Lawmakers home in on midterm messages as Congress returns to session
Congress returns for a short last session ahead of the midterm election with a full plate as lawmakers look for messaging bills they can take back to voters.
asserted
they → home → voters
It's the last week both chambers are expected to be in until after the midterm election in November.
asserted
chambers → expect → November
NPR congressional reporter Eric McDaniel is here in the studio to talk about it.
asserted
McDaniel → talk → it
So what should we be paying attention to?
asserted
we → pay → attention
Well, I think this week is probably best understood as a week of campaigning more than a week of legislating.
asserted
week → think → legislating
Congress already did the one thing that they absolutely had to do before the election - extend government funding.
asserted
they → do → funding
It now expires sometime in December.
asserted
It → expire → December
Now legislators are going to move some messaging bills to try and show voters that they are, in fact, responsive to their concerns.
asserted
they → go → concerns
Tell us about some of the things they're messaging on.
asserted
they → tell → things
Well, we've got AI, which Congress knows basically universally that it should act on.
asserted
it → get → that
They just can't agree how, even among Republicans.
asserted
They → agree → Republicans
Democrats are calling for decisive action, as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries put it in the House.
asserted
Jeffries → call → House
Here's Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson knocking down the idea of an AI-development moratorium on CNN's "State Of The Union."
asserted
Johnson → knock → Union
We need to handle this new technology like we have others in the past and make sure we do - we're doing everything we can responsibly to also not smother American innovation.
asserted
we → need → innovation
We have to do both things simultaneously.
asserted
We → have → things
We could see a vote designed to blunt the impact of energy price hikes associated with AI data centers, which is important in - everywhere, really, but also for vulnerable Republicans.
uncertain
which → see → Republicans
Though I will say we could see action on Russia sanctions.
uncertain
we → say → sanctions
The Senate passed that on a bipartisan basis.
asserted
Senate → pass → basis
But the path through the House seems bumpier, right?
asserted
path → seem → House
Democrats are concerned that it gives the president new tariff authorities, obviously the subject of much consternation this term.
asserted
it → give → consternation
And Republicans are also somewhat soft on the bill, generally, about supporting Ukraine's war effort as a priority for the U.S.
asserted
Republicans → support → U.S.
Even if this does pass, an analyst I talked to says it would only really be effective if the U.S. is committed to enforcement, which he said the government has a spotty record on.
asserted
government → pass → record
Coming out of last week's Republican midterm convention, where do things stand in the campaign?
asserted
things → come → campaign
I mean, I'll say a few things you've probably heard elsewhere on our air.
asserted
you → mean → air
The president's party usually loses ground in the midterms, especially when the president is unpopular.
asserted
president → lose → midterms
Candidates are having trouble pointing to things like Trump's tax cuts because people are frustrated with the high cost of living overall.
asserted
people → have → living
Obviously, gas prices may be just one part of a whole household budget, but it happens to be the one that's plastered on giant signs every few blocks.
uncertain
that → happen → signs
It's easy to notice when it spikes.
asserted
it → notice → ?
Election forecasts and polling have Democrats at a near lock to take the House and slight favorites to take the Senate.
asserted
Democrats → have → Senate
They aren't letting people forget that on the campaign trail.
asserted
people → let → trail
They're all over the airs, talking about things like action on AI data centers and, you know, just the general unpopularity of the president.
asserted
you → talk → president
And Republicans are running out of time to change how they're seen.
asserted
they → run → time
People have already begun voting.
asserted
People → begin → ?
All rights reserved.
asserted
rights → reserve → ?
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary.
uncertain
Accuracy → vary → transcripts
Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio.
uncertain
text → revise → audio
Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication.
uncertain
Audio → edit → broadcast
The Aporia
