Category: Politics

Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted diplomatic talks at the Vatican Thursday, meeting with Pope Leo XIV in an effort to repair strained relations following President Donald Trump’s public criticism of the pontiff over Middle East policy.

The diplomatic mission included a 2½-hour session where Rubio sat down with both Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to address tensions that have emerged between the Trump administration and the Holy See.

Meanwhile, Iran announced it is examining new American proposals to conclude the ongoing conflict, while Trump issued fresh warnings of military strikes unless Tehran agrees to terms that would reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz for global shipping. These developments come after several days of conflicting signals from the Trump administration regarding its war strategy.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that Rubio and the Pope covered Middle Eastern developments “and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere. The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,” Pigott stated.

Regarding the separate discussion with Cardinal Parolin, Pigott noted the diplomats addressed “ongoing humanitarian efforts in the Western Hemisphere and efforts to achieve a durable peace in the Middle East. The discussion reflected the enduring partnership between the United States and the Holy See in advancing religious freedom,” according to the statement.

The Vatican visit by Rubio, who practices Catholicism, was arranged to address ongoing friction after Trump’s public attacks on Pope Leo XIV regarding the Chicago-born pontiff’s stance on Iran and nuclear weapons policy. The Pope has responded by defending his biblical message of peace and challenging Trump’s characterizations of his positions.

Cardinal Parolin defended the Pope on the eve of Rubio’s arrival, stating in diplomatic language: “Attacking him like that or criticizing what he does seems a bit strange to me, to say the least.” Parolin confirmed that Washington had initiated the request for Rubio’s audience and that the Pope remained willing to continue diplomatic dialogue.

The Trump administration’s messaging on the Iran situation has shifted dramatically in recent days, moving from declarations that a fragile ceasefire was maintaining stability and military actions had concluded, to renewed threats of bombing campaigns against the Islamic Republic.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began Tuesday by describing how U.S. forces were safeguarding stranded vessels attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. Later that day, Rubio announced at the White House that the military mission was “concluded” and objectives had been met, while simultaneously noting Trump continued pursuing a “path of peace” requiring Iranian agreement to reopen the critical shipping lane.

By Tuesday night, Trump declared the ship protection effort was suspended pending potential agreement negotiations. Wednesday morning brought another warning that bombing operations would restart if Tehran rejected American conditions.

Iran’s announcement that it is studying the newest American proposals for ending the two-month conflict provided some optimism to international markets Thursday, despite U.S. military forces firing on an Iranian oil tanker that attempted to break through an American port blockade just hours earlier.

Trump posted on social media that the prolonged war might soon conclude and that disrupted oil and natural gas shipments could resume, contingent on Iran accepting an undisclosed agreement he referenced.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump wrote.

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reached a historic benchmark Thursday, securing his place as the second longest-tenured justice in the nation’s highest court’s history after serving more than 34 years on the bench.

Thomas, now 77 and the court’s first baby boomer member, has evolved from being considered an outsider to wielding tremendous power within the conservative legal establishment during the past ten years, playing a key role in major decisions affecting gun rights, reproductive access, and electoral laws.

Liberal Justice William O. Douglas remains the only member to serve longer than Thomas. Should Thomas continue in his position, he would surpass Douglas’s record by 2028, though he has shown no indication of stepping down.

“I think he’s more energized and excited now than when I first met him,” explained John Yoo, a University of California, Berkeley law professor who previously worked under Republican President George W. Bush and clerked for Thomas thirty years ago.

Thomas joined the court in 1991 following turbulent confirmation proceedings that featured accusations of sexual harassment. In recent years, his receipt of expensive vacations has sparked significant ethical concerns. Despite these controversies, he has transformed from rarely speaking during oral arguments to frequently asking initial questions and authoring a pivotal decision that broadened Second Amendment protections.

With the addition of three conservative justices appointed by former Republican President Donald Trump, Thomas now leads a supermajority that has eliminated constitutional abortion protections, dismantled affirmative action in higher education admissions, and significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act.

“The court has radically moved in his direction over the course of his time on the court,” observed Stanford University law professor Pamela Karlan. Thomas’s senior status allows him to assign opinion-writing responsibilities when he’s part of a majority that excludes Chief Justice John Roberts, which can influence other justices’ votes during private deliberations, Karlan noted.

Beyond his courtroom duties, Thomas has built substantial influence through his extensive network of former law clerks, many of whom served in the Trump administration and increasingly occupy federal judgeships.

“That is an important legacy that he will leave,” stated Sarah Konsky, director of the Supreme Court and Appellate Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. “Even as justices’ own time on the court winds down, significant influence lives on through their clerks.”

Thomas shows no signs of slowing down. During a recent address, he connected America’s founding principles to a conservative philosophy of restricted government while criticizing progressive ideology in remarks that opponents viewed as inappropriate and biased. However, his comments received enthusiastic applause from the University of Texas audience.

As the court’s second Black justice, Thomas has now served longer than Justice Stephen J. Field, who was selected by Lincoln during the Civil War era and remained the sole 10th justice until 1897.

For Thomas, this milestone represents a dramatic journey from the confirmation hearings where Republican President George H.W. Bush’s nomination nearly failed due to Anita Hill’s harassment allegations, which Thomas vehemently rejected.

More recently, Thomas has faced criticism for accepting unreported luxury travel from a Republican major donor and his wife’s conservative political involvement, including her support of false claims about the 2020 election being fraudulent. The justice maintained he had no obligation to report trips with friends and rejected demands to remove himself from election-related cases.

However, recent years have also featured some of Thomas’s most impactful judicial work, particularly his 2022 ruling establishing that Americans generally possess the right to publicly carry firearms. The justice declined to comment on his tenure when contacted.

Scott Gerber, author of “First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas,” noted that Thomas’s legal philosophy has remained remarkably stable throughout his career. While the court’s majority has shifted toward his positions, he continues writing notable dissenting opinions.

“He’s incredibly consistent,” Gerber observed. Previously famous for writing solitary dissents, “now he writes majority opinions.”

WASHINGTON – Democratic primary races across the country are witnessing an unprecedented wave of candidates making their opposition to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee a central campaign theme as they attempt to defeat established party members who have received backing from the powerful lobbying organization.

This emerging pattern demonstrates deepening fractures within the Democratic Party regarding America’s Israel policy, as ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Iran create internal party strife before November’s midterm elections. The divisions may also hamper Democratic efforts to take advantage of Republican weaknesses related to economic concerns and public opposition to military involvement in Iran.

Established in the 1950s, AIPAC has maintained its position as one of the capital’s most powerful foreign policy advocacy organizations, channeling millions in campaign contributions to candidates who support robust U.S.-Israel ties while pushing for Israeli military assistance, Iranian sanctions, and legislation favorable to Israeli interests.

More than 100 Democratic candidates have received endorsements from two organizations opposing AIPAC: Track AIPAC, which monitors the group’s political expenditures, and Justice Democrats, a progressive political action committee. These endorsed candidates have committed to refusing financial support from pro-Israel organizations like AIPAC and opposing American military assistance to Israel.

“There’s a lot of AIPAC money that will now go to Republican candidates as a result of this,” stated Frank Lowenstein, who previously served as a special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during Democratic President Barack Obama’s term. Lowenstein currently works as a policy fellow at J Street, a competing pro-Israel lobbying organization that criticizes Israel’s current government.

According to a Reuters analysis of candidate questionnaire responses, 73 of the 102 anti-AIPAC endorsed candidates are running against current Democratic Congress members who have accepted AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobby support.

AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa expressed that the organization takes pride in “helping the mainstream of the Democratic Party by helping keep far-left, anti-Israel fringe candidates out of Congress.”

“AIPAC and our millions of Democratic members will be active throughout this cycle and future cycles to help elect candidates who support a strong U.S.-Israel partnership,” Sousa stated.

Sousa placed blame for internal Democratic tensions not on AIPAC but on “people trying to drive millions of pro‑Israel Democrats out of the party.”

Traditional Democratic Israel supporters point to American national security concerns connected to Israeli security, longstanding bipartisan support, and electoral considerations when defending AIPAC involvement in competitive congressional districts.

Progressive and moderate Democrats remain split on how extensively the United States should support Israeli security measures. A March survey conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that approximately 80% of Democratic voters and Democratic-leaning independents hold negative views of Israel.

With hundreds of Democratic candidates competing in party primaries this year to determine November election nominees, the electoral consequences of the AIPAC controversy remain uncertain as most races have yet to occur.

Two endorsed candidates are mounting competitive U.S. Senate campaigns in Maine and Michigan, contests that will influence which party controls the upper chamber. Both have received Track AIPAC endorsements and actively criticize Israel and AIPAC.

According to OpenSecrets analysis of Federal Election Commission records, AIPAC and its supporters contributed nearly $25 million to Democratic congressional candidates before the 2024 election and over $16 million to Republicans.

However, Israel’s Gaza bombardment has transformed Democratic politics, creating opposition among predominantly younger voters and deepening generational divisions within the party.

While no comprehensive count exists for Democratic candidates who incorporated anti-AIPAC positions into their 2024 campaigns, Track AIPAC reports that this year’s endorsement numbers represent roughly an eightfold increase from two years prior.

Track AIPAC endorsed 12 Democratic candidates before the 2024 election. Justice Democrats, who endorsed no new primary challengers two years ago, have endorsed 15 new challengers this cycle – nine against Democratic incumbents and six in open congressional seats.

During Reuters interviews, six Democratic candidates opposing AIPAC charged the organization with supporting what they characterized as genocide in Gaza and illegal warfare against Iran.

Israel rejects genocide allegations, maintaining it works to minimize civilian casualties while Hamas operates among civilian populations. Both Israel and the United States dispute claims that their Iran operations are illegal, citing objectives including regime change and preventing Tehran’s nuclear weapons development.

AIPAC spokesperson Sousa described the genocide accusations against Israel as “a legally baseless blood libel.”

Anti-AIPAC candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier is challenging U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat, a New York Democrat. OpenSecrets analysis shows Espaillat received over $133,000 from AIPAC and supporters this election cycle and $181,000 in the 2024 election.

Chevalier accused AIPAC of “pushing our representatives to be complicit in genocide, and pushing us towards this war with Iran.”

Reginald Johnson, an Espaillat campaign spokesperson, said the congressman supports both Israel’s right to exist and Palestinian statehood while opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s regional military expansion and the Iran conflict.

Democratic tensions over AIPAC and Israel became visible at a Michigan Democrats’ April 19 convention during a competitive Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate nomination.

When Democratic U.S. Representative Haley Stevens, a Senate candidate, appeared on stage, party activists in attendance booed and heckled her. OpenSecrets data shows she has received over $220,000 from AIPAC and supporters this election cycle.

As Stevens left the stage, audience members stood and chanted “Shame on you,” according to Reuters review of event video.

Arik Wolk, a Stevens campaign spokesperson, said the congresswoman supported the Gaza ceasefire that began last October. “She believes that we must have peace in the region,” Wolk stated. The ceasefire has remained unstable with periodic violence outbreaks.

Steve Israel, a Jewish former Democratic congressman and previous Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee head, characterized these tensions as symptoms of broader concerning party dynamics.

“As younger activists move into the Democratic Party infrastructure and elected office, the party energizes more towards the left. That creates proxy battles, such as whether or not a candidate accepts support from AIPAC.”

He described such conflicts as “self-defeating litmus tests.”

The Democratic National Committee, the party’s governing organization, did not directly respond to Reuters questions about AIPAC-related tensions.

Some Democratic strategists express concern that Republicans could exploit these internal conflicts in election campaigns, as Republicans have generally supported Israel while criticizing Democrats who oppose U.S. assistance.

Kiersten Pels, a Republican National Committee spokesperson, accused Democrats of permitting “a dangerous strain of pro-terrorist, anti-American extremism to take root in their party, which will turn off swing voters in the midterms.”

MINNEAPOLIS – A massive immigration enforcement operation that deployed thousands of federal agents to Minnesota significantly disrupted the prosecution of serious crimes including gun violence and drug trafficking, according to a Reuters analysis of federal court documents.

The operation, which President Donald Trump promoted as a crucial public safety initiative targeting violent undocumented immigrants, instead caused widespread disruption to routine federal law enforcement activities, court records and interviews with ten current and former law enforcement officials revealed.

Federal prosecutors filed charges against just eight individuals for gun or drug crimes from January through April, a dramatic decrease from 77 similar cases during the same timeframe last year. Total felony prosecutions also fell to 90, roughly half the previous year’s number.

Among those felony cases were 39 individuals, including journalist Don Lemon, charged with disrupting a church service while protesting the immigration enforcement. An additional 17 criminal cases involved immigration violations like illegal re-entry after deportation. These numbers exclude deportation proceedings, which occur in separate immigration courts rather than criminal court.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, Minneapolis’s chief local prosecutor, revealed to Reuters that the federal prosecutor’s office has become so weakened by staff departures and immigration enforcement duties that federal agents now bring complex cases to her office – an unusual practice for federal investigators.

“You can’t tell me that sex trafficking and drug trafficking and that kind of thing is less important than people going into a church to protest,” Moriarty said. “It’s a public safety issue that they’re not doing the types of prosecutions they should be doing.”

Moriarty refused to specify which cases federal investigators transferred to her office, citing concerns about damaging relationships with federal agencies.

The immigration enforcement effort became a national controversy as approximately 3,000 agents flooded Minneapolis streets beginning in December. Agents removed individuals from vehicles and schools for deportation and fatally shot two U.S. citizen protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, generating nationwide criticism that ultimately forced the administration to withdraw from Minneapolis.

This local enforcement slowdown mirrors a broader national trend of shifting crime-fighting resources toward immigration enforcement, frequently targeting undocumented individuals without criminal histories. Nationally, criminal immigration violation charges reached their highest level in at least twenty years, while drug crime prosecutions hit their lowest point.

Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen declined to respond to inquiries about the enforcement slowdown.

The Justice Department and White House avoided directly addressing court records showing the sharp decline in federal criminal prosecutions this year. Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre stated that “assisting our partners with immigration enforcement has not impacted our ability to investigate and swiftly prosecute other crimes.” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Trump “has taken necessary action in Minnesota to crack down on rampant fraud and illegal immigration.”

Federal authorities handle only a small portion of U.S. criminal cases but maintain an outsized public safety role due to their resources and ability to pursue complex investigations of dangerous criminals. Federal agencies possess surveillance and tracking capabilities often unavailable at the state level and can more effectively investigate crimes crossing state boundaries.

State and local authorities depend on their federal partners’ unique resources and jurisdiction, explained John Marti, a former federal prosecutor who previously served as acting U.S. Attorney in Minnesota.

“That’s not there anymore,” he said, due to attorney departures and the government’s intense immigration focus. The consequence, he predicted, will be more violent criminals “who are not apprehended and stopped.”

The transformation in Minnesota since the immigration crackdown has been so sudden that it may permanently impact traditional crime fighting, local law enforcement officials told Reuters. One official involved in the immigration enforcement surge warned that federal authorities’ capacity to pursue violent felons could remain compromised for years due to the “ripple effects” of the administration’s overwhelming immigration emphasis.

Reuters examined the impact using court dockets from Westlaw, a legal research service. The analysis counted cases on the federal district court’s criminal docket, where the most serious charges are filed, excluding cases before federal magistrates who handle minor offenses. Reuters used artificial intelligence to help categorize charges, with a random record review showing 98% accuracy.

Administration officials justified the Minneapolis crackdown as necessary to prevent crime, including a social services fraud scandal from 2022 that resulted in numerous Somali American prosecutions.

However, Reuters found authorities filed only two new wire fraud cases between January and April, neither involving government benefits. Federal and state agencies conducted searches at Minnesota social welfare organizations last week as part of a fraud investigation.

Although Minneapolis doesn’t rank among America’s most dangerous cities, federal authorities had recently prioritized combating violent crime there.

After the Minneapolis surge began, local authorities reported that federal agents already stationed in Minnesota started vanishing from anti-drug task forces to assist with immigration enforcement, though exact numbers remain unclear. “They’re experiencing significant disruptions because agents are being reassigned,” said Robert Small, executive director of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.

Some agents had been diverted from street crime investigations to immigration work before the surge, according to two sources familiar with the situation. These agents frequently reported being unavailable on certain days while pursuing immigration enforcement.

The operation also triggered an exodus from Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, where several prosecutors resigned rather than follow orders to investigate Good’s widow – the woman killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

Additional attorneys subsequently departed. The wave of resignations left the office with approximately half its normal staff of about 50 attorneys, two sources familiar with staffing told Reuters. Five of six supervisors in the criminal section left, according to multiple sources who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters.

The Justice Department has since rotated military lawyers and prosecutors from other states as temporary replacements.

Understaffed federal prosecutors have struggled to file new cases or manage those initiated before the immigration operation. In February, a Minneapolis judge dismissed a case federal prosecutors filed last year against Tavon Timberlake, accused of being a felon possessing a firearm. After prosecutors missed deadlines, sometimes citing staff shortages, the judge ruled Timberlake was denied his right to a speedy trial and dismissed the case.

Last week, federal prosecutors requested court permission to drop charges against a man accused in a carjacking that killed two people and injured a six-year-old child, stating in court filings that local prosecutors would pursue charges instead.

Despite struggling with such serious crimes, federal prosecutors found time to arrest and charge dozens of people protesting Trump’s immigration crackdown. Beyond felony charges related to the church protest, prosecutors charged 40 additional people with mostly minor violations from confrontations with federal agents. They quickly dropped approximately half these cases, court records indicate.

One attorney familiar with the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney’s Office operations described it as severely limited in pursuing traditional cases: “They’re just trying to hang on.”

A federal commission is set to review President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to cover a historic 19th-century government building adjacent to the White House with white paint, a proposal that forms part of his broader vision to enhance Washington’s aesthetic appeal.

The National Capital Planning Commission has scheduled Thursday to examine Trump’s request to apply white paint to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building’s gray granite facade. The Republican president previously criticized the current gray color, describing it as “really bad” last year.

This painting proposal represents just one element of Trump’s extensive renovation efforts around the presidential complex. His administration is also demolishing the East Wing to construct a ballroom accommodating 1,000 guests, while Lafayette Park remains shuttered for improvements including fountain repairs.

White House official Josh Fisher explained to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in April that the administration favors painting the complete structure due to exterior staining and what he termed “great disrepair.” An alternative approach would leave the base granite unpainted while covering the remainder in white.

Fisher noted that government-consulted experts couldn’t promise that cleaning alone would adequately address the building’s condition issues.

However, the proposal has sparked significant concern among preservation advocates, architectural experts, and historians. These critics contend that granite surfaces aren’t designed for paint application and warn that coating the stone could trap water, causing deterioration while failing to resolve the underlying problems the administration seeks to address.

Public sentiment strongly opposes the painting scheme. Extensive public feedback submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, accessible through their website, demonstrates overwhelming resistance based on concerns about potential granite damage and continued problems despite substantial taxpayer costs. Alternative suggestions include enhanced landscaping, improved lighting, and other appearance upgrades.

The Society of Architectural Historians recently wrote to Will Scharf, a senior White House advisor who chairs the planning commission, explaining why the project “will adversely and permanently alter this important part of American heritage and should be rejected.”

Commission staff members have issued a report supporting building cleaning while requesting additional details to properly assess the painting proposals. They’re asking the White House to specify paint types and provide examples of successful granite exterior applications from other projects, plus alternative approaches including cleaning and lighting solutions.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building holds National Historic Landmark status and appears on the National Register of Historic Places. Legal challenges to the proposed paint application are currently proceeding through federal courts.

Located across a driveway from the West Wing, the building showcases granite, slate, and cast iron construction representing one of America’s finest examples of French Second Empire architectural style. Originally housing the State, War, and Navy departments, it now contains ceremonial vice presidential offices, the second lady’s offices, National Security Council facilities, and other White House operations.

During their April session, the fine arts commission instructed White House representatives to return with additional information, including paint testing results.

DETROIT — Michigan’s Republican Party is experiencing growing pessimism about the 2026 midterm elections, abandoning earlier confidence that they could reclaim control in a state where Democrats currently dominate all major offices.

Economic pressures including skyrocketing fuel costs, an unpopular conflict in Iran, and trade policies damaging the automotive sector have created challenging conditions for GOP candidates across the state.

A significant alarm bell sounded this week when a Democratic candidate secured victory in a state Senate special election with a nearly 20-point margin in a district that Vice President Kamala Harris barely captured by less than one percentage point in 2024. The previous Democratic incumbent had won the same seat by just 6 points two years earlier.

“To get to this margin in that kind of a district means that Democrats and independent voters are working in tandem to send a message to the Trump administration,” explained Michigan polling expert Richard Czuba regarding the recent electoral outcome.

This political climate presents obstacles for Michigan’s GOP as they approach critical midterm contests that will determine the governor’s mansion, legislative control, and a high-profile U.S. Senate race. The state’s voter sentiment also carries national implications for Republicans, who view Michigan as essential to their coalition after Donald Trump’s 2024 victory there.

Across the country, Trump’s economic approval ratings have declined between March and April as the Iranian conflict drove up consumer costs, according to AP-NORC polling data. The April survey revealed weakening support even among Republican voters, with positive economic views dropping from 74% to 62% during that period.

Independent voters, who play a decisive role in battleground states like Michigan, remain largely unimpressed with Trump’s economic performance. Approximately 20% of independents endorsed his economic handling in April, down from roughly 30% the previous month. Just one-quarter of American adults expressed approval for his approach to cost-of-living issues.

Michigan residents may be experiencing these economic impacts more severely than citizens in other regions. The state’s gasoline prices currently average approximately $4.80 per gallon, ranking tenth nationally according to AAA data, following an 80-cent weekly spike.

Local voter Jared Kaufman, 26, expressed frustration with escalating expenses and the Iranian military involvement. He supported Democrat Chedrick Green in the recent election, explaining that as an educator with limited income, the sacrifices required “for something that is nowhere near us” seem unjustified.

Trade policies have generated additional concerns in a state heavily dependent on automobile manufacturing and Canadian commerce. While Trump contends these measures will bolster domestic production, Michigan suppliers and smaller manufacturers report that uncertainty has complicated investment and growth planning.

“The more stability there is in the environment, the easier it is for me to make decisions to grow and expand,” stated John Lytle, president of Promess Inc., a Detroit-area manufacturing company. “That’s probably been the biggest impact it’s had on us.”

Jason Roe, a political consultant and former Michigan GOP executive director, acknowledged current environmental challenges while arguing that Democrats face their own difficulties and Trump retains time to reduce costs.

“But if they don’t get Iran figured out pretty quick, we’re screwed,” he added.

These political headwinds coincide with internal Republican divisions among leading candidates.

The gubernatorial contest was previously considered the GOP’s strongest pickup opportunity, given Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s term limits forcing her departure. Michigan historically tends to elect governors from the opposing party when incumbents step down.

Representative John James, a military veteran representing a competitive congressional district, had emerged as the primary frontrunner with previous Trump endorsements in two unsuccessful Senate campaigns. However, party dissatisfaction with his campaign strategy has intensified recently.

When James announced in April that he would skip a GOP debate in a crucial swing county while other major candidates participated, numerous Republicans voiced criticism.

“The data is clear: if John James wins the Aug. 4, 2026, primary, Republicans will almost certainly lose the general election in November,” declared Chris Long, a Michigan GOP leadership member, in a social media statement urging James to withdraw.

James has committed to participating in two July debates.

Democrats confront their own challenges. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leads their expected field, though Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is also campaigning. Party members express concern that Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat now seeking the governorship as an independent, could divide their vote share.

James’s campaign has been further complicated by Perry Johnson’s late entrance. The millionaire businessman, who previously mounted unsuccessful gubernatorial and presidential bids in 2022 and 2024, has launched aggressive attacks against James while announcing a $10 million television advertising campaign in February.

Republican strategist Dennis Lennox characterized James as conducting “an awful campaign,” while noting that any GOP nominee will face difficult circumstances.

“Anyone who isn’t being paid to say otherwise will concede that 2026 is going to be a very difficult year for Republicans,” Lennox observed.

James spokesperson Hannah Osantowske dismissed the criticism as “sore losers griping,” maintaining that James remains the GOP leader and “the only Republican beating both Democrats in November.” She also downplayed Johnson’s candidacy.

“Michiganders are not buying what he is selling,” Osantowske stated. “They want a trusted Trump ally, combat veteran and proven job creator. That is John James.”

Beyond the gubernatorial race, national Republicans are focused on capturing Michigan’s open Senate seat to prevent Democratic control of the chamber.

Former Representative Mike Rogers is mounting another GOP campaign after losing in 2024 by fewer than 20,000 votes to freshman Senator Elissa Slotkin.

Democrats are conducting a competitive and increasingly contentious Senate primary featuring three prominent candidates competing for the August 4 nomination.

Questions persist about Rogers’s ability to win a race he previously lost despite Trump’s ballot presence. No Republican has captured a Michigan Senate seat since 1994.

While Rogers maintains the largest cash reserves among Senate candidates due to an uncontested GOP primary, Democratic contenders state senator Mallory McMorrow and former health official Dr. Abdul El-Sayed outpaced his fundraising in 2026’s first quarter. The Senate Leadership Fund, the primary Republican super PAC, announced a $45 million initial investment in Michigan’s race during early April.

Czuba suggested that external spending might not benefit Rogers if it further nationalizes the contest.

“If the conversation is nationalized in Michigan, we see how poorly the president’s numbers look right now,” Czuba explained. “If undecided voters disproportionately view Donald Trump negatively, I’m not sure what the path is for Mike Rogers.”

Recent state election results in India have revealed a concerning trend of religious-based voting that is widening the political gap between the nation’s Hindu and Muslim communities.

Data from elections held across four Indian states shows Muslim voters are increasingly rallying behind the opposition Congress party, while Hindu voters continue to strongly support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party. Political experts warn this pattern signals growing religious division in a country that is officially secular.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has embraced a Hindu-first ideology known as Hindutva since taking power in 2014. This approach benefits the party significantly because Hindus make up nearly 80% of India’s 1.42 billion population, compared to approximately 14% who are Muslim.

“The rise of the BJP has led to a consolidation of Muslim voters behind so‑called secular parties, particularly the Congress – a form of reverse polarisation is taking place,” explained political analyst Rasheed Kidwai, a visiting fellow with the Observer Research Foundation.

Muslim community leaders and political observers note that voters from their community are shifting away from smaller, Muslim-focused parties toward Congress and other major regional parties that have better chances of forming governments.

The recent state elections produced disappointing results for Congress overall, with the party’s coalition winning control of just one state while BJP-led alliances captured three states and a new regional party took the remaining contest.

However, Muslim support for Congress was particularly striking in Assam, a northeastern state controlled by the BJP. Of Congress’s 19 newly elected representatives there, 18 are Muslim – an increase from about 16 in the previous assembly. Congress had nominated 20 Muslim candidates and roughly 80 non-Muslim candidates for the 126-seat legislature, where the BJP secured 82 seats.

Meanwhile, the Assam-based All India United Democratic Front, which primarily attracts Muslim voters, saw its representation plummet to only two seats from 16 in the previous election cycle.

In neighboring West Bengal, where the BJP achieved its first victory with 207 representatives in the 294-seat assembly, both Congress legislators who won were Muslim.

Notably, the BJP chose not to nominate any Muslim candidates in either Assam or West Bengal. Party officials in both states, including West Bengal’s prospective chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, attributed their victories to Hindu voter support.

“It was a victory for Hindutva,” Adhikari declared.

