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THE LINEUP
Trump takes on the data-center backlash
SCOTUS lets Trump keep building his ballroom
Johnson pitches GOP case for Iran war
Democrats press Trump on Russia sanctions
Harris backs Pappas in NH
THE BIG STORY
👋🏾 HI, HEY, HELLO! Welcome back to Congress Nerd Daily. I hope today was everything for you.
President Donald Trump jumped headfirst into the growing political backlash against data centers this morning, warning communities resisting the massive facilities powering the artificial-intelligence boom that they risk becoming “backwards and poor”—and handing Democrats a fresh opening to make the issue about affordability ahead of the midterms.
“The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame.”
Trump added that China “could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement” and urged Americans to “let Data Reign.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told me this afternoon that concerns about data centers came up wherever he traveled during the August recess, particularly as part of voters’ broader frustration with the cost of living.
“Republicans continue to insult their own voters,” Jeffries said. “This is not a partisan issue.”
He said Americans across urban, suburban, rural and small-town communities are concerned about being “overrun by data centers” and the possibility that their electricity and water bills will continue to rise.
Jeffries also connected the backlash for the first time to Republicans’ signature domestic-policy law, accusing the party of supporting data-center development “without any restraints.”...
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THE CURRENTS
⟿ SCOTUS lets Trump keep building his ballroom: The Supreme Court today allowed the Trump administration to continue construction of the White House ballroom while litigation proceeds, ruling 5–4 that the National Trust for Historic Preservation likely lacks standing to challenge the project. The Court did not decide whether the construction itself is legal. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberals in dissent, writing that the project is “likely unlawful” because Congress has not expressly authorized it and warning that the ruling allows a likely infringement of Congress’s power of the purse and authority over federal property to continue.
⟿ FTC and more than 20 states sue Amazon over ad pricing: The Federal Trade Commission and more than 20 states sued Amazon today, alleging the company secretly manipulated minimum advertising prices on its retail platform and caused advertisers billions of dollars in losses. Amazon shares fell about 3% after the suit became public.
⟿ Trump expands drug-price deals to nine more manufacturers: The president announced agreements with nine additional pharmaceutical companies to offer most-favored-nation pricing, bringing the administration’s total to 26 manufacturers covering 89% of the branded-drug market, according to the White House. Every state Medicaid program will receive access to the negotiated prices for participating companies.
⟿ Trump administration launches trucking fraud crackdown: DOJ, DHS and DOT announced a multi-state enforcement initiative targeting fraud in the commercial trucking industry, including a federal sweep of more than 200 driving schools across 23 states. The effort combines immigration enforcement, criminal investigations and transportation regulation, with officials targeting fraudulent commercial licenses, unauthorized employment and other alleged schemes.
THE POWERS THAT BE
Johnson pitches GOP case for Iran war: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told the Republican Jewish Coalition that Republicans should emphasize Iran’s nuclear threat when defending the six-month-old war to voters. Johnson said the administration was “in the process of winding this down” and added that resolving the conflict within the next 64 days “would be great as we go into the midterm election,” while arguing Republicans could defend continuing it if necessary.
THE POLICY DESK
Democrats press Trump on Russia sanctions: Top Democrats on the Senate Banking and Finance committees and House Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means and Joint Economic committees urged President Trump to use his existing authority to impose additional sanctions on companies, individuals and vessels supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The lawmakers argued waiting for Congress to grant new tariff authority would only give sanctions evaders more time to adapt.
THE TRAIL
Harris backs Pappas in NH: Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Rep. Chris Pappas in New Hampshire’s open Senate race ahead of the Sept. 8 primary. The endorsement comes as Pappas prepares for a competitive general-election race against former GOP Sen. John Sununu, the older brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu. Recent polling showed Pappas and Sununu separated by only a few points.