Ballroom won’t be funded after Senate GOP drops $1 billion Trump security request

Multiple Republican senators objected to sending taxpayer dollars to the president’s East Wing revamp.

RFK Jr. fires two leaders of preventive services task force

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has fired two of the leaders of an influential panel that determines which preventive medical services insurers must cover for free. Kennedy dismissed vice chairs John Wong and Esa Davis from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Raskin introduces bill to block Trump's $1.776B after GOP shoots down effort to subpoena Blanche

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, introduced a bill Wednesday to bar the Justice Department's (DOJ) new $1.776 billion compensation fund to be used for payouts to those who claim to have faced weaponization at the hands of the

Platner holds 7 point lead over Collins in new Maine Senate poll

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is leading Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the race for her seat by 7 points, according to a new poll. In the Pan Atlantic Research poll, 48 percent of likely voters said they back Platner in a hypothetical matchup, while 41

Trump: 'We have Cuba on our mind'

President Trump on Wednesday told reporters that the administration has Cuba “on our mind” following the Justice Department's charging of former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder. “It’s very important,” Trump said. “It was a very big moment for people, not only Cuban

Watch live: Doug Collins testifies before Senate on VA budget request

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will testify before a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee panel on President Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the department. The White House is seeking $144 billion in discretionary funding for the Veterans Affairs Department

Lawmakers scrutinize sportsbooks, prediction markets at testy hearing

Senators from both parties peppered officials from the gaming and prediction market industries with questions about their aggressive marketing strategies, integrity-monitoring practices and efforts to protect consumer safety during a sometimes testy hearing on Wednesday. The

US military boards Iranian-flagged oil tanker in Gulf of Oman

The U.S. military on Wednesday boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman suspected of trying to violate the U.S. naval blockade by sailing toward an Iranian port. The Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, which sailed under

'Normalized' partisanship, government shutdowns raise risks for aviation

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), the CEO of Airlines for America, on Wednesday warned about the impact on American aviation caused by partisanship and government shutdowns, with the latter seemingly becoming more frequent. "This is the

Mamdani rebuffs Bezos comment on raising taxes

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) pushed back on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Wednesday after the billionaire businessman claimed that increasing his tax contributions would not “help that teacher in Queens.” “I know a few teachers in Queens who would beg to differ,” the

Trump Gives Banks Ridiculous Order as Immigration Crackdown Ramps Up

Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will require U.S. banks to take a closer look at their clients’ citizenship details. The Tuesday order , titled “Restoring Integrity To America’s Financial System,” directs bank regulators and the government agencies to look into

James Murdoch buying half of Vox Media, including New York magazine

James Murdoch's media company is buying half of Vox Media, a purchase that will include New York magazine, Vox’s digital site and Vox Media Podcast Network, Vox Media announced on Wednesday. James Murdoch is the son of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, whose companies,

House GOP cancels war powers vote

County commission in Las Vegas approves Flavor Flav's request for parade honoring female athletes

A county commission in Las Vegas is giving the go-ahead to Flavor Flav to organize a parade and multi-day series of events in honor of female athletes. The 67-year-old rapper, who was born William Drayton, had personally pitched the idea for a "SHE Weekend" of events — poised

Democrats Move to Force Republicans on the Record on Trump Slush Fund

Democrats are moving quickly to force congressional votes on President Donald Trump’s ridiculously corrupt slush fund. After Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS resulted in the creation of a $1.8 billion pool of taxpayer money for him to essentially dole out to his

Transcript: Georgia May Elect America’s First Black Woman Governor

This is a lightly edited transcript of the May 20 edition of Right Now With Perry Bacon. You can watch the video here or by following this show on YouTube or Substack . This episode is part of Right Now ’s ongoing coverage of the midterm elections. Other recent episodes have

FDA vape guidance could endanger children, contradicting MAHA goals

When people inside your own administration are walking away over a policy, that tells you this isn’t just routine disagreement. This is a major fight over what public health is supposed to mean.