Political columnist Radhika Ramaseshan warned that this trend could intensify further divisions. “In the future – depending on local political dynamics – if Muslim voters increasingly consolidate behind Congress, dominant Hindu voters may also regroup more strongly around the BJP,” she predicted.

Badruddin Ajmal, leader of the AIUDF in Assam, believes Congress has benefited from fears among Muslim voters who feel marginalized under BJP governance and worry about their citizenship status being questioned.

“The argument being made is that only a party with the strength to fight the BJP at the centre can ultimately address these concerns. This is not true but voters believe it because they are scared,” Ajmal said.

When the BJP criticized Congress for becoming a “new Muslim League,” Congress responded by noting that Muslims comprise about 12% of its 664 state legislators nationwide, while roughly 78% are Hindu – proportions that mirror India’s overall religious demographics.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera expressed frustration with the religious focus in modern politics. “I am embarrassed to talk about these things in the 21st century,” he said, emphasizing that his party, which governed India for 54 years following 1947 independence, maintains broad-based support.

“We have always stood by the weak and the oppressed and will continue to do so, irrespective of their religion and caste,” Khera stated.

The BJP has also made efforts to court Muslim voters, though the party did not field any Muslim candidates in the 2024 general election.

Modi has consistently rejected accusations that he uses religious appeals for political gain. “The day I start talking about Hindu-Muslim (in politics) will be the day I lose my ability to lead a public life,” he said while filing his candidacy two years ago. “I will not do Hindu-Muslim. That is my resolve.”

However, columnist Ramaseshan argues that religious rhetoric, particularly during election periods, has become much more prominent under Modi’s leadership compared to previous BJP administrations.

“The BJP and the larger Sangh (the party’s ideological parent) are shaping a new idea of India as a ‘Hindu rashtra (nation)’ — and that narrative has increasingly embedded itself in public consciousness,” she observed. “In the years ahead, we may see a complete overturning of the very idea of India.”

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Legal representatives for the Southern Poverty Law Center faced federal court proceedings Thursday, marking their initial appearance since the civil rights organization was hit with charges alleging they misled donors about how contributions would be used to pay informants within extremist organizations.

The federal grand jury charges, filed April 21 by the U.S. Justice Department, represent an unprecedented legal challenge against the Alabama-headquartered organization, which focuses on fighting discrimination and racism across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The SPLC maintains its innocence, and no individuals face personal charges in the case.

The organization has faced scrutiny from conservative critics, including FBI Director Kash Patel, particularly following a report that listed Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA among groups associated with “hate and extremism.” Kirk died during a college event in Utah in 2025.

Advocates argue the SPLC is being unjustly pursued by the Trump administration due to its successful civil rights work.

Federal court in Montgomery hosted Thursday’s arraignment on allegations including money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud and providing false information to financial institutions.

According to the Justice Department, the organization deceived contributors by channeling their donations toward funding the very extremism it claims to oppose. The indictment alleges approximately $3 million was directed to informants connected with the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, National Socialist Party of America and similar organizations from 2014 through 2023.

CEO Bryan Fair defended the payments, explaining they supported confidential sources who monitored potential violence from extremist factions. Fair stated the intelligence collected helped prevent harm and was regularly provided to the FBI.

“We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC,” Fair declared following the filing of charges.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently confirmed the organization’s established practice of cooperating with law enforcement after being questioned about contradictory statements.

“That’s well-documented, and there’s no dispute there. They aren’t charged with any of that conduct,” Blanche stated.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Silicon Valley leaders have found their champion in the California governor’s race, and they’re opening their wallets wide to support him.

Matt Mahan, the 43-year-old mayor of San Jose, has become the technology sector’s preferred choice to lead the Golden State. One tech investor described him as “the only sane” Democrat seeking to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, while others have contributed millions to his campaign, including funding for a Super Bowl commercial to introduce him to California voters.

The former technology executive entered the competitive gubernatorial contest in January, positioning himself as a practical leader focused on results. As a moderate Democrat, Mahan has gained statewide attention primarily through his criticism of Governor Newsom and state lawmakers’ handling of homelessness and criminal justice issues. His centrist approach has resonated with technology industry leaders seeking a business-oriented governor to follow Newsom, who cannot seek reelection due to term limits.

In an impressive fundraising sprint spanning just three months, Mahan has collected more campaign contributions than his competitors, most of whom began their campaigns over a year ago. (Billionaire Tom Steyer is primarily financing his own candidacy.)

During Tuesday evening’s CNN debate, Mahan portrayed his opponents as entrenched politicians while presenting himself as the candidate offering realistic answers to California’s problems.

“We don’t need MAGA values, but we also don’t need more of the same,” Mahan stated, referencing President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” philosophy embraced by Republican candidates Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, both of whom have received Trump’s endorsement.

However, Mahan appears to lack the political momentum he anticipated and the broad public recognition necessary to defeat his competitors — with limited time remaining to persuade voters before the June 2 primary election. His connections to the tech industry particularly concern labor organizations and some Democratic voters who doubt his willingness to challenge the sector.

“People do not want somebody who is a puppet of these big tech billionaires, of these AI billionaires — and that’s who he has always been,” stated Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, president of the California Labor Federation, which has endorsed Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Mahan argues he’s the sole candidate with genuine experience dealing with the massive technology industry, highlighting a collaborative effort he established in San Jose where over 900 public agencies cooperate to explore responsible artificial intelligence implementation in government operations. During Tuesday’s debate, he expressed support for taxing AI companies to fund worker training programs.

“Voters can see past the kind of, you know, shallow connection that because I’m the mayor of the largest city in Silicon Valley, that might mean that I’m not willing to regulate tech,” Mahan told The Associated Press. “It’s actually been quite the opposite.”

Political analysts point out that California has historically pioneered policies designed to both support and control its homegrown technology sector.

“If they can ensure that they get a governor in California who’s weak on tech accountability, then that can save them a lot of money across the states,” J.B. Branch of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights advocacy group, said regarding Silicon Valley executives supporting Mahan.

Throughout the political landscape, the technology industry is demonstrating its political influence as public doubt about social media and artificial intelligence grows. Independent organizations supported by tech companies and billionaires have already pledged at least $40 million to shape California legislative contests.

Political action committees supporting Mahan have collected over $25 million, including contributions from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, venture capitalist Michael Moritz and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman.

Several contributors, including Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, are diversifying their investments — they have also donated to Hilton, the former Fox News personality.

Mahan is “focused on actually solving problems — building more housing, improving public safety and making it possible for people to live and work here again,” Garry Tan, who leads a startup accelerator that helped launch companies like Airbnb and DoorDash, said through a spokesperson.

A Harvard University alumnus, Mahan was a classmate of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who he has said convinced him to pursue technology instead of attending law school.

Mahan participated in developing an early Facebook application called Causes that enabled users to promote nonprofit organizations. He later co-founded Brigade, a nonpartisan digital voter network.

However, that background isn’t central to Mahan’s campaign messaging. Instead, he emphasizes his childhood as the son of a postal worker and a schoolteacher. He stands as the only prominent Democrat supporting a suspension of the state’s gasoline tax.

He won the mayoral election in 2022 against a labor-endorsed opponent after spending two years on the city council. As mayor, he persuaded council members to allocate additional city funds toward temporary housing to remove homeless individuals from streets and made them subject to arrest for refusing shelter. Both initiatives faced strong resistance, but San Jose experienced a reduction in the number of people without shelter access last year, according to county statistics.

He opposed Newsom in 2024 by supporting a strict crime prevention ballot measure. Mahan has subsequently moderated his criticism, acknowledging the governor has addressed appropriate issues.

Mahan has pledged not to increase taxes to address budget shortfalls — including rejecting a one-time billionaire tax that most of his competitors also oppose. He proposes linking future salary increases for elected state officials and appointees to progress on issues like unemployment and homelessness.

“Raising taxes isn’t always the answer, Tom,” he directly told Steyer on Tuesday when the billionaire proposed requiring corporations to pay higher property taxes.

Mahan collected over $13 million in 11 weeks, enabling him to launch television advertisements to reach voters in some of the nation’s most expensive media markets. Two independent expenditure organizations have spent more than $18 million promoting his candidacy.

As of last month, only approximately 730 contributions to Mahan’s campaign were under $250, suggesting limited grassroots backing. By comparison, nearly all of Porter’s 46,000 donations fell below that threshold, as did roughly 5,600 contributions to former state attorney general Xavier Becerra.

Nevertheless, voters’ support for other Democratic candidates “is very soft” Mahan said regarding his prospects. “Even if people are leaning a certain way, they’re still persuadable.”

Technology executives’ backing of Mahan’s campaign and his regulatory plans dominated discussion during a recent “Ask Me Anything” session Mahan conducted on Reddit, where participants can pose questions anonymously.

Multiple participants asked when Mahan would withdraw to prevent a disastrous outcome for Democrats where two Republicans could advance to the November general election. One inquired which Democrat he would support after leaving the race.

“I plan to win!” he replied.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature is set to consider legislation Thursday that would break apart the state’s only majority-Black congressional district, a move backed by President Donald Trump as part of his broader effort to maintain Republican control of the U.S. House.

This redistricting push in Tennessee represents one of multiple fast-moving initiatives across the South, where GOP leaders are capitalizing on a recent Supreme Court decision that diminished protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.

The Supreme Court determined that Louisiana placed excessive emphasis on racial considerations when establishing a second district with a Black majority in an effort to comply with federal voting rights requirements. This ruling shifted longstanding interpretations of the law, providing Republicans with justification to target majority-Black districts that typically elect Democratic representatives.

Louisiana has delayed its congressional primary to allow state legislators time to develop a revised House map. Alabama lawmakers are also considering legislation that would disrupt their state’s congressional primaries if courts permit changes to House districts. In South Carolina, Republican legislators, encouraged by Trump, have begun preliminary steps to include congressional redistricting in their legislative agenda.

These states join what has become an intense nationwide redistricting fight. Following Trump’s encouragement of Texas to redraw its House districts last year, eight states have implemented new congressional maps. Republicans believe they could secure up to 13 additional seats from these changes, while Democrats estimate they might gain as many as 10. However, competitive races suggest neither party may achieve all their redistricting goals in November’s elections.

During Wednesday’s legislative hearings on the redistricting proposals, protesters repeatedly disrupted proceedings, though Republicans still moved the measures forward for potential final votes in both chambers.

The legislative package would eliminate a state law that prevents redistricting between census cycles and reopen candidate filing periods to allow new candidates to enter primaries and current candidates to change districts. The proposed House map would dismantle Tennessee’s single Democratic-held district, which centers on Memphis and its majority-Black population, triggering widespread changes to districts across western and central Tennessee.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton defended the proposed districts, stating they were created based on population and political considerations rather than racial demographics.

Civil rights advocates and Democratic officials strongly criticized the initiative.

“This proposal represents Black vote dilution at an industrial scale,” said Sekou Franklin, a political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University who works with the Tennessee NAACP chapter.

Democrats highlighted that the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the current congressional map in April 2022, determining it was too close to election day to implement changes. With even less time remaining before the August 6 primary this year, Democrats warned of potential confusion for both candidates and voters.

Alabama’s House approved legislation Wednesday establishing special congressional primaries as Republicans pursue the possibility of implementing a different congressional map before November’s elections. The Senate could vote on the measure by Friday.

Alabama seeks to overturn a federal court mandate that established a second House district with a near-majority Black population. That map resulted in the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. Republicans prefer to implement a 2023 map created by state lawmakers that would give the GOP a chance to regain Figures’ district.

The legislation passed along party lines following four hours of heated discussion during which Black lawmakers referenced the state’s historical struggles. Democratic state Rep. Juandalynn Givan compared the legislation to poll taxes and jelly bean counting exercises — nearly impossible tasks used to prevent Black voters from participating during the Jim Crow period.

“This represents a calculated political strategy driven by fear, specifically fear of Black people and Black political influence,” Givan stated.

Alabama’s primaries are scheduled for May 19. If a court approves the state’s request, the legislation would disregard congressional race results and direct the governor to organize new primaries under the modified districts.

South Carolina’s Senate may consider a resolution Thursday authorizing lawmakers to return after their regular session concludes to redraw congressional districts, potentially eliminating the state’s sole Democratic-held district. The proposal, which passed the House Wednesday, requires two-thirds approval in both chambers.

Republican House leaders announced plans to introduce a new map Thursday and conduct committee meetings Friday following the vote. During Wednesday’s debate, Republicans avoided specific questions from Democrats about their willingness to halt the June 9 House primary elections after candidates had already filed and the potential costs of rescheduled primaries.

Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg expressed sympathy for Republicans who, he argued, were abandoning their principles to accommodate Trump’s demands.

“The president wields significant influence through Truth Social, X, Meta, and Instagram. Honestly, I don’t envy our Republican colleagues,” Bamberg said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo at the Vatican this Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic encounter amid ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and the Catholic Church leader regarding the Iran conflict.

Rubio, who doubles as Trump’s national security adviser, is expected to arrive at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace at approximately 11:15 a.m. local time for what will be the first meeting between the pontiff and a Trump administration cabinet member in almost twelve months.

The private discussion is anticipated to run roughly thirty minutes, followed by a separate meeting between Rubio and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s chief diplomat from Italy.

Pope Leo, who became the first American to hold the papacy, has faced Trump’s criticism after voicing strong opposition to the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran and condemning the administration’s strict immigration stance.

In recent weeks, Trump has launched an extraordinary series of public criticisms against the pope, prompting condemnation from Christian leaders spanning the political divide.

This past Monday, Trump made false claims suggesting the pope supported Iran’s nuclear weapons development and accused Leo of “endangering a lot of Catholics” through his war opposition.

Following Trump’s latest verbal assault, Leo spoke to reporters about his commitment to promoting Christian values of peace. The pope categorically denied any support for nuclear weapons, emphasizing the Catholic Church’s teaching that such weapons are morally wrong.

“The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” the pope stated. “The Church has spoken out for years against all nuclear arms, on that there is no doubt.”

Pope Leo, who will commemorate his first anniversary leading the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics this Friday, has become increasingly vocal on international matters recently.

Last month during a diplomatic visit across four African nations, he strongly criticized current global leadership trends and declared the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” though he later clarified these remarks weren’t specifically targeting Trump.

Both Rubio and Vice President JD Vance practice the Catholic faith and previously met with Pope Leo one year ago following his inaugural papal ceremony.

During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Rubio indicated he planned to address Cuba-related issues and worldwide religious freedom concerns during his Vatican visit.

Unusually for a secretary of state’s international travel, Rubio is making the Rome trip without any accompanying press corps.

Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, informed reporters Tuesday that the papal meeting with the cabinet official would likely involve “frank” dialogue.

Rubio’s two-day Roman itinerary includes a Friday meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has publicly defended the pope against Trump’s criticisms. Meloni’s defense minister has also warned that the Iranian conflict jeopardizes American global leadership.

HERSHEY, Pa. — During a legal conference in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back against perceptions that Supreme Court justices function as political figures, emphasizing that controversial decisions stem from legal interpretation rather than policy preferences.

Speaking to judges and attorneys from the 3rd U.S. Circuit, Roberts addressed public misconceptions about the court’s role. “I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we’re saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides,” he explained. “I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do.”

Roberts’ defense comes during a period of diminished public trust in the nation’s highest court, occurring roughly one week after justices delivered a ruling that significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act.

The recent decision eliminated a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, determining it constituted an illegal racial gerrymander. This ruling undermined the Civil Rights-era legislation that had boosted minority congressional representation and potentially enables additional redistricting efforts that could benefit Republican House control strategies.

The conservative-controlled court has issued several transformative decisions in recent years, including eliminating constitutional abortion protections, broadening Second Amendment rights, and prohibiting race-conscious college admissions practices.

While avoiding mention of particular cases, Roberts maintained the court operates outside political spheres. “One things we have to do is make decisions that are unpopular,” he acknowledged, while stressing that rulings reflect justices’ constitutional analysis rather than personal views.

Roberts also criticized personal attacks against judges based on their judicial decisions, a concern he has voiced repeatedly as threats against federal judges increase. “That’s not appropriate and it can lead to very serious problems,” he warned.

Former President Donald Trump has been among those launching personal criticisms of judges, including Roberts himself and other justices who ruled against Trump’s emergency tariff powers.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — GOP lawmakers across multiple Southern states are accelerating efforts to redraw congressional boundaries following a recent Supreme Court decision that has opened the door to challenging existing district maps.

In Tennessee, demonstrators continuously disrupted legislative sessions focused on redistricting proposals. Despite the interruptions, Republican lawmakers moved the plans forward for a possible final decision on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s Republican-controlled House voted to approve legislation that would allow new congressional primaries if courts permit them to implement different U.S. House boundaries.

Last week’s Supreme Court decision determined that Louisiana placed excessive emphasis on racial considerations when establishing a second district with a Black majority population while trying to follow Voting Rights Act requirements. This decision provides Republican officials in Louisiana and other states with justification to attempt removing districts where Black voters hold majorities and typically elect Democratic candidates.

The court’s decision has escalated what was already an intense nationwide battle over district boundaries before November’s midterm elections, which will decide control of the narrowly divided House of Representatives.

Since Texas became the first state to redraw its House districts last year, eight states have implemented new congressional maps. Republicans believe they could pick up as many as 13 seats, while Democrats estimate they might gain up to 10. However, several newly created districts may be contested in November, potentially preventing either party from achieving their full objectives.

Tennessee Proposal Divides Memphis Area

On Wednesday, Tennessee Republicans unveiled a new House map that would divide Shelby County, where Memphis is located, among three districts rather than the current two. This change would dismantle the state’s only Democratic-controlled district, which centers on the predominantly Black city, triggering widespread modifications to districts across western and central Tennessee.

“Tennessee is a conservative state, and our congressional delegation should reflect that. This bill ensures it does,” stated Republican state Sen. John Stevens.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton explained that the proposed boundaries were created using population data and political considerations rather than racial demographics.

Alabama House Supports New Primary Elections

Alabama’s Republican-majority House approved legislation on Wednesday that would authorize special congressional primary elections as GOP officials consider implementing a different congressional map for November’s elections. The measure now advances to the state Senate.

Alabama officials are working to overturn a federal court directive that established a second congressional district with nearly majority Black voter representation. This map resulted in the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democratic candidate. Republicans prefer to implement a 2023 map created by state legislators that would provide the GOP with a chance to regain Figures’ southern Alabama district.

South Carolina Advances Redistricting Plans

South Carolina’s House approved a resolution on Wednesday that would authorize lawmakers to reconvene after their regular session concludes to redraw congressional districts, potentially eliminating the state’s sole Democratic-held district. The proposal must now receive Senate approval, requiring a two-thirds majority vote.

Following Wednesday’s vote, Republican House leadership announced plans to present a new map on Thursday and conduct committee discussions on Friday.

PHOENIX (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday that the Justice Department plans to remove immigration judges who process cases too slowly or fail to properly apply the law, as the Trump administration works to accelerate deportations and address a massive backlog of 3.7 million pending cases.

Speaking at the annual Border Security Expo in Phoenix, which brings together immigration officials, law enforcement, and government contractors, Blanche outlined the administration’s strategy to overhaul immigration courts. His presence at the event underscores how border security has become a top administration priority.

In an interview with The Associated Press following his conference remarks, Blanche provided the most comprehensive details yet about immigration court reforms since taking over after Pam Bondi’s departure last month.

“You take an oath and you’re not allowed to make decisions based upon what appear to be just sympathy or your whim,” Blanche stated.

“If there’s judges that are just not applying the law in the way that it needs to be applied, delaying inappropriately, have backlogs that are just unacceptable, they’re the folks that we’re going to try to find somebody different to fill that spot.”

The Trump administration has positioned mass deportations as a cornerstone policy, launching a comprehensive government-wide initiative to meet ambitious removal targets. The effort includes expanded enforcement operations in U.S. cities, increased detention capacity, and additional immigration officer recruitment.

Although the Department of Homeland Security primarily handles President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda, immigration courts operate under Justice Department authority, making them crucial to the overall strategy.

During Trump’s current term, dozens of immigration judges have lost their positions, with opponents claiming they were dismissed for approving too many asylum requests. The administration has also deployed masked officers to detain migrants at private asylum proceedings and issued directives requiring judicial compliance. Immigrant advocates report that routine court appearances have increasingly become arrest opportunities.

Immigration courts operate differently from federal courts, lacking strict procedural protections and lifetime tenure guarantees. The attorney general maintains broader authority to dismiss immigration judges compared to federal judicial positions.

However, legal advocates strongly oppose the administration’s court restructuring approach.

“Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is systematically dismantling due process protections in U.S. immigration courts, prioritizing speed and enforcement over fairness, accuracy, and fundamental justice,” the American Immigration Lawyers Association stated in a recent policy document.

Opposition groups also point to decisions by an internal court board that have restricted asylum pathways under the current administration. Blanche dismissed these concerns, maintaining that the rulings align with existing law.

Blanche identified ongoing issues with judges who continuously postpone cases and others who ignore legal requirements “because of sympathy towards individuals.”

With substantial congressional funding secured last summer for additional judicial hiring, the department is rapidly expanding its immigration judge workforce, though critics question whether new appointees meet qualification standards.

“We have a very rigorous process to get people interviewed, approved, and then trained up. And then we’ll watch them,” Blanche said, defending the hiring practices.

Blanche also revealed increased Justice Department focus on revoking citizenship from individuals accused of system fraud through “denaturalization” procedures. This process averaged only about twelve cases annually between 1990 and 2017.

“That’s one of the tools that we are using aggressively that hasn’t been used as aggressively in the past,” Blanche explained, though he declined to provide specific case numbers.

Federal immigration authorities have revived efforts to remove a Columbia University student from the country after he took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, according to legal documents filed by his attorneys.

The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals reversed an earlier decision that had halted deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, a student who was taken into custody last year following his involvement in campus protests supporting Palestinian causes.

In February, immigration judge Nina Froes from Chelmsford, Massachusetts had dismissed the Trump administration’s attempts to remove Mahdawi from the United States. However, Froes lost her position last month.

The immigration appeals board, operating under the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, has now overruled Froes’ earlier determination. President Trump has characterized activists such as Mahdawi as promoting antisemitic views, backing extremist causes, and posing risks to American foreign policy interests.

Civil rights advocates and some Jewish organizations argue that federal officials are incorrectly equating legitimate criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its control over Palestinian areas with antisemitic sentiment, while also treating Palestinian rights advocacy as extremist support.

“The government continues to weaponize the immigration system to silence dissent,” Mahdawi stated in a release distributed by his attorneys on Wednesday.

Mahdawi, who grew up in a refugee settlement in the West Bank under Israeli control, was detained in April 2025 when he appeared for an interview regarding his application for American citizenship. He spent two weeks in custody before a judge ordered his release, and authorities never filed criminal charges against him.

The American Civil Liberties Union, serving as Mahdawi’s legal representation, maintains that immigration officials cannot currently remove him from the country because his detention is being contested through federal court proceedings.

The Trump administration has intensified its response to pro-Palestinian activism by pursuing deportation of foreign demonstrators, threatening funding cuts to universities hosting protests, and examining immigrants’ social media activity. Civil liberties experts have raised concerns about the impact on constitutional rights, legal procedures, and academic independence.

American universities have experienced ongoing campus organizing against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza beginning in late 2023, with demonstration activity reaching its height during 2024. Though the movement’s intensity has decreased, sporadic incidents continue to occur.

During the past weekend, University of Michigan faculty member Derek Peterson expressed support for pro-Palestinian demonstrators during spring graduation ceremonies, leading the institution to issue a public apology.

On Wednesday, Rutgers University announced it had rescinded an invitation to pro-Palestinian business executive Rami Elghandour, known for his criticism of Israeli policies, to deliver a commencement address scheduled for next week.

Civil rights advocates and Democratic protesters gathered in multiple Southern states to oppose Republican-controlled redistricting initiatives being advanced before upcoming midterm elections. The demonstrations targeted GOP lawmakers who are pushing forward with controversial mapping plans despite strong resistance from opposition groups.

Legislative sessions in Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina featured heated discussions over proposed district boundaries that activists warn could dilute the voting power of majority-Black congressional areas. These redistricting proposals come in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision regarding congressional map drawing.

The protests highlight ongoing tensions over how electoral districts are configured, with civil rights organizations arguing that the proposed changes could undermine minority representation in Congress.

ATLANTA — A federal judge has denied Fulton County’s request to recover 2020 election ballots and materials that federal agents confiscated from an Atlanta-area storage facility, ruling Wednesday that the Justice Department may continue holding the seized items.

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee issued the decision after county attorneys contended that the ballots and related election documents, along with any digital copies created by federal officials, should be given back due to an illegal and unconstitutional seizure.

Federal agents conducted the January 28 confiscation at the election operations center in Georgia’s largest county, a Democratic stronghold that encompasses most of Atlanta. Fulton County has faced repeated unsubstantiated allegations from President Donald Trump and supporters claiming massive voter fraud altered the 2020 election outcome.

According to the Justice Department, investigators are examining “irregularities that occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the County” and have identified potential violations of two federal statutes. One law mandates preserving election records for 22 months, while another criminalizes obtaining, casting or counting false or fraudulent ballots.

The 2020 presidential results in Georgia underwent three separate counts, including a complete hand recount, with each tally confirming Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.

Neither Fulton County representatives nor Justice Department officials immediately provided comments about Wednesday’s decision. The county maintains the option to challenge the ruling in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“The seizure in this case was certainly not perfect,” Boulee stated in his 68-page decision. However, he determined that Fulton County failed to demonstrate that officials “callously disregarded” its constitutional protections “either through the lack of probable cause, omissions in the Affidavit or by the manner of the execution of the seizure.”

The county also could not prove it requires the materials or would suffer permanent damage without their return, the judge noted, especially since federal officials provided copies of the documents to the county.

Following the January confiscation, the Justice Department secured a grand jury subpoena in April requesting names and contact details for Fulton County workers and volunteers who participated in the 2020 election. County officials filed a motion Monday seeking to invalidate that subpoena, claiming it exceeds reasonable scope and aims to intimidate political adversaries.

The Trump administration has pursued similar efforts to access election records from other battleground states. Federal agents used a subpoena in March to obtain documents from a 2020 presidential election review in Arizona’s Maricopa County. In April, the Justice Department ordered Michigan’s Wayne County to surrender its 2024 election ballots.

Federal officials are simultaneously battling multiple states in court for voter information containing private personal details. Election administrators, including Republican officials, have stated that releasing such information would breach state and federal privacy protections.

Democratic leaders have expressed alarm that the Trump administration is misusing federal law enforcement to pursue the president’s personal vendettas and may be plotting interference in upcoming midterm elections. Administration officials maintain they are investigating past irregularities and working to safeguard future elections.

At a March 27 hearing regarding Fulton County’s demand for return of its ballots and materials, county lawyers contended the seizure was improper and unjustified, showing “callous disregard” for Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. They suggested the Trump administration chose to use a criminal search warrant after becoming impatient with civil litigation the Justice Department initiated last year to obtain the same materials.

Federal prosecutors defended their warrant application process and document seizure as appropriate. They emphasized that simultaneous civil and criminal investigations on the same matter occur regularly.

Judge Boulee acknowledged the warrant affidavit contained “defective” elements and included some “troubling” statements. However, he observed that the FBI agent who prepared it also presented “facts that both hurt and helped him.” He determined the document’s flaws do not constitute callous disregard.

The judge further agreed that the government may pursue both civil and criminal cases on identical issues and concluded the investigation timeline contradicts the county’s claim that the Justice Department “created an ‘ongoing investigation’ to sidestep procedural hurdles” in civil proceedings.

