What should be the very first thing Congress does next January, when the newly-elected members are sworn in?

Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon has an idea: they should read George Washington’s Farewell Address.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube:

@abillaminuteWhat should be the very first thing Congress does next January, when the newly-elected members are sworn in? Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon has an idea: they should read George Washington’s Farewell Address

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The Wildfire Event Contract Prohibition Act would ban bets about wildfire duration or severity, on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.

Washington State Republican Rep. Michael Baumgartner introduced it in Congress.

Polymarket ran prediction markets about last year’s California wildfires:

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe Wildfire Event Contract Prohibition Act would ban bets about wildfire duration or severity, on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket Washington State Republican Rep. @VoteBaumgartner introduced it in Congress

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The FIZZ-NO Act would ban soda sales with SNAP benefits (’food stamps’)

FIZZ-NO = Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options

Texas Republican Rep. Keith Self introduced it in Congress

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@abillaminuteThe FIZZ-NO Act would ban soda sales with SNAP benefits ('food stamps') FIZZ-NO = Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options Texas Republican Rep. Keith Self introduced it in Congress

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U.S. House members have been banned from sex with their *own* staff since 2018… but a new bill in Congress would ban it with employees of any *other* member’s staff, too.

South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace introduced it in Congress, inspired by recent allegations involving Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteU.S. House members have been banned from sex with their *own* staff since 2018… but a new bill in Congress would ban it with employees of any *other* member’s staff, too South Carolina Republican Rep. @BasedMace introduced it in Congress, inspired by recent allegations involving Arizona Democratic Sen. @RubenGallegoAZ

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Kayleigh’s Law would ban convicted abusers from contacting their victims for life.

Named after victims’ rights advocate Kayleigh Kozak.

Arizona Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh introduced it in the House, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee in the Senate.

[House bill, Senate bill]

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteKayleigh's Law would ban convicted abusers from contacting their victims for life Named after victims’ rights advocate @TheKayleighKozak Arizona Republican Rep. @AbrahamHamadeh introduced it in the House, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee in the Senate

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A congressional Democrat filed to impeach Russell Vought, Trump’s OMB (Office of Management and Budget) Director.

California Democratic Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove introduced it in the House.

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@abillaminuteA congressional Democrat filed to impeach Russell Vought, Trump's OMB (Office of Management and Budget) Director California Democratic Rep. @SydneyKamlager1920 introduced it in the House

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The Safe Sips Act would color-code alcoholic or intoxicating beverages’ can or bottle tops.

New York Republican Rep. Nick LaLota introduced it in the House.

Which actual color would the can or bottle tops be, though? The bill doesn’t say, leaving it up to the U.S. Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe Safe Sips Act would color-code alcoholic or intoxicating beverages’ can or bottle tops New York Republican Rep. Nick LaLota introduced it in the House

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The AI Kill Switch Act would require tech companies maintain the ability to shut down a rogue AI model, if necessary.

Introduced across party lines by California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu and Texas Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran.

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@abillaminuteThe AI Kill Switch Act would require tech companies maintain the ability to shut down a rogue AI model, if necessary Introduced across party lines by California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu and Texas Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran

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The Duty of Transparency Act would require Congress members give public explanation if absent for 21+ days.

Inspired by recent weeks-long or even months-long unexplained absences by Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY), Rep. Tom Kean (NJ), and Rep. Kay Granger (TX).

Introduced by Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY15) and Seth Moulton (D-MA6).

Watch my video on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram:

@abillaminuteThe Duty of Transparency Act would require Congress members give public explanation if absent for 21+ days Inspired by recent weeks-long or even months-long unexplained absences by Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY), Rep. Tom Kean (NJ), and Rep. Kay Granger (TX) Introduced by @RitchieTorresNY and @SethMoulton in the House

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A Republican bill in Congress would ban foreign flag displays on the House of Representatives floor.

Introduced by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL3) in the House.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteA Republican bill in Congress would ban foreign flag displays on the House of Representatives floor Introduced by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL3) in the House

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The Democracy Without Intimidation Act would ban uniformed troops from deployment at voting sites.

Introduced by Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD6) in the House.

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@abillaminuteThe Democracy Without Intimidation Act would ban uniformed troops from deployment at voting sites Introduced by Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD6) in the House

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The National Amusement Park Ride Safety Act would enable federal investigations into theme park ride accidents and create a national database listing them.

Introduced by Rep. André Carson (D-IN7) in the House.

