Senior National Political Reporter, NBC News Capitol Hill, elections, Formula 1 🏛️🗳️🏁 Signal: sahilkapur.30 skapur.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwt6zyj7v22nMAINE Senate poll Fabrizio (R) / Impact (D) / AARP Troy Jackson 50% Susan Collins 47%01 Oct 2026 15:41 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwt6zyj7v22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwstuukx3k2oNew AP poll: Trump’s job approval rating falls to 31%, while 69% disapprove. • His approval rating on the economy: 26% • On the cost of living: 17% • On Iran: 28% • Trade negotiations: 38% • AI: 31% • Immigration: 39% • Border security: 48% https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/September-2026-Topline-Final_TRUMP.pdf01 Oct 2026 12:21 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwstuukx3k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwrhsqk73k2qA top Mike Johnson aide was planning an official trip for Hill staffers to Europe two weeks before the election, with stops at Ferrari factory in Maranello, luxury brand companies in “Milan or Florence” & Champagne region of France. Scoop from colleague Scott Wong: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congressional-staff-planned-official-trip-luxury-stops-italy-france-we-rcna60069030 Sep 2026 23:13 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwrhsqk73k2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwqwbwokn22iJon Husted on his data center bill failing: “Democrats are obstructionists on lowering electricity prices for American consumers, and well we'll make sure that everybody knows that.” He faces Sherrod Brown, who calls Husted the face of data centers given his past advocacy. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Sep 2026 17:59 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqwbwokn22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwqvllc23k2iNEW: Senate Democrats block Jon Husted-led bill on data centers, calling it ‘toothless’ Republicans accuse Dems of playing political games for the election. 57-43, with Rs + Warnock, Ossoff, Hassan and Klobuchar voting YES. Bill passed the House 417-3. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-block-sen-husted-led-bill-data-centers-calling-toothl-rcna60026930 Sep 2026 17:47 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqvllc23k2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwqup3uedc26Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, responds just now to this leaked audio from Paxton: “I just have a one-word reaction: Whoops.” [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Sep 2026 17:31 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqup3uedc26https://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwpfizgx4227A memorable moment from today’s Jack Smith Senate hearing, feat. Chuck Grassley30 Sep 2026 03:26 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwpfizgx4227https://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwpdt7jlws2rWith the election forecast trending blue, I asked Chuck Schumer what his agenda will be next year if Democrats win the Senate. “Well, stay tuned. And one thing — what we're going to do is lower costs, end all this rampant corruption, and end the chaos. Plain and simple.”30 Sep 2026 02:56 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwpdt7jlws2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwowrcdfkc27Sen. Dick Durbin, top-ranking Judiciary Democrat, reacts to Eric Schmitt's moment, calling it "so embarrassing" for the institution. "We want to get the facts straight. I'm sorry the senator said that." Durbin, a 30-year incumbent, says he's never seen an error like that before. [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Sep 2026 23:02 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwowrcdfkc27https://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwolsdpn7c2qThose Pro-Trump TV ads? Funded with money approved for Customs & Border Protection, per official & GOP senator. Susan Collins says it's from the big beautiful bill, not appropriations. Wise move? Jim Justice: "Well, if that's exactly what happened, probably not." https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-tv-ads-customs-border-protection-money-rcna60052729 Sep 2026 19:46 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwolsdpn7c2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwohtfelfs2bChuck Schumer calls the Jon Husted-led Ratepayer Protection Act “a toothless messaging bill” that Republicans know will fail, telegraphing Dems will block it. He calls it an “ineffectual participation trophy” that makes data center cost policies optional, says Ds want mandatory.29 Sep 2026 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwohtfelfs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwoggpznvk2vSusan Collins on how to push back on Trump’s $810 mill rescission: “One of the things that could be done is the GAO could be authorized to sue the administration under the Impoundment & Budget Control Act of 1974. So that's one option. But Congress would have to authorize that.”29 Sep 2026 18:10 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwoggpznvk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwofvzbzn22dSusan Collins says the funds Trump is using for campaign-style ads came out of OBBB: “It is not under the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Cmte… It came from the one big, beautiful bill. It was taken out of funding that was supposed to be for Customs and Border Protection.”29 Sep 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwofvzbzn22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwoa2dfx3c25KLOBUCHAR: I think that people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag, and not get the teams wrong. SCHMITT: I stand by that statement. KLOBUCHAR: Teams. You had the teams wrong, sir. [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Sep 2026 16:16 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwoa2dfx3c25https://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwo6sy2j2c2wA phenomenal moment in the Senate. