September 2026
In a ‘very hard’ year for women in Congress, at least there’s still softball
A ball snapped in a leather glove as the sun rose higher over Capitol Hill. The hits weren’t coming easily that morning. “Wait for your pitch,” Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., yelled from the dugout. A few minutes later, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., stepped up to the plate and drove one into center field, drawing cheers […]
What a long, strange primary season it’s been
Jason Dick and Nathan Gonzales dive into what they learned now that the 2026 congressional primary season is over, whether re-redistricting and midterm conventions will be the new norm, if we can trust polls and how, ultimately, it might still be the economy, stupid. Show Notes:
Pentagon official’s ‘contemptuous’ briefing sparks bipartisan ire
Senators from both parties emerged from a classified briefing with the Pentagon’s policy chief on Thursday morning expressing outrage at what they described as the official’s stonewalling. The stated purpose of the briefing by Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, was to update the Senate Armed Services Committee on implementation of the National […]
NIL bill foes likely out of timeouts as it clears second procedural hurdle
A bipartisan bill aimed at calming college athletics’ chaotic name, image and likeness era easily cleared a second procedural hurdle Thursday as several senators who opposed taking it up said they likely are out of trick plays and timeouts. The measure passed the latest floor test, to begin debate, 77-22, moving it one step closer […]
Former Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl dies at 84
Former Sen. Jon Kyl, once a key player in Arizona politics and a powerful voice in Republican leadership, has died at the age of 84. His family announced his death on Thursday of complications from an unspecified neurological disease, sharing a statement with Arizona’s KTAR News. Kyl had previously announced at the end of 2025 […]
Ratepayer bill aimed at data center buildout blocked in Senate
High-profile legislation amounting to lawmakers’ first real stab at addressing voter anger over data centers stalled in the Senate on Thursday after securing overwhelming support in the House a day earlier. Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich objected to a unanimous consent request by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, to clear the bill, […]
At the Races: AI voted?
Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. By Niels Lesniewski, Mary Ellen McIntire and Daniela Altimari Fears about unregulated artificial intelligence are not showing signs of overtaking economic concerns as the top […]
Robust House majority backs sanctions on Russia and Iran
The House voted Wednesday evening to pass sanctions legislation targeting Russia and Iran, sending the long-delayed package to the Oval Office. The vote was 262-159 on the bill, which includes a childhood education measure that the Senate had used as a vehicle for the sanctions text. The Senate passed the sanctions package last month with […]
This year, holiest days in Jewish calendar marked by grief, security challenges
The onset of the Jewish high holidays coincided with national grief marking 25 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. At sundown that same day, Jewish families across America gathered to welcome Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, begins this Sunday. In our tradition, the high holidays are the season when the future […]
One Republican rages against House’s early exit
As the House heads home early this week with no plans to return until November, at least one Republican isn’t happy about it. In a rare use of members’ “personal privilege,” Rep. Thomas Massie continued a feud with Speaker Mike Johnson, who earlier this month accused the Kentucky Republican of “not participating as a full […]