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May 29, 2026

Federal Judge Blocks Trump's $1.8B 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund Payouts

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema (E.D. Va., Clinton appointee) issued a temporary injunction on May 29, 2026 blocking the Justice Department from transferring money to, accepting claims for, or disbursing any funds from the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" created by the Trump DOJ. A hearing to decide whether to extend the block is scheduled for June 12, 2026. The fund, announced by then-Acting AG Todd Blanche in mid-May 2026, was created to compensate people the administration claimed were targeted by the Biden DOJ — including many January 6 defendants who had assaulted law enforcement. It drew immediate and unusually fierce bipartisan backlash in Congress, with Republican senators including Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, and Ted Cruz joining Democrats in condemning it as a "slush fund" to pay "cop beaters." Cruz described a closed Senate briefing with Blanche as one of the "roughest meetings" of his Senate tenure, with "at least half" of Republicans "blasting the attorney general." The court ruling was welcomed by Democrats who called it a critical check on what they described as an unprecedented abuse of taxpayer funds. The DOJ said it was "extremely confident in the legality" of the fund and vowed to fight the injunction.

anti-weaponization fund

Bondi Testifies on Epstein Files, Blames Blanche for Redaction Errors

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight Committee on May 29, 2026 for a closed-door transcribed interview on the DOJ's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bondi defended the administration's record, acknowledged "redaction errors," and deflected blame to then-Deputy AG Todd Blanche, saying she had delegated oversight of the document review to him. Democrats fumed over the format — the interview was unsworn, not filmed, and conducted behind closed doors, with DOJ attorneys intervening to block questions about Bondi's conversations with President Trump. Ranking Member Robert Garcia called it "a cover-up" and announced plans to subpoena Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. Chairman James Comer said he still wants all remaining documents released. The testimony came after months of standoffs: Bondi initially defied a congressional subpoena, then agreed to the interview only on the administration's terms. Democrats argued that having DOJ lawyers present and blocking questions about Trump made the session effectively meaningless.

Federal Judge Allows Trump's Mail-In Voting Executive Order to Stand

On May 28, 2026, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols — a Trump appointee in Washington, D.C. — declined to temporarily block President Trump's March 31 executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to build citizenship lists for mail ballot eligibility. Nichols ruled it was premature to block the order because it has not yet been implemented. The executive order directs DHS to compile lists of confirmed adult U.S. citizens in each state, with the U.S. Postal Service then delivering mail ballots only to verified citizens. Democrats and voting rights groups sued immediately, arguing the order risks disenfranchising millions of lawfully registered voters because the underlying data can be outdated or contain errors. A parallel legal challenge filed by a coalition of Democratic-led states is pending before U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston, who was scheduled to hear arguments June 2. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led Democratic condemnation of both the order and the ruling.

Democrats Introduce Bill to Block Trump's 250-Foot Triumphal Arch in DC

In late May 2026, approximately two dozen House Democrats introduced the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act to block federal funding for President Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. The bill, led by Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), argues the project violates the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional approval for new memorials on federal land in Washington, D.C. Trump officials have argued they do not need congressional authorization because Congress authorized a similar structure more than a century ago. A Trump-packed Commission of Fine Arts approved a modified design on May 21, 2026, despite more than 600 public comments submitted — 99.5% in opposition. The project has drawn criticism from historic preservation groups including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the DC Preservation League. Republicans including Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) have defended the arch as a sign of the administration's commitment to classical architecture. With Republicans controlling Congress, the Democratic bill faces long odds of passage.

Ken Paxton Defeats Sen. John Cornyn in Texas GOP Primary Runoff

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton crushed four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn 64%-36% in the May 26, 2026 Republican primary runoff — the widest primary defeat of a sitting U.S. senator in nearly five decades. Trump had endorsed Paxton one week before the vote, overriding his own Senate leadership's backing of Cornyn. Senate Majority Leader Thune immediately called on Republicans to "pivot" to supporting Paxton, while Democrat James Talarico, who will face Paxton in November, declared him "the most corrupt politician in America."

South Carolina Senate Rejects Trump's Redistricting Push, Saving Clyburn's Seat

On May 26, 2026, the South Carolina state Senate rejected President Trump's push to redraw congressional maps before the midterm elections, preserving Rep. Jim Clyburn's majority-Black district. Twelve Republican state senators joined Democrats to defeat cloture on a special session called by Gov. Henry McMaster, citing that early voting had already begun with record turnout. The failed redistricting attempt would have dismantled Clyburn's 6th district — held by the longtime Democratic congressman for over three decades — in an attempt to give Republicans an additional House seat ahead of the midterms. Republican state senators who broke ranks cited concerns about the rushed timeline, the fact that voters were already casting ballots, and the outsized role of Washington consultants in driving the process. The outcome was a significant bipartisan rebuke of Trump's aggressive redistricting campaign, and leaves more than a dozen Congressional Black Caucus members' districts potentially vulnerable in other states where similar efforts continue.

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