{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","slug":"congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","title":"Congress recesses without AI or data center action","subtitle":"Lawmakers depart for midterms as Republicans' attempt to address energy costs is blocked by Democrats.","excerpt":"Congress is set to recess for the midterm elections without passing legislation on artificial intelligence or data center construction. Republicans attempted to bring a bill addressing electricity costs tied to data centers, but Democrats blocked it.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T12:25:26.348Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-10-01T10:13:51.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-01T12:25:26.348Z","readTime":"4 min read","scores":{"trust":42,"critic":61,"hype":41,"notes":{"trust":"Central claims attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for some details.","critic":"Reports include quotes from affected individuals and name specific dates and places.","hype":"Headlines promise more than the body delivers, with some sensationalism in language."}},"tags":["#AI","#DataCenters","#Congress","#MidtermElections","#USPolitics"],"entities":["Jon Husted","Josh Hawley","Sam Altman","Donald Trump","The New York Times","Siena University"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Congress will leave Washington for the midterm elections without addressing artificial intelligence or data center construction.","Republicans attempted to pass a bill to insulate Americans from rising electricity costs linked to data centers, but Democrats blocked the measure.","The blocked Republican bill would not have regulated AI use or deployment.","A poll by The New York Times and Siena University found neither party holds a clear advantage with voters on the issue of AI."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Congress is preparing to depart Washington for the midterm elections without enacting any legislation concerning artificial intelligence or the construction of data centers. Republicans had sought to advance a bill aimed at mitigating increased electricity costs associated with data centers. However, Democrats prevented the bill from moving forward."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on data center bill"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"West Hawaii Today reported that Democrats blocked the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, arguing it was not enforceable and would not significantly reduce energy prices. The same report stated the bill would not have regulated AI use or deployment. Washington Sun reported that Democrats derided the bill as toothless and noted that only four Democratic senators voted to advance the proposal."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned the poll by The New York Times and Siena University finding neither party had a clear advantage with voters on AI. No right-rated outlet ran this story at all."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"USA Today","url":"https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/01/senate-recess-2026-midterm-elections/92033064007","headline":"As race for control tightens, Senate calls it quits until after midterms","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T10:23:05.742Z"},{"sourceName":"Political Wire","url":"https://politicalwire.com/2026/10/01/senate-gop-leaves-town-wondering-did-we-do-enough","headline":"Senate GOP Leaves Town Wondering: Did We Do Enough?","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T10:13:51.000Z"},{"sourceName":"West Hawaii Today","url":"https://westhawaiitoday.com/2026/10/01/nation-world-news/congress-set-to-leave-washington-for-the-midterms-with-no-ai-progress","headline":"Congress set to leave Washington for the midterms with no AI progress","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T10:05:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"washingtonsun.com","url":"https://washingtonsun.com/us-news/senate-republicans-recess-campaigns-messaging-data-centers","headline":"Senate Republicans Leave Town Wondering: Did We Do Enough?","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T09:45:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Washington Post","url":"https://washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/30/senate-leaves-town-until-after-midterms-final-bills-founder","headline":"Senate leaves town until after the midterms as final bills founder","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T03:41:52.639Z"},{"sourceName":"Axios","url":"https://axios.com/2026/10/01/republican-senators-trump-midterm-elections","headline":"GOP senators endure painful week with little to show for it","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T02:55:17.679Z"},{"sourceName":"BizToc","url":"https://biztoc.com/x/e59a255dc09b7946","headline":"GOP senators endure painful week with little to show for it","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T02:45:52.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":67,"centre":33,"right":0},"count":{"left":4,"centre":2,"right":0},"totalSources":7,"untracked":1,"rated":6,"observedAt":"2026-10-01T10:47:52.377Z"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-10-01T13:45:11.535Z","closedAt":null,"checks":6,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["The left-rated reports focused on the failure of Congress to act on AI and data centers before the midterm elections. Axios and BizToc digests stated that Republican senators were leaving Washington largely empty-handed after a difficult week. The Washington Post digest noted that Democrats blocked several Republican-proposed bills ahead of Election Day. The Washington Sun's full report detailed Republican efforts for last-minute votes on issues like data center energy costs and stock trading by lawmakers, framing them as attempts to answer voter anger. This report also highlighted that Democrats blocked these measures, with only a few Democrats voting to advance the data center bill. The outlet quoted Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, expressing frustration that the Senate spent time on college sports rather than affordability concerns and left reconciliation efforts on the table."],"centre":["The centre-rated reports highlighted Congress's inaction on AI and data centers as lawmakers departed for the midterms. West Hawaii Today's full report detailed the Republican attempt to bring up a bill concerning data center electricity costs and the Democratic block. It noted the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and stated the legislation would not regulate AI. The report also mentioned Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., convening a hearing on 'Rogue AI' and Sam Altman's refusal to participate. It cited a New York Times and Siena University poll indicating no clear party advantage with voters on AI. Political Wire's digest summarised the Washington Sun's report on Senate Republicans questioning if they had done enough before recessing."],"right":[],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"right","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"high":5,"unknown":1,"veryHigh":1},"ownershipDistribution":{"privateEquity":1,"mediaConglomerate":2,"billionaire":2,"independent":1},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"BizToc","url":"https://biztoc.com/x/e59a255dc09b7946","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T02:45:52.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":2},{"country":"Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, United States","count":1},{"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"BizToc","url":"https://biztoc.com/x/e59a255dc09b7946","headline":"GOP senators endure painful week with little to show for it","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T02:45:52.000Z","leaningSide":null,"leaningRating":"unknown","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":true,"country":null,"repostedFrom":"Axios"},{"name":"Axios","url":"https://axios.com/2026/10/01/republican-senators-trump-midterm-elections","headline":"GOP senators endure painful week with little to show for it","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T02:55:17.679Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"veryHigh","angle":null,"isOpinion":true,"country":"Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"The Washington Post","url":"https://washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/30/senate-leaves-town-until-after-midterms-final-bills-founder","headline":"Senate leaves town until after the midterms as final bills founder","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T03:41:52.639Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"washingtonsun.com","url":"https://washingtonsun.com/us-news/senate-republicans-recess-campaigns-messaging-data-centers","headline":"Senate Republicans Leave Town Wondering: Did We Do Enough?","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T09:45:00.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":true,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"West Hawaii Today","url":"https://westhawaiitoday.com/2026/10/01/nation-world-news/congress-set-to-leave-washington-for-the-midterms-with-no-ai-progress","headline":"Congress set to leave Washington for the midterms with no AI progress","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T10:05:00.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Political Wire","url":"https://politicalwire.com/2026/10/01/senate-gop-leaves-town-wondering-did-we-do-enough","headline":"Senate GOP Leaves Town Wondering: Did We Do Enough?","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T10:13:51.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"New York, New York, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"USA Today","url":"https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/01/senate-recess-2026-midterm-elections/92033064007","headline":"As race for control tightens, Senate calls it quits until after midterms","publishedAt":"2026-10-01T10:23:05.742Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"New York, New York, United States","repostedFrom":null}]},"assessment":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. 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They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"Congress recesses without AI or data center action\", https://mediabias.news/politics/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/politics/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/politics/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/politics/congress-recesses-without-ai-or-data-center-action.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}