Nearly the entire Senate Democratic Caucus signed a letter demanding Israel crack down on settler attacks and investigate the deaths of nine American citizens.
Nearly every Senate Democrat put their name on a letter Wednesday demanding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take immediate action to stop settler violence in the West Bank — and account for the deaths of nine American citizens killed by settlers or security forces in recent years.
The letter, led by Sen. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., warned that "continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel's long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike." Three separate Senate offices — Schiff, Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. — each issued releases on the letter within roughly 90 minutes of one another Wednesday afternoon.
The action arrived during the August state work period, when the chamber is in recess and no floor votes are scheduled. Press volume Wednesday ran sharply below baseline — 14 releases against a Wednesday average of 90, roughly 84 percent below normal — making the coordinated Democratic rollout the dominant story of the day.
45-senator letter to Netanyahu on West Bank settler violence
Schiff, Schumer, and Booker led the effort, which drew signatures from 45 senators — nearly the full Democratic Caucus, plus independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. The letter called on Netanyahu's government to "establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law" and "make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people."
The senators framed the appeal partly around the safety of Americans abroad. "Like you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled," the letter read, as quoted in both the Schiff and Warner releases.
The senators closed with a note toward diplomacy: "We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence." The releases note that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously expressed opposition to annexation and violence in the West Bank, "which the Israeli government has failed to address."
Indiana disaster declaration — federal aid unlocked for storm recovery
President Trump on Wednesday approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana, unlocking federal assistance for communities hit by severe storms, tornadoes, and historic flooding that began August 11. Both Indiana senators issued statements applauding the decision.
"This federal assistance is much needed and will strengthen ongoing local and state efforts," said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who with the Indiana congressional delegation had sent a letter to Trump last Friday supporting Gov. Mike Braun's request. Young's release noted that at least eight Hoosiers died, more than 1,000 families were displaced, and power outages peaked at more than 360,000 customers.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said he called Trump directly on Monday. "When I spoke to President Trump on Monday, he was eager to do anything he could to help Indiana rebuild. I am extremely grateful to President Trump for his swift approval of Indiana's request for a disaster declaration. This will allow communities and families across our state to apply for much-needed federal assistance as they seek to rebuild," Banks said. Individual Assistance was made available to eligible residents in 21 counties; Public Assistance covers 11 counties. Hoosiers can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.
ICE airport enforcement — Senate Democrats demand answers
Sens. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., joined Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and six colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump administration about ICE actions at airports, including Denver International Airport, conducted with apparent TSA cooperation.
"We write to express our serious concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Such actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public," the senators wrote.
The letter cited reporting that such enforcement has become frequent nationwide and argued it is damaging the travel economy. "Such actions have only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector by actively discouraging travelers from visiting the United States. They hurt our nation's travel and tourism industry at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump's misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies," the senators continued.
Prediction market platforms and election disinformation
Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Mark R. Warner, D-Va., sent letters Wednesday to Polymarket and Kalshi demanding the companies stop paying social media influencers who spread election disinformation, with midterm elections approaching.
"We are seriously alarmed that your marketing strategy includes paying numerous social media influencers willing to espouse unreliable information on elections," wrote the senators. "In doing so, we are concerned that your prediction market platforms may be subsidizing — and amplifying — social media influencers who echo President Trump's baseless attacks and sow distrust in American elections."
The senators flagged specific posts tied to the SAVE Act. "In July, a series of major social media influencers, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz, all posted similar 'paid partnership' posts linking to Polymarket and Kalshi charts showing the odds of enactment of the SAVE Act dropping to all-time lows," the release states. The senators called on the platforms to "immediately terminate any existing relationships with those who spread election misinformation, disinformation, or undermine the integrity of U.S. elections."
Rural family resource hubs — Hyde-Smith bill targets childcare and workforce gaps
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., used a visit to a Brookhaven educational program Wednesday to promote her Rural Mothers and Fathers Choice Act (S.5364), legislation that would create a federal grant program for rural and tribal communities to build place-based resource hubs.
"Expanding access to high-quality early learning environments is critical to improving educational outcomes, supporting healthy child development, and promoting long-term family stability," Hyde-Smith said. "I introduced the Rural Mothers and Fathers Choice Act to help rural communities expand access to childcare, literacy and tutoring programs, career and technical education partnerships, and other locally driven services."
Eligible nonprofits, tribal organizations, local governments, and community partnerships could compete for grants under the bill. Funding could support childcare expansion, telehealth services, transportation assistance, and behavioral health services. The bill has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
Maternal health — bipartisan NIH IMPROVE Act gains Senate cosponsor
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., announced Wednesday he is cosponsoring the NIH IMPROVE Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., that would authorize $73.4 million annually for seven years for NIH research aimed at reducing maternal mortality.
