The Senate voted 52-46 to start a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and end the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. Republicans want to use a special budget process called reconciliation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, after Democrats blocked money for these agencies since February.
Key Facts
The vote was 52 in favor and 46 against.
The goal is to reopen the DHS and end the partial government shutdown.
Democrats have blocked funding for ICE and Border Patrol since mid-February.
Democrats want policy changes after two protesters were fatally shot by federal agents.
Republicans are using budget reconciliation to try to pass the funding.
Budget reconciliation is a complex way to pass bills without needing Democratic votes.
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill to reopen the rest of DHS already.
House Republican leaders refuse to act until the Senate shows progress on ICE and Border Patrol funding.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Matt Drudge compared President Trump's approval ratings to those of former President Jimmy Carter, highlighting a low rating of 32 percent for Trump. This comparison referred to a poll by the American Research Group.
Key Facts
Matt Drudge made a comparison between President Trump and former President Jimmy Carter.
The comparison focused on their approval ratings, specifically low points.
President Trump's approval rating was reported as 32 percent.
The source of this approval rating is a poll by the American Research Group.
Jimmy Carter's approval ratings were low during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The comparison appeared on the Drudge Report website early Wednesday morning.
The article did not provide additional context or analysis beyond the comparison.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lawmakers held a hearing on Capitol Hill to discuss fraud in the hospice care system. They called for more accountability and reforms to protect taxpayers and Medicare benefits from being stolen.
Key Facts
The hearing involved members of both political parties (bipartisan).
Lawmakers want answers about fraud connected to hospice care services.
The focus is on stopping misuse of tax dollars and Medicare funds.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith led the hearing.
Smith is a Republican from Missouri.
Lawmakers stated fraudsters have been operating without enough oversight.
The goal is to increase transparency and protect government healthcare programs.
The hearing took place on a Tuesday (specific date not given).
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
There was a major leak at the Supreme Court, which has brought attention to how courts and politics interact. Legal reporters discussed the possible effects of this leak and the efforts to discipline lawyers connected to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
A significant leak occurred at the Supreme Court.
The leak has raised questions about the future of the courts, which usually keep their work private.
Legal experts and reporters are analyzing how courts relate to politics.
Bar associations are working to discipline lawyers involved with President Donald Trump.
The discussion was led by legal reporters from The Hill, Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld.
The event was presented as a live conversation to inform the public.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump criticized Democrat strategist James Carville for suggesting that Democrats should add new states and increase the number of Supreme Court justices if they regain power. Carville supports making Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia states and changing the Supreme Court's size to favor Democrats.
Key Facts
President Trump called James Carville a “wacko” for his political ideas.
Carville is an 81-year-old Democratic political consultant.
Carville proposed that Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., become new states.
He also suggested increasing the number of Supreme Court justices, a process called "court packing."
These ideas aim to help Democrats gain more political power.
President Trump disagreed strongly with these suggestions.
The discussion revolves around potential political changes if Democrats win future elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An independent inquiry found no proof of antisemitism at Bristol Brunel Academy after the school postponed a visit by Jewish MP Damien Egan due to safety concerns about planned protests. The school delayed the visit to protect students, staff, and the MP, not because of any political bias.
Key Facts
Damien Egan, Jewish MP for Bristol North East, was set to visit Bristol Brunel Academy (BBA) to speak about democracy.
The visit was postponed after news of a planned protest involving pro-Palestine activists.
An independent review and an Ofsted inspection found no antisemitism or political bias at the school.
The postponement was based solely on safety concerns for students, staff, and the MP.
The school did not fully follow its visitor procedures, missing some social media checks.
Recommendations include better security, clearer guidelines for political visits, and stronger cooperation with police and local authorities.
The MP’s visit was finally rescheduled and took place on February 5.
The Department for Education said antisemitic incidents in schools have more than doubled nationally since October 2023 and announced a national review to address hate in schools.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Twenty-two towns in Massachusetts have passed local laws that stop people born after a certain date, usually January 1, 2000, from ever buying tobacco products there. These laws, called Nicotine Free Generation ordinances, raise the legal smoking age by one year each year and do not prohibit smoking itself, only sales to future generations.
