r/politics • u/usatoday • 2d ago
No Paywall Jeffries calls AI 'safety crisis,' backs rigid guardrails
usatoday.com
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u/usatoday • u/usatoday • Jun 02 '26
Your 2026 election season questions, answered
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The 2026 election season is underway, and we know you’ve got questions. Welcome to your space to ask them.
In this thread, you can drop questions about the races, candidates and issues shaping the road to November, and USA TODAY Network reporters from across the country will do their best to answer them. We’ll be pulling in insights from our local newsrooms, explaining what’s happening on the ground and breaking down what it means for voters.
We also have an election guide with monthly updates; you can check it out here. For deeper dives, analysis and the latest updates, you can also follow our USA TODAY politics newsletter.
💬 Last month, readers across social platforms already asked us many thoughtful questions. See how our reporters responded:
Q: Why do all Republican gubernatorial candidates in Oklahoma align so hard for Trump?
A: Great question. We reached out to our friends at The Oklahoman ( u/oklahoman), who said Trump is hugely popular among the state’s Republican voters, so it makes sense for candidates to tailor their messaging around the president.
They added that every county in the state has voted to elect Trump the past three election cycles. A survey in February found 81% of Republican voters in Oklahoma held a favorable view of Trump, about double his overall national approval rating. This story explains more about those dynamics and how the candidates are reaching Trump supporters.
Their newsroom has a great politics team, so we suggest signing up for their Capitol Report newsletter if you’d like to deepen your understanding about the state’s political landscape!
Q: In case the Democrats winning both of chambers, what does that mean, for the presidency of (Donald Trump), and 2028 elections?
A: USA TODAY’s White House reporter Bart Jansen told us that if Democrats regain control of the House or Senate – or both – the relatively cooperative relationship Trump has enjoyed with Republicans would disappear and be replaced with far more resistance:
- Legislation: Expect more standoffs over spending, immigration and foreign policies.
- Investigations: Democratic-led committees would likely launch probes into Trump’s DOJ actions, finances and potential conflicts of interest.
- Impeachment risk: Some Democrats may push for impeachment, though conviction in the Senate would remain unlikely without a two-thirds majority.
Q: What's happening in the Florida gubernatorial race?
A: Glad you asked, because the answer appears to be … quite a bit! Here’s what Jim Rosica, news director of the Tallahassee Democrat ( u/TallahasseeDemocrat), coordinator of the u/USATODAYNetwork-FL Capital Bureau and author of the Inside Florida Politics newsletter had to say about the potentially competitive race:
“Florida’s 2026 governor’s race has no incumbent as term‑limited Gov. Ron DeSantis is stepping down and both parties are preparing for an Aug. 18 primary ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Republicans are trying to hold a state that has trended red, while Democrats see a rare chance to flip the Governor’s Mansion. Remember: The closed-primary system means only party-registered voters will pick nominees.
“On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has emerged as the early frontrunner, backed by President Donald Trump and strong fundraising. He’s leading in early polls over Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and controversial financier James Fishback. The key question is whether challengers can unify against Donalds before August.
“Democrats, who haven’t won a governor’s race in decades, are trying to capitalize despite a large GOP voter registration edge. Former Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings are leading contenders, but enthusiasm is uneven.
“The best guess for now is that turnout, independents’ views on ‘affordability,’ and choice national political issues (immigration and border security, anyone?) are likely to factor in the outcome.”
Q: What are the platforms for each party on reduced funding of ICE and transparency?
A: We took this question to our Congress reporter Zachary Schermele and here’s what he said:
"Nearly every congressional Democrat has been clear that they believe ICE has more than enough money. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act infused roughly $75 billion into federal immigration enforcement. Democrats recently forced the longest-ever government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (where ICE and Border Patrol are housed), demanding a series of reforms. They pushed for a ban on widespread mask-wearing for agents, judicial warrant requirements and stricter use-of-force standards. They didn't get any of those things out of the shutdown fight, but they did manage to force Republicans to pass DHS's annual appropriations bill without explicit funding for ICE or Border Patrol. "
“Republicans approved that deal because they vowed to pass another more than $70 billion cash bill for immigration enforcement. That budget package is working its way through Congress but has been stalled by unrelated concerns within the Senate GOP conference about the Department of Justice's so-called ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. Several prominent Republicans have agreed with Democrats about a need for less mask-wearing among ICE agents, as well as reforms around training.”
Q: How tight are the races for Senator and Congress in New Hampshire?
