Week Ending August 8, 2026
Most of us only hear about Congress through screaming cable news segments or social media clips designed to make us mad before we’re informed. The People’s Ledger is different. It’s a quick, clear look at what lawmakers are actually debating, funding, and changing – minus the political theater.
Congress Heads Home, but Leaves Plenty on the Table
Ok everyone, if you haven’t heard, Congress has officially called it quits for the rest of August. But before slipping out of town, the Senate managed to squeeze in a few last-minute items in its final days.
In rapid-fire succession, senators passed a major Russia sanctions bill, approved yet another temporary spending band-aid, advanced a contempt charge against Anthony Fauci, and set up a major crypto vote for when they get back.
Here’s what happened in our name last week.
1. Biggest Story of the Week: Senate Passes Sweeping Russia Sanctions and More Tariff Power for the President
What Happened
The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a huge margin of 86–11.
The bill squeezes Russia’s energy income and gives the president authority to slap tariffs as high as 100% on goods from countries that keep buying Russian oil or natural gas. It also expands sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and sanctions-evasion networks, while keeping pressure on Iran.
Senator Rand Paul tried to strip out the presidential tariff power, but his amendment failed 32-64. The bill now goes to the House.
Why It Matters
The goal of the law makes sense: starve Russia’s war machine. But, as we all know, tariffs don’t magically get paid by foreign governments. They’re paid by American businesses importing those goods, which is almost always passed down to the consumer.
There’s also a big constitutional issue here. The Constitution specifically gives Congress the power to regulate foreign trade, not the White House. Congress is, yet again, handing over enormous power to the executive branch instead of taking on their lawful responsibility.
Who Wins or Loses
Likely Winners: Ukraine and fans of tighter Russian sanctions. Plus, the White House gets another powerful tool in its belt.
Likely Losers: Russia, allied nations dependent on Russian energy, and American consumers when prices rise. And Congress itself, if another traditionally legislative power becomes primarily presidential discretion.
Publius Project Take
I suppose there’s a solid case for sanctioning Russia. But there’s an equally solid case for Congress actually doing its job. If lawmakers want 100% tariffs on certain countries, they should write those specific conditions into the law themselves, not hand the president a blank check labeled “do what you want, when you want.”
What to Watch For Next
The House returns to regular business at the end of August, and the sanctions package will face another debate there. One of the biggest questions will be whether House lawmakers are willing to give the president the same tariff discretion the Senate approved.
2. Quietly Moving Bills: Crypto Rules are Finally Moving
What Happened
Before leaving D.C., Senate leadership cleared the runway to vote on the CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633) as soon as they return in September.
This bill would create the first comprehensive federal framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets, splitting oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Why It Matters
Crypto has grown way faster than the laws governing it. For years, federal agencies have been ruling by lawsuit instead of clear legislation. Whether you own crypto or still aren’t sure what a blockchain is, the principle here is simple: Congress makes the rules; agencies enforce them.
Who Wins or Loses
Likely Winners: Legitimate cryptocurrency businesses seeking predictable rules, investors who benefit from clearer protections, and Congress if it finally establishes the law instead of leaving regulators to invent it.
Likely Losers: Companies that profit from regulatory gray areas and bad actors who benefit from weak oversight.
Publius Project Take
For too long, Congress has had the order of operations backward; agencies essentially writing laws and Congress enforcing them.
If the CLARITY Act creates understandable rules while preventing regulators from simply making policy through enforcement actions, that’s a move in the right direction.
The details will matter.
What to Watch For Next
The Senate is now in its August state work period, with regular legislative business scheduled to resume September 14th.
The CLARITY Act will be waiting when senators return.
3. Money & Spending: Congress Has Officially Started Planning for Failure
What Happened
The Senate voted 90-6 to pass a temporary funding bill (Continuing Resolution) to keep the government running through December 11th – past the end of the fiscal year on September 30th and, very conveniently, beyond the November midterm election.
Why It Matters
Remember the trivia from last week?
The last time Congress completed all of its annual appropriations before the fiscal year began was 1996.
Thirty years later, the “temporary emergency fix” is just our regular routine now. Congress still has roughly six weeks to get the job done, but, yet again, they’ve already admitted failure.
Who Wins or Loses
Likely Winners: Federal agencies, contractors and lawmakers who avoid a politically damaging shutdown immediately before an election.
Likely Losers: Taxpayers and anyone who still expects Congress to examine federal spending one department and one program at a time.
