Category: Politics

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will skip his eldest son’s wedding this weekend, citing urgent government responsibilities that require him to remain in Washington.

The president revealed his decision in a Truth Social post, explaining that he cannot attend Donald Trump Jr.’s marriage to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson due to official duties.

“While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so,” Trump wrote in his social media announcement.

“I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time,” the post continued.

According to CNN reports from Thursday, the ceremony is scheduled to occur this weekend on a small island in the Bahamas, with sources familiar with the arrangements providing the details. A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During remarks to reporters Thursday, Trump indicated that his son wanted him present for the celebration, describing it as a “small private affair.”

Trump mentioned Thursday that he would attempt to attend the wedding but acknowledged the difficult timing.

“I have a thing called Iran and other things,” Trump said on Thursday.

The administration is currently participating in Pakistan-mediated diplomatic discussions aimed at reaching an agreement to conclude the conflict with Iran that the U.S. and Israel initiated on February 28, which has disrupted the worldwide economy.

This marks Donald Trump Jr.’s third engagement. His previous marriage to Vanessa, a former model and actress, lasted 12 years and produced five children before she initiated divorce proceedings in 2018. He subsequently became engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, a television personality, until their separation in 2024.

A delegation of eight female senators from both political parties is embarking on a diplomatic journey to Arctic territories to strengthen relationships with American allies in the strategically crucial northern region.

The entire delegation, including senators, staff members, and military liaison personnel, consists exclusively of women who will conduct official visits with government leaders across four Arctic territories, observe military operational challenges in extreme conditions, and travel to a Norwegian island chain so isolated that polar bear protection escorts will be required.

“I want them to experience, first of all, the awesomeness of the Arctic,” said Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who is leading the trip alongside Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

This diplomatic mission emerged from both senators’ efforts to strengthen ties with American partners in North America and northern Europe during a period when President Donald Trump has adopted an aggressive, unilateral approach in the area. This week alone, the Pentagon announced a suspension of U.S. involvement in a joint continental defense board with Canada that has operated since World War II.

Both Murkowski and Shaheen believe this represents a misguided strategy for an Arctic region gaining increasing strategic importance and facing distinctive challenges.

“We will reassure our allies that we recognize and appreciate the importance of our allies and partners in the Arctic as in so many other areas,” Shaheen told The Associated Press, adding that she expected the group to discuss “what more we can do as members of Congress to support those relationships.”

The delegation maintains equal representation from both parties, with Republican Sens. Cindy Hyde Smith, Katie Britt and Cynthia Lummis joining Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan, Kirsten Gillibrand and Catherine Cortez Masto. Beginning Friday, they will travel to Arctic or sub-Arctic areas in Canada, Greenland (an autonomous Danish territory), Svalbard (a Norwegian archipelago among Earth’s northernmost inhabited locations), and Iceland.

Both Murkowski and Shaheen hope the delegation gains enhanced understanding and appreciation for Arctic communities experiencing climate change effects, along with the distinctive obstacles of military operations in these conditions.

“It’s to understand what it means to go into a remote, isolated community that has no access by road,” Murkowski said, adding that the group would see how military sites need airplane hangars because aircraft cannot be kept outside overnight in the Arctic cold.

NATO has recently worked to encourage High North cooperation through multiple joint military training exercises, particularly as nations including China and Russia expand their presence in the region.

As climate change reduces Arctic ice thickness, it may potentially open a northwest trade passage while rekindling competition with Russia, China and other nations for access to regional mineral deposits. The area also houses numerous undersea cable installations with strategic significance.

The delegation will also meet with Indigenous populations who have inhabited the region for centuries and possess deep environmental knowledge. Murkowski expressed hope that the senators return from the journey “excited and intrigued and hopefully inspired.”

Following Trump’s earlier threats regarding Greenland acquisition, Shaheen and Murkowski collaborated on legislation preventing U.S. attacks against NATO member nations. They are among legislators working to incorporate language in this year’s defense bill that would block the Trump administration from abandoning military commitments to NATO partners.

“I also want to know if there are policy directives that we should be thinking about. And it will be great to have a strong bipartisan group there to discuss what we might want to do when we get back,” Shaheen said.

For several destinations on their itinerary, substantial female representation represents standard practice. Iceland’s parliament consists of approximately 46% women, ranking among the world’s leading countries for female political participation.

Shaheen noted that research indicates “when women are the negotiating table, that agreements that are made have a much better chance of lasting for a longer period of time.”

She emphasized that data demonstrates female government representation creates more stable societies and increases community investment.

“There are very real reasons why we need to make sure that women are at the table,” she added.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s approval of a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for President Donald Trump’s supporters who claim they faced political persecution may have satisfied his boss, but it has sparked fierce opposition from Republican legislators whose support he needs for permanent confirmation.

While Blanche denies he’s campaigning for the attorney general position, a series of high-profile actions the Justice Department has implemented during his temporary leadership since last month, including bringing charges against former FBI Director James Comey, clearly demonstrate his effort to impress the president who selected him.

The compensation fund has positioned Blanche in the middle of intense Republican criticism just as he works to demonstrate he’s the ideal candidate for the role during Trump’s remaining term. The situation has intensified worries from Democrats and other critics that he hasn’t abandoned his role as the president’s private lawyer.

“So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong — Take your pick,” Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former majority leader, said in a statement.

Previously a federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche gained national attention through his leading position on Trump’s legal defense team, including representing the Republican during his hush money trial in New York. This experience gave him what he describes as direct insight into what he claims was the weaponization of the criminal justice system targeting Trump.

He joined the Justice Department as deputy attorney general, the second-highest position, before being promoted last month following Trump’s dismissal of Pam Bondi.

He now faces the familiar challenge confronting Trump-appointed attorneys general: balancing expectations from staff to maintain institutional standards while meeting the president’s demands for personal loyalty.

Trump’s initial attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was pushed out following the 2018 midterms after angering the president by recusing himself from an investigation examining connections between Russia and the 2016 presidential campaign. William Barr, another attorney general, stepped down after their relationship deteriorated when Barr declined to support Trump’s unfounded allegations of widespread election fraud. Bondi was dismissed after failing to successfully prosecute Trump’s political adversaries.

Two weeks into his role as acting attorney general, Blanche named Joseph diGenova, an 81-year-old former Justice Department prosecutor from the Reagan era, to a special role within the department. DiGenova will supervise a Florida-based probe examining whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired during the past decade to undermine Trump.

“At some point, at the right time, that will be made public and the American people will see exactly what happened to this administration and President Trump over the past decade,” Blanche told Fox News.

Previous government examinations of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation, which forms the core of the current conspiracy probe, have not resulted in criminal charges against senior officials or uncovered evidence of criminal behavior by them. Whether the ongoing investigation has uncovered any new information remains unclear.

The Justice Department also secured an indictment last month against Comey, a Trump critic whose prosecution the president has long demanded, charging him with threatening Trump through a social media image of seashells arranged in the pattern “86 47” — a case legal experts believe will present significant challenges for prosecutors. Comey has indicated he expects the Justice Department may pursue additional charges.

In additional actions, Blanche announced charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that has drawn conservative criticism, alleging it misled donors about its operations, and has publicly supported a Justice Department campaign against media leaks, including issuing subpoenas to journalists.

Perhaps the most bold display of allegiance to Trump occurred this week when the Justice Department revealed the establishment of a $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals who believe they’ve faced unjust investigation and prosecution, along with guaranteeing immunity from tax audits for Trump and his oldest sons.

Following mounting Republican opposition, Blanche conducted a heated meeting with GOP legislators Thursday. Soon after, Senate Republicans suddenly departed Washington without voting on approximately $70 billion legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies.

Blanche, who supported the fund during a congressional hearing this week, has stated that anyone believing they’ve faced persecution can seek compensation regardless of political party. However, the fund is widely viewed as benefiting Trump associates who were investigated during the Biden presidency.

“It’s pretty clear that he’s not the attorney general for the United States as much as he’s the attorney general for President Trump,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and senior Justice Department official in the 1980s. He said Blanche would get an A+ if report cards were issued for fealty to Trump.

David Laufman a former chief of staff to the deputy attorney general in President George W. Bush’s administration, said that rather than protecting the Justice Department’s independence, Blanche has been a “willing and ardent accomplice for carrying out any partisan or corrupt scheme the White House may devise.”

Blanche’s allies reject claims he’s attempting to gain Trump’s favor to obtain the permanent position.

“What he is doing is he is seeking justice based on facts and the law,” said Jay Town, who served as a U.S. attorney in Alabama during the first Trump administration. “And I don’t think that will ever change about him, whether he is the attorney general going forward or doesn’t spend another day in the administration. He is an honorable man and anybody that knows him knows that to be true.”

Blanche also denies he’s maneuvering to retain his position or experiencing pressure to appease Trump.

He has informed reporters he would be honored to receive a nomination but, “if he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ‘Thank you very much. I love you, sir.’ I don’t have any goals or aspirations beyond that.”

Recently, he’s served as the fund’s primary spokesperson and most prominent advocate, a position that matches his ease with public attention. He frequently conducts multiple press conferences weekly and provides interviews to various news organizations, contrasting with Bondi, who primarily appeared on Fox News.

His supporters argue his background as a federal prosecutor has made him a more skilled department communicator than Bondi, though his public statements have sometimes generated controversy, including his refusal to exclude the possibility that violent Jan. 6 participants could receive compensation.

While Blanche will select the five commissioners responsible for processing applications, his exact involvement in the fund’s operation remains uncertain. He informed CNN the fund was created through discussions with Trump’s private attorneys, not through him.

For some Democrats, that distinction holds little meaning.

“Mr. Attorney General, you are acting today like the president’s personal attorney,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, told Blanche during a confrontational exchange in a Senate hearing, “and that’s the whole problem.”

President Donald Trump declared Friday that additional late-night television hosts will lose their positions following his celebration of CBS ending Stephen Colbert’s program.

The president has consistently pushed the Federal Communications Commission to revoke broadcasting licenses from networks, demanded Walt Disney terminate ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, and called for Comcast’s NBC to dismiss Seth Meyers.

“Stephen Colbert’s firing from CBS was the ‘Beginning of the End’ for untalented, nasty, highly overpaid, not funny, and very poorly rated Late Night Television Hosts,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Others, of even less talent, to soon follow. May they all Rest in Peace!”

Colbert led the highest-rated Late Show for 11 seasons before CBS announced its cancellation last year, attributing the decision to financial considerations. Late-night programming, a staple of American television since the 1950s, has experienced declining audiences and advertising revenue for several years.

NBC, CBS and ABC remained silent on the matter Friday.

CBS revealed in July it would terminate Colbert’s program shortly after the network’s parent company settled Trump’s $16 million lawsuit regarding edited footage from a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Following that settlement, the FCC greenlit Paramount’s $8 billion acquisition by Skydance.

The cancellation of the leading late-night program generated significant backlash from Democrats and critics who observed that Paramount was pursuing merger approval during the show’s termination. Multiple critics argued the decision aimed to appease the administration and represented an attempt to suppress political comedy in defiance of First Amendment speech protections.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez stated Wednesday that Trump has openly attempted to remove programming he opposes from television.

“This administration cannot tolerate any critics, whether it’s late-night comedies, whether it’s ‘The View’,” Gomez remarked. “They are using every regulatory lever in their arsenal to go after content.”

The FCC is examining whether ABC’s “The View” breached equal time regulations during an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico of Texas. CBS prevented Colbert from broadcasting a Talarico interview in February, referencing an FCC directive from January.

“Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV,” Colbert commented at that time.

Trump referenced a Kimmel joke last month as justification for the host’s termination, which Disney refused. The following day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr initiated an uncommon early license examination of Disney’s eight ABC television stations. Disney faces a May 28 deadline for license renewal submissions.

In September 2025, Carr pushed broadcasters to remove Kimmel from programming. ABC temporarily halted Kimmel’s show following his remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Carr’s actions received widespread condemnation from various political perspectives.

Carr rejected claims that government pressure forced Colbert’s departure. “He’s just not as popular or as funny as he once was, if he ever was,” Carr informed Reuters in March.

After Trump demanded NBC fire Meyers in November, Carr shared the statement on X.

Former President Donald Trump is making a campaign stop Friday in New York’s Hudson Valley region, appearing alongside Representative Mike Lawler, one of the most at-risk House Republicans heading into November’s elections. The visit represents an unusual opportunity to gauge Trump’s influence with suburban voters who are increasingly worried about economic pressures.

The joint appearance by Trump and Representative Mike Lawler occurs as political analysts focus attention on suburban congressional seats, areas anticipated to see fierce competition between the two major parties in the upcoming elections.

Trump’s job approval ratings have declined following the start of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began in February. Increasing fuel costs and wider concerns about inflation are raising the political pressure in the House of Representatives, where Republicans maintain a slim majority.

Trump is also encountering unexpected resistance from within his own party regarding his efforts to fund a White House ballroom project and a separate initiative to create a political compensation fund connected to a legal settlement with the IRS concerning the disclosure of his tax documents.

The former president is set to address attendees at Rockland Community College during an event focusing on economic matters and tax policy, specifically highlighting last year’s expansion of a federal deduction for state and local taxes, commonly called SALT, which resonates strongly with suburban New York voters. The state levies relatively high income taxes on its residents.

Trump will “highlight his strong record of making life more affordable for working families,” said White House spokesperson Liz Huston. She noted that Trump intends to contrast his approach with Congressional Democrats, who opposed the tax legislation that provided tax relief on tips and Social Security.

Riya Vashi, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, criticized the scheduled appearance, calling it a poor decision by Lawler.

“Nothing says ‘I don’t care about my district’ quite like Mike Lawler bringing Donald Trump to NY-17 to tout a disastrous economy that’s crushing working families,” Vashi said.

Lawler, among the few Republicans representing a district that Democrat Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 presidential race, has shown more open support for Trump compared to other Republicans in competitive districts.

New York’s 17th Congressional District, spanning portions of the lower Hudson Valley, is anticipated to rank among the country’s most hotly contested House battles and may prove crucial in determining which party controls Congress.

Trump has shown his ongoing political influence within the Republican Party in recent weeks, as multiple candidates he supported have successfully defeated sitting lawmakers who had lost his backing, demonstrating his continued sway over primary elections and party unity as the 2026 election cycle approaches.

President Donald Trump is bringing his campaign messaging about economic policy to a closely contested congressional district in New York, despite widespread voter disapproval of his economic leadership. The scheduled appearance will highlight the tax legislation Trump enacted last year, which increased the federal deduction for state and local taxes by four times – a significant benefit for high-tax states such as New York.

At the same time, European officials are expressing bewilderment over Trump’s Thursday announcement to deploy an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, coming after weeks of contradictory statements from Trump and his administration about decreasing rather than expanding the American military presence. Additionally, Republicans are finding it difficult to secure sufficient votes to continue backing Trump’s military conflict with Iran.

The Trump administration has given approval for a limited $108 million weapons sale to Ukraine designed to help the nation maintain and support its medium-range air defense missile capabilities.

The State Department revealed the sale of ground-to-air Hawk missile parts, replacement components and logistical assistance late Thursday. The administration has significantly decreased military aid to Ukraine during the past 18 months while attempting to broker an agreement with Russia to conclude the conflict.

According to the department’s statement, the sale “will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust integrated air defense capability.”

Republicans faced difficulties Thursday in securing enough votes to reject legislation that would force President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran, pushing back scheduled votes on the issue until June.

The House had planned to vote on a war powers measure introduced by Democrats that would limit Trump’s military operations. However, when it became apparent that Republicans lacked sufficient support to block the legislation, GOP leadership chose not to proceed with the vote. This represents another indication of declining congressional support for a war that Trump initiated over two months ago without legislative authorization.

Senate Republicans are also working to guarantee they possess the necessary votes to reject a separate war powers measure that moved to a final vote earlier this week, when four Republican senators backed the resolution and three others were not present for the vote.

The moves by congressional leadership demonstrated that Republicans are having trouble maintaining political support for Trump’s management of the war.

NATO partners and defense officials showed confusion regarding Trump’s choice to deploy 5,000 U.S. military personnel to Poland.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated to reporters during a meeting she was hosting with her NATO colleagues, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

American defense officials were equally puzzled. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” commented one of two officials who requested anonymity to discuss classified military issues.

NATO partners have been caught off guard, despite American promises to coordinate troop movements. “We’re going to stay well-synchronized with our allies moving forward,” NATO’s senior military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, stated on Wednesday.

Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. would deploy an additional 5,000 military personnel to Poland, creating confusion after weeks of inconsistent statements from Trump and his administration regarding decreasing rather than expanding the American military presence in Europe.

The Trump administration had indicated it was reducing European troop levels by approximately 5,000 personnel, and U.S. officials verified that about 4,000 service members would no longer be sent to Poland. Trump’s social media declaration creates additional uncertainty for European partners who have been surprised by the modifications, as the administration has criticized NATO members for not taking on adequate responsibility for their own defense and not providing enough support for the Iran war.

Trump and the Pentagon have stated in recent weeks that they were withdrawing at least 5,000 troops from Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iranian leadership and criticized what he described as insufficient strategy in the war.

Trump is traveling to a competitive congressional district in New York on Friday to promote his campaign messaging about the economy, despite widespread voter disapproval of his economic management.

Trump will visit the Hudson Valley region to campaign alongside Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who faces reelection in what will be among the most closely monitored House contests this November. The event will emphasize the tax legislation Trump enacted last year, specifically the four-fold increase in the deduction for state and local taxes, which holds particular importance in a high-tax state like New York.

The White House has been seeking additional opportunities to showcase Trump’s economic achievements as his approval ratings on economic issues have declined. Approximately one-third of American adults support Trump’s handling of the economy, according to a recent AP-NORC poll, representing a decrease from 40% at the beginning of Trump’s second term.

A veterans advocacy organization has taken legal action against the Trump administration’s decision to roll back abortion access for veterans and their families who receive healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The federal court case, submitted Thursday, challenges the regulation that took effect on Dec. 31, arguing it eliminates limited reproductive healthcare access that was “crucial for the health, autonomy, and equality of veterans and their family members.”

Legal representatives for Minority Veterans of America are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to overturn the regulation. The attorneys argue the VA implemented the policy change without providing medical evidence or proper justification, which they claim violates the Administrative Procedures Act governing federal regulations.

The VA had not included abortion services in its healthcare coverage until 2022. The Biden administration implemented the coverage several months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and various state abortion restrictions went into effect.

The reproductive healthcare access offered by the VA under the Biden administration had narrow parameters, covering only situations where a pregnant woman’s life or health faced danger, or in instances involving rape or incest.

The policy under Biden enabled the VA to offer abortion services even in states with abortion prohibitions. It also aligned the VA’s healthcare coverage with other federal medical programs — such as Medicaid and TriCare for active service members and their families — which provided restricted abortion access.

The VA revealed its plan to reverse these policies last August, several months following President Donald Trump’s return to office.

The VA stated it would continue offering abortions when a pregnant woman’s life faces immediate danger. Such exceptions remain permissible under state laws, even in areas with abortion bans.

Nevertheless, the VA has eliminated exceptions for abortions in rape and incest cases or to safeguard a pregnant woman’s health. Abortion counseling services have also been discontinued.

A VA representative refused to provide comment, explaining the agency generally avoids discussing ongoing legal matters.

Minority Veterans of America reports representing over 3,600 members nationwide.

“Our community includes veterans with complex medical histories, those who have experienced pregnancy complications, and survivors of sexual violence and trauma, all of whom need access to abortion care and counseling to protect their health,” Lindsay Church, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.

When releasing its final regulation in December, the VA explained it was returning to the agency’s historical stance that abortions were not “needed” under federal law and that “this determination did not prohibit providing life-saving care to pregnant veterans.”

The court filing mentions one of Minority Veteran of America’s members is a military veteran who recently discovered her pregnancy in early May. She experiences chronic pain that has worsened due to the pregnancy, putting her health “at substantial risk,” according to the lawsuit, which protected the woman’s identity for privacy reasons.

The legal document states the VA will not permit the unnamed veteran to obtain an abortion “even if her health is at risk, unless a provider determines an abortion is necessary to save her life.”

WASHINGTON — A historic moment of defiance unfolded in the Senate this week as Republican lawmakers reached their breaking point with President Donald Trump’s escalating demands.

Frustrated GOP senators took an unprecedented step when faced with Trump’s latest request — a $1.776 billion compensation fund for January 6 rioters and others he considers wrongfully prosecuted. Rather than comply, they shut down proceedings and departed the Capitol.

This unusual display of resistance from Congress represents a significant shift for the Republican majority, which has typically chosen accommodation over confrontation when dealing with their party’s president.

The standoff derailed the GOP’s primary legislative goal: approving approximately $70 billion in funding for Trump’s immigration enforcement and deportation initiatives through 2029. Voting has been delayed until Congress reconvenes next month, missing Trump’s June 1 target date.

When questioned at an Oval Office event about whether he was losing Senate control, Trump responded with uncertainty.

“I really don’t know,” the president said.

The confrontation follows a challenging week where Trump’s endorsed candidates swept midterm primaries, defeating Republican incumbents including Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana and Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky. He also backed a challenger against Sen. John Cornyn in Texas, wielding his Make America Great Again movement against lawmakers who maintain independent positions.

House Republicans also showed signs of rebellion. For the first time this year, enough GOP members indicated support for a Democratic war powers resolution aimed at stopping Trump’s military actions in Iran. House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed the vote to avoid a direct challenge to the president.

These developments expose new vulnerabilities for Trump and the Republican Party. While his chosen candidates are winning primaries, many lack experience for general elections this fall. Trump’s approval ratings have declined, and he’s using political influence in ways that could alienate potential supporters and complicate GOP electoral prospects.

Trump’s surprise announcement of the nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund caught senators off guard, particularly those already frustrated by his request for $1 billion to secure a new White House ballroom.

The proposal’s structure — Trump negotiating a settlement in his own lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service to create the compensation fund — proved too controversial for Senate approval.

“Under what circumstances would it ever makes sense to provide restitution for people who were either pled guilty or were found guilty in a court of law?” questioned Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

Tillis criticized the White House proposal as “stupid on stilts” and a “payout for punks.”

Former majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who typically keeps his opinions private, issued a public statement following the events.

“So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong — Take your pick,” McConnell said.

Political dynamics are shifting as Trump’s pressure tactics lead lawmakers to question the benefits of appeasing him, especially those planning to leave office.

“I think it’s hard to divorce anything that happens here from what’s happening in the political atmosphere around us,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spent hours in private meetings with senators discussing the compensation fund but failed to reach an agreement.

Following those discussions, Thune suggested the administration’s team gained “an appreciation for the depth of feeling on the issue.”

While Trump-endorsed candidates defeated Republican incumbents this week, demonstrating his influence over party voters, some Congress members interpreted these losses differently.

“You don’t want to have a totally loyal party that’s in the minority. And that’s maybe where we’re headed,” said Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring at his term’s end.

The tensions began Saturday when Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump during his post-January 6 impeachment trial, lost his Louisiana primary to a Trump-backed opponent. Upon returning to Washington, Cassidy became more vocal in his Trump criticism and opposition.

“Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” Cassidy stated Monday. The following day, he joined Democrats in voting to limit the Iran conflict.

Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton over Cornyn in Texas struck many Republicans as both personal and politically dangerous. Trump explained that Cornyn “was not supportive of me when times were tough.”

“There’s a lot of folks in our conference that are disappointed because we appreciate working with John Cornyn,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

Other senators worried the divisive Texas primary could endanger a seat Republicans must retain.

“He made the wrong pick,” Tillis said. “It’s going to be a lot more expensive to hold that seat.”

House Republicans also demonstrated growing dissatisfaction.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., partnered with Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi to introduce legislation preventing taxpayer funding for Trump’s proposed “anti-weaponization” compensation program.

Fitzpatrick drew Trump’s criticism after the president publicly complained that the congressman “likes voting against Trump” and warned, “You know what happens with that?”

However, Fitzpatrick maintained that internal party opposition stems from policy disagreements rather than political concerns.

“People have the right to free speech in this country,” Fitzpatrick said. “But what we do here is all about policy.”

Fitzpatrick and Republican Michigan Rep. Tom Barrett were anticipated to support Democrats on the war powers resolution targeting Trump’s Iran military campaign.

GOP leadership withdrew the measure when it became apparent Republicans lacked sufficient votes for defeat.

Bacon, who served 30 years of active Air Force duty, believes much Republican resistance to the war could be addressed through improved congressional consultation.

“You sit down with somebody, and work with them instead of threatening, bully and yelling,” said Bacon. “It don’t work.”

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (AP) — With Donald Trump’s endorsement now in hand, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is expressing confidence as his Republican primary runoff against Sen. John Cornyn approaches its final stretch.

“I don’t know if y’all noticed this, but Donald Trump endorsed me,” Paxton declared to an enthusiastic crowd at a small gathering in a community near Austin, drawing cheers and applause from supporters.

The Tuesday contest has captured nationwide interest and attracted substantial financial investment. The race represents another opportunity for Trump to push out an incumbent politician who has frustrated him — Cornyn in this instance — while promoting a candidate who better reflects the president’s priorities. This strategy has proven effective for Trump in recent cycles. Just this week, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie was defeated in his Kentucky primary by Ed Gallrein, Trump’s chosen candidate. Similar victories have occurred in Louisiana and Indiana.

Demonstrating his optimism about Tuesday’s outcome, Paxton has begun targeting the Democratic candidate, state Rep. James Talarico. His Thursday event opened with criticism of Talarico, signaling confidence in advancing to the general election.

During his remarks, Paxton outlined his political background and emphasized his central campaign message: his extensive record of filing lawsuits in defense of conservative principles throughout his tenure. This track record resonates strongly with supporters of the Make America Great Again movement, according to those in attendance.

“He’s a fighter, he’s a person of action, he’s proven that as attorney general,” said Jeffrey Sonnier, 72, who attended the rally and reflected sentiments expressed by many supporters present.