A federal judge in Atlanta has decided that the Justice Department may retain possession of 2020 election ballots that FBI agents collected during a search earlier this year, delivering a legal win for the Trump administration’s ongoing investigation into alleged voting irregularities.

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee denied Fulton County’s motion to have the original documents returned. County attorneys had contended that the FBI’s operation at their election facility was based on unreliable and debunked information, and that it breached constitutional protections.

Fulton County representatives have not yet provided a statement regarding the decision.

This court decision represents an uncommon legal success for Trump’s Justice Department in investigations the president has called for. The ruling permits federal agents to maintain control of over 600 containers of 2020 ballots while they conduct a criminal probe examining whether election materials were improperly stored or if Fulton County voters were denied a legitimate election process. Fulton County encompasses the majority of Atlanta.

However, the investigation continues to encounter substantial challenges. Justice Department attorneys have not named any specific suspects in the case and have not challenged assertions that the time limit for prosecution may have already passed for both offenses under investigation.

Election administrators and specialists nationwide have been monitoring this case closely as Trump continues to suggest possible federal intervention in local elections and raises questions about voting procedures before the upcoming November elections.

Trump has persistently made unfounded allegations that his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden resulted from extensive fraud, and has directed federal law enforcement and intelligence services to reexamine vote collection and counting procedures.

Justice Department representatives maintained that Fulton County failed to satisfy the strict legal requirements needed to recover materials taken during a court-authorized search.

The search operation, which received approval from a federal magistrate judge, involved FBI agents taking original 2020 ballots and additional documents from the county’s election facility located in Union City, Georgia. Officials pointed to supposed problems with the 2020 vote, including allegations that certain digital ballot images were absent and some mail-in ballots appeared not to have been properly folded as mandated.

The probe originated from information provided by Kurt Olsen, an attorney who assisted Trump’s efforts to reverse the 2020 election results and has been assigned by the White House to review the vote. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, was present during the search in an uncommon action for an official typically focused on international threats.

Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold in a state that has become highly competitive in presidential races, became a focal point for conspiracy theories and fraud allegations promoted by Trump and his supporters after the 2020 election.

Biden’s substantial victory margin in Fulton County was crucial in turning Georgia to the Democrats. The state returned to Trump’s column in 2024.

County legal representatives argued that the FBI document used to justify the search excluded important background information demonstrating that many allegations had been previously examined and determined to be either baseless or errors that did not stem from deliberate wrongdoing.

At a March court session in Atlanta, an election specialist who consulted with the county during the 2020 election stated that much of the evidence referenced in the affidavit seemed to reflect a lack of understanding about election procedures.

Federal officials have launched a legal challenge against Colorado’s restrictions on high-capacity ammunition magazines, filing suit to eliminate a state law that has been in place for over a decade.

The Justice Department filed the lawsuit Wednesday targeting Colorado’s prohibition on magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. State lawmakers passed this restriction in 2013 following a devastating mass shooting at an Aurora movie theater that left 12 dead and 58 wounded.

Federal attorneys argue that Colorado’s magazine capacity limits violate Second Amendment constitutional protections for gun ownership. The 11-page legal filing from the Justice Department’s civil rights division references the Supreme Court’s 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller decision, which established that Americans have the right to possess commonly-used firearms for legal activities.

According to the federal complaint, magazines exceeding 15 rounds are standard equipment for many widely-owned firearms across the country, including AR-15 style rifles and certain semi-automatic handguns.

“The number of lawfully owned semi-automatic firearms in the United States that utilize a magazine like the ones banned by the state is in the tens of millions,” the lawsuit states. Federal officials contend that prohibiting these magazines effectively restricts ownership of weapons that are “in common use.”

The legal filing emphasizes that such firearms serve “multiple lawful purposes,” including target shooting for recreation, collecting, and personal protection. Justice Department lawyers are seeking a court injunction to stop Colorado from enforcing its magazine capacity restrictions.

Colorado’s top legal official has pledged to fight the federal challenge. Attorney General Phil Weiser released a statement defending his state’s gun safety regulations and criticizing the federal lawsuit.

“Large-capacity magazine laws are responsible policies that satisfy Second Amendment protections, decrease impacts of mass shootings and save lives,” Weiser stated. “The state has a duty to protect Colorado residents from gun violence.”

Weiser also accused federal officials of misusing the Justice Department’s civil rights division, saying the lawsuit “turns the mission of the DOJ’s civil rights division on its head.”

This marks the second gun-related legal action the Trump administration has taken against Colorado this week. On Tuesday, federal attorneys filed a separate challenge to Denver’s municipal ban on certain semi-automatic rifles classified as assault weapons.

Previous attempts to overturn Colorado’s magazine restrictions have failed in federal court. In 2016, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a similar lawsuit brought by county sheriffs, gun retailers, and shooting organizations. The appeals court ruled those plaintiffs could not prove they would suffer personal harm from the laws, meaning they lacked proper legal standing to file suit.

NEW YORK — Legal representatives for former President Donald Trump have filed a motion with a federal appeals court in New York requesting a temporary halt to an $83 million defamation judgment awarded to longtime columnist E. Jean Carroll.

Attorney Justin D. Smith submitted the request to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, asking the court to pause its ruling that upheld the massive award. This would prevent Trump from having to make the payment while pursuing an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Carroll received the $83 million judgment from a Manhattan jury in January 2024. Previously, in May 2023, a separate jury had awarded her $5 million after determining that Trump had sexually assaulted her in a dressing room at a high-end Manhattan department store in 1996, then defamed her following her public account of the incident in 2019.

The former president has consistently and forcefully rejected any claims of sexual assault against Carroll, stating he never knew her. He has also repeatedly alleged that her accusations are politically motivated or intended to boost sales of her book.

According to court documents submitted to the 2nd Circuit, Smith indicated that Carroll’s legal representation would not object to delaying the payment, provided Trump increases his posted bond by $7.4 million to account for potential interest that might accumulate during a Supreme Court review process.

Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Smith argued to the appeals court that Trump would face “irreparable harm” if required to pay immediately, citing Carroll’s public statements about her intention to donate the award money. This would make it impossible for the former president to recover the funds should the Supreme Court overturn the decision.

The attorney stated there was a “reasonable probability” the nation’s highest court would agree to hear the appeal, particularly given Trump’s claims of absolute immunity regarding statements made during his presidency.

To bolster his argument, Smith referenced dissenting opinions from three 2nd Circuit judges who opposed a recent decision to reject a full court review of the case. This left intact a three-judge panel’s September ruling that supported the verdict.

Smith expressed confidence that there was “at least a fair prospect that the Supreme Court will reverse the Panel.”

Federal investigators announced Wednesday they determined UCLA’s medical school violated federal law by factoring race into student admissions decisions, as the Trump administration increases oversight of how universities select their incoming classes.

This determination intensifies the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and UCLA, which has primarily centered on how the main campus handled complaints about antisemitic harassment. The medical school at UCLA did not immediately provide a response when contacted for comment.

College admissions programs that consider race have been prohibited since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that banned such practices. While that ruling allowed schools to continue evaluating how students’ personal experiences might reflect broader qualities, Trump has alleged that universities are circumventing the law by using personal essays and other indirect methods to factor in race during admissions, which conservatives consider unlawful discrimination.

The Justice Department launched investigations in March into potential race-based discrimination at medical schools including Stanford, Ohio State, and UC San Diego. The current administration has also focused on undergraduate admissions at competitive universities, requiring them to provide documentation proving compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Following a year-long investigation into UCLA, federal officials concluded the medical school engaged in discrimination against white and Asian American applicants while giving advantages to Black and Hispanic candidates.

The department pointed to statistics revealing that admitted Black and Hispanic students had lower average GPAs and test scores during 2023 and 2024. For instance, Black students admitted in 2024 had an average GPA of 3.72, while Asian Americans averaged 3.84 and white students averaged 3.83.

Federal officials argue this data demonstrates the medical school relied on non-academic criteria to meet diversity objectives.

“As a result of these practices, highly qualified White, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race,” said Harmeet Dhillon, head of the department’s Civil Rights Division, in a letter of findings.

Investigators also criticized an application section that asked students to voluntarily identify if they belonged to a marginalized group and describe how that affected them. This question appeared on applications for 2024 and 2025, according to the department.

California voters prohibited affirmative action in college admissions through a 1997 ballot initiative. In court documents filed during the Supreme Court case, the UC system reported this change caused a dramatic decline in underrepresented minorities, particularly at the most competitive campuses.

The filing stated UC subsequently adopted “numerous and wideranging race-neutral measures designed to increase diversity of all sorts, including racial diversity.” Despite these efforts, the system acknowledged continued difficulties in boosting campus diversity.

The Trump administration’s findings create an opportunity for UCLA to voluntarily address the Justice Department’s concerns or potentially face legal consequences. Possible sanctions include the loss of federal funding.

In March, a group of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit opposing a Trump administration requirement that higher education institutions provide data proving they don’t factor race into admissions decisions.

Military officials are pushing to complete work on a luxury aircraft donated by Qatar’s royal family in time for Fourth of July festivities, according to a government source and someone close to the project.

The White House received the Boeing 747 from Qatar earlier this year and directed the Air Force to quickly bring the plane up to presidential flight standards. L3Harris has been chosen to handle the extensive modifications needed for the aircraft.

Should the company meet its target date, President Donald Trump would have access to a new presidential aircraft for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration. Sources indicate there have been discussions about potentially finishing the work by June 14th to coincide with Trump’s birthday, rather than waiting until the July deadline.

The acceptance of this gift has sparked controversy among Democratic lawmakers and government ethics watchdogs, who argue it creates potential conflicts of interest that might sway presidential policy decisions. Trump has rejected these concerns about taking the 13-year-old aircraft valued at $400 million, calling it “stupid” to refuse such an offer. The current presidential fleet consists of two specially modified 747-200B planes, though any Air Force aircraft carrying the president receives the Air Force One designation.

Converting the luxury jet provided by Qatar’s monarchy involves extensive security enhancements, upgraded communication systems to prevent electronic surveillance, and defensive capabilities against missile attacks, according to aviation specialists.

A military spokesperson confirmed, “The aircraft is on schedule to deliver this summer.” Officials announced Friday that modification work and test flights have been completed, with painting currently underway.

OFFICIAL REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FACES SETBACKS

Meanwhile, Boeing’s official Air Force One replacement initiative – converting two 747-8 aircraft into modern presidential jets – continues to face significant delays, running four years past the original timeline. Current projections show delivery won’t occur until summer 2028, potentially leaving Trump without his new aircraft before his presidency concludes in January 2029.

Boeing remains bound by a fixed-price agreement valued at $3.9 billion from 2018, though actual expenses have grown beyond $5 billion, forcing the company to absorb $2.4 billion in project losses. To address ongoing challenges, Boeing brought in Steve Sullivan in 2025, a former Northrop Grumman leader with experience on the B-21 bomber project.

Military officials recently revealed updated paint colors featuring red, white, dark blue and gold for the executive aircraft fleet – bringing back a design scheme Trump had long advocated for. A similar color scheme had been abandoned in 2022.

This new appearance will be used on the VC-25B – the military’s term for the Boeing 747-8 – replacing the white and blue design that has been standard since President Kennedy’s administration. Four Boeing 757-200 aircraft used by the vice president, cabinet officials and other senior leaders will also receive the updated paint scheme.

Last December, the Air Force acquired two former Lufthansa 747-8i planes for $400 million – designating one for crew training and maintenance practice, while the other will provide replacement parts as officials prepare to eventually phase out the existing fleet that entered service in 1990.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Seven contenders seeking California’s top executive office engaged in a spirited televised debate Tuesday evening, sparring over contentious issues including a proposed wealth tax and government healthcare for undocumented residents.

The CNN-broadcast forum represented one of the final opportunities for candidates to make their case to voters before the June 2nd primary to replace term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. With mail-in ballots already circulating, the top two vote-getters will move forward to November’s general election regardless of political affiliation.

While no Republican has occupied the governor’s mansion for over ten years, the crowded field suggests uncertainty with less than four weeks remaining until election day.

Tuesday’s debate featured Democrats Xavier Becerra, former Biden administration health secretary; Katie Porter, ex-congresswoman; billionaire environmental advocate Tom Steyer; San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Republicans Steve Hilton, a conservative media personality, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco also participated.

Healthcare policy sparked intense exchanges among the candidates.

The contenders battled over eliminating private insurance for a government-controlled system, a concept that has repeatedly stalled in the state legislature.

Porter, an advocate for government-managed healthcare, challenged Becerra directly about his shifting position on the matter.

“Do you support CalCare — California having its own state-run, single-payer system, yes or no?” Porter asked.

Becerra provided an ambiguous response.

“The most important thing about having a Medicare for All plan is that it includes everyone,” he said. “What we have to do is get to the point where we are covering everyone with something like Medicare for All.”

Mahan, opposing a state-controlled system, later interjected that Becerra “was unable to clearly answer the most important question on healthcare.”

Becerra pushed back: “I did answer that question.”

Steyer aligned with Porter in supporting the proposal, while Bianco, Hilton, and Villaraigosa dismissed it as impractical or financially unrealistic.

Immigration discussions revealed stark partisan divisions.

Steyer, Porter and Becerra endorsed state-funded medical coverage for low-income undocumented immigrants, a program Newsom initially expanded but later reduced. Bianco labeled the approach “ridiculous.”

Democratic candidates strongly criticized Trump administration immigration enforcement operations.

Steyer argued the state should pursue legal action against federal agents and immigration officials who engage in racial profiling or violence against Californians. Mahan noted that San Jose business owners have seen customers disappear because many immigrants fear leaving their homes.

Bianco defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities, stating agents were upholding federal law and working to remove individuals he described as “criminals” without legal status.

Hilton, who emigrated from England, emphasized he was the debate’s only immigrant participant. He cautioned against mixing legal and unauthorized immigration issues.

“Although it is the federal government’s responsibility to determine and implement immigration policy, I think it’s important that all the laws are peacefully enforced,” Hilton said. “As governor, I would make sure that we work with the federal government to enforce our laws.”

Democratic candidates repeatedly stressed their opposition to Trump’s immigration agenda.

Neither Hilton, who has Trump’s backing, nor Bianco frequently mentioned the former president, except to argue that Democrats wrongly hold him responsible for state problems.

Becerra referenced Trump most frequently, highlighting his numerous lawsuits against the administration during his tenure as state attorney general from 2017 to 2021, before Biden appointed him health secretary.

“I’m going to repeat Donald Trump as often as I have because he’s the menace,” Becerra declared.

When Villaraigosa pressed Hilton to confirm Trump’s 2020 election defeat, Hilton declined to respond.

“Endlessly going on about Donald Trump doesn’t serve the needs of the struggling families and small businesses,” Hilton said.

Mahan attempted to stake out centrist ground. He criticized Becerra for attributing high fuel costs entirely to Trump, while noting San Jose has challenged the Trump administration’s immigration policies in court. He called Republican support for Trump’s “cruel and ineffective policies” disqualifying.

Porter offered a blunt assessment: “Donald Trump sucks.”

Tax policy discussions centered on wealth inequality measures.

Steyer stood alone in endorsing a proposed billionaire tax likely appearing on November ballots. The one-time levy would restore funding eliminated by Trump-era cuts that reduced healthcare access for low-income residents.

Porter supports higher taxes on California’s wealthiest residents but characterized the proposed tax as a short-term solution to systemic problems.

Mahan proposed suspending gasoline taxes to ease burdens on working families.

Hilton suggested eliminating income taxes on the first $100,000 of earnings.

Both Mahan and Steyer advocated taxing artificial intelligence companies and directing revenue toward worker support programs, including job training initiatives.

“The answer is to tax these companies, not to regulate them to the point that they simply go to other places,” Mahan said.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A prominent Virginia state senator who has championed cannabis reform throughout her political career now finds herself at the center of a federal investigation after law enforcement raided her marijuana business this week.

Senator L. Louise Lucas, known for her passionate advocacy on cannabis legalization, has built much of her legislative agenda around reforming drug laws that she believes unfairly target African American communities. Her commitment to the cause led her not only to author legalization legislation but also to establish her own cannabis retail operation.

Federal agents conducted a court-authorized search at Lucas’s business on Wednesday, though the FBI has not disclosed the specific focus of their investigation. The raid has thrust the longtime politician’s three-decade career back into the spotlight.

Lucas made history in 2019 when she became Virginia’s first Black woman to serve as Senate president pro tempore following the Democratic takeover of the chamber.

Her political journey has not been without controversy. In 2020, she faced felony accusations related to her participation in a demonstration against a Confederate memorial, though a judge ultimately threw out those charges.

A Portsmouth native, Lucas broke barriers early in her career as the first woman to work as a ship fitter at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, according to state library records. She currently leads a Portsmouth company that provides housing, daily programming, and transportation services for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Lucas launched The Cannabis Outlet in her hometown of Portsmouth in 2021, selling legally permitted hemp and CBD merchandise.

“Let’s talk about pot,” Lucas wrote on social media platform X in 2022. “Yes, we legalized it and I even opened the Cannabis Outlet after we did! But the job isn’t done. People are still in jail for something that is legal today.”

Witnesses reported seeing an armored FBI vehicle and multiple federal agents at Lucas’s cannabis shop on Wednesday. The FBI confirmed only that agents were executing a court-approved search warrant in Portsmouth.

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Iranian officials are eager to enter negotiations and reach an agreement with the United States, describing the current diplomatic situation as progressing well.

Speaking during a White House event, Trump expressed optimism about the diplomatic efforts. “We’re doing very well in Iran. It’s going very smoothly, and we’ll see what happens. They want to make a deal, they want to negotiate,” the former president stated.

Trump further emphasized Iran’s apparent willingness to engage in talks. “We’re dealing with people that want to make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” he added.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials confirmed Wednesday they are examining a fresh proposal from the United States. According to sources familiar with the matter, both Washington and Tehran are working toward finalizing a brief memorandum aimed at resolving Gulf region conflicts, though complex matters including Iran’s nuclear activities would be addressed in future discussions.

WASHINGTON — The White House revealed Wednesday that President Donald Trump has approved a new counterterrorism strategy placing the elimination of drug cartels throughout the Western Hemisphere at the forefront of national security priorities.

This strategic document follows the administration’s previously released national security framework that identified the hemisphere as America’s primary area of focus.

The Trump administration has taken bold steps to transform the region, including efforts to remove Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela’s presidency, conducting numerous military operations against suspected cartel vessels, and applying fresh pressure on Cuba’s communist leadership.

Sebastian Gorka, the White House’s counterterrorism czar who led the development of this new approach, explained that the priority shift reflects a stark reality: drug cartels have caused more American deaths through illicit narcotics than the number of U.S. military personnel killed in overseas conflicts since World War II.

“Whether it is strangling their illicit funds, whether it is tracking their drug boats, we will not permit them to kill Americans on a massive scale,” Gorka said in a telephone call with reporters to announce the strategy.

This initiative represents another demonstration of the administration’s dedication to concentrating U.S. foreign policy efforts on the Western Hemisphere while simultaneously managing global challenges.

Since early September, the Republican administration’s campaign of destroying suspected drug-trafficking boats in Latin American waters has continued, resulting in at least 191 total fatalities.

Simultaneously, Trump has worked to encourage regional leaders to collaborate more extensively with the United States in combating cartels and conducting their own military operations against drug traffickers and international gangs that he characterizes as an “unacceptable threat” to hemispheric security.

According to Gorka, the administration’s additional counterterrorism objectives include targeting and eliminating Islamic military organizations capable of conducting operations against the United States; identifying and neutralizing violent secular political groups with anti-American, “radically pro-gender,” or anarchist ideologies; and strengthening efforts to prevent non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

Gorka indicated that administration officials plan to meet with allies later this week to explore ways they can strengthen their counterterrorism approaches.

“As the president made very clear, we will measure your seriousness as a partner and ally by how much you bring to the table,” he said. “So we expect more — from our partners in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere.”

Federal agents executed a search warrant at the district office of Virginia Senate President L. Louise Lucas on Wednesday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The Portsmouth office belongs to the Democratic state senator, who played a prominent role in Virginia’s recent redistricting efforts.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials confirmed they were executing a court-approved search warrant in Portsmouth but provided no additional details. The source who verified the search of Lucas’s office requested anonymity because they were not permitted to publicly discuss the active investigation.

Former President Donald Trump has demonstrated his continued influence within the Republican Party after his endorsed candidates successfully defeated nearly all Indiana state senators who had previously opposed his redistricting agenda five months earlier.

The primary election outcomes are expected to strengthen Trump’s position as he prepares for additional Republican contests where he aims to remove more sitting officials, including Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie.

Tuesday’s Indiana results also increase pressure on GOP legislators in other states to aggressively pursue congressional redistricting before November’s general election. Special legislative sessions have already commenced in Alabama and Tennessee that could reduce Black voter influence in districts that typically lean Democratic, while Trump supporters in South Carolina are pushing for similar actions.

Indiana State Senator Linda Rogers, who cast a vote against redistricting and subsequently lost her position on Tuesday, warned the results “will probably discourage others in other states.”

“If someone is going to ask you to take a tough vote, you may think twice about your conscience and what’s best for your community and instead what’s best for you and your career,” Rogers explained.

While redistricting initiatives launched last year when Trump identified a chance to provide Republicans with additional advantages, they gained momentum following last week’s Supreme Court decision that eliminated a key Voting Rights Act provision affecting how political boundaries are established.

Trump’s Indiana success, supported by over $8.3 million in campaign funding for races that typically receive minimal financial investment, reinforced the former president’s ongoing dominance within the Republican Party he has controlled for ten years, even as he faces declining approval ratings and approaches lame-duck status.

“Historic night for Indiana as Republicans stood with me and President Trump to nominate some great America First conservatives,” Indiana Governor Mike Braun posted on social media. “I look forward to winning big in November and serving Hoosiers with this team in the statehouse!”

The former president supported primary opponents against seven Republican state senators who had rejected his December redistricting proposal. Five of Trump’s chosen candidates secured victories, while one contest remained undecided.

Trump maintained a measured approach on social media regarding the election results. He posted several images celebrating his endorsed candidates’ wins in both Indiana and Ohio, which also conducted primaries Tuesday, but refrained from additional boasting or renewed criticism of Massie or Cassidy.

Massie has frustrated the president by advocating for the release of Jeffrey Epstein case documents. Cassidy joined other Republican senators in voting to convict Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol riot.

James Blair, a senior Trump political advisor, took a more direct approach by sharing a “Gladiator” movie image showing Russell Crowe’s character Maximus celebrating after a combat victory.

Rogers faced nearly $670,000 in television advertisements opposing her candidacy, financed by political action committees linked to Braun and Indiana Senator Jim Banks.

She expressed no regret about her redistricting vote.

“It would have been easy for me to hit that ‘yes’ button,” Rogers stated. “To hear the number of people who asked me not to, then the number of people who thanked me, would mean I wasn’t representing them.”

Louisiana’s primary featuring Trump’s endorsement of Representative Julie Letlow against Cassidy is scheduled for May 16. Kentucky will hold its primary May 19, where Trump has backed retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on social media Wednesday, threatening intensified military action against Iran unless the country accepts terms of a potential peace deal that could conclude their ongoing conflict.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” Trump’s post said.

According to Axios reporting, the White House is close to finalizing a brief, one-page agreement with Iran that would bring the war to an end. The proposed deal reportedly contains several key elements: halting Iranian uranium enrichment activities, removing U.S. economic sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic.

In his social media statement, Trump suggested that energy shipments of oil and natural gas could resume if Iran agrees to the undisclosed terms. However, he acknowledged uncertainty about Iran’s willingness to accept the proposal.

Trump wrote that it was “perhaps a big assumption” that Iran would agree to the terms being offered by the United States.

White House officials declined to provide additional details or respond to inquiries about the reported negotiations.

Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced questioning Wednesday before a House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers are examining Lutnick’s interactions with the convicted sex offender following 2008. Despite providing conflicting accounts of his relationship with Epstein, Lutnick maintains his innocence and expressed willingness to participate in the private congressional interview.

Tuesday’s electoral results across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan painted a familiar political landscape heading into November’s midterm contests. Trump continues to wield significant influence within Republican circles, though Democratic candidates appear to be gaining ground.

In Indiana specifically, Trump successfully backed five candidates in primary races, supported by over $8.3 million in campaign spending. The president targeted seven Republican state senators who had opposed his congressional redistricting proposal, with five of his endorsed challengers emerging victorious.

Trump has also renewed his public disagreements with Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, potentially creating diplomatic complications for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s planned Vatican visit this week. In a recent interview, Trump criticized the Pope’s stance on Iran and immigration policies, claiming the religious leader’s positions make the world less secure.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his nation’s concern about the U.S.-Iran conflict during meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. This marked Araghchi’s first visit to China since hostilities began on February 28. The Trump administration is encouraging China to leverage its economic and political relationships with Tehran to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Recent polling data from AP-NORC reveals that approximately one-third of American adults report knowing someone whose life has been affected by immigration enforcement measures over the past year. Hispanic Americans are particularly impacted, with more than half reporting personal connections to individuals who have altered their daily routines, travel plans, or documentation practices due to immigration concerns.

Democratic candidates have demonstrated unexpected strength in recent special elections nationwide, winning in traditionally challenging districts and narrowing margins even in losses. While higher midterm turnout could change these dynamics, the trend has energized Democratic supporters and concerned Republicans about maintaining their congressional control.

WASHINGTON — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced questioning Wednesday during a House committee session focused on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as congressional members demanded explanations for Lutnick’s interactions with Epstein following his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The Cabinet member under President Donald Trump represents the most recent high-profile political figure to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Despite providing conflicting accounts regarding his connection to Epstein, Lutnick maintains his innocence and expressed willingness to participate in the private legislative session.

The recorded testimony served as an examination of congressional willingness to hold accountable influential individuals who maintained associations with Epstein despite public knowledge of his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Trump’s Republican leadership has attempted without success to distance itself from this matter for over twelve months.

Among Trump administration officials beyond the president himself, Lutnick holds the highest position mentioned in Epstein case documentation. Trump has repeatedly denied awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities and stated their association ended years prior.

Multiple Democratic lawmakers have demanded Lutnick’s resignation, while certain Republicans, including South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace, have insisted he should provide testimony to the Oversight committee.

Lutnick has minimized his connections to Epstein, who previously lived in his New York City neighborhood. During Democratic questioning at an unrelated hearing this year, he characterized their interaction as limited email exchanges and two meetings during 2011 and 2012.

However, this acknowledgment contradicted his earlier podcast statement from last year, where he claimed deciding to avoid being alone with Epstein after a 2005 visit to Epstein’s residence that upset both Lutnick and his spouse.

Epstein entered a guilty plea in 2008 to Florida state sex crime charges, including soliciting prostitution from a minor.

“I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him,” Lutnick stated to senators in February during questioning about Epstein at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee session.

Yet Lutnick, formerly leading the Cantor Fitzgerald brokerage and investment firm, actually spent an hour at Epstein’s residence in 2011. His family subsequently visited Epstein’s notorious private island for lunch in 2012.

Released federal case documents revealed ongoing email correspondence between the two men. In 2018, Lutnick contacted Epstein regarding a proposed museum expansion in their shared neighborhood that would have obstructed views from their properties. Epstein contributed $50,000 to a 2017 dinner celebrating Lutnick, while Lutnick extended an invitation to Epstein for a 2015 Hillary Clinton fundraising event. Both men invested in identical business opportunities in 2013.

