Political Wire

SubscribeSign in
  • Front Page
  • Trending News
  • Polling Dashboard
  • Trial Balloon
  • Membership
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
  • Sign In
  • Contact Us

Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 189

Navigating the Nonsense

A new episode of Trial Balloon just dropped for Political Wire members. Log in or become a member

Trial Balloon · Ep. 189: Navigating the Nonsense

Lawmakers Jockey for Seats On This Powerful Panel

August 31, 2026 · 5:13 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Lawmakers can spend years trying to land seats on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. Several could finally get their chance in the next Congress,” Politico reports.

”The panel with vast jurisdiction over health care, artificial intelligence, energy and telecommunications will have at least eight empty slots in the next Congress — four on each side of the aisle — thanks to a combination of planned retirements, attempts to climb to higher office and primary election defeats.”

2026 Campaign, House of Representatives

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

More about Taegan Goddard →
« Trump’s Oil Grab Reprises Oil Industry’s Neocolonial Past
Why We’re Not Hanging Up On Phone Polling »

Your Account

Members

For the full experience, sign in.

Become a Member

  • Join Political Wire
  • Gift a Membership

Members Only

  • One Chart That Explains the Midterm Elections
  • Weekly News Quiz
  • Majorities or Mirage?
  • What Does It Take for a Political Party to Implode?
  • Is Ticket Splitting Making a Comeback?

Word of the Day Political Dictionary

Political Graveyard

The “political graveyard” refers to the careers of politicians who have experienced a significant decline of their political influence and electoral viability.

Read the definition →

Yesterday’s Word of the Day: NIMBY

Show me a random term

Think You Know Politics?

  • The Way It Was →
  • Yea or Nay? →
  • Split Decision →
  • Pollster →

“Political Wire is a great, great site.”

— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”

“Taegan Goddard has a knack for digging out political gems that too often get passed over by the mainstream press, and for delivering the latest electoral developments in a sharp, no frills style that makes his Political Wire an addictive blog habit you don’t want to kick.”

— Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post

“Political Wire is one of the absolute must-read sites in the blogosphere.”

— Glenn Reynolds, founder of Instapundit

“I rely on Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for straight, fair political news, he gets right to the point. It’s an eagerly anticipated part of my news reading.”

— Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.

Copyright © 2026 · Goddard Media LLC

Political Wire® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC

Also from Goddard Media: Political Dictionary · Political Job Hunt · Electoral Vote Map

Privacy PolicyCorrections PolicyContact