The House of Representatives voted to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for immigration enforcement, and sent the bill to President Donald Trump to sign. This action ends the longest shutdown of the agency, which had started on February 14 and caused problems for DHS workers and operations.
Key Facts
The House approved funding for much of DHS but excluded immigration enforcement activities.
This funding bill was sent to President Donald Trump for approval.
The DHS has been without regular funding since February 14.
The shutdown was the longest in the agency’s history.
Temporary funds had been used to pay some DHS workers, including TSA staff.
The White House warned that these temporary funds would soon run out.
The shutdown caused hardship for many workers at DHS.
Some immigration programs important to President Trump’s policies were funded separately and were not affected by this shutdown.
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Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, leads Republican Andy Biggs in the race for governor according to recent polls. Despite President Donald Trump winning Arizona in the 2024 presidential election, Hobbs shows strong support among independent voters and is positioned for reelection.
Key Facts
A new poll shows Hobbs leading Biggs by about 10 points (48% to 38%) among likely voters.
Hobbs has 51% support among independent voters, while Biggs has 27%.
42% of voters approve of Hobbs' job performance; 37% disapprove.
55% disapprove of President Trump’s job performance; 39% approve.
Andy Biggs was endorsed by President Trump and faces several primary opponents.
Polls from other organizations also show Hobbs leading, though one showed a closer race (44% to 43%).
Arizona is a swing state that voted for Trump in 2024 but has mixed support for Democrats in other races.
Experts say shifts in Latino voter turnout could influence future elections in Arizona.
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The United States dropped seven places in the 2025 Reporters Without Borders press freedom ranking, reaching a historic low at 64th out of 180 countries. The report highlights problems linked to President Trump’s policies and media ownership concentration, along with increased pressure by the Federal Communications Commission on broadcasters and journalists.
Key Facts
The US press freedom ranking fell from 57th to 64th in 2025.
Over half of the world’s countries were rated as having “difficult” or “very serious” conditions for press freedom.
President Donald Trump’s administration is reported to have reduced press freedom through policies and rhetoric.
Six companies control most US media, including Comcast, Disney, and Paramount Skydance.
The FCC chair threatened to revoke licenses of broadcasters for “hoaxes” and critical coverage of Trump’s policies.
FCC investigations extended to TV hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, after controversial jokes about the White House.
Some politicians, including Republican Senator Ted Cruz, criticized the FCC’s role in policing speech.
The White House maintains that President Trump is the most transparent in US history, citing frequent news conferences.
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The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill from the Senate to provide money for the Department of Homeland Security. This vote ended a 76-day government shutdown that had affected some parts of the federal government.
Key Facts
The House and Senate agreed on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The bill’s approval ended a 76-day government shutdown.
The shutdown had paused some government operations due to lack of funding.
Speaker Mike Johnson spoke publicly about the House’s decision on Thursday.
Funding the DHS allows its employees and services to resume normal work.
The vote followed ongoing negotiations between lawmakers to avoid a longer shutdown.
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Senator Jack Reed criticized Pentagon official Pete Hegseth for overstating U.S. success in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Reed said Hegseth gave President Trump overly optimistic information and used harsh language that could harm the mission and morale of troops.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate armed services committee about the Pentagon’s $1.45 trillion military budget.
Senator Jack Reed accused Hegseth of exaggerating U.S. military achievements against Iran.
The conflict with Iran has lasted eight weeks, with no clear victory and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Reed said American families are paying economically for a war they did not support.
Reed criticized Hegseth for harsh rhetoric, such as rejecting rules of engagement and promising “no mercy.”
Hegseth was also criticized for focusing on personal priorities instead of the conflict, such as changing Pentagon policies and hosting a celebrity on a military helicopter.
The hearing was briefly disrupted by protesters shouting against the war.
Reed expressed concern that Hegseth’s actions and statements could weaken military leadership and discourage officers.
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The House of Representatives voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ending the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. This funding deal came after House and Senate leaders agreed to a two-part approach, with additional funding for immigration enforcement to follow.
Key Facts
The House passed DHS funding on Thursday by a voice vote.
This vote ended a 75-day partial shutdown of DHS.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed on a two-track funding plan in early April.
The first part funded most of DHS except ICE and Border Patrol.
ICE and Border Patrol are already funded under a previous 2025 budget bill.
A separate budget reconciliation bill will add more funding for ICE and Border Patrol later.
Some House members opposed passing funding without including ICE and Border Patrol initially.
The House passed a budget resolution to begin providing billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.
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Maine Governor Janet Mills ended her campaign to run for the U.S. Senate, leaving Democrat Graham Platner as the likely nominee to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins. Platner is a political newcomer, a Marine Corps veteran, and runs an oyster farming business in Maine.
Key Facts
Janet Mills, age 78, quit her bid for the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine.
Mills was the popular two-term governor of Maine and had support from national Democrats.
Financial difficulties were a key reason Mills stopped her Senate campaign.
Graham Platner, 41, is now the main Democratic candidate; he has no prior political experience.
