Democrats lead by five points, but registered voters do not decide elections. Actual voters do. Today, DOJ targets election crimes, Trump prepares for Xi Jinping, and Republicans confront the turnout fight that will decide Congress.

The Senate unanimously confirmed Sandra Day O'Connor on September 21, 1981. She became the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

Question: How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?

Answer at the very end of today's briefing.

Democrats hold a five-point advantage over Republicans among registered voters in a new national midterm survey released roughly six weeks before the November election. The five-point Democratic lead gives the party momentum as voters prepare to decide control of Congress. But the number needs context. Democrats carried a much larger generic-ballot advantage before the 2018 midterms, when they captured the House during President Donald Trump's first term.

This poll also measures registered voters, not likely voters. That difference can decide close House districts and Senate races.

The press will sell this as a national verdict on Trump. It is not. Congressional elections are fought district by district, and district lines do not mirror the national popular vote.

Republicans can lose the registered-voter measure and still win control if their supporters turn out in competitive seats. The danger is complacency. A five-point deficit means GOP candidates cannot depend on Trump's name, favorable maps, or frustrated voters showing up automatically. They need disciplined campaigns focused on prices, public safety, border enforcement, and the consequences of Democratic control. Democrats have the current enthusiasm advantage. Republicans still have time to close it, but only if they treat this poll as an alarm.

What to watch next: likely-voter surveys from individual House districts and battleground Senate states.

Ke Huy Quan was still a child when his parents handed him a nearly $100,000 residual check from Lucasfilm. The Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom actor called the life-changing check an amount that made no sense to him at the time.

For more stories like this, follow @feelgoodnewsusa — real good news, no partisan spin.

A new opinion column asks whether Christians can provoke political opponents without crossing into sin. The writer cites President Trump's talent for forcing emotional reactions, then draws a line between strategic mockery and dishonest cruelty. That distinction matters. Humor can expose absurdity and defend free speech. But Christians lose the argument when provocation becomes hatred, deception, or entertainment built around humiliating people.

The Justice Department charged 16 defendants in federal election-related cases. Prosecutors allege several noncitizens voted, while others falsely claimed citizenship during registration or voting. Investigators also found alleged naturalization and passport fraud. These remain allegations, and prosecutors must prove them. Still, the federal charges expose a basic problem: citizenship rules mean little when registration systems fail to verify eligibility.

President Trump is preparing to host Xi Jinping as Washington confronts Beijing over trade, artificial intelligence, and Iran. The planned state visit gives Trump a direct chance to demand results from China's leader. American jobs and military technology are on the table. So is Beijing's relationship with Tehran. Friendly ceremony cannot replace hard concessions from a government that treats economic access as a political weapon.

Rep. John Moolenaar wants Trump to reject weak Chinese promises. The Michigan Republican, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, says tariffs and rare-earth controls must remain central to negotiations. China dominates processing for minerals used in weapons, electronics, and vehicles. Moolenaar's warning to Trump is simple: Beijing should receive no concessions without measurable action.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on September 20. Their trade negotiations focused on preserving the current truce and preparing for Trump's meeting with Xi. China's commercial ties with Iran were also expected to feature. Beijing wants access to American consumers. Trump can use that access to demand action on trade abuses and financial support reaching Tehran.

University of Florida historian Norman J.W. Goda traces genocide accusations against Israel back to the Jewish state's 1948 founding. His historical analysis argues that modern charges ignore Hamas's October 7 attack, which killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in hundreds of hostages. Genocide is a defined crime, not a slogan. Serious accusations require proof of intent, not political repetition.

Pete Crow-Armstrong moved into the No. 1 ranking in Yahoo's fantasy baseball Top 300. He is the first new leader since mid-June. Josue De Paula, Lazaro Montes, Dustin Harris, and Ethan Pecko also entered the rankings with two weeks left. Fantasy titles often turn on one late pickup. Managers waiting for certainty usually watch somebody else claim the winning player.

Minnesota opened 2-0 with two NFC North victories, including a Week 1 win over Green Bay. The Vikings' early divisional success gives them useful tiebreakers and an immediate edge in the standings. Kevin O'Connell still has not won a playoff game as Minnesota's coach. Fans should enjoy September, but this team will be judged by whether its style survives January.

I do not panic over one poll, and neither should you. I also do not ignore a five-point deficit six weeks before control of Congress gets decided. Elections reward organization, legal ballots, and voters who actually show up. If you feel frustrated by Washington, you are not alone, and your vote still carries the final word.

Today's trivia: How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
Answer: The Bill of Rights contains the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

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Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee