Politics news summaries — Page 32
Essential facts and source links for recent politics stories.
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McConnell returns to Capitol Hill after roughly three months away, leaving questions unanswered
Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to Capitol Hill last week after roughly three months away following a June fall. On Wednesday, he did not answer reporters’ questions about his health and his wife’s response to his hospitalization as security and aides surrounded him. -
Hourly Trump mentions on conservative podcasts fall nearly 70% from 2024 peak
The Wall Street Journal found that hourly Trump mentions on conservative podcasts were down nearly 70 percent from the 2024 campaign peak. Monthly mentions have fallen 30 percent since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, as prominent MAGA figures criticize the war. -
Christie says November’s GOP results will shape his 2028 decision
Chris Christie is considering a 2028 presidential run but says he will wait to see how Republicans fare in November before deciding. He said heavy losses could prompt the party to change its approach, a factor in his assessment of whether he has a path to win. -
Republicans sue New Jersey officials for voter-roll records
Republican groups and two GOP lawmakers sued New Jersey election officials for records on a voter-roll cleanup after an error improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens to vote. They allege officials failed to provide records or supplied only partial responses. -
Judge questions whether Trump’s White House media ban followed due process
Judge Timothy Kelly said Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House appeared inconsistent with appellate rulings requiring due process before press passes are revoked. He has not ruled on their request to restore access temporarily. -
New LA mayor poll gives Nithya Raman an 11-point lead over Karen Bass
UC Berkeley–Los Angeles Times polling puts Nithya Raman ahead of Mayor Karen Bass, 39% to 28%, with a third of likely voters undecided six weeks before the Nov. 3 election. Among Spencer Pratt’s former supporters, 63% have yet to choose a candidate. -
Trump expected to press Xi to free two US citizens, with wider rights issues uncertain
Youlin Chen has been imprisoned since late 2024 and Min Zin was arrested in June; Chen’s wife says President Donald Trump will ask Xi Jinping to free both US citizens at this week’s summit. The White House has not said whether Trump will raise broader human-rights issues. -
Marist poll: 45% say midterm vote will mainly oppose Trump
Forty-five percent of registered voters say their November midterm vote will be mainly against President Donald Trump, a Marist University poll found. That includes 80% of Democrats and 54% of independents; 35% of Republicans say he does not factor into their vote. -
Three news outlets challenge White House access ban in court
Reporters from three news outlets were denied entry to the White House complex. The outlets are challenging the restriction in court, alleging it targets their coverage and was imposed without due process. The case could influence how administrations control press access. -
Texas ethics commission tables proposal to raise per diem and lobbyist thresholds
The Texas Ethics Commission tabled a proposal Wednesday to raise lawmakers’ daily session allowance from $221 to $290.40, adding $9,716 over a 140-day session; it would also lift the lobbyist expense-disclosure threshold from $132.60 to $174.24. -
Trump’s July filing lists 1,000-plus trades, including a SpaceX sale a week after buying
Donald Trump’s disclosure of July trades lists more than 1,000 transactions, including a SpaceX purchase in the $15,001–$50,000 band on July 10 and a sale in the $1,001–$15,000 band a week later. SpaceX’s federal contracts raise conflict-of-interest questions. -
FOIA Draft's 'Minimal Refusal' Language for OpenAI Models Remains Unresolved
A FOIA-obtained Pentagon draft described “OpenAI Mission Models” for national security with “minimal refusal rates.” OpenAI says it rejected the wording; the Pentagon says it is absent from any active contract, but whether it appeared in a final agreement is unresolved. -
49 media groups back challenge to Trump’s White House access ban
Forty-nine media organizations filed a brief Sept. 23 backing CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s lawsuit over President Donald Trump’s White House access ban. The outlets seek a preliminary court order restoring their reporters’ access, with a hearing set hours later. -
Unreleased US draft proposed rebuking UK, France and Canada over settlement import plans
US officials drafted a statement for Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning UK, French and Canadian plans to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; it was never issued. Three people familiar with the matter said senior US leaders did not support it. -
Ohio Democrat proposes shifting Browns’ $600 million stadium grant to transportation
