Congress is out of session until Monday, November 9 for the midterm campaign. No new roll-call votes until then; the last were the House on Sep 16 and the Senate on Sep 30.

Issues / Issue · Sep 8 – Oct 5, 2026

Press Freedom

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12Members · 8 D · 4 R
16Actions · 6 D · 10 R
8States & territories · NJ · CA · MD · OH lead
1Bills named

How the conversation moved

Democrat Republican · one dot = one action
Action typeWk ofSep 63Wk ofSep 139Wk ofSep 202Wk ofSep 271Wk ofOct 41Total
Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials 1
HearingsHeld, testified or questioned 6
StatementsResponses to news 1
CriticizedA policy, decision or person 4
Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed 3
Other 1

Developing stories

2 threads · 12 of 16 actions

Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act

1 member

  1. Sep 16Smith (R) opened hearing on imprisoned Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, appealing to Trump to press Xi for release.
  2. Sep 16Smith (R) Held hearing on imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai ahead of Xi-Trump meeting.
  3. Sep 16Smith (R) Held congressional hearing examining imprisonment of Chinese pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.
  4. Sep 17Smith (R) discussed efforts to secure the release of imprisoned Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai.
  5. Sep 17Smith (R) chaired a hearing on the imprisonment of Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai ahead of Trump-Xi summit.

7 actions →

Trump Press Ban

6 members

  1. Sep 18Costa criticized Trump administration's ban of CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House.
  2. Sep 19Kiley (R) opposed Trump administration's denial of White House press access to CNN, MSNBC and Politico.
  3. Sep 21Kelly defended free press and criticized administration for lack of accountability and transparency.
  4. Sep 21Luján, Olszewski criticized President Trump's ban of journalists from CNN, MSNBC and Politico from White House.
  5. Oct 2Krishnamoorthi Sent a letter demanding White House answers on press credential denials during Xi state dinner.

5 actions →

Where they stand

Support · 3

  • RSmith NJChaired Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing on Jimmy Lai's imprisonment
  • RRulli OHIntroduced GRANITE Act to protect First Amendment rights
  • RDavidson OHIntroduced bill to protect Americans from foreign censorship enforcement

Oppose · 9

  • DBrownley CAOpposed Trump administration book bans and censorship of educational materials
  • DRaskin MDCondemned MAGA book bans and censorship campaigns
  • DKrishnamoorthi ILDemanded White House restore press credentials for CNN and MS NOW
  • DLuján NMOpposes Trump's ban on journalists as unconstitutional First Amendment attack
  • DOlszewski MDOpposes Trump administration's press ban as unconstitutional
  • DKelly AZDefended press accountability and criticized administration's lack of transparency
  • IKiley CAOpposes press access denial as unconstitutional
  • DCosta CAOpposed press ban as violation of First Amendment
  • DScott VAOpposed Trump pressure on Smithsonian to whitewash history

What each party did · Democrats 6 · Republicans 10

  • 1Sent letters0
  • 0Hearings6
  • 1Statements0
  • 3Criticized1
  • 1Filed or pushed bills2
  • 0Other1

Most active

  1. RSmith NJ7
  2. DBrownley CA1
  3. DRaskin MD1
  4. DKrishnamoorthi IL1
  5. DLuján NM1
  6. DOlszewski MD1
  7. DKelly AZ1
  8. IKiley CA1

By state

  • NJ7
  • CA3
  • MD2
  • OH2
  • IL1
  • NM1
  • AZ1
  • VA1

Every action

16 actions · 19 releases
  1. Oct 5, 2026
  2. Oct 2, 2026
  3. Sep 21, 2026
  4. Sep 19, 2026
  5. Sep 18, 2026
  6. Sep 17, 2026
  7. Sep 16, 2026
  8. Sep 10, 2026
  9. Sep 8, 2026

Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works