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Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Sep 29, 2026

Trump Hosts Zuckerberg, Musk, Amodei and Huang for a White House Lunch and Announces They Have Signed an Accord to "Self-Police" — "I Think It's Morally Binding" — the Same Day Ted Cruz Blocks the Senate's Bipartisan AI Safety Bill and Bernie Sanders Says "Congress Does Not Regulate AI. AI Regulates Congress"

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, President Trump hosted nearly 20 technology executives — among them Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Google's Sundar Pichai, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Palantir's Alex Karp and OpenAI's Greg Brockman — at a White House "Super Intelligence Luncheon" attended by Speaker Mike Johnson, Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet members. Afterward Trump announced that the companies had signed "The White House Accord on Superintelligence: A Joint Commitment on Frontier SI Responsibilities," a voluntary statement of principles promising internal controls and internal and external review of frontier models. Asked whether it was binding, Trump said, "I think it's morally binding." The accord has no enforcement mechanism. The summit came weeks after OpenAI and Anthropic disclosed that AI agents had gone rogue and accessed systems without authorization, and as calls for a development slowdown grew. That same morning, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Commerce Committee, objected to a unanimous-consent request by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) to pass the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026, which would create a permanent AI safety board at the Commerce Department with authority to review frontier models 45 days before release.

“There's a belief that there should be tremendous self-regulation, and we automatically have regulation. … But the self-regulation is very important. … I think I'm seeing tremendous self-policing. And they understand that they have to self-police. … I will never stifle the growth of a technology that will be bigger than the industrial revolution. We can't stifle it, and we're leading by a lot. [Asked whether the accord is binding:] I think it's morally binding.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Sep 29, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Five Weeks Before the Midterms, Senate Republicans Block Tammy Baldwin's Resolution to Overturn Trump's Obamacare Marketplace Rule — Susan Collins Is the Only Republican to Vote Yes, and Baldwin Says the Rule Will Make "Out-of-Pocket Costs … Skyrocket"

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, the Senate rejected a motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 197, Sen. Tammy Baldwin's (D-Wis.) Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn a Trump administration rule governing the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The vote was 48-51 on the Senate floor record (some outlets reported 48-50); Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was the only Republican to vote with Democrats. The rule promotes catastrophic and bronze-tier plans with very high deductibles, loosens network-adequacy requirements and lets insurers sell plans without provider networks. Democrats say it will push up to 2 million people off marketplace coverage and raise the maximum out-of-pocket limit to $15,600 for individuals and $31,200 for families in 2027. The vote was one of the Senate's last before members leave to campaign.

“Americans have been clear that they need lower health care costs. And what does President Trump do to respond? He pushes a policy that will cause out-of-pocket costs to skyrocket. … [In a statement after the vote:] For over a decade, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have tried and failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, without a plan to replace it for the 23 million Americans who rely on this program for insurance.”
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) · Sep 29, 2026

Sep 29, 2026· Updated

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Testifies Before Congress

Jack Smith testified publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, 2026, defending his investigations into President Trump across roughly five hours of sometimes heated questioning, a month after a closed-door appearance before the same committee. "Donald Trump is the person who caused January 6," Smith stated, adding "No one should be above the law." Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) framed the prosecutions as political; Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) defended Smith's conduct. Trump responded on social media calling for Smith's prosecution. The federal cases against Trump were dropped after his 2024 election victory per DOJ policy barring prosecution of sitting presidents. Six months later, on July 22, 2026, Jordan formally referred Smith to the Justice Department for possible prosecution over alleged false statements in that testimony, a move Raskin called baseless and vindictive. On Sept. 29, 2026, Smith testified publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) titled "Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters." Republicans focused on Arctic Frost, the FBI inquiry that preceded Smith's election case, and on his team obtaining toll records of Republican lawmakers' phones and the content of some members' texts to White House staff. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan had referred Smith to the Justice Department in July, alleging he misled the House about those texts. Smith said he stood by both indictments and would not be "silenced by the continued threats of prosecution." Ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) noted that Smith had offered to testify publicly for more than a year.

“You caused my brother and a lot of other senators a lot of stress, and that makes me sick. You should be ashamed of yourself. … It's also a damn shame that you weaponized our legal system to do this. To go after a political opponent and his allies, including Lindsey, what a disgrace to our justice system and the Constitution that you would stoop this low. Shame on you!”
Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) · Sep 29, 2026

The Education Department Formally Erases Biden's Title IX Rule and Reinstates the 2020 Trump Regulation — Linda McMahon Says It "Restores the Commonsense Language," Tim Walberg Says It "Restores Longstanding Protections for Women and Girls," and Pramila Jayapal Says "Every Day, This Administration Continues to Target LGBTQIA+ Kids"

On Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, the Education Department announced a final rule formally rescinding the Biden administration's 2024 Title IX regulations, which had defined sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and restoring the 2020 regulations written during President Trump's first term. The rule took effect on publication in the Federal Register on Sept. 29 without a public comment period. Federal courts had already struck down the 2024 rule, and the department said "nothing changes in practice" because it has enforced the 2020 rules since January 2025. The 2020 regulations strengthen due-process protections for students accused of sexual misconduct and do not explicitly address LGBTQ+ discrimination. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and House Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) welcomed the move. Democrats, LGBTQ+ advocates and survivors' groups said it strips protections from transgender students and sexual-assault survivors.

“Thanks to today's action, the published Title IX regulations faithfully reflect court orders and congressional intent — reducing confusion for parents, students, and educational institutions. … This action restores the commonsense language promulgated in the first Trump administration.”
Linda McMahon (R-CT) · Sep 28, 2026

British Police Arrest Five Men With Explosives Near RAF Fairford, the Base U.S. Bombers Have Used to Strike Iran — Trump Says "They Were Looking to Do Big Damage" and "We Had Them Under View for a Long Time," Kat Cammack Says "Clearly Iran Was Involved," and Tehran Denies It

On Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, police in southern England arrested five British men in their twenties who allegedly approached RAF Fairford carrying explosives. The Gloucestershire base is owned by the United Kingdom and operated by the U.S. Air Force, and American bombers have flown strikes on Iran from it since March. The men were arrested under the Explosives Act and then on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Speaking to reporters in Chicago that day, President Trump praised the arrests and said U.S. and British authorities had had the suspects under surveillance. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) said on NewsNation that Iran was "clearly" involved. On Monday, Sept. 28, the five were released on bail, and counterterrorism detectives said they were pursuing "multiple lines of inquiry," including possible links to Iran, Russia or non-state militant groups. Iran's embassy in London "categorically" rejected any connection.

“I'm surprised that they released them, I wouldn't have done that. … We know everything about [the suspects]. We would not have released them. I would not have released them. [Asked whether the suspects were connected to Iran:] Might be.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Sep 28, 2026

Five Weeks Before the Midterms, Trump Announces a $15 Billion Steel Mill in Iowa and Credits His "Powerful 50% Tariffs" — Joni Ernst Calls It "One of the Greatest American Muscle Flexes," Pete Stauber Calls It "a Missed Opportunity for Northern Minnesota," and Democrat Rob Sand Asks What "Protections for Iowa Taxpayers" Will Be in the Deal

On Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, President Trump announced from the Oval Office that Mesabi Metallics, a Minnesota-based company owned by India's Essar Group, will build a $15 billion steel mill in Lee County in southeast Iowa. The White House called it the largest steel plant in U.S. history: roughly 10 million tons a year once it is fully running, which the company expects by 2030, plus 1,750 permanent jobs averaging $49 an hour and about 6,000 construction jobs. The mill will use iron ore from Mesabi's new mine near Nashwauk, Minn., which opened this month as the state's first new iron ore mine in about 50 years. Trump credited his 50% tariffs on foreign steel. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said of the project's incentive package, "I think this deal is done." Iowa's Republican governor, both of its senators and its four House members praised the plant. Several of them are on the ballot in November, including Rep. Ashley Hinson, the GOP nominee for Senate. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) welcomed the mine but blamed Minnesota's Democratic state leadership for losing the mill to Iowa. Iowa Democrats, among them gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand, called the plant promising but said they wanted details on taxpayer protections and guarantees for workers.

“Soon after my inauguration, I imposed powerful 50% tariffs on all foreign steel, and now our steel industry is roaring back to life. … Everyone is building their plants here because they don't want to pay tariffs.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Sep 28, 2026

Sep 28, 2026· Updated

Six Weeks Before the Midterms, a 30-Second Ad "Paid for by the U.S. Government" Runs on Fox News and Newsmax With Trump Declaring "America Will Never Be a Communist Country" Over the Song "Love Me" — the White House Calls It "Educational and Unapologetically Patriotic," Jamie Raskin Says It "May Be Felony Criminal Theft," and Maggie Hassan Says It "Does Not Have a Clear Official Government Purpose"

In late September 2026, a 30-second spot carrying the disclosure "Paid for by the U.S. Government" began airing repeatedly on Fox News and Newsmax. Set to JMSN's song "Love Me," it shows Trump saying "Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America. America will never be a communist country," flashes "LARGEST TAX CUTS IN HISTORY," "REIGNITING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING" and "DEFEND LAW AND ORDER AND POLICE," and includes UFC CEO Dana White calling Trump "the toughest, most resilient person I've ever met." AdImpact put the initial buy at about $14,000; ABC News reported the Department of Homeland Security paid for it. The White House called the spots "public service announcements" that are "educational and unapologetically patriotic," arguing "The President is not on the ballot and the ads don't have a call to action." On Sept. 24, Sen. Maggie Hassan, ranking Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, wrote to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles demanding the cost, funding source and government purpose of the ad by Oct. 8, and Rep. Jamie Raskin said it may violate the Hatch Act and federal theft statutes. Federal appropriations law bars agencies from spending on unauthorized publicity or propaganda.

