The hottest Congress Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

EXCLUSIVE: CIA Must Reveal What It Knows About Epstein, Says Congresswoman

Public • 150 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The CIA told Jeffrey Epstein's lawyer it could not locate any agency-originated records linking the CIA to Epstein between November 5, 1999 and July 25, 2011.
  2. Rep. Nancy Mace says the CIA likely does have records, citing Epstein's ties to people involved in the Iran‑Contra scandal and his contacts with powerful diplomats and officials, including former CIA Director William Burns and a UK official.
  3. Mace and three other Republican lawmakers forced a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but that bill does not require intelligence agencies like the CIA to disclose what they know.

A choice Republicans will regret.

Today's Edition Newsletter • 8549 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The House Republicans elected an extreme MAGA candidate, which may backfire for the GOP heading into the 2024 elections.
  2. A New York judge fined Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order, which may jeopardize his legal situation further.
  3. President Biden's stance on Israel may impact his support among certain voters, highlighting the challenge of balancing different interests as a leader.

The Department of Me: Senators Earmark $636M for Universities They Attended

OpenTheBooks Substack • 261 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Twenty-four senators requested $636 million in earmarks for colleges they attended, amounting to more than 20% of university earmarks proposed for 2026.
  2. Republicans requested about 74% of that money, and a few senators pushed especially large awards for specific projects like medical research and new buildings.
  3. Alma‑mater earmarks are larger on average than other university requests, and lawmakers from both parties have defended these pet projects during budget fights, drawing criticism that taxpayers are being used to favor old schools.

March 5, 2026

Letters from an American • 32 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The president is acting unpredictably and trying to personally influence foreign leaders and military decisions, pressuring allies and claiming authority over other countries' leadership.
  2. The administration is facing growing legal and political setbacks at home, with courts ordering tariff refunds, lawsuits over new trade measures, and prosecutors backing away from politically driven inquiries.
  3. Testimony about the homeland security department exposed accusations of corruption, obstruction, and the politicized labeling of opponents as "domestic terrorism," prompting bipartisan outrage and calls for accountability.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Department of Education Isn’t Going Anywhere

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 190 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🚌 Education Congress
  1. Despite a presidential executive order to shut it down, the Department of Education is still operating and its budget was increased.
  2. Congress — with Democrats and some Republicans pushing back — refused to abolish the agency and approved $79 billion in funding, more than the White House requested.
  3. Executive orders alone can’t eliminate a federal agency, and appropriations plus political resistance kept the department intact and growing.

Friday Funnies: Incoming

Who is Robert Malone • 33 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Both the “woke” left and the “woke” right are portrayed as extreme groups that share similar flaws but don’t actually work together.
  2. A major fraud surge in Minnesota prompted congressional scrutiny of the governor, yet the story was largely ignored by mainstream media.
  3. The piece mixes sharp political criticism with light, humorous content—personal anecdotes about noisy teen interns and praise for a standout Australian commercial.

Midterm polls have good news, great news, and bad news for Democrats. Wait, what?

Silver Bulletin • 290 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Current generic-ballot polling shows Democrats up about 5.3 points, which could mean anything from a huge blue wave to a tiny Republican edge once the margin of error is considered.
  2. Historically the party out of the White House tends to win midterms by roughly 4.4 points, so Democrats are positioned to gain seats and could retake the House if that pattern holds.
  3. There’s substantial uncertainty: early-cycle polls have only a moderate correlation with the final House vote and an empirical error of about ±5.7 points, and partisan gerrymandering could blunt Democratic seat gains even with a popular-vote advantage.

State Department Defies Congress, Revives Infamous Censorship Office in Absurd Prank

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 9420 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The State Department has reopened a controversial office that was previously shut down, which aims to monitor and respond to foreign disinformation efforts. This move has raised concerns about censorship and government overreach.
  2. This new office, named the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub, is expected to have a similar mission to its predecessor, despite Congressional efforts to stop it. It signals ongoing government attempts to control information.
  3. Critics worry that the revival of this censorship office reflects a lack of accountability and transparency in government actions. Many believe it poses a threat to free speech and independent journalism.