White House officials continue backing Lutnick, who championed Trump’s comprehensive tariff policies. He has maintained a lengthy relationship with Trump and assisted with fundraising efforts for both 2020 and 2024 campaigns.

The House Oversight Committee plans to receive testimony on May 29 from Pam Bondi, who departed her attorney general position last month.

Epstein died in a New York detention facility in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking allegations.

A federal intelligence assessment has revealed that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran may have influenced the suspect who allegedly tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at last month’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

According to a Department of Homeland Security intelligence report distributed to law enforcement agencies across the country, Cole Allen harbored “multiple social and political grievances” and the Iran conflict “may have contributed to his decision to conduct the attack.” The preliminary assessment, dated April 27, cited Allen’s social media posts that were critical of American involvement in the war.

This intelligence briefing provides the clearest insight yet into what may have driven the failed April 25 attack on the annual media event. While still preliminary, the findings represent the strongest indication to date that the Iran conflict, which has resulted in thousands of casualties across the Middle East and disrupted global markets, could have served as a catalyst.

The document, labeled a “Critical Incident Note,” was secured through public records requests by the transparency organization Property of the People and provided to Reuters.

Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Justice Department responded immediately to requests for comment. The FBI declined to provide a statement.

This week, federal prosecutors filed an additional charge against Allen for assaulting a federal officer, alleging he opened fire on a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint. He already faced charges of attempted assassination, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and illegally transporting weapons and ammunition across state boundaries. Allen has not yet entered a plea.

Federal authorities have released limited information about Allen’s suspected motives, referencing only an email he sent to family members on the evening of the attack. Officials have described the message as a manifesto expressing frustration with the current administration and mentioning his intent to target the “traitor” scheduled to speak, though Trump was not specifically named.

Court filings indicate prosecutors believe Allen “disagreed” with Trump’s policies and “wanted to ‘fight back’ against government policies and decisions that he found morally objectionable.”

Federal investigators are conducting an extensive analysis of Allen’s online presence and digital communications as they work to understand his motivations, according to a senior law enforcement source who requested anonymity.

“It’s being closely looked at,” the official said.

The investigation encompasses posts from a Bluesky social media profile connected to Allen that shared numerous anti-Trump messages in the weeks before the incident. These posts included condemnation of U.S. actions in Iran as well as criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Elon Musk, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The account promoted a post demanding Trump’s impeachment following his April 7 statement threatening to destroy Iranian civilization, made just hours before Trump agreed to a ceasefire. It also shared criticism targeting reporters planning to attend the correspondents’ dinner.

Investigators have also examined a 2024 post where an account linked to Allen appeared to refer to Trump as “the devil” while quoting scripture in response to a message from Trump’s daughter Tiffany.

The emphasis on Allen’s digital activity is partly intended to prevent conspiracy theories about the suspect’s motivations and online behavior, the official explained, noting that speculation surrounding the online activity of the individual who shot at Trump during a 2024 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, had fueled widespread conspiracy theories.

WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans now believe the United States has lost its reputation as a welcoming destination for immigrants, according to new polling data from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The survey of more than 2,500 adults nationwide reveals that approximately 60% of respondents think America was once a favorable place for immigrants to settle but no longer holds that distinction. Roughly one-third of those polled — including more than half of Hispanic respondents — report that either they or someone in their circle has begun carrying citizenship documentation, faced detention or removal proceedings, altered travel arrangements, or modified daily activities like attending work or school due to immigration status concerns within the past year.

These findings emerge as the nation’s highest court weighs whether the current administration can limit automatic citizenship for children born on U.S. soil, following months of intensified immigration enforcement operations and large-scale deportation efforts.

Reid Gibson, a 72-year-old retired Missouri resident who identifies as politically independent, expressed strong criticism of current immigration policies. Gibson remains hopeful that the country will eventually return to more welcoming practices, though he fears “it may take many years to reverse the damage that the Trump administration has inflicted” through its approach.

Gibson’s concerns extend to his own family. His stepdaughter now carries her passport regularly due to worries that her appearance might make her a target during enforcement actions.

“It’s just plain wrong,” Gibson stated. “This is not a good country for immigrants anymore.”

The polling data indicates that Americans have modified their behavior in response to increased enforcement activities over the past year, as the administration has expanded detention operations while pursuing what officials describe as the nation’s largest deportation campaign.

Survey results show Democrats are more likely than Republicans or independents to personally know someone affected by these policies, and individuals with such connections are more inclined to view America as no longer immigrant-friendly.

Kathy Bailey, a 79-year-old Illinois Democrat, has witnessed these policy impacts firsthand at her local swimming facility. Two regular participants in her swim class — both naturalized American citizens — now bring their passports whenever they leave home. Bailey noted that one participant, originally from Latin America, feels particularly vulnerable in their predominantly white community.

“She’s an American citizen now, but she’s so scared that she has to carry her passport,” Bailey explained. “She’s just another sweet old grandmother swimming at 5 in the morning.”

Hispanic adults report significantly higher rates of personal impact, with approximately 60% saying they or someone they know has experienced enforcement-related effects, compared to much lower percentages among Black or white adults.

“This is terrible for these women!” Bailey exclaimed. “I’m just stunned at what we are coming to.”

Nick Grivas, a 40-year-old Massachusetts resident, draws connections between current policies and his own family history, recalling his grandfather’s journey from Greece to America. This personal background influences his belief that the United States has ceased being a land of opportunity for newcomers.

“We can see how we’re treating children and the children of the immigrants, and we’re not viewing them as potential future Americans,” Grivas observed.

The polling shows roughly 30% of adults still consider America a great destination for immigrants, while approximately 10% believe it never was. The view that America has lost its immigrant-friendly status is more prevalent among Democrats, independents, and foreign-born residents.

Grivas, who identifies as a Democrat, worries that restrictive federal policies could harm the country by discouraging newcomers from establishing roots in their communities, particularly when their long-term residence remains uncertain.

“You’re less willing to commit to the project if you don’t think that you’re gonna be able to stay,” he explained.

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments regarding President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship by declaring that children born to unauthorized or temporary residents would not automatically receive American citizenship.

About two-thirds of poll respondents support automatic citizenship for all children born within U.S. borders, a position backed by most Democrats and independents. Republican support is lower at 44%. The survey also reveals some conflicted views, with respondents supporting birthright citizenship in general while opposing it under certain specific conditions.

Linda Steele, a 70-year-old Florida Republican, opposes automatic citizenship, believing only children of American citizens should receive it. Steele argues that foreign nationals residing legally in the United States — whether for employment or education — should not be able to have children who automatically become citizens.

“That shouldn’t be allowed,” she said. “They’re just here visiting or going to school.”

When presented with specific scenarios, about 60% of adults support birthright citizenship for children born to parents holding legal tourist visas, while only half support it for those born to unauthorized residents. Support increases to 75% for children born to parents with legal work visas, with much of this additional backing coming from Republicans who find this situation more acceptable.

Kevin Craig, a 57-year-old from Wilmington, North Carolina, who leans conservative, opposes automatic citizenship grants. Craig believes there should be “at least some opportunity for intervention by a human being who can make some sort of a judgment.”

However, he added: “I think my personal opinion is that I can’t think of a situation where it would not be granted.”

The AP-NORC survey of 2,596 adults was conducted April 16-20 using NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

A fresh survey indicates that supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement will prioritize cost reduction over other health concerns when casting their ballots in November’s midterm elections.

According to research conducted by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization, reducing expenses ranks as the primary health concern for MAHA supporters across party lines, with at least half stating this issue will significantly influence their voting decisions and candidate preferences.

Cost concerns continue to challenge a president who made affordability a central campaign promise. Trump’s approval numbers have dropped to record lows as the conflict with Iran drives up living expenses, with gas prices climbing and restaurant sales declining due to the war’s economic impact.

These financial worries are anticipated to damage Republican chances of keeping congressional control this year.

The KFF survey found that 61% of all participants said medical costs would significantly affect their November voting choices, placing this concern above food safety and vaccination policy issues.

“This poll really shows that the issues the MAHA movement has elevated resonate broadly with the American public, but even for voters who support MAHA, healthcare costs are the dominant priority by a wide margin,” said Audrey Kearney, senior survey analyst at KFF.

Researchers conducted the study April 14-19 through online and phone interviews with 1,343 U.S. adults representing the national population. Approximately 500 participants identified as MAHA movement supporters, according to KFF.

The organization discovered that 42% of MAHA voters selected cost reduction as their top federal health priority when forced to choose one issue. This compared to 21% who emphasized limiting chemical food additives and 10% who prioritized reviewing vaccine safety protocols.

Survey results carried a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Trump previously stated he would allow Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “go wild” on health policy matters. Kennedy’s efforts to reduce recommended childhood vaccinations and modify dietary guidelines have satisfied MAHA supporters.

However, the administration has also frustrated movement members with certain decisions, including a February directive protecting domestic production of a commonly used herbicide and April’s appointment of a former COVID response official to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“He shook Bobby Kennedy’s hand and said he’d let him go wild. And nothing has been done to reduce our children’s exposure to toxic pesticides,” Zen Honeycutt, who founded Moms Across America, told Reuters.

The KFF poll revealed that public majorities believe insufficient regulation exists for chemical food additives and agricultural pesticides.

The Trump administration received poor approval ratings on two key MAHA priorities. Survey results showed 38% of respondents approved of vaccine policy management and 46% supported food policy handling.

Kennedy’s approval ratings have stayed relatively stable since September and January polling, with roughly four in ten voters supporting his performance as health secretary, KFF reported.

Honeycutt expressed continued support for Kennedy while hoping the administration will change direction on pesticide policies.

“This administration has done more for health than any other administration ever in recorded history,” Honeycutt said. “It was brilliant of Trump to bring Kennedy on board.”

The health secretary has recently pursued quick victories before the midterms after White House pressure led him to scale back vaccine initiatives that prompted sharp criticism from major medical organizations.

Secretary of State Rubio has announced that American military combat activities in Iran have concluded, with the administration now prioritizing diplomatic negotiations moving forward.

Tuesday’s primary elections in Ohio and Indiana have provided political analysts with key insights as the nation prepares for the upcoming midterm elections. The results from these contests are being closely examined for trends that could influence races across the country.

Recent polling data indicates that Democratic candidates appear to be positioned favorably heading into the midterm election cycle, suggesting potential advantages as campaigns intensify in the coming months.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republicans in South Carolina have launched an effort to reshape congressional boundaries targeting a district with a Black majority, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened safeguards for minority representation in voting.

With encouragement from President Donald Trump, GOP lawmakers in the Palmetto State are working to alter the congressional map in hopes of capturing all seven of the state’s House seats, including one currently represented by a longtime Black Democratic congressman.

South Carolina’s initiative mirrors similar actions already underway across the South. Special legislative sessions are currently happening in Alabama and Tennessee to modify their federal House districts, while Louisiana officials are also preparing new congressional boundaries after the Supreme Court invalidated their existing map last week.

The nation’s highest court determined that Louisiana placed excessive emphasis on racial considerations when establishing a second district with a Black majority while trying to follow Voting Rights Act requirements. This decision dramatically changed how the law has been interpreted for decades, providing Republicans with justification to challenge majority-Black districts that typically elect Democratic candidates.

The court’s decision has intensified nationwide redistricting conflicts before November’s midterm elections, which will decide control of the narrowly divided House of Representatives.

Following Trump’s encouragement for Texas to redraw its House districts last year, eight states have now implemented new congressional maps. Republicans believe they could pick up as many as 13 seats from these changes, while Democrats estimate they might gain up to 10. However, some newly drawn districts may be competitive in November, potentially limiting gains for both parties.

Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn has served South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District since it was restructured to benefit minority voters in 1992, and he’s seeking his 18th term. However, his reelection prospects could become more challenging if Republicans successfully redraw his district boundaries.

State legislative leaders have indicated that any redistricting initiative requires approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate. The matter could be addressed as early as Wednesday, though success depends on near-unanimous Republican support.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey has cautioned that redistricting efforts might backfire due to narrow political margins, potentially creating a second Democratic House seat. Massey informed reporters Tuesday that he had a respectful discussion with Trump regarding redistricting, with both expressing their respective concerns.

The state’s primary elections are set for June 9, with early voting beginning in three weeks.

On Wednesday, the House may consider legislation allowing Alabama to conduct a special congressional primary if the Supreme Court permits the state to modify its House districts.

Based on the court’s Louisiana ruling, Alabama officials have requested that courts suspend a judicial mandate requiring a House map with two districts containing significant Black populations. Republicans prefer using a 2023 Legislature-approved map that could help the GOP win at least one of those seats currently held by Democrats.

Alabama’s primaries are planned for May 19. If the Supreme Court approves the state’s request after or close to the primary date, proposed legislation would disregard those primary results and direct the governor to schedule new primaries under revised district lines.

Democrats have criticized the legislation as a Republican attempt to seize power that recalls the state’s disgraceful history of denying Black citizens equal rights and representation.

Republicans are “working to secure an electoral victory by taking Alabama back to the Jim Crow era, and we won’t go back,” Democratic Representative Terri Sewell declared to a crowd assembled outside the Alabama Statehouse.

Republican Governor Bill Lee has convened Tennessee lawmakers for a special session to examine a Trump-endorsed proposal that could dismantle the state’s only Democratic-held House district, which centers on Memphis, a majority-Black city. Republicans provided few details about the plan Tuesday.

As the Senate commenced work Tuesday, protesters in the hallways could be heard shouting “shame, shame, shame” inside the chamber. On the floor, Senator Raumesh Akbari, a Black Democrat from Memphis, described the redistricting as “an act of hate.”

Martin Luther King III wrote to Tennessee legislative leaders expressing “grave concern” about plans to split Memphis, stating the action could undermine the voting rights work accomplished by his father, Martin Luther King Jr.

Tennessee’s candidate filing period concluded in March, with the primary election scheduled for August 6.

Following last week’s Supreme Court ruling, Republican Governor Mike Landry delayed Louisiana’s May 16 congressional primary to provide time for lawmakers to approve new House districts. Republican State Senator Caleb Kleinpeter, who chairs a redistricting committee, announced plans for a public hearing Friday.

Louisiana voters had already submitted more than 41,000 absentee ballots by last Thursday when Landry suspended the House primaries, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. This represents about one-third of all distributed absentee ballots, with approximately 19,000 from registered Democrats, 17,000 from registered Republicans, and the remainder from unaffiliated voters.

Democrats and civil rights organizations have filed multiple lawsuits challenging Louisiana’s congressional primary suspension.

Citizens in Indiana and Ohio cast ballots Tuesday in crucial primary contests that will measure former President Donald Trump’s continued sway over the Republican Party while setting the stage for November’s midterm elections. At the same time, political observers are monitoring a competitive Michigan state Senate race that has the potential to flip control of that legislative body.

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This represents a curated collection of photographs assembled by Associated Press photo editors.

WASHINGTON — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will visit the White House this Thursday for discussions with President Donald Trump focusing on economic cooperation and security concerns, according to a White House source who requested anonymity since the meeting hasn’t been formally announced.

The relationship between the leftist Brazilian leader and Trump has experienced significant ups and downs following Trump’s return to office last year.

Earlier tensions arose when Trump imposed substantial tariffs on Brazilian goods and criticized Brazilian officials for pursuing legal action against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro related to alleged coup activities.

The Trump White House implemented a 40% duty on Brazilian imports last July, adding to an earlier 10% increase. Trump defended these trade measures by claiming that Brazil’s policies and legal pursuit of Bolsonaro created an economic emergency situation.

However, Trump subsequently reduced some of these tariffs as part of broader efforts to decrease costs for American consumers.

The two leaders began improving their relationship during September’s United Nations General Assembly, followed by their initial one-on-one discussion in Malaysia during October and additional telephone communications.

Bolsonaro faces allegations of orchestrating a scheme to remain in office after losing the 2022 election to Lula — accusations that mirror those Trump confronted following the January 2021 Capitol attack by his supporters attempting to prevent Democrat Joe Biden from assuming the presidency.

During the previous month, Lula supported Pope Leo XIV amid heated exchanges between the religious leader and Trump concerning the Iranian conflict.

The 80-year-old Brazilian president is seeking reelection in the upcoming October contest.

Brazilian newspaper O Globo initially broke the story about Lula’s planned White House visit.

Sherrod Brown, the former United States Senator from Ohio, secured victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary race, positioning himself for another shot at the Senate seat he previously occupied before losing his reelection bid in 2024.

Major news organizations including the Associated Press and NBC News called the race in Brown’s favor following Tuesday’s primary voting. The win gives Brown the Democratic nomination as he seeks to return to the Senate position he held before his unsuccessful reelection attempt last year.

Brown’s primary victory sets up what could be a competitive general election battle as the former senator works to reclaim his previous role representing Ohio in the U.S. Senate.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seven top contenders for California’s governor’s office took the debate stage Tuesday evening, coinciding with the start of mail-in ballot distribution across the state.

The two-hour televised debate featured five Democratic hopefuls and two Republican candidates vying to succeed departing Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. This marks the first time in decades that California has experienced such a competitive race for its top executive position, with over 50 individuals appearing on the ballot.

Participating in the debate were Republican frontrunners Steve Hilton, a conservative media personality, and Chad Bianco, who serves as Riverside County Sheriff. The Democratic lineup included Xavier Becerra, who previously served as Health and Human Services Secretary under President Biden, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, wealthy entrepreneur Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and ex-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The election takes place as the nation’s largest state grapples with persistent homelessness issues, wildfire insurance availability problems, anticipated budget deficits, and astronomical housing prices. Citizens are simultaneously dealing with rising costs for essential items like food, utilities, and gasoline.

Republican candidates have criticized the state’s Democratic leadership for these ongoing problems, pointing to high taxation and excessive regulations that they claim are driving businesses away. Democratic contenders have focused on opposing President Donald Trump, who has given his endorsement to Hilton and maintains an adversarial relationship with California.

As the campaign window narrows, candidates are seeking standout moments to capture voter attention. Mail-in ballots started reaching households this week ahead of the June 2 primary election deadline.

Steyer, who transitioned from hedge fund management to progressive advocacy, has invested heavily from his personal wealth into advertising campaigns but hasn’t emerged as the clear leader. According to AdImpact’s tracking data, Steyer has allocated or spent close to $150 million on television, cable, and radio advertisements, significantly outspending all other competitors.

California’s electoral system places all candidates on one ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to November’s general election regardless of political affiliation. Democratic party officials are concerned that their crowded candidate pool might allow two Republicans to advance, creating an unprecedented disaster for the party.

The Republican Party hasn’t secured a statewide victory in California for twenty years, and Democratic voter registration exceeds Republican registration by approximately a 2-to-1 margin across the state.

The race experienced significant upheaval last month following the sudden exit of Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, who withdrew amid sexual assault allegations. His departure from both the campaign and Congress removed one of the race’s leading contenders.

CNN served as the host network for the debate.

Thirteen Washington D.C. police officers are now on administrative leave as the department continues investigating allegations of misconduct related to crime data reporting, interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll announced during a Tuesday news conference.

Carroll revealed that the officers were suspended Monday as part of an ongoing internal probe that launched earlier this year after the U.S. Attorney’s Office made a referral to the department.

When pressed for details about the investigation, Carroll remained tight-lipped. “What I can tell you is there were allegations of misconduct that were made, and based on those allegations, members were investigated, and the outcome is related to these individuals,” he stated.

The interim chief emphasized that none of the officers have been terminated and that they retain their administrative rights, including the ability to request an “adverse action panel” comprised of senior officers who review evidence and decide on potential disciplinary measures. “The administrative process must be allowed to take its course, and that process is outlined in our MPD general orders,” Carroll explained.

The department’s crime data collection methods have come under intense examination over the past year, particularly after former President Donald Trump implemented a month-long emergency directive last summer that placed federal control over the police force and initiated a federal law enforcement initiative in Washington D.C., which his administration claimed was designed to combat crime.

Trump repeatedly highlighted declining crime numbers during and following the operation as evidence that it had transformed the city into the nation’s safest. However, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and other municipal leaders maintained that crime rates were already decreasing before the federal intervention.

GOP officials and the previous administration countered by raising concerns about potential data manipulation, questioning the effectiveness of the federal operation. Both the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Justice Department launched independent inquiries.

A December report from the House Committee revealed that former police Chief Pamela Smith frequently intimidated, disciplined and sought revenge against police supervisors who reported crime increases to her. According to the Republican-controlled congressional committee’s findings, the police chief pressured staff members to alter departmental statistics to create artificially reduced crime figures.

A concurrent investigation conducted by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office discovered that numerous MPD incident reports had been incorrectly categorized to present crime statistics as lower than actual figures. Both investigations concluded without criminal charges being filed. Pirro stated that addressing “these underlying issues” remained the MPD’s responsibility.

House oversight committee chairman James Comer released a statement describing the department’s personnel action regarding crime data manipulation as “a step in the right direction.” However, Comer noted that the move simply validated his committee’s work and stated his expectation “to receive MPD’s internal report and all related documents to ensure crime data is reported accurately and that anyone responsible for manipulation is held accountable.”

Carroll, who assumed the interim chief position in December, said Tuesday that officer evaluations and training programs are currently underway to improve data submission procedures. He noted that the internal investigation findings will not be made available to the public.

The chief maintained that the department has achieved success in crime reduction over the past three years, particularly regarding homicides, shootings and carjackings.

“We use crime statistics every day to help us with deployment across the city. I do have confidence in those numbers,” he said.

Bowser has also requested an independent review by the city’s inspector general. That examination commenced in January.

The Trump administration has eliminated a federal oversight office that monitored abuse and misconduct within the nation’s immigration detention system, according to an announcement from the Department of Homeland Security.

The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman has been permanently shuttered, with its webpage now displaying “Archived Content” as of Tuesday. The office had previously been severely reduced last year when the Trump administration targeted various oversight agencies.

Department of Homeland Security officials placed responsibility on Congress for the closure. “DHS did not shut down the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman – Congress did. The House passed the DHS appropriations bill without objection, and it was signed into law last week,” the department stated.

However, the recent legislation that resolved a prolonged DHS shutdown did not specifically require the office’s elimination, according to initial reports from HuffPost.

The closure comes amid President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies, which he maintains are necessary to strengthen national security and reduce unauthorized border crossings. However, these measures have drawn sharp criticism from civil rights organizations.

Human rights advocates argue that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention practices and the administration’s deportation efforts violate constitutional protections and create dangerous conditions, especially for minority communities. They contend these policies undermine due process rights and freedom of expression.

Concerns about detention facility conditions have escalated following a surge in custody deaths. ICE facilities reported at least 18 fatalities during the first four months of 2026, following 31 deaths in the previous year – marking a 20-year record.

Recent controversial detention cases include Palestinian American Leqaa Kordia, who was held for one year and experienced a seizure while in custody. Kordia reported being shackled during her hospital treatment and lost 175 relatives during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Another case involved Hayam El Gamal and her five children, ranging in age from 5 to 18, who were detained together. Each family member reportedly experienced declining health during their confinement.

Both Kordia and the El Gamal family have since been released from detention.

Federal officials reject allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that all detainees receive appropriate medical attention and full legal protections under the law.

Federal authorities initiated legal proceedings Tuesday against Denver and its police force, challenging a prohibition on assault weapons that Colorado’s most populous city has maintained for more than three decades.

The legal challenge followed Denver leadership’s public refusal to comply with Justice Department demands to eliminate the local regulation that criminalizes possession of such firearms, which has been enforced since 1989.

The current Republican administration contends the prohibition infringes upon Second Amendment constitutional protections. Federal officials are also considering legal action against Colorado’s statewide restriction on high-capacity ammunition magazines, implemented after the 2012 Aurora theater tragedy.

“The Constitution is not a suggestion and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement on Tuesday. “Denver’s ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles directly violates the right to bear arms.”

Justice Department representatives had contacted city leadership the previous week, requesting suspension of enforcement and proposing discussions to settle the dispute. However, during a Monday press briefing, Denver’s mayor and police commander firmly declined the federal request.

“Our answer is hell no,” Mayor Mike Johnston said. “No, we will not roll back a common sense policy that has kept weapons of war off of these city streets for 37 years. No, we will not put first responders at greater risk every time they respond to a dangerous incident No, we will not go back to a time when folks are worried about walking into movie theaters or grocery stores or public elementary schools.”

City officials implemented the weapons restriction during a time when gun violence concerns were particularly acute in the community.

Colorado has experienced multiple mass casualty incidents in subsequent years — including the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy that claimed 14 lives, the Aurora cinema shooting that resulted in 12 deaths and 70 injuries, a 2021 Boulder grocery store attack killing 10 people, and a 2022 incident at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ venue that left five dead.

Police Chief Ron Thomas noted he began his career with the department during the same year the weapons prohibition took effect, and credited the policy with helping combat gun violence. Among 2,100 firearms confiscated citywide last year, less than 2% were assault-style weapons, according to Thomas.

In their court filing, federal prosecutors stated Denver’s restriction encompasses AR-15-style rifles possessed by approximately 16 million Americans nationwide. Government lawyers characterized these as “ordinary semiautomatic rifles” utilized for legitimate activities, “including but not limited to self-defense.”

Justice Department lawyers have raised comparable objections to Colorado’s high-capacity magazine restrictions, which the state’s highest court validated in 2020. In correspondence dated April 28 to state leadership, the administration warned of potential litigation unless enforcement ceases and officials acknowledge the law’s unconstitutionality.

“Law-abiding Americans own literally hundreds of millions of magazines identical to those banned in Colorado,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote.

Colorado’s top legal officer Phil Weiser responded that firearms equipped with high-capacity magazines pose significant public safety risks. In his statement, Weiser defended the restriction as appropriate.

“Large-capacity magazine laws are responsible policies that decrease the deadly impacts of mass shootings and save lives,” he said.

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have filed an additional charge against a California resident who allegedly attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while trying to harm former President Donald Trump.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, now faces a fourth criminal count after a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., added an assault charge involving a federal officer with a deadly weapon to his existing indictment on Tuesday.

Allen originally faced three charges in a criminal complaint: attempting to assassinate the president and two weapons-related offenses. The assassination attempt charge alone carries a potential life sentence if he’s found guilty.

The new assault charge indicates that investigators have concluded Allen was responsible for firing the shot that hit a Secret Service agent’s protective vest during the April 25 incident at the Washington Hilton. The attack disrupted and forced an early conclusion to one of Washington’s most prominent annual gatherings.

During the incident, Allen reportedly carried multiple firearms and knives while rushing past a security barrier and aiming his weapon at an officer, who responded by firing five shots without striking anyone, according to officials.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had mentioned the previous week that investigators were examining additional ballistics evidence before reaching a final conclusion about who fired the shot that struck the officer.

Allen’s defense team has challenged the prosecution’s claims regarding their client’s intentions to harm the president or his role in shooting the officer.

“In sum,” they wrote, “the government’s entire argument about the nature and circumstances of the offense is based upon inferences drawn about Mr. Allen’s intent that raise more questions than answers.”

Allen sustained injuries during the incident but was not struck by gunfire. Following his arrest, he was initially placed under suicide watch, though correctional officials lifted that designation over the weekend. His legal representatives have criticized his detention conditions, citing unnecessary confinement in a padded cell with continuous lighting, frequent strip searches, and restraints when outside his cell.

A comprehensive restructuring plan for the U.S. Forest Service unveiled by the Trump administration four weeks ago has sparked intense backlash from opponents who view the initiative as a disguised effort to tear apart the federal agency.

