources)
• McConnell discharged from rehabilitation, to continue recovery at home (20 sources)
• FAA finds Marine One briefly too close to passenger jet near Reagan National Airport (13 sources)
• FCC eliminates 39% cap on TV station ownership, enabling greater consolidation (12 sources)
• Trump denies U.S. munitions shortage amid Iran war; warns against leakers (6 sources)
• UK clears Paramount’s Warner Bros. Discovery takeover after initial regulatory concerns (6 sources)
• Penguins re-sign forward Ville Koivunen to eight-year contract (6 sources)

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