March 2, 2026

Letters from an American • 34 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The decision to strike Iran looks improvised and driven more by media praise and pressure from allies than by a clear strategic plan. It appears the president is testing justifications and taking cues from trusted broadcasters rather than presenting a coherent goal.
  2. A growing ideology of violent dominance is replacing the post–World War II reliance on diplomacy and international rules, privileging unilateral shows of force over institutions like the U.N. and the Geneva Conventions. This mindset treats dominance itself as the objective rather than a defined endgame.
  3. The strikes have real, damaging consequences: U.S. service members have died, Americans abroad are stranded, and officials’ claims are under increasing scrutiny. People are rightly asking why the country is fighting, whether the effort is legal or planned, and who will bear the costs.

Congressional Republicans to Defund the Antitrust Division?

BIG by Matt Stoller • 22689 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Antitrust Division's budget may be at risk of defunding by Congressional Republicans, impacting its ability to pursue cases against big corporations like Apple and Ticketmaster.
  2. Challenges in Antitrust Division's budget in recent years resulted in limitations on taking action against big tech monopolies like Google and Apple due to lack of resources.
  3. The bipartisan antitrust reform legislation of 2022 aimed to boost Antitrust Division resources for more effective enforcement, but current budget debates, including potential cuts, pose a threat to this progress.

Fear Is Now Just Part of the Job for Politicians

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 180 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Fear has become an everyday part of elected officials' work, as they face more threats and attacks at public events.
  2. Threats have surged in recent years — police investigated nearly 15,000 threats in 2025, a 57% jump from 2024 and much higher than totals in 2017.
  3. The growing risk changes how politicians engage with the public and raises broad concerns about safety and democratic participation across the political spectrum.

Poll and open thread on the Iran war

Unreported Truths • 44 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. U.S. forces eliminated Iran's top leaders and the opening days of the conflict have gone well from a military standpoint, though four American troops were killed.
  2. Iran so far seems unable to defend itself or mount meaningful counterattacks, and stocks rose as investors bet the war won't disrupt oil supplies or trigger a recession.
  3. The situation is only a few days old and highly uncertain, so a public poll and an open discussion are being offered to gather readers' views; the poll is open to all while comments are for subscribers.

Obamacare Could Save the GOP Majority—or Doom It

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 213 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Rising healthcare costs are now voters' top concern and pose a real threat to the GOP’s slim Congressional majority, since losing the House or Senate would wreck the party’s domestic agenda.
  2. About 17 House Republicans from swing districts voted to extend COVID-era Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for three years, showing pressure to act on health costs even against party leadership.
  3. Extending Obamacare subsidies could help Republicans keep vulnerable seats, but it clashes with conservative orthodoxy and creates a tough trade-off between electoral survival and ideology.

March 1, 2026

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The U.S.-led offensive has already killed and wounded American service members, and major combat operations are ongoing.
  2. The administration appears unclear about its objectives and the intelligence basis for the strikes, offering conflicting claims and openly hoping the attacks will spark an Iranian uprising without a clear plan for what comes next.
  3. The conflict is widening across the region—Israel, Iran, and Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah are exchanging strikes—and global oil flows and markets are being disrupted as a result.

Stuck In Another Disastrous Middle East War: Ron Paul

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 29 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The U.S. launched a surprise, pre-planned strike on Iran during ongoing negotiations, killing top leaders and undermining trust in diplomacy.
  2. The attack backfired quickly: Iran retaliated, U.S. service members and equipment were lost, bases and embassies were attacked, and the conflict risks becoming a costly, prolonged war.
  3. The advocated solution is to end the intervention now by returning U.S. bases to their host countries, bringing troops home, and respecting that Congress — not foreign leaders — should decide on war.

February 28, 2026

Letters from an American • 31 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The U.S. and Israel carried out a major strike on Iran that killed top leaders and many civilians, and Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and U.S. bases across the region.
  2. The president justified the assault as preventing a nuclear Iran and promoting freedom, but intelligence indicated no imminent nuclear threat and the stated reasons were vague and possibly politically driven to distract or rally support.
  3. The attack sidestepped Congress and raised constitutional and international-law concerns, risked wider regional escalation, and proceeded despite low public support, signaling a troubling erosion of democratic accountability.