Regarding Cornyn, Sonnier observed, “he’s inactive for five years and digs out to become a supposed active Republican MAGA person every six years.”

Following Trump’s Tuesday endorsement, Paxton’s campaign announced it would cease running attack advertisements against Cornyn. Instead, both his campaign and a supporting super PAC have launched new commercials highlighting Trump’s support.

Meanwhile, Cornyn’s campaign and allied groups maintain a three-to-one spending advantage over pro-Paxton organizations. They have resumed broadcasting an advertisement from last year that emphasizes Cornyn’s alignment with Trump’s agenda and includes footage of Trump speaking favorably about Cornyn.

“He’s called me a friend, and that’s no surprise because I’ve supported him and his policies, you may have seen a commercial or two to that effect, 99.3% of the time,” said Cornyn in a video posted to X from a recent event.

Cornyn has consistently attempted to redirect the campaign conversation away from presidential loyalty toward questions of personal integrity.

His campaign has emphasized messaging about Paxton’s controversial history, including allegations of an extramarital affair and impeachment proceedings for corruption, though Paxton was ultimately cleared of those charges.

Should Paxton secure the nomination, these issues will become central in a general election matchup against Talarico, where voters will be less “willing to overlook all the corruption, the self-dealing and the scandals,” Cornyn contended at a recent campaign stop. “Ken Paxton would hand it to (Democrats) on a silver platter.”

Attendees at Paxton’s Thursday rally dismissed these concerns.

“He’s had his flaws, but so have we; we all make mistakes,” said Daniel Vega, 18, adding, “He’s repented, let’s move on.”

According to advertising tracking firm AdImpact, Cornyn’s campaign and supporting groups will have invested approximately $90 million in advertisements through this week, including over $20 million since the March 3 primary election.

In comparison, Paxton’s campaign and its single super PAC have spent roughly $10.5 million on advertising, with about $6.1 million invested since the March 3 primary.

The advertising blitz has saturated the airwaves for voters.

“The commercials are leading me against Paxton, that he might be a little crooked,” said Gail Licea, 74, a retired registered nurse, who attended a Cornyn event before Trump’s endorsement. However, she added, “I’ve been led to believe that sometimes John Cornyn doesn’t back President Donald Trump, and that concerns me.”

Given the intensity of the advertising campaign, the impact of the recent strategic shift by various groups on Tuesday’s results remains uncertain, according to Wayne Hamilton, former executive director of the Texas Republican Party.

“There is so much noise out there right now,” said Hamilton, who advises Gov. Greg Abbott and has no affiliation with either Senate candidate. “I don’t know how any one message is going to break through.”

A federal arts commission has granted final approval to plans for a large arch structure in the nation’s capital, moving forward with the project despite facing public opposition.

The Commission of Fine Arts approved the design for the massive arch planned for Washington, D.C., even though the proposal is still missing certain visual elements, according to reports.

The approval represents the final step in the commission’s review process for the controversial project, which has drawn criticism from community members during the planning stages.

A new federal website designed to support mothers and families has been launched by the current administration. The site, moms.gov, provides an array of resources aimed at helping parents navigate various aspects of family life.

The platform features information on where to find pregnancy centers, nutritional and dietary guidance, details about adoption services, and mental health resources. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. stated, “The Trump Administration is strengthening its commitment to America’s families by equipping mothers and fathers with the resources and information they need to build healthy, prosperous lives.”

The Fresno Board of Supervisors has voted to restrict public library participation in Pride Month activities following a narrow 3-2 decision. Under the new policy, county libraries will be prohibited from celebrating Gay Pride Month in June and cannot take part in annual Gay Pride parades.

The decision comes after thousands of parents raised objections about what they characterize as the library system advancing LGBT content to young children. Those supporting the restrictions maintain that publicly funded libraries should stay neutral on politically charged and social topics rather than taking sides on controversial issues.

A White House official in the Trump administration attempted to eliminate voting machines utilized across more than half of American states by exploring whether federal agencies could classify their parts as threats to national security, according to two individuals with firsthand knowledge of the situation.

Kurt Olsen, a White House adviser and attorney whom Trump assigned to substantiate widely discredited theories about election manipulation, spearheaded the initiative to target machines manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems. The proposal developed as Olsen and colleagues brainstormed methods for federal authorities to assume control of elections from state governments, an approach Trump has publicly discussed.

According to sources, Olsen advocated for a nationwide system requiring hand-counted paper ballots, which Trump has frequently demanded but election security specialists warn could be less precise and more vulnerable than existing machine systems with verifiable paper records used by nearly all municipalities and states.

The machine exclusion plan, being reported for the first time, advanced sufficiently that Commerce Department officials began examining possible justifications for implementation in September, three additional sources revealed. However, the initiative ultimately failed because Olsen and collaborating administration staff members could not supply evidence supporting such action, two sources indicated.

This incident represents part of an extensive Trump administration effort to infringe upon state and local governments’ constitutional authority to conduct elections – a power granted to prevent executive branch power seizures. Olsen is collaborating with the nation’s leading intelligence and law enforcement organizations to pursue vote manipulation allegations.

A previous investigation found that administration officials and investigators across at least eight states have requested confidential documents, demanded voting equipment access, and reopened voter fraud cases that courts and bipartisan examinations have dismissed. Trump and Republican supporters are also advancing unprecedented strategies to redraw electoral districts ahead of schedule to gain advantages in November’s midterm congressional races.

The two sources stated that Olsen, whom Democratic senators are attempting to remove from his position, intended to invalidate machines before the midterm elections.

Paul McNamara, a senior aide to Trump’s intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, and Brian Sikma, a special assistant working on Trump’s Domestic Policy Council, participated in the discussions, one source with direct knowledge reported. Olsen has maintained close cooperation with Gabbard’s Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

During early summer, McNamara requested Commerce Department officials to evaluate potentially designating chips and software as national security risks, the two sources said.

McNamara led an intelligence office task force that collaborated with administration officials to examine voting machine vulnerabilities. The sources reported McNamara discussed the matter with senior Commerce Department officials under Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Whether Lutnick participated in or knew about these conversations could not be determined.

A Commerce Department representative stated Lutnick never met with McNamara or discussed election integrity matters and did not “engage in the topic at all.” The spokesperson refused to comment on potential involvement by Lutnick’s office or other officials.

Olsen, McNamara and Sikma did not respond to interview requests.

Democrats and election integrity specialists express concern that, with Republicans anticipated to experience midterm losses, the administration seeks to suppress voting and establish groundwork for challenging defeats with additional unfounded fraud claims.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission reported last year that over 98% of American election jurisdictions already generate paper records for every vote. These votes are primarily cast on machines producing paper records or hand-marked but electronically counted ballots. Election security experts widely endorse the current technology and paper ballot combination, which creates voter-verified trails for post-election reviews.

Hand-marked, hand-counted ballot supporters argue they eliminate hacking risks. However, they present different dangers, explained Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer science professor, including counting errors and ballot box tampering.

“Changing to hand counting would be chaotic,” he said, “and it might facilitate cheating.”

White House spokesman Davis Ingle described the story’s reporting as selectively leaked and labeled it misinformation.

Olivia Coleman, a spokesperson for Gabbard’s agency, claimed the story contained “inaccuracies and false descriptions” of the agency’s election security work, without providing specifics.

U.S. supply chain regulations grant the commerce secretary authority to limit transactions with technology companies from designated “foreign adversary” nations, including China, Russia, and specifically Venezuela’s former President Nicolas Maduro’s government, whom the U.S. military removed from power in January.

Olsen’s efforts to discover foreign hacking evidence primarily focused on the disproven theory that Venezuelan-controlled code infected machines to steal the 2020 election from Trump, the two sources said.

Numerous investigations and legal proceedings since 2020 have produced no evidence of machine hacking. In 2023, Fox News paid the company $787 million in a defamation settlement over false election rigging allegations.

At least 27 states utilized the machines in 2024, comparable to 2020 numbers. Denver-based Dominion was acquired last October by Liberty Vote USA of Colorado.

Trump continues repeating these allegations, most recently on May 12 when he reposted a six-year-old clip featuring a far-right One America News network host making the false claim that millions of votes were deleted.

In May 2025, Olsen helped direct a federal operation that confiscated machines Puerto Rico used in its 2024 gubernatorial election. Analysis by cyber contractor Mojave Research Inc. later that summer discovered some known vulnerabilities but no Venezuelan-origin code or hacking evidence.

Around the time of McNamara’s Commerce Department discussions, Olsen’s team disassembled some Puerto Rico machines, expecting to find components manufactured by foreign adversary countries, the two sources said.

The team discovered one chip packaged in China by U.S. company Intel. Such chips typically pose no U.S. national security threat. Other chips were packaged in Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, the sources said. Olsen’s teardown report described the chips as ‘East Asian,’ which sources believe was intended to hide the failure to identify security risks.

A September White House meeting to discuss the machines included National Security Council cyber experts, two sources said. The group, including Olsen’s team, discussed whether the equipment contained traces of Venezuelan code, one source said.

Following the meeting, a Commerce Department political appointee asked the department’s office assessing foreign national security risks to technology supply chains to consider options addressing potential voting machine risks, according to three additional sources.

The office examined the matter but took no action, two sources said.

NEW YORK — During a 2016 presidential debate when Hillary Clinton criticized Donald Trump for paying almost no federal taxes, his response was simple.

“That makes me smart,” Trump declared.

Following that reasoning, Trump appears even more clever today.

The Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday it would abandon all ongoing investigations into Trump regarding potential tax compliance issues to resolve a legal dispute the president filed over leaked tax documents. This settlement potentially covers a lengthy audit examining tax strategies Trump allegedly employed that could have resulted in roughly $100 million in penalties if violations were discovered.

Trump has consistently maintained his innocence and criticized the IRS investigation as having political motives, though he hasn’t offered evidence to support this claim.

Since IRS audit information remains confidential, determining the validity of either party’s position is impossible. However, tax professionals describe the resolution of the president’s case against the federal tax agency as highly irregular.

Trump filed suit against the IRS, creating an extraordinary situation where he challenged an agency under executive branch oversight — an uncommon action that may be without precedent, according to experts. The agency then made another unusual decision by granting him protection from future investigations.

The settlement resolving Trump’s $10 billion legal action concerning the 2018 disclosure of his tax documents to The New York Times includes language stating the U.S. government is “forever barred and precluded” from investigating or pursuing Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization regarding current tax filings, based on a single-page document made public Tuesday. This provision was quietly incorporated into an initial agreement creating a $1.8 billion compensation fund for individuals Trump believes faced improper government scrutiny.

Tax professionals express amazement at the comprehensive protection this immunity provides the president and suggest it may damage public trust in tax system equity.

“This is an unprecedented remedy,” stated former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, emphasizing that Trump should receive identical treatment as other Americans. “People expect the same tax rules and enforcement framework to apply to everybody.”

The IRS investigation focused on potential double-counting of tax reductions by Trump, based on a 2024 investigation by The New York Times and ProPublica — particularly whether he applied identical losses from his Chicago tower development to reduce taxes multiple times in subsequent filings, which violates tax regulations.

The investigation indicated Trump might owe over $100 million, including financial penalties, if the audit concluded against him.

The Justice Department has now decided to “wipe his slate clean,” according to tax specialist Brandon DeBot, who characterized this as an “extraordinary action” given its implications for the nation.

“The president and his affiliates might not pay the taxes they should,” DeBot explained, serving as policy director at New York University’s Tax Law Center. “This is giving the president and his affiliates completely different set of rules than everyday taxpayers.”

The protection proves particularly valuable for Trump. His business empire encompasses hundreds of individual entities, creating complex tax documentation. He’s also known for aggressive tax reduction strategies that some professionals view suspiciously — and in at least one instance was later deemed improper.

Following the financial collapse of his Atlantic City gambling establishments amid substantial debt during the mid-1990s, Trump reported approximately $1 billion in losses to reduce his tax obligations, despite creditors having canceled hundreds of millions in outstanding debt. Trump maintained the debt wasn’t technically canceled since he had traded ownership stakes in the failed casino operations for debt relief — a tax strategy Congress subsequently prohibited as an abusive loophole.

Using this method along with additional tax shelters and write-offs, Trump paid only $750 in federal taxes during 2016 and 2017, and nothing in 2020, according to a congressional review following his initial presidency.

While suggesting he might now make his tax returns public, Trump has previously declined, claiming ongoing IRS audits prevent disclosure — though no legal requirement prohibits such release. Previous presidents have voluntarily shared this information for decades, and all have undergone tax audits as standard IRS procedure.

This audit requirement started in the late 1970s during post-Watergate reforms targeting presidential misconduct after Richard Nixon was discovered claiming questionable deductions — including donating his personal documents — resulting in significant underpayments. During one presidential year, he paid merely hundreds of dollars.

When questioned about his tax strategies, Nixon famously responded, “I am not a crook.” He subsequently accepted the IRS conclusions and paid hundreds of thousands in additional taxes.

Trump’s IRS agreement addresses only current audits, not future reviews, meaning the president and his family remain subject to potential scrutiny for any alleged violations in upcoming tax filings.

Portions of the settlement face legal challenges.

Law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol from Trump’s supporters on January 6, 2021, are contesting the compensation fund. They’ve filed suit to prevent anyone — including the rioters — from receiving payments.

Legal experts anticipate the tax immunity will also face court challenges.

“This is the president trying to play every role in the system, acting as plaintiff, defendant, and his own judge and jury to extract extraordinary windfalls,” New York University’s DeBot observed, noting that providing extensive immunity “stretches beyond what DOJ actually has authority to do.”

According to a Friday report from Axios, the Trump administration is relocating immigration attorneys on a temporary basis to the Justice Department to accelerate initiatives aimed at removing citizenship from naturalized Americans.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm this development.

PHOENIX (AP) — Sandra Ramirez felt immediate regret as she watched news coverage of immigration enforcement raids targeting migrants throughout the past year, realizing her decision to vote for Donald Trump in 2024 had been wrong.

“There are a lot of people who are being harassed for the color of their skin, and that’s not right,” said Ramirez, who broke from her Democrat-voting family to cast a ballot for Trump.

“I’ll never go Republican again,” she said.

Trump successfully attracted Latino voters such as Ramirez in the 2024 election cycle, securing backing that contributed to his return to the White House for a second presidency.

With Republicans preparing for upcoming midterm elections this fall and planning for the 2028 presidential race, political observers are closely watching whether the party can maintain this crucial voter base or if the current administration’s extensive immigration enforcement efforts and an economy struggling with elevated costs will push Latino voters back to the Democratic Party.

Warning signs are emerging, as new data from the Pew Research Center indicates Trump’s standing among this voting bloc is declining rapidly.

While Latino voters have traditionally favored the Democratic Party, they moved notably toward Trump during the 2024 campaign. Though a majority continued backing Democrat Kamala Harris for president, Trump achieved substantial progress: 43% of Latino voters nationwide chose him, up from 35% in the 2020 presidential race, a shift partly linked to economic worries.

Trump began his second presidency with commitments to intensify immigration enforcement, a pledge that has resulted in detention operations targeting Latino migrants in residential areas, job sites, and educational facilities, among other locations. Data from an AP-NORC poll reveals that over half of Latino adults know someone affected by the Trump administration’s intensive immigration policies.

More than a year into Trump’s second presidency, surveys indicate substantial erosion in his support among Latinos who backed him in 2024, though a majority continues to approve of his performance.

A Pew Research Center survey from April found that presidential approval among non-Latino voters decreased from 95% to 79% between February of last year and April of 2026. However, among Latino voters who supported Trump, the decline was sharper: 66% endorsed his job performance in April versus 93% at his second term’s start.

This nationwide decline could be decisive in competitive elections within swing counties such as Maricopa, the country’s largest battleground county, which includes Phoenix and surrounding areas. One-third of Maricopa County’s population is Latino, with 25% of them being immigrants, data from the Latino Data Hub at the University of California, Los Angeles shows.

Arizona, which experienced a modest rise in Latino backing for Trump in 2024, has remained central to immigration policy debates for years. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio led prominent enforcement actions in Latino communities, and later, the state experienced significant migrant arrivals during the Biden presidency.

During a pleasant afternoon in south Phoenix’s primarily Latino community, a vendor at a local street festival offered shirts featuring designs like “Lowriders Sunday” while car enthusiasts cleaned their Chevrolets. The adjacent Catholic church’s parking area was packed with worshippers attending Spanish-language Sunday services.

Albert Rodriguez, a Phoenix tattoo artist, said he previously backed Trump. However, his perspective changed after witnessing how the administration conducted enforcement activities in Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

He said the president promised to go after immigrants who were criminals, but instead Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been “hitting the paleta man,” referring to ordinary people trying to make a living from selling frozen treats.

“Big time, I regret it,” Rodriguez said of his 2024 vote for Trump.

Phoenix resident Ronnie Martinez, an Army veteran, backs Trump’s effort to stem crossings at the southern border.

“The border is only a hop, skip and a jump to our south. And I don’t want illegal alien criminals coming from Guatemala, Venezuela, Central America,” he said.

He didn’t like some of the images he’d seen of ICE arresting people in front of their children. But he was also sympathetic to ICE officers, who he said were doing the best they could in difficult situations, and he blamed Democratic officials who weren’t cooperating with immigration enforcement. He also cited economic initiatives as a reason for his continued support for the president, including the removal of taxes on tips and overtime.

Guadalupe Alaffa, another Phoenix resident, blamed President Joe Biden’s policies for prompting Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“He left that damn border wide open,” said Alaffa.

The expanding political power of Latino voters represents one of multiple elements that have weakened the GOP’s long-standing control in Arizona, positioning the state as central to both congressional and presidential contests. Both Arizona senators are currently Democrats, as are the state’s top three executive officials.

Recapturing some Latino voters who switched to Trump will be essential for the reelection campaigns of Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes, all Democrats initially elected in 2022.

Maricopa County Democrats have gained from more than ten years of political outreach among Latinos organizing against strict immigration enforcement policies. The Republican-controlled Legislature in 2010 passed a state law known as SB1070, which required police to check the immigration status of anyone they suspected of being in the country illegally.

During the same period, Sheriff Arpaio was establishing a national reputation among conservatives through immigration operations in predominantly Latino communities.

Some activists view the current nationwide immigration enforcement as a continuation of what Latinos in Arizona experienced under Arpaio.

“We were the lab where they implemented a lot of this with Sheriff Joe and now it’s all over the United States,” said Salvador Reza, a longtime activist in Phoenix who advocates for the rights of day laborers.

For more than twenty years, Arpaio won repeated elections while his department faced allegations of racially profiling Latino drivers and conducting sweeps in Latino neighborhoods and day labor areas. Deputies often stopped residents for traffic violations and turned noncitizens over to ICE, according to rights groups.

In 2013, a federal judge ruled his office had illegally profiled and detained Latinos, and a 2011 Justice Department report found widespread discrimination. After losing reelection in 2016, Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt for defying court orders. He was later pardoned by Trump.

The GOP faces the possibility of losing some Latino voters that Trump attracted, said former Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the controversial 2010 bill. She pointed to economic issues as a potential factor in declining support.

“With the inflation and the cost of living and the gasoline and the wars, I don’t know if they can afford to be a Trump Republican,” Brewer said.

Earl Wilcox, a longtime activist and restaurant owner in Phoenix, said between affordability issues and immigration enforcement, he believes Latino support for Trump is waning. Wilcox’s restaurant hosted Biden in 2024 when he launched an initiative meant to rally Latino support for the Democratic ticket.

“I don’t think the Republican Party will have the support it did the second time around,” Wilcox said, “and I think it started with the raids.”

CORONA, Calif. — While California isn’t considered friendly territory for Trump supporters, a bitter Republican primary battle is unfolding in a district southeast of Los Angeles where two sitting House members are attacking each other’s dedication to the former president.

Rep. Ken Calvert, who holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Republican in California’s House delegation, has launched advertisements labeling his opponent Rep. Young Kim as a “traitor” to President Donald Trump and calling her “a liberal and a liar.” His campaign spots feature old footage of Kim making critical comments about Trump.

Kim, who previously emphasized her independence from Trump’s administration, now calls herself a “Trump Republican” and has released commercials claiming Calvert has been “sabotaging President Trump’s agenda” while only “serving himself.” She has accused him of working in “lockstep with Nancy Pelosi,” the former Democratic House speaker who remains unpopular among Republican voters.

The harsh rhetoric between these two House members, who were once cordial colleagues, highlights the high stakes of a race neither wanted to face. The June 2 primary marks the first election since Gov. Gavin Newsom successfully pushed for new congressional boundaries as part of a nationwide redistricting effort aimed at securing Democrats five additional House seats in California.

This Republican-against-Republican battle in one of the remaining conservative strongholds in left-leaning California demonstrates how electoral maps have been transformed nationwide.

The matchup has drawn national attention: Calvert and Kim represent the only Republican House incumbents competing against each other in the 2026 primaries. Texas features a similar situation with Democratic Reps. Al Green and Christine Menefee also forced to compete due to redistricting.

The campaign reveals how many Republicans continue to rally around the president despite his declining approval ratings amid the war in Iran and rising consumer costs.

Democrats across the nation have found encouragement in recent election outcomes leading up to the midterms, which historically benefit the party not controlling the presidency. Trump has demonstrated his ongoing influence within the party by helping defeat several incumbents who challenged the White House. Republicans currently maintain a narrow 217-212 House majority, with one independent and five empty seats.

During a recent weekend gathering organized by conservative activists in Calvert’s home city of Corona, retired Trump supporter Mike Rutland expressed uncertainty about his choice amid the flood of attack ads from both campaigns. Absentee voting has already begun.

“I want my state back,” Rutland expressed, frustrated with years of Democratic leadership. Regarding the primary, he stated “we don’t want any RINOs,” referring to the disparaging term meaning “Republicans in name only.”

The nationwide struggle for House control continues as more states work to redraw district lines for political gain following a recent Supreme Court decision that limited the federal Voting Rights Act and gave states more freedom to eliminate districts with significant minority populations. In California, the revised House map has disrupted Republican ranks when a single district’s outcome could decide overall control.

Veteran GOP Rep. Darrell Issa announced his retirement in March rather than face competition in a redrawn district favoring Democrats. Former Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley switched to independent status when confronted with a difficult reelection campaign in a Democratic-leaning area. GOP Rep. David Valadao is pursuing reelection in his Central Valley district where Democratic voter registration was increased in an attempt to defeat him.

For both Calvert and Kim, this election in a district spanning inland Riverside and Orange counties might serve as preparation for a head-to-head rematch in November. California’s election system allows the top two primary vote-getters to proceed to the general election regardless of party affiliation. While five Democrats and one independent appear on the ballot, the district’s nearly 9-point Republican voter registration advantage suggests only the two Republicans may advance.

In a state where Republicans haven’t captured a statewide office in twenty years, this GOP-favoring district represents a remnant from the past. Orange County once ranked among America’s most reliably Republican regions, earning the nickname Reagan country due to its connection with former Republican President Ronald Reagan.

GOP strategist Jon Fleischman, who previously served as executive director of the California Republican Party, observed that both candidates are “giving President Trump a very big bear hug.” However, if both proceed to November, an important consideration will be “Where do all the Democrats and nonconservative voters end up?”

“I think it’s going to be ugly,” Fleischman predicted.

As a preview of potential future attacks, voters have received mail from Kim’s campaign claiming Calvert supported legislation to “force taxpayers to fund sex change operations for children,” which Calvert’s team dismisses as false. Meanwhile, his campaign highlights Kim’s backing of a resolution to censure Trump for his involvement in encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, branding her a “Trump betrayer.”

“I’m not personalizing it. I’m just pointing out somebody’s record,” Calvert explained regarding her support for the resolution during an interview at the barbecue event.

Calvert, who first won election in 1992, has represented territory comprising more than half of the redrawn district and serves on the influential Appropriations Committee.

Kim was born in South Korea, raised in Guam, and moved to California for her college education. She established herself as a small-business owner before winning election to the state Assembly and later Congress.

During her 2018 House campaign, she highlighted her independence from Trump’s White House on matters like trade policy. “I’m a different kind of candidate,” she told The Associated Press then.

Kim now pledges on her website to “stand with President Trump.”

“The great American comeback depends on it,” she stated.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to visit a closely contested congressional district in New York on Friday to promote his economic agenda, despite declining public approval of his economic performance.

The president will make an appearance in the Hudson Valley region alongside Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who faces reelection in what analysts expect to be among the most competitive House contests this November. The event will center on promoting tax legislation Trump enacted last year, specifically highlighting the expansion of state and local tax deductions from $10,000 to $40,000, a significant benefit for residents of high-tax states like New York.

White House officials have been seeking additional opportunities to showcase Trump’s economic record as his approval numbers on economic issues have declined. Recent polling by AP-NORC shows approximately one-third of American adults support Trump’s economic management, a decrease from the 40% approval rating he held at the beginning of his second term. Despite campaign promises to reduce costs, gasoline prices have increased this year due to conflict in Iran.

Lawler represents one of only three House districts held by Republicans that voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024. While the other two representatives — Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, who is retiring, and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who has criticized Trump policies — have distanced themselves, Lawler has chosen to align with the controversial president to maintain support among Republican base voters.

“Look, the people who hate the president — and that’s their sole basis for their vote — are likely never voting for me,” Lawler told The Associated Press during an interview at the White House congressional picnic this week. He characterized Trump’s visit as an opportunity to motivate his supporters.

“Moreover, I have a record in my district that is one I’m very proud of, and a record that appeals to a broad middle,” Lawler stated, sporting a red baseball cap with “Mr. SALT” printed on it, referencing the state and local tax deduction he advocated for in the legislation. “I am confident that I will be reelected on my own merits and my own record.”

The president’s speech at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, will “highlight his strong record of making life more affordable for working families,” according to White House spokesperson Liz Huston. She noted that Trump intends to contrast his approach with Congressional Democrats who opposed the tax legislation.

