Congress Narrowly Trusts AI to Police Itself, Leans Toward a License-Plate Reader Ban, and Draws a Blank on the Protect College Sports Act
Week of October 9, 2026 · 5 questionsThis week’s Capitol Pulse results look at whether AI companies can be trusted to police themselves, how Congress should handle license-plate reader networks like Flock, and how much Congress trusts the news media. The survey also asks about permanent daylight saving time and the Protect College Sports Act. The results show a narrow majority trusting AI companies, a plurality backing a federal ban on license-plate readers, and most respondents saying they don’t know enough about the college sports bill to weigh in. Congress is almost evenly divided on whether AI companies can police themselves. 51.22% say they trust AI companies to police themselves, while 48.78% say they do not.
Congress Rejects the Iran War, Gives Itself an F, and Pushes Back on Presidential Power
September 2026 results · 5 questionsSeptember’s Capitol Pulse results put Congress’s views on war, institutional performance, presidential power, and artificial intelligence in sharp focus. Across the month, Congress delivered some of its strongest responses of the year: broad opposition to the Iran war, a failing grade for the 119th Congress, overwhelming resistance to presidential control of White House press credentials, and deep skepticism about the future and regulation of AI. The September results show one of the clearest positions of the month: 73.84% of Congress oppose the Iran war, while just 26.16% express some level of support.
Past reports
- Week of October 2, 2026READ →
Congress Says No to Meta Muse, Picks Talarico in Texas, and Finds No 2028 Democratic Frontrunner
This week’s Capitol Pulse results look ahead to the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination and Texas Senate race, while examining Congress’s views on sports gambling, prediction markets, and Meta’s new Muse platform. The results show no clear Democratic frontrunner, a Talarico advantage in the Texas Senate question, and broad skepticism toward both prediction markets and Meta Muse.
- Week of September 25, 2026READ →
Congress Rejects the Iran War, Grades the 119th Congress an F, and Rejects White House Press Restrictions
This week’s Capitol Pulse results examine Congress’s support for the Iran war, its assessment of the 119th Congress, White House control over press credentials, and the most important element of office culture. The results show strong opposition to the Iran war, a low assessment of congressional productivity, broad opposition to presidents choosing which outlets receive White House press credentials, and a preference for good coworkers as the defining feature of office culture.
- Week of September 18, 2026READ →
Congress Picks Rubio for 2028, Remains Pessimistic on AI, and Doubts Congress Will Regulate It
This week’s Capitol Pulse results look ahead to the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, examine Congress’s outlook on artificial intelligence, and ask how likely Congress is to pass substantive AI regulations. The survey also settles a more immediate workplace question: what makes the ideal soundtrack for a workday?
- Week of September 11, 2026READ →
Congress Sees Itself as More Moderate, Pushes Back on Data Centers, and Picks College Football
This week’s Capitol Pulse results look at how Congress views its own ideological positioning, attitudes toward AI data-center expansion, and the perennial football debate between college football and the NFL. The results show a majority describing themselves as more moderate than their member of Congress, strong opposition to data-center expansion, and a clear preference for college football.
- July 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Critiques Its Own Performance, Sees Iran War Hurting GOP, and Rejects Ranch as America's Best Condiment
July’s Capitol Pulse results cover everything from Congress’s own job performance to the political fallout of the re-ignited Iran War — with a little ranch dressing debate mixed in. Congress also weighs in on the power of campaign fundraising and whether Daylight Saving Time will finally become permanent.
- June 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Backs Ukraine’s EU Bid, Picks Talarico in Texas, and Favors Republicans in the Baseball Game
June’s Capitol Pulse results show Congress narrowly backing Ukraine’s admission to the European Union, picking Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, and predicting a Republican victory in the Congressional Baseball Game. On a potential 2028 presidential run, Congress expects Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run but fall short in the Democratic primaries.
- May 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Rejects Partisan Redistricting, Backs Lutnick’s Resignation, and Splits on Abortion
May’s Capitol Pulse results show Congress opposing mid-decade congressional redistricting for partisan advantage, supporting “most favored nation” pricing for prescription drugs with significant reservations, and backing Secretary Lutnick’s resignation over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Congress also narrowly favors suspending the federal gas tax, while abortion policy produces a much more divided set of positions.
- April 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Supports MAHA, Favors Reducing Ties With Israel, and Questions Its Handling of Misconduct
April’s Capitol Pulse results show Congress supporting the MAHA Movement, favoring a reduction in U.S. ties with Israel, and narrowly supporting the counting of late-arriving mail ballots. Congress also rejects allowing congressional staffers to participate in prediction markets, while the workplace results show that inappropriate behavior remains a reported experience on Capitol Hill and that confidence in Congress’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations remains low.
- March 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Backs Iran Strikes, Favors Democratic House Control, and Predicts a Republican Senate
March’s Capitol Pulse results show Congress supporting U.S. military strikes in Iran, overwhelmingly rejecting skyscraper development in Washington, and backing President Trump’s decision to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary. Looking ahead to November, the results favor Democrats to win the House and Republicans to retain the Senate, while Congress remains divided over how long the war in Iran will continue.
- February 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Pushes to Unredact Epstein Files, Backs Citizenship Proof, and Draws a Line on Trump’s Iran Powers
February’s Capitol Pulse results show Congress taking strong positions on the release of Epstein files, proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting, and presidential authority over the Iran conflict. The results also show the job market leading as Congress’s preferred measure of the economy, while dating across party lines remains a minority position.
- January 2026 resultsREAD →
Congress Backs Maduro Capture, Worries About Data Centers, and Puts National Security at the Top of the 2026 Agenda
January’s Capitol Pulse results highlight several clear differences between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, particularly on U.S. foreign policy, President Trump’s political future, and the pace of data center development. Other issues, including credit-card interest rates, show considerably more overlap between the parties.