INTERNACIONAL
Senators agree to forgo shutdown paychecks — but many won’t feel the pain
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Senators will now go without pay during future government shutdowns, but for many, they don’t need the paycheck.
The Senate unanimously agreed to forgo their paychecks during future shutdowns, with the money being withheld until a deal is struck to reopen the government. But much of the upper chamber is populated with lawmakers who are already wealthy before their time in office.
«There are some members who are very independently wealthy that their congressional paycheck is a rounding error to their investments,» Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital. «Fine, I’m not pejorative of that at all. But we need to actually end government shutdowns.»
SENATORS AGREE TO GO WITHOUT PAY DURING SHUTDOWNS AFTER HISTORIC CLOSURES LEFT WORKERS UNPAID
A sign at the entrance of the U.S. Capitol Visiting Center states it is closed due to a lapse in appropriations after the government shut down. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket)
In the last year, Congress has been unable to keep the government open twice. The first time for 43 days, and the most recent for 76 days.
Republicans worry that before the midterm elections, and before the rule change becomes official, that Senate Democrats may again try to shutter the government to gain a political edge. They hope that the rule change, pushed by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is at least enough to convince some lawmakers not to do it.
However, nearly three-quarters of the Senate are millionaires, according to an analysis of financial disclosure data reviewed by Fox News Digital and first reported by NOTUS, meaning the fear of missing a paycheck may not be enough to quell the desire to score political points.
SENATE WEIGHS NEW, PAINFUL LEVERAGE TACTIC AS FEARS OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GROW
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pushed the resolution to dock senators’ pay. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«It certainly doesn’t stop future shutdowns,» Lankford said. «It just says, ‘Hey, people are not being paid, we’re not being paid either.’»
Others were more optimistic that by installing the new guardrails on themselves, it could open the door to future legislation that may take shutdowns off the table entirely — like Lankford’s bill that would automatically extend government funding on a temporary, two-week basis if lawmakers miss the mark.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, who is one of the wealthier members of the Senate, believed that the success of Kennedy’s resolution could open the valve to his legislation that would dock members’ pay during shutdowns.
«It’s about brick by brick, rebuilding confidence in the institution,» Moreno told Fox News Digital.
GOP CAN’T AGREE ON KEY PART OF TRUMP’S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PUSH AS INFIGHTING CONTINUES
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 23, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images)
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., another of the Senate’s wealthiest members, contended that lawmakers shouldn’t hold federal workers «hostage based on what we’re doing.»
Over the past several months, hundreds of thousands of federal employees went without pay. And in the case of workers under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they went without paychecks twice.
«Hopefully it’ll get people to focus on getting [appropriations] done, because, you know, we don’t have a process to get this stuff done,» Scott told Fox News Digital.
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Meanwhile, Kennedy, who successfully pushed Senate Republican leadership to put the bill on the floor, viewed its success as progress.
But it’s not as far as he wanted to go.
«Look, if I were king for a day, I would pass a bill that doesn’t suspend member pay, it forfeits member pay during a shutdown,» Kennedy told Fox News Digital. «And I will also include in the bill a prohibition against members leaving Washington while we’re in a shutdown. But I don’t have the votes to do that. So I’m doing as much as I can.»
congress, government shutdown, republicans, senate elections, democrats senate, politics
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Texas, Florida and other booming red states aren’t just winning the migration race because of lower taxes and warmer weather — they’ve also embraced an anti-regulation housing strategy that many high-cost states have resisted.
As Americans and businesses continue pouring into southern states, the influx is testing whether fast-growing regions can add enough homes and infrastructure to keep pace. And southern states are keeping up by decreasing regulations that put roadblocks up for faster construction of new builds.
Housing industry leaders say southern states that have prioritized new construction have been better positioned to accommodate growth, while markets burdened by restrictive zoning rules, lengthy permitting processes and other regulatory hurdles have struggled to add supply and keep home prices in check.
ONE SOUTHERN CITY YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF IS GROWING FASTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA
Housing industry leaders say states that have prioritized homebuilding have been better positioned to accommodate population growth and economic expansion. (Joshua Lott/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
That willingness to build has become a competitive advantage, according to Jim Tobin, president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders.
«Those economies are wide open. They are inviting more businesses, they’re generally low-tax states and they’ve made housing a priority,» Tobin told Fox News Digital. «They’ve got the land and the will and courage to let builders build in those areas to meet the housing demand for those new jobs.»