Key Facts
The laws ban tobacco sales to anyone born after a specific cutoff date, most commonly January 1, 2000.
These laws do not make smoking illegal or criminalize possession of cigarettes.
The movement started in Brookline, Massachusetts, which passed the first law in 2020.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2024 that towns have the legal right to pass such laws.
As of March 2026, 22 Massachusetts towns with over 600,000 people have adopted these ordinances.
This approach differs from the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill that bans tobacco sales to those born on or after January 1, 2009.
The local laws increase the legal purchase age by one year every year, making smoking tobacco products illegal to buy for future generations.
Smoking rules in the US vary by state, with many states banning smoking in certain workplaces, but no other places matching this generation-based sales ban.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Several scientists and workers connected to advanced U.S. research, including a retired Air Force general and a NASA engineer, have gone missing in recent months. The FBI, Department of Energy, Department of War, and other agencies are investigating these disappearances, but no confirmed links between the cases have been announced.
Key Facts
Retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland was last seen on February 27 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Monica Reza, a NASA aerospace engineer, disappeared while hiking in California on June 22, 2025.
Anthony Chavez, a retired engineer from Los Alamos National Laboratory, was last seen on May 8, 2025, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Melissa Casias, who had security clearance at Los Alamos Lab, went missing in June 2025 in New Mexico.
Steven Garcia, a government contractor at the Kansas City National Security Campus, was last seen on August 28, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The House Oversight Committee has requested information about people linked to U.S. nuclear secrets and rocket technology who have died or vanished recently.
President Donald Trump described the situation as serious but hoped the cases were coincidental.
NASA said it is cooperating with agencies and sees no current national security threat related to the disappearances.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal appeals court in Texas decided to allow public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments if the posters are donated to the school. This ruling overturned an earlier decision that had stopped the law requiring these displays.
Key Facts
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the ruling on Tuesday.
The court voted 9-8 in favor of allowing the Ten Commandments posters in classrooms.
The earlier lower court decision had blocked the Texas law on this issue.
The law says schools must display the Ten Commandments when posters are donated.
The decision affects public school classrooms in Texas.
The case involves the separation of religion and public education.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will speak to a House committee about the budget request for fiscal year 2027 proposed by President Donald Trump. This comes shortly after NASA completed its first crewed mission to the moon in 50 years.
Key Facts
Jared Isaacman is the head of NASA.
He will testify before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
The discussion will focus on President Trump’s budget plan for NASA in 2027.
NASA recently finished its first crewed moon mission since the 1970s.
The Orion spacecraft returned to Earth by landing in the ocean near San Diego.
The Artemis II mission was the name of the recent moonflight.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Metropolitan Police in London is discussing a potential deal to use AI technology from the U.S. company Palantir to help with criminal investigations. Palantir’s software is already used by some UK police forces and government departments, but the talks have raised concerns about privacy and reliance on a controversial American firm.
Key Facts
The Met Police has met with Palantir about buying AI tools to speed up intelligence analysis.
Palantir’s technology is used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Israeli military.
Internal worries exist over a U.S. company accessing sensitive crime data, including personal info of victims.
Palantir already provides AI systems to detect corrupt officers at Scotland Yard.
Palantir’s contracts with UK public bodies like the NHS and Ministry of Defence are worth over £500 million.
Some MPs want the government to cancel NHS contracts due to privacy and the company’s political ties.
The Home Secretary is pushing for more AI use in policing, with £115 million planned to develop AI tools.
Some Met staff believe current systems need fixing before spending big on new AI tech.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee spoke on TV about government videos showing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) that seem hard to explain. He said many people, including officials, have seen these strange things in the sky. This comes just days after President Donald Trump hinted at releasing official government files about UFOs.
Key Facts
Rep. Tim Burchett is a Republican congressman from Tennessee.
He appeared on a NewsNation TV show hosted by Elizabeth Vargas.
Burchett said that people have been seeing unexplained objects in the sky.
He described some UFO videos as difficult to explain logically.
President Donald Trump recently mentioned plans to release government documents on UFOs.
