The U.S. national debt has grown to more than 100 percent of the country’s total economy, called gross domestic product (GDP). This means the debt is now larger than the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S. in one year.
Key Facts
The national debt reached 100.2 percent of GDP at the end of March.
This level of debt surpasses the total annual economic output of the U.S.
The last time debt was this high was right after World War II, at 106 percent of GDP.
Data was released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The rising debt could approach or exceed the post-WWII record soon.
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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stopped the May 16 primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives after the Supreme Court said that creating a second majority-Black voting district in Louisiana was unconstitutional. Landry used an executive order to delay the elections, which were about to start early voting.
Key Facts
The May 16 primary elections for Louisiana’s U.S. House were suspended.
Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order to stop the elections.
The suspension came after a Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana’s voting districts.
The Court decided that making a second majority-Black district was racial gerrymandering, which is illegal.
Early voting for these elections was planned but paused due to the suspension.
This ruling affects how districts are drawn for voting in Louisiana.
The decision could change the way future elections are organized in the state.
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President Donald Trump made a joke about possibly needing to wear a bulletproof vest after three assassination attempts. He said he is unsure if he could handle the vest because it would make him look 20 pounds heavier. This comment was made during a press event in the Oval Office.
Key Facts
President Trump mentioned the possibility of wearing a bulletproof vest for protection.
The reason for the vest is due to three assassination attempts against him.
He joked about not wanting to look heavier by 20 pounds because of the vest.
The comment was made in the Oval Office while answering questions from reporters.
The tone of the comment was light, and it caused laughter in the room.
This event happened recently after the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) shooting incident.
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to resume funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aiming to end an 11-week partial government shutdown. The bill excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) but has President Donald Trump’s support.
Key Facts
The House passed the bill by voice vote after Senate approval and sent it to President Trump to sign.
The bill funds DHS agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) but does not include ICE or CBP.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson initially opposed the bill due to excluding ICE and CBP but later allowed the vote after Trump supported it.
The shutdown began on February 14 and caused problems such as TSA agents working without pay and concerns about FEMA’s disaster response.
Democrats demanded reforms for ICE, including banning agents from wearing masks and stopping raids on sensitive places, and threatened to block funding without these changes.
Republicans rejected these reform demands, calling them unreasonable.
The filibuster rule in the Senate requires 60 votes to pass major laws, slowing down the process.
Republican senators are trying to fund ICE and DHS through a special budget process called reconciliation, which bypasses the filibuster.
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The "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement helped remove protections for pesticide makers from lawsuits in a House farm bill vote. However, the White House withdrew the nomination of MAHA supporter Casey Means for surgeon general and replaced her with Nicole Saphier, who has different views and experience.
Key Facts
MAHA-aligned House Republicans and Democrats voted 280-142 to remove language protecting pesticide makers from certain lawsuits.
The removed language would have blocked lawsuits about health effects of pesticides beyond what the EPA recognizes.
The Supreme Court is considering a case involving Bayer and lawsuits about its weedkiller Roundup causing cancer.
Casey Means, a nutrition influencer and MAHA ally, was nominated for surgeon general but faced doubts over her vaccine stance.
The White House pulled Means' nomination and named Nicole Saphier, a doctor and former Fox News contributor, as the new nominee.
President Trump praised Means for her work on childhood diseases and Saphier for her ability to explain health topics clearly.
Saphier wrote a book advocating for health prevention through individual choices but previously shared a false claim about COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schoolchildren.
The Senate still needs to review the farm bill and hold hearings on Saphier’s nomination.
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President Donald Trump answered reporters' questions in the Oval Office after signing an executive order about retirement planning. He discussed topics including foreign investments in the United States and negotiations related to the war in Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump held a press session in the Oval Office on Thursday.
He signed an executive order focused on improving retirement planning.
During the session, he answered reporters’ questions.
Topics covered included foreign investments in the U.S.
He also spoke about ongoing negotiations regarding the war in Iran.
CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe reported from the White House.
The event was broadcast on CBS News and available on their app.
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The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais that congressional districts cannot be drawn primarily based on race, calling it unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. This decision changes how the Voting Rights Act’s Section 2 is applied, making it much harder to challenge maps that reduce minority voting power unless there is clear evidence of intentional racial discrimination.
Key Facts
The case involved Louisiana’s congressional maps, which included two majority-Black districts out of six, matching the state’s roughly one-third Black population.
White voters sued, arguing that creating districts based on race was illegal discrimination; the Supreme Court agreed.
The ruling means states cannot consider race when drawing district maps, even to protect minority voting strength.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act now requires proof of intentional racial discrimination, a very difficult standard to meet.
The decision removes a key legal tool that helped protect minority voting rights for nearly 60 years.
This is part of a series of conservative Supreme Court rulings weakening the Voting Rights Act since 2013.
President Donald Trump said he supports states redrawing maps following the ruling.
