US Senate Crypto Standoff: The Trump-backed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act failed to advance after a 50-49 procedural vote, with all Democrats opposing and four Republicans joining them, freezing a long-sought federal crypto framework. AI Safety Push: OpenAI endorsed bipartisan US bills aimed at reducing biological-weapon and synthetic-virus risks, while lawmakers face renewed pressure for faster AI guardrails, including a proposed “kill switch.” Voting Rights Clash: The US Supreme Court blocked Trump’s push to tighten mail-in ballot rules, keeping states’ access to mail voting intact for the midterms. Congressional Politics as Theater: Rep. George Whitesides launched “Capitol Heat,” a YouTube show where lawmakers answer questions while eating hot wings—an attempt to cut through polished messaging. Local Funding Scrutiny: In the Philippines, a lawmaker questioned whether local government support funds are being steered for political purposes, citing a special stadium retrofit allotment. Protest Crackdown in DR Congo: Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrations against constitutional changes that could enable President Tshisekedi to seek a third term. Nigeria’s Candidate Pipeline: INEC released the final list for 2027 senatorial races, showing a stark gender gap with only 123 women among 1,303 candidates. Crypto Ethics vs. Profits: Democrats said the crypto bill didn’t adequately address conflicts tied to Trump’s crypto interests, helping explain the bipartisan collapse.