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Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

May 5, 2026· Updated

Trump Administration Claims Iran War "Terminated" to Dodge 60-Day War Powers Deadline

On May 1, 2026, the Trump administration declared that the Iran war has been "terminated" for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution — a legal maneuver designed to avoid the law's requirement that Congress authorize military action within 60 days of its start. A senior administration official stated that "the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28 have terminated," pointing to the US-Iran ceasefire agreed on April 7 and its subsequent extensions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the ceasefire effectively paused or stopped the 60-day clock entirely. Trump separately sent a letter to congressional leaders formalizing the declaration and called the War Powers Act itself "totally unconstitutional." On May 5, Secretary of State Rubio formally declared Operation Epic Fury — the offensive bombing campaign — concluded, with the US transitioning to the defensive Project Freedom mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Critics and legal experts continued to reject the administration's interpretation. Democrats noted that Senate Republicans had blocked a war powers resolution for the sixth time, while moderate Republicans including Susan Collins and Rand Paul broke with leadership to demand congressional authorization. Congress then left town for a week recess without taking action.

“Operation Epic Fury, as the president notified Congress, we're done with that stage of it. We achieved the objectives of that operation. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb — that issue has to be addressed in the negotiations.”
Marco Rubio (R-FL) · May 5, 2026

Louisiana Suspends US House Primaries After SCOTUS Redistricting Ruling

After the Supreme Court's April 29, 2026 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais struck down the state's existing congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the state's May 16 U.S. House primaries — even though mail-in ballots had already been sent — to allow the legislature to draw a new map. The legislature began public hearings on May 4, with lawmakers signaling they would likely keep the majority-Black district based in Baton Rouge while eliminating the New Orleans-based majority-Black district currently held by Rep. Troy Carter, who would face losing his seat under the leading proposal.

“Louisiana deserves two seats where Black voters get a say in who represents them.”
Troy Carter (D-LA) · May 5, 2026

Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais

On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana's congressional map creating a second majority-Black district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, effectively gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion for the six conservative justices, holding that states can almost never use race as a factor when drawing maps to comply with the VRA — including when doing so is intended to remedy prior discrimination. The ruling rewrites the standard for bringing a Section 2 claim in a way that critics say makes it nearly impossible to use the law to protect minority voting rights in redistricting. The decision carries sweeping national implications. Analysts predict it could allow Republican-controlled legislatures across the South to redraw congressional maps before the 2026 midterms in ways that reduce minority representation, potentially shifting as many as 19 additional seats into the GOP column. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves called a special session beginning around May 20 to redraw state Supreme Court districts. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said the ruling requires Georgia to draw new maps before 2028 but declined to call a special session for 2026. Civil rights groups called it the most devastating blow to voting rights in generations.

“The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais restores fairness to our redistricting process and allows states to pass electoral maps that reflect the will of the voters, not the will of federal judges. It is clear that Callais requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle.”
Brian Kemp (R-GA) · May 1, 2026

Trump Signs Bill Ending Record 76-Day DHS Shutdown

On April 30, 2026, President Trump signed a bipartisan bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security, ending the longest agency shutdown in US history at 76 days. The partial shutdown had begun February 14 after Congress failed to pass DHS appropriations, leaving agencies including the TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA without routine funding. The bill funds most DHS operations but notably excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, whose funding remains unresolved. Democrats had blocked immigration enforcement funding in an effort to secure reforms including body-worn cameras for federal agents and restrictions on face coverings by law enforcement. Immigration funding is expected to be addressed separately through the $70 billion budget reconciliation process, with Trump demanding final passage by June 1. The Senate had passed the same bill unanimously five weeks earlier, but the House had delayed. Speaker Johnson credited "patience and prayer" for getting members to the finish line. Democrats countered that the prolonged shutdown was manufactured and unnecessary.

