Hello, readers. Welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional correspondent. It's Thursday, and the mounting AI panic may be creating new political momentum in the House. More on that later.
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Fiscal conservatives, who? |
There are many reasons to doubt the promise President Trump made last night to dole out $5,000 checks to American adults if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in November. For one thing, similar pledges he's made in the past haven't panned out. Legal challenges would also loom.
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And many fiscal conservatives in his own party would almost certainly stand in the way of Congress reshuffling more than $1 trillion, as the national debt reaches historic highs (new spending would be a virtually impossible sell). "Frankly I’m insulted by the notion that my vote this November could be bought for 5k," Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, wrote on X, "not to mention the inflation this would cause." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, chimed in, too, saying in response to a post defending the proposed dividends that government "dependency is evil & soul-sucking in all its forms." In a Fox News interview today, Senate Majority Leader John Thune didn't provide much more clarity on any planned next steps for the idea, saying "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
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President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 9, 2026.
Evan Vucci, REUTERS
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House Dems eye new AI committee |
Scientists' warnings about the rapidly advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence are creating fear among members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. In response, House Democrats are eyeing the creation of a potentially powerful new select committee on AI if they win back the majority, two congressional aides familiar with the matter told me.
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Rep. Bill Foster, D-Illinois, and Rep. Ted Lieu, D-California, met last week with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss the idea, and Foster said in a statement to USA TODAY that "Leader Jeffries understands that we can't repeat Republicans' mistake of letting Congress sit on the sidelines while AI rapidly shapes our future." Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, said he'd be supportive of the same kind of effort in the Senate, too. Whenever select committees are formed, however, there are jurisdictional turf wars with established panels typically led by senior members. Exactly how those fights play out will determine just how influential any AI-centric committees ultimately are.
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Trump's top special ed official abruptly quits |
The top Trump administration official overseeing special education is resigning amid of a contentious reorganization of her office's workforce to the Health and Human Services Department. Kelly Rogers, the acting assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, is set to depart her job tomorrow, according to an email I obtained. She was in the job for fewer than four months. The shift injects yet another element of volatility into the operations of the federal division known as the "engine room" of special ed, in charge of administering billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to states and schools to help students with disabilities. Read more of my coverage of her exit.
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That's all from me today, folks. Until Monday, when I'll be at the Capitol eagerly awaiting what could be Sen. Mitch McConnell's first resurfacing at Senate votes in months. Make sure to follow along with my coverage.
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Her departure comes as more than 100 staffers are preparing to move to Health and Human Services, according to the Education Department's union.
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Oscar Fernández is one of the top Cuban exporters of dried fruit. He wants to sell to America. But will US-Cuba sanctions allow for laws to change?
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Vance is delivering the keynote address and Trump will give closing remarks on the final night of the Republican Party's two-day Dallas convention.
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