USA31 August, 20263 min read
Richard Blumenthal Urges U.S. House To Advance Tougher Sanctions on Russia
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Blumenthal urged the House to promptly advance tougher Russia sanctions. The sanctions bill had previously cleared the Senate.
Sanctions push on Russia
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal urged the U.S. House of Representatives to promptly support a bill providing for tougher sanctions against Russia, saying in an interview with CBS News that the consideration of the initiative was urgent.
Blumenthal warned that the Kremlin may resort to further escalation while the Russian economy is increasingly suffering under financial pressure, describing it as “a matter of extreme urgency because Putin may try to escalate the situation.”
He said Russia’s economy is approaching a serious crisis with a $125 billion deficit, or 5% of GDP, and an interest rate on its national debt standing at 14%.
Blumenthal expressed hope the initiative would receive sufficient support from Democrats in the House as lawmakers return to work after a recess that lasted more than a month.
The article also notes that on August 7, the U.S. Senate approved Lindsey Graham’s bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia and Iran, allowing the U.S. president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five countries that purchase the largest amounts of Russian oil and gas.
Trump midterms pressure
In a separate U.S. political thread, President Donald Trump is placing pressure on Republicans to win the upcoming November midterms to maintain the party’s congressional majority, with the article citing a 33% approval rating from an August Reuters/Ipsos poll. Trump said in a January speech in Iowa, “Got to win the midterms,” adding that if Republicans lose, “it would lead to very bad things.” The piece says Trump has repeatedly told audiences that Republicans have “got to win the midterms,” and it also cites his January Reuters interview where he said, “when you win the presidency, you don't win the midterms.”
It frames the 2028 succession question around Trump’s inner circle, naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as each weighing presidential runs. The article reports that a March Reuters/Ipsos poll found 79% of Republicans held a favorable view of Vance, while 71% viewed Rubio positively, and it adds that Trump has said he will endorse someone “when the time is right” and denied a Washington Post report that he told investors “at the end of the day, we need to elect JD.”
Lander heckled in New York
In New York City, Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander faced anti-Israel hecklers during a protest at Madison Square Garden where a Hindu nationalist politician was speaking, according to CNN’s account of the Saturday event.
CNN reported that one man shouted, “We don’t want no Zionists here. Get the f**k out!” as Lander protested Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks.
Lander, who identifies as a liberal Zionist and is described as a critic of the Israeli government, responded “Bring it on” before going to shake the hand of another attendee who thanked him for being there.
CNN also quotes Lander’s Sunday statement: “I won’t stop joining rallies against hate — in India, in Israel and Palestine, or in New York City — because of a couple of loud numbskulls.”
The article says the issue of US support for Israel inflamed Democratic primary races after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks, and it cites that about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others taken hostage by Hamas, with more than 70,000 people killed in Gaza since the war began.