Publius Project Take
A continuing resolution is supposed to be the emergency fire extinguisher behind the glass. Instead, Congress just walks around with the damn thing in its hands, year-round. Extending last year’s spending indefinitely isn’t governance; it’s just laziness.
What to Watch For Next
The House must eventually accept the Senate version, modify it or force negotiations between the chambers.
September will tell us whether Congress uses the extra time to finish its appropriations bills, but I think we all know what will happen.
4. Coming to the House Floor This Week
Nothing. The House Is on Recess.
The House remains away from regular legislative business during its August district work period. It will continue holding brief procedural sessions, but meaningful floor action isn’t expected until lawmakers return near the end of the month.
Publius Project Take
Recess itself isn’t the problem.
Representatives are supposed to spend time in their districts. In fact, Congress could use considerably more time outside Washington and among the people it represents. But the clock keeps turning while they’re gone, and there will be much less of it when they return.
Government funding expires September 30th, and most of the FY2027 appropriations process remains unfinished.
What to Watch For Next
The House is expected back for regular legislative work at the end of August.
Then the sprint begins.
5. Civil Liberties & Constitutional Power: The Fauci Contempt Fight Moves Forward
What Happened
The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted 8–5 along party lines to hold former NIAID Director Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.
Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during recent subpoenaed testimony. Chairman Rand Paul argues Fauci can’t claim the Fifth on topics covered by the broad presidential pardon he received in January 2025. Committee Democrats argue that overriding a witness’s Fifth Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent.
What Changed
Last week, contempt was a threat. This week, the committee actually approved it.
For the matter to proceed through the traditional Senate process, however, the full Senate would still have to act.
Why It Matters
This isn’t as simple as “Fauci is hiding something” or “Congress can’t ask questions.”
Congress has a duty to oversee federal agencies, but citizens have constitutional rights. Because a presidential pardon doesn’t automatically protect a witness from every possible legal angle, forcing testimony creates a thorny legal question about where congressional power ends and civil liberties begin.
Who Wins or Loses
Likely Winners: Nobody yet. This is heading toward a constitutional and procedural fight.
Likely Losers: Congressional oversight if the Senate handles this as political theater instead of carefully establishing when a witness can and cannot invoke the Fifth Amendment.
Publius Project Take
The public deserves complete transparency about the COVID-19 response. But constitutional rights don’t disappear just because a witness is controversial. If a pardon eliminates legal jeopardy for a specific question, compel the answer through the courts – don’t let politicians decide when the Fifth Amendment is inconvenient.
What to Watch For Next
The issue now waits for possible action by the full Senate after lawmakers return.
That debate should focus less on Fauci personally and more on the much bigger question: where exactly does congressional investigative power end and an individual’s constitutional protection begin?
6. What to Watch Next Week
Not much on the floor.
Both chambers are essentially in their August work periods. The Senate will hold pro forma sessions, brief meetings where no normal legislative business is expected, and won’t return for regular business until September 14th.
With lawmakers back home for the August recess, this is the best time to call their local offices or attend a town hall. Here are four quick questions to ask them:
On Spending: “Why haven’t you finished the twelve basic budget bills after 30 years of missing the deadline?”
On Tariffs: “Should the president really have total discretion to levy 100% tariffs without a vote from Congress?”
On Oversight: “Where do you draw the line between Congressional investigations and Fifth Amendment protections?”
On Crypto: “Do you support setting clear statutory rules for digital assets instead of letting regulatory agencies enforce by lawsuit?”
Recess is meant to bring politicians back to the people. Let’s make them answer to us.
7. The Ledger’s Bottom Line
Congress actually accomplished several things before leaving town, and those things probably deserve acknowledgment.
But their old habits remain.
Congress is already preparing another temporary spending bill because it doesn’t expect to complete its basic budget work. And even while trying to reclaim authority through sanctions and oversight, lawmakers continue flirting with giving enormous discretion to the executive branch.
That contradiction is becoming one of the defining features of modern Congress.
Lawmakers complain that presidents have too much power. Then they keep handing them more.
Congress can’t restore its constitutional role until it decides it actually wants the responsibility that comes with it.
8. Sources and Further Reading
United States Senate: Official floor activity and roll-call votes on H.R. 5334, H.R. 6500, H.R. 3633 and other Senate business.
Associated Press: Reporting on the Russia sanctions legislation and temporary government funding agreement.
Reuters: Reporting on the Russia sanctions package, presidential tariff authority and Senate continuing resolution.
House Appropriations Committee: Status of FY2027 appropriations legislation.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Majority and minority positions on the Fauci contempt resolution.
United States Senate Calendar: August state work period and September return schedule.