Because most Black voters support the Democratic Party, states can claim their maps are based on political reasons, avoiding racial discrimination claims.
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The U.S. Department of Education will limit the amount of federal loans available for graduate students starting July 1. This change is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to lower education costs and make paying back student loans easier.
Key Facts
New federal loan limits for graduate school start on July 1.
The change aims to reduce how much graduate students borrow.
It is part of President Donald Trump’s effort to cut education costs.
The policy also intends to simplify loan repayment for students.
The announcement came from the U.S. Department of Education.
President Trump signed a related education law last July.
The measure focuses on helping students manage their debt better.
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President Donald Trump said the United States will remove all tariffs on Scotch whisky imports following King Charles’s visit to the White House. This move aims to support trade between Scotland and Kentucky, where bourbon is made, and help whisky producers affected by previous taxes.
Key Facts
President Trump announced removing tariffs on Scotch whisky as a gesture after King Charles’s U.S. visit.
The U.S. had a 10% tariff on most British goods, including Scotch whisky, under a 2025 trade deal.
Trump highlighted the importance of whisky and bourbon industries in Scotland and Kentucky.
Previous tariffs have cost the Scotch whisky industry about £4 million per week.
Diageo, a major whisky company, cut production due to declining demand and higher costs.
The Scotch Whisky Association called the tariff removal a “significant boost” during a hard time for the industry.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had negotiated a trade deal with Trump earlier, but the tariffs on whisky remained until now.
King Charles emphasized strong U.S.-UK relations during his visit, urging the U.S. to maintain traditional alliances.
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The Senate, led by Republicans, rejected a Democratic proposal to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran. The vote was close, with only a few Republicans supporting the measure, which aimed to stop the conflict unless Congress approved further action.
Key Facts
The Senate voted 47-50 against a resolution to restrict military action in Iran.
Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Rand Paul, supported the resolution.
One Democrat, John Fetterman, voted against it.
This was the sixth time Democrats pushed a war powers resolution on Iran and all attempts have failed.
The War Powers Resolution requires the president to end military actions after 60 days unless Congress approves them.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the 60-day limit was paused due to a ceasefire with Iran.
The House also recently rejected a similar resolution to limit war powers on Iran.
Some Democrats who opposed earlier resolutions changed to support this effort, showing growing Democratic opposition to the war.
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President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Casey Means for surgeon general due to concerns in the Senate about her experience and vaccine views. He nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist known for her work with breast cancer patients, to take the position instead.
Key Facts
President Trump originally nominated Dr. Casey Means for surgeon general.
The Senate raised questions about Dr. Means' experience and opinions on vaccines.
Due to stalled progress, President Trump decided to withdraw Dr. Means' nomination.
Dr. Nicole Saphier is the new nominee for surgeon general.
Dr. Saphier is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth.
She has a medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados.
Dr. Saphier completed fellowships at the Mayo Clinic.
President Trump described her as a leading physician who helps women with breast cancer.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a website called TrumpIRA.gov, which will help Americans without employer retirement plans find and join private retirement accounts. The site aims to support eligible low-income workers by making it easier to get up to $1,000 a year in government contributions through the Saver’s Match program starting in 2027.
Key Facts
TrumpIRA.gov is a new government website to connect workers with private retirement accounts.
The site targets people who do not have retirement plans through their jobs.
It supports the federal Saver’s Match program, which gives government money directly to retirement accounts.
Eligible individuals can get up to $1,000 per year in matching contributions.
Single filers making less than $35,000 a year qualify for the full match.
The program replaces a previous tax credit with direct payments to retirement accounts.
The initiative is timed to launch before the Saver’s Match program starts in January 2027.
The order asks the Treasury Department to approve and list private financial institutions that offer qualifying accounts.
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President Donald Trump supports a proposal to rename the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) as “NICE.” This idea started as a joke on social media but gained official attention, although any legal name change would need Congress approval and could be costly.
Key Facts
A conservative influencer suggested renaming ICE to National Immigration and Customs Enforcement, making the acronym NICE.
President Trump publicly endorsed this idea on social media, calling it a “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT.”
The White House and Department of Homeland Security briefly used the name “NICE” on their official social media accounts.
Changing the name officially requires Congress to pass a law amending the current legislation.
The process would involve updating rules, contracts, and budgets, potentially costing millions of dollars.
ICE has faced criticism recently for a record number of detainee deaths—29 since last October, the highest since ICE was created in 2003.
President Trump has previously supported renaming government agencies and geographic locations, such as the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico.
It is unclear if the proposed name change for ICE will move forward beyond social media support.
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Senator Mark Kelly spoke critically of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Kelly said that Hegseth’s statements were important and questioned his answers.
Key Facts
The hearing took place before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senator Mark Kelly is a Democrat.
Kelly criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s responses during the hearing.
Kelly emphasized that the words spoken by officials have significance.
The topic involved national defense and military oversight.
