Hello readers and welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional reporter. It's Monday, and there's another deadline fast-approaching in Congress.
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Spy powers law in jeopardy |
Congress has another big problem. It's a complicated one (and frankly, it sounds a little bit like something out of a "Scandal" episode).
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There's a controversial law that allows the U.S. government to spy on foreigners. Think texts, calls, emails. Officially, it's called Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (or FISA).
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It expires on Friday. And in the middle of the Iran war, its proponents fear that could pose a major national security risk.
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Many lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, think the law is crucial to keeping Americans safe. Without it, they say, U.S. intelligence agencies can't do the spying they need to do to prevent terrorist attacks.
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Many other lawmakers, also Republicans and Democrats, think the law is long overdue for an update. A strong bipartisan group of critics has been loudly pushing for FISA reform, saying that too often Americans' freedom is compromised when their own government spies on them, and Congress needs to do more to protect the privacy of domestic citizens.
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It's an issue that's been bitterly dividing Capitol Hill for months (I wrote about it in April). But just as a solution seemed potentially within reach, President Donald Trump threw a "live grenade" into sensitive congressional negotiations, as Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, put it Sunday.
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Trump said he would install a controversial figure – Bill Pulte, the top federal official overseeing mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – to replace Tulsi Gabbard as acting head of the U.S. intelligence community. Pulte has no intelligence experience.
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A reporter films with her phone as U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on January 9, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS
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The pick publicly enraged Democrats – and quietly angered Republicans. Now, Democrats are giving the White House an ultimatum, saying they won't vote to renew FISA unless Trump withdraws Pulte from the slot.
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As CBS's Margaret Brennan on Sunday reminded Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, the president doesn't like to back down once he's made up his mind.
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"He doesn't like to back down," Himes responded. "But he's also not going to like the terrorist attacks that might happen."
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My colleague Nicole Fallert has a helpful compilation here of the primary elections you'll want to be watching tomorrow.
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Maine: U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor |
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Nevada: U.S. House, governor |
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North Dakota: U.S. House |
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South Carolina: U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor |
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Of course, all eyes will be on Maine, and the scandal-plagued Graham Platner, an oyster fisherman who's been plagued by recent allegations that he was involved in abusive romantic relationships (he has rejected any accusations of assault as "simply not true"). Though Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign, she'll still be on the Democratic ballot along with Platner.
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And then there's South Carolina, where Republican Rep. Nancy Mace's national political career could see a revival – or an imminent end.
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Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman talks to USA TODAY |
Redistricting efforts across the South could result in Congress having about a third fewer Black members, the Congressional Black Caucus has warned, and a large drop in Black power in Washington.
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Chairwoman Yvette Clarke, a Democrat from New York, has said as many as 19 of her fellow caucus members could be affected in a worst-case scenario, although she noted that the situation remains fluid.
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"Black political representation has come under direct assault," she told my colleague Sarah Wire.
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💬We also want to hear from you! What questions do you have for our team as we get closer to November? Is there a race you’re watching closely? Let us know by jumping in the comments on Reddit or responding to this newsletter. And you can find our answers here, including my explainer on each party's views on ICE funding.
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Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
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In a marathon voting session, Senate Democrats forced Republicans to bat down a litany of measures, including housing affordability plans.
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Southern redistricting could slash Black representation in Congress and diminish the caucus' influence in Washington, DC.
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President Trump abruptly ended a contentious ‒ and rainy ‒ interview with NBC's "Meet the Press." Here are key takeaways from the tense interview.
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