Politics news summaries — Page 3
Essential facts and source links for recent politics stories.
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AI chiefs return to Washington as sweeping rules are unlikely to top agenda
Tech and AI CEOs head to Washington after reports of AI mishaps and unauthorized access, but sweeping rules are unlikely to dominate talks under an administration favoring rapid growth. Trump is set to meet frontier-lab CEOs and House Speaker Mike Johnson Tuesday. -
Republicans push back on Hegseth’s $1.5 trillion Pentagon bid
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces GOP resistance to a $1.5 trillion Pentagon request for next year, up over 40% from last year, plus $88 billion for Iran war costs and weapons. Senators cite the war, military firings, blocked promotions and strained ties with Congress. -
Three lawsuits ask court to bar armed federal agents from midterm polls
Election officials prepare for possible armed federal agents at polling places during the Nov. 3 midterms. Three federal lawsuits ask a court to block President Trump from sending agents; officials say their presence could cause voter confusion and concern. -
Hundreds welcome Machado aide Claudia Macero back to Venezuela
Claudia Macero, who ran press operations for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, returned to Venezuela from exile on Sunday and was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the airport serving Caracas. She said she did not know when Machado could return. -
Miners filed 16 claims as 1.2 million Bears Ears acres opened to staking
Miners filed 16 claims on the 1.2 million acres removed from Bears Ears National Monument on Sept. 11, the first day claims could be filed, two months after President Trump cut the monument by about 90%. The filers appear to be small-scale Utah miners interested in uranium. -
Prince Faisal arrives in Washington ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Rubio
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Washington early Monday ahead of talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said they would review bilateral ties and discuss regional and international developments. -
U.S. envoy says Trump asked Xi if he wanted to buy U.S. arms
U.S. Ambassador David Perdue said Trump asked Xi Jinping if China wanted to buy U.S. weapons, but gave no date. The State Department said U.S. law bars arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell them; a $14 billion Taiwan arms package remains delayed. -
Andersson says Left Party move leaves her unable to form Swedish government
Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson will tell Sweden’s parliament speaker she cannot form a government for now, after the Left Party said it would back a rival Moderate candidate for speaker. Her centre-left bloc won 176 seats, against 173 for the right bloc. -
Nicole Russell says gas-price anger shouldn't hand Congress to Democrats
USA TODAY columnist Nicole Russell urges conservatives to back Republicans in November’s midterms despite high gas prices and President Donald Trump’s Iran war, arguing a Democratic Congress would put GOP tax and border gains—and the stalled SAVE Act—at risk. -
Cook predicts Democrats will gain 20-plus House seats and likely four in Senate
With five weeks until the midterms, Charlie Cook predicts Democrats will gain 20 or more House seats and likely four in the Senate, potentially taking both chambers; he cites voter anger over rising prices, especially fuel, and Trump’s tariffs. -
Data center backlash and Trump policy doubts cloud Senate permit talks
Bipartisan senators say they are closer than ever to a bill speeding energy-project permits, but voter opposition to local data centers and Democrats’ concern that the Trump administration could still block wind and solar projects are holding up progress. -
New California law bars officials from launching meme coins
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2409 on Sept. 27, barring state and local officials from issuing meme coins. From Jan. 1, 2027, platforms cannot sell Californians new coins offered by or with federal, state or local officials; older tokens remain tradable. -
Boos and cheers greet Trump on screen at Tennessee-Texas game
President Donald Trump drew boos and some cheers when he appeared on Neyland Stadium’s screen during Tennessee’s Sept. 26 game against Texas. He watched from a suite with Sen. Marsha Blackburn, made several fist pumps in response to the crowd and left at halftime. -
Labour care plan fuels speculation over state pension triple lock
After the prime minister’s BBC interview, Andy Burnham’s planned care-funding proposals for Labour’s next manifesto have fuelled speculation the government could scrap the state pension triple lock in the next Parliament. The policy costs £15.5bn a year. -