Platner is a Marine Corps veteran and works in oyster farming in Maine.
Platner received endorsements from progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Platner raised about $3 million in his first seven weeks of campaigning.
Platner faced controversy over past social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he has disavowed and explained.
Mills had significant political experience, including time as Maine’s attorney general and governor.
Mills gained national attention after a public disagreement with President Donald Trump over transgender athletes in 2025.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing the license renewals of eight ABC stations owned by Disney because of a year-long investigation into alleged discrimination related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices. FCC chairman Brendan Carr said this review is not connected to President Donald Trump's recent criticism of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Key Facts
The FCC is conducting an early renewal review of eight ABC stations owned by Disney.
The investigation began in March last year and focuses on alleged discriminatory DEI policies within Disney.
Brendan Carr, FCC chairman, said the review is about enforcing non-discrimination rules, not about controlling speech.
The review was prompted by a complaint alleging Disney created racially segregated spaces and forced racial or identity quotas.
Disney has cooperated by providing hundreds of documents in response to the FCC's inquiries.
The timing of the review has caused speculation because it follows President Trump’s criticism of Jimmy Kimmel.
President Trump accused Kimmel of making a "call to violence" after Kimmel joked about First Lady Melania Trump at a Washington Correspondents’ dinner event.
Carr clarified the FCC’s focus remains on discrimination issues, not the conflict between Trump and Kimmel.
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President Donald Trump said Tennessee leaders are responding to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling about voting districts. He urged Governor Bill Lee to redraw maps in a way that could help the Republican Party.
Key Facts
The U.S. Supreme Court made a decision affecting how voting districts are drawn.
The ruling weakened protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act.
Tennessee officials are planning to change their congressional district maps because of this ruling.
President Donald Trump encouraged Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, to pursue new district boundaries to benefit his party.
Other states, including Louisiana, are also reviewing their voting maps after the court’s decision.
Louisiana stopped its congressional primary elections after the court struck down a district with a majority Black population.
Republicans in several states are thinking about changing their House district maps before the 2026 midterm elections.
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President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of Dr. Casey Means for U.S. surgeon general and instead nominated Dr. Nicole B. Saphier. Means’ nomination stalled in the Senate due to lack of support, while Saphier is a radiologist and former Fox News medical contributor known for her work on cancer detection and prevention.
Key Facts
President Trump announced he is replacing Casey Means with Nicole B. Saphier as his nominee for U.S. surgeon general.
Casey Means’ confirmation process stalled in the Senate since her February hearing.
Senator Bill Cassidy was mentioned by President Trump as blocking Means’ nomination.
Means did not clearly support childhood vaccination during her Senate testimony and said “science is never settled” on vaccines and autism.
Means experimented with psychedelic drugs in her 30s and does not have an active medical license.
Nicole Saphier is a radiologist and former Fox News medical contributor who works on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Saphier wrote a book and hosts a health podcast focused on cancer and wellness.
Means was originally nominated in May 2025 but her hearing was delayed due to childbirth.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress that lawmakers who doubt the U.S. military's efforts in the war in Iran are harming the mission. He described some members of Congress as the biggest obstacle to success, while lawmakers pushed back, questioning the war’s goals and costs.
Key Facts
The war in Iran began in February 2026.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called dissenting members of Congress "defeatists" and said they undermine military efforts.
Hegseth testified during congressional hearings about President Donald Trump’s 2027 defense budget request, the largest ever at $1.5 trillion.
The war has cost $25 billion so far, with a request for an additional $200 billion in funding.
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers questioned the war’s purpose, end goals, and financial impact.
General Dan Caine and Senator Roger Wicker said Russia is trying to disrupt U.S. actions in Iran.
Protesters interrupted one of the hearings.
Lawmakers criticized Hegseth for not providing clear and complete information about the war costs and strategy.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said states should redraw their congressional district maps after the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana’s attempt to add a second majority-Black district was unconstitutional. The court found that Louisiana’s map was a racial gerrymander, meaning it was unfairly drawn based on race.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled Louisiana’s new congressional map was unconstitutional.
Louisiana had added a second majority-Black district in its map.
The court decided this map was a racial gerrymander, which means race was wrongly used to draw district lines.
House Speaker Mike Johnson supports other states redrawing their maps following this decision.
Johnson discussed this issue in an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju.
The ruling affects how states can create voting districts before the November midterm elections.
Redrawing maps can change how voters are grouped for congressional elections.
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President Donald Trump announced that he is nominating Dr. Nicole Saphier to be the next surgeon general. Dr. Saphier is a radiologist who directs breast imaging at a New Jersey cancer center and often shares medical information on Fox News.
Key Facts
President Trump made the nomination announcement on social media.
Dr. Nicole Saphier specializes in breast imaging and works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in New Jersey.
She has experience with image-guided, minimally invasive procedures on several organs including the breast and thyroid.
Dr. Saphier is known for helping women with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She frequently appears on Fox News as a medical contributor.
Her nomination follows another nominee, Dr. Casey Means, who recently appeared at a Senate committee hearing but did not gain confirmation.