“Sometimes when you have a small margin as we do, people have different ideas, different priorities about very contentious pieces of legislation, but we got it done because ultimately we just used patience and frankly prayer. Democrats got absolutely nothing for their political charade and shenanigans.”
Mike Johnson (R-LA) · Apr 30, 2026

Trump Withdraws Casey Means as Surgeon General Nominee, Picks Nicole Saphier

On April 30, 2026, President Trump pulled his nomination of Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General and announced radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier as his third pick for the role. Means' nomination had stalled since her late February confirmation hearing before the Senate HELP Committee, chaired by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who pressed her on vaccine policy and her lack of an active medical license. Means, a Stanford-trained physician-turned-wellness entrepreneur who did not complete her surgical residency, had become a symbol of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement championed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins had also signaled reservations. Trump announced the change on Truth Social, blaming Cassidy for blocking Means through "intransigence and political games." Saphier, a Fox News medical contributor and Memorial Sloan Kettering radiologist, had herself previously questioned whether Means — who hadn't finished her residency and lacked an active license — was the right fit for the role. This is Trump's third surgeon general nominee of his second term, following the earlier withdrawal of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat.

“Dr. Means was asked direct questions about vaccines that she could not answer. The Surgeon General must have the full confidence of the American people on matters of public health. I look forward to meeting with Dr. Saphier.”
Bill Cassidy (R-LA) · Apr 30, 2026

Apr 30, 2026· Updated

Hegseth Grilled by Congress on Iran War Costs; Pentagon Reveals $25 Billion Price Tag

On April 29-30, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced congressional testimony for the first time since the US went to war with Iran in late February. The hearings — first before the House Armed Services Committee, then before the Senate Armed Services Committee — were contentious, with Democrats attacking the war's legality, strategy, and cost. The Pentagon disclosed for the first time that the Iran war has cost approximately $25 billion to date. Democrats argued the figure dramatically understates the true cost, which they said includes surging oil prices, increased consumer goods prices, and long-term strategic damage. Hegseth defended the operation as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and attacked critics as defeatist. The hearings came on the same day the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline arrived, with the Trump administration separately claiming the ceasefire had "terminated" hostilities and thus the legal clock. Several Republican senators said they still expect a war authorization vote, while Democrats called for an immediate end to the conflict.

“$25 billion is probably less than half, maybe less than a quarter of the total cost of this war. And there's no pause button in the Constitution or the War Powers Act.”
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) · Apr 30, 2026

Fired AG Bondi Agrees to House Oversight Interview on Epstein Files

On April 29, 2026, the House Oversight Committee announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi has agreed to sit for a transcribed interview on May 29 as part of the committee's investigation into the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The agreement comes after months of conflict: Bondi had been subpoenaed for a deposition, skipped the scheduled appearance, and Democrats had introduced a contempt resolution. The format changed from a sworn deposition to a transcribed interview — meaning Bondi will not be under oath, but will be reminded at the start that making false statements to Congress is subject to criminal prosecution. Bondi was fired as Attorney General in early April 2026 amid criticism that she had over-redacted and withheld Epstein-related documents required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Democratic and Republican lawmakers had pushed for her testimony even after her ouster. House Republicans scheduled the May 29 date without initially informing Democratic members of the committee, drawing complaints from Democrats.

“Bondi's removal as Attorney General doesn't erase her obligation to testify and does not end Congressional oversight.”
Nancy Mace (R-SC) · Apr 29, 2026

King Charles III Addresses Joint Session of Congress, Urges Ukraine Support and NATO Unity

On April 28, 2026, King Charles III became only the second British monarch in history to address a joint session of the United States Congress, receiving 12 standing ovations. The address, delivered during a state visit timed to the 250th anniversary of American independence, was widely read as a pointed but diplomatically careful message to the Trump administration on several of its most contentious policy departures. The King called for "unyielding resolve" in support of Ukraine and urged Congress to stand firm with NATO allies, drawing a bipartisan standing ovation — notable given deep Republican divisions over continued military aid to Kyiv. He praised diversity and interfaith cooperation, highlighted the importance of checks on executive power, and invoked the shared history of the US-UK alliance through two world wars. He also referenced the WHCD shooting from three days prior, saying acts of political violence "will never succeed." While careful not to name Trump or any policy directly, analysts noted that Charles's emphasis on alliance commitments, Ukraine, and democratic norms carried unmistakable relevance to current US political debates. Trump called the speech "fantastic."