“It's a great message. I like the message. But it shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars.”
John Thune (R-SD) · Sep 28, 2026

White House

Hatch Act

government advertising

16 statements

Sep 28, 2026· Updated

At the U.N., Trump Asks Whether to Make a Deal With Iran "or Do I Annihilate the Islamic Republic and Do It Quickly" and Says Tehran Is "Waiting to See How I Do in the Midterm" — Hours Later Witkoff and Kushner Sit Down With Iran's Foreign Minister for Three Hours, and Tim Kaine Asks "Who Talks Like That?"

President Trump used his September 22, 2026 address to the 81st U.N. General Assembly to defend the nearly seven-month war with Iran and to frame its end as a choice he alone would make: a deal that would let Iran "rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before," or to "annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly" and "drive them into hell with no chance of survival." He accused Tehran of stalling on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until after the November midterms, predicted an agreement "right after the election," and insisted the election "doesn't even enter my mind." The same speech called Cuba a failed state, announced that U.S. documents would refer to AI as "superintelligence," and vowed to "encourage it, not rein it in." Within hours, Trump told reporters that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had held "a very good meeting" lasting about three hours with an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the General Assembly, with another meeting expected soon. Witkoff called the mediated talks "promising" and "constructive." Iranian state media said Tehran used the meeting to lay out its conditions for reopening the strait: lifting the U.S. naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war on all "resistance fronts." Democrats had earlier called for Trump's removal after his April threat that "a whole civilization will die tonight." Sen. Tim Kaine, lead sponsor of the Senate's Iran war powers resolutions, answered the U.N. speech by asking "who talks like that?" The speech came as a CNN/SSRS poll found 71% of voters disapproving of Trump's handling of foreign affairs.

“This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING! Axios' story, like most others, is a HOAX, used only for purposes of satisfying their Trump Derangement Syndrome. They should withdraw this fake story, IMMEDIATELY! [Trump, responding to an Axios report that he had offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.]”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Sep 28, 2026

Sep 28, 2026· Updated

The Senate Votes 74-24 to Take Up the Cruz-Cantwell College Sports Bill — Cruz Calls It "a Bipartisan Solution Designed to Bring Order to the Chaos," While Chris Murphy Says "What This Bill Does at Its Core Is to Protect a System of Exploitation" and All Four Black Democratic Senators Vote No

On Sept. 15, 2026, the Senate voted 74-24 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668), written by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and backed by the NCAA. The bill would write national rules for college athletics into law: revenue sharing with players capped at 22% of athletic department revenue, one penalty-free transfer, a five-year eligibility window, pooled conference media rights, a cap on agent fees and limited antitrust protection for the NCAA and conferences. The 24 no votes came from 20 Democrats and four Republicans — Ashley Moody, Rand Paul, Rick Scott and Tommy Tuberville. All four Black Democratic senators — Cory Booker, Raphael Warnock, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks — voted no; the NAACP, the AFL-CIO and the Congressional Black Caucus oppose the bill, arguing it caps what largely Black football and basketball players can earn while leaving coaches' pay untouched. The Senate continued debate on Sept. 16; if the bill passes, it goes to the House. On Sept. 28, 2026, the Senate passed the bill 77-22 after rejecting two amendments from Cory Booker (D-N.J.), 49-50 and 47-52, including one that would have applied the bill's rules to coaches' pay. The bill now goes to the House, which has left town until after the midterm elections.