"The shockingly high maternal mortality rate for women in Georgia is a travesty. It is unacceptable for any mother to suffer or die because she lacks proper care," Ossoff said. "I am working to pass this bipartisan bill to reduce maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy."
School nutrition — Moody hosts Kennedy for Harvest to Hallways rollout in Florida
Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., hosted HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. in Tampa on Wednesday for a roundtable on school food nutrition, promoting two new federal programs: Harvest to Hallways, a joint HHS-USDA initiative including up to $70 million in school cafeteria infrastructure investments, and the DEPEND initiative, which will fund schools testing innovative approaches to student nutrition.
"As a mom of a child in school, I know parents are constantly looking for ways to improve the health of our kids. Ensuring our children are served healthy school meals is key to advancing that priority," said Moody. "Today, I hosted a roundtable discussion with Sec. Kennedy and important stakeholders to encourage Florida schools to join new key government programs that are now in place to create practical ways to serve healthier food that children will actually enjoy eating." DEPEND awards are expected to range from $75,000 to $2.5 million per school or district.
Agriculture — McConnell secures final USDA funding for UK research lab; Hoeven pushes Farm Bill conservation
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Wednesday that USDA will provide the final $26.7 million in federal funding for the Agricultural Research Service Forage-Animal Production Unit at the University of Kentucky — completing a project McConnell said he helped secure in fiscal years 2020 ($65.9 million) and 2026 ($10 million).
"There is no doubt this funding will help the University of Kentucky continue to solidify itself as the center for agricultural research in the Commonwealth, and I'm grateful for its work in this field," McConnell said.
Separately, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., addressed the Advancing Soil Health for a Healthy America Summit at the Black Leg Ranch in McKenzie, N.D., outlining Senate Farm Bill provisions including the SCALE Act, which provides matching grants for state-led soil health programs, and mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. "North Dakota's farmers and ranchers know their land and water better than anyone, and their stewardship of these resources is second to none. That's why we're focused on making sure federal conservation programs are voluntary and farmer-friendly," Hoeven said.
China cybersecurity threat to medical devices — Scott op-ed
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., circulated an op-ed published Tuesday in RealClear Politics warning that unsecured medical devices give the Chinese government access to Americans' private health data — citing FBI reporting that the healthcare sector faced more cyberattacks than any other critical infrastructure sector in a recent one-year period.
"Every day, Americans walk into hospitals trusting that the machines keeping watch over their hearts are working for them. Most have no idea that some of those machines may be working for Communist China," Scott wrote. "I have spent years fighting to hold Communist China accountable because I know that as our strategic adversary, they want to harm Americans. They want to win, and they are willing to use your hospital room to do it."
Nevada infrastructure — Rosen inaugurates U.S. 50 renovation in Ely
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., joined Ely city and Nevada DOT officials Wednesday to mark the completion of a U.S. 50 highway renovation funded in part by more than $24 million in federal RAISE grant dollars she helped secure in 2023.
"U.S. 50 is a critical gateway for downtown Ely, bringing visitors all the way from Carson City and supporting the local economy. That's why this project is critical for the resilience of downtown Ely and the surrounding small businesses, and I'm proud to have been present to inaugurate it," Rosen said. She also hosted an outdoor recreation and tourism roundtable with local leaders while in Ely.
Signals
- coordinatedThree Senate Democratic offices — Schiff, Warner, and Slotkin — each issued separate releases on the Netanyahu settler-violence letter within a 90-minute window Wednesday afternoon, signaling a coordinated rollout.
- volumeWednesday's release count of 14 is approximately 84.5 percent below the Wednesday baseline of 90.1, consistent with the August state work period recess.
- recessThe Senate remains in the August state work period; senators are filing from home states — Brookhaven, Miss.; McKenzie, N.D.; Tampa, Fla.; Ely, Nev.; Fort Wayne, Ind. — rather than Washington.
- silent breaksSen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has issued no releases in 43 days, the longest documented quiet stretch in the current silent-senators list; Sen. Alan Armstrong, R-Okla., follows at 41 days.
Quiet desks
Senators with no release in two weeks or more.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC43d
- Sen. Alan Armstrong, R-OK41d
- Sen. Roger F. Wicker, R-MS35d
- Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-MT21d
- Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis, R-WY20d
- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-AR20d
- Sen. David McCormick, R-PA19d
- Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY19d
- Sen. John Kennedy, R-LA18d
- Sen. James E. Risch, R-ID18d