The exchange was covered by CBS News.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, said that Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, did not like President Donald Trump. Greene said Lawler often made fun of President Trump’s voice and behavior.
Key Facts
Marjorie Taylor Greene is a Republican representative from Georgia.
Mike Lawler is a Republican representative from New York.
Greene accused Lawler of disliking President Donald Trump.
Greene said Lawler often mocked President Trump’s voice.
She made these statements during an interview with Tucker Carlson, a conservative media personality.
The interview was released on a Wednesday.
The remarks focused on Lawler’s attitude toward President Trump.
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U.S. officials say the real cost of the war with Iran is about $50 billion, which is twice the $25 billion figure the Pentagon gave to Congress. This higher number includes damaged equipment and bases, such as 24 lost drones worth around $30 million each, as well as other hidden expenses.
Key Facts
The Pentagon told Congress the war cost about $25 billion so far.
Internal U.S. estimates say the actual cost is closer to $50 billion.
Missing equipment, like 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones costing $30 million each, drives up expenses.
Defense officials say it is hard to estimate costs for military construction and future base needs.
Senators doubt the $25 billion figure, saying it leaves out costs for deploying and supporting troops.
Higher fuel and fertilizer prices linked to the war add about $150 per month in extra expenses for each U.S. household.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not give a direct answer about how the war affects U.S. prices.
The war has pushed oil prices to a four-year high.
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President Donald Trump said Tennessee will redraw its congressional district map after the Supreme Court changed a rule in the Voting Rights Act. The court’s decision makes it harder to challenge district maps based on race, and several states may redraw their lines before the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled against a part of the Voting Rights Act that helped protect minority voters in drawing district maps.
The court now requires proof that maps were drawn with racist intent to be ruled illegal.
Louisiana must redraw its map after the court found it unconstitutional; their primary vote will be delayed.
President Trump said Tennessee’s governor agreed to fix what he called an "unconstitutional flaw" in the state’s maps.
Other states like Georgia may also review their district maps before the midterms.
Redistricting happens every 10 years after the Census to adjust for population changes.
Redistricting can be used for gerrymandering, where maps are drawn to favor one party.
Both Democrats and Republicans are trying to gain advantage in the midterms through redistricting.
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The U.S. government will no longer allow federal funding to pay for fentanyl test strips, which check if drugs contain dangerous chemicals. This decision reverses previous support from President Trump's administration and raises concerns among health groups about losing tools that help prevent overdose deaths.
Key Facts
Federal funds cannot be used to buy test strips that detect fentanyl, xylazine, and medetomidine in drugs.
The change follows a 2025 executive order by President Trump against funding programs seen as facilitating illegal drug use.
Fentanyl test strips cost about $1 each and help prevent fatal overdoses by identifying drug contamination.
Before this change, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) had supported funding test strips since 2021.
Many states do not consider fentanyl test strips illegal drug tools, and some provide information on where to get them.
Organizations like the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition and Fyrebird Recovery have lost grants and face shortages of test strips.
Advocates say cutting funding for test strips removes a proven, low-cost way to save lives during the opioid crisis.
Harm reduction groups are seeking new funding sources, including state funds from opioid lawsuit settlements.
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President Donald Trump withdrew his pick for US surgeon general, Casey Means, after she did not get enough Senate support to be confirmed. He announced he would nominate cancer radiologist Nicole Saphier instead.
Key Facts
Casey Means was nominated by President Trump to be US surgeon general but did not get enough votes in the Senate.
Means is a health influencer without an active medical license and held controversial views on vaccines.
During her Senate hearing, Means did not clearly say if babies should get vaccines and questioned some vaccine science.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican and doctor, was blamed by Trump for blocking Means’ nomination.
President Trump announced Nicole Saphier, a cancer radiologist and Fox News contributor, as his new nominee.
Saphier works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and has written a book about health issues.
This is Trump’s third nominee for surgeon general after two previous candidates faced criticism.
The US Public Health Service, led by the surgeon general, has about 6,000 employees.
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Michigan state senator and Democratic Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow deleted thousands of tweets after questions arose about her residency. She said she permanently moved to Michigan in 2014 but voted in California through 2016, leading to scrutiny about when she officially changed her residency.
Key Facts
Mallory McMorrow’s 2025 autobiography says she relocated permanently to Michigan in 2014.
McMorrow voted in California’s June 2016 Democratic primary, according to public voting records.
She remained registered to vote in California until August 2016, when she registered in Michigan.
McMorrow deleted about 6,000 tweets covering various topics, including some critical of “Middle America.”
Her campaign explained the move to Michigan was gradual due to career commitments.
She has served as Michigan’s Senate Majority Whip for eight years, working on issues like wages, education, and gun violence prevention.
The 2026 Michigan Senate race is closely watched and includes other candidates Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed.
The discussion highlights how millennials in politics often have extensive social media histories that come under scrutiny.
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