Trump initially implemented a SALT cap in 2017 through his Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Last year’s legislation increased the SALT deduction to $40,000 from $10,000 following difficult negotiations with Republicans, including Lawler, whose constituents face substantial local tax burdens. The new law also increased average tax refunds for New York residents to over $3,800, based on White House data.

“My constituents were seeing anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 refund checks, which is pretty massive,” Lawler explained, mentioning his plan to present Trump with one of his “Mr. SALT” caps.

Trump officially backed Lawler’s reelection campaign last year, though the endorsement came while the congressman was considering a gubernatorial run in New York. Political observers interpreted the endorsement as an effort to encourage Lawler to seek reelection rather than create an open, competitive House seat.

Five Democratic candidates are competing for their party’s nomination to challenge Lawler in the general election. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 23.

“Nothing says ‘I don’t understand my district’ quite like Mike Lawler bringing Donald Trump to NY-17 to tout a disastrous economy that’s crushing working families at every turn,” commented Riya Vashi, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Richard Hudson disagreed with that assessment, maintaining that Trump’s Friday visit will “absolutely” benefit Lawler’s campaign.

“His poll numbers are pretty good in Lawler’s district,” Hudson, a North Carolina congressman, stated. The NRCC has conducted polling in competitive districts, and Hudson reported that the “president’s numbers are good. Democratic numbers are tanking.”

Lawler clarified that the event is an official White House function rather than a campaign rally, noting that over 5,000 people registered to attend within the first 12 hours registration was available.

Congressional lawmakers are once again pushing to eliminate the biannual ritual of changing clocks, with a House committee advancing legislation Thursday that would make daylight saving time permanent across the nation.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Sunshine Protection Act by an overwhelming 48-1 margin. The legislation would likely be incorporated into a broader five-year transportation package.

Advocates for ending the clock changes point to research showing the time shifts disrupt sleep patterns, lead to increased workplace accidents, and contribute to more vehicle collisions. They argue that extended evening daylight during winter months would also stimulate economic growth.

President Donald Trump endorsed the committee’s action on social media, stating it’s “time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production.”

The legislation now moves to the full House for consideration before heading to the Senate, where it encounters resistance from some lawmakers including Republican Tom Cotton and others.

Cotton has argued the change would create unreasonably late winter sunrises and force students to walk to school in darkness across much of the nation. The proposed law includes provisions allowing individual states to withdraw from the system.

Representative Vern Buchanan, who has championed this initiative annually since 2018, has reintroduced the proposal once more. The concept enjoys strong support in the lawmaker’s home state of Florida, where it would extend evening recreational time for golf and outdoor sports.

The Senate previously passed similar legislation unanimously in March 2022, but the House never brought that version to a vote.

Representative Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, expressed support for permanent daylight saving time as “better for safety and will boost New Jersey’s tourism industry. Let’s stop changing the clocks twice a year.”

The current daylight saving system, which moves clocks forward one hour during summer months, has been standard practice across nearly the entire United States since the 1960s.

The nation previously experimented with year-round daylight saving during World War Two and again in 1974 as an energy conservation measure. However, the 1974 implementation proved highly unpopular with the public and was reversed within the same year.

Florida state officials have agreed to pay nearly $500,000 to a wildlife researcher who lost her job after posting critical comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media following his assassination.

Brittney Brown, who worked as a biologist, was terminated by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission last September after sharing a meme on her personal Instagram that suggested Kirk was indifferent to school shootings. She pursued legal action demanding her position back, explaining that finding alternative employment proved difficult since the state commission regulates her field of expertise in avian conservation.

On Thursday, Brown finalized a settlement worth $485,000 with commission leadership, which includes back wages, compensation for damages, and legal fees. As part of the agreement, she has committed to not pursuing future positions with the agency.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Brown joined numerous employees across public and private organizations who faced termination following remarks about Kirk’s shooting death at a university in Utah. Multiple legal challenges regarding these dismissals remain active in courts.

Prior to his assassination, Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA, mobilized conservative young voters and contributed to President Donald Trump securing a second presidential term.

Following the September 10 shooting incident, Kirk’s followers searched social media platforms for content they interpreted as celebrating his death. Public figures including Laura Loomer vowed to damage the professional lives of those who made jokes about the killing, while the conservative social media presence Libs of TikTok revealed personal information and employment details of many who posted to its millions of followers.

After Libs of TikTok featured Brown’s post, her employment was terminated the following day, her legal filing states. Brown noted that someone informed Libs of TikTok about her dismissal approximately 10 minutes after it occurred and before any public announcement.

In an unusual case in Tennessee, authorities detained a former police officer for 37 days over a Facebook comment making light of Kirk’s assassination. Tennessee state officials agreed this Wednesday to pay $835,000 to resolve a lawsuit brought by Larry Bushart. During his incarceration, Bushart lost his post-retirement position and was unable to attend his granddaughter’s birth before prosecutors ultimately dismissed the felony charges, according to his legal complaint.

Prior to her dismissal, Brown had served with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for approximately seven years, conducting research on coastal and marine birds in the panhandle region, court records show.

Carrie McNamara, representing the ACLU of Florida, described Brown’s settlement as “a hard-won vindication” that demonstrates to Florida authorities they cannot retaliate against speech they find objectionable.

“The First Amendment does not disappear when someone accepts a government job,” McNamara said.

Melissa Tucker, who supervised Brown as Habitat and Species Conservation Director, had asserted that Brown’s social media activity prompted hundreds of formal complaints and created substantial workplace disruption. Legal proceedings later showed the agency actually received approximately 50 complaints.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued sanctions against Tucker for overstating the complaint volume and failing to correct the misrepresentation.

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States will deploy an additional 5,000 military personnel to Poland, creating widespread uncertainty after weeks of contradictory statements from his administration regarding plans to decrease rather than expand American military presence across Europe.

The announcement on social media has generated additional confusion for European allies who have already been caught off guard by shifting policies, as the administration has criticized NATO nations for not contributing enough to their own defense and for insufficient support during the Iran conflict.

“Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

In recent weeks, both Trump and Pentagon officials had announced plans to withdraw at least 5,000 personnel from Germany following criticism from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stated the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iranian leadership and condemned what he described as strategic failures in the conflict.

Earlier this month, Trump informed reporters that the U.S. would be “cutting a lot further than 5,000.”

Last week, approximately 4,000 soldiers from the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division had their Poland deployment canceled. The Associated Press confirmed this cancellation was part of efforts to implement Trump’s directive to reduce European troop levels. A separate deployment to Germany involving long-range missile specialists was also suspended.

Lawmakers from both major political parties have condemned these reductions, arguing they send problematic messages to both allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing four-year conflict in Ukraine.

Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska testified during a congressional hearing that Polish officials told him they were “blindsided.” He described the decision as “reprehensible” and called it “an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland.”

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated Tuesday that this represented “a temporary delay” for U.S. forces heading to Poland, which he described as a “model U.S. ally.” He explained this resulted from reducing assigned brigade combat teams in Europe from four to three, noting the Pentagon must still determine final troop positioning.

Questions remain about whether the brigade will eventually deploy to Poland, if extra troops beyond the rotational deployment might be added, or if troop reductions will occur in different European locations. Pentagon officials directed inquiries to the White House, which has not yet provided clarification.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby both conducted discussions with Polish officials this week. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed satisfaction Wednesday with “Washington’s declaration that Poland will be treated as it deserves.”

On Tuesday, U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich, who commands both American and NATO forces in Europe, told Brussels reporters that “it will be 5,000 troops coming out of Europe.”

Trump’s statement coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s travel to Sweden for meetings with NATO counterparts, who have been questioning the administration’s European troop reduction policies.

“There seems to be no process to deliberating policies like troop withdrawals and deployments at the top,” said Ian Kelly, a former career diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Georgia during both the Obama and first Trump administrations and currently teaches international relations at Northwestern University in Illinois.

Kelly suggested Rubio faces challenges explaining Trump’s policy reversals to Europeans seeking stability and predictability, regardless of potential disagreements.

“These are not well thought out decisions,” Kelly observed. “These are impulsive decisions based on Trump’s whims or what his advisors think are Trump’s whims.”

WASHINGTON — A previously popular proposal to establish a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall fell apart Thursday when Republicans modified the legislation to exclude transgender individuals from museum displays.

The House voted down the measure 204-216, creating uncertainty about future efforts to move forward. The altered legislation also prohibited showcasing a “diversity” of perspectives and granted President Donald Trump final authority over the museum’s placement.

“It was a simple bill. You kind of ruined it with your trans obsession and your culture wars,” Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat from New Mexico and chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, said earlier in the week.

However, Republicans contended that Democrats were overreacting to the modifications and now blocking progress on the long-desired women’s museum in the nation’s capital.

Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, the bill’s chief sponsor, called it “a disgrace” that Democrats would obstruct the bill’s approval.

“Perhaps the party that is opposing a women’s history museum on the National Mall because they want to have transgender exhibits — maybe they are the ones who are trans obsessed,” Malliotakis said.

In the end, several Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure. The floor came to a halt as GOP leadership scrambled to find support within their own party.

Among Republican opponents, some conservatives objected to having any museum dedicated specifically to women.

“We say we need to unite this country, but then we isolate every group,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who was among several from the conservative Freedom Caucus who voted against it.

These developments endanger the lengthy campaign to establish a women-focused museum in Washington. Earlier authorization for the museum passed during Trump’s first presidency in 2020, and this recent legislation would have secured its National Mall location. Trump has shown interest in transforming the capital’s cultural landmarks, from the Kennedy Center to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Early this year, the bill had attracted approximately 230 co-sponsors, demonstrating unusual bipartisan cooperation in the divided House, where Republicans maintain a narrow majority. However, due to the bill’s revisions, the Democratic Women’s Caucus rejected the final version, and Democratic leadership urged opposition.

“A museum about women, fought for and supported by women, should not be controlled by one man,” the leaders of the women’s caucus said in a statement. “Republicans traded the representation of women for Trump’s gain and ego. It’s as embarrassing as it is disappointing.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson argued the modifications shouldn’t be contentious, but his attempt to advance the bill with only Republican support despite Democratic objections was unsuccessful.

“Why are they backing out? Simply because the bill reinforces an objective truth that a museum for women, get ready, should showcase only women,” said Johnson, R-La.

On Thursday, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said she brought her young daughter, Augusta, to the chamber to witness history in the making.

“Biological women deserve to have their stories told,” Cammack said, holding her child during her speech.

But Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, said the Republicans abandoned the bipartisan bill for one preferred by Trump’s White House.

Originally presented as progress toward securing the museum’s location, the legislation underwent several revisions during a committee vote last month.

One modification established a mission statement declaring, “The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.”

It also includes a restriction stating, “The Museum may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female.”

Another revision specified the museum’s location on the mall — near 14th Street Southwest and Jefferson Drive, “except that the President may designate an alternative site for the Museum within 180 days of the date of the enactment of this subsection.”

Democrats argued this provision grants Trump power to determine the museum’s final location. “And we do not agree with that,” said Leger Fernandez.

Republicans maintained the provision serves as a backup plan if issues arise with the proposed site to keep the museum project moving forward.

A final change this week eliminated the word “diversity,” instead directing the museum’s organizing council to ensure a “range” of political viewpoints and experiences.

“I just think it’s ridiculous that we are arguing over this,” said Malliotakis.

She suggested it troubles Democrats that Trump will be the one to break ground on the museum, “but that’s the reality.”

House Republican leadership made a surprising decision Thursday to postpone a planned vote on legislation that would require President Donald Trump to get congressional approval before continuing military operations against Iran.

The voting session was supposed to happen Thursday afternoon before lawmakers departed Washington for the Memorial Day break. However, leadership pushed the vote back to early June following the recess.

Earlier this year, the House had rejected three similar war powers measures in tight votes, with Republicans showing nearly unanimous opposition. This demonstrated strong party support for both the Iran military actions and the president.

However, the voting margins had grown tighter over time – the most recent resolution was defeated in a tie vote – as weeks have elapsed since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Thursday’s proposal appeared positioned to succeed, given anticipated Republican defections and several member absences.

“We had the votes without question, and they knew it,” Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told reporters after the vote was canceled.

Democrats and some Republicans have urged Trump to seek congressional authorization for military force, pointing to constitutional provisions that give Congress, rather than the president, the power to declare war. They have raised concerns that Trump may have committed the nation to an extended conflict without articulating a clear strategic plan.

Most Republicans and the White House maintain that Trump’s military actions are lawful and fall within his commander-in-chief authority to protect the United States through limited operations against immediate threats.

Republicans maintain slim control in both chambers of Congress.

Earlier this week, the Senate moved forward with a comparable war powers resolution in an unusual challenge to Trump. The procedural vote to advance the measure passed 50 to 47, with four Republicans joining nearly all Senate Democrats in support. Three Republicans were absent for that vote.

President Donald Trump will conduct a swearing-in ceremony for Kevin Warsh as the new Federal Reserve chairman this Friday at the White House, according to an announcement from the Trump administration on Thursday.

The confirmation of Warsh occurred on May 13 through a vote that largely followed party lines. Warsh will be replacing Jerome H. Powell in the top position at the nation’s central bank, although Powell will continue serving as a board member through 2028.

At 56 years old, Warsh will hold the chairman position for four years and serve as a Fed governor for 14 years. Trump chose Warsh as a counterforce to additional interest rate increases. Warsh has consistently advocated for reducing rates while also cutting back the Fed’s balance sheet.

Warsh assumes leadership while other board members are considering raising rates to combat inflation linked to Trump’s military conflict in Iran. According to meeting minutes released on Wednesday, most Fed policymakers during their April 28-29 gathering believed “some policy firming would likely become appropriate” should inflation continue to exceed the central bank’s 2% goal.

A public dispute between California’s governor and a major petroleum corporation has escalated, with the Democratic governor’s administration telling motorists to steer clear of Chevron gas stations during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The governor’s office took to social media Thursday with advice for consumers, stating: “Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards to keep your engine running clean. Big Oil is already making billions off Trump’s Iran War; don’t let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name.”

The administration referenced research conducted by a division of the state’s energy commission, which regulates the petroleum industry, showing Chevron’s prices exceeded unbranded options by 60 to 80 cents per gallon on average.

This public criticism comes after Chevron began displaying notices at California filling stations that point to state environmental policies as the cause of elevated fuel costs. Gas prices in California reached $6.14 per gallon Thursday, exceeding the national average by approximately $1.58, data from the American Automobile Association shows. California imposes roughly 70 cents in taxes per gallon, the nation’s highest rate according to state energy officials.

The company’s posted messages declare: “California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs.” The notices include a QR code linking to a Chevron website encouraging people to “speak up for affordable, reliable energy.”

While the exact timing of when these signs appeared remains unclear, company representative Ross Allen explained they’re part of an educational initiative Chevron began three years ago to highlight how California policies affect pricing.

“We’ve been very vocal about the importance of customer education in California so that our drivers and our consumers understand where their tax dollars are going,” Allen stated.

Allen noted that California hosts hundreds of Chevron stations, with most operating independently and establishing their own pricing structures.

The Memorial Day period traditionally marks one of the year’s heaviest travel weekends.

Fuel costs have risen across the country since the Iran conflict started, creating a worldwide energy shortage. Crude oil prices, gasoline’s primary component, have increased during the war because the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf that typically handles one-fifth of global crude oil shipments, has been effectively blocked. Oil vessels remain stuck there, unable to complete deliveries.

The governor, who frequently highlights California’s role as a worldwide environmental leader, has enacted legislation in recent years targeting oil company earnings and attempting to lower gasoline costs.

In 2023, he approved legislation empowering the state’s energy commission to fine oil companies for excessive profits, announcing the state had “finally beat big oil.” However, regulators decided last year to delay plans for penalizing companies until 2030, focusing instead on alternative consumer protection measures.

This delay occurred after two oil refineries representing about 18% of the state’s refining capacity announced closure plans, sparking renewed discussion about how the state’s aggressive environmental policies affect prices.

The governor signed additional legislation in 2024 granting the commission power to mandate that refineries maintain specific fuel reserves. This aims to prevent sudden price spikes when refineries shut down for routine maintenance, though this regulation has also encountered delays.

WASHINGTON – The head of the Department of Homeland Security has renewed warnings that federal authorities may halt international passenger and cargo processing at major airports located in cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement policies, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who first issued this warning publicly in April amid budget negotiations, reiterated the threat during private discussions with travel industry leaders last week. Sources indicate that airports in Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Seattle and San Francisco could face suspension of international operations if their cities continue resisting the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.

The warning comes as federal officials clash with so-called “sanctuary cities” that have declined to assist with the current administration’s immigration crackdown efforts. The Atlantic previously reported on Mullin’s remarks to travel executives.

Two federal judges delivered significant setbacks Thursday to the Justice Department’s nationwide campaign to obtain comprehensive voter registration records from states across the country.

In Wisconsin, U.S. District Judge James Pederson determined that voter registration databases don’t qualify as records subject to requests under the Civil Rights Act of 1960, contradicting arguments made by the current administration. Meanwhile in Maine, Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker characterized the federal government’s legal argument as “half-hearted” before approving the state’s request to throw out the case.

These decisions continue a pattern of courtroom losses for the current administration’s efforts to obtain state voter information. Beyond Maine and Wisconsin, similar federal demands have been struck down by judges in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Rhode Island. In Georgia, a judge threw out a Justice Department case because it was filed in an incorrect jurisdiction, forcing federal attorneys to restart their legal action in a different location.

The Justice Department has initiated legal action against no fewer than 30 states plus the District of Columbia in pursuit of comprehensive voter databases. These records contain sensitive personal details including birth dates, home addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.

“This represents a massive victory for voter privacy and a rejection of federal overreach,” stated Bianca Shaw, who serves as state director of Common Cause Wisconsin.

“The decision ensures voters are protected from an unauthorized national database that would have been a goldmine for hackers and a tool for intimidation,” she said in a statement. “Our elections remain safe, secure, and in the hands of Wisconsinites where they belong.”

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat and opponent who is running for governor, said the ruling affirms that states and not the federal government are in charge of elections and voting. The current administration has sought the voter data since last year in Maine and elsewhere.

“Let me be clear — the current administration and the DOJ may continue to try to interfere with free and fair elections run by the states. We will not let them,” Bellows said in a statement.

Justice Department representatives did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment regarding the court decisions or potential appeals.

In Wisconsin, Common Cause, the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, Forward Latino and three individual voters joined the case to oppose the federal government’s efforts to access state voter databases.

Doug Poland, who directs litigation for Law Forward, a Wisconsin-based liberal law firm, described the current administration’s actions as “thinly-masked efforts to manipulate and subvert future elections.”

“The court recognized this as an illegal attempt to gather and weaponize data on Americans, dressed up in the language of voting rights enforcement,” he said.

Judge Walker, who received his appointment from the current president, determined in Maine that election oversight remains a state responsibility.

“Under our Constitution, states are the primary regulators and administrators of elections for federal office, unless Congress passes legislation that preempts that framework,” Walker wrote.

Pederson, the Wisconsin judge, received his appointment from former President Barack Obama.

Federal prosecutors in Chicago have dismissed all remaining criminal charges against four individuals who were arrested during protests at an immigration detention facility in Illinois last year.

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros informed a federal judge on Wednesday that his office was dropping charges against Kat Abughazaleh, a former journalist who recently lost a Democratic primary race for a U.S. House seat, Andre Martin, Michael Rabbitt and Brian Straw. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be brought again, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.

The four defendants were facing misdemeanor charges for impeding a federal officer after prosecutors previously dropped a felony conspiracy charge against them last month. A trial was set to begin Tuesday, May 26, for the incident at the Broadview facility, which had become a focal point during President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign.

The defendants were part of what became known as the “Broadview Six,” which included two other individuals — Catherine Sharp and Joselyn Walsh — whose cases were already dismissed by prosecutors earlier this year.

“I am relieved to be exonerated today, but I want to state clearly that fighting these unjust federal charges over the past seven months was never just about me or my co-defendants in this case,” Straw, a shareholder at U.S. law firm Greenberg Traurig and a member of the Village Board for Chicago suburb Oak Park, said in a statement.

Terence Campbell and Valerie Davenport, attorneys for Martin, said in a statement that their client and his codefendants have been “living under the threat of going to prison simply for exercising their First Amendment rights as decent, honorable citizens and seeking to protect their fellow human beings.”

A spokesperson for the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment further. Boutros said last month that his office was “constantly evaluating the facts and law in our Operation Midway Blitz cases, as well as new information when it is brought to our attention.”

According to prosecutors, Abughazaleh and the others surrounded a government vehicle operated by a federal agent during a September 26 protest, blocking its entry into the Broadview facility. They allegedly struck and pushed the vehicle, carved the word “pig” into its surface, and damaged a rear windshield wiper.

The Trump administration’s enforcement effort, known as Operation Midway Blitz, resulted in thousands of arrests as federal immigration officers confronted protesters from September through December. Officers shot two people, including one fatally, and made threats to shoot others, according to body-camera video.

Officers regularly used tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets against protesters gathered outside the Broadview immigration detention center during almost daily demonstrations and throughout various Chicago neighborhoods. An independent commission established by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker last month suggested that local prosecutors should investigate federal agents for potential misconduct.

This month, Illinois State Police announced they were investigating the death of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in suburban Chicago.

In another collapsed case, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office dropped charges on November 20 against Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent after she allegedly attempted to strike agents with her vehicle. Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Montessori school teacher in Oak Park, was indicted on October 5 on charges of impeding a federal officer with a deadly weapon.

In January, a Chicago jury found Juan Espinoza Martinez not guilty of charges that the Justice Department had brought against him for allegedly planning an attack on a high-profile Border Patrol official.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Members of Colorado’s Democratic Party delivered a stinging rebuke to their own governor, formally censuring Gov. Jared Polis after he shortened the prison term of Tina Peters, a former election official who promoted conspiracy theories supporting President Donald Trump’s unfounded allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Wednesday’s censure vote passed by an overwhelming margin, with approximately 90% of the state party’s roughly 700 Central Committee members supporting the measure. The action bars Polis, who is serving his final year due to term limits, from serving as a distinguished guest, keynote speaker, or official party representative at Democratic events.

Peters, age 70, previously worked as a county clerk before receiving a nine-year prison sentence following her 2024 conviction for orchestrating a plan to duplicate her county’s election computer system.

Following Polis’s decision to commute her sentence on Friday, Peters is now scheduled for release on June 1.

Trump has publicly supported Peters’ situation. The Colorado Democratic Party released a statement calling the sentence reduction a “dangerous and disappointing” precedent during a time when democratic institutions and voting rights face threats across the country.

“It sends a message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences, unless you’re friends with the president,” the statement said.

Roughly 700 party members, including sitting and former elected officials, signed a petition demanding the party condemn Polis. The censure vote occurred during a scheduled virtual meeting of the party’s Central Committee.

A Colorado appeals court upheld Peters’ conviction in April while ordering a new sentencing hearing, determining the original judge improperly penalized her for making public statements about election fraud.

When commuting the sentence, Polis wrote to Peters acknowledging she merited incarceration but had received an “extremely unusual and lengthy” punishment for someone with no prior convictions and no violent offenses.

Following the censure vote, he stood by his decision.

“The governor made this decision based on the facts of the case and what he believed was the right thing to do. Sometimes the right thing isn’t the popular thing with everybody. Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship,” Polis spokesperson Eric Maruyama said in an emailed statement Thursday.

Peters expressed gratitude to Polis and offered an apology for her actions in a statement released after her sentence was commuted.

Peters secretly brought in an outside computer specialist, who was connected to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, to duplicate her county’s Dominion Voting Systems election server during a scheduled system update in 2021. She later appeared with Lindell at a “cybersymposium” that claimed it would present evidence of election manipulation, and images from the upgrade process, including security passwords, were published online.

WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee finally published its delayed analysis of the 2024 election on Thursday, but the document arrived with prominent red warnings on every page questioning its credibility.

“This document reflects the views of the author, not the DNC,” stated the disclaimer. “The DNC was not provided with the underlying sourcing, interviews, or supporting data for many of the assertions contained herein and therefore cannot independently verify the claims presented.”

The unusual warning accompanies a document that has generated significant internal controversy. DNC chair Ken Martin initially pledged to make the analysis public, then reversed course, stating he wanted to avoid distracting from midterm elections.

Following months of internal debate, Martin made the report available Thursday, explaining the delay by characterizing the work as poorly executed.

The 192-page analysis contains several notable gaps, steering clear of some of the campaign’s most significant challenges.

The document fails to examine President Joe Biden’s choice to seek reelection at age 81, despite widespread questions about his age. Biden withdrew following a poor debate showing, with Harris quickly selected as his replacement.

While Harris emerged as the apparent successor after serving as Biden’s vice president, the analysis doesn’t tackle concerns that the nomination process moved too quickly or lacked proper deliberation.

Significantly, the Middle East conflict receives no attention — the words “Gaza” and “Israel” are absent from the entire text. Democratic divisions over the war diminished support for Harris among voters frustrated with the Biden administration’s backing of Israel.

The analysis determined that the Biden White House failed to “position or prepare the vice president” for mounting an effective campaign.

Only after Biden announced his July exit did campaign pollsters rush to gather fresh data on three crucial areas — “one on the Vice President’s biography and record, one on her vision and plan, and another on attacks and responses.”

Researchers also found Harris lacked responses to a critical vulnerability: The Trump campaign’s anti-transgender messaging. The analysis emphasized that pollsters believed the Democratic candidate was “boxed” in by Republicans’ “very effective” commercial featuring Harris’ past support for taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries for prison inmates.

“Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” the advertisement stated.

The report concluded: “If the Vice President would not change her position — and she did not — then there was nothing which would have worked as a response.”

Harris’ campaign has faced extensive post-election criticism. Some Democrats believe she devoted excessive time to courting Republicans like Liz Cheney, while others argue she failed to develop compelling economic messaging.

