WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The Senate is considering a ban on TikTok in the U.S. if the app's China-based owner, ByteDance, doesn't sell the app.  Lawmakers Tuesday debated foreign aid legislation that includes a measure to force the sale of the app or have it banned. Senators on both sides of the aisle say they support the measure. "This bill takes a first step to protect U.S. data," Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said.  Supporters of the measure say ByteDance's ties to the Chinese Communist Party put millions of Americans' personal data at risk and threaten national security.  ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Former President Trump's social media posts could be getting him into trouble. On Tuesday, the judge in his New York criminal trial held a special hearing where prosecutors argued he violated a gag order.  The judge issued a gag order barring the former president from publicly criticizing witnesses. Trump posted anyway, lashing out at his former lawyer Michael Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels.  During Tuesday's hearing, prosecutors argued the judge should fine Trump over the posts.  After the hearing, the former president railed against the gag ord ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The Senate is teeing up a vote to pass billions in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. This vote comes after a drawn-out process in the House that's stalled aid for more than two months. Lawmakers supportive of Ukraine say the delay has cost Ukraine on the battlefield. "Today it's the Senate's turn to act,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) The Senate is on the brink of passing a $95 billion foreign aid package to send money to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. "Send our friends abroad the aid they have long been waiting for, let us not delay this,” said Schum ..read more

(NEXSTAR) — While many have expressed their distaste for the potential TikTok ban progressing through Congress, the Senate appears poised to send the matter to President Joe Biden this week. Earlier this year, the House passed a bill that would have banned TikTok if its China-based owner, ByteDance, didn't sell its stake. It faced roadblocks in the Senate, however, and ultimately stalled. Instead, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) merged an adjusted measure regarding TikTok with a $95 billion package that also provides aid to Ukraine and Israel. That measure would give ByteDance additional ti ..read more

GOP senators sent a letter to Biden administration officials Tuesday demanding they “restore order” to college campuses amid contentious pro-Palestine protests.  Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and 26 other Senate Republicans sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Attorney General Merrick Garland telling them to “restore order to campuses that have been effectively shut down by anti-Semitic mobs that are targeting Jewish students.” The letter comes as multiple schools, including Columbia University, New York University and Yale University, have seen students create encampments o ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The New York criminal trial of former president Donald Trump resumes Tuesday. A key witness is expected to take the stand.  David Pecker is the former publisher of the National Enquirer. Pecker was known for getting rid of unfavorable stories about the former president. Trump railed against the proceedings following opening statements Monday. "This is a witch hunt and it's a shame. And it comes out of Washington,” said Trump. Monday, Trump and his lawyers claimed that the former president is unfairly accused of illegally hiding hush money payment ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in a case that could impact how cities address homelessness.  The case drew hundreds of demonstrators to the steps of the court, who chanted "housing now" as justices heard arguments over whether the city of Grants Pass, Oregon can punish homeless people for camping in public spaces.  "Can you imagine anything more cruel and unusual than throwing somebody in jail for using a blanket in the middle of the freezing winter?" Jesse Rabinowitz with the National Homelessness Law Center said.  Demonstrators ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – A major foreign aid package is about to get a vote in the Senate. The legislation passed in the House over the weekend and would send aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC's Meet the Press that he's grateful the aid is moving forward.  "It is so important," Zelenskyy said. "We will have a chance for victory if Ukraine really gets the weapons system, which we need so much." That will depend on whether the Senate passes the Ukraine aid. Senators are poised to vote on the bill this week, along with two others to send ..read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Kentucky man who stormed the U.S. Capitol while carrying a Confederate battle flag was sentenced on Monday to more than two years in prison for pepper spraying two police officers in the face, partially blinding them for hours during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Isreal Easterday was 19 years old when he joined a mob of Donald Trump supporters in invading the Capitol. He used pepper spray to assault two Capitol police officers who were separately guarding the East Rotunda Doors. Chief Judge James Boasberg cited Easterday's youth as a reason for handing down a prison term — two ye ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)— Donald Trump's trial began in earnest Monday with opening statements and the first witness. Inside and outside the courtroom, Trump and his lawyers claimed that the former president is unfairly accused of illegally hiding hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. "He should not even be here today because he did nothing wrong," Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba said. Trump's defense told the 12-person jury that the payments, like the $130,000 check given to Daniels by Trump's lawyer were not illegal. “This is a case where you pay a lawyer, it's a lawyer, and they ca ..read more