The controversial reorganization proposal encompasses relocating the Forest Service’s main administrative offices as part of broader changes to the agency’s structure and operations.

Detractors have characterized the sweeping changes as a “stealth dismantling” rather than the promised improvements touted by administration officials when the plan was first revealed last month.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against The New York Times, alleging the newspaper engaged in reverse discrimination by rejecting a white male employee for a senior editorial position to advance diversity objectives.

Filed in Manhattan federal court, the complaint claims the Times violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against the male applicant based on his race and gender when filling a deputy real estate editor role.

The newspaper has not yet provided a response to the allegations.

This reverse discrimination case represents a shift in the EEOC’s enforcement strategy under Chair Andrea Lucas, reflecting alignment with President Donald Trump’s administration policies targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Trump has publicly criticized DEI initiatives in corporate America and recently signed executive orders eliminating such programs from federal agencies after beginning his second presidential term. The president is separately pursuing a $15 billion defamation case against the Times, claiming the publication attempted to undermine his 2024 campaign and damage his business reputation.

The EEOC is representing an 11-year Times employee who applied for the deputy real estate editor promotion in early 2025. The veteran journalist had been working primarily as a senior staff editor covering international news.

According to the federal complaint, the Times had spent several years actively recruiting Black, Hispanic and female staff members to build a “more diverse, equitable and inclusive” newsroom, with leadership deciding in 2024 that more non-white “leaders” were needed.

Despite his qualifications, the male editor never advanced to final consideration, the EEOC states. Instead, the position went to a multiracial female candidate who was selected over other finalists including a white woman, Black man and Asian woman.

Court documents reveal that one interviewer described the chosen candidate as “a bit green overall” and stated “I don’t see her contributing to the expansion of the coverage in a significant way.”

The commission alleges the Times implemented its discriminatory hiring practices “with malice or with reckless indifference” toward the white male editor’s civil rights.

Federal officials are seeking to halt these employment practices at the newspaper and secure compensation for the affected editor, including back pay, future earnings and punitive damages.

Lucas outlined her enforcement philosophy in a December Reuters interview, stating “my goal is to shift to a conservative view of civil rights,” which includes “attacking” all racial discrimination forms, including DEI programs.

The agency has expanded its focus to include investigating whether Nike discriminated against white workers and filing suit against a Coca-Cola bottling company for allegedly barring men from employee networking events.

Primary elections are taking place Tuesday across Ohio and Indiana, along with a crucial state Senate contest in Michigan that will determine which party controls that chamber.

Ohio’s Democratic primary features former Senator Sherrod Brown attempting to win back his previous position. On the Republican side for governor, tech entrepreneur and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is competing against auto-racing engineer and internet figure Casey Putsch for the nomination.

Indiana’s primaries center around redistricting disputes from last year, when President Donald Trump’s national gerrymandering efforts stalled after half the state’s Republican senators joined Democrats in rejecting the proposal. Trump has now endorsed primary opponents targeting seven of those GOP state senators.

Trump is supporting Republican challengers against GOP senators who voted against redistricting, with much of the groundwork being handled by Braun. Following Trump’s promise last year to campaign against GOP senators who blocked the redistricting effort and are running for reelection, Braun selected the candidates.

Angered by Senate GOP leader Rodrick Bray, who opposed redistricting, Braun recruited seven Republican challengers who pledged to oppose Bray for leadership.

Breaking with typical party practices, Braun has dedicated $3 million in advertising through his American Leadership PAC to target those incumbents at Trump’s request, according to data from ad-tracking company AdImpact.

This spending includes nearly $900,000 specifically targeting Republican state Senator Spencer Deery of West Lafayette, who was the first Republican to oppose redistricting and is a mentee of former GOP Governor Mitch Daniels, another redistricting opponent.

The Republican-majority Indiana Senate voted down the proposal in December that would have configured all nine congressional districts to favor the party, stopping progress on the national GOP redistricting push.

This decision went against months of pressure from the White House, led by Vice President JD Vance, who made two trips to Indianapolis and brought many caucus members to Washington, where Trump called in to speak with the group.

During Indiana’s consideration of the proposal, voters in Democratic-leaning California passed Proposition 50, enabling the state Legislature to circumvent the independent commission for redrawing districts in the next three biennial elections.

Republicans believe they could gain up to nine additional seats through redrawn districts in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. However, Democrats estimate they could secure as many as 10 extra seats through new districts in California, Utah and Virginia, though legal battles continue in Missouri and Virginia.

Emily Bohall Board, 37, an occupational therapist from Columbus, Indiana, explained she had never participated in a Republican primary until Tuesday. The redistricting issue motivated her to vote for Senator Greg Walker.

“Greg Walker is the only option not supported by Donald Trump, and I have been very upset about everything Trump has done,” Board stated.

Madison Long, 28, an attorney who also supported Walker, criticized his opponent Michelle Davis for her Trump connections.

“She doesn’t have any promises of her own or any agenda of her own. Her goal is to just follow Trump,” Long explained. “I find that extremely concerning given the nature of the nationwide politics.”

The Michigan race will decide whether Democrats retain their state Senate majority for the year’s remaining months.

Democrats presently hold a 19-18 state Senate advantage. A victory by Democrat Chedrick Greene would preserve their majority.

Should Republican Jason Tunney prevail, the Senate would be evenly split, complicating Democrats’ efforts to advance Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s legislative priorities. Although Democratic Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II would cast tie-breaking votes, Republicans could effectively halt any legislation by ensuring not all members participate in votes.

The race draws additional attention because this swing district in a battleground state may preview November’s midterm election outcomes.

Vance endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and Jon Husted for Senate. Husted received an appointment to Vance’s former seat after he became vice president.

“Well, I think Jon’s going to do a great job. He’s a good guy, and he’s been good for Ohio,” Vance commented.

Vance was accompanied by his son Vivek, who completed a children’s paper ballot.

“He voted for the Easter bunny over the tooth fairy,” the vice president noted.

The Democrat is campaigning to return to the U.S. Senate.

The former three-term senator, historically among Ohio’s most viable Democratic candidates, temporarily stepped away from politics following his 2024 reelection loss to Republican Bernie Moreno.

Brown, 73, is competing against first-time Democratic candidate Ron Kincaid in his effort to defeat Husted this fall. Husted received his Senate appointment in January 2025 to occupy the seat previously held by Vice President JD Vance.

Brown entered the Senate in 2007 following an upset victory over current Governor Mike DeWine, who was the incumbent at the time. Previously, Brown served seven terms as a U.S. representative and two terms as secretary of state. Earlier in his career, he became the youngest person elected to the Ohio House, serving eight years.

Brown is married to Pulitzer Prize-recipient columnist Connie Schultz and has two adult children. The family resides in suburban Columbus.

WASHINGTON — Republican senators have introduced legislation that would allocate $1 billion toward enhancing White House security measures, specifically targeting improvements connected to President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom initiative following a recent security incident.

The Republican proposal, made public Monday evening, would earmark these funds for the U.S. Secret Service to implement “security adjustments and upgrades” for the ballroom initiative that Trump and his party have championed since Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attacked the April 25 media event at the Washington Hilton while armed with firearms and blades. The proposed law states these funds would support improvements to the ballroom initiative, “including above-ground and below-ground security features,” while explicitly prohibiting use of the money for elements unrelated to security.

White House representative Davis Ingle commended Republicans for incorporating funding for this “long overdue” initiative, stating it would “provide the United States Secret Service with the resources they need to fully and completely harden the White House complex, in addition to the many other critical missions for the USSS.”

This funding represents a component of broader legislation designed to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations, as Democratic lawmakers have prevented funding for these departments since mid-February. While Congress approved bipartisan funding for the remaining Homeland Security Department on April 30 following an extended shutdown, Republicans are employing a partisan legislative strategy to advance ICE and Border Patrol funding independently. House representatives have yet to unveil their version, though Senate voting on their proposal is anticipated next week.

The specific allocation of the $1 billion remains undefined, with the sum significantly surpassing the estimated $400 million construction cost for the ballroom itself. Court filings from the White House describe the East Wing initiative as “heavily fortified,” featuring underground bomb shelters, military facilities, and medical infrastructure beneath the ballroom space. Trump has advocated for bulletproof glass installation and drone-resistant capabilities.

Legal challenges from the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to halt the project’s construction, though a federal appeals court ruled last month that work may proceed during litigation.

Administration officials have indicated private funding would cover construction expenses while taxpayer money would address security components. Some Republican lawmakers have proposed full public financing, citing the dinner security breach as evidence the president requires a protected venue for hosting events.

“It would be insane” to conduct the dinner at a hotel venue again, stated Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who partnered with Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., to introduce ballroom construction funding legislation.

Democratic representatives have pledged opposition to any ballroom funding efforts.

“While Americans are struggling to make ends meet as a result of President Trump’s failed policies, Republicans are focused on providing tens of billions of dollars for the President’s vanity ballroom project and cruel mass deportation campaign,” declared Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which provides oversight for the U.S. Secret Service.

WASHINGTON – A Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission is pushing for extensive scrutiny of international investments tied to a major media merger on Tuesday.

The FCC received a request last month from Paramount Skydance seeking approval for foreign financial backing in their planned acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Commissioner Anna Gomez expressed concerns about the proposal, stating there are “serious, unresolved questions about how this foreign investment may jeopardize national security, and this commission has a legal obligation to answer them.”

Gomez highlighted that the transaction includes investment from government-controlled funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. The merged entity would have control over CBS television stations and significant cable news properties, including CNN.

The commissioner emphasized the need for thorough examination of these foreign ownership stakes before any approval moves forward.

WASHINGTON — Construction materials from White House East Wing demolition work contain dangerous levels of lead, chromium and additional hazardous substances, according to findings released by the National Park Service.

A preliminary assessment conducted by Virginia-based Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. found that contaminated soil at East Potomac Golf Links contains toxic metals, PCBs, pesticide residue, petroleum derivatives and various chemicals exceeding standard laboratory detection thresholds. The historic golf facility is slated for renovation under President Donald Trump’s development plans.

Since October, park service officials have been transporting excavated material from the White House East Wing to the golf course location. The engineering assessment, commissioned by the park service, indicates that more than 30,000 cubic yards of soil had been moved to the site through last month.

The DC Preservation League, a nonprofit organization, has filed legal action against the Trump administration claiming the disposal operation violates regulations and poses potential health risks. The organization is also contesting the Republican administration’s takeover of the golf facility, located approximately 2 miles southeast of the White House, along with other city properties.

This lawsuit represents one of multiple legal challenges to Trump’s ambitious plans for transforming public areas throughout the nation’s capital, including proposals to rename and close the Kennedy Center and construct a 250-foot triumphal monument near the Lincoln Memorial.

Late last year, another preservation group initiated separate litigation aimed at blocking the administration’s East Wing demolition plans, which include constructing a ballroom facility with an estimated price tag of $400 million.

An Interior Department representative, speaking for the agency that supervises the park service, stated via email Tuesday that White House soil “was tested multiple times by multiple parties, and this project passed all standards set by law.”

Though the department refrains from discussing ongoing legal matters, “this thorough process was followed to ensure the transfer was safe for the public,” according to the email statement.

Rebecca Miller, who serves as executive director of the Preservation League, indicated Tuesday that specialists continue examining the engineering assessment. Her organization remains concerned about potential violations of federal regulations, including the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

Construction debris has become so widespread across the golf course that players must navigate around accumulated piles, Miller explained. “If you Google you’ll see lots of photos of golfers walking past it,” she stated during an interview.

Miller noted that the Trump administration’s renovation blueprint for the 105-year-old facility would fundamentally change its historical significance and original design by upgrading it to professional tournament standards.

During Monday’s proceedings, a federal judge instructed government officials to provide advance notification before removing more than 10 trees while the legal dispute continues.

U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes indicated during the virtual hearing that while she would not immediately grant a temporary restraining order, she would view any significant modifications made without proper notice unfavorably.

Democracy Forward, a national legal advocacy group representing the Preservation League, announced in a statement that “further scrutiny will be required related to potential toxins that were dumped at East Potomac Park by the administration as part of the destruction of the East Wing of the White House.”

Government test findings “suggest the Defendants dumped a cocktail of contaminants — and despite indications of the refuse’s contents, they continued dumping it,” the organization stated.

Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks for the park service, testified during Monday’s court session that no immediate tree removal was planned, though safety evaluations are ongoing.

Trump, known for his passion for golf, also intends to renovate a military golf facility near Washington that has hosted presidents for decades.

The Interior Department emphasized its dedication to “continuing the relationships we have built with the local golf communities to ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable, accessible, and world-class for people living in and visiting the greatest capital city in the world.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has launched fresh attacks against Pope Leo XIV, creating potential obstacles for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s diplomatic mission to the Vatican scheduled for this week.

During a Monday conversation with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, Trump accused the nation’s first American-born pope of supporting Iran and claimed his statements about treating immigrants with dignity are making the world more dangerous.

“The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated during the Monday interview. “And I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.”

However, Pope Leo XIV has never advocated for Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities. Instead, he has promoted peaceful dialogue, condemned potential military action against Iran, and specifically criticized Trump’s threats targeting civilian populations. The pontiff has consistently emphasized that his positions reflect scripture and Catholic doctrine rather than political opposition to Trump.

Trump’s renewed attacks could create additional challenges for Rubio during his Thursday meeting with the pope. The Secretary of State, who frequently finds himself explaining or softening Trump’s controversial statements regarding Europe, NATO, and Middle Eastern affairs, now faces a diplomatic issue with significant domestic political ramifications as midterm elections approach.

According to State Department officials on Monday, Rubio, a devout Catholic who will have made at least three visits to Italy or Vatican City in the past year following this trip, is scheduled to travel to Rome and Vatican City Thursday and Friday.

Last month, Trump attacked Leo XIV through social media posts, calling the pope weak on crime and terrorism due to his criticism of the administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation practices, as well as the Iran conflict. The pope responded by stating that God does not hear the prayers of those who pursue warfare.

Following that exchange, Trump shared a social media image comparing himself to Jesus Christ, which he later removed after facing criticism. He has declined to offer an apology to Leo XIV and attempted to dismiss the controversial post by claiming he believed the image depicted him as a physician.

The diplomatic friction has affected Italian politics as well, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, traditionally a Trump supporter whom Rubio is also expected to meet during his visit, expressing disapproval of Trump’s papal criticism.

In response, Trump has criticized Meloni as his frustration with NATO partners grows over what he perceives as insufficient backing for the Iran conflict — tensions that have recently led to Pentagon plans to withdraw thousands of American troops from Germany in the coming months.

WASHINGTON — In an Oval Office ceremony Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the return of the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, reinstating a competitive fitness program that had been eliminated from American schools.

The fitness award connects to the Presidential Fitness Test, which served as a standard in public education for many years before being discontinued under former President Barack Obama. Obama’s administration replaced it with a less competitive approach that emphasized long-term wellness over athletic achievement. Trump had issued an executive order last summer to bring back the original testing program, which dates to the 1950s.

“We’re bringing it back,” Trump declared during the White House event, surrounded by young athletes and professional sports figures. “My administration is working very hard to defend America’s cherished athletic traditions and pass our values of excellence and competitiveness to the next generation.”

The original assessment required students to complete various physical challenges, including running one mile and performing sit-ups. Students who scored in the top 15 percent for their gender across all test components earned the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. Officials have not yet announced specific details about how the restored program will operate.

Trump presented the award while surrounded by key Cabinet officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Housing Secretary Scott Turner. Young athletes who participate in football, volleyball, hockey, and golf joined the ceremony.

According to Hegseth, the fitness test will become required at 161 educational institutions on military bases nationwide. He urged civilian schools throughout the country to adopt the program voluntarily.

“We need young, strong, healthy Americans, whether you serve in the military or any other aspect of your life,” Hegseth stated during the Oval Office gathering. “The idea that competition is bad is the beginning of decline of a nation.”

The president, known for his passion for golf and sports, stressed the connection between physical conditioning and mental strength, noting that elite competition is “all about the mind.” He complimented the athletes present while making light of his personal exercise routine.

“I work out so much, like about one minute a day, max — if I’m lucky,” Trump joked.

Trump indicated he would sign the inaugural copy of the restored award on Tuesday. Following the formal ceremony, the children were taken to the South Lawn for recreational activities set to music including “YMCA” and “Eye of the Tiger.” Trump participated as the young people practiced putting, played soccer, and threw baseballs with professional pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

The president linked this fitness initiative to Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. Kennedy, speaking at the event, called Obama’s decision to eliminate the test “very unfortunate” and pointed to rising childhood obesity rates across America.

“We need to teach people how to win and how to lose and how to process victory and defeat,” Kennedy explained.

CONCORD, N.H. — A contractor working for the Federal Aviation Administration in New Hampshire has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump via email.

Dean DelleChiaie, 35, from Nashua, was scheduled for his first court hearing Tuesday facing charges of making interstate threats against the president. Federal prosecutors say DelleChiaie used his personal email on April 21 to send a message to the White House, identifying himself and stating he planned to “neutralize/kill” the president.

The email threat came almost three months after law enforcement and Secret Service agents had already interviewed DelleChiaie regarding suspicious internet searches conducted on his FAA work computer, where he worked as a mechanical engineering contractor.

Court filings reveal that in January, DelleChiaie used his workplace computer to look up information about bringing firearms into federal buildings, what percentage of Americans want the president killed, where the vice president lives, and the names of the vice president’s children. When DelleChiaie later requested that the FAA’s IT department erase his browsing history, they instead alerted authorities, leading to his work suspension.

During a February 3 interview at his residence, DelleChiaie acknowledged conducting the searches and expressed regret, according to Secret Service Special Agent Nathaneal Gamble’s report. He revealed to investigators that he possessed three firearms, was experiencing depression, and while he disagreed with Trump administration policies, he claimed to have no actual interest in carrying out an assassination.

DelleChiaie’s legal representative did not return calls for comment. His arrest on Monday occurred just over a week following an incident where an armed individual attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner carrying weapons. In that separate case, Cole Tomas Allen faces charges after a Secret Service agent was shot but sustained only minor injuries thanks to protective gear.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel is facing allegations that he utilized artificial intelligence technology to replicate content from a classic Beastie Boys music video for official FBI social media content.

According to a detailed examination conducted by NPR, promotional material shared by Patel on social media appears to contain imagery that closely mirrors scenes from the legendary hip-hop group’s 1994 “Sabotage” video, which was directed by Spike Jonze.

The investigation identified no fewer than six instances where footage in the FBI’s promotional content appears to match corresponding scenes from the original Beastie Boys production. Technology specialists consulted for the analysis concluded that artificial intelligence software was most likely employed to recreate the distinctive visual elements.

The opening sequence of the FBI video particularly resembles the iconic beginning of the “Sabotage” music video, according to the NPR research. The similarities extend beyond coincidence, suggesting deliberate replication of the original artistic work.

This development raises questions about the appropriate use of AI technology by government agencies and potential copyright concerns regarding the unauthorized recreation of protected creative content.

The University of Michigan has issued an apology following controversial remarks made during Saturday’s spring graduation ceremony in Ann Arbor, where a faculty leader commended pro-Palestinian student demonstrators.

Derek Peterson, a professor of history and African studies who was stepping down as Faculty Senate chair, went off-script during his commencement address to highlight what he described as student activism against the “injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza.” Peterson connected recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations to the university’s broader tradition of student protest movements spanning the past two years.

While Peterson’s comments received applause from some attendees, they quickly sparked backlash from university officials and community leaders. President Domenico Grasso condemned the remarks as “hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community,” emphasizing that Peterson had strayed from his pre-approved speech.

“The comments were inappropriate and do not represent our institutional position,” Grasso stated, adding that commencement ceremonies should focus on “celebration, recognition and unity” rather than serve as venues for personal political statements. The president announced plans to reassess future graduation procedures, though no disciplinary measures against Peterson were revealed.

Board of Regents member Sarah Hubbard expressed her dismay on social media, describing the speech as “incredibly troubling and disappointing.” She called for the board to establish clearer guidelines regarding faculty behavior at university events.

Republican candidates for the Board of Regents, Michael Schostak and Lena Epstein, issued a combined response criticizing the use of graduation as “a stage for political activism that leaves students feeling excluded or uncomfortable.”

Peterson stood by his remarks when speaking with CBS News Detroit, arguing that “the idea that graduations should be apolitical is ridiculous.” He maintained that students should be encouraged to engage with controversial topics rather than shy away from them.

WASHINGTON — Economic advisers at the White House project that pharmaceutical agreements negotiated by President Donald Trump’s administration could generate $529 billion in economic benefits over the coming decade by bringing U.S. prescription medication costs in line with international pricing.

The projections, secured by The Associated Press, represent the first comprehensive economic modeling of a policy central to Trump’s electoral strategy ahead of November’s congressional races. Democratic officials remain skeptical of the administration’s savings calculations, and these latest figures are expected to prompt further scrutiny of the underlying data.

Affordability concerns dominate voter priorities, with energy costs related to the Iran conflict intensifying public financial worries. Trump has attempted to tackle these concerns by emphasizing his pharmaceutical negotiations aimed at eliminating the significant price gap between U.S. drug costs and those in other wealthy nations.

“Now you have the lowest drug prices anywhere in the world,” Trump declared during a Friday gathering of senior citizens in Florida. “And that alone should win us the midterms.”

White House Council of Economic Advisers staff conducted the economic modeling. Their calculations also suggest that federal and state Medicaid programs could collectively save $64.3 billion throughout the next ten years under Trump’s “most favored nation” pricing strategy.

Limited public disclosure of the agreements between the Trump administration and 17 major drug manufacturers makes independent verification of the projected benefits challenging. The White House study attempted to forecast savings as additional medications enter the market under Trump’s framework, with one scenario suggesting potential decade-long savings reaching $733 billion.

Trump and his Health and Human Services Department have characterized the pharmaceutical agreements as groundbreaking and pushed Congress to enshrine their principles in legislation. Democratic legislators have disputed the administration’s benefit claims. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden of Oregon, along with 17 Democratic Senate colleagues, introduced an April proposal demanding the administration reveal the terms of pharmaceutical company agreements.

“If these deals are so great, why is the Trump administration afraid of showing them to the public?” Wyden questioned when unveiling the proposal. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated his department would provide details excluding proprietary data or trade secrets.

The Trump administration’s estimated benefits would represent significant savings given that Americans purchased $467 billion worth of prescription medications in 2024, based on the latest available federal statistics. The analysis assumes foreign nations would increase their prescription drug payments, diversifying pharmaceutical revenue streams while maintaining companies’ research and development capabilities.

The Congressional Budget Office projected in October 2024 that a comparable plan to Trump’s eventual approach might lower prescription drug costs by over 5%, though the reduction “would probably diminish over time as manufacturers adjusted to the new policy by altering prices or distribution of drugs in other countries.”

The magnitude of the Trump administration’s claimed savings will likely increase Democratic oversight, as they argue that any price reductions would be neutralized by higher costs for medications outside the “most favored nation” structure. A primary Democratic criticism centers on pharmaceutical companies increasing profit margins while participating in the administration’s program.

Staff members working with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont published an April analysis examining 15 companies participating in the drug pricing initiative, discovering their collective profits surged 66% in the previous year to $177 billion. The study highlighted that Trump’s tax legislation from last year “exempted or delayed many of the most expensive drugs” from Medicare price negotiations.

The Trump administration has dismissed Sanders’ analysis as fundamentally flawed, arguing it relies on pharmaceutical list prices rather than the actual costs patients pay.

WASHINGTON — Economic advisers at the White House project that pharmaceutical agreements negotiated by President Donald Trump’s administration could generate $529 billion in nationwide savings over the coming decade by aligning U.S. prescription medication costs with international pricing.

The economic assessment, which The Associated Press reviewed, represents the first comprehensive financial projections for a policy central to Trump’s electoral strategy ahead of November’s congressional midterm races. Democratic officials have expressed skepticism about the administration’s savings calculations, and these latest figures are expected to prompt further scrutiny of the underlying data.

Affordability concerns remain a top priority for voters, with rising energy costs related to the Iran conflict adding to public economic worries. Trump has attempted to address these affordability issues by emphasizing his administration’s negotiations with pharmaceutical companies to eliminate the significant price disparities between U.S. medications and those sold in other wealthy nations.

“Now you have the lowest drug prices anywhere in the world,” Trump declared during a Friday campaign event attended by senior citizens in Florida. “And that alone should win us the midterms.”

White House Council of Economic Advisers staff conducted the financial analysis. Their calculations also suggest that federal and state governments could collectively reduce Medicaid expenses by $64.3 billion throughout the next ten years under what Trump terms his “most favored nation” drug pricing approach.

Limited public information about the agreements between the Trump administration and 17 major pharmaceutical corporations makes independent verification of the projected cost reductions challenging. The White House study attempted to forecast savings as additional medications enter the market under Trump’s pricing structure, with one calculation in the report suggesting potential decade-long savings of $733 billion.

Trump and his Health and Human Services Department have promoted these drug pricing agreements as revolutionary changes while encouraging Congress to establish their framework in federal law. Democratic legislators have disputed the administration’s savings assertions. In April, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden of Oregon joined 17 Senate Democrats in proposing legislation that would mandate the administration reveal the terms of pharmaceutical company agreements.

“If these deals are so great, why is the Trump administration afraid of showing them to the public?” Wyden questioned when introducing the proposal. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated his department would provide information that excludes proprietary data or trade secrets.

The Trump administration’s estimated savings would represent a significant portion of the $467 billion Americans spent on prescription medications in 2024, based on the latest available government figures. The analysis assumes that international markets would also increase their prescription drug payments, which would expand pharmaceutical companies’ revenue streams and maintain their capacity for developing innovative treatments.

In October 2024, the Congressional Budget Office projected that a plan resembling Trump’s eventual approach could lower prescription drug costs by more than 5%, though the reduction “would probably diminish over time as manufacturers adjusted to the new policy by altering prices or distribution of drugs in other countries.”

The magnitude of savings claimed by the Trump administration will likely increase Democratic oversight, as they argue that any price decreases would be counterbalanced by higher costs for prescription drugs excluded from the “most favored nation” system. Democrats primarily criticize that pharmaceutical companies have expanded their profit margins while collaborating with the administration.

Staff members working for Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont released an April analysis examining 15 companies participating in the drug pricing initiative, discovering their combined profits increased 66% in the previous year to $177 billion. The report highlighted that Trump’s tax legislation from last year “exempted or delayed many of the most expensive drugs” from Medicare price negotiations.

The Trump administration has rejected Sanders’ criticism as fundamentally flawed, arguing that his analysis relies on pharmaceutical list prices rather than the actual costs patients pay.

ATLANTA — Federal prosecutors are demanding contact details for every individual who participated in Georgia’s 2020 election operations in Fulton County, a Democratic-leaning area that former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed engaged in massive voter fraud that he alleges denied him victory over Joe Biden in that state.

County attorneys submitted a motion Monday evening attempting to block a grand jury subpoena requesting names and contact details of government workers and volunteer poll staff. This development follows the FBI’s January visit to a Fulton County election storage facility where agents confiscated ballots and additional materials from the 2020 contest, which Georgia’s official results confirmed Trump lost to Biden by 11,779 votes from almost 5 million ballots cast. Trump continues to maintain the 2020 contest was fraudulently taken from him despite court rulings and conclusions from his own attorney general stating otherwise.

In Monday’s legal document, attorneys claim the subpoena aims to “target, harass and punish the President’s perceived political opponents.” County lawyers contend the demand is “grossly overbroad and untethered to any reasonable need.”