The analysis offers different reasoning, arguing insufficient effort went toward portraying Trump as unfit for office.

“There was a decision in the 2024 Democratic leadership not to engage in negative advertising at the scale required,” the document states. “The Trump campaign and supportive Super PACs went full throttle against Vice President Harris, but there was not sufficient or similar negative firepower directed at Trump by Democrats.”

Later, the analysis states, “Democrats made a mistake by assuming voters were already aware of Trump’s various weaknesses.

“The idea Trump’s negatives were ‘baked in’ is a major failure of analysis and reality,” the report says.

DNC officials appeared to reject these findings, inserting comments such as “no evidence provided; contradicts claims elsewhere in report” and “no sourcing or evidence provided.”

The document faulted Harris’ appeals to important voter groups while making several critical references to “identity politics.” The analysis expresses particular alarm about Latino voters.

“Democrats can no longer assume Latino voters, especially younger Latino men, are a reliable part of their base,” the report says. “The party needs a complete rethink of its Latino outreach strategy, moving beyond traditional approaches like Spanish-language ads and late-cycle surrogates.”

The analysis cites successful Democratic statewide campaigns in Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina, demonstrating that “economic messaging, and addressing cost-of-living concerns resonate more than identity politics.”

The document also noted Democratic struggles with male voters.

“Male voters require direct engagement. The gender gap can be narrowed,” the report says. “Deploy male messengers, address economic concerns, and don’t assume identity politics will hold male voters of color.”

Harris also lacked solutions for the party’s rural voter problem.

“Harris wrote off rural America, assuming urban/suburban margins would compensate. The math doesn’t work,” the report says. “You can’t lose rural areas by overwhelming margins and make it up elsewhere when rural voters are a significant share of the electorate. If Democrats are to reclaim leadership in the Heartland or the South, candidates must perform well in rural turf. Show up, listen, and then do it again.”

The State Department announced Thursday that its decision to take Francesca Albanese, a United Nations expert on Palestinian territories, off its sanctions list represents a temporary action rather than a shift in policy.

Albanese was placed under U.S. sanctions in July 2025 due to what officials described as her attempts to encourage the International Criminal Court to pursue action against American and Israeli officials, businesses, and executives.

A federal judge issued a temporary block on these sanctions earlier this month, determining that the Trump administration likely infringed upon her constitutional right to free speech by implementing the penalties following her public criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, where Israel is a U.S. ally.

“The Government has appealed the court’s order,” the State Department said in a statement.

“In the event the D.C. Circuit stays or overturns that order, the Government intends to restore Ms. Albanese’s name to the SDN List,” the department added, referring to the Specially Designated Nationals list.

WASHINGTON — The possibility of U.S. military action against Cuba emerged as a serious consideration Thursday, as President Donald Trump suggested he might be the first commander-in-chief to follow through on decades of contemplated intervention against the island nation. The escalating rhetoric followed Wednesday’s announcement of criminal charges filed against Cuba’s former leader, Raúl Castro.

Speaking to reporters during an environmental gathering at the Oval Office, Trump indicated that while past administrations have weighed Cuban intervention for generations, he appears ready to act. “Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something,” Trump stated when questioned about Cuba policy. “And, it looks like I’ll be the one that does it. So, I would be happy to do it.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to media in Miami before departing for a NATO conference in Sweden followed by an India visit, characterized Cuba as a persistent national security concern due to its relationships with American adversaries. While acknowledging the administration’s preference for peaceful resolution, Rubio expressed pessimism about diplomatic success.

The Secretary of State, whose parents immigrated from Cuba and who has maintained a consistently tough stance against the island’s socialist government, emphasized Trump’s commitment to peaceful negotiations while questioning their feasibility. “Trump’s preference is always a negotiated agreement that’s peaceful. That’s always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba,” Rubio explained.

However, he added candidly: “I’m just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high.”

Recent diplomatic efforts involving senior Trump administration officials — including Rubio, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and other top national security personnel — have produced disappointing results in meetings with Cuban representatives. These unsuccessful talks have prompted additional sanctions against Cuba’s government within the past week.

Rubio criticized Cuba’s historical strategy of delay, stating: “Over the years, Cuba has gotten used to ‘buying time and waiting us out.’ They’re not going to be able to wait us out or buy time. We’re very serious, we’re very focused.”

When pressed about potential military force to alter Cuba’s political structure, Rubio reiterated the preference for diplomatic solutions while noting that “the president always has the option to do whatever it takes to support and protect the national interest.” He rejected characterizations of potential action as “nation-building,” instead framing it as addressing national security risks.

The heightened tensions follow Wednesday’s unsealing of an indictment against Castro, accusing him of authorizing the 1996 destruction of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles. The charges, secretly filed by a grand jury in April, include murder and aircraft destruction.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the indictment as political theater designed to “justify the folly of a military aggression against Cuba.”

Many observers draw parallels to the Trump administration’s approach toward then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured in a military operation in early January. Maduro remains imprisoned in the United States facing federal drug trafficking charges, to which he has entered a not guilty plea.

The timing of military movements has not gone unnoticed, as the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its accompanying vessels arrived in Caribbean waters on the same day Castro’s charges were announced. U.S. Southern Command described the deployment as part of ongoing maritime training exercises with Latin American partners that began in March.

Rubio declined to elaborate on potential methods for executing the indictment against Castro, who will turn 95 next month.

Military action threats have intensified since Trump removed Maduro from power and implemented an energy embargo that severely restricted fuel deliveries to Cuba. These measures have resulted in widespread power outages, food scarcity, and economic devastation throughout the island.

Trump has intensified regime change discussions regarding Cuba after promising a “friendly takeover” contingent on the leadership opening Cuba’s economy to American business interests and severing ties with U.S. adversaries.

On Thursday, Rubio outlined Cuba’s national security threat to America, citing the island’s security and intelligence partnerships with China and Russia, plus its cordial relationships with other U.S. opponents in Latin America.

China expressed opposition to American sanctions and pressure against Cuba through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Thursday. “China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity and opposes external interference,” Guo stated.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed Thursday it is dramatically expanding artificial intelligence technology to monitor how states and other federal health funding recipients conduct audits of their programs. Officials say the initiative aims to reduce fraud risks and protect taxpayer dollars.

According to Gustav Chiarello, the assistant secretary for financial resources overseeing the program, the department will deploy ChatGPT and similar AI platforms to continuously review audit reports submitted by all 50 states.

“It’s classic big government: Everyone files an audit and it lands with a thud and no one does anything about it,” Chiarello explained during an interview. “Here, with AI, we’re able to dig into it.”

This expansion follows the department’s previous adoption of generative AI technology for examining state Medicaid programs, streamlining administrative processes, and text editing. While AI can effectively identify patterns and issues within extensive documentation, skeptics warn federal agencies should proceed carefully due to AI’s tendency toward errors and potential bias.

The current administration and the anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance have recently emphasized crackdowns on fraudulent activity within Medicaid and Medicare programs, along with student loan applications and other sectors. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson recently discussed on Fox News how these efforts incorporate AI technology to identify potential fraud cases.

Annual audit submissions are mandatory for states, local governments, nonprofits, and higher education institutions receiving at least $1 million in federal funding yearly. Chiarello explained the new program will apply AI analysis to audits from HHS-funded initiatives, encompassing state Medicaid programs and federal grant recipients in research, addiction treatment services, and additional areas.

Organizations failing to submit required reports or address identified issues could lose their federal funding.

Opposition voices have criticized the administration’s anti-fraud campaigns, pointing out that most targets have been Democratic states and suggesting a pattern of accusations preceding thorough fact-gathering. The administration previously admitted to The Associated Press that it had made a significant data error used to support a New York Medicaid fraud investigation.

When questioned about protections against AI errors, Chiarello emphasized that officials would be reviewing existing public reports rather than discovering new information. He stated the technology’s purpose is to help grantees become more responsible stewards of federal money.

Rob Weissman, co-president of consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, expressed doubt about the administration’s genuine commitment to fraud prevention and questioned whether AI tools would be applied fairly and without partisan bias.

“The AI is kind of beside the point when you assess what their actual objectives are, rather than what they pretend they are,” he commented.

HHS confirmed it has notified governors and treasurers across all 50 states about the new program through official letters. The Wall Street Journal first reported on this initiative.

Chiarello mentioned ongoing discussions with colleagues at other federal departments, hoping they will adopt similar approaches.

“It would be fairly easy for the other agencies to use our technology and jump on it,” he noted.

The White House is pressing Congress to approve railroad safety legislation that has been stalled for months, following a devastating 2023 train derailment in Ohio that resulted in a fire and the release of more than a million gallons of dangerous chemicals and pollutants.

The proposed legislation has backing from President Donald Trump and numerous Democrats, but its future remains uncertain due to strong resistance from railroad companies and many Republican lawmakers.

On Thursday, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was reviewing a five-year, $580 billion highway funding package while considering whether to include rail safety provisions that would strengthen safety protocols for trains transporting hazardous cargo and impose stricter regulations on railcar wheel bearings.

Representative Troy Nehls, a Texas Republican, argued the legislation is essential because the derailment “exposed serious weaknesses in the freight rail industry safety practices, particularly when it comes to transporting hazardous materials.”

However, Representative Sam Graves, the Republican committee chair, warned the proposal would increase rail shipping expenses by billions of dollars over a decade. “It’s going to ripple across the entire supply chain,” Graves stated.

The 2023 accident occurred when a railcar wheel bearing overheated and failed catastrophically. Norfolk Southern reached a $310 million settlement with the Justice Department in 2024, which included commitments to install additional equipment for early detection of overheated wheel bearings to prevent future derailments.

National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy noted that numerous safety recommendations issued after the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio derailment have not been implemented more than three years later.

“People living in the community of East Palestine and all Americans deserve no less than a comprehensive approach that addresses critical rail safety issues,” Homendy stated.

The proposed legislation would mandate improved safety protocols for hazardous material transport, require wayside defect detection systems, establish minimum two-person train crews, and increase penalties for violations.

The Association of American Railroads, representing major railway companies, opposed the measure, claiming it has “increasingly become a vehicle for longstanding labor and operational mandates that would raise costs throughout the supply chain while doing little to measurably improve safety outcomes.”

Under mounting internal pressure, the Democratic National Committee made public on Thursday a critical analysis of Kamala Harris’ presidential defeat to Donald Trump that party leaders had previously kept under wraps — while simultaneously rejecting its conclusions.

The analysis determined that Democrats lost territory to Trump’s Republican Party due to inadequate financial support for state organizations and a “persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”

The study highlighted Democratic struggles with male voters, those without college degrees, infrequent voters, and rural communities. The document’s release comes just months ahead of November’s congressional midterm races.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin declared in an accompanying statement that the report “does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards,” though he explained the publication was necessary to rebuild party confidence.

The 192-page analysis carries disclaimers on every page indicating it “reflects the views of the author, not the DNC,” with additional notes throughout pointing out factual errors and unsupported assertions.

Democratic consultant Paul Rivera authored the study, which was finished in late 2024. Some party members expressed frustration that the document had been kept confidential. Rivera was unavailable for immediate response.

Despite Trump’s waning approval ratings potentially benefiting Democrats in November’s congressional contests, the party continues seeking a cohesive platform for the 2028 presidential race.

Recent polling by The New York Times and Siena College revealed widespread dissatisfaction among Democratic supporters across all demographics, even as the party maintains what appears to be a significant edge over Republicans approaching the election.

Martin had originally committed to publishing the review but reversed course in December, stating he preferred Democrats focus forward rather than assign blame for 2024’s outcome. This decision prompted questions about his leadership from party supporters.

Martin explained he delayed the report’s release following Democratic wins in Virginia and New Jersey last November to prevent distraction, but admitted this choice created greater controversy. “For that, I sincerely apologize,” he stated.

Historical precedent exists for both major parties conducting such post-defeat analyses to identify lessons, typically involving interviews with party officials, activists, and financial supporters while examining expenditures and communication strategies.

The study acknowledges 2024’s narrow margins might lead Democrats to believe only small adjustments are necessary.

However, this thinking represents denial, according to the analysis, which argues the party “has vacillated between stagnation and retrogression” following Barack Obama’s overwhelming 2008 presidential victory.

The review also criticized Democrat Joe Biden’s administration for inadequately preparing Harris for success during her vice presidency, weakening her position when Biden suddenly ended his reelection campaign in July 2024.

WASHINGTON — Federal officials developed new regulations over nearly 12 months designed to prevent foreign enemies from purchasing commercial location information collected from mobile devices near the government’s most critical facilities.

But the final regulations contain significant omissions, according to a Thursday alert from three congressional Democrats. Notable facilities missing from the 736 protected locations include the White House, Congress, and CIA headquarters.

“The sale of Americans’ location data by data brokers poses a serious threat to U.S. national security, particularly when data about U.S. government employees is sold to foreign governments,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Trump administration officials. “Such data can reveal sensitive information that can be exploited for espionage purposes.”

The correspondence, bearing signatures from Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, along with Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, called on the Trump administration to fix these omissions and establish a comprehensive “protection zone” covering the entire Washington, D.C. area instead of selecting specific buildings. The lawmakers also pushed for expanding the roster of restricted countries prohibited from obtaining Americans’ data.

Justice Department representatives declined to provide comment. Officials from the Director of National Intelligence’s office did not return requests for comment.

Commercial data brokers have historically sold this type of information to assist businesses with targeted marketing, consumer behavior analysis, and investment research. Government agencies have increasingly relied on these information sources for law enforcement and intelligence gathering. Foreign intelligence services can utilize such data to track movement patterns and activities of U.S. government workers.

This type of commercially accessible information has previously been employed to locate sensitive U.S. installations. Fitness tracking applications have also created security issues during military missions or at classified locations, including a recent incident when a French aircraft carrier operating in the Mediterranean allegedly revealed its position after a crew member recorded a jogging route on the vessel’s deck.

The regulations, effective April 2025, aim to restrict data sales to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. They generally prohibit selling location information from more than 1,000 American devices to these nations. However, recognizing that foreign governments could potentially bypass these limitations by purchasing smaller datasets, the rules specifically designated certain government-linked sites where even single-device data sales are prohibited.

The regulation identified these locations only through GPS coordinates. Staff members working for Wyden, with assistance from the Congressional Research Service, examined the GPS coordinates to determine which U.S. government facilities were covered and which were overlooked, according to a representative for the senator.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a planned signing ceremony Thursday for an executive order addressing artificial intelligence, citing fears the directive might damage America’s competitive position in AI development.

The president announced he was delaying the signing after reviewing the order’s language, making the decision just hours before the scheduled Oval Office ceremony.

“We’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead,” Trump told reporters during a separate Oval Office gathering.

The effort to establish government oversight of advanced AI systems stems from mounting concerns among banking institutions and other sectors about AI’s expanding capability to identify cybersecurity weaknesses in global software systems.

In April, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell organized an emergency session with Wall Street chief executives, alerting them to cybersecurity threats from Anthropic’s AI model, Claude Mythos.

The hastily arranged meeting at Treasury Department headquarters aimed to make banks aware of potential risks from these AI models, Bessent explained during CNBC’s “Invest in America Forum” in Washington that April. “This new Anthropic model is very powerful,” he stated. “Some banks are doing a better job in cybersecurity than others, and we want to have the ability to convene them and talk about what is best practices and where they should be heading.”

The concerns prompted some Republican president allies to suggest improved methods for providing these AI tools to reliable cybersecurity professionals.

However, any strategy resembling government review of commercial AI models would represent a major departure from Trump’s campaign promises to eliminate AI safety regulations established by Democratic President Joe Biden during his second White House term.

The current administration will postpone enforcement of two environmental regulations from the previous presidency that control refrigerants, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Thursday as part of efforts to reverse environmental policies.

The postponement will impact grocery stores, semiconductor companies and other businesses that rely on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases found in cooling and air conditioning equipment. These compliance mandates originated from a 2023 EPA regulation designed to cut emissions of these super-pollutants.

President Donald Trump’s administration has reversed almost all regulations that targeted greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The EPA also plans to suggest eliminating additional HFC restrictions through a different regulation that impacts companies transporting refrigerated products, according to Zeldin.

According to Zeldin, relaxing these regulations would cut consumer expenses, with projected savings exceeding $2.4 billion.

“Americans were right to be frustrated with the Biden-era refrigerant rules,” Zeldin said in a statement. “They didn’t protect human health or the environment and instead piled on costly, unattainable restrictions beyond what the law requires.”

The cooling and air conditioning sector had generally backed earlier regulatory measures, and several industry groups stated the postponement would ultimately increase expenses for manufacturers, food retailers and consumers since they would need more refrigerants.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute condemned grocery chains that advocated for this reversal, claiming it would increase prices by limiting the availability of current refrigerants.

“This was never a rule forcing stores to replace existing equipment. It was a rule for new equipment. The EPA has no analysis showing that delaying these dates will lower costs for consumers,” said Steven Yurek, president of AHRI.

Last week, the EPA also suggested reducing wastewater restrictions for coal-powered plants, stating the modifications would decrease electricity expenses.

The Justice Department announced Thursday that it has sworn in its largest group of immigration judges ever, as the current administration continues reshaping the nation’s immigration court system.

Officials confirmed that 82 new immigration judges took their oath of office Wednesday in Washington, D.C., including 77 permanent positions and five temporary appointments. This brings the total number of immigration judges to approximately 700, following the dismissal of more than 100 judges by the current administration.

“Today, we are onboarding the largest immigration judge class in agency history,” Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “This could only happen thanks to President Trump’s decisive leadership and commitment to securing our borders.”

These immigration judges operate under the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review rather than as part of the federal court system, alongside the Board of Immigration Appeals that reviews their rulings.

Following President Donald Trump’s return to office in January 2025 with his strict immigration policies, his administration has dismissed at least 115 immigration judges while a comparable number have accepted buyouts, stepped down, or retired from a pool of roughly 700 judges, according to the National Association of Immigration Judges.

The administration has simultaneously worked to fill these positions, frequently selecting candidates with experience in criminal prosecution or immigration enforcement. Many of the 77 newly appointed permanent judges, who will work in approximately half the states, have similar enforcement experience.

According to the Justice Department, its immigration review office has appointed 153 permanent immigration judges during the 2026 fiscal year that started October 1, marking the highest annual total on record.

The five temporary judges come from military backgrounds and can serve for up to six months. The Pentagon announced in September that military and civilian attorneys working for the U.S. Defense Department under the leadership of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would take on temporary immigration judge roles.

The Justice Department identifies clearing the immigration court backlog as a top priority. Officials report that pending cases in immigration courts have dropped from approximately 4 million to less than 3.53 million since Trump assumed office.

The White House has delayed a scheduled Thursday event where President Donald Trump was expected to sign an executive order focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

The postponement was initially reported by Axios, which referenced an internal memo.

The executive order in question would establish a voluntary system allowing artificial intelligence companies to collaborate with federal officials regarding the public launch of specific AI models, two sources informed Reuters on Wednesday.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has published a comprehensive analysis of his party’s 2024 election results after facing mounting criticism from within party ranks for initially keeping the document under wraps.

The extensive 192-page analysis, completed in December by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, advocates for “a renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South, who have come to believe they are not included in the Democratic vision of a stronger and more dynamic America for everyone.”

According to the document, “Millions of Americans are suffering from poor access to healthcare, manufacturing and job losses, and a failing infrastructure, yet continue to be persuaded to vote against their best interests because they do not see themselves reflected in the America of the Democratic Party.”

The analysis identifies several concerning trends, including diminished support and resources for state-level Democratic organizations, changing voter registration patterns, and “a persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”

Martin’s decision to release the report comes amid growing doubts about his leadership effectiveness among party leaders, with concerns mounting about the organization’s operational strength just one year into his leadership role.

In a written statement published alongside the report, Martin offered an explanation for his previous reluctance to make the analysis public.

“When I received the report late last year, it wasn’t ready for primetime. Not even close. And because no source material was provided, fixing it would have meant starting over, from the beginning — every conversation, every interview, every data set,” Martin explained.

“In December, I announced we would shelve this report, and I meant what I said at the time — that I didn’t think dwelling on 2024 or looking backwards so late in the game helped us to win elections. And at the end of the day, winning elections is my job,” he added. “In short, I didn’t want to create a distraction. Ironically, in doing so, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction. And for that, I sincerely apologize.”

Party strategists have responded with skepticism to Martin’s explanation.

“Why not say this in 2024, or bring in more people to finish it, instead of turning this into the dumbest media cycle for 7-8 months?” Democratic strategist Steve Schale posted on social media platforms.

DETROIT (AP) — Mike Duggan, who previously served as Detroit’s mayor, announced Thursday he is halting his bid for Michigan governor, pointing to an increasingly hostile political environment driven by President Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran and rising fuel costs.

The veteran Democrat was seeking the governor’s mansion as an independent candidate to succeed Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who cannot seek reelection due to term restrictions. Speaking with The Associated Press, he explained that victory would be extremely difficult as Democrats who might have backed him are now rallying against developments in Washington.

“Democrat anger against Trump and Republicans is extremely high,” Duggan said. “In 60 days there’s been a huge change in the attitudes of this country. People are feeling the pain at the pump and are angry about it.”

No independent candidate has ever held Michigan’s governorship, and third-party contenders historically struggle in races for the state’s highest office. For Duggan, who avoided partisan battles by choosing an independent path, the challenges were becoming insurmountable.

“As long as I knew there was a path for victory, I was going to fight,” he said. “I don’t see a likely path to win.”

Following the Iran conflict’s start in late February, petroleum costs have surged over 50%. Thursday’s data from AAA Michigan showed regular gasoline averaging $4.74 per gallon statewide, exceeding the $4.56 national figure. Michigan’s average was $3.13 one year prior, while the national average stood at $3.18.

Trump has consistently stated that fuel prices will decrease when the conflict concludes, though he hasn’t specified a timeline.

Across the nation, Trump’s economic approval ratings have declined somewhat since the Iran war commenced, based on AP-NORC survey data. Recent May polling revealed that even Republicans express less satisfaction with Trump’s economic leadership compared to several months ago, despite generally maintaining their support. Roughly 6 in 10 Republicans currently approve of his economic handling, down from approximately 8 in 10 before hostilities began.

Duggan believed his campaign was behind Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. Rep. John James in the gubernatorial contest. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is also seeking the Democratic nomination, while millionaire businessman Perry Johnson pursues the Republican ticket.

Michigan will conduct its primary voting on Aug. 4, followed by the general election on Nov. 3.

In December 2024, Duggan revealed his gubernatorial ambitions, surprising observers when he simultaneously announced his independent candidacy rather than remaining with the Democratic Party.

During that December AP interview, Duggan said he wanted to provide Michigan voters with additional options.

“It’s clear to me that there are a lot of people in this country who are tired of both parties and tired of the system,” Duggan said then. “You have a (state) legislature that’s almost evenly divided that makes the stakes of each issue become magnified. It has gotten harder and harder to address things as the partisan climate has gotten more toxic.”

His independent decision came as Michigan joined several swing states that supported Trump’s November 2024 return to the White House for a second term.

“I’ve done everything I know how to do for almost a year and a half,” Duggan said Thursday. “You could feel the mood of this state wanting the toxic partisanship to end. They wanted the parties to work together.”

Duggan led Detroit for twelve years as mayor. His initial election came in November 2013 during the city’s difficult and unprecedented bankruptcy while operating under a state-appointed emergency manager. The former county prosecutor and medical center executive became Detroit’s first white mayor since Coleman A. Young won election in the early 1970s as the city’s first Black mayor.

Many credit Duggan with guiding Detroit’s transformation after emerging from bankruptcy in December 2014 into a more prosperous and dynamic city.

Detroit’s population, approximately 80% Black, reelected Duggan on two occasions. He declared in November 2024 that he wouldn’t pursue a fourth mayoral term, departing the office in January.

Throughout the campaign, Duggan faced criticism from his former Democratic allies, who worried his candidacy would siphon votes from the Democratic nominee despite his nearly four decades as a Democrat in a predominantly Democratic city.

“I was running to change politics, not to be a spoiler,” he said Thursday.

After Duggan’s gubernatorial announcement, Republican and former Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley commented on X that Duggan possessed the qualities of a “credible, independent candidate with the ability to raise money.”

“But there are huge advantages of having a political party behind you,” Calley wrote. “And being a target of the left and the right will be intense.”

WASHINGTON — Federal officials are preparing to roll back regulations governing refrigerants used in grocery store cooling systems and air conditioning equipment, with administration leaders claiming the move will help reduce food costs for consumers.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the previous administration’s regulations as burdensome restrictions that dictated which types of refrigerants American businesses and consumers could utilize.

The updated policy will “allow businesses to choose the refrigeration systems that work best for them, saving them billions of dollars. This will be felt directly by American families in lower grocery prices,” Zeldin stated ahead of a White House ceremony Thursday where President Donald Trump plans to unveil these modifications. Representatives from Kroger, Piggly Wiggly and additional grocery retailers are anticipated to attend the announcement.

As public anxiety over living expenses intensified before crucial November elections, the Republican administration is working to tackle affordability challenges. However, it remains uncertain how significantly or rapidly these refrigerant regulation changes might reduce food prices.

U.S. inflation climbed to 3.8% on an annual basis in April, driven by price increases linked to the Iran conflict and President Donald Trump’s extensive tariff policies. Inflation is currently exceeding wage growth as the ongoing war has maintained elevated oil and gas costs.

This regulatory shift marks a departure from Trump’s first presidential term, when he enacted legislation designed to cut harmful, climate-warming emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning systems. That bipartisan initiative united environmental advocates and major corporate interests in unusual agreement on the divisive climate change topic, earning widespread political support.

The 2020 legislation represented broad cross-party agreement on rapidly eliminating domestic hydrofluorocarbon usage, or HFCs, which are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases and are viewed as significant contributors to global warming.

