Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Jun 5, 2026

Senate Passes $70 Billion ICE and Border Patrol Funding Bill 52-47

The Senate voted 52-47 early on June 5, 2026 to pass a $70 billion immigration enforcement package funding ICE ($38.6B) and Customs and Border Protection ($26B) through the end of the Trump administration. The bill also includes a $5 billion DHS enforcement allocation and a $1.776 billion DOJ "anti-weaponization" settlement fund that had sparked weeks of internal Republican backlash. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote against the bill, which all Democrats opposed. The final vote came just before 5 a.m. after a 19-hour session that saw Republicans defeat multiple Democratic and GOP amendments to eliminate the settlement fund. The bill now heads to the House, where Majority Leader Steve Scalise indicated he wants quick passage.

“Republicans are going to continue to ensure that these agencies have the funding that they need to fulfill their national security responsibilities.”
John Thune (R-SD) · Jun 5, 2026

Iran Fires Missiles and Drones at US Bases in Kuwait and Bahrain Despite Nominal Ceasefire

Iran launched seven ballistic missiles and multiple one-way attack drones at US military installations in Kuwait (Ali Al Salem Air Base) and Bahrain (5th Fleet headquarters) on June 2–3, 2026. All missiles were intercepted or missed their targets; no US personnel were killed. Iran said the strikes were retaliation after the US disabled an oil tanker heading to an Iranian port and struck a communications tower on Qeshm Island. US Central Command conducted "self-defense strikes" on Iranian radar and ground control sites. Kuwait International Airport was also struck, killing one Indian national and injuring 63, with significant damage to a passenger terminal. The attacks occurred while a nominal ceasefire from April remained nominally in effect, with Secretary of State Rubio insisting Operation Epic Fury was "over" even as exchanges of fire continued. The escalation accelerated congressional war-powers pressure; the House passed a war powers resolution 215–208 days later.

“In that part of the world, ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Jun 4, 2026

Supreme Court Allows Alabama to Use GOP-Drawn Map That Eliminates Majority-Black District

In a 6-3 ruling on June 3, 2026, the Supreme Court reversed a lower-court block and cleared Alabama to use its 2023 Republican-drawn congressional map for the 2026 midterms — a map three Republican-appointed judges had previously found to be the product of intentional racial discrimination. The ruling effectively eliminates the majority-Black 2nd congressional district won by Democrat Shomari Figures in 2024, giving Republicans an opportunity to reclaim the seat. Justice Sotomayor dissented sharply, writing that the majority "debases the democratic process." The decision has already been seen as an extension of the Court's 2023 Allen v. Milligan ruling's erosion and a signal to other states engaged in racial gerrymandering fights.

“There will be a free and fair election in November. Republicans and President Trump are engaged in a desperate power grab by redrawing congressional maps in order to bolster their attempts to hold onto the House majority.”
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) · Jun 3, 2026

Trump Strips Civil Service Protections from 8,000 Senior Federal Workers

President Trump signed an executive order on June 3, 2026 reclassifying approximately 8,000 senior federal workers — nearly all at the GS-15 pay grade — into a new "Schedule Policy/Career" category that makes them at-will employees who can be fired without cause. The affected positions include policy directors, chiefs of staff, senior advisers, public affairs officials, and grant managers. The administration framed the move as accountability reform; critics called it a politically motivated purge designed to replace qualified career officials with loyalists. The order is already subject to legal challenges, and Democrats introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act to block the reclassification.

“We'll fight it in the courts, and we will fight it until we block it. And if they somehow get part of it through, we will work to repeal it.”
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) · Jun 3, 2026

House Passes Iran War Powers Resolution 215-208, First Successful Vote Since War Began

The House passed a war powers resolution on June 3, 2026, directing President Trump to end military hostilities with Iran — the first time such a measure has cleared either chamber since the conflict began more than three months earlier. The 215-208 vote saw four Republicans cross party lines: Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Tom Barrett (MI), and Warren Davidson (OH). Every Democrat voted in favor, including Rep. Jared Golden (ME) who had opposed three previous attempts. The resolution is largely symbolic — Senate passage is unlikely and Trump would almost certainly veto it — but it represents a significant bipartisan rebuke of the administration's handling of the war.

“The president is now in the process of concluding a peace agreement, and we have to allow him the latitude to do that.”
Mike Johnson (R-LA) · Jun 3, 2026

Trump Bought TKO Stock Before Hosting UFC Fight on White House Lawn, Raising Conflict of Interest Concerns

Financial disclosures filed May 12, 2026 revealed that President Trump purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 in TKO Group Holdings stock on March 25 — two weeks after a UFC fight card was formally announced for the White House South Lawn on June 14, his 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary. TKO is the parent company of both UFC and WWE. Critics and ethics watchdogs argue that Trump's official promotion of the event could inflate TKO's stock price, constituting a textbook conflict of interest. The White House says Trump's investments are managed by independent financial advisers and that he does not make individual trading decisions.

“The president doesn't sit at the Oval Office on his computer on his Robinhood account buying and selling stocks. That's absurd. He has independent wealth advisers who manage his money.”
JD Vance (R-OH) · Jun 2, 2026

Trump Names Housing Official Bill Pulte as Acting DNI, Replacing Tulsi Gabbard

President Trump on June 2, 2026 appointed Bill Pulte — head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and known for using his government access to refer Trump opponents for prosecution — as acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard who resigned citing her husband's cancer diagnosis. Pulte has no intelligence or military background and will simultaneously hold his FHFA post overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The appointment drew rare bipartisan criticism: Senate Majority Leader Thune warned against a "weaponized DNI," Mitch McConnell cited the statutory requirement for "extensive national security experience," and Democrats called it a dangerous politicization of the intelligence community ahead of the 2026 midterms.

“We don't need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there.”
John Thune (R-SD) · Jun 2, 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.

“Of all Trump's corrupt schemes, his insurrectionist slush fund is one of the most depraved. This ruling is an important win — but the fight is far from over. Democrats will keep fighting in the courts and in Congress to make sure this $2 billion giveaway to cop beaters, criminals, and MAGA cronies never sees the light of day.”
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) · May 29, 2026

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.

“The bottom line is: justice and transparency in this matter have been delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration.”
Pam Bondi (R-FL) · May 29, 2026

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.

“Trump's order is not about election integrity. It is voter suppression, plain and simple. Democrats will do everything in our power to ensure that every American can exercise their right to vote.”
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) · May 28, 2026

May 27, 2026· Updated

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."

“I will do some nice, big, beautiful rallies for Ken. John Cornyn ran a strong and powerful race but, more importantly, had a truly great career.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · May 27, 2026

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.

“The vote today reflected what South Carolinians would like to see, and that is a constitutional process.”
Jim Clyburn (D-SC) · May 26, 2026

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