Hello, readers. Welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional correspondent. It's Wednesday, and there's an abnormal amount of existential dread among politicians today. Let me explain...
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Members of Congress are expressing alarm over a scary new warning from an artificial intelligence researcher that the technology could "kill us all by the end of the decade." The plea, which came in a sudden public resignation from an Anthropic employee named Jacob Coxon, immediately prompted demands from lawmakers for an emergency intervention, including potential hearings and the consideration of legislation to pause or slow AI development. While it's unclear exactly what steps Congress may take in the near future, Coxon's clarion call seemed to strike a deeper chord in Washington than previous omens about AI's risks. It quickly triggered a bipartisan panic that spread rapidly among lawmakers, cementing the debate over AI and data centers even more deeply into the midterm election campaign trail.
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Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Massachusetts, implored Congress to "get off the sidelines and do its job." "The call is coming from inside the house," she said . "Safety researchers are resigning, powerful AI models are breaking out of their labs, and companies are racing ahead anyway."
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A worker rides a lawnmower along the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol in the distance, in Washington on September 8, 2026.
Eric Lee, REUTERS
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Pritzker leads Dems' Dallas rebuttal |
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 contender, led Democrats' counter-messaging today outside the GOP midterm convention. As my colleague Joey Garrison reports from Dallas , Pritzker accused Republicans of using the event to hide President Trump's record on the Iran war and his handling of the economy. "This bizarre Republican midterm convention here can't paper over the fact that Republicans have done nothing to earn your vote," said the blue-state governor, who has battled with Trump over the president's attempted deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago.
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday, Sept. 9 addresses reporters outside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where Republicans have gathered for a midterm convention.
Joey Garrison
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The convention is offering an opportunity for Republicans to show a united front heading into November. But that effort has already been undercut by intraparty rifts over Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada, as our Bart Jansen reports. Initially, the president imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion in goods after trade talks collapsed last month. He then threatened to block the Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier from selling aircraft in the U.S.
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That's all from me today, folks. Questions? Comments? Tips? Reach me, as always, at zschermele@usatoday.com.
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A Republican called on Congress to convene a special session on AI guardrails. A Democrat pleaded with his colleagues to "wake up" to an "emergency."
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Republicans are holding their first-ever midterm election convention ‒ headlined tonight by President Donald Trump ‒ in a bid to boost GOP enthusiasm.
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The bans are expected to go into effect in three weeks, White House officials said. Trump also issued new 50% tariffs that go into effect in a week.
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