Politalking US 
Treasury and the IRS have released proposed regulations for a federal scholarship tax credit scheduled to begin January 1, 2027. Individuals who donate to approved scholarship organizations would receive dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credits, and those organizations would fund K-12 education expenses for eligible students. The proposals were announced October 1 and are open for … Read more
Candidates in four midterm races debated on the night of Oct. 6: Susan Collins and Troy Jackson in Maine’s Senate race, and the governor’s candidates in Michigan, Georgia and Iowa. Three subjects recurred: candidates’ ties to President Trump, data centers, and who is to blame for high prices. This first Debate Dispatches summarizes the main … Read more
This briefing reflects reporting and polling available as of October 7, 2026. Candidates, endorsements and polling can change before Election Day on November 3, 2026. Why This Race Matters Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, the Kansas Reflector reports, yet Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton are … Read more
Tennessee’s attempt to execute Christa Pike on September 30 failed after two doses of pentobarbital, and she remained unconscious on a ventilator as of Sunday, her lawyer said. Gov. Bill Lee paused all executions for the rest of 2026 and ordered an independent review, Tennessee Lookout reported. The state’s prisons chief has also said he … Read more
The Supreme Court opens its 2026-27 term today with arguments in a climate-liability case, with major disputes over religion, AR-15 bans, Arizona’s voting rules and the Trump administration’s immigration policies set for later this fall. The Court now issues about twice as many full-court rulings on emergency applications as on argued cases, according to Georgetown … Read more
The Trump administration announced on September 25 that it was canceling $810 million in funding that Congress had approved, using a maneuver called a pocket rescission days before the money expired on September 30. Senate Democrats tried to block the cuts on September 30, and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) objected, the Washington Post reported. The … Read more
Reading Who pays for a political ad, and where it appears, decides which rules apply. A candidate’s campaign, a political action committee (PAC), a party and a government agency each follow a different legal track, and television, print and online platforms add more differences. Those tracks are now colliding over taxpayer-funded ads featuring President Donald … Read more
Jack Smith spent about four hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 29, standing by his decision to charge Donald Trump while Republicans accused him of abusing his office. Most coverage dwelt on Sen. Eric Schmitt apparently confusing the Iowa Hawkeyes with the Atlanta Hawks, CBS News reported, and that episode needs no more … Read more
Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would bar members of Congress and their families from buying new individual stocks. The 53-47 vote on opening debate fell seven short of the 60 needed. Republicans had attached a photo ID requirement for federal elections, which Democrats called a poison pill, and Democrats … Read more
This briefing reflects reporting and polling available as of October 1, 2026. Candidates, endorsements and polling can change before Election Day on November 3, 2026. Why This Race Matters Minnesota’s Senate seat is open because Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is retiring, and polls now show Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (DFL) and former NBC sideline reporter … Read more
This briefing reflects reporting and polling available as of October 1, 2026. Candidates, endorsements and polling can change before Election Day on November 3, 2026. Why This Race Matters Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) is in a competitive race against independent Dan Osborn, a former union leader who says he will caucus with neither party. Nebraska … Read more
This briefing reflects reporting and polling available as of September 26, 2026. Candidates, endorsements and polling can change before Election Day on November 3, 2026. Why This Race Matters Texas’ 15th Congressional District is one of the clearest tests of South Texas’ recent political realignment. Republican Monica De La Cruz flipped the seat in 2022 … Read more
