On the Hill

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) requested documents from the White House following a ban on three news outlets that the DOJ defended as a matter of national security.

Senate Republicans are debating whether to pursue affordability legislation or begin campaigning as midterm polls show a shift toward Democrats.

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers requested that President Trump address advanced AI development during his upcoming summit with Xi Jinping, with senators specifically calling for a mutual pause or slowdown.

A dual communications failure at a Philadelphia FAA facility halted Northeast flights, leading Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to request $20 billion for a system overhaul.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted 10 federal and state races toward Democrats on Tuesday, citing a difficult national environment for Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterms.

NRSC Chair Tim Scott told Republican senators the party faces a record number of toss-up races but can hold its 53-47 majority by focusing on key defensive and offensive targets.

NRSC Chair Tim Scott reportedly told senators the campaign arm will prioritize defending seats in states like Texas and Maine while shifting focus away from Georgia and North Carolina.

The crypto-backed Fairshake PAC announced $30 million in spending against Sen. Sherrod Brown after the Senate rejected a regulatory framework for digital assets.

Democratic lawmakers and retired military officials are seeking confirmation that the Trump administration will not deploy troops to polling places for the 2026 midterms.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed Rep. Jared Golden’s endorsement of GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, labeling Lawler a partisan supporter of President Trump.

Republican candidates in Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin called for a quick end to the Iran war, citing high energy costs and upcoming midterm elections.

Official records show bureaucratic errors and software glitches have registered more than 30,000 non-citizens since 2000, sparking debate over new proof-of-citizenship laws.

Former Sen. John Sununu (R) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D) will face off for a retiring Democrat's seat in a race now rated as a toss-up.

House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth until after the midterms as the Iran war impacts consumer prices.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao requires congressional waivers to serve permanently, but Senate Democrats have signaled opposition over his record and past rhetoric.

House Republicans left for a seven-week recess after internal disagreements over gas tax suspensions and votes to limit war powers intended to address rising costs.

Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) called for an end to the Iran war to lower gas prices, as the Pentagon updated the official U.S. military death toll to 19.

A group of lawmakers is moving to block a new Trump administration rule that removes habitat protection from the definition of illegal harm to endangered species.

A CNN/SSRS poll shows 64 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is losing the Iran war as monthly costs reach $2 billion and gas prices rise to $4.47 per gallon.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders discussed the cost of living and AI safety 47 days before the midterm elections.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) requested a suspension of the FAA's new SMART AI tool at D.C.-area airports, citing concerns over safety testing and a lack of controller training.

Sen. John Curtis asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to testify about their foreign business dealings and gifts.

Senate Republicans and the Trump administration are weighing a diesel export embargo to address record fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections.

Leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations committees warned the White House against a plan to give political appointees veto power over scientific research grants.

Senators are promoting several competing measures to address data center energy costs after a House-passed bill was blocked in the Senate.

Forty-six members of the Senate Democratic caucus requested a detailed breakdown of Iran war costs from the Pentagon, citing a lack of transparency.

U.S. officials are investigating the diversion of F-35 fighter jet parts, including a cockpit canopy, to Hong Kong during a shipment from Australia.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said the GOP must act to lower costs as inflation reaches 3.4% and the war with Iran impacts energy prices ahead of the midterms.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) will join USC as a professor and co-lead the Center for the Political Future with Mike Murphy starting in January.

Republican U.S. House candidate Joe Arminio was asked to leave a Wilmington debate after referring to Rep. Sarah McBride using masculine pronouns.

Senate Republicans defended the independence of the Supreme Court and Federal Reserve after President Trump criticized several rulings and interest rate hikes.

A bipartisan group of House and Senate members recognized top aides for their roles in drafting legislation and building consensus during the 119th Congress.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) defended President Trump’s meeting with Venezuela’s interim leader, describing the arrangement as a temporary necessity for regional stability.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) urged the U.S. and China to reach an agreement on AI safety standards, citing risks of self-improving models and the misuse of technology.

Reps. Mike Lawler and Josh Gottheimer introduced the Stop Rogue AI Act to establish federal standards for identifying and controlling autonomous AI agents.

Nvidia and other tech firms are lobbying against proposed defense bill provisions that would restrict the export of advanced AI chips to China.

Senators from both parties criticized Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby for a lack of transparency during a mandated briefing on the Iran war and national strategy.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said she warned President Trump that aggressive immigration enforcement could lose the GOP's gains with Hispanic voters.

Ohio residents and political candidates are debating data center tax incentives and utility impacts ahead of a November 3 ballot measure in Defiance.

Reports indicate the Pentagon’s public database may exclude at least four U.S. service member deaths recorded in the Middle East since the start of the war with Iran in February.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks placed holds on a $2.8 billion arms package to Israel, citing concerns over civilian deaths and West Bank violence.

Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) released a campaign ad featuring a man she helped get released from ICE custody amid a tight reelection race.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) called for "radical honesty" regarding vaccine safety as U.S. measles cases reached a 30-year high and President Trump proposed splitting doses.

Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) stated that recent immigration enforcement has "gone too far" and discussed an upcoming meeting between the president and Venezuela's vice president.

President Trump barred three news outlets from the White House as lawmakers raised concerns over inflation, AI competition with China, and the 200-day war with Iran.

Sen. Bill Cassidy criticized a proposed $5,000 federal payment as inflationary and urged the president to stop discouraging childhood vaccinations.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) stated Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be removed from office via impeachment or presidential action.

President Trump has banned three news outlets from the White House while facing legislative and judicial challenges regarding war powers and mail-in voting.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar released a campaign ad stating that President Trump's immigration enforcement efforts have 'gone too far.'

President Trump signed a bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham that authorizes 100% tariffs on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas.