The strategy is becoming increasingly important as Americans continue relocating from high-cost coastal markets to lower-tax states.
While rapid population growth can strain roads, utilities and public services, housing experts say states that pair infrastructure investments with homebuilding efforts are better equipped to accommodate newcomers without worsening housing shortages.
ONE TYPE OF PROPERTY IS QUIETLY SAVING AMERICANS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
But rapid growth comes with its own challenges, particularly when infrastructure fails to keep pace with new development.
«One of the main complaints is that infrastructure does not keep up with that influx of population or housing growth,» Tobin said. «States that find themselves ahead of the curve are planning those two critical components, infrastructure and housing, together and are going to be better prepared for growth in the future.»
Even states that have prioritized homebuilding continue to face cost pressures that can drive up home prices. According to the National Association of Home Builders, government regulations account for roughly 24% of the cost of a typical single-family home, adding nearly $95,000 to the average price of a new house.
For multifamily housing, the burden is even higher. Tobin said regulations account for roughly 41% of the cost of a typical apartment or multifamily unit, underscoring the role government rules can play in shaping housing affordability.
AMERICA’S NEXT ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE MAY BE RISING IN RED-STATE TERRITORY
Newly built homes line a residential development in a fast-growing Sun Belt market. Housing supply and infrastructure have become key issues as more Americans relocate to the region. (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images)
The costs have drawn renewed attention from policymakers in Washington searching for ways to increase housing supply and improve pricing.
Tobin pointed to a bipartisan housing package moving through Congress that aims to encourage local governments to reduce regulatory barriers to development and adopt policies that make it easier to build new housing.
The legislation comes as housing affordability remains a top concern for many Americans, with elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory continuing to put homeownership out of reach for many first-time buyers.
NAHB estimates government regulations add nearly $95,000 to the price of a typical new home. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
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The issue has also taken on greater political significance ahead of the midterm elections, as voters continue to rank the cost of living among their top economic concerns.
«The answer to the housing crisis in the country is more supply,» Tobin said. «This bill will absolutely help us build more supply affordably.»
housing, growth, florida, regulation, economy, politics, texas
INTERNACIONAL
Ministro de Cultura de República Dominicana y director general de la UNESCO refuerzan cooperación en París
El ministro de Cultura de la República Dominicana, Roberto Ángel Salcedo, sostuvo un encuentro con el director general de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO), Khaled El-Enany, en la sede de la organización en París. La reunión se desarrolló en el marco de la 13.ª edición de la Semana de América Latina y el Caribe, un espacio que promueve el intercambio cultural y el fortalecimiento de los lazos entre los países de la región y la comunidad internacional.
Según informó el Ministerio de Cultura, el principal objetivo de la visita fue fortalecer las relaciones de cooperación entre la República Dominicana y la UNESCO, además de dar seguimiento a los proyectos que ambas instituciones mantienen en conjunto. Durante el encuentro, las autoridades abordaron iniciativas orientadas a la preservación, promoción y proyección del patrimonio cultural dominicano.
Salcedo resaltó en sus redes sociales que, como parte de su agenda de trabajo en París, la reunión permitió avanzar en el objetivo común de “proteger y proyectar” el “patrimonio y consolidar la cooperación cultural internacional”. Además, subrayó la importancia de continuar reforzando las relaciones entre la República Dominicana y la UNESCO, así como de dar seguimiento a las acciones en curso para la protección del patrimonio cultural nacional.
Por su parte, Khaled El-Enany expresó en su cuenta oficial de X sus reacciones sobre el encuentro. “Fue un gran placer dar la bienvenida al Ministro de Cultura de la República Dominicana, Roberto Ángel Salcedo, a UNESCO. Discutimos nuestra sólida cooperación en todo el mandato de la UNESCO, y elogié el papel activo de la República Dominicana en el Consejo Ejecutivo de la UNESCO y en el Comité Intergubernamental de la Convención de 2003”, escribió.
El-Enany añadió que los pequeños Estados insulares en desarrollo (PEID) son un grupo prioritario para la organización y que continuarán trabajando de la mano para apoyar sus prioridades y aspiraciones.
La reunión reafirmó el compromiso de ambas instituciones de mantener una agenda de trabajo conjunta que contribuya al desarrollo cultural, la preservación de la identidad y la consolidación de la colaboración en beneficio de las futuras generaciones. “Buscamos fortalecer las relaciones entre la República Dominicana y el organismo. Dimos seguimiento a las acciones que tenemos en curso, con el objetivo común de proteger y proyectar nuestro patrimonio”, agregó Salcedo.