This EPA decision underscores the current Trump administration’s commitment to dismantling regulations viewed as environmentally focused. The initiative is part of extensive environmental policy changes that Zeldin has described as placing a “dagger through the heart of climate change religion.”

Environmental groups have condemned the administration’s proposals, arguing that a rule announced last year would worsen climate pollution while disrupting the industry’s multi-year shift toward alternative coolants to replace HFCs.

WASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers are demanding major phone companies step up their efforts to shield Americans from fraudulent communications, as part of an expanding probe into how U.S. businesses contribute to a cybercrime wave that drained approximately $200 billion from Americans last year.

“Consumers need to be able to trust that the calls and texts they receive — from their doctor’s office or their child’s school, for example — are authentic. Scam communications, however, are increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate messages, and too much of the burden of detection is falling on customers,” Rep. David Schweikert, R.-Ariz., the chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D.-N.H., the committee’s ranking member, wrote in a detailed request sent to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile on Wednesday evening.

The lawmakers are requesting details about how these companies gather information, track fraudulent activity and cybercrime, and respond to malicious operators.

This increased oversight reflects mounting alarm in the nation’s capital over the dramatic increase in scams targeting American consumers. Federal legislators have also been examining Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service, online dating sites, artificial intelligence companies, data brokers and a range of federal agencies about their roles in and response to cyberscams.

This marks another attempt by Washington to address unwanted calls. Under the 2019 TRACED Act, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission mandated that major carriers deploy caller ID authentication technology to fight caller ID spoofing and make it easier for law enforcement to identify bad actors.

However, the issue continues, exposing Americans to sophisticated international criminal operations.

Mobile carriers prevented 55 billion spam and scam robotexts in 2024 and identify or stop 45 billion fraudulent calls annually, according to industry group CTIA. Yet unwanted communications and calls keep getting through in overwhelming volumes.

Americans were hit with over 50 billion robocalls in 2025, according to YouMail, a robocall blocking company. Spam texts jumped to more than 19 billion monthly in 2024, according to RoboKiller, another anti-spam company. Text messages and phone calls were the first and third most commonly reported ways scammers targeted victims last year, according to Federal Trade Commission data.

Josh Berc, senior vice president of policy at USTelecom, an industry association, said companies work to protect consumers by tracing back scam calls, disrupting illegal activity and supporting government investigations and law enforcement.

“Scam prevention requires a coordinated, inter-industry approach and our sector remains committed to strengthening partnerships that protect consumers,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.

Some telecom companies are seeking to turn anti-scam work from a cost center to a source of revenue, through, for example, premium call-filtering services and branded caller ID, both available for a fee.

Consumer advocates say stronger incentives are needed.

“Companies will not go far enough until they actually do feel some type of liability,” said Eden Iscil, senior public policy manager at the National Consumers League, “Some financial incentive that really pushes them to go as far as they can to protect consumers.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on a measure that would force President Donald Trump to end military operations against Iran, representing a critical evaluation of legislators’ support for a conflict the president initiated more than two months ago.

This vote represents the most recent Democratic effort to limit Trump’s military actions through the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Similar legislative attempts have previously been unsuccessful.

Gradually, a small yet potentially decisive group of Republicans have joined Democrats in attempting to restrict Trump’s authority to maintain the conflict. This Tuesday, the Senate moved forward with another war powers measure regarding the Iran conflict when four Republican senators supported the proposal and three others were not present for the vote.

A concluding Senate vote on their resolution may also occur Thursday, although Republican leadership anticipates they will successfully prevent its passage when all GOP senators are in attendance.

Frustration with Iran war grows on Capitol Hill

Among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, tolerance for the conflict has diminished as the military standoff in the Strait of Hormuz interferes with international shipping routes and raises gas prices across the United States. A previous House war powers measure almost succeeded last week, ending in a tied vote with three Republicans supporting it.

While Republicans have generally backed Trump’s mission to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, some now contend that the president’s legal authority to conduct warfare without congressional authorization has run out. According to the 1973 War Powers Resolution, presidents may engage in military action for 60 days before Congress must either formally declare war or approve the use of armed forces.

The dispute over war powers

The White House contends that War Powers Resolution requirements no longer apply due to the ceasefire with Iran. Meanwhile, Trump has stated he came within an hour of ordering another military strike against Iran earlier this week, but refrained because Gulf allies indicated they were involved in negotiations to conclude the war.

Nevertheless, Trump posted on social media that military commanders should “be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.” Trump has consistently established deadlines for Tehran and subsequently delayed action for strategic purposes.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has previously opposed the war powers resolutions, voiced dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s position, particularly regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“The current status quo, Pete Hegseth demonstrates how incompetent he is,” Tillis informed reporters, noting that he would consider supporting an authorization for military force.

Republican leadership commended Trump for what they characterized as decisive action to directly challenge Iran, a country that has remained a U.S. opponent for decades.

“I’m an American. I don’t believe in getting hit and walking away and pretending as though it didn’t happen,” stated Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Republican Jewish Coalition issued congratulations Tuesday to Captain Ed Gallrein following his upset win in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district Republican primary, where he toppled incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in what the organization characterized as a closely monitored contest demonstrating voter support for President Donald Trump’s platform and pro-Israel policies.

RJC CEO Matt Brooks released a statement from Washington, DC on May 19, 2026, characterizing Gallrein’s win as “decisive” and stating that Kentucky’s Republican voters had sent “an unmistakable message.”

“The RJC congratulates Ed Gallrein on his decisive primary victory tonight,” Brooks said. “Kentucky Republicans sent an unmistakable message: there is no place in the Republican Party for those who turn their back on the MAGA agenda.”

Brooks delivered harsh criticism of Massie’s congressional voting record, alleging the incumbent frequently opposed Republican legislative priorities while aligning with progressive Democrats on crucial matters. He pointed to Massie’s votes against Working Families Tax Cuts, border security funding, Holocaust education funding, and assistance to Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack.

“Massie has been a thorn in the side of President Trump, the Republican Party, and the Jewish community writ large,” Brooks said.

The organization further alleged that Massie engaged in “trafficking in antisemitism and bottom-of-the-barrel nativism at a time when Jew-hatred is on the rise,” describing such behavior as “wildly unacceptable and outrageous from an elected member of Congress.”

Brooks praised Gallrein as “a 5th-generation Kentucky farmer, decorated Navy SEAL, and true MAGA patriot,” stating the candidate “will serve with honor and distinction.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition and the RJC Victory Fund reported investing $5 million in Gallrein’s campaign effort, labeling the race a “record-breaking Congressional primary.”

During the campaign, the group produced three television advertisements supporting Gallrein with the titles “Ed Gallrein: Hero,” “Ed Gallrein: Trump-Endorsed,” and “Gallrein & Trump or Massie who Stands with Iran.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition identifies itself as a nationwide grassroots organization representing tens of thousands of Jewish Republicans throughout the United States.

WASHINGTON — A federal arts commission is taking a second look at President Donald Trump’s proposal for a massive triumphal arch in the nation’s capital, after initially approving the concept with suggested modifications last month.

The towering 250-foot structure represents one of multiple initiatives the Republican president is advancing, including a White House ballroom, as part of his effort to create a lasting mark on Washington.

Trump has indicated that his various projects, including plans to add blue coloring to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s interior, are intended to enhance the city’s appearance for July 4th festivities celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, comprised of Trump-appointed members, gave conceptual approval to the arch during their April monthly session. Commission members are scheduled to review and potentially vote on revised proposals during Thursday’s meeting.

According to plans submitted to the federal commission, the arch would reach 250 feet in height from ground level to a torch carried by a Lady Liberty-style figure crowning the structure. The statue would be accompanied by two eagles positioned on either side and protected by four lions at ground level — all finished in gold. Golden inscriptions reading “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would adorn both sides of the monument.

A public viewing platform at the top would offer panoramic views in all directions.

Commission vice chairman, architect James McCrery II, expressed preference in April for the arch design without the sculptural elements on top. Eliminating these figures would substantially lower the arch’s height by approximately 80 feet. Project opponents, including a large majority of April public commenters, argued the arch would exceed the height of all other monuments in the capital and overpower the skyline.

At its proposed 250-foot height, the arch would tower over the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial and reach nearly half the height of the 555-foot Washington Monument obelisk.

McCrery also suggested removing the base lions since that species is “not a beast natural to the North American continent.” He further opposed plans for an underground pedestrian tunnel leading to the arch, which would be constructed on a traffic circle situated between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Site surveys and preliminary testing commenced last week.

A coalition of veterans and a historian have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking to halt construction, claiming the arch would interfere with the visual connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery, among other concerns.

Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have contended that Washington remains the sole major Western capital lacking such an arch. Burgum oversees the National Park Service through his department, which controls the proposed construction site.

Trump’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation has also sparked legal action from The Cultural Landscape Foundation, which claims the administration’s decision to repaint the pool’s bottom blue without conducting proper reviews violates federal historic preservation regulations.

The nonprofit organization argued in a lawsuit filed last week that the Reflecting Pool modifications represent part of Trump’s wider campaign to implement sweeping Washington renovations without appropriate oversight and alter the area’s character.

A court hearing in that case was set for Thursday afternoon in federal court in Washington.

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers in the House are scheduled to vote Thursday on a measure that would force President Donald Trump to end military operations against Iran, marking a critical assessment of congressional willingness to support a conflict the president initiated more than two months ago without legislative authorization.

This vote represents the most recent Democratic attempt to constrain Trump’s military actions through the 1973 War Powers Resolution. While earlier votes on comparable measures have been unsuccessful, Democrats believe Thursday’s vote might mark a pivotal moment.

Gradually, a small yet potentially decisive group of Republicans have joined Democrats in efforts to limit Trump’s authority to continue the military engagement. On Tuesday, the Senate moved forward with another war powers measure when four Republican senators backed the resolution and three others were not present for the vote.

A concluding vote on the Senate measure might also occur Thursday, although Republican leadership anticipates they can prevent its passage once all GOP senators attend.

Congressional tolerance for the conflict has diminished as the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz interferes with international shipping and increases fuel costs across the United States. A previous House war powers measure almost succeeded last week, failing on a tied vote despite three Republicans supporting it.

Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who introduced the war powers measure, has indicated he anticipates having sufficient votes this round.

“Congress has a constitutional duty. It has a duty to act, not to cheerlead, especially not to cheerlead an open-ended war of choice,” Meeks said.

The single Democrat who opposed the war powers measure last week, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, has announced he will support the legislation this time. At the same time, leadership from both parties have been managing multiple absences that could influence the outcome either direction in the narrowly divided chamber.

Republicans have generally backed Trump’s initiatives to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but some now contend that the president’s legal window to conduct warfare without congressional authorization has ended. According to the 1973 War Powers Resolution, presidents have 60 days to participate in military conflict before Congress must either declare war or approve the use of armed force.

“We have to follow the law,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican shortly after he voted for an Iran war powers resolution for the first time last week.

The White House contends that War Powers Resolution requirements no longer apply due to the ceasefire with Iran. Simultaneously, Trump has stated he was merely an hour from ordering another strike on Iran earlier this week, but refrained because Gulf allies indicated they were participating in negotiations to conclude the war.

Nevertheless, Trump posted on social media that military leaders should “be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.” Trump has consistently established deadlines for Tehran and subsequently retreated.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has previously opposed the war powers resolutions, voiced dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s position, particularly regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“The current status quo, Pete Hegseth demonstrates how incompetent he is,” Tillis told reporters, adding that he would be willing to vote for an authorization for use of military force.

Meanwhile, Democratic senators gathered outside the Capitol Wednesday with VoteVets, a left-leaning veterans’ advocacy group. They displayed signs on the Capitol lawn indicating that the national average gasoline price had increased to $4.53.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat who served in the Iraq War with the Air National Guard, contended that the Iran war has constituted a strategic mistake for Trump.

“Trump started a war, and he’s made things worse than before,” Duckworth said, pointing to Iran’s new leadership and the country’s willingness to put a chokehold on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Republican leaders commended Trump for taking what they described as decisive action to directly challenge Iran, a nation that has been a U.S. opponent for decades.

“I’m an American. I don’t believe in getting hit and walking away and pretending as though it didn’t happen,” said Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

For Congress, the increasing support to pass a war powers resolution could ultimately result in a legal confrontation over who holds final authority over military conflicts.

The legislation before the House Thursday is a concurrent resolution that lawmakers claim would become effective without Trump’s signature if it passes both congressional chambers.

However, Trump has also maintained that the 1973 law — enacted by Congress during the Vietnam War period in an effort to reclaim its authority over foreign conflicts — is unconstitutional.

The Democratic Party in Colorado has taken the unusual step of officially rebuking their own governor after he reduced the prison sentence of a former county clerk who was convicted for her role in advancing debunked claims about the 2020 election.

Party members voted to censure Gov. Jared Polis for his decision to commute the sentence of Tina Peters, who had served as a county clerk before her conviction related to a scheme aimed at promoting false allegations about election fraud.

A federal agency responsible for student financial aid is actively recruiting new staff members after experiencing significant workforce reductions in recent years.

The Federal Student Aid office saw its employee count cut in half during downsizing initiatives implemented under the Trump administration. The substantial staffing losses impacted the agency’s operations and ability to serve students seeking financial assistance for their education.

Despite ongoing discussions about restructuring the Education Department, the student aid division is now working to fill hundreds of vacant positions. The recruitment effort represents an attempt to rebuild the agency’s workforce and restore its operational capabilities.

The hiring initiative highlights the challenges facing federal agencies as they navigate changing priorities and staffing levels while continuing to provide essential services to the public.

COVINGTON, Ky. — More than a dozen young Republicans met recently at dEcORa, a bar with vibrant neon lighting in northern Kentucky, sharing drinks and voicing their growing discontent with the presidential administration they once enthusiastically supported.

Their initial excitement for Donald Trump has transformed into deep frustration.

“I absolutely do not regret voting for Trump in 2024,” stated Nathaniel Showalter, 34, seated near a spray-painted concrete column. “I can’t wait for him to get out of office.”

During their evening gathering beneath the bar’s dim lighting, participants expressed feeling abandoned by the Republican establishment — the same system they once cheered Trump for challenging, but now believe he’s perpetuating. This growing discontent has created a widening divide between younger and older conservatives as the party begins contemplating its post-Trump future.

The bar patrons view Trump’s conflict with Iran as a violation of his campaign commitments. They’re experiencing economic conditions that seem as unstable as before his presidency began. Additionally, they’re grieving the death of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist they considered their primary advocate with White House access.

Tuesday’s primary defeat of Republican Rep. Thomas Massie — who had gained younger, anti-establishment supporters while clashing with Trump — eliminated one of their strongest congressional allies.

“There seems to be a concerted effort to keep the next generation out on the right,” explained TJ Roberts, the group’s tall leader. The 28-year-old state representative was the only suit-wearing attendee. “There’s this sense of entitlement among the establishment on the right. ‘Well, I’m better than the alternative.’ Well, sure, but a stomach flu is preferable to stomach cancer. I’d rather have neither.”

Roberts organizes monthly political discussions for the group, this time including The Associated Press, expressing concern that young people like those at dEcORa were “going to live a shorter, less prosperous life than your parents.”

“We have to make sure that young Republicans have a voice in Washington, D.C.,” he emphasized.

The energetic group, consisting entirely of men in their twenties and thirties, gathered around a table decorated with kaleidoscope artwork. They exchanged crude humor and engaged in debates, occasionally mimicking Trump or conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

While opinions on Trump’s presidency vary — some favor his second term more than others — they were united in their anger regarding the Iranian conflict.

For many attendees, Operation Epic Fury represents more than just “a complete betrayal of his promises,” as 32-year-old Michael Gartman described it. They see it as proof that their concerns have been overshadowed by the political establishment, defense contractors, and major donors whom they believe are advancing Israel’s interests.

Logan Edge, a 30-year-old gun lobbyist wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sporting a Lincoln-style beard, imitated Trump discussing Miriam Adelson, the billionaire whom Trump once said counseled him on Israel.

“‘Oh Miriam, she’s over there, she loves Israel, maybe more than America,’” he said.

Dropping the presidential impression, he added, “You can’t piss on my shoes and tell me it’s raining.”

Sitting opposite Logan was Andrew Cooperrider, a 33-year-old host of a conservative Kentucky politics podcast, accompanied by his 14-year-old son Leo. The teenager hopes to become an underwater welder and suggested to his father that military service could provide the necessary training.

“And I said absolutely not,” the elder Cooperrider responded, “not with everything going on, my son is not getting into the military right now and go fight these wars for these psychopaths.”

“Thank you!” someone called out, as Cooperrider noted that Leo could learn the trade through civilian channels.

Edge interjected, sharing that he and his father, a Desert Storm and Iraq veteran, had visited Arlington National Cemetery.

He described using a mobile app to locate specific gravesites, his voice becoming emotional. “And me and my dad spent the day finding his friends. And it was very emotional, very tough. And you can get on the Metro and go to the next Metro stop and the first thing you see is Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and I said to my dad, ‘Look what you’re about to see.’”

Edge paused. “It brings tears to my eyes,” he said, pushing back his chair and looking away from the group. Roberts leaned over to check on Logan’s wellbeing.

“Why do my friends have to be over there?” asked Angel Figueroa, 27, a military veteran with friends currently stationed in the Middle East. “It would devastate me to see one of my friends getting bombed one day and what, I have to see their box now?”

While most believed a military draft was improbable, Elijah Drysdale, 27, wearing a backwards cap over his red mullet, said the mere discussion “speaks volumes to me, and it’s why we need a change in leadership.”

Despite Roberts’ concerns about the Republican establishment, he stood out as one of the few dEcORa attendees satisfied with Trump’s second term. He contended that the party “under President Donald Trump is without doubt the best Republican Party I have seen in my entire lifetime, the old order is dead.”

“It’s dying,” someone interrupted.

“No, it’s gone,” Roberts countered. “Trump shifted the culture so well that these conversations you’re hearing right now, this would be unacceptable in the Republican Party of 2014.”

Roberts noted increased willingness to challenge foreign military involvement, corporate bailouts, and aid to countries like Ukraine and Israel. The party had also taken a stronger immigration stance, which the group supported.

“I do think Trump started the (establishment’s) downfall, I think it’s only being kept alive now by him,” said the elder Cooperrider, pointing to Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and his opposition to Massie.

John Wardrop, a 24-year-old in a tucked-in short-sleeve shirt and large belt buckle, said “we could do a whole lot better.” He expressed optimism about certain administration figures, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vice President JD Vance.

“I’m actually in disagreement,” said Drysdale, offering sharper criticism of Trump than most attendees. “I think that he broke a lot of his promises.”

Any connection to this administration, he argued, will be “a stain on your reputation. This isn’t the party that we want, this isn’t the party that we voted for, or thought we were voting for.”

When asked if they could imagine supporting a Democrat, Henry Hecht, a 26-year-old libertarian sipping a cocktail garnished with a pirate flag, hesitantly raised his hand and shrugged.

“What’s he doing here?” Cooperrider joked angrily. “Get him out of here, somebody get the log!”

Their sense of disillusionment has been worsened by Kirk’s death. Kirk, who established the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, appears to have no obvious successor, and Roberts said he “was kinda like a mediator, so Trump understood where young Republicans were coming from.”

The attendees cited multiple instances where they felt Republican officials had abandoned their commitments and conservative principles, including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act extension and the expanding national debt.

Massie had opposed the White House on these and other matters. Trump retaliated by supporting a primary opponent, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, who built his campaign around loyalty to the president.

Gallrein’s Tuesday victory demonstrated Trump’s party influence while deepening frustration with his leadership among other factions.

“We cannot really fight the left until we defeat these old, boomer Republicans,” Edge declared. “The left is organized, the left is institutionalized, they’re smart, they’re tactical, they’re not a joke, they don’t play.”

“We look at our own organization on our side and say, ‘We’re a little lost,’” said Cooperrider, suggesting younger liberals showed greater mobilization.

“Why don’t right-wingers do it?” Hecht wondered.

“My question is: why would you when, for so long, the right has been joking about their promises?” Roberts responded.

“It creates an endless cycle,” he concluded. “Eventually that cycle has to break.”

A group of ten American mayors representing cities like Chicago and Cincinnati have formed an alliance with European municipal leaders to combat authoritarianism and defend democratic institutions.

The American city leaders have become part of a coalition with European mayors focused on protecting democracy and progressive principles while opposing right-wing populist movements and authoritarian governance.

Among the participants in this international municipal partnership was Lacey Beaty, who serves as mayor of Beaverton, Oregon. She was one of the U.S. representatives at a recent gathering held in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The meeting in Slovakia also included several European officials, with Omar Al-Rawi from the Vienna City Council, Audrey Pulvar who holds the position of deputy mayor of Paris, Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony, and Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski participating in the discussions.

This cross-continental partnership represents an effort by municipal leaders to coordinate responses to what they view as threats to democratic governance and liberal values in their respective regions.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leadership plans to drop a controversial $1 billion security funding proposal for the White House complex and President Trump’s ballroom following criticism from within their own ranks over timing concerns and insufficient details from the Secret Service.

Under pressure from the White House, GOP leaders attempted to include this funding in an approximately $70 billion measure aimed at restoring money to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. However, the security proposal faced strong opposition from Republican lawmakers who raised concerns about the expense and questioned how taxpayer money would be spent.

While the bill’s text remains unreleased, the Senate aims to approve it this week and forward it to the House before departing for a weeklong Memorial Day recess. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., admitted to “ongoing vote issues” on Wednesday as leadership worked to gauge Republican backing, along with “ongoing parliamentarian issues” as they determine what provisions will be permitted under chamber rules.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., stated Wednesday that without the security funding, the bill would return to “square one” because “the votes are not there.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., characterized the attempt to include the security package as a “bad idea” and expressed doubt about sufficient support for passage, even with reduced costs.

This internal conflict emerges as Democrats have criticized Republicans for attempting to finance Trump’s ballroom while voters face basic affordability challenges — and as some GOP lawmakers grow increasingly frustrated with Trump. Multiple GOP senators have opposed the administration’s $1.776 billion settlement fund intended to compensate Trump’s allies who claim persecution, and many expressed anger over the president’s Tuesday endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week’s party primary runoff against Sen. John Cornyn.

“There’s always a consequence with taking on United States senators,” Thune said Wednesday. The president “obviously has his favorites and people he wants to endorse and that’s his prerogative. But what we have to deal with up here is moving the agenda, and obviously that can become slightly more complicated.”

The “anti-weaponization” fund, stemming from a settlement that resolves Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding his tax return leak, has surprisingly become a major complication in the legislation. Democrats indicated they would force votes to block it or impose restrictions.

Democrats have leverage because Republicans are attempting to pass the immigration enforcement bill through a complex budget process requiring numerous amendment votes. Democrats are considering multiple amendments, potentially to eliminate the new fund entirely or prohibit payments to Trump supporters who injured law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

These amendments, among others, could succeed as increasing numbers of Republicans express doubts about the fund. Republicans are now discussing their own last-minute additions to prevent this, potentially establishing parameters for the settlement and eligible recipients, according to two individuals familiar with private discussions who requested anonymity.

Thune — who stated Tuesday that he is “not a big fan” of the settlement and doesn’t understand its purpose — said Wednesday that any new language potentially restricting the settlement remains “a work in progress.”

How any Senate Republican modifications would be received in the House remains uncertain, despite some House Republicans also criticizing the settlement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday that the House will approve the bill “whatever form it takes.”

As Republicans challenged the settlement and portions of his agenda, Trump criticized the Senate in a social media post.

He urged Republicans to dismiss Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who determined over the weekend that portions of the $1 billion security proposal cannot remain in the ICE and Border Patrol bill. Trump also renewed longstanding calls for the Senate to pass the SAVE Act, a Republican measure requiring all voters to prove U.S. citizenship, and to eliminate the Senate filibuster.

Republicans must “get smart and tough,” Trump said, or “you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible!”

While remaining loyal to Trump on most matters, Senate Republicans have rejected his repeated appeals — including during his first term — to eliminate the filibuster, which creates a 60-vote threshold in the Senate.

Overshadowing the growing GOP division is Trump’s unexpected endorsement of Paxton. This intervention has Republican senators privately angry that it could jeopardize their majority in November as they consider the incumbent, Cornyn, the stronger candidate for the November general election.

According to the Secret Service’s request, approximately $220 million would finance security enhancements related to the ballroom. The remainder would fund a new visitor screening center, training, and additional security measures.

Tillis said the bill should not have included the other security improvements “because it’s just giving everybody the ‘billion-dollar ballroom.’”

Several other House and Senate Republicans have questioned the request, and senators departed a briefing with the Secret Service director last week stating they required much more information.

People “can’t afford groceries and gasoline and healthcare, and we’re going to do a billion dollars for a ballroom?” asked Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost reelection in his GOP primary on Saturday after Trump endorsed one of his opponents.

Remaining in the bill is funding for ICE and Border Patrol, which Democrats have blocked for months in protest of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown.

Democrats demanded agency reforms, but negotiations with the White House produced minimal progress. Republicans are therefore using the complex budget maneuver called reconciliation — the same process that enabled them to pass Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill last year — to fund the agencies through Trump’s term with a simple majority and no Democratic votes.

However, passage requires parliamentarian approval and Republican unity.

“We’re working on it,” Thune said as he departed the Capitol on Wednesday evening.

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump appears unwilling to move past the 2020 presidential race, particularly when it comes to Georgia.

The former president’s persistent false assertions that his loss to Democrat Joe Biden resulted from widespread fraud continue to influence elections in this key swing state. These claims are expected to factor significantly into the upcoming four-week runoff period as Republican voters select their nominees for governor, secretary of state and U.S. Senate.

The candidate field includes one of Trump’s alternate electors from his effort to reverse Biden’s Georgia victory, a Trump supporter who secured his initial congressional seat while claiming Trump actually won in 2020, and a secretary of state candidate who promotes Trump’s conspiracy theories while seeking to become the state’s chief elections officer.