“Today is a monumental day for college athletics. The United States Senate voted to protect the hundreds of thousands of student athletes currently competing in college sports, the millions who will follow in their footsteps, and every college sports fan who wants to preserve this great American tradition for generations to come. … From the beginning, our objective was not to squeak by with 60 or 61 votes but to have a big bipartisan vote that demonstrates the importance of stepping in and saving and preserving college sports. President Trump is eager to sign this legislation.”
Ted Cruz (R-TX) · Sep 28, 2026

Sep 28, 2026· Updated

DHS Told Four States It Found 250,000 Noncitizens on Their Voter Rolls — On a Recorded Call, Its Own Staff Called the Nevada Number "the Ceiling," and the Confirmed Count Nevada Got Was 185

In July 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to the secretaries of state of California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania saying DHS had identified more than 250,000 noncitizens on their voter rolls, and warned officials who did not act that they faced loss of federal election aid, fines and possible prison time. In August, on a call with Nevada election officials that was recorded and later obtained by CNN, DHS staff conceded the state-level figures had not been individually vetted — a USCIS fraud-division official called Nevada's 15,903 "the ceiling" — and a day later the department handed Nevada a list of just 185 registrants it said it was confident were noncitizens, with more than 14,000 cases unresolved. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, a Democrat, said his office "will not risk disenfranchising eligible voters" and called the federal effort unsophisticated and dangerous. DHS election-integrity lead Heather Honey told the state the department was "an open book." The reporting lands 10 weeks before the midterms, with DHS pressing states to purge voters on data it has not shown them.

“Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters. … You have promoted the President's conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration's demands. [Letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin led by Kelly, Gary Peters, Dick Durbin, Alex Padilla and Chuck Schumer and signed by 34 senators, demanding he substantiate his July 17 claim that 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states.]”
Mark Kelly (D-AZ) · Sep 28, 2026

Sep 27, 2026· Updated

Five Days Before the Fiscal Year Ends and With the House Gone Until After the Midterms, Russ Vought Sends Congress an $810 Million "Pocket Rescission" — the Republican Chair of Senate Appropriations, Susan Collins, Calls It "a Clear Violation of the Law," Patty Murray Calls It "Theft From the American People," and the White House Says Trump Will Use "All Possible Tools"

On the night of Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget sent Congress a roughly $810 million package of "pocket rescissions" — a request to cancel bipartisan, already-enacted appropriations timed so close to the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year that the money expires before Congress can act on it. The House is out of session until after the November midterms. About $567 million of the package targets Health and Human Services programs serving refugees, asylees and other noncitizens; the rest hits migrant education, international education, a Justice Department community-relations office, minority business development, HUD counseling and HHS research grants. The Government Accountability Office has concluded pocket rescissions are not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act. OMB Director Russ Vought argues the law does not forbid them, and the administration used the same maneuver on foreign aid in 2025. The White House said "President Trump is committed to utilizing all possible tools to cut wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens." Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, a Republican, called the move unlawful and said OMB "does not get to decide which programs are worth funding"; Democratic appropriations and budget leaders called it theft and an illegal line-item veto.

“I love Susan like a taco, but she's wrong. First, Congress didn't approve this stuff. … I'm glad that Russ Vought's doing it.”
John Kennedy (R-LA) · Sep 27, 2026

Sep 27, 2026· Updated

Xi's State Visit Ends With a Two-Month Extension of the Trade Truce, a New "Board of Trade" and a Pair of Pandas for Atlanta — Trump Calls It "One of Friendship, Strength, and Success," 21 Senate Democrats Say the Summit "Failed to Deliver," and Chuck Grassley Warns Trump Is "Making a Great Big Mistake by Having a Showcase of a Communist Autocrat"

Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington produced no signed Boeing, soybean or fentanyl deal and no White House readout. On Sept. 23, the day Xi arrived, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Fox that the "Busan Agreement" trade truce, due to expire Nov. 10, would be extended to Jan. 10, 2027, and USTR Jamieson Greer described a new U.S.-China "Board of Trade" to cut tariffs on lists of goods. The Sept. 24 summit also produced an AI crisis dialogue and two pandas for Zoo Atlanta. Trump called it "a great meeting" and on Sept. 25 posted that he and Xi would meet again in November in China and in December at the G20 in Miami. Reaction split largely along party lines. Twenty-one Senate Democrats led by Jeanne Shaheen said the summit "failed to deliver" and called the truce extension "a temporary band-aid on a crisis of the President's own making." Ron Wyden and Richard Neal said China was breaking its purchase promises while Trump punished allies. Farm-state Republicans welcomed the stability but wanted enforceable purchases, and Chuck Grassley said a truce extension alone would make the visit "a great big mistake."

“Yeah, of course it's a step forward. … Scott Bessent had set this up weeks before the actual visit of President Xi occurred. … We all know that nothing terribly meaningful came out of this conversation. And look, Xi himself is waiting for 37 days when he will now face a president of the United States who has been rebuked by his own people. … But like I said, let's not be too harsh. Anytime we're talking to the Chinese and stopping misunderstandings and making incremental progress on things like AI or not starting another trade war, you know, it's a valuable couple of days.”
James Himes (D-CT) · Sep 27, 2026

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