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@abillaminuteThe National Amusement Park Ride Safety Act would enable federal investigations into theme park ride accidents and create a national database listing them Introduced by Rep. André Carson (D-IN7) in the House

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The end of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus?

A new bill would abolish congressional caucuses based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

Introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC1) in the House.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe end of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus? A new bill would abolish congressional caucuses based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin Introduced by @BasedMace in the House

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The State of Men’s Health Act would create a federal Office of of Men’s Health, to complement the government’s Office on Women’s Health since 1991.

Introduced by Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA2) and Greg Murphy (R-NC3) in the House, plus Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) in the Senate.

[House bill, Senate bill]

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe State of Men’s Health Act would create a federal Office of of Men’s Health, to complement the government’s Office on Women’s Health since 1991 Introduced by Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA2) and Greg Murphy (R-NC3) in the House, plus Sens. @RubenGallegoAZ and Roger Marshall (R-KS) in the Senate

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A constitutional amendment proposal would require all Congress members be natural-born citizens, as is already required for presidents.

Congress members already have to be U.S. citizens, but not necessarily natural-born citizens. Indeed, 16 current House members and two senators were born as citizens of other countries; 12 of the 16 such House members are Democrats.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteA constitutional amendment proposal would require all Congress members be natural-born citizens, as is already required for presidents Introduced by @BasedMace and Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA10) in the House

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Two different versions of the constitutional amendment were introduced: one from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC1) in May, another from Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA10) in July.

Rep. Perry’s version would apply to members of Congress, while Rep. Mace’s version would go even further, also applying to positions including federal judges and U.S. ambassadors. [House bills: Rep. Perry’s version; Rep. Mace’s version]

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The James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act would posthumously bestow Congress’s highest honor upon the late actor, who died in 2024.

Jones is famous for voicing Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars, his Academy Award Best Actor nomination for 1970’s boxing drama The Great White Hope, and supporting roles in films like Field of Dreams and The Sandlot.

Introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY17) in the House.

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The SCREEN Act (Stopping Communist Regimes from Engaging in Edits Now) would ban the federal government from working with movie studios that censor or edit content for Chinese releases.

For example, not providing access to military equipment like fighter jets or aircraft carriers for battle scenes.

Introduced by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN7) in the House.

From The Odyssey last week to Spider-Man: Brand New Day next week, it’s Hollywood’s summer blockbuster movie season. So this week, I recorded three videos about bills in Congress about the movie business.

Watch my video about the SCREEN Act on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe SCREEN Act would ban the U.S. government from working with movie studios that censor or edit content for Chinese releases SCREEN = Stopping Communist Regimes from Engaging in Edits Now Introduced by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN7) in the House

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The SAFE (Save America’s Forgotten Equines) Act would ban eating horse meat.

Introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in the Senate, plus Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL16) in the House.

And, yes: Sen. Graham’s bills introduced in the current Congress are still valid until the end of the year, despite his death this past weekend.

[Senate bill, House bill]

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe SAFE (Save America’s Forgotten Equines) Act would ban eating horse meat Introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in the Senate, plus Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL16) in the House And, yes: Sen. Graham’s bills introduced in the current Congress are still valid until the end of the year, despite his death this past weekend

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The Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act would add Putin’s Russia to the list, alongside the likes of Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.

Introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA1) in the House.

And, yes: Sen. Graham’s bills introduced in the current Congress are still valid until the end of the year, despite his death this past weekend.

[Senate bill, House bill]

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube:

@abillaminuteThe Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act would add Putin’s Russia to the list, alongside the likes of Cuba, North Korea, and Iran Introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA1) in the House And, yes: Sen. Graham’s bills introduced in the current Congress are still valid until the end of the year, despite his death this past weekend

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Logan’s Law would create a federal public registry of violent offenders, like the sex offender registry.

Named for Logan Federico, a 22-year-old woman murdered in South Carolina by a repeat violent offender.

Introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate and Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC7) in the House. [Senate bill, House bill]

And, yes: Sen. Graham’s bills introduced in the current Congress are still valid until the end of the year, despite his death this past weekend.

Watch my video on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube:

@abillaminuteLogan's Law would create a federal public registry of violent offenders, like the sex offender registry Named for Logan Federico, a 22-year-old woman murdered in South Carolina by a repeat violent offender Introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate and Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC7) in the House And, yes: Sen. Graham’s bills introduced in the current Congress are still valid until the end of the year, despite his death this past weekend

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