For the record, Georgia’s presidential ballots were tallied three separate times, including one hand recount, with each count confirming Biden’s win.

The primary occurred during ongoing legal and political disputes about election administration in Fulton County — which includes heavily Democratic Atlanta. Trump’s challenges to Georgia’s results and his long-standing criticism of Fulton County elections intensified this year after the FBI conducted a search of the county’s election office, confiscating ballots and documents from 2020.

Initial primary results demonstrated that aligning with Trump, including his election falsehoods, remains politically advantageous within the Republican Party. Georgia candidates who resisted Trump’s 2020 efforts suffered decisive defeats. However, some conservatives express concern that mishandling this issue — or highlighting it too much — might alienate general election voters come November.

“We’re going to look stupid,” cautioned Debbie Dooley, an early tea party organizer who backed Trump from his first presidential campaign’s beginning. “What are you going to say — Trump won, and he was always the president? It serves no purpose.”

She argued Republicans should concentrate on economic issues instead, and any discussion of election processes should focus on “securing future elections, looking forward.”

Whether Trump shares this perspective remains unclear. The former president has already backed Burt Jones, one of his 2020 alternate electors, for the governor’s race. Dooley, who supports Jones, said she expects Trump might visit Georgia to campaign — and voice his 2020 complaints once more.

“I don’t know if the president gets it or not,” she remarked.

Jones served as a state legislator in 2020 when he joined Trump’s effort to reverse Biden’s 11,779-vote Georgia margin. He leveraged that allegiance to secure the lieutenant governor position in 2022 and earn Trump’s early backing for his current advancement bid. On Tuesday, he captured approximately 40% of Republican votes.

While Trump and Jones avoid revisiting specifics, Trump has repeatedly commended Jones on his Truth Social platform for his loyalty, while Jones has championed “election integrity.”

Jones’ runoff opponent, billionaire political newcomer Rick Jackson, represents Republicans who rarely discuss the 2020 election. However, he used part of the $83 million he put into his own campaign for an advertisement targeting outgoing Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, another GOP gubernatorial candidate who refused Trump’s request to help “find 11,800 votes” to overturn Biden’s 2020 victory.

The advertisement showed a child asking his mother about choosing the name Brad. The mother responded that her second option was “Judas” — referencing the New Testament disciple who betrayed Jesus to Roman authorities. The complete name “Brad ‘Judas’ Raffensperger” appeared on screen as the spot concluded.

Raffensperger placed a distant third in this week’s primary, earning only 15% of votes.

Rep. Mike Collins, who topped the Senate GOP primary with roughly 40% of votes, has maintained his false assertions that Biden’s victory was fraudulent, an argument he highlighted during his initial 2022 congressional campaign.

“You count the legal votes that were cast in the state of Georgia, Donald Trump won this state. Period,” he declared in one advertisement, while holding a long gun and criticizing the “federal hijacking” of the 2020 election. He ended by shooting a mock voting machine.

Collins’ runoff challenger, former college football coach and political newcomer Derek Dooley, has been more cautious. Both candidates are pledging loyalty to Trump, though the former president hasn’t endorsed anyone in the race to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.

Notably, Dooley’s primary political supporter is outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp, who like Raffensperger angered Trump in 2020 for certifying Biden’s electors.

Kemp sought and won reelection in 2022, advocating that Republicans should move forward rather than relitigate the 2020 election. Trump eventually reconciled with Kemp during the 2024 presidential campaign, and advisers to both indicate Kemp has discussed the Senate race with the former president.

State Rep. Tim Fleming, a former deputy secretary of state, and former state Rep. Vernon Jones, a Trump loyalist and repeat candidate, received the most votes in the secretary of state race and will compete next month.

Jones, a former Democrat, supported Trump’s “stop the steal” movement and stated during an Atlanta Press Club debate last month, “I stand with those who believe there was election fraud.”

Fleming, who served under Kemp when the governor held the secretary of state position, has cited “irregularities” in the 2020 election — a term used by Republicans who avoid fully echoing Trump while not contradicting him. Fleming said he believes the state has made significant improvements in election procedures since then and wants to concentrate on future elections.

Fleming and Jones significantly outperformed one of Raffensperger’s top assistants, Gabriel Sterling, who gained prominence in December 2020 for asking Trump to help discourage violence threats against election workers. Sterling received 12% of primary votes, finishing fourth.

Trump has consistently focused on Fulton County, claiming it was the hub of Georgia fraud in 2020. The FBI confiscated 2020 ballots and records from county election offices in January, and the county remained a target for Republican criticism through Tuesday’s vote counting.

During voting hours, two polling locations closed for four hours in an Atlanta suburb after police received reports about possible gunfire and a suspicious individual in military-style clothing. Though unrelated to the primary, a judge required the precincts to remain open until 11 p.m. to compensate for lost time, and Fulton officials said legal requirements prevented releasing any results until those locations closed.

State Sen. Greg Dolezal, a Republican lieutenant governor runoff candidate, attempted to exploit the delay, despite seeking an office with no ballot counting or election certification responsibilities.

“Here we are on Election Night, Georgians are anxiously awaiting the results, and which county hasn’t even started reporting? It’s always Fulton County,” Dolezal wrote on social media. “It’s time for Georgia to takeover the process. We will not have another 2020 this November!”

NEW LONDON, Conn. — President Donald Trump delivered a commencement address to U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates on Wednesday, praising the new officers for demonstrating “unbelievable heroism and exceptional selflessness” while cautioning that greater challenges await them in their military service.

The speech to the class of 2026 marked the first occasion Trump has addressed military academy graduates since deploying American forces in a new conflict.

Trump characterized the graduating cadets as America’s “first defenders” and “first responders.”

“You’ve all been tested. You’ll be tested further and probably at higher levels as your career goes on,” Trump stated during his remarks.

The president briefly referenced the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has entered its 12th week, describing it as evidence of American success in “the hottest country anywhere in the world.”

“The only question is, do we go ahead and finish it up or are they going to be signing a document? Let’s see what happens,” Trump commented.

The Republican commander in chief had considered launching additional military strikes against Iran this week as diplomatic discussions appeared stalled and a tenuous ceasefire seemed unstable. However, Trump announced Monday he would allow Iran additional time due to “serious negotiations” taking place.

The president has not provided specific details and has previously stepped back from threats against Iran, claiming progress in discussions that have not been publicly confirmed.

Speaking to reporters earlier Wednesday, Trump indicated he was “in no hurry” to reach an agreement ending the conflict, citing political considerations and the approaching November midterm elections.

The graduation ceremony took place during extremely hot weather conditions with minimal shade available for attendees waiting for the event to commence.

At least one individual needed medical assistance after fainting. Family members requested that elderly guests be allowed to sit under shaded tent areas. Cold water bottles were provided but quickly warmed in the heat.

Trump, who previously spoke at the academy’s 2017 graduation during his initial presidency, expressed pride in becoming the first president to deliver two commencement speeches at the institution.

“We’re going to have to try it maybe a third time, too, to keep that record intact,” Trump said Wednesday.

The president told graduates they were completing their studies during “an incredible, exciting time for our nation,” describing the current period as one of renewed national strength, morale and confidence.

While proclaiming “America is back,” the president moved away from the typically nonpartisan nature of military commencement speeches by criticizing previous administrations, claiming the nation had been “run by foolish politicians.”

Trump highlighted his trade policies and immigration enforcement efforts, stating that “under this administration, we don’t apologize for American power or wealth.”

“What we do really is we want to maximize it. We take advantage of it,” he explained. “We unleash it, and we wield it to pursue our country’s glorious destiny and our beautiful American Dream.”

According to tradition, the president and vice president address one of the military service academies annually. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to speak at the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement on May 28.

Prior to his departure for Connecticut, Trump told reporters his message to the cadets would be, “Just enjoy your life.”

“You know, you don’t really realize how important Coast Guard is until you have a hurricane,” Trump remarked while commending the maritime service.

WASHINGTON — The president has historically shielded his financial records from public view, claiming this secrecy was required due to continuing IRS examinations of his taxes.

However, he indicated this situation might shift following a recent agreement his attorneys secured with the Justice Department that permanently ends tax-related claims against the president, his relatives and business partners.

“I may even release my current returns,” the president stated to members of the press on Wednesday.

Should the president follow through on this indication, it would conclude years of questions about his financial obligations to the federal government. However, the Republican president has previously made multiple pledges over the years to make his returns public, following standard practice of other presidents, but has consistently failed to honor these commitments.

This week, the Justice Department announced the government is “forever barred and precluded” from continuing or initiating current tax reviews of the president, his sons and the organization bearing his name — elements of the settlement agreement designed to resolve the president’s $10 billion legal action against the Internal Revenue Service concerning leaked tax documents.

The Justice Department clarified the settlement applies exclusively to current audits, not potential future reviews.

The development followed the Justice Department’s announcement, as part of the legal settlement, establishing a $1.776 billion compensation fund for allies of the president who claim they faced unjust investigation and prosecution. Democratic lawmakers and oversight groups have labeled this arrangement “corrupt” and unconstitutional.

Given the settlement’s termination of ongoing financial examinations of the president, questions remain about whether he will actually make his returns public. The White House directed The Associated Press to the president’s remarks when asked about timing for potential release.

The president has repeatedly stated over multiple years that he would make his tax documents available. In May 2017, he mentioned during an interview that he “might” release his tax returns following his departure from the presidency.

Throughout his initial presidential campaign, he pledged to make his tax returns public once audit processes concluded.

In 2022, following the president’s departure from office, Congressional Democrats made public thousands of pages of his tax documents covering 2015-2020, demonstrating how he utilized tax regulations to reduce his tax burden and disclosing information about international accounts, charitable giving and the financial performance of his prominent business operations.

Party officials within the Democratic organization are working to stop Maureen Galindo, a congressional hopeful who has made multiple antisemitic statements, from securing the party’s nomination in an upcoming Texas runoff election, while also claiming that Republicans are secretly backing her candidacy.

The runoff pits Galindo against Johnny Garcia for the Democratic nomination to represent the state’s 35th Congressional District, which covers the San Antonio region. Texas Republicans redrew the district boundaries with the goal of improving their party’s odds of retaining control of the seat during this year’s midterm elections.

Democratic officials grew concerned after Galindo topped the March 3 primary results with 29% of the vote compared to Garcia’s 27%. Party leaders believe the district could stay within reach, regardless of the redistricting efforts, if Democrats perform well nationally, and they want to avoid having a nominee whose controversial statements could hurt their chances.

The runoff election occurs during a period of increased worry about antisemitism spreading throughout different political movements and debates over how to address candidates who hold extremist positions.

Among Galindo’s statements were demands to jail “American Zionists” and convert a federal immigration detention facility into a prison for this purpose.

“She’ll turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” Galindo’s campaign Instagram account said. It added: “(It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists).”

A political action committee known as Lead Left PAC, which describes itself as opposing President Donald Trump, has endorsed Galindo. Nevertheless, Democrats contend the organization receives Republican funding, and the New York Times published reporting suggesting possible connections.

“House Republican leadership must immediately cease propping up this antisemitic candidacy,” Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement.

The National Republican Congressional Committee avoided addressing Democratic accusations about backing the Lead Left PAC, instead attacking the Democratic candidates for “embarrassing fundraising numbers, zero grassroots energy, and no real support from Texans.”

Through email, Galindo claimed her proposal was “NEVER for Jewish Zionists — it’s for BILLIONAIRE Zionists.” She argued that national Democratic leaders were trying to make her comments sound worse than intended.

Democratic officials have rejected Galindo’s language. Beyond the DelBene and Jeffries statement, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called it “disgusting” and said it shouldn’t be near “our politics.”

Representatives Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Jared Moskowitz of Florida said in a statement Wednesday that if Galindo were to win election to Congress, they’d force votes to expel her “every single day we are here.”

Garcia said in a video posted on social media that the comments have no place in the race.

“We should be bringing people together, not spreading hate, division or dangerous rhetoric,” he said.

Lead Left PAC did not respond to requests for comment.

Capitol riot defendants and supporters of President Donald Trump are working to determine how they might benefit from a newly established $1.776 billion compensation fund designed for Americans who believe they suffered from political targeting.

The former leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, who received a 22-year prison sentence for seditious conspiracy related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident, stated he intends to submit an application to the fund. He estimates he might receive between $2 and $5 million.

“I’m not greedy,” Tarrio stated. “But my life was all fucked up because of this.”

More than 1,500 individuals connected to January 6 received presidential pardons last year from Trump. Many are now tallying expenses related to their prosecutions, incarceration periods, and lost business opportunities as they seek reimbursement for what they consider misconduct by the Justice Department during former President Joe Biden’s tenure.

An attorney named Peter Ticktin, who represents over 400 January 6 defendants, expressed doubt about whether the fund contains sufficient resources.

“People lost multi-million dollar businesses while they were locked up,” he explained. “I don’t think the DOJ is ready for us yet.”

Trump also indicated the fund might be inadequate in size. “You’re talking about peanuts,” he remarked to reporters at Joint Base Andrews. “It destroyed the lives of many, many people.”

Both Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have raised concerns about the fund’s legal standing, along with a settlement provision that permanently prevents the IRS from conducting audits of previous tax filings by Trump, his family members, and his companies.

On Wednesday, two law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 events initiated legal action aimed at stopping the compensation program, characterizing it as a “taxpayer-funded slush fund” benefiting Trump supporters who participated in violent activities.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed congressional members on Tuesday that individuals who committed assaults against police officers on January 6 would remain eligible for compensation.

Tarrio believes those who attacked law enforcement officers should receive funding.

“The Justice Department overprosecuted for political gain,” he argued. “So everyone deserves to get money.”

Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and Richard E. Neal sent a letter on Wednesday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Blanche, and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano, who helped negotiate the settlement. They inquired about potential limits on individual payments and what information would be made available to the public.

“Never in American history has a President pursued corruption this brazenly or on such a colossal scale,” they stated in their correspondence.

Delaware’s Democratic Senator Chris Coons announced Wednesday his intention to oppose the fund through amendments to spending legislation, though he recognized the matter might require separate resolution.

Ticktin, the attorney for January 6 cases, plans to submit hundreds of applications once the Justice Department establishes the application procedures and the attorney general names the five-person panel that will oversee the fund. He mentioned suggesting this concept to Trump, his former high school classmate, in a March email, but remains uncertain whether that communication influenced the fund’s establishment.

Several January 6 defendants expressed approval that the Justice Department has adopted terminology they have consistently used — such as “lawfare,” “weaponization” and “victims” — and view the fund as compensation for years of perceived unfair treatment.

“Now liberals wanna cry about righting the wrong, too bad,” posted Jennie Carso-Heinl, who entered a guilty plea for parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, on social media platform X. “Justice is coming.”

One Trump associate has already submitted an official request: Michael Caputo, a former administration official, requested $2.7 million in “restitution” from Blanche regarding investigations conducted by the Biden administration and special counsel Robert Mueller.

Several Democrats have suggested they might also apply, contending that Trump’s Justice Department has initiated weak political cases against them. Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday that the fund could provide compensation to politicians from both parties.

Former FBI Director James Comey, who has faced two indictments since Trump’s second term began, mentioned on CNN that he has thought about applying.

“It’s to compensate people who’ve been targeted by the Justice Department for, they say, personal, political or ideological reasons,” Comey explained. “So I’m guessing I’ll be in line.”

However, some Trump supporters believe the fund may be insufficient.

Barry Ramey, a Proud Boys affiliate who was convicted of assaulting police officers, expressed uncertainty about applying because accepting compensation might harm his legal case against the Bureau of Prisons.

“My commitment to justice is not about the money,” he stated. “I want to show they acted illegally.”

However, he indicated that securing $2 million might change his perspective.

Legal scholars say critics of President Donald Trump’s massive settlement with the Internal Revenue Service will encounter substantial barriers when attempting to contest its $1.776 billion compensation fund for those claiming government “weaponization” and its clause preventing tax audits of the president.

Democrats in Congress have criticized the Anti-Weaponization Fund as essentially a political slush fund designed to channel public money to Trump’s supporters, while oversight organizations have declared the tax protection agreement unlawful. Some Republicans have also voiced concerns, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune stating he was “not a big fan” of the arrangement.

A pair of law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 incident, when Trump supporters attempted to prevent Congress from confirming Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral win, have filed a lawsuit. These officers contend the fund will benefit and strengthen rioters who have intimidated them and issued death threats.

Legal analysts noted uncertainty about whether challengers can stop fund distributions or reverse Trump’s protection from past tax audits, particularly if the Republican-controlled Congress remains inactive.

The challenge is complicated because Trump withdrew his $10 billion IRS lawsuit before announcing the settlement, eliminating the court’s jurisdiction over the matter.

“There’s no longer a venue to challenge the legality of this settlement,” explained Danny Werfel, who served as IRS commissioner under the Biden administration.

The Justice Department revealed the fund Monday, following Trump’s voluntary dismissal of his lawsuit alleging IRS misconduct in leaking his tax documents during his initial presidency.

Trump additionally abandoned claims regarding government probes into his 2016 campaign’s Russian contacts and the FBI’s 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago Florida residence for classified materials he kept after leaving office. The agreement also includes a government apology to Trump.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department quietly issued an addendum signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, which “FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED” government prosecution or pursuit of outstanding tax matters against Trump, his relatives and his companies. Blanche previously worked as Trump’s personal attorney.

The $1.776 billion fund, seemingly referencing America’s founding year, will operate under Trump ally oversight.

The money will compensate individuals claiming harm from government “weaponization or lawfare.” Trump has alleged the Biden administration and other political adversaries inappropriately utilized law enforcement, intelligence and regulatory departments to target him and his supporters.

Funding will come from the Judgment Fund, established by Congress in 1956 for government legal claims.

Blanche informed senators Tuesday that precedent existed for the anti-weaponization fund, referencing a $680 million fund established in 2010 for Native American farmers during Democratic President Barack Obama’s term to settle prolonged litigation called the Keepseagle case.

While that settlement received federal court approval as fair and reasonable, Blanche said the IRS agreement won’t undergo judicial review. He also indicated January 6 defendants, already granted clemency by Trump, could receive payments.

Legal experts explained opponents will struggle establishing standing to sue, as proving harm may prove difficult.

The two officers who sued in Washington federal court argued they face injury because the fund would motivate January 6 defendants to continue threatening them and potentially commit violence.

“The increased risk of threats, harassment and violence our plaintiffs are suffering as a result confers standing,” stated Public Integrity Project CEO Brendan Ballou, who filed the suit.

Some specialists suggested the strongest challenge opportunity might arise later when claimants, including Trump critics, could argue they suffered harm through inadequate payouts.

Josh Gardner, an attorney who managed the Justice Department’s Keepseagle case, highlighted Hunter Biden, the former president’s son.

Hunter Biden faced tax and gun crime convictions during his father’s presidency through a case led by a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor later promoted to special counsel. President Biden pardoned his son seven weeks before Trump’s return to office.

“If Hunter Biden were to submit a claim and his claim were rejected, he would have standing to challenge not just his denial, but I think the entire structure of this settlement,” Gardner explained.

Should litigants establish standing, they could argue the IRS settlement breaks multiple laws, according to legal experts.

One concern involves whether the fund violates the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause, granting Congress spending authority, since lawmakers didn’t authorize it. Ninety-three Democratic legislators filed a legal brief raising this point after Trump dismissed his lawsuit but before the judge officially closed the case.

Another issue questions whether the fund might breach laws governing the Judgment Fund if payments go to people without pending or imminent federal claims.

“The real problem is, Congress has been remarkably loose in controlling these kinds of payments,” said Paul Figley, an emeritus law professor at American University. “It’s wrong, but not illegal.”

Questions also exist about whether Trump’s tax immunity provision violates laws protecting against political interference in taxpayer audits.

Werfel, the former IRS commissioner, noted that future administrations frequently reverse non-legislative actions from previous administrations.

Some experts said one or both congressional chambers, though not individual members, could challenge the fund. This appears unlikely currently, with Republicans controlling both the House and Senate.

“There’s a ferment of outrage that is justifiable against this deal, and that will bring off the sidelines many people who are hurt by it,” said Norm Eisen, co-founder of Democracy Defenders Action, a Democratic-leaning legal advocacy group representing the 93 lawmakers in the IRS case.

A prominent Jewish Republican organization celebrated Captain Ed Gallrein’s primary election victory on Tuesday after he defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district.

The Republican Jewish Coalition issued a statement from Washington, DC, on May 19, 2026, with CEO Matt Brooks calling the outcome “decisive” and stating that Kentucky Republican voters had sent a clear message.

“The RJC congratulates Ed Gallrein on his decisive primary victory tonight,” Brooks said. “Kentucky Republicans sent an unmistakable message: there is no place in the Republican Party for those who turn their back on the MAGA agenda.”

Brooks delivered harsh criticism of Massie’s congressional voting record, claiming the incumbent had consistently voted against Republican initiatives and aligned himself with progressive Democrats on important legislation. The CEO specifically pointed to Massie’s votes against Working Families Tax Cuts, border security funding, Holocaust education funding, and aid to Israel after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack.

“Massie has been a thorn in the side of President Trump, the Republican Party, and the Jewish community writ large,” Brooks said.

The organization further accused Massie of “trafficking in antisemitism and bottom-of-the-barrel nativism at a time when Jew-hatred is on the rise,” characterizing such behavior as “wildly unacceptable and outrageous from an elected member of Congress.”

Brooks praised Gallrein as “a 5th-generation Kentucky farmer, decorated Navy SEAL, and true MAGA patriot,” predicting that the candidate “will serve with honor and distinction.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition and its affiliated RJC Victory Fund committed $5 million to back Gallrein’s campaign, characterizing the contest as a “record-breaking Congressional primary.”

During the campaign, the organization produced three television advertisements supporting Gallrein with the titles “Ed Gallrein: Hero,” “Ed Gallrein: Trump-Endorsed,” and “Gallrein & Trump or Massie who Stands with Iran.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition identifies itself as a national grassroots organization that represents tens of thousands of Jewish Republicans throughout the United States.

WASHINGTON — Members of a House committee voiced bipartisan concerns Wednesday about ensuring Transportation Security Administration workers receive compensation during government shutdowns and have access to modern equipment, as the Trump administration pushes to transfer airport screening duties to private companies.

The House Committee on Homeland Security conducted a hearing focused on updating the TSA nearly 25 years since its establishment following the September 11 attacks. However, discussions about advanced equipment and stable funding were dominated by concerns over TSA employee morale after workers went unpaid during three recent funding interruptions since October 1, amid administration plans to replace them at smaller airports nationwide.

“Between the 2025 and 2026 shutdowns, transportation security officers endured a total of 119 days impacted by shutdown conditions,” stated Republican Andrew Garbarino of New York, who chairs the committee. “That means TSA officers spent roughly 40% of this fiscal year reporting to work without a paycheck while continuing to carry out one of the most important security missions in the federal government.”

Multiple committee members highlighted Congress’s failure to approve pending legislation that would ensure TSA workers continue receiving pay during shutdowns. California Democrat Rep. Lou Correa suggested that if TSA employees don’t receive compensation during shutdowns, lawmakers shouldn’t either.

Correa also criticized President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, which allocates $477.3 million for private companies to assume airport screening responsibilities at approximately 250 airports while eliminating more than 4,500 TSA jobs to achieve $529.3 million in savings from compensation and benefits. The TSA recently permitted contractors in its airport staffing initiative to purchase and maintain screening equipment, a responsibility previously reserved for government agencies.

“Technology alone can’t replace the experienced people who make the security checkpoints work as they have for the past 25 years,” Correa stated. “It’s about pushing an antigovernment privatization ideology.”

Approximately 20 airports across the United States currently operate their security checkpoints through the Screening Partnership Program. Presently, airports can choose whether to participate. Trump’s budget proposal would mandate participation for smaller airports.

Hearing witnesses included Christopher Sununu, president and CEO of airline industry organization Airlines for America; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin; and American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley, whose union represents TSA employees. All three testified that airports should retain the authority to decide whether to use private screening personnel.

“Ensuring SPP remains an option for airports and does not become a mandatory program is paramount to the U.S. aviation industry,” Sununu testified.

Kelley voiced strong opposition to the privatization elements in Trump’s budget.

“I’m totally against the privatization of any airport,” he declared. “You don’t contract out the CIA, do you?”

After several Democratic committee members expressed concerns that transferring airport security to private companies would increase vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace, Garbarino responded by noting that “the very conservative cities of San Francisco, Seattle and Atlanta” all utilize private screeners at their airports, adding “so yeah, maybe it’s not a Republican thing.”

Federal cybersecurity officials conducted a briefing with major artificial intelligence companies regarding a proposed executive order that would grant intelligence and other federal agencies authority to examine advanced AI systems prior to public deployment, according to a Wednesday report from the Information.

The Office of the National Cyber Director organized Tuesday’s meeting with several AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Reflection AI, the publication reported, referencing sources with knowledge of the discussions.

According to the report, U.S. President Donald Trump may sign the executive order as early as Thursday. The proposed order would create a voluntary system requiring developers of cutting-edge AI models to alert the federal government before major product launches.

Under this proposed framework, AI companies would have the option to provide their advanced models to government agencies as much as 90 days prior to making them available to the public, the report indicated.

When contacted by Reuters for comment, OpenAI, Anthropic and Reflection AI had not provided immediate responses.

The Justice Department has reached a historic agreement with Trump and his family members that shields them from future tax audits, according to reports.

The unprecedented settlement also creates a massive $1.8 billion compensation fund designed to assist victims of what the agreement describes as ‘government weaponization.’

A former government lawyer, Andrew Weissmann, provided analysis of the unusual settlement terms and their implications.

The agreement marks a significant development in ongoing legal matters involving the former president and his family members.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A Republican runoff election has been set for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, with US Rep. Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson emerging as the top two candidates on Wednesday.

