Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

May 22, 2026

House Republicans Cancel Iran War Powers Vote, Shielding Trump from Rebuke

House Republican leaders abruptly canceled a scheduled May 22 vote on a war powers resolution that would have compelled President Trump to withdraw from the war with Iran, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat it. A previous House vote on a similar measure ended 212-212 with three Republicans crossing over in favor. Democrats erupted on the floor — Rep. Jim McGovern delivered a fiery speech calling Republicans cowardly — and the vote is now expected to be rescheduled for June after recess.

DOJ Indicts Raúl Castro; Trump Threatens Military Action Against Cuba

On May 20, 2026, the Justice Department unsealed a superseding indictment charging former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five Cuban regime co-defendants with murder and conspiracy for ordering the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft over international waters, killing four people including three U.S. citizens. The announcement came as the USS Nimitz carrier strike group arrived in the Caribbean, and President Trump threatened he would be "the one" to intervene in Cuba. Democrats Kaine, Schiff, and Gallego responded by reintroducing a war powers resolution to block unauthorized military action.

Government Drops All Tax Claims Against Trump in Expanded IRS Settlement

A one-page settlement document posted to the DOJ website on May 19, 2026 reveals the U.S. government is "forever barred and precluded" from examining or prosecuting President Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization on their current tax issues. The provision dramatically broadens the prior day's IRS lawsuit settlement — going far beyond Trump merely dropping his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS to the government permanently surrendering its own enforcement rights against Trump's taxes. Democrats called it unprecedented self-dealing; one Republican, Sen. Ron Johnson, backed it.

Republicans Push Second Reconciliation Bill; Medicaid Cuts Spark GOP Revolt

With the 2025 "One Big Beautiful Bill" already cutting ~$1 trillion from Medicaid, House Republicans and Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham pushed in early 2026 for a second reconciliation package focused on immigration enforcement funding. But a bloc of GOP senators — Collins, Murkowski, Moran, Hawley — warned against further Medicaid cuts, especially to rural hospitals. The bill stalled in May 2026 amid Republican infighting.

Trump Defeats Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky GOP Primary

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics, was defeated 55-45 by Trump-endorsed Navy SEAL veteran Ed Gallrein in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District primary on May 20, 2026. The race — the most expensive House primary in U.S. history at over $32 million spent — was widely seen as a referendum on Trump's hold over the Republican Party, coming after Massie broke with the president on Iran, the "One Big Beautiful Bill," and the Epstein files. The result continued Trump's successful primary purge campaign, following prior victories over Sen. Bill Cassidy and five Indiana state senators.

Senate Republicans Advance $72 Billion ICE and CBP Reconciliation Bill

Senate Republicans advanced a nearly $72 billion budget reconciliation package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement ($38.2B) and Customs and Border Protection ($26B) through FY2029, plus $1 billion for White House security upgrades. The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved its portion 8-7 on May 19, 2026, followed by the Budget Committee advancing the bill 11-10 on May 20, clearing it for a Senate floor vote before the planned June 2 recess. The package — the largest immigration enforcement funding proposal in U.S. history — advances via reconciliation, requiring only 51 votes and bypassing a Democratic filibuster.

Senate Advances Iran War Powers Resolution 50-47 in Historic First

The Senate voted 50-47 on May 19, 2026 to advance a war powers resolution directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran — the first time such a measure succeeded after seven prior failed attempts. Four Republicans crossed party lines: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Bill Cassidy (who flipped after losing his Louisiana GOP primary). Sen. John Fetterman was the lone Democrat to oppose. The resolution must still pass a final vote and clear the House before reaching President Trump, who is expected to veto.

Moody's Strips U.S. of Last AAA Credit Rating

On May 16, 2026, Moody's downgraded the U.S. government's long-term credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, becoming the last of the three major credit agencies to strip the U.S. of its top-tier rating (following S&P in 2011 and Fitch in 2023). Moody's cited over a decade of growing federal deficits, rising debt-to-GDP projections reaching 134% by 2035, and repeated failures by successive administrations and Congress to address the fiscal trajectory. The downgrade came as Congress debated the "One Big Beautiful Bill" reconciliation package, sending the 30-year Treasury yield surging past 5%.

Senate Confirms Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair in Closest Vote in Modern Era

The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as Chairman of the Federal Reserve on May 13, 2026, in a 54-45 vote — the narrowest margin for a Fed chair in the modern era of Senate confirmations (since 1977). Warsh replaces Jerome Powell, whose term expires May 15. The confirmation came in two steps: the Senate first confirmed Warsh as a Fed Board Governor (51-45) on May 12, then as Chairman (54-45) on May 13. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to cross the aisle in both votes; Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) voted yes on the governor confirmation but not the chair vote. President Trump has repeatedly pressured the Fed to lower interest rates and once declared that "anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman." Democrats warned the confirmation would give Trump effective control over the central bank. Warsh pledged at his April 2026 hearing to be "an independent actor" and said the president never asked him to commit to any specific rate decision.

House Discharge Petition Forces Ukraine Aid Vote, Bypassing Speaker Johnson

A discharge petition introduced by Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY) reached the required 218 signatures on May 13, 2026, forcing a House floor vote on the Ukraine Support Act (H.R. 2913) — bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson, who had blocked the legislation. The bill would authorize $1.3 billion in military aid and other assistance to Ukraine, up to $8 billion in loans, and impose new sanctions on Russia. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) provided the decisive 218th signature. All 215 House Democrats signed, joined by Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Don Bacon (NE). The vote is expected to be scheduled for early June. Even if the bill passes the House, it faces significant headwinds in the Republican-controlled Senate and from the White House. The development marks the sixth successful discharge petition of the 119th Congress — an extraordinary number for a maneuver that had succeeded only a handful of times in the previous quarter-century.

Trump Forces Out FDA Commissioner Marty Makary After 13 Months

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary resigned on May 12, 2026 after President Trump signed off on his ouster — ending a turbulent 13-month tenure marked by conflicts with the White House, anti-abortion groups, and the vaping industry. Makary was caught in crossfire from multiple directions: Trump was furious that Makary tried to block FDA approval of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, citing their appeal to children. Anti-abortion groups including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America demanded his removal for slow-walking a safety review of the abortion pill mifepristone. Pharmaceutical industry allies were also critical of his leadership style. Trump praised Makary as a "wonderful man" who would "lead a good life." Kyle Diamantas, the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Food, was named acting FDA chief pending a permanent replacement requiring Senate confirmation. Democrats praised Makary as someone who resisted White House pressure on vaping, while several Republican senators — unhappy about the mifepristone delay — welcomed his departure and called for a more explicitly pro-life successor.

Trump and Xi Hold High-Stakes Beijing Summit; China Warns Over Taiwan

President Trump traveled to Beijing on May 13-14, 2026 for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — the first U.S. presidential state visit to China in years. Xi placed Taiwan at the center of talks, calling it "the most important issue" and warning that if it is "mishandled," the two countries "will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy." The two leaders agreed on a framework for "constructive strategic stability," that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, and that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons. Trade, tariffs, AI, and rare earths were also on the agenda. A major pre-summit flashpoint: Trump had not formally notified Congress of a $14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan that Congress pre-approved in January 2025. A bipartisan group of eight senators — led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) — sent Trump a letter urging him to proceed with the sale. A second bipartisan letter, led by Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Curtis (R-UT), urged Secretary Rubio to reaffirm U.S. commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.

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