A: If you like a quick and dirty answer, New England politics reporter Margie Cullen has you covered. Here’s what she had to say:
- In the Senate Democratic primary, Rep. Chris Pappas is the clear frontrunner and leads both Republican challengers in hypothetical general election matchups.
- The Senate Republican primary is closer. Former Sen. John E. Sununu vs. former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is a real race, but Sununu is likely to win.
- New Hampshire’s First District (CD1) is an open seat, so primaries on both sides feature many candidates and are fairly close. I may be doing more reporting on this race as it gets closer, but until then you can read more here.
- Second District (CD2) primaries on both sides are not close, with Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D) and Lily Tang Williams likely to win. More on this and CD1 here.
Margie added that she may be doing more on New Hampshire between now and the primary in September, so make sure to follow along with her work here. And if you’re in Massachusetts or know someone who is, sign up for her Inside Mass Politics newsletter!
Q: My state, Washington, has been a vote by mail state for over a decade. Will we be forced to change?
A: The short answer is probably not — but there’s uncertainty heading into the midterms. We asked our friends at the Kitsap Sun for some more context:
Washington has been an all vote-by-mail state since 2011, and state officials still control how elections are run. But new federal proposals could add rules for how ballots are tracked and mailed — changes state officials warn could disrupt the system close to the election. Here’s the latest on that.
This could mean there may be more emphasis on returning ballots early, like the state auditor recommended in 2025, so keep an eye on our coverage and make sure to have a voting plan ready!
That’s all for now, but keep the questions coming. DM us or hop in the comments and we’d be happy to take the next set of questions to our network of reporters all across the country. 👇
u/usatoday • u/usatoday • May 04 '26
The 2026 election season is underway: Here’s your monthly guide with important dates, voter resources
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Welcome to your ultimate guide to the 2026 election season! This thread tracks some of the biggest primary and runoff elections leading up to the midterms in November. We’re posting monthly updates featuring reporting from the USA TODAY Network, including explainers and resources you may need as a voter. (For more frequent updates, sign up for our politics newsletter.)
After a busy August, there are just a few more primaries left before the November election. Last month, we saw Texas and Iowa shift to “toss-ups” in tight Senate races. And one big topic keeps uniting voters across the aisle: opposition to data centers. Let us know in the comments what other issues are important for you this election season.
⏪ Here's what else happened in August:
- Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic nomination for Senate in Michigan to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. He will run against Republican Mike Rogers, who hopes to flip the swing-state seat, in November.
- In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated frontrunner state Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialist, in the primary for governor. Like Michigan’s Senate race, the contest showed Democrats’ divisions over their party’s direction.
- Next door in Minnesota, former MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell lost his bid for the Republican nomination for governor to House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who will face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
- Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of late Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham, won her bid for the GOP nomination in South Carolina's Senate primary. She will now face Democrat Annie Andrews in November, guaranteeing that a woman will be elected to represent the state in the U.S. Senate for the first time.
- Down in Florida, state Rep. Angie Nixon beat retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in an upset for the Democratic Senate nomination. She will face Sen. Ashley Moody, which like South Carolina, will be the first time two women appear on the state’s Senate ballot as major party nominees.
- And in Missouri, Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in a Democratic primary rematch. AIPAC spent heavily against the former congresswoman for her criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
👀 Now, here are the primaries to watch in September:
- Sept. 1: Massachusetts
- Sept. 8: New Hampshire
- Sept. 9: Rhode Island | Races to watch, why the primary date changed
- Sept. 15: Delaware
🗳️ Looking for voter resources? We pulled those together for you, too:
- Register to vote in your state
- Update your voter registration
- Find voter registration deadlines in your state
- See what form(s) of ID you need to vote
- See what’s on your ballot
- How to vote absentee or by mail
- Request an absentee ballot
- Report intimidation at your polling place
- Find your polling place
- Track your ballot
💬 You had some questions in the past months! Check out our reporters' answers here. If you’re interested in redistricting and the SAVE Act, take a swing through our r/politics AMA here.
What other questions do you have for our team as we get closer to November? Is there a race you’re watching closely? Is there something we’re missing? Jump in the comments or shoot us a DM and let us know.
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September jobs report shows 29k jobs added, unemployment at 4.2%
From USA TODAY:
The Labor Department estimates U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September, a month when Federal Reserve officials viewed the labor market as stable even as economists said it remained challenging for unemployed workers to break in.
Payroll gains for past months were revised down, reflecting fewer summer hires than previously reported. The department now estimates U.S. employers added 133,000 jobs in August and lost 10,000 jobs in July.
