2026Talks

US lawmakers ramp up, with days to keep the government from shutting down. Senator Whitehouse files an ethics complaint over an interview Justice Alito gave. And a federal court rejects Alabama's congressional map for gerrymandering black voters.

Young voters are being courted and thwarted by lawmakers nationwide, Gen Z shows unprecedented support for unions and striking workers, and tech platforms scale back efforts to fight election disinformation.

Union leaders celebrate Labor Day, though Kaiser-Permanente workers are looking to strike. An impeachment inquiry into President Biden could have budget implications. And people are calling for aging elected officials to step down.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp rejects calls from GOP lawmakers for a special session to examine Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Justice Clarence Thomas discloses trips paid for by a right-wing billionaire. Texas Supreme Court allows a ban on gender-affirming care for youth.

A Tennessee special legislative session on guns ends with little action, conservatives rally to keep former President Donald Trump on New Hampshire's 2024 ballot, and millions more workers could get overtime pay.

Election officials are seeking federal funding to safeguard elections, rural voters are speaking out on issues important to them, and the federal government picks the first round of drugs Medicare will negotiate.

Democrats in Florida blame Gov. DeSantis for fostering hate and discrimination after a shooting leaves  three black people dead. Former President Trump loses some support post-GOP debate. A new report speculates election disinformation will intensify in 2024.

The Feds open a civil rights investigation into the Jacksonville shooting, thousands commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, and "green amendments" seek to hold governments accountable for worsening climate change.

Former President Trump surrenders himself to Fulton County, political experts feel the Republican primary debate distinguished the candidates, and New York asks the federal government for help with migrants.

Rudy Giuliani surrenders at the Fulton County jail, Republican presidential hopefuls debate with Trump notably absent, and protest signs are allowed in the Tennessee statehouse after a judge blocked a new GOP rule.

Improved civics education could help bridge political divides, swing state Wisconsin hosts the first Republican presidential debate, and Tennessee lawmakers approve new rules limiting speech on the House floor.

Former Presidential adviser thinks Trump and Biden shouldn't be running for president, polls find democracy is on the line with the current political climate and school districts navigate new laws on transgender students.

The Federal Election Commission considers rules for A-I generated political ads, the other candidates say don't count Trump out of this week's debate just yet, and New Hampshire Democrats may be forced to write-in Biden's name in the primary. 

Fulton County proposes a March 4 trial date for former President Donald Trump, the Georgia grand jurors who voted to indict Trump receive threats, and a new law could bring new restrictions for North Carolina voters. 

Georgia election workers harassed by former President Trump seek justice, House Republicans want to repeal the Home Rule Act in D.C., and Ohioans aim to create a new redistricting commission to end gerrymandering.

Former President Donald Trump's favorability rating increases with each indictment, advocates say aggressive voter purges have harmed 19 million Americans, and FEMA updates its response to the Maui wildfires.

A grand jury in Atlanta hears testimony regarding whether former President Trump and allies meddled in the 2020 election in Georgia, opponents of Alabama's legislative map say it discriminates against Black voters and a Montana judge sides with young environmental activists in a landmark climate decision. 

The death toll on Maui rises and one Hawaii lawmaker says the warning system failed. Former President Donald Trump could face another legal battle in Georgia. And in Idaho, a new law makes it tougher to register to vote.  

"Inactivity" is driving states to purge eligible voters from voter-registration rolls, a possible strike looms for autoworkers as negotiations with Detroit's biggest car companies get off to a tense start; and reproductive-rights activists in Ohio begin efforts to enshrine them in the state's constitution.

New York creates a statewide cybersecurity plan, ghost gun legislation is reintroduced, election workers gear up for the 2024 elections, and advocates push to assure access to over-the-counter birth control.

Ohio voters reject a move to make constitutional amendments harder to pass, Los Angeles city employees stage a 24-hour strike, and the Supreme Court upholds a regulation aimed at curbing the use of "ghost guns."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledges Trump lost the 2020 election. President Joe Biden visits western states to talk about conservation and climate policies. New polling shows less young people are identifying as Democrats.

Former President Donald Trump makes aggressive comments on his indictments, some of the SCOTUS Justices say they're in favor of a new code of ethics, and both sides are set to start oral arguments on Utah's abortion ban.

Former President Donald Trump pleads 'not guilty' to charges in the latest indictment. Clean Election Advocates in Maine want to ban foreign government spending in state elections. Florida has banned AP Psychology due to topics of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Former VP Mike Pence says "crackpot lawyers" fueled efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Mich. GOP officials are charged with tampering with voting machines, and a Wis. lawsuit could force new legislative maps.