Political News Roundup: Jack Smith Defends Trump Probes as AI and Russia Talks Advance

As of 5 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Former special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations of President Donald Trump during a sharply partisan Senate hearing Tuesday. At the same time, the White House announced a voluntary artificial-intelligence safety accord, while U.S. officials held new discussions with a Russian presidential envoy about Ukraine and possible postwar energy cooperation.

Together, the developments placed three recurring disputes at the center of Washington: the independence of federal law enforcement, the government’s approach to fast-moving AI systems and the terms under which the United States might pursue an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Jack Smith defends Trump investigations before Senate panel

Smith told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he would not be silenced by threats of prosecution and maintained that his investigations followed Justice Department rules. He appeared voluntarily at a hearing that committee Republicans titled “Oversight of Jack Smith’s Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters.”

Smith previously brought two federal criminal cases against Trump. One concerned efforts to overturn the 2020 election result. The other involved Trump’s retention of classified documents after leaving office. Neither case produced a trial verdict, and prosecutors later dropped the cases after Trump returned to office.

According to Reuters coverage of Tuesday’s hearing, Republican senators accused Smith of conducting a politically motivated investigation and questioned subpoenas that obtained records connected to lawmakers, journalists and donors. Smith rejected that characterization.

Smith said investigators obtained telephone toll records rather than the contents of lawmakers’ calls. He also defended secrecy orders used during the investigation, arguing that early disclosure could have jeopardized evidence. Those were Smith’s explanations under oath. Republican allegations that he abused his authority remain accusations, not adjudicated findings.

Democrats described the hearing as an attempt to punish a prosecutor for investigating Trump. The exchanges did not produce new criminal charges or a bipartisan conclusion about Smith’s conduct.

White House turns to voluntary AI safety reviews

Trump said major technology companies had signed a voluntary accord that calls for internal and external reviews of advanced artificial-intelligence systems. The announcement followed a White House meeting with industry executives, according to Associated Press reporting.

The agreement relies largely on companies to police their own development practices. It does not create the same legal obligations as a federal statute or binding agency rule. Trump continued to oppose broad government restrictions that he says could slow American innovation.

Industry leaders remain divided. Some executives have urged stronger testing and slower deployment of the most advanced models. Others argue that existing corporate safety systems can manage the risks without extensive new regulation.

The administration also launched America.gov, an AI-powered portal designed to help users find government information and services. The White House described the project in an executive order issued Tuesday.

However, the new site quickly demonstrated the political sensitivity of automated government answers. AP reported that the system initially answered politically charged questions using government-source material, then changed its responses after launch. The episode does not prove that the portal’s ordinary service information is inaccurate. It does show why transparency about sources and answer changes matters.

Russian envoy holds Ukraine and energy talks in Washington

Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, met U.S. officials in Washington to discuss the war in Ukraine and possible U.S.–Russia energy projects after the conflict, according to Reuters.

A U.S. official described the discussions as constructive. Sources familiar with the visit said Dmitriev met representatives from the Treasury and Energy departments. The talks followed Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, where the leaders discussed a possible ceasefire involving attacks on energy infrastructure.

No ceasefire was announced Tuesday. Russia and Ukraine also continued military operations. Therefore, the description of the Washington meetings as constructive reflects an official assessment, not evidence of a final peace framework.

The energy discussions could become politically contentious. Any future commercial relationship with Moscow would raise questions about sanctions, European security and whether Russia had met conditions acceptable to Ukraine and its allies.

Ukraine reports new weapons support as Russian attacks continue

Zelenskyy said Belgium would transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026 through an accelerated process. He also said Ukraine had received urgent F-16 ammunition from Belgium, Spain and other partners, as well as a NASAMS air-defense package developed by the United States and Norway.

Those statements came from the Ukrainian president and were reported by Reuters. Belgium had not separately detailed the transfer in the cited report.

Meanwhile, Russian glide bombs struck homes and a school in Sumy, killing two people and injuring six, Ukrainian officials said. Reuters reported the casualties while attributing the account to local officials and Zelenskyy.

Ukraine also said Russia launched more than 100 drones Tuesday, including 29 jet-powered models, and that Ukrainian forces intercepted 18 of the faster drones. Those figures remain Ukrainian government claims and had not been independently verified.

Supreme Court opens a consequential new term

The Supreme Court is preparing to consider whether to accept cases involving mandatory detention of some noncitizens, regulation of election prediction markets and a Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public-school classrooms.

Reuters reported that the justices were reviewing the petitions before their new term. A decision to consider a case would not determine the eventual outcome. It would only place the dispute on the court’s docket for full briefing and argument.

What to watch next

Congress may continue investigating Smith, but Tuesday’s hearing exposed a partisan divide rather than resolving it. The White House must now show whether its voluntary AI accord produces transparent and independently testable safeguards.

On Ukraine, the central question is whether talks with Moscow create measurable progress toward a ceasefire without weakening Kyiv’s position. Until negotiators publish terms or the fighting decreases, diplomatic optimism remains provisional.

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