News · US
Pentagon opens state contest for new military base
EducationGovernors can pitch sites for a base of up to 25,000 service members, with schools, housing, land and local cooperation among the criteria.
The Ballot National DeskOct 2, 2026
Politics and government news
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491 stories · page 3 of 17
News · US
House forecast shifts narrow Republican pickup opportunities
Economy and jobsForecasters are moving House races away from Republicans, though the party still has opportunities to capture Democratic-held seats.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskOct 2, 2026
News · US
Senate leaves Washington until after the midterm elections
Elections and votingThe chamber paused regular floor business as voters prepared to decide which party would control the Senate.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as labor secretary
Elections and votingThe Senate approved Sonderling in a 47-41 party-line vote after he led the Labor Department in an acting capacity for several months.
The Ballot National DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Romanian lawmakers reject proposed center-right Cabinet
Elections and votingThe parliamentary defeat blocks the proposed government from taking office and extends Romania’s political crisis.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Watch live: Senate examines national security risks from AI
Elections and votingIndustry experts will testify Wednesday about autonomous AI agents and the risks they could pose to federal systems.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
White House drops CNN from pool for Trump trip
Economy and jobsCNN had been assigned to travel aboard Air Force One and provide shared coverage of President Donald Trump’s visits to Texas and Oklahoma.
The Ballot National DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Kurt Olsen leaves DOJ ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation
Elections and votingOlsen withdrew from the investigation but remains a Justice Department senior counsel, a department official said.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Hegseth unveils six Pentagon initiatives at Quantico
Foreign policyThe defense secretary announced six new efforts during a wide-ranging address to active-duty officers in Virginia.
The Ballot National DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Hegseth says administration transformed military culture
Elections and votingThe defense secretary told hundreds of junior officers and enlisted leaders that the Trump administration has achieved a cultural shift.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Pentagon breach exposed personnel data, including SSNs
Foreign policyUnencrypted records covered 2.76 million living military and civilian personnel and 294,000 deceased people.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Musk joins Pentagon project on future warfare
Foreign policyElon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich will lead a 120-day review of emerging military technologies and future areas of conflict.
The Ballot National DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Pentagon changes overseas voting forms amid Republican push
Elections and votingOfficials removed a category of overseas citizens from absentee-voting forms as Republicans sought to stop that group from voting.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Hegseth defends military reshaping amid war with Iran
Foreign policyThe defense secretary promoted leadership and culture changes as the military completed its long-planned troop withdrawal from Iraq.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Former diplomats weigh Iraq withdrawal and region’s future
Foreign policyThe formal U.S. military withdrawal brought celebrations in Iraq’s capital alongside concern about what follows.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as labor secretary
Elections and votingThe Senate approved Sonderling in a 47-41 vote, filling a Cabinet position that had officially been vacant since April.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Lara Trump says Iran war could carry a midterm cost
Foreign policyThe former Republican National Committee co-chair said losing both chambers of Congress would be worth the political cost of the Iran war.
The Ballot National DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Trump faults GOP messaging on the economy
Economy and jobsTrump said he and Republicans have not effectively promoted what he describes as their economic achievements.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskOct 1, 2026
News · US
Hegseth plans 20% cut to generals and admirals
Foreign policyThe defense secretary is expected to call for fewer senior military officers during an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The Ballot National DeskSep 30, 2026
News · US
UK authorities defend bail in suspected terror plot inquiry
Public safetyA group of young men was released on bail while investigators examine a suspected plot near an air base previously used by the U.S. military.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 30, 2026
News · US
Iran link to alleged plot in Britain remains unproven
Foreign policyFive men were arrested and released after an incident involving a British air base important to the U.S. Air Force.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 30, 2026
News · US
Senate blocks West Bank violence reporting measure
Foreign policyRepublican senators stopped a Democratic effort to require a State Department report on violence involving U.S. citizens in the West Bank.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 30, 2026
News · US
2026 Midterm Update Has No Specific Race or Result
Elections and votingThe national midterm update is not connected to a named election, candidate matchup or vote result.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
Thune says taxpayers should not fund Trump message ads
Economy and jobsThe Senate majority leader said he likes the ads’ message but objects to using public money to promote it.
The Ballot National DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
US rejects UN pandemic preparedness declaration
Foreign policyThe Trump administration declined to endorse a nonbinding UN statement calling for cooperation on pandemic preparedness and prevention.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
Senate Republicans to question Jack Smith on Trump probes
Public safetyThe former special counsel will testify as Republicans scrutinize his work and the Justice Department examines officials involved in Trump investigations.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
Harris joins El-Sayed for campaign appearance in Detroit
Elections and votingThe joint Detroit appearance emphasized Democratic unity, while WSWS argued that concern over Gaza was pushed aside.
The Ballot National DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
Senate Republicans object to Trump’s taxpayer-funded ads
Economy and jobsGOP senators support Trump’s political message but object to using public money for ads that promote him.
The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
Mixed political mood in Speaker Johnson’s GOP district
Elections and votingViews of the party in power are not uniform in GOP Speaker Mike Johnson’s district, but the development is not tied to a specific race.
The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 29, 2026
News · US
Ocasio-Cortez shifts focus from 2028 talk to 2026
Elections and votingAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez played down speculation about 2028 and emphasized the elections scheduled for 2026.
The Ballot National DeskSep 29, 2026