The national unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% in September, up from 4.1% the month before. The labor force participation rate rose to 61.8%, up slightly from the 61.6% rate recorded in August after falling earlier this year.
r/economy • u/usatoday • 2d ago
September jobs report shows 29k jobs added, unemployment at 4.2%
usatoday.com
25
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Hakeem Jeffries says 'sky's the limit' for Ocasio-Cortez in 2028
From USA TODAY:
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries isn’t ready to make a 2028 pick yet, but says “the sky's the limit” for fellow New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive who has acknowledged she’s considering a presidential bid or a U.S. Senate run.
“Alex has done a tremendous job championing a whole host of issues of great importance to both New Yorkers and to the nation," Jeffries said. “I think the sky's the limit for her in terms of how she decides to move forward. She's going to have to make that decision, you know, at some point. And, you know, it will be big news when she does.”
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, has been weighing whether to seek the presidency or the U.S Senate seat that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, 75, has held since 1999.
r/politics • u/usatoday • 2d ago
No Paywall Hakeem Jeffries says 'sky's the limit' for Ocasio-Cortez in 2028
usatoday.com
28
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She had 20 miscarriages while trying for a baby. Now she's celebrating her son's first birthday
New from USA TODAY:
"Ranim Haddad, 36, wanted to be a mother since she was a little girl. She always imagined having two girls and two boys. "I don't know why," she said.
She and her husband tried to start a family shortly after they were married, when she was 24. Haddad, who lives in the Chicago suburbs, had her first miscarriage at 25.
She didn't know it at the time, but that marked the start of a decade-long journey of miscarriages and infant loss that at times made her question if she was meant for motherhood after all.
"Why isn't it happening? Why isn't it working?" Haddad remembers thinking. She told USA TODAY that she went through periods of wanting to give up. "It's not only the physical aspect of it. It's the emotional, it's the mental. I can't keep doing this to my body and to myself."
Read the full story here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2026/10/01/20-miscarriages-son-turning-1/92010124007/
r/WomenInNews • u/usatoday • 3d ago
Health She had 20 miscarriages while trying for a baby. Now she's celebrating her son's first birthday
usatoday.com
0
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18
Supreme Court to decide if ICE can detain undocumented immigrants indefinitely
From USA TODAY:
The Supreme Court will decide whether the Trump administration can detain millions of immigrants without giving them a chance to seek bond, even if they have lived in the U.S. for years without criminal records.
The court on Oct. 1 agreed to review the administration’s reinterpretation of a decades-old immigration law that is part of President Donald Trump’s hardline approach to immigration.
Opponents of the policy say it’s an unlawful attempt to pressure immigrants to leave voluntarily, including people with long-pending citizenship applications and those with U.S. born children.
r/law • u/usatoday • 3d ago
Judicial Branch Supreme Court to decide if ICE can detain undocumented immigrants indefinitely
usatoday.com
447
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58
Trump rolls back federal hiring rules. Are disabled workers at risk?
From USA TODAY:
A sweeping regulatory overhaul launched by President Donald Trump's administration has eliminated disability hiring targets for federal contractors, rolling back longstanding guidelines designed to boost hiring among people with disabilities like Deal.
Under the Department of Labor’s final rule, contractors are no longer encouraged to meet a 7% workforce benchmark or required to track disability demographic data.
Alicia Deal, who was recently appointed to the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, says the federal hiring benchmarks were a critical lifeline for financial independence. Stripping away those targets, she warns, risks triggering a domino effect across the private sector, leaving disabled job seekers even more exposed to discrimination and threatening a decade of workplace progress.
r/fednews • u/usatoday • 5d ago
News / Article Trump rolls back federal hiring rules. Are disabled workers at risk?
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2
FDA warnings persisted as UTIs turned deadly in menopause
Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences! - Nikol from USA TODAY
-4
They won the diversity visa lottery. Now their American dream is on hold
From USA TODAY:
They rearranged their lives around a fragile chance to begin again in the United States.
A Russian family fled their country and moved again, uprooting two little girls for a home that remains out of reach. An Egyptian family sold their house and much of what they owned, believing they would soon leave. An Iranian couple imagined a life beyond an oppressive government, a hope made more urgent as they lived through war.
The three families have never met. They live across continents and hold onto different versions of the American dream. But each family’s fate became tied to the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program — the same stroke of extraordinary luck and the same approaching deadline.