El encuentro entre el ministro dominicano y Khaled El-Enany se produjo en un contexto de fortalecimiento de los lazos culturales entre el país caribeño y el organismo internacional. La Semana de América Latina y el Caribe concluye este día con la celebración del Día del Caribe, dedicado a resaltar la gastronomía, la música y la danza de la región, así como el aporte de las industrias creativas al desarrollo económico y el fortalecimiento del diálogo intercultural.
La UNESCO trabaja de la mano con la República Dominicana en distintas iniciativas, destacando la reciente misión científica al Sitio Histórico y Arqueológico de la Villa La Isabela. Entre el 5 y el 10 de abril de este año, especialistas del Consejo Asesor Científico y Técnico (STAB) de la Convención de la UNESCO de 2001 y expertos de cinco países realizaron una labor de identificación, registro, inventario y diagnóstico del Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático de La Isabela y su bahía. La investigación puso especial énfasis en los naufragios vinculados a las expediciones de Cristóbal Colón e incorporó la evaluación de riesgos y efectos del cambio climático.
La misión, respaldada por la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) y el Ministerio de Cultura de España, propuso recomendaciones para la protección legal y técnica del sitio, preservación in situ, gestión adaptativa ante riesgos climáticos y planes de investigación y conservación con monitoreo climático.
“Esta misión articula la cooperación internacional, la evidencia científica y la participación comunitaria para identificar y proteger el patrimonio cultural subacuático del yacimiento arqueológico de La Isabela y su bahía”, dijo en aquel momento la arqueóloga Helena Barba-Meinecke, líder de la misión.
La iniciativa se desarrolló en el marco del compromiso de República Dominicana con la Convención de la UNESCO de 2001, ratificada en 2021; el documento promueve la protección y preservación del patrimonio cultural subacuático como fuente de conocimiento arqueológico.
Inside Lviv: Ukraine’s ‘Unbroken City’
Fox News Digital reports from Lviv, where military funerals, civilian weapons training and beauty pageants coexist as residents struggle to preserve normal life four years into Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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In an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed meeting to reach a resolution to the years-long war between their two nations.
«We see that the United States is fully focused on the issue of Iran, and it would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention. Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,» Zelenskyy said in the letter.
«There are countries that have traditionally hosted leaders to resolve issues of war and peace. Switzerland, Türkiye, the countries of the Arab world — many are able and willing to host such a meeting. It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be,» he asserted.
18 HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEFY TRUMP TO PASS UKRAINE AID PACKAGE HEADED FOR VETO FIGHT
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not seen) hold a joint press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 3, 2026. (Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Zelenskyy suggested that Europe and the U.S. should also be involved in the peace process.
«Since the war is taking place in Europe, and since Ukraine needs security guarantees, while you also seek security guarantees for yourself, it would be logical to involve those who can genuinely serve as guarantors. We believe Europe should be part of this process — those who truly have the capacity to influence the situation. We also believe that the United States must be part of the process. This is what could help shape a new security architecture for our part of the world,» he said.
HOUSE REPUBLICAN DON BACON SAYS HE WANTS ‘PARIAH STATE’ RUSSIA BOOTED FROM UN SECURITY COUNCIL
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Presidential Council for the Implementation of State Policy on the Promotion of the Russian Language and the Languages of the Peoples of Russia via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 2, 2026. (Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
He indicated that Ukraine would agree to a ceasefire during the proposed negotiations.
«Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. This is standard practice, and current developments around Iran only reinforce that point. An attempt to establish real silence is the best way to begin talking to one another. We believe it would not simply be an attempt, but a real ceasefire — if that is what you want,» he noted.
He also suggested a prisoner swap between the two nations, noting, «Ukraine is ready for an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war, and this could become a good prologue to ending the war. Serious steps must be taken to return civilians and children who were taken away during the war.»
PENTAGON SLASHES NATO COMBAT COMMITMENTS AS TRUMP PUSHES EUROPE TO DEFEND ITSELF
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at a news conference following a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 28, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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«If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue fighting for its existence. We will have those who support us. But you, too, will have to fight much harder for your own existence — not Russia’s, but your own. And this is not a threat from me or from Ukraine. It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes,» Zelenskyy warned Putin.
wars, volodymyr zelenskyy, vladimir putin, ukraine, russia
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