Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Tag: midterms 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 24, 2026

The California Supreme Court Rules Unanimously That Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco Broke the Law When He Seized 650,000 Ballots From the Redistricting Election — Rob Bonta Says He "Willfully Defied My Direct Orders," Gavin Newsom Says "in California We Will Defend Democracy — Using Every Branch of Government," and Bianco Says "Sacramento Shut It Down"

On Sept. 24, 2026, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously, in two cases, that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco acted unlawfully. In February he seized about 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 Prop 50 redistricting special election for an investigation into unsubstantiated fraud claims. The court ordered the ballots returned to county election officials and told him to stop the investigation. Attorney General Rob Bonta said Bianco "willfully defied my direct orders" and promised "criminal consequences" for such conduct in the future. Gov. Gavin Newsom tied the ruling to the election-protection laws he signed a week earlier, which make ballot seizure a felony. Bianco, a Republican who ran for governor earlier this year, said "Sacramento shut it down" and suggested he might go to federal court. The ruling came six weeks before the midterms.

“He willfully defied my direct orders, misused criminal investigative tools and created a constitutional emergency in the process. … Going forward, there will also be criminal consequences to conduct such as this exhibited by Sheriff Bianco. … Whether it's a sheriff in Riverside or the President of the United States, we won't let anyone take away Californians' voice in our democracy. Come November, we're ready for whatever comes our way.”
Rob Bonta (D-CA) · Sep 24, 2026

Chuck Grassley Opens a Senate Judiciary Hearing on Transgender Athletes Six Weeks Before the Midterms and Every Democrat but One Stays Away — Dick Durbin Says He Refuses "to Treat This Hearing Like a Responsible Exercise of This Committee" and Walks Out, While Katie Britt Says "Not One Member on the Other Side of the Aisle Has Had the Respect for Women to Come in Here and Ask Questions"

On Sept. 23, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee under Chairman Chuck Grassley held a hearing titled "Standing Up for Women in Sports: Ensuring Opportunity, Fairness and Safety for Female Athletes." Grassley opened by saying that allowing "biological men to play in women's sports breaks the promise of Title IX." Ranking Member Dick Durbin gave an opening statement calling the hearing a distraction from cost-of-living concerns and a "vendetta against a small number of people in the trans community." He said he had called no witnesses and would ask no questions, then left. None of the committee's other Democrats attended. Republicans Katie Britt, John Kennedy and Ashley Moody pointed to the empty seats. The hearing is part of a Republican push on the issue ahead of the midterms.

“Not one member on the other side of the aisle has had the respect for women to come in here and ask questions. … It's absolutely absurd!”
Katie Britt (R-AL) · Sep 23, 2026

Trump Defeats Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky GOP Primary

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics, was defeated 55-45 by Trump-endorsed Navy SEAL veteran Ed Gallrein in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District primary on May 20, 2026. The race — the most expensive House primary in U.S. history at over $32 million spent — was widely seen as a referendum on Trump's hold over the Republican Party, coming after Massie broke with the president on Iran, the "One Big Beautiful Bill," and the Epstein files. The result continued Trump's successful primary purge campaign, following prior victories over Sen. Bill Cassidy and five Indiana state senators.

“He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · May 20, 2026