An Ohio Democrat proposed redirecting the $600 million grant for the Browns’ new stadium to the state transportation department. Both major Ohio gubernatorial candidates have also proposed a gas-tax holiday; a judge blocked the grant’s transfer in December 2025. -
Senators target swift vote to make US ban on Chinese vehicles permanent
Elissa Slotkin and Bernie Moreno are seeking unanimous Senate approval this week for a bill to codify the effective US ban on Chinese passenger vehicles and bar presidential waivers; the measure has 51 Senate supporters as Donald Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping. -
Greek MPs debate migration and the housing crisis in Athens
Greek MPs Dimitris Kairidis and Milena Apostolaki debated migration and Greece's housing crisis in Athens. July's Ceuta events revived memories of past arrivals; Apostolaki cited Eurostat ranking Greece second in poverty and social exclusion. -
Trump officials reportedly weigh adding his name to Ford’s Theatre
MS NOW reported Trump administration staff listed Ford’s Theatre among sites where Trump’s name could be added; an administration official said the idea had been discussed, but its status was unclear. The White House and Interior Department denied the report. -
At New York reception, Trump and Rodríguez discuss Venezuela's debt restructuring, Rubio says
U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez discussed debt restructuring at a Tuesday reception on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Venezuela's external debt has been in default since 2017. -
Springfield council sends Flock camera review to committee; two people cited
Springfield's council voted 5–3 on Sept. 22 to send a proposed review of its Flock license-plate cameras to committee, preventing a scheduled public hearing. Resident Mia Heider and freelance photographer Noah Powell were both cited; Heider was handcuffed, and Powell detained. -
Séjourné warns EU may use trade measures if China fails to rebalance trade
EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné says trade-defence measures are on the table if talks fail to rebalance trade with China; customs data put the bloc’s July deficit above €1 billion a day, while he says thousands of jobs are being lost weekly. -
Jackson’s absence marks first Atlanta Press Club governor debate without both candidates in 32 years
Republican Rick Jackson has declined the Atlanta Press Club’s Oct. 12 governor debate with Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the first time in 32 years the club’s event will not include both candidates. Bottoms’ team says she still plans to attend, likely facing an empty podium. -
Trump's Board of Peace sets out $2.45 billion Gaza rebuild plan
Trump's Board of Peace unveiled a $2.45 billion plan to begin rebuilding Gaza, but implementation is uncertain as Israel and Hamas dispute ceasefire terms. Its 66-program proposal says full recovery will require about $71.4 billion over a decade. -
Seattle Council Approves First U.S. Ban on Personalized Grocery Pricing
Seattle’s City Council approved an ordinance Sept. 22 barring grocery retailers with 20 or more locations from using AI and shoppers’ personal data to set different prices for the same items. Traditional coupons and discounts for veterans and seniors remain allowed. -
Bessent says Trump-Xi summit may weigh China truce extension, broader deal
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is open to extending its China trade truce, which expires November 10, or exploring a larger deal suggested by China. Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to discuss the options at their Thursday summit. -
Republican candidates urge swift end to Iran war as Trump leaves escalation open
Mike Rogers, Ashley Hinson, John James, Tom Tiffany and Jon Husted—Republicans in competitive races—have called for the Iran war to end quickly; several cited high energy prices. Trump has defended his strategy and left open further escalation. -
Ohio Senate rivals trade attacks over Wexner donations and Epstein files
Epstein’s files are a campaign issue in Ohio’s Senate race: Democrat Sherrod Brown attacks Republican Sen. Jon Husted over roughly $116,000 in donations from Les Wexner, Epstein’s former financial adviser; Husted’s ads cite Brown’s donations from people named in the files. -
Orange Order says it is ready to engage ahead of Drumcree parade ruling
Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson says the Order is ready for mediation over Drumcree, after residents sought an international mediator. The Parades Commission must decide whether to allow Sunday's march on Garvaghy Road; a decision may not come until Friday. -
Andrea Miotti urges governments to ban superintelligent AI
Andrea Miotti argues governments should ban superintelligent AI, warning it could evade human control. He points to a UK bill introduced Sept. 8 that would prohibit its development domestically and require the government to pursue an international agreement against it. -
Washington invites Putin to December’s Miami G20, hopes he accepts
The US invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday, adding that Washington hopes he accepts. Putin last attended a G20 summit in person in 2019, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