Moore, who has served three terms in Congress and received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, will face Hudson, who is making his first run for political office. Moore has stated that Alabama needs a “Trump conservative” representing the state in the Senate, while Hudson has pledged to serve as “a warrior for President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda” should he win the election.

The Senate position will become available when Sen. Tommy Tuberville steps down to pursue the governor’s office.

Both Republican and Democratic primary runoff elections are scheduled for June 16.

A former federal prosecutor from Miami is now facing criminal charges after authorities say she illegally copied a confidential report examining the investigation into President Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials, according to court documents made public Wednesday.

Carmen Lineberger, who previously served at the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida where she oversaw the Fort Pierce office, entered a not guilty plea during her Palm Beach court hearing on theft of government property charges. Her legal representative has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Federal prosecutors allege that Lineberger forwarded the restricted report to her personal Hotmail address, cleverly disguising it with the subject line “chocolate cake recipe.”

Officials claim she unlawfully attempted to transfer the portion of the report focusing on the classified documents case from her official government email after a Trump-appointed judge prohibited its public disclosure.

This section of the report, which details the special counsel’s conclusions regarding a criminal probe that once threatened significant legal consequences for Trump, remains hidden from public view. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon supported Trump’s legal team’s position that releasing the document would create unfair prejudice, especially after the special counsel dropped the case following Trump’s 2024 electoral success.

Lineberger was employed within the same court jurisdiction where the special counsel’s case against Trump was originally brought. That legal action alleged Trump unlawfully kept numerous classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach from his previous presidency and interfered with federal attempts to retrieve them.

Senate Democrats are preparing to challenge Republican solidarity this week through strategic votes targeting President Donald Trump’s controversial $1.776 billion compensation fund for political allies, as tensions rise within the GOP ranks.

The confrontation centers around a roughly $72 billion measure aimed at restoring funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol after Democrats previously blocked the appropriations for several months.

However, what began as straightforward legislation has become increasingly complex after Republicans inserted $1 billion in security funding for the White House campus and Trump’s proposed ballroom, while some GOP senators express mounting dissatisfaction with the president. The settlement fund has drawn Republican criticism, and many were angered by Trump’s Tuesday endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week’s party primary runoff against Sen. John Cornyn.

“It’s been a hell of a bad week for Donald Trump and his Republicans,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said on the Senate floor. “And it’s only Wednesday.”

Democrats see an opportunity to force settlement fund votes because Republicans are attempting to advance the immigration enforcement measure through a complex budget procedure requiring numerous amendment votes. Democratic lawmakers are weighing several amendments targeting the settlement fund, including proposals to eliminate it entirely or prohibit payments to Trump supporters who attacked law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault.

These amendments could potentially succeed as increasing numbers of Republicans voice opposition to the fund and other elements of Trump’s policy agenda.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed skepticism Tuesday about the new fund, which the administration unveiled as part of a settlement resolving the president’s IRS lawsuit over leaked tax returns, saying he was “not a big fan.” Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost Saturday’s Louisiana primary to a Trump-endorsed opponent, denounced it as a “slush fund” and declared “you can’t just make up things.”

The expanding GOP division is intensified by Trump’s unexpected Paxton endorsement, an intervention that has Republican senators privately expressing anger over potential damage to their November majority prospects, as they consider the incumbent the stronger general election candidate.

“There’s always a consequence with taking on United States senators,” Thune said Wednesday. Trump “obviously has his favorites and people he wants to endorse and that’s his prerogative. But what we have to deal with up here is moving the agenda, and obviously that can become slightly more complicated.”

Facing Republican resistance to portions of his agenda, Trump responded with a social media attack on the Senate.

He demanded Republicans dismiss Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who ruled that sections of the $1 billion security proposal cannot be included in the ICE and Border Patrol legislation. Trump also reiterated longstanding demands for Senate passage of the SAVE Act, a Republican measure requiring all voters to demonstrate U.S. citizenship, and elimination of the Senate filibuster.

“Republicans play a very soft game compared to the Dumocrats,” he wrote. “It is their single biggest disadvantage in politics.”

Trump warned that Democrats would abolish the filibuster “on the First Day” if they regain complete Washington control and urged Republicans to “get smart and tough” or “you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible!”

While Republicans have generally supported Trump on most matters, they have consistently rejected his repeated appeals — including during his first presidency — to eliminate the filibuster, which establishes a 60-vote requirement in the Senate.

Although some Republicans have expressed support for the administration’s settlement fund, several have raised concerns. Senators questioned acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about it during Tuesday’s hearing, where he characterized the fund as “unusual” but not unprecedented.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., warned it presents a “real risk” that rioters who were charged and subsequently pardoned by Trump in the Jan. 6 attack might receive compensation through the fund, calling such an outcome “absurd.”

On Wednesday, two police officers who defended the Capitol during the 2021 attack filed a lawsuit to prevent the payouts. Blanche, who served as Trump’s personal lawyer before joining the Department of Justice in Trump’s second administration, declined to exclude the possibility that rioters who assaulted police on Jan. 6 would qualify for compensation.

Republican leadership continues revising the $1 billion security provision after the parliamentarian deemed it too complicated for the budget measure. The funding could be reduced or eliminated from the legislation.

Thune acknowledged “ongoing vote issues” as leaders assess Republican backing, and “ongoing parliamentarian issues” as they determine what Senate rules will permit in the bill.

Democrats and some Republicans have questioned whether Congress should authorize White House ballroom funding while voters face affordability concerns. According to the Secret Service proposal, approximately $220 million would fund ballroom-related security enhancements while the remainder would support a new visitor screening facility, training, and additional security measures.

Tillis argued the bill should have excluded the other security improvements “because it’s just giving everybody the ‘billion dollar ballroom,’ and it’s just a bad idea.”

He indicated insufficient Republican support exists for the complete $1 billion in funding or even the $220 million request.

“I still want private donations to pay for it, they need to explain to me why we need this,” Tillis said, pointing out that Trump had initially promised the project would be entirely privately funded.

Nine individuals deported from America touched down in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, according to officials from the West African nation, marking another instance of controversial third-country deportation agreements implemented by the Trump administration.

The group included five people from Ghana, two from Guinea, one from Senegal, and one from Nigeria, the ministry of information reported. These arrangements have sparked concerns about whether the rights of those being deported are being properly protected.

Officials stated that the newly arrived individuals “have been checked into their hosting facilities, are comfortable and receiving the necessary support.” Authorities had originally anticipated 24 people would arrive but did not explain the discrepancy.

Alma David, an immigration attorney with the U.S.-based Novo Legal Group who assists deportees, suggested the reduced number could be due to several deportations being stopped just before the aircraft departed from the United States.

Court records reviewed by The Associated Press show that a U.S. federal judge prevented one woman’s deportation to Sierra Leone after authorities failed to allow her to pursue protection under the Convention Against Torture, which is legally required.

Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, Timothy Kabba, informed local news outlets Wednesday that his government has agreed to temporarily house migrants deported by the Trump administration, explaining it only takes West African citizens and the arrangement is backed by a $1.5 million U.S. government grant.

America has established third-country deportation agreements with at least eight additional African countries, many of which are among those most affected by the Trump administration’s restrictions on trade, assistance, and immigration. The other African countries known to have signed such deals include Congo, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana and Cameroon.

Multiple nations on this list have notably oppressive administrations and troubling human rights histories, including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.

According to State Department documents, some countries have received millions of dollars in exchange for these agreements. Most deal specifics remain confidential.

Legal experts and advocacy groups have questioned the nature of these arrangements with African and other countries.

A week ago, a federal judge commanded the Trump administration to return a Colombian woman to the United States from Congo after she was sent there despite that country’s refusal to accept her due to its inability to address her medical requirements.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — During a Wednesday commencement ceremony, President Donald Trump addressed graduating cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, praising their “unbelievable heroism and exceptional selflessness” while warning that greater challenges await them in their military service.

The speech to the class of 2026 marked the first occasion Trump has delivered a graduation address at a military academy while American forces are engaged in active combat operations.

Trump emphasized to the graduates that they would serve as America’s “first defenders” and “first responders.”

“You’ve all been tested. You’ll be tested further and probably at higher levels as your career goes on,” Trump said.

The president briefly referenced the ongoing conflict with Iran, now entering its 12th week, highlighting it as evidence of American success in “the hottest country anywhere in the world.”

“The only question is, do we go ahead and finish it up or are they going to be signing a document? Let’s see what happens,” Trump said.

The Republican leader had considered launching additional military action against Iran this week amid stalled diplomatic discussions and concerns about a fragile ceasefire. However, on Monday, Trump indicated he would allow Iran additional time due to “serious negotiations” taking place.

Trump has previously stepped back from threats against Iran, claiming diplomatic progress that has not been publicly confirmed.

Earlier Wednesday, he informed reporters that he was “in no hurry” to reach an agreement ending the conflict, citing political considerations and the upcoming November midterm elections.

The graduation ceremony took place under extreme heat conditions with minimal shade available for attendees waiting for the event to commence.

Medical personnel assisted at least one individual who collapsed from the heat. Family members requested that elderly guests be allowed to sit under shaded tent areas. While cold water bottles were provided, they quickly warmed in the intense temperatures.

Trump, who previously spoke at the academy’s 2017 graduation during his first presidency, expressed pride in becoming the first president to deliver two commencement speeches at the institution.

“We’re going to have to try it maybe a third time, too, to keep that record intact,” Trump said Wednesday.

The president characterized the graduates as entering service during “an incredible, exciting time for our nation,” describing it as a period of renewed national strength, morale and confidence.

While declaring “America is back,” Trump deviated from the typically nonpartisan nature of military commencement addresses by criticizing previous administrations, claiming the nation had been “run by foolish politicians.”

He advocated for his trade tariff policies and immigration enforcement measures, stating that “under this administration, we don’t apologize for American power or wealth.”

“What we do really is we want to maximize it. We take advantage of it,” he said. “We unleash it, and we wield it to pursue our country’s glorious destiny and our beautiful American Dream.”

According to tradition, the president and vice president annually speak at military service academies. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to address graduates at the U.S. Air Force Academy on May 28.

Prior to traveling to Connecticut, Trump indicated his message to cadets would be, “Just enjoy your life.”

“You know, you don’t really realize how important Coast Guard is until you have a hurricane,” Trump said while commending the maritime service.

WASHINGTON — A pair of law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent anyone, including the rioters themselves, from collecting money from a newly established $1.776 billion settlement fund intended for individuals claiming to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions.

The legal action was filed Wednesday, one day after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before Congress about the fund’s establishment. Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer before joining the Justice Department, declined to rule out the possibility that individuals who attacked police during the January 6 riot could qualify for payments from the fund.

In their legal filing, the officers characterize the government’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as an unlawful slush fund that Trump intends to use to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name.” The lawsuit characterizes the fund’s establishment as “the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century” and demands its elimination.

“No statute authorizes its creation, the settlement on which it is premised is a corrupt sham, and its design violates the Constitution and federal law,” the suit says.

The fund originates from a settlement related to Trump’s $10 billion legal action against the Internal Revenue Service concerning the disclosure of his tax documents. Its purpose is to provide compensation to individuals who believe they faced unfair treatment from previous administrations’ Justice Department. A five-member panel selected by the attorney general will determine payment distributions.

The Capitol riot resulted in injuries to more than 100 law enforcement officers. Prosecutors brought charges against over 1,600 individuals for January 6-related offenses, though Trump eliminated all of these cases through comprehensive pardons last year.

The legal challenge comes from Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who is running in Maryland for a seat in Congress. Both Hodges and Dunn provided congressional testimony about their traumatic January 6 experiences. Video footage showed a rioter removing Hodges’ mask while he was trapped against a door during fighting over a tunnel entrance.

The officers argue the fund “encourages those who enacted violence in the President’s name to continue to do so.”

“Dunn and Hodges already face credible threats of death and violence on regular basis; the Fund substantially increases the danger,” the suit alleges.

During Tuesday’s congressional hearing, lawmakers questioned Blanche extensively about the fund. He characterized it as “unusual” but not unprecedented. Blanche failed to acknowledge that Trump’s Justice Department has investigated and prosecuted some of the Republican president’s political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The lawsuit also names Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants. Representatives from the Justice and Treasury departments did not immediately provide responses to requests for comment regarding the legal action.

Brendan Ballou, a former Justice Department prosecutor who worked on Jan. 6 cases, represents the officers as one of their attorneys.

Two law enforcement officers who protected the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 riot have taken legal action to stop President Donald Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for victims of political weaponization.

Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer, and Daniel Hodges from the Metropolitan Police Department filed their federal court challenge in Washington on Wednesday. In their legal filing, they claim Trump has established a taxpayer-funded slush fund worth $1.776 billion designed to benefit insurrectionists and paramilitary organizations that engage in violence on his behalf.

The officers are requesting a judicial order to prevent any disbursements from the fund, describing it as the most blatant example of presidential corruption in this century.

The compensation fund emerged from Trump’s Monday settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, where he agreed to withdraw his $10 billion legal action concerning the disclosure of his tax documents from his previous presidency. The Justice Department established the fund as part of this agreement to provide compensation for those affected by political weaponization.

During congressional hearings on Tuesday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche fielded numerous inquiries about the fund’s operations. Blanche explained that the money would be available to individuals from all political parties and would not be restricted solely to January 6 defendants. He noted that eligibility would be determined broadly based on experiences of weaponization.

Dunn, who is Black and served 15 years protecting lawmakers, has spoken publicly about enduring physical attacks and racist harassment during the Capitol assault. Trump supporters were attempting to stop Congress from confirming former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Dunn testified before a bipartisan House committee investigating the deadly incident and has discussed his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the attack.

Hodges gained widespread attention when video footage showed him trapped in a revolving door by a rioter using a police shield during the Capitol breach. He continues serving with Washington’s police department and has provided congressional testimony about his ordeal.

A pioneering figure in American politics and LGBTQ rights advocacy has passed away. Barney Frank, the former Democratic congressman who served Massachusetts for more than three decades, died Tuesday at age 86.

Jim Segel, who served as Frank’s former campaign manager and remained a close friend, confirmed the death occurred late Tuesday.

Frank had been receiving hospice care in Ogunquit, Maine since April, battling congestive heart failure. He leaves behind his husband Jim Ready, sisters Ann Lewis and Doris Breay, and brother David Frank. Lewis is recognized as a longtime Democratic strategist.

The congressman, who once characterized himself as a “left-handed gay Jew,” became famous for his sharp tongue, confrontational approach, and dedication to underrepresented groups. While championing progressive causes, he maintained relationships with Democratic leadership that sometimes disappointed more liberal activists.

Frank’s most significant contribution to American society came through his groundbreaking work for LGBTQ equality. Following years of personal struggle with his identity, he became the first Congress member to voluntarily reveal his homosexuality in 1987. His 2012 wedding to Ready marked another historic first, as he became the initial sitting lawmaker to enter a same-sex marriage.

During his final interview in April while beginning hospice treatment, Frank expressed hope his legacy would center on promoting progressive politics through practical means rather than forcing change before voters were ready. He worried this balanced approach was losing favor as Democrats look toward reclaiming the presidency in 2028 and moving beyond current political divisions.

“I hope I made the point that the best way to accomplish the improvements in our society that we need, particularly in making it less unfair economically and socially, is by conventional political methods,” Frank said. “The main obstacle to our defeating populism and going further in the right direction is that mainstream Democrats have to make it clear that we oppose that part of the agenda of our friends on the left that is politically unacceptable. They’re right about a lot of things but you have to have some discretion.”

“You should not take the most unpopular parts of your agenda and make them litmus tests,” he added. “And that’s what my friends on the left have been doing.”

Frank’s political awakening began in 1940 when he was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. In his 2015 autobiography, he credited the lynching of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black teenager from Chicago killed by white men in Mississippi, with inspiring his public service calling. He participated in Mississippi’s Freedom Summer campaign in 1964, though admitted his communication style posed challenges in that environment.

“My direct organizing of Mississippi voters was limited by the fact that my accent (to this day more New Jersey than New England), my poor diction, and my rapid speech, especially when I got excited, rendered me largely incomprehensible to rural Mississippians of both races,” he wrote.

His political career launched in 1968 working for Boston Mayor Kevin White, followed by election to the Massachusetts House in 1972. Frank secured his congressional seat in 1980, bucking a difficult year for Democrats when the party suffered major House losses and Republican Ronald Reagan captured the presidency.

Frank’s practical governing philosophy emerged quickly during his congressional tenure. While joining the liberal Democratic Study Group to pressure then-Speaker Tip O’Neill to more aggressively challenge the Reagan administration, Frank often found himself supporting O’Neill’s less confrontational strategies.

His willingness to compromise ideology for practical gains appeared years later during a major tax reform debate. Initially planning to oppose the legislation due to reduced top tax rates, Frank switched positions after negotiating increased affordable housing tax credits.

“I was happy to sacrifice my ideological purity to improve legislation that was going to become law with or without me,” he wrote.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat and former House speaker, praised Frank as an “idealist to the nth degree.”

“The goals, the vision, the promise of it all,” she recalled in an interview. “Nobody could ever surpass what he brought to the table in that regard.”

Frank’s early Washington years involved maintaining separate public and private identities. While participating in the city’s gay social scene and maintaining relationships privately, he avoided public acknowledgment of his sexuality. Media coverage of sexual orientation typically occurred only during scandals. When Frank invited a reporter to his office in 1987 to directly address questions about his sexuality, Frank simply responded, “yeah, so what?”

While other officials like San Francisco’s Harvey Milk had previously come out, and Congress members including Rep. Gerry Studds had been outed through scandals, Frank’s voluntary disclosure made him the nation’s most visible gay political leader throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He successfully advocated for AIDS funding and unsuccessfully pushed the Clinton administration to eliminate military service restrictions for gay personnel.

However, Frank faced significant challenges, including a 1987 House reprimand for poor judgment involving a male prostitute he employed in 1985. Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia, serving as Republican whip, sought the more serious censure punishment, which was overwhelmingly rejected.

Frank endured personal attacks from conservative Republicans, including House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who used a homophobic slur against Frank in 1995. Armey later claimed he misspoke and issued a House floor apology.

Despite these challenges, Frank developed a reputation as one of Congress’s most quotable members. He criticized Republican positions on abortion by saying they believed “life begins at conception and ends at birth,” targeting their opposition to social programs. After Ken Starr released his detailed report on President Bill Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky, Frank complained it contained “too much reading about heterosexual sex.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer, who entered Congress alongside Frank, remembered his colleague’s approach: “You may get a blow, but it was softened by the humor that came with it.”

Frank’s most enduring policy impact came through his leadership of the House Financial Services Committee beginning in 2007, as the U.S. economy approached collapse. He collaborated with the Republican Bush administration on rescue legislation supporting financial institutions, though this sparked ongoing populist backlash in American politics.

Following the initial crisis, Frank helped develop the most comprehensive reform legislation since the New Deal era. Partnering with then-Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, the resulting Dodd-Frank Act strengthened consumer protections, established new bank capital requirements, and expanded regulatory oversight capabilities.

“Barney and I shared a fantastic relationship,” Dodd said. “I had many good moments in those 36 years in Congress, but none more significant, joyful, or productive than those almost two years working with Barney on our banking bill.”

The current Republican administration has worked to eliminate many provisions from this legislation, arguing the regulations were excessively burdensome.

Frank encountered his most challenging reelection battle in 2010 during the tea party movement’s political surge. He chose not to seek reelection in 2012 but remained politically active after leaving Congress and consistently criticized the former president.

When asked about potential future presidential candidates, Frank acknowledged “unfortunately I won’t get to vote for it.”

WASHINGTON, May 20 – News outlets are reporting that former congressman Barney Frank has passed away at the age of 86.

The death of the longtime U.S. lawmaker was confirmed through multiple media sources.

A Tennessee man will receive $835,000 from local officials after being imprisoned for over a month due to a Facebook post concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Larry Bushart’s situation was unusual among the many Americans who faced job losses following social media comments about Kirk’s death, as his case resulted in actual criminal charges. The 61-year-old former police officer remained incarcerated for 37 days until authorities dismissed the felony charges in October.

While imprisoned, Bushart lost his post-retirement employment and was unable to attend his wedding anniversary celebration or witness his granddaughter’s birth, according to the federal lawsuit he filed in December against Perry County, its sheriff and the investigator who secured his arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart stated when announcing the settlement Wednesday. “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”

Authorities arrested Bushart in September when he declined to remove Facebook memes making light of Kirk’s death, which had generated significant mourning among conservatives, including Perry County residents near Bushart’s residence who organized a candlelight vigil.

The specific meme leading to his arrest stated: “This seems relevant today…” and displayed President Donald Trump with the text, “We have to get over it.” The meme indicated this quote came from Trump’s 2024 response to a school shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School.

Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems informed media outlets that while most of Bushart’s “hate memes” constituted protected speech, community members were disturbed by the school shooting reference, worrying Bushart might be targeting their local Perry County High School, despite Weems acknowledging the meme referenced an Iowa school.

“Investigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community,” Weems stated to The Tennessean last year.

Officials initially set Bushart’s bail at $2 million before his release as the case gained nationwide attention.

“It’s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,” said Cary Davis, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which helped represent Bushart. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable. Our hope is that Larry’s settlement sends a message to law enforcement across the country: Respect the First Amendment today, or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”

President Donald Trump celebrated another victory over a Republican opponent Tuesday when Rep. Thomas Massie was defeated in Kentucky’s primary election, eliminating one of his harshest critics from Capitol Hill. Massie had proven to be an especially troublesome adversary for Trump, standing against the conflict with Iran and casting votes opposing Trump’s major tax reform package from the previous year.

Here are the latest developments:

Immigration Issue Shows Signs of Recovery for Trump: AP-NORC Survey

Immigration appears to be regaining its status as a favorable topic for Trump, according to findings from a recent AP-NORC survey.

The immigration issue initially served as one of Trump’s political advantages, with approximately half of American adults expressing support for his policies, but his approval ratings on this matter declined following periods of intensive immigration enforcement actions.

Currently, slightly less than half of American adults, at 45%, express approval for his management of this policy area.

Among Republicans, immigration continues to rank among Trump’s most successful policy areas. Approximately 8 out of 10 Republicans — 83% — support his immigration policies, a figure that exceeds the percentage who express approval for his overall presidential performance.

Survey Results: Economic Concerns Among Republicans Don’t Shake Trump Support

While Republicans express greater dissatisfaction with President Trump’s economic policies compared to recent months, most continue to support him overall.

Approximately 6 out of 10 Republicans — 63% — express approval for Trump’s economic management in the latest AP-NORC survey. This represents a decline from 79% recorded in February, prior to the start of the Iran conflict.

Roughly one-third of all American adults support his economic leadership.

This decrease in economic confidence hasn’t affected his general job performance ratings — approximately 7 out of 10 Republicans continue to approve of his presidential leadership, consistent with earlier polling this year. These results demonstrate Trump’s persistent support within the Republican Party, despite growing economic concerns.

Vance and Rubio Begin 2028 Presidential Positioning Through White House Press Duties

The initial indicators of presidential campaigns typically involve discrete behind-the-scenes maneuvering from potential candidates, commonly referred to in political circles as the “shadow primary.”

However, the emerging Republican competition to follow Trump in slightly more than two years appears to be unfolding in one of the most visible venues available: the White House press briefing room.

Vice President JD Vance, widely regarded as one of the GOP’s most viable presidential prospects for 2028, approached the podium Tuesday, commanding attention for 54 minutes while responding to reporter questions.

His appearance lasted five minutes beyond the session conducted two weeks earlier by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently viewed as Vance’s primary potential competitor — or possible running mate — for 2028.

Both Vance and Rubio were selected as interim substitutes for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is currently on maternity leave. The opportunity to engage with reporters before television cameras provided a prominent platform to demonstrate their qualifications for the presidency.

Federal Government Drops Tax Claims Against Trump in Expanded IRS Settlement

The federal government will permanently abandon tax claims against Trump, based on a settlement document released Tuesday, representing an unusual application of executive authority that could help protect the president from additional scrutiny of his financial and legal affairs.

Under the settlement agreement designed to resolve Trump’s $10 billion legal action against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the disclosure of his tax documents, the federal government is “forever barred and precluded” from investigating or pursuing Trump, his sons, and the Trump organization’s ongoing tax reviews, according to a single-page document published on the Justice Department’s website.

The government is additionally prohibited from investigating Trump’s family members, associates, and others, based on the document, which bears the signature of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. This document serves as a separate supplement to the original settlement announced Monday and was posted to the Justice Department website Tuesday.

The White House directed Associated Press questions to the Justice Department, while the U.S. Treasury did not respond to Associated Press inquiries.

Georgia Republicans Prepare for Runoff Elections for Senate and Governor Positions

Georgia Republicans will continue their internal competition as they move toward runoff elections to select their candidates for governor and U.S. Senate in the competitive state, after Tuesday’s primary elections failed to determine clear winners.

The Senate runoff will include former college football coach Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins, while Rep. Buddy Carter was eliminated from contention. The victor will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the most scrutinized races in the November midterm elections.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson proceeded to the runoff in the Republican gubernatorial primary, continuing their intense and costly campaign rivalry. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday.

With approximately one month remaining until the June 16 runoff, Republicans will invest additional time and resources competing internally before focusing on their Democratic challengers in crucial contests.

Previous Political Opponents Set for Rematch in Alabama Governor’s Race and Senate Runoffs

Alabama will witness a rematch between two prominent gubernatorial candidates, while contenders from both major parties will advance to runoff elections next month for a vacant U.S. Senate position.

Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, comfortably secured their respective primary victories for governor Tuesday, establishing their second direct competition after Tuberville defeated Jones six years earlier.

Jones won election to the U.S. Senate in a special election in 2017, but his tenure was brief in the strongly Republican state. He hopes that voter dissatisfaction with their Republican-controlled government, particularly regarding healthcare and increasing living costs, will drive him to another uncommon Democratic success in the Deep South.