This Georgian Might Become America’s First Black Woman Governor

You can watch this episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon above or by following this show on YouTube or Substack . Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms overwhelmingly won the gubernatorial Democratic primary in Georgia on Tuesday, avoiding a runoff. If she wins in November,

Mace unveils amendment limiting Congress, judges to natural-born citizens

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is proposing a constitutional amendment that would prohibit foreign-born U.S. citizens from serving in Congress, becoming federal judges or holding Senate-confirmed positions. In a Wednesday statement shared to social platform X, Mace said she

Fed only crumbs: Children say man tortured, sexually abused them in Indiana basement

The man reportedly snapped a kitten's neck in front of the children, according to police.

Barry Moore and Jared Hudson head to runoff in Alabama GOP Senate primary

Hudson’s late surge helped him overcome Attorney General Steve Marshall, who fell short despite his long experience in local elected office.

TikTok star charged in LA murder-for-hire plot targeting boy band singer

A social media influencer, her father and one-time boyfriend have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting a popular singer who she shares a child with.

At least 25 Trader Joe's stores expected to open this year: Here's where

America's favorite grocery store (at least according to a recent study) is experiencing a growth spurt.

DOJ indicts former Cuban president; Trump breaks with Federalist Society: Join the live discussion

President Trump publicly broke with The Federalist Society — but are Trump’s second-term judge selections really any different? Plus, the Justice Department increasingly eyes legal action against powerful individuals outside the bounds of U.S. borders. What's next as the focus

Read: DOJ's indictment of Raúl Castro

The Justice Department indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro on murder charges Wednesday, a move that coincides with Cuba's Independence Day and a threat from President Trump that he could invade the island. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche joined prosecutors in South

Shirtless fans become 'Tarps Off' stars at baseball stadiums

Joining in on the fun is simple: Go to the section where the party is happening, take off your shirt and start twirling it above your head.

Speaker Johnson says Massie was a ‘thorn in my side for a long time’

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) celebrated Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) defeat in the Kentucky GOP primary, calling the fellow GOP lawmaker a “thorn in my side for a long time.” “I have nothing personal against Thomas Massie, but he votes with the Democrats a lot of the time and

Raúl Castro charged with murder by Justice Department amid Trump threat to invade Cuba

The Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder Wednesday, a move that coincides with the country's independence day and a threat from President Trump to invade the island. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche traveled to

DOJ Indicts Former Cuban President as Trump Ratchets Up Pressure

The U.S. government indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro in federal court Wednesday for his alleged role in shooting down planes belonging to Cuban exiles in 1996. Castro, 94, and five others were charged in Miami with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, four counts of

Anthropic and OpenAI take their beef to the midterm elections

Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge subscribers about the car crashes piling up on a daily basis at the Washington-based intersection of technology and politics. If you're not a subscriber, sign up for our fine editorial enterprise today, especially as we

Thune: Trump’s targeting of Senate parliamentarian is ‘concerning’

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said that President Trump’s harsh attacks on Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough are “concerning” if those salvos could make the Senate rules-keeper a political target and pose a security risk. Thune dismissed Trump’s call for

Longtime Trump ally Michael Caputo files first known ‘anti-weaponization’ fund claim

Michael Caputo, a longtime ally of President Trump who worked in his first administration, became the first known person to seek compensation from the Justice Department’s (DOJ) newly created “anti-weaponization” fund on Tuesday. The former Department of Health and Human

Watch live: House Democrats speak amid redistricting, funding battles

House Democratic leaders will brief reporters Wednesday afternoon following a closed-door meeting as the party seeks to gain control of the lower chamber in November. Their remarks come as the redistricting battle heats up across the country for both parties — and in light of

Lawsuit alleges South Carolina committee violated debate rules during redistricting hearing

A Tuesday lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina and the state chapter of the League of Women Voters says lawmakers in the Palmetto State violated debate rules by failing to notify the public of a meeting where elected officials discussed

House adopts changes to landmark housing bill, sending it back to Senate

The House on Wednesday passed a resolution to make changes to a Senate-passed landmark housing bill, sending it back to the upper chamber where its future is unclear. The lower chamber passed the measure by a vote of 396-13, with all the votes against coming from Republicans.