The January confiscation of ballots and additional materials from Fulton County marked the beginning of several actions by Trump’s Republican administration to secure historical election documentation from key battleground states. Federal agents used a subpoena in March to obtain materials connected to a 2020 presidential election review in Arizona’s Maricopa County. Additionally, the Justice Department ordered Michigan’s Wayne County in April to surrender ballots from the 2024 contest, which Trump won against Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris.

Federal prosecutors are simultaneously pursuing legal battles with multiple states for voter information containing private personal details. Election administrators, including Republican officials, have stated that releasing such data would breach state and federal privacy regulations.

Despite facing what appears to be an unfavorable national political climate, Republican candidates may discover opportunities for electoral success through the numerous gubernatorial contests taking place across America this November.

This election cycle will feature gubernatorial races in 36 states, providing the GOP with multiple pathways to potentially expand their influence at the state level even as broader political winds may not be blowing in their favor.

The large number of governor’s races represents significant opportunities for both major political parties to shape policy direction and governance in states nationwide through the remainder of the decade.

NEW YORK (AP) — Consecutive federal court decisions regarding abortion medication access are pushing this divisive political topic back into the national conversation as midterm elections approach, with control of Congress hanging in the balance during President Donald Trump’s second term.

A federal appeals court decision on Friday limited mail-order access to mifepristone prescriptions, representing the most significant change to federal abortion policy since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that permitted states to implement abortion prohibitions. This medication represents one of the nation’s most frequently used abortion procedures.

The nation’s highest court intervened Monday to temporarily maintain widespread access to the medication while continuing its review of the matter, potentially leading to a ruling with far-reaching implications for both patients and healthcare providers.

While it remains premature to determine how these recent court actions might influence this year’s electoral outcomes, particularly when economic concerns are anticipated to dominate voter priorities, advocates from both camps hope the developments will mobilize supporters.

Organizations supporting abortion access are already developing strategies to engage voters who may be more inclined to support Democratic candidates due to concerns about additional restrictions. Conversely, anti-abortion activists who believe the Republican-controlled federal government has fallen short in banning these medications are cautioning that traditionally reliable Republican voters might abstain from future elections. One prominent anti-abortion leader described the situation as “a five-alarm crisis” for the GOP.

Following the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, multiple states approved constitutional amendments protecting abortion rights, generating unprecedented voter participation that often benefited Democratic candidates in other races.

However, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake suggests the issue had begun losing some influence with voters—not due to diminished Democratic concern, but because many felt the “damage has been done.”

Despite Friday’s ruling being temporarily suspended, it served as a reminder to voters that their access to abortion medication via telehealth services isn’t secure, even in states with protected abortion rights, Lake explained. This situation presents a significant but “horrific” chance to inform voters about what’s at risk in this year’s midterm contests, she noted.

Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of the abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All, indicated that voter outreach regarding the instability of abortion access will feature prominently in her group’s midterm strategy. This includes reaching out to voters who backed Trump while simultaneously supporting abortion rights in their 2024 state elections.

“The only way for us to really stop this back and forth is to have abortion access be legal in all 50 states,” she stated. “The only way we do that is through federal legislation, which makes the midterm elections even more urgent.”

The Republican coalition faces challenges from an increasingly frustrated segment of abortion opponents who anticipated Trump would deliver on his commitment to serve as the “most pro-life president in history” but claim they haven’t witnessed such action.

The most pressing concern involves a Food and Drug Administration safety evaluation of mifepristone that anti-abortion organizations hope will lead to additional restrictions, including prohibiting its prescription through telehealth services. These groups have pressed FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary to expedite the review, while the administration maintains it “is taking care to do this study properly and in the right way.”

Monday saw the anti-abortion organization SBA Pro-Life America intensify its rhetoric, demanding Makary’s dismissal over this matter.

“This is a five-alarm crisis for the pro-life movement and for the GOP,” stated the organization’s president Marjorie Dannenfelser. “The GOP cannot win without its base and simply will not get the enthusiasm that drives turnout without leadership from the top.”

Trump, whose initial presidential term appointments enabled the Supreme Court majority that overturned Roe, has implemented some measures that abortion opponents have applauded, including attempts to deny funding to Planned Parenthood and initiating investigations into states requiring state-regulated insurance plans to include abortion coverage.

Nevertheless, he has frequently attempted to avoid the abortion debate, stating his belief that individual states should decide the matter. The president supported abortion rights publicly before entering politics in 2015, and his wife, Melania Trump, declared her broad support for abortion rights in 2024.

Anti-abortion activists indicate they have no intention of allowing Trump to sidestep this issue for his remaining time in office. Marc Wheat, general counsel for former Vice President Mike Pence’s political advocacy organization Advancing American Freedom, said his group will intensify pressure on the administration. This includes pushing the FDA to quickly release mifepristone-related documents owed to the group through litigation.

“President Trump thinks that pro-life is a loser,” Wheat commented. “He might see that the pro-lifers may not turn out in the numbers that he needs.”

While Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress encounter growing pressure from conservative factions to limit medication abortion access, Republicans nationwide are far from unified on this stance.

Approximately two-thirds of Americans opposed nationwide mifepristone prohibitions, according to a KFF survey conducted in late 2024. Most Democrats and independents rejected such bans, while Republican opinion was more divided.

American perspectives on abortion remain nuanced, with roughly two-thirds of adults believing abortion should remain legal in all or most circumstances, based on AP-NORC polling data. Relatively few Americans think abortion should be prohibited in every situation.

At least one abortion opponent, Americans United for Life CEO John Mize, said his focus remains on gradual progress rather than the comprehensive changes some allies advocate. While he wishes the FDA would accelerate its safety review, he acknowledges that not all Americans share his position.

“I think there is advancement being made in a positive direction,” he said. “While it might not meet the pace that many in the pro-life movement want to see, I think it meets the acceptable place of where we’re at culturally.”

Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown appears poised to secure victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, positioning himself as a key figure in his party’s strategy to wrestle control of the U.S. Senate away from Republicans this November.

The Buckeye State has shifted increasingly toward the Republican column over the last ten years, making Brown’s political comeback attempt—following his 2024 electoral defeat—a crucial indicator of whether President Donald Trump’s waning approval ratings are altering the political landscape for the 2026 midterm contests.

Democratic strategists, who began this midterm cycle with slim prospects of regaining Senate control, now perceive a more favorable battleground as Americans express dissatisfaction with rising costs, the ongoing conflict with Iran, and other contentious issues during Trump’s administration.

The 73-year-old Brown suffered defeat in his 2024 reelection campaign against Republican Bernie Moreno, a former automobile dealership owner who successfully appealed to working-class voters abandoning the Democratic Party and secured Trump’s backing.

Brown’s likely November opponent will be Senator Jon Husted, 58, who received his appointment to the position in January 2025 following JD Vance’s elevation to vice president. Husted faces no challengers in the Republican primary contest.

November’s special election will determine who serves the final two years of Vance’s Senate term.

Political observers characterize the Husted-Brown matchup as highly competitive, with recent polling data showing a tight race—a stark departure from Trump’s commanding 2024 Ohio performance, where he defeated Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by an 11-point margin.

Ohio, devastated by significant manufacturing job losses in steel and automotive sectors over recent decades, represents one of four states where Democrats plan major resource investments as they pursue ending the GOP’s 53-47 Senate advantage.

Regaining Senate control presents significant challenges for Democrats, requiring them to protect multiple vulnerable seats while simultaneously capturing at least four Republican-controlled positions.

Party leaders believe they possess growing national momentum as voters evaluate Trump’s presidency approaching its midpoint, expressing concern over escalating fuel prices and other costs, the Iranian conflict, and immigration enforcement policies many consider excessive.

A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted April 24-27 revealed Trump’s approval rating at 34%, declining from 47% when his second term began. Only 21% of respondents endorsed his inflation management, a primary voter concern.

According to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, Brown’s “economic populism may be uniquely suited to this moment when affordability concerns are paramount.”

However, a Bowling Green State University poll from April 7-14 found 55% of Ohio respondents identifying with Trump’s MAGA movement, which Husted’s Republican Party has embraced.

Outside Ohio, Democrats anticipate opportunities to claim North Carolina’s vacant Senate seat and challenge Maine’s longtime incumbent Senator Susan Collins, who likely faces a progressive Democratic challenger gaining national recognition.

Unexpectedly, Democrats also see potential in heavily Republican Alaska, where GOP Senator Dan Sullivan may confront former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola, a candidate with demonstrated bipartisan appeal.

Simultaneously, Democrats must allocate campaign resources to Michigan, where retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters narrowly won reelection in 2020. Trump carried Michigan in both 2016 and 2024 presidential races.

Competitive contests may emerge over the coming months in Iowa, where Republican Senator Joni Ernst is stepping down, and Georgia, a battleground state where Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff seeks reelection.

Political experts will carefully observe Tuesday’s Ohio primary turnout levels. Strong participation for Brown could signal whether Democrats might achieve an unexpected Senate victory.

Additionally, three Ohio House of Representatives contests could provide insights into Democratic prospects for capturing that chamber, currently under narrow Republican control.

Ohio recently implemented a redistricting plan designed by Republicans to strengthen their November election advantages.

This redistricting threatens Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur’s four-decade House tenure. While expected to win her primary, her northwest Toledo-area district now includes substantially more Trump supporters, making her a general election underdog, analysts say.

Likewise, Democratic Representative Greg Landsman’s Cincinnati district became more Republican-leaning, though he maintains an advantage against Tuesday’s likely GOP primary winner.

Democratic Representative Emilia Sykes’ redrawn Akron-area district may improve her November chances in a moderately competitive race against whichever candidate emerges from a crowded Republican primary field. Sykes runs unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Former President Donald Trump’s effort to exact political revenge on Republicans who oppose him continues Tuesday with primary elections targeting seven Indiana state senators who blocked his redistricting proposals designed to boost GOP representation in Congress.

Across state lines in Ohio, primary contests for U.S. Senate and governor will determine the final candidates for two high-stakes races that could have national consequences.

Meanwhile, Michigan voters in a competitive district will select someone to fill an empty state Senate position, with results that could alter the power dynamic in this key swing state.

Trump has set his sights on seven GOP state senators in Indiana who rejected his strategy to reshape congressional maps in ways that would benefit Republican House candidates.

Organizations supporting the former president have poured millions into campaign advertisements, representing an unusual amount of money and focus for contests that normally receive little attention.

These contests serve as a measure of Trump’s continued influence within the Republican Party as GOP members express growing concern about November’s midterm elections.

The outcomes will send a message to Republicans nationwide about the potential consequences of separating themselves from Trump, even as his approval ratings decline. They will also reveal whether the former president can still effectively threaten retribution against party members who oppose him.

All seven targeted state senators represent areas Trump won in 2024, with most victories coming by margins of 20 percentage points or greater.

The districts worth monitoring include 1, 11, 19, 21, 23, 38 and 41.

Ohio’s primary serves as preparation for the main event. Despite the state’s shift toward conservatism, Democrats see Ohio as crucial to regaining control of the U.S. Senate.

Democratic hopes rest on former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who previously lost Ohio’s other Senate seat to Bernie Moreno in 2024.

Brown is anticipated to compete against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who received an appointment last year to replace JD Vance after Vance became vice president.

This contest is a special election to complete Vance’s remaining two-year term.

For governor, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has leveraged his national profile, technology sector ties, and Trump endorsement into unprecedented fundraising success. Rather than focusing on Republican opponent Casey Putsch, he’s directing his campaign events and television spots toward the general election.

Putsch, an engineer and vehicle designer who brands himself as “The Car Guy,” has built a following through bold YouTube content that challenges Ramaswamy and criticizes national Republicans on issues including the Epstein documents, energy-intensive data facilities, and Israel policy.

Amy Acton, who previously served as Ohio’s public health director and was instrumental in the state’s COVID-19 response, faces no opposition for the Democratic nomination.

A special election for a central Michigan state Senate position carries significant weight beyond its local scope.

This race represents another measure of voter enthusiasm in a string of special elections that have consistently favored Democrats since Trump’s return to office. The results could also impact Michigan’s legislative balance. A Democratic win would secure the party’s state Senate majority, while a Republican victory would create a 19-19 deadlock.

The district shows close political divisions, with Democrat Kamala Harris defeating Trump by under 1 percentage point in the 2024 presidential race.

The position has remained unfilled for over a year, following Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet’s resignation to join Congress.

Democrats have demonstrated unexpected success in special elections and off-cycle races nationwide, securing victories in unlikely locations and substantially closing margins even in defeats.

While this pattern may not persist through midterm elections with higher voter participation, it has nevertheless motivated Democrats and concerned Republicans about maintaining their congressional control.

Indiana’s upcoming Republican primary elections will serve as a crucial test of President Donald Trump’s continuing grip on the GOP, as he works to remove state senators who declined to support his demands for congressional redistricting.

In December, twenty-one Republican state senators rejected redistricting legislation, with eight of those lawmakers seeking reelection this cycle. Trump has thrown his support behind primary opponents for seven of these senators, while his supporters have poured millions into contests that typically receive little national attention.

This expensive and unusual internal Republican conflict has heightened party divisions as November’s midterm elections approach, with control of Congress hanging in the balance.

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith characterized the primary as a measure of how aggressively the party will pursue advantages over Democrats, describing it as a battle between “the Republicans who tend to want to avoid the fight and the Republicans who feel like we need to fight.”

“So the only question is, ‘Will you fight or will you get trampled by the other side?’” Beckwith stated, noting his support for Trump’s endorsed candidates.

Last year, Trump began pressuring Republican-controlled states to redraw their congressional boundaries to help his party maintain its narrow House majority. While redistricting typically occurs once per decade following the census, Trump sought to break with this practice for political gain.

Texas became the first state to comply, and the White House subsequently pushed Indiana to follow suit. Vice President JD Vance held meetings with state officials in both Washington and Indianapolis, while Trump participated via conference call.

Indiana senators ultimately rejected the proposal, marking one of Trump’s first major political setbacks of his second presidency.

The redistricting dispute has created fractures among Republicans in Indiana, a state Trump has carried three times with margins of at least 16 points. Republican Governor Mike Braun, U.S. Senator Jim Banks, and groups like Turning Point Action have joined Trump’s effort to defeat the sitting lawmakers.

Jim Bopp, a well-known Indiana lawyer who heads a political action committee supporting Braun, expressed confidence that Trump’s endorsements would prove decisive.

“Republican voters overwhelmingly support Trump, and when they find out Trump has endorsed a particular Senate candidate, they swing their support behind them,” he explained.

Resistance to Trump’s initiative has come from anti-Trump Republicans and those concerned about presidential interference in state matters. Former Republican Governor Mitch Daniels, who had withdrawn from politics after his 2015 departure from office, returned to help fundraise for the targeted incumbents.

The senators who opposed Trump maintained they were responding to constituents who strongly rejected his redistricting proposal. Several also cited discomfort with Trump’s forceful approach in promoting the plan.

“We hate to be told what to do,” explained Mike Murphy, a former Republican state representative. “We’re very independent-thinking people. So when Donald Trump and his goons come in and try to tell us that we need to redistrict to help his political future, that’s the worst thing you can do.”

Murphy argued that Trump and his big-money supporters lack understanding of Indiana’s political culture.

“There’s just so many misjudgments on people’s part because they tend to fly at the 50,000-foot level, and they don’t go to the barbecues and the church fish fries and the things that make Indiana politics,” Murphy said.

Bopp, who backs Trump’s preferred candidates, framed the primary as an opportunity for Indiana Republicans to demonstrate their commitment to congressional redistricting.

“It’s not a matter of Trump’s power,” Bopp said. “It’s about Republican primary voters who support his agenda and don’t want a Democratic House that will be hugely destructive to the Trump presidency and the country.”

A crucial special election taking place Tuesday in Michigan could provide early insights into this fall’s midterm elections while simultaneously deciding control of the state’s Senate during Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s remaining months in office.

The contest features Democrat Chedrick Greene facing off against Republican Jason Tunney for the 35th state Senate district position that became open in January 2025. Libertarian Ali Sledz is also seeking the seat. The district encompasses communities including Saginaw, Bay City and Midland, situated roughly 100 miles north of Detroit.

With Democrats holding a narrow 19-18 advantage in the state Senate, Tuesday’s results will significantly impact the legislative priorities that can advance before Whitmer, who faces term limits, departs office in January. Her departure has already sparked a competitive gubernatorial contest for November.

Political observers are scrutinizing this race for early signals about November’s broader electoral landscape in this key swing state. The district contains portions of Saginaw County, which holds the distinction of supporting the victorious presidential candidate in the last five consecutive elections.

“It’s really this microcosm of the Midwest, frankly,” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet of the seat she left upon entering Congress. “Given how much it resembles so many other places across the country, we have to look at it and say, this is an indicator of how things are going to go in November.”

Greene brings experience as both a fire captain and former Marine to his campaign, focusing on reducing costs while highlighting support from labor unions. Tunney, who previously worked as a prosecutor, has positioned himself as a conservative Republican candidate, emphasizing his deep ties to the Saginaw community.

The GOP has criticized the timing of this special election, claiming Whitmer delayed calling it for too long, resulting in the district lacking Senate representation for almost 500 days.

Should Greene prevail, Democrats would maintain their majority control. A Tunney victory would create an even split, complicating Democratic legislative efforts. Though Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II could cast tie-breaking votes, Republicans might obstruct legislation by ensuring not all members participate in voting. Republicans currently control the Michigan House.

The position being contested Tuesday only extends through year’s end, requiring another election in November. Despite the brief term, political analysts view this contest as a barometer of public opinion before midterm elections, when Democrats hope to reclaim congressional control.

However, some strategists warn against reading too much into the outcome, pointing to substantial Democratic financial investment and appearances by prominent figures including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee contributed $250,000 to support Greene in February, stating the race will “set the tone for midterms.”

“This is a tough race to win in any environment, but they’ve stacked the deck with the spending. And you layer the overall political environment on top of it, it’s going to be tough,” said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist in the state.

While Republican Donald Trump won all three counties in the 2024 presidential election, the specific areas within District 35 show more competitive dynamics. McDonald Rivet secured the seat in 2022 with 53% support. In 2024, Democrat Kamala Harris narrowly defeated Trump in the district, 49.7% to 48.9%, powered by a commanding 17-point advantage in the Saginaw area.

The region’s history as an automotive industry center has created a substantial union membership base and significant Black population, while being surrounded by more conservative rural communities.

Cory Smidt, interim director at Michigan State University’s Institute of Public Policy and Social Research, described the district as one that “looks like the state as a whole.” While cautioning against interpreting results as a definitive midterm preview, he noted that voter participation and demographic voting trends could provide meaningful analysis.

DES MOINES, Iowa — On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance made his inaugural trip to Iowa since assuming office, traveling to the state where GOP voters will be among the first to select their party’s presidential candidate in under two years.

The vice president, widely regarded as a top contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, traveled to Iowa to support Rep. Zach Nunn, who is fighting to retain his Des Moines-area congressional seat in November’s competitive midterm election.

However, the trip provides Vance with a valuable opportunity to gauge his appeal among Iowa voters, whose first-in-the-nation caucuses grant them significant influence in selecting presidential nominees. By campaigning for a local representative in his capacity as vice president, he gets an early chance to connect with Iowa Republicans, who are experienced at sizing up potential White House contenders before campaigns officially launch.

The vice president’s Iowa appearance follows closely after Texas Senator Ted Cruz, another potential 2028 contender, addressed a gathering of evangelical Christians who wield considerable influence in Iowa’s Republican primary process.

Jimmy Centers, a Republican political strategist based in Des Moines, acknowledged that the 2028 race remains “light-years away,” but noted that Republicans attending Vance’s Tuesday event will be assessing his potential as a presidential candidate.

“I certainly think, as of right now, Vice President Vance would probably be a straw-poll winner of Iowa Republicans for 2028. But I don’t think anyone is saying, ‘We won’t consider anybody else,’” Centers said.

While Vance has not announced any intentions regarding a 2028 presidential bid, he is set to join Nunn at a Des Moines manufacturing plant. His office declined to discuss how the trip might affect Vance’s political future.

This visit follows President Donald Trump’s January trip to Iowa, where he promoted the administration’s tax reduction policies as part of their ongoing economic messaging strategy leading up to midterm elections that will decide congressional control.

However, Vance’s Iowa visit occurs as his political future and expected economic message face complications from the ongoing conflict in Iran.

The vice president, who has historically questioned foreign military interventions, appears to be an unenthusiastic supporter of the nine-week conflict that Trump has struggled to resolve. Iowans, similar to Americans nationwide, are dealing with elevated gas prices due to the war. Additionally, the state’s agricultural sector is experiencing pressure from increased fertilizer costs related to the conflict and harm from Trump’s tariff policies.

Despite Iowa farmers’ continued support for the president, they are seeking White House reassurance that current challenges will be temporary.

Originally planned for the previous week, Vance’s Iowa visit was postponed when the House scheduled a vote on comprehensive farm legislation that required Nunn’s participation.

The vice president had also been scheduled to participate in an Iowa State University event with Turning Point USA last week, but the organization reported being unable to reschedule with the university until fall.

Kim Schmett, a veteran Iowa GOP activist, described the presidential cycle as beginning “deceptively slow.”

While Republican figures exploring presidential runs frequently visit the Westside Conservative Club that Schmett organizes, he noted it remains too early before the caucuses, which typically occur in January of presidential election years.

Schmett observed that Trump’s Make America Great Again movement “is very alive and going here” in Iowa, which would advantage Vance along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another rumored potential candidate.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of MAGA support,” he said. “And Vice President Vance and Marco Rubio seem to be the recipients of where that is going at the moment.”

However, Schmett warned, “it’s awfully, awfully early in the process.”

On the Democratic side, approximately six presidential prospects have been visiting states with early primary contests, including recent Iowa trips by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin.

Meanwhile, prospective Republican presidential candidates “are treading very lightly,” according to GOP strategist Alex Conant, who served on Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign.

“I think Republicans are going to be very reluctant to get in Trump’s way until Trump gives the green light for the campaign to start,” Conant said.

This means much of the preliminary work involving donor meetings, activist outreach, or staff recruitment may proceed gradually and discreetly for now.

Following the midterms? Conant predicted: “It’ll be irresistible.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Following a lengthy primary season, Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is ready to shift his attention to November’s general election for Ohio governor on Tuesday, setting up what promises to be a costly battle against Democrat Amy Acton, who previously served as the state’s health director.

Tuesday’s primary results will also determine candidates for Ohio’s third competitive U.S. Senate contest in recent years, along with several House races expected to see tight competition this fall.

Term limits have created openings for every statewide executive position this cycle, though the gubernatorial contest has dominated political attention thus far.

The biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 GOP presidential candidate entered Ohio’s political arena early last year during a period of significant political reshuffling. Former Senator JD Vance was moving up to the vice presidency while leading gubernatorial hopeful Jon Husted received an appointment to replace Vance in Washington.

This shift created an opening at the top of the Republican statewide ballot.

Despite being new to state-level politics, Ramaswamy’s national recognition, technology sector background, and close ties to Trump secured him the Ohio Republican Party’s backing. This endorsement helped him clear the field of potential rivals, including the current state attorney general, treasurer, and lieutenant governor.

Democrats also recognized the opportunity presented by the open governor’s seat, even though Ohio, once considered a swing state, has moved decidedly Republican during the Trump years. The president’s struggling economic approval numbers and public frustration over the Iran conflict have created conditions for a competitive race.

Dr. Acton, who combines medical training with public health expertise, emerged as the Democratic standard-bearer. She gained statewide recognition during the early COVID-19 period, appearing regularly beside Republican Governor Mike DeWine in daily pandemic briefings. Her reassuring demeanor during the health crisis endeared her to many Ohio residents.

However, the administration’s strict measures — which included forcing business closures, shutting down schools, and postponing elections — also created significant opposition and made Acton a target for those angry about pandemic policies, with armed demonstrators sometimes gathering outside her residence. Ramaswamy’s team has attempted to exploit ongoing resentment about pandemic restrictions by attacking Acton’s early crisis response role.

While Acton faces no Democratic primary opposition, Ramaswamy must contend with a long-shot challenge from Casey Putsch. The engineer and automotive designer, known for his YouTube presence, has consistently attacked Ramaswamy over his Indian background and Hindu beliefs while portraying him as a disconnected wealthy “tech bro.”

Husted runs unopposed in the Republican Senate primary, a special election to complete the remaining portion of the six-year term Vance secured in 2022. His probable Democratic opponent will be Sherrod Brown, the former three-term senator who lost his reelection attempt to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024, a race that saw $500 million in spending. Brown faces minimal primary competition from newcomer candidate Ron Kincaid.

Early voting commenced April 7 under revised election regulations, including citizenship verification requirements and removal of the four-day grace period for mail ballot receipt. No significant voter issues related to these changes have been reported to date.

Following a fresh redistricting cycle that provided slight Republican advantages, the state features numerous partisan congressional primaries.

The most contentious GOP primary occurs in the Toledo area’s 9th District, where candidates compete for the opportunity to challenge Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur, Congress’s longest-serving female member.

The five-candidate field includes former state Representative Derek Merrin, who lost to Kaptur by under one percentage point in 2024, alongside an Air National Guard veteran, a healthcare sector employee, a current state representative, and Madison Sheahan, the former deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In Democratic Representative Greg Landsman’s Cincinnati-area district, which party leaders view as essential to retain, the three-candidate Republican primary features Eric Conroy, a CIA and Air Force veteran who has received endorsements from Trump, Vance, and Moreno.

Landsman faces his own primary challenge from Damon Lynch IV, whose grandfather was a notable civil rights figure. Lynch has criticized Landsman for initially opposing a war powers resolution regarding Iran, though Landsman subsequently voted in favor.

In the Akron region’s 13th District, five Republicans including business owner Neil Patel, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, are competing for the chance to face Democratic Representative Emilia Sykes.

While a Trump-supported national initiative to redraw congressional boundaries in Republicans’ favor proceeded, Ohio Democrats adopted a pragmatic stance and unanimously approved the map they received.

Democratic candidates are now filling congressional primaries statewide, seeking opportunities to challenge incumbent Republican representatives who control 10 of Ohio’s 15 seats.

The redrawn 7th District in the Cleveland region has drawn eight Democrats hoping to face Republican Representative Max Miller, a former senior Trump aide, in November. The group includes former Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, who was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2014.

In northeast Ohio’s 14th District, former state Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill joins two other Democrats seeking to challenge Republican Representative Dave Joyce. Joyce also confronts two primary opponents.

Six Democrats appear on the ballot in the Dayton-area 10th District currently held by Republican Representative Mike Turner. Seven Democrats are running in GOP Representative Michael Rulli’s 6th District along the Ohio River, while five compete in Republican Representative Bob Latta’s 5th District.

NEW YORK (AP) — Recent federal court decisions concerning access to abortion medication are pushing a divisive political topic back into the national conversation as midterm elections approach, with control of Congress hanging in the balance during President Donald Trump’s current term.

A federal appeals court decision on Friday limited mail-order access to mifepristone prescriptions, affecting one of the nation’s most widely used abortion procedures. This represents the most significant change to federal abortion policy since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that permitted states to implement abortion prohibitions.

The Supreme Court subsequently issued a temporary order on Monday restoring widespread access to the medication while continuing to review the matter, potentially leading to a ruling with far-reaching implications for both patients and healthcare providers.

While it remains uncertain whether these recent court decisions will influence this year’s electoral outcomes, particularly when economic concerns are anticipated to dominate voter priorities, advocacy organizations on both sides are optimistic about mobilizing their supporters.

