Iowa Senate candidates face off amid flurry of debates

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) and state Rep. Josh Turek (D) went head-to-head for the second and final time Tuesday night, just as early in-person voting is set to start in the battleground.

Iowans are able to cast their ballots at county elections offices and some other locations beginning today, with the toss-up contest for retiring Sen. Joni Ernst ’s (R) seat at the top of the ticket. Nexstar affiliate WHO 13 in Des Moines hosted last night’s debate, focusing on issues like affordability and the Iran war. Nexstar also owns The Hill.

In one of the most notable moments of the night, Hinson broke with President Trump on the diesel deal that he made with Russia to import 300,000 tons of the fuel to the U.S. and global marketplace.

“We need to lower gas prices in this country. We need to lower diesel prices, but I don’t think we need to be making a deal with Russia to do it,” Hinson said.

Trump’s announcement has spurred backlash from across the political aisle, including from those who say it amounts to supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and violates federal law. More on that later.

Hinson said high energy costs should be addressed by temporarily lowering the gas tax, looking into a possible diesel rebate program for producers and investing in the U.S.’s biofuels.

Turek responded that this is a rare issue where the candidates agreed . Other parts of the debate weren’t so amicable.

Turek continued his attacks on Hinson over her growing wealth while serving in Congress, in particular her husband’s 2021 sale of his insurance agency to a private equity company. Hinson responded that she doesn’t own any publicly traded stocks and accused Turek of distracting from his own liabilities.

“His lies are beneath him on this race, and he’s muddying the water because he does not want to talk about his own liberal record here,” she said.

Hinson went after Turek for the number of floor votes in the Iowa state House that he missed. Turek acknowledged missing many of the votes but pointed to a busy campaign schedule, saying he’s been meeting with Iowans all over the state.

The Hill’s Caroline Vakil has a rundown of what else you need to know from the debate.

The Iowa showdown was one of about a dozen congressional or gubernatorial debates across the country last night.

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) and Rep. Mike Collins (R) also met for a second time. Arguably the most notable moment concerned Ossoff’s political future if he holds on to win another term in the Senate.

Ossoff has increasingly been the subject of speculation about 2028 ambitions as his stock has risen within Democratic circles, but he pledged on stage to serve a full six-year term if he wins reelection.

“I have zero interest in running for president. I’m not running for president. I’m running for re-election to the Senate,” he said.

Ossoff has repeatedly denied interest in a White House bid, but that hasn’t quelled the talk. If he were to run, he wouldn’t be the first candidate to do so after ruling out a bid.

That club includes former President Obama , whose rhetorical style has been compared to the young senator. Obama said he wouldn’t run in 2006 before changing course for the 2008 election.

Collins rejected Ossoff’s denial, insisting “he’s running for president.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R) and former state Senate President Troy Jackson (D) found some common ground, just as the Iowa candidates did. Both candidates rejected the president’s tariff war with Canada, saying it’s harming Americans.

They also mostly agreed on the need for guardrails on AI data centers. Collins mentioned her support for the Ratepayer Protection Act, which advocates for the high energy costs associated with the centers to be mitigated. Jackson said he supports either the federal government or the state of Maine implementing more regulations.

Collins responded that it “sounds like Troy and I, oddly enough, are not that far apart on this issue.”

There was plenty of jousting as well in the third of give debates planned in the race.

Jackson continued his strategy of tying Collins to Trump, accusing her of not doing enough to end the Iran war and overturn the president’s tariffs. Collins noted her support for a war powers resolution, though she previously opposed it, and argued she was able to get some items removed from the tariff list.

Affordability has consistently been rated as the top issue on voters’ minds this cycle, regardless of the state.

An exclusive NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll released Tuesday found an overwhelming majority of voters believe current members of Congress are out of touch with their constituents’ spending habits. Insiders can read more about the poll’s findings here to learn more about how the public is viewing their economic concerns before they head to the polls.

▪ The Hill : 4 takeaways as Ossoff, Collins clash in second debate.

▪ The Hill : 3 takeaways as Collins, Jackson duke it out.

A federal judge extended his block on the president’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, keeping it in place while the legal challenge plays out. He rejected the administration’s rationale that national security concerns were behind the move.

Pope Leo XIV had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors discovered that the nodule on the lung was cancerous , the Vatican said. A release states that the surgery was successful and had no complications.

The head of the United Kingdom’s MI5 spy agency said Iran is trying to strike military sites in Britain, going beyond the traditional targets of dissident Iranians. He said the suspected plot to attack a U.S.-operated military base in the country is “not unique.”

Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks as President Trump listens at a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, March 24, 2025, in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press file)

GREEK DRAMA: U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned Tuesday amid mounting scandals following a request from the White House , including a report that said she asked a Republican donor to send her $100,000 to pay off her American Express credit card.

“She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading,” Trump told reporters about Guilfoyle.

Trump also sought to distance himself from Guilfoyle, who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

“She wasn’t a member of my family. I guess she dated my son a long time ago,” Trump said.

Guilfoyle confirmed in a social media post that her time as ambassador was “coming to an end” but pushed back against the allegations, which she said are false: “I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.”

She also vowed to remain a “loyal supporter” of the president and his MAGA movement.

Guilfoyle was reportedly already under investigation by the State Department’s inspector general’s (IG) office. The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), said the IG probe should continue and that Congress should conduct its own oversight, writing on social platform X , “resigning does not shield her from accountability.”

▪ The Hill : Guilfoyle scandal proves too much for Trump with midterms looming.

▪ The Hill : GOP donor says he’ll sue Guilfoyle, attorneys.

▪ The Hill : Rubio grapples with Greek drama surrounding Guilfoyle.

SETTING THE BAR : White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is facing a bombardment of questions and criticism following her first press briefing Tuesday.

Zacharia gave only a 14-minute briefing and took questions from three outlets. She broke the news that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, but she wrapped up soon after. The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports that critics quickly noted Zacharia appeared visibly nervous during her briefing.

Zacharia raised eyebrows later in the day when she was asked where she passed her bar exam. Trump had described her as an attorney in his Truth Social post announcing her appointment.

A reporter asked Trump what state Zacharia passed the exam in, and she responded, “When I moved to China.” She later told NewsNation that she practiced international transaction law “with all the appropriate credentials.”

Her LinkedIn profile shows she has a J.D. from Pepperdine University and worked as an associate at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing from 2011-2013.

▪ The Hill : Anthony Scaramucci says ‘clock is running’ on Zacharia’s tenure.

BANK ON IT : Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is fundraising off the federal investigation and raid on her home that agents carried out Monday.

“Stand with Ilhan Omar,” a fundraising email reads, according to a screenshot obtained by The Hill’s partner network, NewsNation. “Donald Trump and DHS [Department of Homeland Security] have opened a baseless, partisan investigation into Ilhan Omar, and she needs us by her side as they escalate their attacks.”

Omar and fellow Democrats have denounced the investigation into the congresswoman as political, especially with less than a month to go before Election Day, breaking with Justice Department norms against taking public action in an investigation so close to an election.

White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed last month that Omar was under investigation but didn’t share further details.

▪ Fox News : Jeanine Pirro says office is investigating Omar’s financial disclosures.

▪ The Hill : David Axelrod questions timing of raid weeks before election.

TICKING UP : The number of GOP senators pushing back on the president’s deal to import millions of tons of diesel from Russia is growing.

Six Republican senators on Tuesday signed a bipartisan letter urging Trump to abandon the deal, which they said would have little impact on energy costs in the U.S. and would help Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.

“It will have a negligible impact on fuel prices but the revenues the Kremlin will receive from this agreement will undoubtedly finance its desired war of attrition and advance security cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea,” they wrote.

The Republican senators are Thom Tillis (N.C.), John Cornyn (Texas), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine) and Alan Armstrong (Okla.).

▪ The Hill : Surprise Russia diesel deal spurned by growing number of GOP senators

▪ Axios : Five things to watch after the deal.

TAG TEAM : Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch joined together Tuesday to denounce “serious constitutional problems” in the federal government’s prosecution of a Mexican national for illegally reentering the country.

The court declined to hear an appeal from Jesus Herrera-Salazar , who challenged his deportation on the grounds that he was convicted on illegal entry twice. Sotomayor and Gorsuch agreed the court shouldn’t take the case since Herrera-Salazar had already been deported, but they cautioned that the facts of the case run into double jeopardy concerns.

“Should circumstances like these arise again, I encourage courts to avoid the constitutional absurdity that occurred here and give the Double Jeopardy Clause its full weight and meaning,” Sotomayor said in her opinion, which Gorsuch joined.

▪ The Hill : Court to hear DOGE’s bid to avoid turning over documents.

▪ The Hill : Court turns away challenge to sanctions in Arizona voting machine lawsuit.