CROSSPOST: Alan Wolff: Bamboozled: What made anyone think the Trump tariffs were legal?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 199 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Trump tariff package lacked a valid legal basis because the emergency statute used (IEEPA) doesn’t authorize broad, across-the-board tariffs and the Nixon 1971 surcharge precedent was misread.
  2. Other institutions failed to check the move—Congressional leaders avoided confrontation and courts were slow or enabling, letting an executive power grab undermine the separation of powers.
  3. This episode highlights the danger of loosely defined emergency powers and the need for Congress to reassert control over tariffs and investigate how the constitutional guardrails were bypassed.

The Base Is Done with MAGA. It Wants America First.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 468 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Longtime Trump supporters in places like Georgia are feeling betrayed and have lost faith in him.
  2. Their disillusionment centers on his stance toward Israel and his resistance to releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, which they see as proof he’s become a sellout.
  3. As a result, parts of the conservative base are shifting away from MAGA and demanding a tougher "America First", anti-establishment agenda.

February 27, 2026

Letters from an American • 32 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The DEA ran a significant OCDETF probe called “Chain Reaction” into Jeffrey Epstein and 14 associates for drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering, yet the 69-page memo is heavily redacted and no drug or financial charges were filed.
  2. Senator Wyden is pushing to force Treasury and other agencies to release unredacted Epstein-related financial records—after reports that JPMorgan Chase failed to report billions in suspicious transactions—by introducing legislation and demanding documents.
  3. The handling of the files has become highly politicized, with Republicans probing Hillary Clinton while Democrats demand scrutiny of Trump; Bill Clinton testified and called for full file releases and justice for survivors amid questions about possible DOJ or agency interference.

When Government Decides What You Can Read (Part 1)

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The White House ran a sustained, well-documented campaign pressuring major tech platforms to remove or downrank COVID‑related content, and that campaign was executed day-to-day by political digital operatives who targeted scientists and conservative commentators.
  2. A British nonprofit, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, provided target lists used by the administration, meaning a foreign partisan organization helped shape which American voices were flagged for suppression.
  3. Lower courts found likely government coercion, but the Supreme Court dismissed the case on standing, leaving the central First Amendment question unresolved and showing how procedural rulings can prevent accountability for executive actions.

The Democrats’ Messy Midterm Primaries. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 375 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Democrats are facing messy, high‑stakes primaries that show a sharp split between establishment progressives and newer, more radical insurgents in cities like San Francisco and New York.
  2. Iranian women and broader segments of society are openly defying mandatory veil laws and reviving long‑standing democratic currents, suggesting the regime is losing its ideological hold.
  3. Zohran Mamdani’s victory has exposed deep generational and familial rifts in Jewish communities, with many parents alarmed that their children supported his socialist and anti‑Israel positions.

Monopoly Round-Up: Congress to Undermine Antitrust Division Budget?

BIG by Matt Stoller • 15241 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. There is a proposal to cut $45 million from the Antitrust Division's budget, reducing it by roughly 20%, which could impact their enforcement efforts against monopolies.
  2. The Antitrust Division's funding comes partially from fees paid by corporations involved in mergers, and a recent proposal could subject the Division to the normal appropriations process instead.
  3. The current bill is still subject to modifications, so there is a possibility of adjustments to the proposed budget cut for the Antitrust Division.

Niall Ferguson on Trump’s National Security Strategy. The EU’s New Censorship. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 440 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Trump’s new National Security Strategy sparked heavy backlash and signals a tougher, more confrontational posture toward Europe and key allies.
  2. The European Union is ramping up enforcement against big tech with fines and antitrust probes, which is reshaping online speech and competition.
  3. National security and political battles are intensifying at home, from disputed Pentagon strikes and weapons testing to treatment of the National Guard and high‑stakes gerrymandering fights.

February 25, 2026

Letters from an American • 32 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The State of the Union felt like a campaign rally, packed with exaggerated or misleading claims and theatrical moments meant to energize the president’s base rather than outline sober policy.
  2. The speech used immigrant scapegoating, nationalist rhetoric, and public honors to divide the country, deflect blame for economic problems, and rally loyal supporters while promising a "war on fraud."
  3. The Democratic response centered ordinary Americans, calling out lies, corruption, and abusive immigration enforcement, and urged voters to demand better leadership and restore accountability.

Dismantling by Attrition (Part 3)

Who is Robert Malone • 8 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. A congressionally created pandemic office was hollowed out and left empty by not replacing staff or appointing a director. Key programs were canceled and coordination moved into the opaque NSC, leaving preparedness infrastructure effectively dismantled.
  2. Both major parties share blame: one used executive power to pressure platforms and overreach constitutional limits, while the other ignored a statutory mandate and dismantled an office by attrition. Recognizing both failures is necessary for a serious conservative critique.
  3. Pandemic preparedness matters even when a specific threat like H5N1 currently seems limited; monitoring, coordination, and countermeasure capacity must be preserved so risks can be detected and managed. Congress has clear tools—funding conditions, reporting requirements, and confirmation hearings—to enforce compliance but has not used them.

America First vs. MAGA. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 361 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Republican coalition is fracturing as many populist voters shift from MAGA toward a purer "America First" stance, empowering hardline figures who feel betrayed by party leaders.
  2. Republicans keep failing to present a clear, credible healthcare plan, leaving them politically vulnerable when costs and expiring subsidies become front‑page issues.
  3. The post‑Trump political climate has eroded norms and amplified fringe voices and self‑dealing concerns, prompting renewed debates and calls for ethical and policy reforms.

Thinking of a Very Loose Coalition as an Organism with a Single Heart, Mind, & Will Makes You Stupid

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 146 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Treating loose coalitions like Congress or a party as if they have a single heart, mind, and will is a category error that misleads people and damages reasoning.
  2. Political outcomes depend on specific legislators, their incentives, and party discipline; Republicans often enforce a stronger party line that discourages public dissent even when members privately disagree.
  3. Professional identity can be overtaken by partisan pressures, so experts (for example, economists) sometimes conform to party expectations rather than follow independent professional judgment because of career and selective incentives.

February 23, 2026

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The president responded to the Supreme Court ruling by publicly doubling down on tariffs, claiming broad unilateral power and attacking the Court’s legitimacy.
  2. Those tariff threats have created real international and economic fallout — trading partners and the European Parliament froze or delayed deals, markets fell, and Congress shows little appetite to back the plan.
  3. A string of administration controversies and legal moves — blocked reports, a barred ambassador, officials' inappropriate behavior, and misconduct allegations — are damaging credibility and increasing political backlash.

When Both Sides Go Quiet

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 50 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. When both political parties go quiet about a serious issue, it often means the truth is worse than it appears and could damage actors on both sides.
  2. The Epstein revelations involve people across media, finance, academia, and politics, which makes full accountability politically difficult and slows transparency.
  3. Redactions, delays, and partial disclosures show institutional failure and possible cover‑ups, eroding public trust and risking that taxpayers absorb the consequences.

The Supreme Court Strikes Trump’s Tariffs

The Reactionary • 38 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs, effectively ending the presidential tariff program.
  2. The decision was 6–3, with Chief Justice Roberts writing the opinion joined by Justices Gorsuch, Barrett, Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson, while Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh dissented.
  3. The Court emphasized that Congress under Article I has the power to set tariffs and declined to read the IEEPA’s broad 'regulate importation' language as giving the President sweeping economic authority.

February 22, 2026

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Boundary Waters is a large, fragile wilderness that supports local recreation economies, and copper-sulfide mining nearby risks acid mine drainage that could permanently damage its waters and wildlife.
  2. Republican lawmakers are using the Congressional Review Act in an unprecedented way to try to overturn a 20-year mining moratorium and reopen federal lands to a foreign-owned mining company, a move critics say breaks norms and could set a dangerous precedent for public land protections.
  3. Prominent voices, including Theodore Roosevelt’s descendants and Minnesota leaders, strongly oppose reopening the area and are urging permanent protection, while the Senate vote is narrowly contested and hinges on a few Republican defections.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About the Immigration Mess

The Liberal Patriot • 1749 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Immigration in the US is a complicated mess, with conflicting views between parties on how to manage it.
  2. The surge in illegal immigration has strained the country's resources and sparked a political debate.
  3. Proposals to toughen asylum criteria and reform the use of parole are being discussed in Congress, but facing challenges.

State Department Threatens Congress Over Censorship Programs

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 11152 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The State Department is threatening Congress over their censorship programs funding, showing resistance to disclosing details on how taxpayer money is being spent.
  2. The Global Engagement Center (GEC) has been involved in anti-disinformation work, which includes backing a UK-based agency that creates digital blacklists for disfavored media outlets.
  3. There is growing pushback against agencies like the GEC that operate with secrecy, with calls for more transparency and oversight, especially in programs that target American media consumers.