To win in 2026 midterms, GOP must keep fighting to lower cost of living

Republicans must focus on lowering the cost of living for Americans, offering policies that reduce government interference and promote economic freedom, in order to retain their majorities in the 2026 midterm elections.

Trump Attacks Senate Parliamentarian in Crazed Demand for Voter ID Law

The president has turned his aim against the Senate parliamentarian amid his broiling quarrel with the Republican Party. Donald Trump publicly lashed out against Elizabeth MacDonough Wednesday, writing on Truth Social that the upper chamber’s nonpartisan adviser should be

Jan. 6 officers sue Trump over 'anti-weaponization fund'

Two police officers who fended off rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block President Trump's nearly $1.8 billion fund set to bankroll purported victims of "weaponization." Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and D.C.

Iran: War will spread beyond Middle East if US attacks

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday directly warned the U.S. and Israel that any new attack on Tehran would lead to a conflict that spreads beyond the Middle East. The statement, reported by Iranian State media, claims the regime did not expend its full arsenal

Watch live: Blanche speaks as DOJ expected to indict ex-Cuban leader Raúl Castro

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Florida prosecutors will give remarks from Miami on Wednesday afternoon as the Justice Department is expected to announce the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro. The proposed charges are linked to an incident in 1996 when

Sununu: Spirit Airlines closure was a lesson to approve mergers when 'somebody is putting up a red flag'

Airlines for America CEO and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Wednesday said the closure of Spirit Airlines was a lesson to allow business mergers when "somebody is putting up a red flag." Spirit shut down earlier this month after the airline and the Trump

Democrats question Trump admin on DOJ compensation fund for Trump allies: 'Brazen ... public corruption'

House Democrats are pressing the Trump administration for answers on a nearly $2 billion compensation fund for Americans who believe they have been wronged by the federal government, calling it “one of the most brazen acts of public corruption and self-dealing” in the country’s

Speaker Johnson says he's 'not surprised' by Massie's loss in Kentucky GOP primary

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday that he was “not surprised” by Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) loss in the Kentucky GOP primary, arguing that President Trump’s endorsement is the “most powerful in the history of politics.” Massie, a vocal Trump critic who has served in

Republicans learn a lesson: Don’t cross Trump

Presented by Tokyo Electron {beacon} PRESENTED BY In today's issue: It’s Wednesday. The weather for Memorial Day weekend looks crummy for much of the U.S. this year. See if that stops me from celebrating properly! 🍦🎆 Trump dominates Tuesday primaries Massie goes down to

Washington's Persian Gulf strategy has become a dependency trap

The U.S. has placed its Gulf partners in a dependency trap, making the region more dangerous while remaining the only power capable of defending them, and Washington must address the cost-exchange asymmetry, reduce the conditionality of its guarantee, or acknowledge that it is

Trump approval dips to 35 percent as GOP support slips: Survey

President Trump’s approval rating is well under water amid his administration’s war against Iran, according to a new survey, with more Republicans expressing discontent with his economic policies. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday found that only 35 percent of

Jan. 6 Police Officers Sue Trump Over His $1.8 Billion Slush Fund

Police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, 2021, are suing the Trump administration over its creation of a $1.776 billion slush fund for President Trump’s allies who claim they were unfairly targeted. The lawsuit , filed by former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn

Trump attacks Senate parliamentarian, argues GOP must play hard-ball

President Trump on Wednesday attacked the Senate parliamentarian, accusing her of issuing reviews of Senate rules that have treated Republicans unfairly and calling for Republicans to end the filibuster. Trump suggested that Republicans should have forced out the

GOP preparing to strip out ballroom security funding

Trump administration set to indict Raúl Castro, former Cuban president

The Justice Department plans to indict former Cuban President Raúl Castro Wednesday, a move that coincides with the island’s independence day and a threat from President Trump to invade the island. NewsNation, the Hill’s sister network, confirmed the Justice Department plans to