Politics and views in the United States

House leaders send lawmakers home early and delay a defense secretary impeachment vote, a bipartisan House group pushes national redistricting reforms, and the Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2023.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

They're just going to send us home.

That's what the Speaker is doing, because they don't want to hold Pete Hegseth accountable.

The Speaker of the House and the Republicans are canceling votes.

New Mexico Democratic Congresswoman Melody Stansberry says Republican leaders sent the House into recess Wednesday to avoid a difficult vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before the midterms.

Kentucky Republican Thomas Massey moved to impeach Hegseth on eight counts, including waging war on Iran without a declaration from Congress and killing alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean with no due process.

The move to impeach has to be voted on in two days, but Speaker Mike Johnson calls it a publicity stunt that'll be addressed when lawmakers return.

A bipartisan congressional group is pushing new national rules to curb partisan gerrymandering.

New York Republican Mike Lawler says voters are being pushed out of the process for political ends.

Voters deserve to know that their congressional districts are being drawn according to clear and consistent rules, not around a predetermined political outcome.

The people who live in these districts should have a voice.

The proposals include limiting mid-decade redistricting of the kind seen recently and creating independent commissions to draw congressional maps.

A New York Times-Siena poll finds health care is a major issue in the election's final stretch.

Likely voters trust Democrats over the GOP by nearly 2 to 1 on the issue.

Republicans argue they've passed legislation to control cost and reduce federal spending.

Democrats say GOP cuts to Medicaid and ACA premium subsidies threaten coverage and affordability.

A separate survey finds child care, elder care, and equal pay are now part of the broader debate over affordability.

A national poll of 1,000 likely voters done for the Equal Rights Advocates Action Fund found nearly 60% say the economy's not working for their families.

Noreen Farrell with the group says what were once dismissed as women's issues now cut across gender and party lines.

It's not just about the cost of living, it's about what puts money in your pocket.

And that's resonating across genders and parties in this poll.

Large majorities of the poll want Congress to address affordable family and elder care, fair wages, paid leave, and equal pay.

The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates for the first time in three years.

The central bank is battling inflation that's stubbornly staying above its 2% target and unanimously approved a quarter point increase.

The move could raise borrowing costs.

And fencing now surrounds the Kennedy Center after its Trump-appointed board voted to close the main building for renovations, citing safety concerns.

I'm Joe Ellery for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.