Abortion rights organizations are already developing strategies to connect with voters who may be more inclined to support Democratic candidates due to concerns about additional restrictions. Conversely, anti-abortion activists who believe the GOP-controlled federal government has been insufficient in banning these medications are cautioning that traditionally reliable Republican voters might abstain from future elections, with one prominent anti-abortion leader describing the situation as “a five-alarm crisis” for the GOP.

Following the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, multiple states voted to incorporate abortion protections into their state constitutions, generating unprecedented voter participation that sometimes helped Democratic candidates win other races on the same ballot.

However, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake believes the issue had begun losing some of its impact among voters, not due to lack of concern among Democrats, but because they feel that the “damage has been done.”

Although Friday’s court decision has been temporarily suspended, it served as a reminder to voters that their access to abortion medication through telehealth services isn’t secure, even in states with protected abortion rights, Lake explained. This situation created a significant but “horrific” chance to inform voters about what could be at risk in this year’s midterms, she noted.

Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of the abortion rights group Reproductive Freedom for All, indicated that voter outreach regarding the uncertain nature of abortion access will be incorporated into her organization’s midterm strategy. This includes reaching out to voters who backed Trump while also supporting abortion rights in their state elections in 2024.

“The only way for us to really stop this back and forth is to have abortion access be legal in all 50 states,” she stated. “The only way we do that is through federal legislation, which makes the midterm elections even more urgent.”

Meanwhile, the Republican coalition is dealing with an increasingly frustrated conservative wing of abortion opponents who anticipated Trump would deliver on his commitment to be the “most pro-life president in history” but claim they haven’t witnessed it thus far.

The most pressing concern involves a Food and Drug Administration safety assessment of mifepristone that anti-abortion organizations hope will lead to additional restrictions, including preventing its prescription through telehealth services. Anti-abortion groups have pressed FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary to expedite the review, while the administration maintains it “is taking care to do this study properly and in the right way.”

On Monday, the anti-abortion organization SBA Pro-Life America escalated its messaging, demanding Makary’s dismissal over the matter.

“This is a five-alarm crisis for the pro-life movement and for the GOP,” the group’s president Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. “The GOP cannot win without its base and simply will not get the enthusiasm that drives turnout without leadership from the top.”

Trump, whose first-term judicial appointments helped create the Supreme Court majority that voted to overturn Roe, has implemented some measures that abortion opponents have applauded, including efforts to deny funding to Planned Parenthood and initiating investigations into states that mandate state-regulated health insurance plans to cover abortion procedures.

However, he has frequently attempted to avoid the abortion topic, stating he believes it should be decided by individual states. The president supported abortion rights publicly until entering politics in 2015, and his wife, Melania Trump, declared her broad support for abortion rights in 2024.

Anti-abortion activists indicate they have no intention of allowing Trump to sidestep the issue for the rest of his presidency. Marc Wheat, general counsel at former Vice President Mike Pence’s political advocacy organization Advancing American Freedom, said his group will intensify pressure on the administration. This will include urging the FDA to quickly release mifepristone documents it owes the group through legal action.

“President Trump thinks that pro-life is a loser,” Wheat stated. “He might see that the pro-lifers may not turn out in the numbers that he needs.”

Despite mounting pressure from conservative groups for Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress to limit medication abortion access, Republicans nationwide are far from unified in supporting that stance.

Approximately two-thirds of Americans opposed nationwide prohibitions on mifepristone, according to a KFF poll conducted in late 2024. Most Democrats and independents rejected such bans, while Republicans showed more division on the issue.

American perspectives on abortion remain nuanced, with roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults believing abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances, according to AP-NORC polling data. Relatively few Americans think abortion should be prohibited in all situations.

At least one abortion opponent, Americans United for Life CEO John Mize, said he is concentrating on gradual progress rather than the comprehensive changes some of his colleagues are demanding. While he wishes the FDA would accelerate its safety review, he acknowledges that not all Americans share his position.

“I think there is advancement being made in a positive direction,” he said. “While it might not meet the pace that many in the pro-life movement want to see, I think it meets the acceptable place of where we’re at culturally.”

Republican legislators across multiple Southern states are moving forward with plans to redraw congressional maps following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, despite strong opposition from civil rights organizations.

Tennessee will begin a special legislative session Tuesday to consider redistricting changes, while Alabama started similar proceedings Monday. Louisiana officials are also preparing new House district maps after the Supreme Court overturned the state’s existing boundaries last week.

The Supreme Court’s decision determined that Louisiana placed excessive emphasis on racial considerations when establishing a second district with a Black majority while attempting to follow Voting Rights Act requirements. This ruling has fundamentally changed how the law has been interpreted for decades and given Republican officials in multiple states justification to target majority-Black districts that typically send Democrats to Congress.

The potential changes could reverse years of progress made to protect minority voting representation, particularly affecting Black Americans’ congressional representation.

Former President Donald Trump has pushed additional states to pursue redistricting as Republicans work to maintain their slim House majority in the upcoming elections.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Monday before Alabama’s special session commenced, holding signs that read “No new map” and “We fight back! Black Voters Matter.”

The protesters assembled across from Alabama’s historic Capitol building, the same location where the Confederacy began in 1861 and where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to thousands following the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights.

“Much blood, sweat and tears was shed in an effort for us to gain the right to vote,” stated Sheyann Webb-Christburg, who participated as a child in the 1965 Bloody Sunday march in Selma. “In 2026, there are still people who are still not exercising that right to vote, and we are still fighting today, even in an effort to keep our right to vote.”

Alabama’s Republican Governor Kay Ivey convened the special session to develop backup plans for special primary elections, hoping the Supreme Court will allow Alabama to implement new congressional maps before November’s midterm elections.

A federal three-judge panel had previously mandated that Alabama use a court-approved map featuring a second district with significant Black voter representation until new boundaries are created following the 2030 Census. Alabama has appealed this ruling and requested permission to return to a 2023 map created by Republican state legislators, citing the Louisiana decision. This earlier map could improve Republican chances of winning at least one seat currently occupied by Black Democratic representatives.

“This is the voice of the people,” declared Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter while advocating for the Republican proposal. “We had three judges determine how five million people were supposed to vote, and I don’t think that’s the way.”

During a town hall organized by a Democratic-aligned organization, former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, who is seeking the governor’s office as a Democrat, stated that Alabama was “ground zero for voting rights, and we are going to be ground zero to make sure we retain those voting rights.”

Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee summoned state lawmakers to a special session to examine a proposal that could divide the state’s only Democratic-controlled House district, which centers around Memphis and its majority-Black population. This action follows pressure from Trump.

Tennessee’s candidate filing deadline passed in March, with primary elections set for August 6.

Religious leaders opposed to splitting Memphis’ congressional representation gathered Monday to condemn the proposed changes.

“This latest attempt at redistricting is not just about lines on a map. It is about misrepresentation,” declared Rev. Earle Fisher, pastor at Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church and founder of Up the Vote 901, referencing Memphis’ area code. “It’s about whether the voices of Black people in this state will be heard or hidden.”

Following last week’s Supreme Court ruling, Louisiana quickly postponed its May 16 congressional primary to provide lawmakers time to approve new House districts.

Republican state Senator Caleb Kleinpeter, who leads a Senate redistricting committee, informed The Associated Press that his panel plans a public hearing Friday on congressional redistricting. Kleinpeter indicated lawmakers are evaluating various options, including legislation that would remove one or both of Louisiana’s majority-Black congressional districts.

Democratic officials and civil rights organizations have initiated multiple legal challenges to Louisiana’s primary postponement, including a new federal court filing Monday. They are urging Louisiana residents to vote in congressional primaries during the ongoing early voting period, in case courts later validate those ballots.

Congressional district boundaries are typically redrawn once per decade following census data to reflect population shifts. However, Trump encouraged Texas Republicans last year to redraw House districts for partisan advantage. California Democrats responded similarly, prompting other states to follow suit.

Florida became the eighth state to implement new House districts before midterm elections when Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday he had signed revised maps approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The changes could help Republicans secure up to four additional House seats. Legal challenges immediately followed, with opponents arguing the new map constitutes partisan gerrymandering that violates Florida’s constitutional ban on districts favoring one political party.

Overall, Republicans believe they could gain up to 13 seats from new congressional districts across five states, while Democrats estimate they could add up to 10 seats from new districts in three states. The proposed Southern state redistricting could increase Republican gains.

NEW YORK — Federal appeals court judges on Monday questioned whether the Trump administration is circumventing constitutional requirements by installing federal prosecutors for indefinite periods without seeking Senate confirmation.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals examined a lower court ruling that determined First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone was illegally serving as the chief prosecutor for northern New York, making his official actions subject to reversal.

Circuit Judge Maria Araújo Kahn voiced concerns that any president could “essentially dismantle a system that our Founding Fathers established for checks and balances.”

Kahn emphasized her concerns transcended party lines and individual presidents.

“That person could circumvent Senate confirmation of any U.S. attorney by simply repeatedly naming a first assistant to function as acting U.S. attorney. Where would this practice stop?” she questioned.

Manhattan U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield removed Sarcone in February from seeking subpoenas in an investigation targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Sarcone joins several temporary U.S. attorneys appointed by the current administration whom courts have determined are serving illegally in their roles.

Federal statutes typically mandate Senate confirmation for U.S. attorneys and permit only temporary service without confirmation for restricted timeframes. However, under Trump’s leadership, the Justice Department has attempted to keep unconfirmed prosecutors in place permanently, frequently using creative staffing tactics that courts have subsequently deemed inappropriate.

In December, Alina Habba stepped down as New Jersey’s chief federal prosecutor following an appeals court determination that her service violated legal requirements.

Lindsey Halligan, who brought charges against two Trump opponents, vacated her acting U.S. attorney role in Virginia after a judge ruled in November that her appointment lacked legal authority and dismissed indictments she had filed against James and former FBI Director James Comey.

Circuit Judge Guido Calabresi, part of Monday’s appellate panel, noted that the roughly 200-day limit for temporary U.S. attorney service would become “useless because you could continuously reappoint the identical individual.”

Calabresi suggested the 2nd Circuit might determine that Sarcone could receive authorization from his Washington supervisors to investigate James independent of his U.S. attorney’s office role.

Justice Department attorney Henry Whitaker informed the three-judge Manhattan panel that the executive branch employed Congressional authorities to place Sarcone in command of the office.

“Congress has established multiple overlapping mechanisms for the executive branch to ensure temporary performance of those duties. Here, the executive branch employed two such methods to completely authorize John Sarcone to issue grand jury subpoenas and oversee criminal investigations in northern New York,” Whitaker stated.

Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi designated Sarcone as interim U.S. attorney for northern New York in March 2025. However, when his 120-day appointment expired, district judges refused to extend his tenure.

Sarcone remained in position regardless, continuing his investigation of James, a Democratic official and persistent Trump critic.

After Sarcone adopted the “first assistant U.S. attorney” title, federal district judges attempted to address the apparent vacancy in February by naming Donald Kinsella to the position.

Within 24 hours, then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Kinsella’s dismissal via social media.

“Judges don’t select U.S. Attorneys,” the president does, Blanche posted, concluding, “You are terminated, Donald Kinsella.”

Donald Beaton Verrilli Jr., counsel for the New York attorney general’s office, called it “remarkable, absolutely remarkable” that no nominee has been put forward for northern New York’s U.S. attorney position over a year into Trump’s second presidency.

“What this demonstrates is that everything involving Mr. Sarcone is clearly designed to circumvent the Senate’s constitutional responsibility… to verify that individuals are qualified for the position. They desire this investigation of our office and attorney general to proceed without Senate oversight,” he argued.

The judges withheld their decision.

State officials in California are demanding transparency regarding a Trump administration arrangement that compensates an energy company for abandoning its offshore wind development plans.

The California Energy Commission announced Monday it has served Golden State Wind with an administrative subpoena. The company had proposed a floating wind energy facility off the state’s central coastline.

Officials want access to records and details surrounding the firm’s recent arrangement with federal Interior Department officials. The deal provides financial compensation in return for the voluntary surrender of the company’s offshore wind development rights.

“The Trump administration is recklessly spending billions of taxpayer dollars on backroom deals that would turn back the clock on innovation,” stated CEC Chair David Hochschild. “Californians deserve immediate answers about the nature of this payout. Taxpayer dollars should be used to build a sustainable energy future, not to pay to make projects disappear.”

The current administration is allocating close to $2 billion to persuade energy firms to abandon offshore wind developments across the United States. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has argued that companies purchased lease rights for projects that could only succeed with substantial government subsidies when they made bids in 2022 during Joe Biden’s presidency.

This approach emerged after federal courts blocked President Trump’s attempts to halt offshore wind development through executive orders. Officials have announced three such agreements to date.

The initial arrangement, revealed in March, provides French corporation TotalEnergies with $1 billion – essentially reimbursing their lease costs for wind projects off North Carolina and New York – contingent on redirecting that investment toward fossil fuel ventures. Last week’s announcements detailed how Golden State Wind and Bluepoint Wind accepted lease terminations worth nearly $900 million combined, with requirements to match those funds in fossil fuel investments.

Ocean Winds, a partnership between EDP Renewables and French energy company Engie, holds ownership stakes in both Golden State and Bluepoint operations. Bluepoint Wind represented an early-stage offshore development planned for waters off New Jersey and New York.

Ocean Winds declined to discuss the subpoena Monday, stating the company avoids commenting on ongoing or potential legal proceedings.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office informed Golden State Wind that the state expects possible litigation involving federal officials and parties involved in lease buyouts that affect California’s energy requirements and offshore wind initiatives. The state has committed approximately $100 million toward offshore wind development to accelerate clean energy adoption and combat climate change.

Congressional Democrats are also conducting their own investigation. Representatives Jared Huffman of California, who leads Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, and Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, are requesting information about the TotalEnergies arrangement.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday that electronic refund payments for certain Trump administration tariffs will begin May 12, pushing back the start date by one day from previous projections.

The customs agency revealed the updated timeline in a communication to shipping companies, announcing new status tracking systems that will allow businesses to monitor their refund claims as they move through the approval process.

Last week’s Court of International Trade ruling had indicated refund distributions would commence around May 11, though officials did not provide an explanation for the slight delay to May 12.

The refund program stems from a Supreme Court decision that found former President Trump exceeded his executive powers when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose certain trade penalties. The 1977 sanctions legislation was ruled inappropriate for tariff implementation by the nation’s highest court.

Customs officials estimate the total value of refundable collections could reach $166 billion, representing tariffs collected under the disputed emergency powers framework during the Trump presidency.

California energy regulators launched an investigation Monday into a Trump administration agreement that resulted in a $120 million payment to terminate an offshore wind development project along the state’s central coastline.

State officials are demanding details about the substantial government payment to assess whether any laws were broken in the transaction.

The lease payment reimbursements, which came with requirements for fossil fuel investments, represent part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing campaign to undermine America’s emerging offshore wind sector over the past year.

The California Energy Commission announced it had served a subpoena on Golden State Wind LLC, a collaborative venture between Ocean Winds and Reventus Power, a London-based offshore wind investment company. Ocean Winds operates as a joint enterprise involving France’s ENGIE and Portugal’s EDP Renewables.

“Californians deserve immediate answers about the nature of this payout,” stated CEC Chair David Hochschild. “Taxpayer dollars should be used to build a sustainable energy future, not to pay to make projects disappear.”

The state has established an objective to deploy 25 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2045 as part of its climate change mitigation strategy. California officials noted they have committed over $100 million toward developing necessary port facilities and transmission infrastructure for offshore wind projects.

Representatives from Golden State Wind and the Interior Department did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The Trump administration’s Justice Department took action Monday to halt a nearly six-year-old legal case where Minnesota state officials accused major oil corporations and a petroleum industry group of misleading residents about climate change impacts.

Federal attorneys submitted court documents in Minneapolis federal court contending that greenhouse gas emission regulation falls under federal jurisdiction rather than state authority, and accused Minnesota of attempting to wrongfully extend its policy decisions nationwide.

“The Constitution does not tolerate such a conflict,” Justice Department attorneys argued in the filing. “Nor does it allow Minnesota to national its regulatory powers.”

Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison initiated the state court case in June 2020, targeting ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, the American Petroleum Institute, and Flint Hills Resources (a Koch subsidiary) for alleged consumer fraud and misleading business practices. More than 15 additional states have pursued comparable legal actions, including Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.

Ellison released a statement Monday dismissing the Justice Department’s intervention as without merit.

“The American people deserve a Department of Justice that fights for us, and it’s a tremendous shame that Trump’s DOJ would rather sell us out to Big Oil,” Ellison said.

The Associated Press attempted to reach media representatives from ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute Monday but received no immediate responses. When Ellison filed suit in 2020, ExxonMobil representatives called the case groundless. The American Petroleum Institute stated at that time that the energy sector delivers dependable power to American consumers while significantly reducing environmental impact.

Trump has advocated for expanding domestic energy output. In February, the administration eliminated a scientific determination that has long served as the foundation for U.S. greenhouse gas regulation and climate action efforts, representing the Republican president’s most forceful attempt to dismantle climate policies. The Environmental Protection Agency rule eliminated a 2009 government finding called the endangerment determination that concluded carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose threats to public health and safety.

The Justice Department’s court filing represents another source of tension between the Trump administration and Minnesota leadership. Relations have been strained since January, when federal immigration agents fatally shot two Minneapolis residents in separate incidents during an enforcement operation in the city. Federal authorities conducted multiple searches in April related to an investigation of publicly funded children’s programs, further intensifying conflicts.

Political battles over congressional district boundaries have intensified across the country as November’s midterm elections approach, following a Supreme Court decision that reduced federal voting rights protections and allowed states more freedom to alter districts previously designed to protect racial minority representation.

While congressional districts are normally redrawn once per decade using new census information, an unprecedented wave of mid-decade map changes has emerged. This trend began when former President Donald Trump encouraged Texas GOP leaders last year to redraw House districts to benefit Republican candidates in the midterms. California Democrats responded with their own strategic redistricting efforts, prompting additional states to follow suit.

Already, eight states have enacted new House district maps, with several others weighing similar changes. Republican strategists estimate they could capture as many as 13 additional House seats through new boundaries in Texas, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. Democratic leaders believe they might secure up to 10 extra seats from redrawn districts in California, Utah and Virginia.

However, these projections rely on previous election results continuing into November. Traditionally, the sitting president’s political party loses congressional seats during midterm contests. Democrats require only a small number of seat gains in November to take House control away from Republicans, which would strengthen their ability to challenge Trump’s agenda.

At least three state legislatures are currently meeting to evaluate proposals for new House district boundaries.

Louisiana’s current delegation includes two Democrats and four Republicans. Republican Governor Jeff Landry delayed the May 16 congressional primary to give state lawmakers time to modify House districts following an April 29 Supreme Court decision that eliminated a majority-Black congressional district. Multiple legal challenges have been filed in both federal and state courts, arguing that Landry overstepped his authority by suspending the primary elections.

Alabama currently sends two Democrats and five Republicans to the House. Republican state leaders want to return to a House map approved in 2023 but never implemented, which could help the GOP capture another seat. The existing map was court-ordered and intended for use through the 2030 census. State officials have petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn that directive based on the Louisiana redistricting ruling.

Tennessee’s delegation consists of one Democrat and eight Republicans. Republican Governor Bill Lee has convened lawmakers for a special session to examine a new House map that would divide a Black-majority district in Memphis and boost Republican odds of gaining another seat. The candidate filing deadline has already passed for primaries scheduled for August 6.

Eight states have adopted new House districts since last summer. Six chose to redistrict voluntarily, one was mandated by state constitutional requirements, and another acted under court directive.

Texas currently has 13 Democrats and 25 Republicans in its House delegation. Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed revised House boundaries into law last August that could help Republicans secure five more seats. The Supreme Court cleared the new districts for use in this year’s elections in December and has since reversed a lower court ruling that blocked the map for being “racially gerrymandered.”

California’s delegation includes 43 Democrats and nine Republicans. Voters approved revised House districts in November that were drawn by the Democratic-controlled Legislature and could help Democrats win five additional seats. The Supreme Court permitted the new districts for this year’s elections in February, rejecting appeals from Republicans and the Justice Department who claimed the districts improperly favored Hispanic voters.

Missouri sends two Democrats and six Republicans to the House. Republican Governor Mike Kehoe signed revised House boundaries into law last September that could help Republicans gain one more seat. A Cole County judge ruled the new map is valid while election officials determine whether a referendum petition meets constitutional standards and contains sufficient valid signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected claims that mid-decade redistricting violates state law and will hear arguments in May regarding allegations that new districts violate compactness rules and should be suspended pending the potential referendum.

North Carolina’s delegation has four Democrats and 10 Republicans. The Republican-controlled General Assembly gave final approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat. A federal court panel denied a request in November to prevent the revised districts from being used in the midterm elections.

Ohio currently has five Democrats and 10 Republicans in its House delegation. A bipartisan panel with a Republican majority voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republican chances of winning two more seats. The state constitution mandated new districts before the 2026 election because Republicans had previously approved the prior map without adequate Democratic support following the last census.

Utah’s delegation includes no Democrats and four Republicans. A judge imposed revised House districts in November that could help Democrats win a seat after ruling that lawmakers had bypassed anti-gerrymandering standards approved by voters when creating the previous map. Both a federal court panel and the state Supreme Court rejected Republican challenges to the judicial map selection in February.

Virginia sends six Democrats and five Republicans to the House. Voters approved a constitutional amendment on April 21 authorizing new House districts supported by Democrats that could help the party win up to four additional seats. The state Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed but has not yet determined whether the effort is legal, considering an appeal of a Tazewell County judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid due to procedural violations by lawmakers.

Florida’s delegation consists of eight Democrats and 20 Republicans. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced on May 4 that he had signed revised House districts that improve GOP chances of winning four more seats. A court challenge argues the new map violates a state constitutional provision that prohibits districts from being drawn to favor or disadvantage a political party.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder recently spoke with NPR about concerns that a new Supreme Court decision could significantly reduce African American representation in Congress.

Holder, who currently leads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, expressed alarm about a recent high court ruling that changes how longstanding voting rights protections are interpreted under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

According to data from Holder’s organization, between 12 and 19 congressional seats in Southern states that currently serve as majority-minority opportunity districts could be threatened by this judicial interpretation.

The Supreme Court’s decision represents a shift in how courts will evaluate voting rights cases, potentially making it more difficult to maintain districts where minority voters have historically been able to elect their preferred candidates.

Holder’s comments highlight growing concerns among civil rights advocates about the future of minority political representation as redistricting battles continue across the nation.

WASHINGTON, May 4 – Former President Donald Trump expressed enthusiasm Monday about an anticipated encounter with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for later this month, indicating he plans to emphasize America’s dominance in artificial intelligence during their discussions.

Trump stated he is eager for the upcoming meeting with his Chinese counterpart, where he intends to highlight the United States’ leadership position in AI technology as both nations continue to work through ongoing disputes related to trade and technological competition.

President Donald Trump used his social media platform on Monday to criticize current interest rate levels, declaring them excessive. This latest statement continues the president’s sustained campaign over recent months advocating for reductions to the federal base rate.

NEW ORLEANS — A man who served decades behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit started his new job Monday running New Orleans’ criminal court operations, after a federal judge temporarily stopped Louisiana officials from dissolving his elected position.

Calvin Duncan secured 68% of voter support to become Orleans Parish criminal court clerk. However, with encouragement from Republican Governor Jeff Landry, the Republican-majority state Legislature quickly enacted a bill to eliminate Duncan’s role just days before he was scheduled to begin serving, moving his responsibilities to a different official.

On Sunday, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles stepped in, ruling that the legislation abolishing the clerk role violated constitutional principles by replacing a position chosen by voters with one filled through political appointment. He approved Duncan’s request for emergency protection while court proceedings continue and scheduled a Monday status meeting for all parties.

“The Court is not ruling that the state lacks the authority to abolish an agency or office writ large,” deGravelles stated.

The judge explained he’s “simply holding” that Louisiana’s method violated Duncan’s constitutional rights to due process.

Louisiana officials quickly filed an appeal Monday, requesting a higher court suspend the judge’s order.

The bill, which Landry approved Thursday, would have transferred criminal court clerk duties to the Orleans Parish civil court clerk. Landry and fellow Republicans argued the consolidation would streamline government operations and bring Orleans Parish in line with other areas statewide.

When Duncan walked up the courthouse steps Monday morning and entered his new workspace, he shared with The Associated Press his enthusiasm about starting work and confidence in ultimately prevailing in court.

“I’m not just elated but overelated and happy that this day finally came,” Duncan said to the AP. “It’s something I’ve been working towards a very long time. This is a testament that God is still in control.”

Duncan, whose murder conviction was overturned in 2021, studied law while incarcerated and eventually obtained his attorney’s license. He campaigned for the clerk role promising to make court documents more accessible, inspiring many voters with his firsthand experience battling to prove his innocence. He shared with the AP his plans to use his opening day meeting staff members and fellow courthouse workers.

Duncan’s advocates argue that efforts by the predominantly white conservative Legislature to eliminate Duncan’s position undermines the democratic choice of New Orleans voters, a mainly Black Democratic stronghold within a Republican-controlled state. Louisiana has been at the forefront of challenging the Voting Rights Act.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat, praised the judge’s decision in Duncan’s case as protecting voting rights.

“The court made clear that you cannot change the rules after an election has already taken place,” Moreno stated. “Voters in New Orleans overwhelmingly elected Calvin Duncan and the will of the people should be respected.”

WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court has temporarily reinstated widespread availability of the abortion medication mifepristone on Monday, halting a decision that could have dramatically altered how abortions are accessed nationwide.

Justice Samuel Alito signed the temporary order that permits women to receive the medication from pharmacies or by mail delivery, eliminating the requirement for face-to-face medical consultations.

These accessibility guidelines had been operating for multiple years before a federal appeals court established additional limitations the previous week.

Most abortions performed in America involve medication protocols, typically combining mifepristone with another medication called misoprostol. The continued accessibility of these drugs has lessened the effects of abortion prohibitions that numerous Republican-controlled states have begun implementing following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that eliminated Roe v. Wade protections and permitted individual states to enact their own restrictions.

Louisiana brought legal action seeking to limit mifepristone access, claiming the drug’s availability weakened their state’s prohibition.

Several Democratic-controlled states have enacted legislation designed to provide legal safeguards for medical professionals who use telehealth services to prescribe these medications to patients residing in states with abortion bans.

Alito’s directive remains active for an additional seven days as both parties submit their responses and the court conducts a more comprehensive review of the matter.

The companies that produce mifepristone submitted urgent appeals requesting Supreme Court intervention.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge issued instructions Monday requiring government officials to give advance warning before removing more than 10 trees at a historic Washington D.C. golf course that President Donald Trump intends to renovate.

During a virtual court session, U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes declined to immediately grant a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit filed by the DC Preservation League. However, she directed the National Park Service to coordinate with government attorneys before proceeding with the removal of more than 10 trees.

The court session followed an urgent legal filing by preservationists seeking to halt construction activities at the golf course, based on media reports indicating major renovation work was scheduled to commence Monday.

During the proceedings, Kevin Griess, who oversees the National Mall and Memorial Parks for the Park Service, stated that no major construction was planned for Monday, though he confirmed that safety evaluations were currently taking place.

Judge Reyes expressed her reluctance to micromanage park operations, referencing the popular television comedy series when she told the parties she didn’t want to function as the “Parks and Rec” department, while also emphasizing her concern about potential tree destruction.