Dr. Means had shown cautious views on vaccines during her hearing.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee is involved in confirming the surgeon general nominee.
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The House of Representatives passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for immigration enforcement activities. The bill, already approved by the Senate, now goes to President Donald Trump to be signed into law, ending the long DHS shutdown.
Key Facts
The House passed the DHS funding bill on April 30, 2026.
The bill was previously approved by the Senate.
The funding covers all DHS agencies except those involved in immigration enforcement.
No official recorded vote was requested in the House.
The bill will go to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Passing this bill will end the longest DHS shutdown in history.
The article mentions the situation is still developing with updates to follow.
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A 75-day partial U.S. government shutdown ended after the House narrowly voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The vote came after a last-minute agreement on ethanol fuel rules and allowed Republicans to approve $75 billion for immigration and border enforcement without Democratic support.
Key Facts
The partial government shutdown lasted 75 days, one of the longest in U.S. history.
The House passed a Republican funding plan for DHS after a late-night rally and a deal on ethanol fuel provisions.
The plan provides up to $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol agencies.
Republicans passed the funding on party lines, avoiding Democratic demands for new oversight.
President Donald Trump set a June 1 deadline for a final DHS funding package.
The White House warned that without funding, most DHS employees may not be paid from May onward.
Over 1,100 Transportation Security Administration agents have quit since February.
Funding for other DHS agencies not related to immigration still needs approval before Congress’s recess.
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The House has approved a Senate bill to provide most funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aiming to end the 76-day partial government shutdown. The shutdown began on February 14 and will end once President Donald Trump signs the bill, but funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol will be addressed separately.
Key Facts
The House approved the Senate bill by a voice vote to fund most of DHS.
The DHS shutdown started on February 14, making it the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.
Democrats have opposed funding ICE and Border Patrol because of disagreements over immigration enforcement.
Senate and House leaders, including President Trump, agreed on a two-step plan: pass the Senate DHS bill first, then fund ICE and Border Patrol through a special budget process called reconciliation.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that money to pay employees would run out by early May during the shutdown.
Some DHS parts like the Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA have suffered most from the funding gap.
ICE and Border Patrol have continued operating mostly normally because of prior funding from last year’s budget law.
The budget reconciliation process offers a way for Republicans to approve funding for immigration agencies without needing Democratic votes.
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The House of Representatives passed a bill to fund most parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This action aims to help end a 10-week shutdown that has affected the department’s operations.
Key Facts
The bill funds most of the DHS but does not include Border Patrol and ICE.
The House passed the bill by a voice vote, which is a quick way to approve legislation.
The shutdown of DHS has lasted for 10 weeks, making it a record-breaking event.
Republican leaders quickly pushed the bill through the House.
Funding the DHS is important to keep many government services running.
Border security agencies like Border Patrol and ICE remain unfunded by this bill.
The vote was part of efforts to resolve the money issue causing the shutdown.
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Cole Allen, a man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump, will stay in jail while waiting for his trial. The attempt was related to an incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Key Facts
Cole Allen is the suspect in an attempted assassination of President Trump.
The incident is connected to the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Allen has agreed to stay in jail before his trial begins.
The trial for Cole Allen has not yet started.
CBS News reporters Anna Schecter and Melissa Quinn provided the update.
The case involves a serious threat to the U.S. President’s safety.
Maintaining custody means Allen will not be released on bail before court.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an annual event attended by government officials and journalists.
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Two women who were Green party candidates in Lambeth, south London, were arrested by the Metropolitan police over alleged antisemitic posts on social media. The arrests relate to claims that they shared hateful material online, and both remain in police custody as investigations continue.
Key Facts
The two arrested women are Saiqa Ali (57) and Sabine Mairey (54), Green party candidates in Lambeth local elections.
They are suspected of stirring up racial hatred online, an offense under the Public Order Act 1986.
The arrests followed concerns reported to police about antisemitic social media posts made on or before April 21.
Ali’s posts included an image connected to the banned Islamist group Hamas with the slogan “Resistance is freedom.”
Mairey shared a post saying “Ramming a synagogue isn’t antisemitism. It’s revenge.”
Ali apologized earlier in April for any offence caused by her social media posts after allegations by local Labour politicians.
Both candidates’ details were removed from the Lambeth Greens’ website after the incidents.
Lambeth council is a Labour stronghold, but the Green party aims to gain more seats there in upcoming elections.
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Senator Angus King from Maine said the cost of the war with Iran might be about $50 billion, which is twice what Pentagon officials reported recently. He shared this estimate during an interview on CNN.
Key Facts
Senator Angus King is an independent lawmaker from Maine.
He said the Iran war could have cost the U.S. about $50 billion.
This amount is roughly double the Pentagon's official estimate given to Congress.
The Pentagon’s acting chief financial officer, Jules Hurst III, provided the original cost estimate.
Senator King mentioned these figures during a CNN interview.
The discussion focused on the financial cost of the conflict involving the U.S. and Iran.
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