“King Charles gave a fantastic speech. He loves our country and I love him. It was a great honor to have him here.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Apr 28, 2026

Senate Republicans Block War Powers Resolution to End Trump's Cuba Blockade

On April 28, 2026, Senate Republicans voted 51-47 to dismiss a war powers resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would have required President Trump to obtain congressional approval to continue the US energy blockade of Cuba. Republicans argued the resolution was out of order because the US is not engaged in outright hostilities with Cuba, sidestepping the substance of whether Trump needed congressional authorization for the naval blockade. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans to kill the resolution. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) were the only Republicans to break with their party and support the measure. Kaine argued the blockade had caused a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, including disrupted medical care, lack of clean water, and spiking food prices. The vote marked the latest in a series of congressional attempts to use the War Powers Act to constrain Trump's unilateral military and paramilitary actions during his second term.

“The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. An indefinite naval blockade of a sovereign nation is an act of war. I will continue to insist that the president seek congressional authorization for actions of this magnitude.”
Susan Collins (R-ME) · Apr 28, 2026

DeSantis Releases Florida Congressional Map to Create 24-4 Republican Advantage

On April 27, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a new Florida congressional map targeting four Democratic incumbents, which passed the Republican-controlled legislature in a rushed process and was sent to DeSantis for signature. The map would create a 24-4 Republican advantage in Florida's congressional delegation, targeting Reps. Kathy Castor (Tampa), Darren Soto (Orlando), Lois Frankel, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (both Miami). DeSantis first released the map to Fox News before Florida lawmakers had seen it. The legislature held hearings one day and voted the next, passing the House 83-28 and Senate 21-17 along party lines. The redistricting blitz followed the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which effectively gutted VRA Section 2 protections and opened the door for Republican-controlled states to redraw maps before the 2026 midterms. The new Florida map faces legal challenges under the state's Fair Districts constitutional amendment, which bans partisan gerrymandering.

“This is a completely unconstitutional partisan gerrymander drawn behind closed doors to silence the voices of millions of Florida voters. We will fight this in court.”
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) · Apr 28, 2026

Gunman Attempts Assassination at White House Correspondents' Dinner

On the evening of April 25, 2026, shots were fired near the security screening area of the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Cabinet members were evacuated by the Secret Service. The suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, 31, a mechanical engineer and California teacher, was arrested outside the hotel carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives. A Secret Service officer was struck by at least one round but was protected by a bulletproof vest and survived. Allen had left behind a written manifesto stating his intent to target Trump administration officials. He was charged on April 27 with three federal counts: attempting to assassinate the president, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and transporting a firearm across state lines with intent to commit a felony. The attack reignited debate over Secret Service capacity, the security of the Washington Hilton as a venue, and the political climate around the Trump administration. Trump used the incident to argue for his proposed White House ballroom project.

“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. The Washington Hilton was not a particularly secure building — this is exactly why we need the White House Ballroom.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Apr 25, 2026

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Senate Adopts $70 Billion Budget Resolution to Fund ICE and Border Patrol

In the predawn hours of April 23, 2026, the Senate voted 50-48 to adopt a non-binding budget resolution that unlocks up to $70 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol, a key step toward ending the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown that began in mid-February. Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only members of their party to vote against the resolution. The measure authorizes the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees to draft reconciliation legislation funding the two agencies for three years, through the end of President Trump's term. The resolution now moves to the House, which has not yet voted. Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the House to pass it. President Trump has set a June 1 deadline for final passage of the reconciliation bill.

“We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America's borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies.”
John Thune (R-SD) · Apr 23, 2026

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