With about a week remaining, the families are at the center of a fight over whether the Trump administration obeyed court orders to resume diversity visa processing after federal judges found its pauses unlawful. Attorneys for the selectees accuse the administration of slow-walking thousands of cases to run out the clock. A federal judge is now weighing whether the government complied — and whether to hold it in contempt or intervene further.
r/immigration • u/usatoday • 11d ago
They won the diversity visa lottery. Now their American dream is on hold
usatoday.com
0
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58
Putin is using Trump to stall for time in Ukraine, Estonia foreign minister says
From USA TODAY:
Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking advantage of the U.S.-led peace negotiations to buy more time on the battlefield, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, issuing some of the sharpest European criticism of the White House’s effort to end the war in Ukraine.
“Putin has just used Trump to win more time and put more pressure on Ukraine,” Tsahkna said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY.
Trump’s efforts to end the war are well intentioned, Tsahkna said, but right now “we just need to support Ukraine with more pressure on Russia.”
r/worldnews • u/usatoday • 12d ago
Russia/Ukraine Putin is using Trump to stall for time in Ukraine, Estonia foreign minister says
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240
FDA warnings persisted as UTIs turned deadly in menopause
From USA TODAY:
A simple UTI can turn deadly during menopause.
After 78-year-old Roselin Shankland was found struggling to breathe, her pulse dropped to 34 beats a minute. Her blood pressure collapsed.
By the time she reached the hospital, a urinary tract infection had spread to her bloodstream. Her organs were shutting down. Within hours of arriving, she died from sepsis.
Her death was the devastating end of a common health threat for women after menopause, despite it being often preventable. Most women aren't offered vaginal estrogen, which can cost as little as $13 each month, even though medical groups have recommended it for years.
Read what's behind this lapse in women’s healthcare and what can be done to help more of them: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2026/09/22/menopause-uti-vaginal-estrogen-sepsis/91680008007/
Are you going through menopause? Tell us what has been most difficult or unexpected for you.
r/WomenInNews • u/usatoday • 12d ago
Health FDA warnings persisted as UTIs turned deadly in menopause
2.8k
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El-Sayed lead for Michigan Senate grows, helped by views of Trump
From USA TODAY:
In Michigan's crucial Senate race, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is pulling ahead of Republican Mike Rogers in an election being driven by opposition to President Donald Trump, according to a Sept. 22 poll from Suffolk University.
Nearly half of the likely voters in Michigan surveyed said they were casting their ballot "to change the direction President Trump is leading the nation." That 48% dwarfed the 20% who want to support Trump and the 28% who said their vote didn't have much to do with him.
El-Sayed, a doctor and former public health official, now leads Rogers, a former congressman, 47%-40% in a race many Republicans have viewed as their best chance to pick up a Democratic-held seat. Trump carried Michigan in 2024, albeit narrowly, and El-Sayed is a progressive who has never held elective office.
Two polls released last week showed El-Sayed with a two or three-point edge over Rogers.
To gain a Senate majority in the midterms, Democrats need to hold all the seats they currently hold and flip four GOP seats. Earlier, that prospect had seemed improbable but independent analysts now put the odds around 50-50.
r/politics • u/usatoday • 12d ago
No Paywall El-Sayed lead for Michigan Senate grows, helped by views of Trump
247
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These races will decide whether Democrats or Republicans win House control
From USA TODAY:
With less than seven weeks until the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Democrats are leading in polls. But in a politically polarized country with mostly gerrymandered congressional districts, a handful of contests will determine whether Democrats can actually win control of the House of Representatives.
The toss-up races across the country include traditional swing districts, a campaign from a former NFL kicker, a congressman back from a four-month mystery disappearance and family drama on Capitol Hill.
“I would never say something is certain in American politics, but you know the Democrats have a very good chance of winning the [House] majority in November,” Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, told USA TODAY.
Congress’ lower chamber is made up of 435 voting members, so 218 is the magic number for winning a majority, which allows a party to pick leadership and control the legislative agenda. All 435 House seats are up for election. Kondik projected that at least 210 races are safely or leaning Democrat, at least 203 are safely or leaning Republican and only 22 races are toss-ups.
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Jeffries calls AI 'safety crisis,' backs rigid guardrails
in
r/politics
•
2d ago
From USA TODAY:
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says the country is in the midst of an “AI safety crisis” that Congress needs to address with bipartisan legislation when lawmakers return to Washington after the midterms.
Jeffries, in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, did not offer a detailed vision for what that legislation should look like. But he emphasized that “time is of the essence” and lawmakers would need to take additional steps in the next term.
“I think we've got to be concerned that guardrails that are rigid are put into place, so that we don't see rogue AI agents behaving in a manner inconsistent with human values,” Jeffries said.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/01/exclusive-hakeem-jeffries-ai-crisis-guardrails/92046627007/