Texas Senate polls put Talarico level with or ahead of Paxton amid GOP masculinity attacks
Most polls since July show Democrat James Talarico tied with or ahead of Republican Ken Paxton in Texas’ U.S. Senate race; a Sept. 17 ReconMR/Texas Pulse poll put him up 49%-43%. Some voters said the economy matters more than GOP attacks on his masculinity. -
India opposition seeks Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over voter-roll dispute
India’s opposition seeks Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation after the Indian Express reported that two of three election commissioners objected at least 14 times to decisions tied to 130 million voter omissions. The Election Commission says decisions were unanimous and legally valid. -
Santa Barbara advances rent cap with 3% ceiling in 4-3 first reading
Santa Barbara’s council advanced a rent-stabilization ordinance in a 4-3 first-reading vote on Sept. 22. It would cap annual increases for covered units at the lower of 60% of the Consumer Price Index or 3%; the target launch is Jan. 1, 2027. -
Longtime conservative says she may cast her first Democratic vote over Trump
Melanie, a 77-year-old North Carolina conservative who says she has never voted for a Democrat, told SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show” she may vote straight-ticket Democratic out of anger at Republicans under Donald Trump, though she also considered staying home. -
A protest interrupts Washington party celebrating data centers
Protesters appeared to interrupt a party celebrating data centers in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night. One protester took the stage, shouting, “Thank you for using all the water” and “you’re killing the world”; partygoers responded with chants of “USA!” -
Jesse Norman challenges plan to replace 13 reserve and cadet associations
MP Jesse Norman argues the government should not replace 13 Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations with one national public body, warning that reorganisation could weaken local ties. The Armed Forces Bill proposing the change is before the House of Lords. -
Commonwealth observers praise handling of Isle of Man election
Commonwealth observers called last week’s Isle of Man House of Keys election well-handled; mission chief Chris Blinn praised participants’ civic duty. Of 24 members elected across 12 constituencies, 15 were new and nine from the previous administration returned. -
Burnham presses for NHS-style social care as funding choices loom
Andy Burnham says NHS-style social care in England should cover everyone, with all contributing; the proposal's principles are due to be outlined Tuesday. The Health Foundation estimates universal care could need around £18bn in extra funding by 2035, but Burnham rejects it. -
Farmers miss out as England's £233m SFI fund runs out in under six hours
England's £233m Sustainable Farming Incentive fund ran out in under six hours, leaving Shropshire farmer Dan Morris and daughter Imogen without funding. Minister Stephen Morgan says he is exploring alternatives to first-come, first-served applications. -
Leaked gas lobby paper claims Victoria's hookup rules could add $100 a year to gas costs
A leaked paper from Australian Gas Infrastructure Group urged Victoria to drop a planned Jan. 1 ban on gas hookups in new homes and commercial buildings, claiming household gas costs could rise about $100 a year; Guardian Australia reported no evidence for the estimate. -
CNN fact-checker disputes Trump’s grocery-price claims, citing a 3.4% rise
CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale said overall US grocery prices rose 3.4% since January 2025 and more grocery items rose than fell, disputing President Donald Trump’s Sunday claims that groceries and almost every price had come down. -
White House releases US-China goods lists for possible reciprocal tariff cuts
On Sunday, the White House released lists of goods that could receive lower tariffs under a US-China arrangement covering $30 billion in goods each way. Rates and timing are unspecified; both sides will review the lists for possible reciprocal reductions. -
Trump Meets Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for Dinner as Legal Fight Continues
Trump had dinner Sunday with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei despite earlier criticism of the company and its legal fight with his administration over the Pentagon’s “supply chain risk” label. He called Amodei “highly respected” but gave no agenda. -
Fetterman urges Democrats to make room for dissent, says he has no reason to join GOP
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he has no reason to join Republicans and urged Democrats to make room for dissenting views, citing his support for Israel. He said speculation about his role in the next Senate should wait until after November’s midterms.