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., claims he has evidence Jack Smith went to a HAWKS game in Atlanta. Smith denies it. Schmitt declares he has busted Jack Smith for perjury. Smith, vexed, says he went to HAWKEYES game in Maryland. WATCH IN FULL, UNINTERRUPTED29 Sep 2026 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwo6sy2j2c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwo3y4vdhc27Mike Johnson on CNBC sounds very skeptical of Congress imposing AI rules unless they “willingly” acquiesce to “voluntary” oversight & transparency. “Congress can’t go in and just take a knee jerk reaction to over-regulate this. Because the frontier labs are ahead of where members of Congress are.”29 Sep 2026 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwo3y4vdhc27https://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwmsgyinms2377-22, the Senate voted tonight to pass the Protect College Sports Act. This now goes to the House, which is on recess until the week after the Nov. 3 election; something to watch in the lame duck session.29 Sep 2026 02:40 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwmsgyinms23https://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwmiczlnpk2pNew: As Republicans break with Trump, one gets a brushback https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-break-trump-one-gets-brushback-politics-desk-rcna60038528 Sep 2026 23:38 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwmiczlnpk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwmg2qiy2k2bSen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., slams the White House’s pro-Trump ad that’s paid for with taxpayer money and says it is not a PSA: “I hate it. I tell you, it feels like Viktor Orbán talking to the Hungarian people. There’s no place for that sort of thing.”28 Sep 2026 22:58 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwmg2qiy2k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwmensrygc2cDario Amodei of Anthropic just had a meeting in John Thune’s office. Made no comments and wouldn’t answer questions afterward. He left the Capitol.28 Sep 2026 22:33 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwmensrygc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwmchzgqbk2dGOP Sen. Mike Rounds, who sits on the Appropriations Cmte, says Trump’s $810 million unilateral rescission undermines a funding deal, including GOP goals of more military money: “It’s going to make it very hard for us to actually get an outcome in the next appropriations bill.”28 Sep 2026 21:54 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwmchzgqbk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwgksrvncc2o“I rejected the Iranian proposal,” Trump told reporters as he boarded Marine One on the White House lawn, after indirect talks between the two countries were held on the sidelines of this week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-says-choice-reopening-hormuz-rests-united-states-offer-rcna59995626 Sep 2026 15:07 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwgksrvncc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwgjxcu7p22xEurope frets as the Kremlin pushes the limits of its hybrid warfare https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/europe-frets-kremlin-pushes-limits-hybrid-warfare-rcna59935126 Sep 2026 14:52 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwgjxcu7p22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwghpkkkmc2rNBC NEWS POLLING AVERAGE Trump’s job approval rating is 39%, disapproval is 59%. Generic ballot is D+9, fueled by a trend among independents. If that holds, the vote share would be comparable to the 2018 blue wave and a little bigger than the 2010 red wave.26 Sep 2026 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwghpkkkmc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwghfa32ls2rStrange dynamic here. Susan Collins voted to confirm Russell Vought to lead OMB after he championed expansive presidential powers on spending. She has complained about the White House’s use of pocket rescissions, but WH continues to do it. She chairs the Appropriations Committee.26 Sep 2026 14:06 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwghfa32ls2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwdyxadgic2g“Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that a ‘paradise of machines’ risked undermining humanity as he opened a trip to France by posing fundamental questions about what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence, a nuclear arms race and other threats to life itself.” https://apnews.com/article/pope-france-macron-94939e325c39d0b34cc942a189c039a725 Sep 2026 14:42 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwdyxadgic2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwdx2oq4zc2yINTRODUCING... The new @nbcnews.com polling average with all the best available data out there. Trump job rating: 39% approve 59% disapprove Generic ballot for Congress: Dem 52% GOP 43% https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/nbc-news-polling-averages-democrats-enjoy-biggest-lead-yet-race-congre-rcna59937825 Sep 2026 14:08 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwdx2oq4zc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/sahilkapur.bsky.social/post/3mwcsezrmpc2a👀 OpenAI’s A.I. Tried to Breach 4 Other Targets, Without Prompting https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/technology/openai-ai-breach-australia.html25 Sep 2026 03:12 +0000at://did:plc:ihpglfqq3dapqjmwl2ntktil/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwcsezrmpc2a