“I’m no Amy Poehler,” she remarked, citing the comedy show’s lead actress.

During Monday’s session, the judge mentioned learning about closure notices allegedly posted at the location, prompting Griess to request verification. He subsequently confirmed that no such signage was present. Reyes requested notification to the government’s legal team if any closure signs were discovered.

The legal challenge against the Department of the Interior contends that the Trump administration’s plans to reconstruct East Potomac Park, which includes the East Potomac Golf Course, would breach the 1897 congressional legislation that established the park. The approximately 130-year-old law designated the park for “recreation and the pleasure of the people.” The golf facility itself began operations in 1919.

Trump, who is known for his passion for golf, also has plans to renovate a military golf facility located just outside Washington that has served presidents for many decades.

WASHINGTON — This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will journey to Rome and Vatican City in an effort to smooth over escalating friction between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV regarding American foreign policy decisions, especially concerning the conflict with Iran.

On Monday, the State Department announced that Rubio, who practices the Catholic faith and has made at least three previous trips to Rome and the Vatican since assuming his role as the Republican administration’s chief diplomat, will spend Thursday and Friday in Italy.

“Secretary Rubio will meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere,” the department said. “Meetings with Italian counterparts will be focused on shared security interests and strategic alignment.”

This diplomatic mission occurs amid Trump’s public criticism of Leo, who holds the distinction of being the first American pope, regarding his positions on Middle Eastern affairs and other global matters. The president has also faced backlash for sharing a social media image that portrayed him in a Christ-like manner. Trump has declined to offer an apology to Leo and has attempted to dismiss the controversial post, which has since been removed, by claiming he believed the image depicted him as a medical professional.

Throughout his tenure, Rubio has frequently served as a diplomatic intermediary, working to soften or clarify Trump’s aggressive statements concerning Europe, NATO, and Middle Eastern policy. However, this particular conflict with the pope carries significant domestic political consequences as congressional midterm elections draw near.

Leo, who became the first pontiff born in the United States, has clarified that his general calls for peace and his criticism of the Iran conflict and other global disputes were not intended as personal attacks on Trump or any specific individual.

Former President Donald Trump is launching a revenge effort against fellow Republicans in Tuesday’s Indiana primary elections. The former president has thrown his support behind primary opponents challenging seven GOP state senators who refused to back his congressional redistricting initiative.

Through multiple social media messages, Trump has attacked the sitting lawmakers with harsh language, branding them as incompetent, calling them RINOs — Republicans in name only — or labeling them as losers.

During 2025, Trump pressured Republican officials across multiple states to redesign their congressional boundaries to help the GOP keep its slim majority in the U.S. House. While Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio complied with his request, Indiana’s effort collapsed when more than half of the state’s GOP senators joined with Democrats to reject Trump’s supported proposal. Of the eight state senators who opposed the plan and face reelection in 2026, Trump has endorsed challengers against all except one.

Democratic-friendly redistricting in California and Virginia has counterbalanced some anticipated Republican advantages elsewhere, though a new Florida map and last week’s Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have strengthened GOP efforts to alter the political map before November.

All of the Indiana state senators Trump is targeting come from districts he won in 2024, typically by margins of 20 percentage points or greater. The closest contest was in District 1, located near Lake Michigan and southeast of Chicago, where Trump secured approximately 53% of votes with a 7-point victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s strongest showing among the seven targeted districts came in District 19 along the Ohio border, where he captured roughly 68% of votes with a 39-point margin.

Just one of the current officeholders, state Sen. Spencer Deery from District 23, experienced a competitive primary in 2022. He prevailed with about 31% of votes in a four-way race that included Paula Copenhaver, who is now Trump’s chosen candidate to defeat him this cycle. Another Trump target, state Sen. Greg Goode from District 38, was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2023 and has never run in a full district-wide campaign.

Twenty-five of Indiana’s 50 state Senate positions and all 100 state House seats are on the ballot in 2026. The Republican Party maintains supermajorities in both legislative chambers.

Indiana voters will also select candidates for the U.S. House under current district lines, though none of the state’s nine congressional seats is anticipated to be crucial in determining which party controls the chamber after November.

One significant race is the Democratic primary in the 7th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Andre Carson is fighting off three opponents as he seeks nomination for a 10th full term. George Hornedo works as an attorney and political consultant. Destiny Wells serves as an attorney, holds the rank of Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, and was the 2024 candidate for state attorney general. Denise Paul Hatch, a former Center Township constable, is challenging a 2024 felony conviction for official misconduct.

The Associated Press follows strict guidelines and will only declare winners when no mathematical possibility exists for trailing candidates to overcome their deficits. For races not yet called, the AP continues reporting significant developments like candidate concessions or victory claims while clearly stating no winner has been determined and explaining the reasoning.

Indiana law does not provide for automatic recounts, though losing candidates may request and fund recounts regardless of vote margins. Depending on recount outcomes, costs may receive partial or complete reimbursement. The AP may call winners in races eligible for recounts if the victory margin is too substantial for recounts or legal challenges to alter results.

Polling locations across Indiana close at 6 p.m. local time. Most of the state operates in the Eastern time zone with 6 p.m. ET closures, while some areas use Central time and close at 7 p.m. ET. Among Trump-targeted seats, only state Senate District 1 has polls closing at 7 p.m. ET. The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th Congressional Districts also have final poll closures at 7 p.m. ET.

The AP will deliver vote tallies and winner declarations for competitive primaries covering U.S. House, state Senate and state House races. Republican incumbents face Trump-endorsed challengers in state Senate Districts 1, 11, 19, 21, 23, 38 and 41.

Indiana does not require party registration, allowing registered voters to choose their preferred party’s primary ballot. Voter identification is mandatory. State law includes an unusual requirement that primary voters must have supported a majority of that party’s candidates in the previous general election or intend to do so in the upcoming general election if they did not vote previously. While essentially unenforceable, voters facing party affiliation challenges must use provisional ballots unless they sign affidavits declaring party alignment.

Approximately 4.8 million registered voters lived in Indiana during the November 2024 general election. Registration numbers across the state’s nine congressional districts varied from roughly 442,000 in District 7 to about 505,000 in District 5.

Most targeted state Senate contests lacked competitive primaries in 2022, but those with contested general elections recorded between approximately 32,000 to 45,000 total votes.

The 7th Congressional District Democratic primary in 2024 drew about 34,000 votes, representing the highest turnout among all districts and roughly 8% of registered voters. The Republican primary in that district attracted about 25,000 votes.

Early voting accounted for approximately 29% of all 2024 primary ballots.

As of Friday, more than 175,000 combined Democratic and Republican primary ballots had already been submitted.

Indiana permits absentee ballot processing upon receipt, with counting allowed before Election Day poll closures. This system enables rapid absentee ballot tabulation. Election officials from over three-quarters of Indiana’s 92 counties typically include complete or nearly complete absentee and early voting results in their initial evening reports.

In 2024, the AP released first results for the Republican presidential primary at 6:06 p.m. ET, just six minutes after most polls closed statewide. The final vote update occurred at 11:34 p.m. ET with over 99% of total votes tallied.

Final election night updates for congressional districts with competitive primaries came much earlier. The 5th Congressional District concluded earliest at 9:10 p.m. ET, while the 1st District finished latest at 11:34 p.m. ET. The 7th District Democratic primary’s final update was at 10:04 p.m. ET.

Initial vote results for the state Senate District 23 primary appeared at 6:59 p.m. ET, nearly one hour after district polls closed. The last update came at 11:11 p.m. ET with more than 99% of votes counted.

As of Tuesday, 182 days remain until the 2026 midterm elections.

President Trump has unveiled sweeping proposals to transform the physical landscape of Washington D.C., targeting everything from government structures to public monuments and recreational areas.

The ambitious plans encompass modifications to the White House facilities, updates to reflecting pools, renovations at the Kennedy Center, and the construction of a triumphal arch among numerous other projects throughout the nation’s capital.

Legal obstacles are mounting against many of these proposed transformations to both the White House complex and the broader city. While some modifications could be easily reversed by future administrations, others have the potential to permanently alter the character of Washington D.C. for decades to come.

The scope of the proposed changes reflects a comprehensive vision to remake the visual and architectural identity of the federal district, though the timeline and feasibility of implementing these plans remain uncertain given the ongoing legal challenges.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Voters across Ohio will cast ballots Tuesday in primary elections that will determine candidates for the state’s highest offices, though many contenders are already focusing on November’s general election battles.

The Buckeye State is positioned to be a major battleground in the midterm elections, featuring races that could determine control of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives during the final two years of the current Republican presidency. Several candidates have received backing from President Donald Trump.

The gubernatorial race to succeed outgoing Republican Governor Mike DeWine pits technology entrepreneur and former 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy against automotive racing engineer and online personality Casey Putsch in the GOP primary.

Ramaswamy has secured endorsements from both Trump and the Ohio Republican Party, heading into the primary’s final days with a substantial $31 million campaign treasury, with $25 million coming from his own pocket. In contrast, Putsch has raised approximately $123,000 and reported roughly $8,700 remaining in his campaign fund according to April filings.

A third contender, Heather Hill, was removed from consideration after her running mate departed the ticket amid a bitter disagreement. While their names remain printed on ballots, any votes they receive will not be tallied.

The Republican primary victor will challenge Dr. Amy Acton, who faces no opposition in the Democratic primary. Acton previously served as Ohio Department of Health director during the initial phase of the state’s coronavirus pandemic response before stepping down in June 2020.

For the U.S. Senate seat, former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is campaigning to return to his previous position in Washington. Brown’s potential November victory is crucial for Democratic aspirations to gain Senate control, similar to the 2024 election when his defeat by Republican Bernie Moreno helped establish a GOP majority.

Brown competes against Ron Kincaid for the Democratic nomination, with Brown holding a significant fundraising edge over Kincaid as of mid-April reports.

The Republican nominee will be Senator Jon Husted, who encounters no primary opposition. Husted previously served as lieutenant governor before receiving appointment to the Senate position that JD Vance left vacant upon becoming vice president. This seat will be contested again for a complete term in 2028.

In notable U.S. House contests, multiple Republican candidates are vying for the opportunity to challenge Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur in the 9th Congressional District. The 22-term representative barely secured reelection in 2024 against Republican Derek Merrin in one of that cycle’s final decided races.

Merrin is pursuing the GOP nomination once more, facing competition from former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, state Representative Josh Williams, and two additional candidates.

Lucas County, which includes Toledo, holds the greatest influence in 9th Congressional District primaries, accounting for over one-third of total votes in the 2024 Republican House primary. Both Merrin and Williams represent Lucas County, while Sheahan’s political base is in Ottawa County.

Franklin and Cuyahoga counties, containing Columbus and Cleveland respectively, represent the state’s largest population centers and significantly impact both Democratic and Republican statewide primaries, alongside Hamilton, Montgomery, and Summit counties.

Trump’s support should benefit Ramaswamy, as Trump won every county during the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

The Associated Press maintains strict standards for declaring winners, only making calls when no mathematical possibility exists for trailing candidates to overcome deficits. Until races are officially called, the AP continues reporting significant developments while clearly stating that winners have not been determined.

Ohio automatically triggers recounts when margins fall below 0.25% in statewide contests or 0.5% in congressional district races. The AP may still declare winners in recount-eligible races if leads appear too substantial for recounts or legal challenges to alter outcomes.

Election officials will close polling locations at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Associated Press will deliver vote totals and announce winners in competitive primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state Supreme Court, state Senate, and state House positions.

All registered Ohio voters may participate in any party’s primary election. While Ohio doesn’t require party registration, voters participating in party primaries become affiliated with those parties.

Approximately 7.9 million registered voters were recorded in Ohio as of Friday.

During 2022, both Republican primaries for U.S. Senate and governor recorded roughly 1.1 million votes each, representing about 14% of registered voters at that time. Democratic primaries drew approximately 518,000 votes for U.S. Senate and 509,000 for governor.

Early voting accounted for roughly 17% of 2022 primary votes, while 25% of 2024 presidential primary votes were cast before election day.

More than 153,000 Democratic primary ballots and approximately 122,000 Republican primary ballots had been submitted by Friday for Tuesday’s election.

Ohio’s 88 counties typically report their complete early and absentee voting results in initial updates, usually before releasing any Election Day voting data.

During the 2024 Ohio presidential primary, the AP published initial results at 7:36 p.m. Eastern Time, six minutes after polls closed. Approximately 90% of votes were counted by 10:19 p.m., with final updates at 1:28 a.m. showing over 99% completion.

Following Tuesday’s primary, 182 days will remain until the 2026 midterm elections.

Central Michigan voters head to the polls Tuesday in a crucial special election that will determine which party controls the state Senate, ending a 16-month period where the district lacked representation.

The contest centers on filling the vacancy left by former Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who departed for Congress earlier this year. Currently, Democrats hold a razor-thin 19-18 advantage in the state Senate, meaning a Republican win would create an even 19-19 split.

Democrats achieved complete control of Michigan’s government in 2022, securing the governor’s office and both legislative chambers. However, they surrendered the state House in 2024, making this Senate race critical for maintaining any legislative influence.

Should Republicans capture the seat, they could effectively stall Democratic priorities despite Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II’s tie-breaking authority, since most legislation requires 20 votes to advance.

Three candidates compete for the position: Democrat Chedrick Greene, Republican Jason Tunney, and Libertarian Ali Sledz.

Greene, who works as a firefighter and previously served as a state Senate aide to McDonald Rivet, dominated his February 3rd primary with 60% support against five rivals. Tunney, practicing attorney and former family roofing business executive, secured his party’s nomination with 51% in a four-way Republican primary.

The 35th District encompasses portions of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties along Lake Huron’s shoreline. Though Donald Trump won all three counties in 2024, the specific areas within District 35 remain politically competitive. McDonald Rivet originally captured this seat in 2022 with 53% of votes.

Presidential results highlight the district’s swing nature: Kamala Harris narrowly defeated Trump 49.7% to 48.9% in 2024, powered by strong performance in Saginaw County areas. Trump maintained smaller leads in the Bay and Midland County portions. Joe Biden also carried the district in 2020 by a slightly wider margin.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer scheduled this special election after McDonald Rivet’s January departure, setting the primary for February 3rd and the general election for Tuesday.

The victor will serve the final eight months of the current term. Both major party nominees have already filed paperwork to seek full terms in the August 4th primaries.

Voting concludes at 8 p.m. Eastern Time across District 35. Registered voters within the district boundaries may participate, with same-day registration available.

February’s special primary drew nearly 46,000 participants, with roughly 17,000 votes each from Saginaw and Bay counties, plus about 11,000 from Midland County. The 2022 general election in this district saw approximately 116,000 ballots cast.

Early and absentee voting comprised 43% of Democratic primary ballots and 29% of Republican primary ballots in February, compared to 60% advance voting in the 2024 presidential race. As of Friday, approximately 32,000 ballots had already been submitted for Tuesday’s election.

Vote reporting typically begins shortly after poll closing, with Bay County releasing early vote totals at the end of their tabulation process. Midland and Saginaw counties report advance and Election Day results throughout the evening.

In 2022, initial results appeared at 8:53 p.m. Eastern Time, with nearly 90% counted by 2:23 a.m. and final tallies reported around 5:33 a.m.

The August 4th state primary follows in 91 days, with the 2026 midterm elections scheduled 182 days from Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Following several election cycles of disappointing results, Iowa Democrats believe they can transform their state back into a competitive political arena.

While Donald Trump secured Iowa with a commanding double-digit victory in the most recent presidential race, increasing frustration with his administration and economic pressures from the Iran conflict may create opportunities for Democrats to achieve previously elusive victories.

Democratic organizers in Iowa are preparing to deploy 60 field coordinators by June — nearly twice the number from Trump’s first midterm cycle eight years prior. An additional 24 staff members will operate a unified campaign structure designed to assist candidates running for governor, Congress, and Senate positions.

“Iowa is still, in my view, a purple state,” state party chair Rita Hart said in an interview. “We just haven’t given them an opportunity to show that lately.”

GOP officials maintain Iowa will stay Republican, though recent White House travel schedules hint at potential concerns. Vice President JD Vance plans a Tuesday visit to campaign for Rep. Zach Nunn, whose district encompasses Des Moines, surrounding suburbs, and central rural areas. Trump similarly selected Iowa for his initial midterm campaign appearance this year.

The state faces an unusually high number of open-seat contests after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst decided against seeking reelection.

State auditor Rob Sand leads what Hart described as “the best statewide ticket we’ve had for a generation” in his gubernatorial campaign. Sand concluded last year with $13 million in campaign funds and frequently emphasizes his small-town background, Christian beliefs, and archery hunting skills, along with his rejection of partisan politics, to connect with diverse Iowa voters.

State legislators Josh Turek and Zach Wahls are competing for the Democratic Senate nomination in the June 2 primary. The party also hopes to capture three of four Republican-controlled House seats.

Democratic leaders believe an economic populist platform could gain traction in Iowa, where agricultural producers face tariff pressures and increased costs for fertilizer and fuel. Manufacturing plant closures and meatpacking facility shutdowns have eliminated hundreds of positions, while rural communities must travel greater distances for medical care as health facilities close.

This election cycle’s candidates are prepared to criticize their own party despite expecting support from national political organizations.

Turek and Wahls contend Democrats have neglected rural and small-community voters who supported Trump seeking systemic change. Turek, who identifies as a “prairie populist,” argues Congress contains too many wealthy members disconnected from paycheck-to-paycheck living. Wahls, backed by multiple labor organizations, claims political corruption favors corporate interests over working families.

Christina Bohannan, making her third attempt to defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in southeastern Iowa, stated both major parties “have failed to really fight for working people.”

“Everybody’s talking about affordability,” she said. “I don’t want it just to become a catchphrase that people can kind of just brush aside as political rhetoric. This is real.”

Sand criticizes the broader political framework, which he claims “helps incumbents get reelected, rather than actually forcing them to solve our problems.” His recent policy platform includes term limits, prohibitions on congressional stock trading, and open primary systems.

Prior to Trump’s regional dominance, Democratic representation in Midwest and Plains state governorships and congressional delegations was common. Trump’s commitments to restore manufacturing employment and “drain the swamp” attracted voters who historically backed populist Democrats, according to Iowa Democratic strategist Jeff Link.

“Because the knee-jerk reaction to Trump is to be the opposite of Trump, we went away from economic populism to our detriment,” Link said. “By just being anti-Trump, it is being condescending towards people that chose him three times.”

Former Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin believes Trump’s missteps have opened doors for political change.

“I think a lot of people wanted to get things shaken up a little bit,” he said. “But I don’t think they wanted them shaken up like this.”

Harkin suggested his party can reshape its public image.

“I think Democrats in the Midwest especially got painted with this broad brush, and we didn’t fight back well enough,” he said. “We became more defensive.”

Republican leaders contend Democratic progressive policies remain disconnected from Iowa values.

“You can’t have political born-again experiences,” said Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. He argued that messaging adjustments and distancing from national party positions cannot “erase your history in one election cycle.”

Kaufmann recognized the challenging electoral environment while asserting Iowans support Trump’s strategic vision, understanding his tariff policies aim to protect agricultural interests and Iran military action seeks to eliminate nuclear threats. However, he noted Democrats required years to lose Iowa communities that shifted from Barack Obama to Trump support.

“It’s going to take a long time for them to build it back up again,” Kaufmann said.

Democratic electoral prospects have remained dim since Obama carried Iowa in 2008 and 2012. Republicans have controlled Iowa state government completely for almost ten years, with all six federal delegation members being Republican.

Democratic voter registration trails Republican numbers by approximately 200,000 statewide, with deficits in all four congressional districts.

Iowa Democrats report 7,000 new volunteer sign-ups over the past year, with planned volunteer training programs. The party has secured eight field office leases and intends to establish seven additional locations, including blue-collar Mississippi River communities in eastern Iowa that supported Obama before switching to Trump.

“We’re investing so much in these organizers and in our county parties and supporting and training our volunteers,” Hart said. “It’s through these kinds of conversations where we build trust with voters.”

Party leadership anticipates spending levels comparable to presidential election years, reaching high seven-figure amounts. Their strategy emphasizes personal interactions over text messaging and digital advertising.

“Since the pandemic, we’ve really struggled with getting back to the basics with person-to-person communication,” Hart said, adding, “We’ve got to get back to that.”

Even as Louisiana voters head to the polls for primary elections, the state’s Republican-controlled legislature is in the process of redrawing congressional district maps with the goal of gaining another Republican seat in Congress.

The timing of the redistricting effort raises questions about whether ballots already cast in congressional primary races will be counted, as lawmakers work to alter the boundaries that determine which candidates voters can choose from.

The redistricting push by Republican legislators aims to reconfigure the current district lines in a way that would benefit their party’s representation in Congress.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is shifting his strategy toward achieving rapid health policy victories that could benefit Republican candidates in the upcoming November midterm elections, according to senior administration officials who spoke with Reuters. This strategic pivot comes after White House officials urged him to step back from his controversial efforts to overhaul the nation’s vaccine policies.

Recent initiatives rolled out over the past several weeks have been crafted to resonate with Trump’s political base, including an executive directive that strengthens psychedelic research and the approval of innovative gene therapy for children suffering from a specific form of hearing loss. Administration sources indicate they are actively seeking additional opportunities for similar wins.

President Trump is eager to highlight prescription drug cost reductions achieved through his appointees’ negotiations, while Kennedy and his staff are developing a series of food policy measures and investigating the possibility of fast-tracking approval for other childhood disease treatments, according to three individuals with knowledge of the plans. Officials noted that it remains uncertain which of these potential actions under consideration will ultimately be implemented.

Much of the information regarding efforts to synchronize Kennedy’s approach with White House midterm priorities is being disclosed for the first time, drawing from conversations with over a dozen current and former senior administration officials and external advisors. These adjustments follow months of tension between the two groups over staffing decisions and policy directions.

The political implications are significant for Trump’s Republican party, which polling suggests could lose control of both congressional chambers. Kennedy’s previous actions, including his decision to eliminate vaccines from the recommended childhood immunization schedule in the United States, represent policies that might damage the party’s electoral prospects. Consequently, White House officials have demanded that he avoid taking further anti-vaccine measures this year before the election, four senior administration officials confirmed.

Simultaneously, the White House recognizes Kennedy’s celebrity appeal and his ability to attract Americans who might not typically support Republican candidates as a valuable political asset, three senior officials indicated. The health secretary is scheduled to participate in campaign activities in competitive congressional districts throughout the coming months.

Kennedy demonstrates “a good grasp” of the electoral dynamics, according to one senior administration official. The health secretary can identify numerous policy options “that don’t cause consternation” between his department and the White House.

Republican pollster Whit Ayres cautioned that it remains uncertain whether voters will overlook their opinions of Kennedy after his years of promoting skepticism about vaccine safety and effectiveness, which contradicts established scientific evidence.

“The vast majority of Americans view effective vaccines as one of the great miracles of modern medicine. An anti-vaccine message is political poison,” Ayres stated.

Kennedy “is trying to be a team player, but he is so widely associated with an anti-vaccine message that I don’t know that he can effectively pivot away from that,” he added.

When asked for comment by Reuters, Health and Human Services Department spokesman Andrew Nixon stated that Kennedy “remains focused on the priorities Americans consistently say matter most to them, including chronic disease prevention, food quality, and affordable health care.”

White House spokesman Kush Desai characterized Kennedy as “an invaluable asset for President Trump since Day One.” Neither official provided commentary on vaccine policies or midterm election strategy.

Kennedy occupies a distinctive position within Trump’s circle. He stands as the sole cabinet secretary whose agenda differs from, and occasionally conflicts with, the president’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, according to Republican strategists and administration officials.

Multiple administration officials characterized this tension as a “red hat-green hat” division. A “red hat” staff member — referring to Trump’s signature red Make America Great Again caps — demonstrates loyalty to the president’s political priorities. A “green hat” staff member indicates devotion and often admiration for Kennedy, whose “Make America Healthy Again” presidential campaign motto appeared on forest green caps.

When Kennedy withdrew from the 2024 presidential race to endorse Trump, his political supporters — a combination of vaccine skeptics and critics of pesticides and processed foods — were seen by some Trump allies as beneficial to the president’s reelection campaign. The health secretary was granted considerable freedom to implement his policies during the new administration’s first year.

The MAHA “green hats” celebrated when Kennedy replaced a federal immunization advisory board with new members who shared his vaccine perspectives. His appointees restricted COVID vaccine eligibility, eliminated universal hepatitis B shot recommendations, and advanced the scientifically unsupported theory that Tylenol use by pregnant women might contribute to autism in their children.

However, the White House eventually became worried about potential political ramifications, current and former officials revealed.

In December, fresh polling data released by Tony Fabrizio, a pollster working with Trump, demonstrated strong bipartisan backing for routine childhood vaccines, even among some MAHA voters who consider Kennedy their leader.

A Republican or Democratic candidate opposing current childhood vaccine recommendations would “pay a price in the election,” Fabrizio wrote in a published analysis, concluding that “vaccine skepticism is bad politics.”

During that period, Kennedy and his senior staff were planning to eliminate additional vaccines from the recommended U.S. schedule, according to three people familiar with the conversations. Kennedy argued to the White House for proceeding, claiming he needed to maintain MAHA supporter loyalty, four senior administration officials reported.

Trump advisors, concerned about Fabrizio’s research, informed Kennedy this would be his final major vaccine initiative before the November midterms, the four officials said. On January 5, the federal government eliminated recommendations for childhood immunizations against flu, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A, stating families should make these decisions with their physicians.

Public criticism was immediate, including from major medical organizations that had already filed lawsuits to stop Kennedy. The White House compared this criticism to the largely positive reception of Kennedy’s nutrition initiatives, such as new dietary guidelines promoting whole foods and protein over sugar and heavily processed products, a senior administration official noted.

The response in both the White House and health secretary’s office to the new food guidelines was “‘You know what? this is pretty cool,” the official said. “They thought, ‘Enough already with the negativity, let’s move forward with (food policy). This is where the year begins.’”

Since January, the White House has assumed a larger role in filling key health department positions to ensure Trump’s priorities are implemented and to prevent negative media coverage of controversial appointments and policies. Last week, Trump nominated a new surgeon general who has endorsed vaccines after it became apparent that Kennedy ally Casey Means, a wellness influencer and non-practicing physician, would not receive Senate confirmation.

The process has not been entirely smooth. Senior White House advisors attempted to remove Kennedy’s chief of staff and longtime advisor, Stefanie Spear, and relocate her elsewhere in the administration, creating conflict between the teams. In a White House confrontation — which Trump did not attend — Kennedy refused, according to three people familiar with the incident.

Spear continues as a top advisor to the secretary, but her influence has been reduced, two senior administration officials said. Trump officials promoted Chris Klomp, former head of the U.S. Medicare program, in February to help enforce the president’s priorities at the agency as Kennedy’s deputy. This change, requested by Trump officials to bring organization to the health department, has improved the working relationship with the White House, four officials confirmed. Spear and Klomp did not respond to comment requests.

Klomp has been instrumental in advancing more traditional health appointees, such as Erica Schwartz, the former deputy surgeon general selected to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three officials said.

Several close advisors to Kennedy helped persuade him that Schwartz would not undermine his previous vaccine work, and White House advisors clearly indicated their support for her nomination, one official said.

Kennedy and his team have also sought greater coordination with the White House in recent weeks as they finalize new announcements unrelated to vaccines, four senior officials said, while cautioning it was premature to determine whether fundamental differences between MAHA and MAGA will generate new tensions in the future.