Fox News host Laura Ingraham suggested some Republicans may prefer losing the midterms to avoid legislative responsibilities despite record household income data.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) stated he will not vote for Bo French, the GOP nominee for Texas railroad commissioner, citing social media posts about South Asian American students.

Lawmakers questioned Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby over a missing strategy report and internal discussions regarding National Guard presence at polling sites.

Geoffrey Hinton told lawmakers the U.S. has roughly one year to regulate artificial intelligence before the technology risks becoming unmanageable.

Social media users are sharing AI-generated videos mocking Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health following his return to the Capitol in a wheelchair after a three-month absence.

Lawmakers from both parties reported rising fuel costs as a major concern for voters ahead of midterms following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House has withdrawn Richard Schroyer's nomination to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the process stalled in a Senate committee.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) reported that the National Park Service awarded a contract for environmental work at the historic public golf course.

Comedian Ron White criticized U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton on Joe Rogan's podcast, citing the Texas Attorney General's legal history and polling data.

Reports indicate an increase in anti-Muslim messaging in Republican campaign ads as candidates pivot from economic issues.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) released a campaign ad stating that President Trump's immigration enforcement has "gone too far" and warned that Hispanic voters "feel betrayed."

Current FEMA policies only provide flood insurance payouts after a home collapses, leading to debris and high cleanup costs as owners wait for settlements.

President Trump stated the U.S.-Iran war is nearing an end as the House passed a five-year extension of sanctions against Tehran and Moscow.

An NPR analysis shows 99 members of Congress are not returning next year due to a high number of retirements, resignations, and primary losses.

Surgeon General nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier testified that she sees no link between vaccines and autism, despite the administration's efforts to overhaul vaccine recommendations.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) requested an emergency hearing after the Kennedy Center was closed and a forklift was seen striking the building's pillars.

The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act in a 417-3 vote to encourage states to ensure tech companies, not residential customers, pay for new electricity generation needed for data centers.

The House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which authorizes the president to levy 100% tariffs on top buyers of Russian energy.

Lawmakers and industry leaders are debating whether the federal government should regulate AI development or allow states and private companies to set their own standards.

The U.S. House of Representatives held billionaire Leon Black in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding agency hiring standards, the termination of agents, and the FBI's role in monitoring elections.

House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled Thursday votes, beginning a six-week recess and delaying action on impeachment articles and AI regulation until after the midterms.

OpenAI executive Chris Lehane says the company supports components of bipartisan federal legislation requiring independent safety audits and risk assessments for large AI models.

Analysts warn that competition between the U.S. and China may hinder AI safety efforts as leaders and researchers debate the risks of superintelligence.

The Senate health committee held confirmation hearings Wednesday for three Department of Health and Human Services nominees, including a third pick for Surgeon General.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) addressed President Trump's unfulfilled payment promises while promoting a tax bill that he said would provide $12,000 to families earning under $150,000.

The Trump administration has informally notified Congress of a $2.8 billion deal to send 40,000 heavy bombs to Israel, including munitions previously halted in 2024.

President Trump is seeking to confirm 13 judicial nominees before the November midterm elections, potentially shifting the balance of the federal appeals courts.

Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a drone near Mecca while the U.S. House voted to limit presidential authority over the ongoing war in Iran.

The U.S. House passed a resolution 220-204 to limit military action in Iran as the nonpartisan CBO estimated the war's monthly cost at $2 billion to $3 billion.

Former staffers for Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) plan to release negative reports as constituents and local officials cite his voting record and office unresponsiveness.

Speaker Mike Johnson defended President Trump’s rejection of new AI regulations, calling media warnings about the technology going rogue an overreaction.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Treasury Department is working on ways to fund President Trump’s proposed $5,000 payments to adults without increasing the $40 trillion national debt.

Rep. Thomas Massie filed a privileged resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing military operations and alleged constitutional violations.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 232-147 to table an impeachment resolution against President Trump introduced by Rep. Al Green.

A CBO report estimates the war with Iran is costing $2 billion to $3 billion monthly and has likely depleted between one-half and two-thirds of key missile interceptor stocks.

The U.S. Senate rejected a motion to advance the Clarity Act, a cryptocurrency regulatory bill, following a 49 to 50 vote.

FBI Director Kash Patel told senators that updated hiring standards regarding bestiality are intended to accommodate victims of human trafficking.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging the illegal initiation and conduct of a war in Iran.

House Republicans are divided over AI regulation as President Trump warns against industry guardrails while tech leaders cite catastrophic risks.

OpenAI endorsed a provision in the bipartisan FRONTIER Act that would mandate independent safety audits for AI companies meeting certain revenue and investment thresholds.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Steve Bannon, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers called for "human-centric" AI regulations at a Washington conference on Tuesday.

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) alleged President Trump is "compromised" on AI regulation due to family investments, following the president's opposition to new industry rules.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on a procedural motion for the Clarity Act, a 600-page bill that would split cryptocurrency oversight between federal regulators.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon will join the "Pro-Human Assembly" to advocate for congressional action on artificial intelligence regulations.

Delaware voters will select nominees for the U.S. Senate and House on Tuesday in the final primary contests of the 2026 midterm cycle.

Sen. John Fetterman’s former chief of staff confirmed reports of the senator missing meetings, as a social media account purported to be run by former aides reportedly prepares to leak internal communications.

President Trump has nominated Kimberly Greenwood to serve as the United States ambassador to Barbados and six other Eastern Caribbean nations.

Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate on Monday to cast his first vote since a June fall, stating he will continue physical therapy while attending key votes.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) returned to the Senate on Monday to cast his first vote since a June fall resulted in a medical absence of more than 90 days.