The president will travel to Bullhead City, Ariz., to deliver remarks at 4 p.m. EDT. He will then travel to Kalispell, Mont., for remarks at 8:15 p.m. EDT. He will then return to the White House.

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) speaks as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press)

MIDTERM BLITZ : Trump is adding more stops to his red-state tour as the GOP tries to shore up key seats to hold on to control of Congress or at least limit the Democratic margin of victory.

The president is heading to Montana today for a rally to boost GOP congressional candidate Aaron Flint , who is running for an open seat in the state’s 1st Congressional District. Flint is favored to win the seat against Democrat Sam Forstag , but Decision Desk HQ gives the challenger a 29 percent chance of winning.

The trip is the latest in a red-state blitz that Trump has seen Trump visit Oklahoma, Alabama, Alaska and Texas on three occasions. He’s also visiting states seen as more obvious battlegrounds this year, such as Arizona and North Carolina.

Trump is starting his day with a stop in Arizona, where Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) is trying to oust Gov. Katie Hobbs (D).

He’s following that up with a visit to solidly Republican Kentucky this weekend to support congressional candidate Ed Gallrein in a district that has voted Republican for the House since 2002. Gallrein ousted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has at times been a thorn in Trump’s side, in a primary earlier this year.

The Republican National Committee announced Tuesday that Trump will travel to Kansas next week as Sen. Roger Marshall (R) attempts to fend off an unexpected challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton . Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat in ruby-red Kansas since the 1930s.

Marchall is facing scrutiny following a report that he sued hundreds of patients for unpaid medical bills during his time practicing medicine. Trump defended Marshall in a lengthy Truth Social post, claiming he was legally obligated to pursue the debts.

“If he didn’t make these requests, he would be breaking the Law, and subject to criminal liability and arrest,” he said.

No federal or state law requires doctors to sue over unpaid medical expenses.

▪ The Hill : Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigning for Angie Nixon in Florida.

▪ The Hill : Barack Obama campaigning for Democrats in Ohio.

Demonstrators march from the Washington Monument to the White House during a “Stop Sexual Violence” protest in Washington, Oct. 8, 2026. (Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press)

CLOSING TIME: Cornell University is suspending all fraternity parties through the end of the academic year amid the fallout from the Jane Doe lawsuit around an alleged gang rape in 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity.

University president Michael Kotlikoff announced the move in a schoolwide message yesterday, saying any fraternity that violates the new rule will be placed on immediate suspension.

He also said the school would work with New York State Police to let their “experienced, trauma-informed criminal investigators, who are independent of Cornell University” investigate allegations. Crimes that occur on campus are typically investigated by the campus police force, which has the authority of a law enforcement agency but is controlled by Cornell.

The school’s president announced several additional steps Cornell plans to take to address concerns about sexual assault on campus and the way the school and the local law enforcement handle those incidents going forward.

The school will appoint a dedicated case manager to help students navigate the process of reporting sexual misconduct, and it will add additional staff to its civil rights office. Kotlikoff also said Cornell will enhance existing bystander education and accelerate recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on Sexual Assault.

Kotlikoff acknowledged culture problems on campus extent beyond Greek life.

“Research has shown that campus sexual assault is not limited to the fraternity system. At its core is the specific context of social behavior and a deeply disturbing prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse. While this is not a problem unique to Cornell, we are committed to setting a higher standard for education, oversight, and enforcement of safe social behavior and citizenship,” Kotlikoff wrote in his message.

▪ NewsNation : Cornell Title IX case vs. criminal probe: What’s the difference?

It’s time to deliver safe and effective psychedelic medicine , Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) and Lou Correa (D-Calif.) write in The Hill.

What I learned from interrogating Saddam Hussein , John Nixon writes in The Hill.

Former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, talks on stage during the Clinton Global Initiative, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. (Ishika Samant, Associated Press)

And finally … Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is launching a new podcast focused on the final weeks of the midterm election cycle called “High Stakes.”

Clinton will co-host the podcast with tech journalist and former CNN host Kara Swisher . It will run until mid-November and be distributed on the same feed as Swisher’s “On” podcast.

The former first lady said the podcast could continue past the midterms if it receives a large enough audience. She took more of a direct involvement in the midterms last week with her first endorsement of the cycle, backing Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) in her Senate race.

“I don’t think the stakes for the country and the world could be any higher,” Clinton said about the podcast. “If we don’t reverse this chaos and corruption and cruelty that is being visited upon us by this administration, we won’t recognize our country.”