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On Politics

Wed Aug 26 2026

Zachary Schermele | Congressional Correspondent

@zachschermele

Hello, readers. Welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional correspondent. It's Wednesday, and officials are tackling a concerning hack of U.S. government infrastructure allegedly linked to China. More on that later.

Graham wins

President Trump's endorsement proved essential for South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham's primary runoff win last night. As my colleague Terry Collins reports, her victory over Rep. Ralph Norman, an experienced GOP congressman, may be an indication voters in the Palmetto State don't mind her lack of political experience, even on the heels of a major debate-stage gaffe. "Trump left no doubt who he was behind, and they voted the way he told them to, period," Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University, told Terry. Read more of our takeaways from the primary race here.

A politics rundown

•	Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan advances in Alaska Senate race despite criticism
•	James Talarico campaign presses to unseal Senate opponent Ken Paxton's deposition in fraud case
•	States sue over new Trump mail-in ballot restrictions
•	Trump believes Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive

Daily photo gallery: See inside Gavin Newsom's Sacramento-area mansion on sale for $7.5M

Trump on Dolly Parton's death

Trump likened the death of country singer Dolly Parton to losing a close family member, as he remembered a cultural icon beloved by Americans of all political stripes. "I thought it was a natural thing to lower the flags," he said on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's radio show.

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Chinese hack raises alarm

The Justice Department said today it ‌disrupted an alleged Chinese hacking operation it believes is responsible for cyber breaches at the DOJ, NASA, the ⁠Federal Reserve, the Senate and other sensitive U.S. government agencies. Our Josh Meyer reports the DOJ said it seized internet domains used by two hacking ‌platforms, ⁠dubbed "QScan" and "QTRouter," which it said were used in the penetration campaign.

Reach me by email at zschermele@usatoday.com.