Tuberville’s decision to pursue the governor’s office sparked an intense Republican competition for a vacant Senate seat that will almost certainly remain Republican.

Analysis of Tuesday’s Primary Results: Massie’s Defeat Confirms Trump’s GOP Influence

Trump achieved another victory Tuesday over a Republican opponent, removing Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and eliminating one of his most vocal Capitol Hill critics.

Massie had proven particularly challenging for Trump. He opposed the Iran conflict and voted against Trump’s major tax reform legislation from last year. He was defeated by Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein in what became the most expensive U.S. House primary in American history.

Although Trump has achieved multiple victories during this primary season, this particular win may deliver an even stronger warning to the president’s Republican opponents. Massie was well-established in his strongly Republican Kentucky district before his conflict with Trump intensified, ending a congressional career that started in 2012.

Nevertheless, Massie will continue serving in Congress until his term concludes in January, and without facing a Republican primary in the future, he now possesses greater freedom than before to challenge Trump.

President Trump claimed another victory Tuesday in his battle against Republican opponents, defeating Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Republican primary and eliminating one of his harshest critics from Capitol Hill. Massie had proven to be an especially troublesome adversary for Trump, advocating for the Jeffrey Epstein files to be made public, opposing the Iran conflict, and casting a vote against Trump’s major tax reform package last year.

New polling from AP-NORC reveals that while Republicans express less satisfaction with Trump’s economic management compared to several months ago, they continue to support him overall as the Iran conflict persists. Approximately 6 out of 10 Republicans endorse Trump’s economic policies, according to the survey. This represents a decline from roughly 8 out of 10 in February, prior to the war’s start.

Recent AP-NORC polling indicates that immigration could be regaining its position as a political advantage for Trump.

Immigration served as one of Trump’s political strengths initially, with approximately half of American adults expressing support for his policies, though his approval ratings on this matter declined following periods of intensive immigration enforcement.

Currently, slightly less than half of American adults, at 45%, endorse his immigration policies.

Immigration continues to rank among Trump’s most successful issues with Republicans. Roughly 8 out of 10 — 83% — support his immigration approach, which exceeds the percentage who rate his presidential performance positively.

While Republicans show decreased satisfaction with President Trump’s economic policies compared to recent months, they continue to demonstrate loyalty to him overall.

Approximately 6 out of 10 Republicans — 63% — endorse Trump’s economic management in recent AP-NORC polling. This marks a decrease from 79% in February, prior to the Iran war’s beginning.

Around one-third of all American adults support his economic approach.

This decline hasn’t affected his general job performance ratings — roughly 7 out of 10 Republicans approve of his presidential leadership, consistent with earlier in the year. These results demonstrate Trump’s persistent support within the Republican Party, despite increasing economic concerns.

The initial indicators of a presidential campaign typically involve such discreet and private maneuvering by candidates that political insiders have termed it the “shadow primary.”

However, the emerging Republican competition to replace Trump in slightly more than two years appears to be unfolding in one of the most visible venues imaginable: the White House press briefing room.

Vice President JD Vance, considered among the GOP’s most promising potential presidential contenders for 2028, approached the podium on Tuesday, commanding attention for 54 minutes while responding to reporter questions.

This exceeded by five minutes the session conducted two weeks earlier by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently viewed as Vance’s potential primary opponent — or running mate — in 2028.

Vance and Rubio were selected as interim substitutes for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave. The opportunity to field questions before television cameras provided a prominent platform to demonstrate their qualifications for commander-in-chief.

According to a settlement document released Tuesday, the U.S. government will permanently abandon tax claims against Trump, representing an unprecedented exercise of executive authority that could effectively protect the president from additional scrutiny of his financial affairs and legal behavior.

Under the settlement agreement designed to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the disclosure of his tax returns, the U.S. is “forever barred and precluded” from investigating or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump organization’s ongoing tax reviews, according to a single-page document published on the Justice Department’s website.

The government is additionally prohibited from investigating Trump’s family, associates and others, according to the document, signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. This document serves as a separate supplement to the original settlement announced Monday, and was discreetly posted to the Justice Department website on Tuesday.

The White House directed Associated Press questions to the Justice Department, and the U.S. Treasury did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment.

Georgia Republicans will continue their internal competition as they advance toward a runoff to select their nominees for governor and U.S. Senate in the competitive state after Tuesday’s primary failed to determine clear winners.

The Senate runoff will include former college football coach Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins, while Rep. Buddy Carter was eliminated from contention. The victor will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the most scrutinized campaigns in the November midterm elections.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson proceeded to the runoff in the Republican gubernatorial primary, continuing their intense and costly campaign rivalry. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms secured the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.

With approximately one month remaining until the June 16 runoff, Republicans will invest additional time and resources competing internally before focusing on their Democratic challengers in crucial races.

Alabama will witness a repeat contest between two prominent gubernatorial candidates, while nominees from both major parties will advance to runoff elections next month for a vacant U.S. Senate position.

Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, comfortably secured their respective gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday, establishing their second direct competition after Tuberville defeated Jones six years ago.

Jones won election to the U.S. Senate in a special contest in 2017, though his tenure was brief in the strongly Republican state. He hopes voters’ dissatisfaction with their Republican-controlled government, including concerns about healthcare and increasing living costs, will drive him to another uncommon Democratic success in the Deep South.

Tuberville’s entry into the gubernatorial race sparked an intense Republican competition for a vacant Senate seat that will almost certainly remain Republican.

Trump achieved another victory Tuesday against a Republican opponent, defeating Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and removing one of his most vocal Capitol Hill critics.

Massie had proven especially problematic for Trump. He advocated for releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, opposed the Iran conflict and voted against Trump’s major tax legislation last year. He lost to Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein following the most costly U.S. House primary in history.

While Trump has achieved multiple victories this primary season, this particular win perhaps delivers an even stronger warning to the president’s Republican critics. Massie was firmly established in his solidly red Kentucky district before his conflict with Trump intensified, ending a congressional career that started in 2012.

Nevertheless, Massie will continue serving in Congress until his term concludes in January, and without a Republican primary ahead, he now possesses greater freedom than ever to challenge Trump.

NEW YORK — The Open Society Foundations announced Wednesday it will dedicate $300 million over the next five years to programs aimed at protecting democratic principles and promoting economic stability across the United States.

This commitment arrives during a period when the current administration has targeted the organization and its founder’s family, claiming they promote unrest and division. These criticisms represent part of a wider 2025 campaign by President Donald Trump and supporters to pressure nonprofit organizations and charitable donors through executive actions, funding restrictions, and investigation threats.

“We are continuing our work unabated. We will not be intimidated into silence,” said Laleh Ispahani, managing director for the U.S. at Open Society Foundations, when asked about the administration’s attacks on the Soros family.

Congressional supporters of the president have requested that the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Justice examine nonprofit groups they claim back domestic terrorism, unauthorized immigration, or environmental initiatives they oppose. Last December, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi directed law enforcement agencies to investigate organizations supporting antifa, which Trump has classified as a domestic terrorist movement.

A Justice Department representative declined to comment when asked whether the agency was examining Open Society, stating the department does not discuss ongoing investigations.

Over the past year, Ispahani explained that OSF has awarded grants to groups defending legal principles and challenging policies designed to discourage certain Americans from engaging in civic life. The organization’s updated approach seeks to enhance economic opportunities while strengthening civil rights protections, areas she believes are typically addressed separately instead of being recognized as interconnected issues.

The foundation plans to identify state-level policies protecting at-risk communities that could serve as models for other states, Ispahani noted, while also supporting measures that create economic fairness for working families.

“You can’t address the racial wealth gap without tackling core, working class economic issues like living wages, affordable child care and housing,” she said.

Of the total $300 million pledge, OSF has already allocated $20 million for this year to support organizations defending rights and legal standards through strategic court cases, nonprofit protection efforts, and government corruption monitoring initiatives.

This democracy-focused strategy marks the first new domestic program approved under Alex Soros, one of the founder’s sons, who has led a comprehensive reorganization of the foundations that included significant staff reductions.

“Guaranteed rights and freedoms are just as critical as broad economic prosperity and are the strongest defense we have against a closed society,” Alex Soros, chair of the Open Society Foundations, said in a statement. “Our new investments will tackle these twin challenges.”

The organization’s earlier U.S. democracy initiative invested at least $220 million in creating a diverse, interfaith coalition supporting democratic values, including five-year funding commitments to community organizations led by people of color and women.

Historically, major charitable foundations rarely considered supporting democracy work within the United States as part of their mission.

While charitable organizations cannot directly back political candidates or parties, they may fund various nonpartisan activities including voter registration drives, civic education programs, journalism, policy research, and government oversight work.

During the final years of President Barack Obama’s administration and throughout Trump’s initial presidency, large foundations began directing more resources toward democracy-related activities, according to research by Kristin Anne Goss, a professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

Using grant data from the nation’s largest 1,000 foundations, Goss discovered that among the biggest foundations, democracy-related giving as a share of total contributions rose substantially from 2013 to 2020. She noted these patterns indicate that some funders traditionally focused on areas like health and education began prioritizing democracy work.

David Wolcheck, lead data analyst for research at the nonprofit Candid, which monitors charitable giving, used different data sources but found foundation support for democracy activities increased threefold between 2016 and 2020, then declined by one-third the following year. He emphasized that additional research is necessary to understand these changes.

Many foundations explicitly state in their giving strategies that they aim to combat authoritarianism and advance social equity. These funds also include support for policies and organizations with varying values and different visions for America’s future, Goss observed.

However, she noted, “If you’re looking at these numbers and these trends, the vast, vast, vast majority of it is going toward a vision of society that is inclusive,” and supports the rule of law and civil liberties.

Several other major foundations have announced significant democracy-related commitments recently, though complete data on this type of giving will not be publicly available for several years.

According to Wolcheck’s research, the Ford Foundation ranks as the largest private and community foundation supporter of democracy work in the United States. Under new president Heather Gerken’s leadership, Ford Foundation stated it is “providing substantial funding to organizations across the political spectrum doing nonpartisan work to safeguard our democracy and protect the rule of law.”

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation committed $100 million over the past two years to protect voting and civil rights while improving democracy’s ability to serve people effectively. The Minnesota-based McKnight Foundation approved an additional $20 million from its endowment for 2026, with portions supporting efforts to increase civic engagement among people with diverse perspectives.

A separate initiative by the nonprofit Democracy Fund encourages philanthropic donors to support fair elections by funding relevant nonprofits before the end of April. This second “All by April” campaign responds to requests from nonpartisan voter registration and turnout organizations for early funding well ahead of Election Day. The campaign also recommends grants to shield nonprofits and their leadership from government intimidation and other exceptional threats.

The variety of these commitments demonstrates the dual challenge facing philanthropic donors: responding quickly to anti-democratic policies while providing sustained support for organizations working to expand political participation and improve governance.

The range of strategies may also reflect uncertainty about which approaches will effectively protect and strengthen democracy through nonpartisan funding.

“A lot of the things that they’re working on, especially around democracy, it’s really hard to measure impact,” Goss said of foundations. “Because they’re trying to intervene in things that are deep and long standing and often in the political sphere or having roots in the global economy and other huge, huge structures.”

WASHINGTON — An emerging group of Republican lawmakers is demonstrating increased independence from President Donald Trump’s legislative priorities.

Despite Trump’s continued strong support among Republican voters, this expanding faction of GOP members willing to oppose the White House could create obstacles for his policy goals ranging from Iran military operations to immigration spending, particularly given the party’s narrow congressional majorities.

Louisiana’s Sen. Bill Cassidy represents the latest addition to this group. Following his recent primary defeat to a candidate backed by Trump, Cassidy switched his position Tuesday on Iran war legislation, joining Democrats in supporting measures to limit U.S. military involvement.

“The way our Constitution is set up, Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” he told reporters the day before.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn might follow a similar path after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s opponent in next week’s Republican runoff election.

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie could be considered an original member of this independent-minded group, having clashed with Trump throughout the president’s first administration. His recent primary loss to a Trump-endorsed candidate has reinforced his willingness to oppose the president.

Massie has angered Trump by opposing his major tax and spending legislation and advocating for the Jeffrey Epstein files’ release.

He suggested more opposition is coming during his remaining time in office.

“I got seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.

Additional Republicans in similar positions include Sen. Thom Tillis, who strongly criticized former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has recently focused criticism on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Alaska’s Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats last week in attempting to limit Trump’s Iran war powers. Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins and Kentucky’s Sen. Mitch McConnell have opposed some of Trump’s Cabinet selections. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon has worked to restore congressional authority over tariffs.

“If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king,” Massie said in his Tuesday concession speech.

This development doesn’t represent a resurrection of the Never Trump movement that some Republicans unsuccessfully hoped would limit the president’s actions during his first term or prevent his return to office. Many party members, including occasional Trump critics, have either supported or failed to stop the president as he initiated the Iran war and oversaw aggressive immigration enforcement and federal workforce reductions.

These unrestrained Republicans don’t share a common ideology. However, they share a boldness that can only emerge in specific circumstances within Trump’s Washington.

Many, including Tillis, McConnell and Bacon, have announced retirement plans and can vote without concern for future Republican primary challenges. Others like Collins and Murkowski enjoy greater freedom because their states tend to value political independence. Some like Massie believed voters could support both Trump and someone who occasionally opposed him.

This creates a challenge for Trump. As he demands complete loyalty and removes Republican dissidents, he’s creating a growing group who, for various reasons, have no obligations to Trump.

This situation could prove problematic for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who already work with extremely narrow majorities. Even small shifts in Republican loyalty could significantly complicate either chamber’s ability to pass major legislation before November’s midterm elections.

Upcoming challenges may emerge this week as Thune advances funding legislation for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol designed to pass along party lines.

Democrats are prepared to capitalize on these divisions.

At a Tuesday Washington event hosted by the Center for American Progress, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced plans to create divisions among Republicans using discharge petitions to bring issues directly to floor votes.

This strategy has succeeded in securing House approval on various issues from the Epstein files to temporary Haitian immigrant protections.

“When we’re disciplined and when we’re focused and when we put pressure in particular on the so-called swing seat Republicans, they have been breaking with us,” Jeffries said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters Tuesday that Trump’s endorsement of Cornyn’s opponent demonstrates his political influence remains limited to the Republican base rather than the broader American public.

“He’s showed the only influence he has, and that’s an outsize influence within the base of the party,” the potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender told reporters in Washington. “Otherwise he’s shown little to no influence with the American people.”

This situation leaves Republicans calculating how to gather necessary votes for legislation passage.

North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven called Cassidy a “good friend” and described the loss as “tough for him.” He said Cassidy “will always vote in line with what he thinks is best” but expressed doubt he would become a less dependable Republican vote.

His Louisiana colleague, Sen. John Kennedy, said Cassidy uses power “rationally and maturely” and “will continue to do the same thing.”

Cassidy has consistently rejected suggestions that he will spend his final Washington months as a Trump troublemaker, stating he plans to do “what’s good for my country and my state.”

However, the independent approach that concluded his political career has quickly reemerged. Following Trump’s China visit, Cassidy discussed a western alliance that’s “totally falling apart” and will be unable to “push back on the threat China represents.” He appeared surprised by the administration’s creation of a nearly $1.8 trillion fund to compensate Trump allies they believe have been unfairly investigated and prosecuted.

“I just came off the campaign trail,” he said. “People are concerned about making their own ends meet, not about putting a slush fund together without a legal precedent.”

Opponents of reproductive rights have launched a court challenge against Ohio’s recently approved abortion amendment, claiming the measure’s passage violated proper constitutional procedures. The legal action contends that Ohio’s state constitution requires a constitutional convention to implement this type of amendment, rather than allowing it to pass through direct voter ratification alone.

Janet Porter from Faith To Action shared with LifeSite News that a successful outcome in Ohio’s case might encourage comparable legal challenges in additional states across the country.

Legal experts are raising concerns about the Supreme Court’s inconsistent handling of voting map disputes, noting that recent rulings have consistently favored Republican interests while applying election timing rules unevenly.

The nation’s highest court last December allowed Texas to proceed with new voting districts that help Republicans, citing concerns about a lower court blocking the maps “on the eve of an election.” However, the primary elections were still four months away and the general election was nearly a year off.

The court referenced the Purcell principle, a legal concept from two decades ago stating that courts should avoid altering voting procedures too close to elections to prevent voter confusion.

However, this month the court permitted Louisiana and Alabama to implement Republican-friendly maps that redraw their House districts, even though in-person voting was about to start and thousands of mail-in ballots had already been submitted.

The court’s seemingly contradictory use of the Purcell principle has resulted in outcomes that benefit Republicans each time, as the party works to maintain congressional control in November’s midterm elections.

These decisions have led some legal scholars to question the motivations of the conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority.

“I’ll just say that the Purcell principle is not really a principle anymore, at least if we think ‘principle’ means it is going to be consistently applied,” said University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas.

“Cynics would say this is politics all the way down,” Douglas continued, “and there’s evidence of that given that the court seems to be letting Republican-controlled states implement new maps when previously it had stopped lower court rulings against some of those maps.”

However, not all legal experts see contradiction in the court’s actions.

University of Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller argued the recent rulings share a common theme: reinstating state legislative decisions that lower courts had blocked. While the cases may create election uncertainty due to timing, Muller said this isn’t because the court changed rules.

“It’s because the court has stepped back and allowed the legislature to act,” Muller explained.

The Purcell principle stems from a 2006 case where the Supreme Court removed a judicial block on an Arizona voter-identification law that a lower court had stopped 33 days before midterm elections.

Some legal experts argue that what started as a simple principle of judicial restraint in election cases has been manipulated by conservative justices to benefit Republicans. These experts say the court’s recent actions have created the impression that political outcomes, rather than legal principles, drive decisions.

During redistricting, legislative district boundaries nationwide are redrawn to reflect population changes from the national census every decade. State legislatures traditionally handle this process at each decade’s beginning.

In the current unusual mid-decade redistricting battle, Republicans have gained a clear advantage, strengthened by recent Supreme Court decisions.

Following urging from the former president, Republican-controlled Texas redrew its electoral map last year attempting to flip five Democratic-held House seats. Democratic-led California responded by reconfiguring its map to target five Republican-held seats. Multiple other states then joined the redistricting fight.

Democrats faced a setback when the Supreme Court last month weakened a key section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, allowing Republican-led Southern states to eliminate Democratic-held majority-Black and majority-Latino districts before November’s elections. Black and Latino voters typically support Democratic candidates.

In its 6-3 decision with conservative justices in the majority and liberal justices dissenting, the Supreme Court eliminated one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black House districts. The ruling came on April 29, three days before early voting was scheduled to begin for Louisiana’s May 16 primary.

UCLA law professor Richard Hasen, who created the term “Purcell principle” a decade ago, said the Louisiana ruling’s timing indicates the Supreme Court isn’t particularly concerned about preventing electoral disruption under this legal concept.

“The court issued the opinion as people were voting, knowing it was going to lead to this frenzy,” Hasen observed. “If the court was actually concerned about upsetting election rules on the eve of an election, it would either have issued (it) earlier or later.”

Four Republican-led Southern states – Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina – responded by quickly dismantling several House districts with large Black populations before the midterms.

The Supreme Court’s treatment of Alabama’s voting map redistricting may represent the clearest example of its uneven approach.

In January 2022, a federal court prevented Alabama from using a Republican-drawn map that the court determined illegally denied Black voters an additional House district where they would form a majority or near-majority, likely violating the Voting Rights Act.

The following month, the Supreme Court decided this disputed voting map, which benefits Republicans, must stay in place to avoid disrupting the primary election scheduled more than three months later.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion joined by fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito, said the election was too close to permit map changes.

“When an election is close at hand,” Kavanaugh wrote, “the rules of the road must be clear and settled.”

Four years later, the court’s conservatives appear to have disregarded those concerns. On May 11, eight days before Alabama’s scheduled primaries, they allowed the state to return to that same map, removing a judicial order that had blocked its implementation. The Supreme Court offered no explanation for its decision.

Republican Governor Kay Ivey immediately delayed the scheduled primaries for four House districts whose boundaries change under the map, effectively nullifying votes already cast in those races.

Loyola Marymount University law professor Justin Levitt said conservative justices seem to have replaced the Purcell principle’s broad requirement for judicial restraint with a new approach: “When we like what’s happening, we rule.”

“I am not quick to accuse the court of indulging purely partisan leanings, but man, oh man, they’re making it real difficult to try and figure out what they’re doing, if not that,” said Levitt, who worked as a White House adviser on democracy and voting rights under the previous Democratic administration.

Some confusion around the court’s Purcell principle decisions may result from these rulings being issued under the court’s emergency docket, or “shadow docket.” In such instances, the court responds to emergency requests, often without providing legal reasoning.

“Part of the problem with the Purcell principle is that it’s never been fully explained in a majority opinion,” Hasen noted. “There’s no hard-and-fast rule.”

A fresh survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows President Donald Trump facing declining support among Republicans regarding his economic policies, though his party continues backing him during the ongoing Iran conflict.

The poll indicates roughly 6 out of 10 Republicans now support Trump’s economic approach, marking a significant drop from approximately 8 out of 10 who backed him in February before the Iranian war started.

The survey emerges as the Iranian conflict drives up fuel costs while both nations work toward establishing a lasting ceasefire. Trump’s influence within the GOP remains robust, evidenced Tuesday when his endorsed candidate beat Rep. Thomas Massie, a Trump opponent, in a primary race. These results underscore Trump’s enduring Republican Party influence despite mounting economic concerns.

Ariel Gutierrez, a 55-year-old Republican from Wisconsin, typically makes his teenage kids cover their own fuel expenses. However, with soaring gas prices, he’s now assisting his 15-year-old who’s learning to drive.

“The whole Iran issue has just exacerbated it,” he said. “Maybe we were seeing it in groceries before, but now — with this push on gas and travel and all that — that is how people want to live the leisure part of their lives … and it is directly impacting us there now. And yes, that is, I believe from Trump’s policies, not from his predecessors.”

Beyond his core supporters, Trump faces widespread disapproval. Most Americans reject Trump’s Iran strategy and foreign policy approach. His general approval rating in the latest survey reaches 37%, rising modestly from 33% in April. Nearly every Democrat opposes his presidential performance, along with roughly 7 out of 10 independents.

Approximately one-third of American adults support Trump’s economic management. This matches an AP-NORC survey from late April but represents a slight decline from his second term’s beginning, when 40% of adults approved.

Economic policy served as Trump’s advantage during his initial presidency, yet he’s faced skepticism about his economic leadership since returning to office last year, despite repeated pledges to lower costs. His second-term economic ratings have particularly declined among Republicans. Though a majority at 63% still approve, this falls from 79% in February, weeks before the Iranian conflict commenced.

Richard Baumgartner, a 77-year-old Republican from Las Vegas, views increased expenses as an unavoidable consequence of the war he endorses.

“Unfortunately, because of the war, the economy is a little bit off kilter,” Baumgartner said. “I think it’ll fall back into place after things resolve over there. Temporary price increases — it’s unfortunate, but it’s something that has to be confronted in a situation like this where you have a very serious problem.”

Though economic pledges proved crucial to Trump’s reelection, his stricter immigration enforcement goals were equally important — and this area may be regaining strength as a political asset.

Immigration became one of Trump’s early second-term advantages, with roughly half of Americans supporting his methods, but approval dropped to 38% in January and February following months of intensive immigration enforcement that resulted in two U.S. citizens being fatally shot in Minneapolis.

Currently, slightly under half of American adults, 45%, support his immigration policies.

Brenda Theiss, an independent from Cullman, Alabama, doesn’t approve of all Trump’s actions. However, she credits him for willingly disrupting established patterns to decrease illegal immigration compared to Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

“I liked Obama; I voted for Obama — but Trump was the only one that did something. All of the other presidents sat back and went, ‘Well there’s nothing we can do,’” the 73-year-old said. “He’s closing the border. He did it. Biden didn’t do it. For that, I give him one hundred.”

Recent months have seen the Trump administration seemingly adjust its immigration strategy, shifting away from aggressive, highly visible tactics toward more discreet enforcement methods.

Immigration continues as one of Trump’s stronger areas among Republicans. Roughly 8 out of 10 support his immigration policies, approximately 10 points above those who rate his overall presidential performance positively.

Trump’s management of the Iranian war remains widely unpopular.

Only about one-third of American adults support Trump’s Iran approach. Approximately two-thirds of Republicans approve, though last month’s AP-NORC survey found younger Republicans more likely than older ones to disapprove of Trump’s Iran performance.

Similarly, about one-third of Americans endorse Trump’s foreign policy approach. Despite Trump focusing on more assertive international strategies this year — including capturing the leader of Venezuela and threatening Cuba — Americans’ overall foreign policy opinions haven’t changed substantially in recent months.

Amanda Wylie, a 22-year-old who lives in Athens, Georgia, says Iran represents one of the few areas where Trump lacks her support.

“I feel like we’re wasting resources over there at this point and not for the benefit of the American people,” said Wylie, who identifies as a Republican-leaning independent. “Especially if everyone is worried about gas prices and the ultimate goal of this is to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Yes, that’s important, but at what cost?”

The AP-NORC survey of 1,117 adults was conducted May 14-18 using a sample from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all adults is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

Food assistance programs nationwide are undergoing significant modifications as various states implement substantial policy changes. These adjustments are creating considerable difficulties for individuals who depend on these benefits.

The widespread implementation of these new policies is affecting recipients across multiple states, with many experiencing challenges in accessing the food assistance they rely on. Advocacy organizations are closely monitoring how these changes impact vulnerable populations.

Ty Jones Cox from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has been providing insight into the situation as states continue rolling out these major program adjustments. The organization is tracking the effects on families and individuals who depend on food assistance benefits.

The policy modifications represent a significant shift in how food assistance programs operate, with recipients having to navigate new requirements and procedures as states phase in the changes.