August 2026
August recess was saved. The GOP’s voter ID bill, not so much
President Donald Trump and his closest allies on Capitol Hill said they’re willing to do whatever it takes to pass the so-called SAVE America Act before the midterms — except follow through on threats to cancel August recess. A group of ultraconservative House Republicans and even a few GOP senators lobbied for the chamber to […]
American foreign policy should reward transparency, not silence
Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo surpassed 1,800 last week, the latest milepost in what marks the fastest-growing outbreak in the disease’s history. The immediate challenge is containing the virus. The longer-term challenge is giving governments every reason to report outbreaks quickly, share information openly and work with international health authorities. American policy […]
North Carolina Republicans pick state legislator to replace Edwards on ballot
A North Carolina Republican committee on Monday selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace embattled Rep. Chuck Edwards as the party’s nominee on the November ballot. Balkcom, a self-described “Henderson County farm girl,’’ will face Democrat Jamie Ager in the general election for the 11th District, which is anchored by Asheville. “Western North Carolina is […]
At the Races: More Midwestern mayhem
Welcome to a special edition of At the Races! Throughout the 2026 primary season, watch for these updates from the CQ Roll Call campaign team on what you need to know for Election Day. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. By Mary Ellen McIntire and Daniela Altimari The two flanks […]
‘A forever project’: Congressional modernizers look to next phase
If Congress has 99 problems, modernizing itself will always be one of them. As members of the House Administration Modernization and Innovation Subcommittee look ahead to the remainder of the 119th Congress, they’re also trying to map out the next era. “We need to be thinking about the future and what we can do,” said […]
DCCC adds Max Miller’s Democratic opponent to ‘Red to Blue’ list
With embattled Republican Rep. Max Miller sticking with his reelection bid in the face of domestic abuse allegations, Democrats are increasingly optimistic of flipping his Ohio seat. The House Democratic campaign arm on Tuesday added ironworker Brian Poindexter to its “Red to Blue” program, which offers additional resources to promising recruits seeking to win GOP-held […]
When campaign rivals become Senate colleagues
ANALYSIS — There might be some awkwardness for Michigan’s and Ohio’s Senate delegations next year. If Michigan Republican Mike Rogers and Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown win in November, they’ll be serving alongside the senators who defeated them in 2024. But, surprisingly, such scenarios aren’t entirely unusual. We’ve had more than a dozen of them, and […]
NIL bill advocates see goal line in sight after recess
After 16 wild hours that ended with a bipartisan college sports bill being punted in the middle of the night, President Donald Trump’s involvement was not enough to trigger votes on legislation he would like to add to his midterms and legacy sales pitches. As senators and senior aides bickered and postured all day and […]
Trump order seeks to stagger childhood vaccination administration
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to drastically change the childhood vaccine schedule by recommending shots be administered in separate visits to the doctor’s office. The executive order acts on Trump’s long-held belief that splitting up routine childhood vaccinations across multiple visits lessens the risk of acquiring autism. Scientists have found no […]
Ben Jones, who went from ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ to Congress, dies at 84
Former Rep. Ben Jones, the plain-speaking “Dukes of Hazzard” star-turned-Georgia Democratic congressman, has died at the age of 84. His wife, Alma Viator, shared the news of his death in a public Facebook post late Sunday. “I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack,” Viator wrote. “He was […]