The topic of UFOs is gaining attention among some U.S. lawmakers.
The government has collected videos and information on UFO sightings.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Candidates running for governor of California will debate each other on Wednesday. The debate will be shown live on NewsNation and online at The Hill and NewsNationNow.com.
Key Facts
The debate involves candidates for governor in California.
It is scheduled for Wednesday.
NewsNation will show the debate live on TV.
The debate will also be available online through The Hill and NewsNationNow.com.
Viewers can watch the debate both on TV and on the internet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Cinco de Mayo parade in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood has been canceled again because of concerns related to immigration issues. Organizers expressed hope that the parade can return in the future when conditions get better.
Key Facts
The Cinco de Mayo parade takes place in Chicago’s Little Village area.
This year’s parade was canceled due to concerns about immigration.
Organizers have canceled the event multiple times before for similar reasons.
The cancellation reflects worries about safety or legal issues tied to immigration.
Organizers want to bring the parade back once the situation improves.
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.
The parade is an important community event in Little Village.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke about using artificial intelligence (AI) safety tools at U.S. airports. He also responded to concerns raised by Spirit Airlines amid rising fuel costs due to the conflict in Iran.
Key Facts
Sean Duffy is the U.S. Transportation Secretary.
He discussed AI tools aimed at improving safety in airports.
Spirit Airlines expressed concerns related to safety and operations.
Fuel costs for airlines have increased because of the war involving Iran.
The discussion took place during an interview with CBS News.
The focus is on managing airport safety and airline challenges in current conditions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set to testify before a Senate committee about President Trump’s budget plan for 2027. He will also discuss the effects of a recent Supreme Court decision that invalidated most of President Trump’s emergency import taxes.
Key Facts
Howard Lutnick is the Commerce Secretary.
Lutnick will appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The testimony focuses on President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request.
The Supreme Court ruled against most of President Trump’s emergency import taxes in February.
These import taxes were intended to encourage investment in the U.S.
The Senate hearing will cover the budget and consequences of the court’s decision.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats plan to work so that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel leave President Donald Trump's administration soon. He mentioned this during an interview highlighting recent departures of some other officials.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and a Democrat from New York.
Jeffries said Democrats want Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel to leave their government jobs.
Pete Hegseth is the Defense Secretary.
Kash Patel is the FBI Director.
Recent officials who left the administration include former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Jeffries shared this information in an interview with Lawrence O’Donnell on MS NOW.
The comments suggest ongoing changes within President Donald Trump’s government team.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before a Senate committee about President Trump’s budget request for 2027. The request includes $11.5 billion for domestic programs in the Treasury Department, which is $1.5 billion less than the 2026 budget.
Key Facts
Scott Bessent is the current Treasury Secretary.
He appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The budget discussed is for the fiscal year 2027.
President Trump’s budget request asks for $11.5 billion for Treasury domestic programs.
This amount is $1.5 billion less than the previous year’s (2026) budget.
Some program cuts include reductions to the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
The hearing focused on reviewing and discussing these proposed budget changes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned just before a House Ethics Committee meeting on Tuesday. At the same time, Florida Republican Representative Cory Mills is facing growing calls to resign amid allegations of misconduct.
Key Facts
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned before a House Ethics Committee session.
The Ethics Committee was set to review her conduct.
Rep. Cory Mills, a Republican from Florida, is also under pressure to resign.
Cory Mills faces allegations of misconduct.
Both events involve members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The story involves lawmakers from Florida.
The situation is covered by CBS News reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A New York art gallery created an exhibit called "The Holy Babble!" that looks at "Trumpism" as a type of modern American belief. The exhibit features religious-style art, including a 250-page book that presents President Donald Trump's words in a Bible-like way, along with images like stained glass and an altar.
Key Facts
The exhibit is held in a New York gallery.
It is designed like a chapel or church space.
The show explores "Trumpism" as a kind of belief system.
A 250-page book in the exhibit rewrites President Trump’s words using religious language.
The art includes Bible-style imagery such as stained glass windows.
There is an altar-like display as part of the installation.
The exhibit treats political themes with religious art styles.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
