Two members of the U.S. Congress are resigning after sexual misconduct issues. Democrat Eric Swalwell denies several sexual assault claims, while Republican Tony Gonzales is stepping down after admitting he had a relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Key Facts
Two Congress members are resigning because of sexual misconduct matters.
Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, faces multiple sexual assault accusations.
Swalwell denies all the allegations against him.
Tony Gonzales, a Republican, admitted to having a relationship with a staffer.
The staffer involved with Gonzales later died by suicide.
The reports about these events were provided by Lisa Desjardins.
These cases have raised concerns about ethics in Congress.
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A study by the Cato Institute found that during President Trump’s administration, legal immigration to the U.S. decreased more sharply than illegal border crossings. The research shows that about 132,000 fewer people were allowed into the country each month through legal channels.
Key Facts
The study was conducted by the Cato Institute, a public policy research organization.
David Bier, director of immigration studies at Cato, authored the analysis.
Legal immigration dropped by 132,000 people per month during President Trump’s term.
The decrease in legal immigration was larger than the reduction in illegal border crossings.
President Trump highlighted the drop in illegal immigration as an achievement.
Legal immigration includes all people entering the U.S. through official government approval processes.
The numbers show a more significant decline in legal arrivals than in unauthorized entries.
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The Kennedy Center’s new leader, Matt Floca, is showing members of Congress that the building needs major repairs. He is leading tours that highlight damage to the structure and problems with its water, air systems, and other facilities.
Key Facts
Matt Floca is the Kennedy Center’s new executive director and chief operating officer.
He is holding tours for Congress members and staff to show the center’s needed repairs.
The building has water damage and issues with expansion joints, marble, and exterior paving stones.
The tours include areas like water and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, parking garages, and loading docks.
Tours involved staff from a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including top Democratic leaders Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries.
A representative for Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also joined the tours.
The tours began while Congress was in recess this month.
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President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers are highlighting recent tax cuts and higher deductions passed last year. However, many Americans say they do not feel much benefit because of rising costs like the war and higher gas prices.
Key Facts
New tax cuts and increased deductions were approved last year under President Trump’s administration.
President Trump and Republican leaders want the public to notice these tax changes by Tax Day.
Many Americans face higher living costs, such as gas prices and costs related to the war.
Polls show that many people feel they are not gaining much from the new tax laws.
Stephanie Sy and Andrew Duehren from The New York Times discuss these changes and their impact.
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The Trump administration told Congress that Cuba has sent thousands of fighters to help Russia in its war against Ukraine and also supports Russia politically. The U.S. government says Cuba allows its citizens to fight in Ukraine and has tried to pressure Cuba’s government to change.
Key Facts
The Trump administration reported that up to 5,000 Cuban fighters are helping Russia in Ukraine.
Cuba provides diplomatic and political support to Russia.
The U.S. believes the Cuban government allows or helps Cuban fighters go to Ukraine, though it does not prove Cuba officially sent them.
Cuban nationals are one of the largest groups of foreign fighters for Russia in Ukraine.
The Cuban government denies these claims and says it is investigating human trafficking related to fighters going abroad.
The U.S. is increasing pressure on Cuba, including blocking oil shipments to the country.
Cuban fighters in Ukraine were first reported in 2023 by The Moscow Times.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba has defended his government’s position despite U.S. accusations.
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A Florida doctor, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, was charged with second-degree manslaughter after accidentally removing a patient's liver instead of the spleen during surgery. The patient, a 70-year-old man from Alabama, died following the operation, which took place in August 2024.
Key Facts
Dr. Shaknovsky performed surgery to remove the spleen but removed the liver by mistake.
The patient died from complications after the surgery.
The doctor was arrested after a two-year investigation.
His medical licenses in Florida, Alabama, and New York were suspended or turned in before his arrest.
The surgery happened late in the day with limited staff available.
Hospital staff had concerns about Dr. Shaknovsky’s experience and skills.
The operating room was chaotic, with a burst megacolon and poor visibility.
Dr. Shaknovsky admitted to firing a stapling device blindly and misidentifying the liver as the spleen.
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Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has resigned from the U.S. Congress after several women accused him of sexual misconduct, including drugging and rape allegations. Swalwell denies the accusations but ended his campaign for California governor following the reports.
Key Facts
Five women have accused Eric Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact and misconduct.
One accuser said Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018.
Another woman accused Swalwell of rape in a hotel in New York City in 2024.
Three women reported receiving inappropriate messages from Swalwell on Snapchat.
Swalwell denied the allegations but apologized for “mistakes in judgment.”
He resigned from Congress immediately after suspending his California governor campaign.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is investigating the sexual assault claims.
Some lawmakers pushed for Swalwell’s expulsion, but one lawmaker withdrew the motion after his resignation.
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The U.S. Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to erase the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders. These groups were convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol aimed at keeping President Donald Trump in office.
Key Facts
The Justice Department wants the court to cancel the convictions and dismiss the charges permanently.
Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders were found guilty of leading extremist groups in the Capitol attack.
President Donald Trump commuted the prison sentences of several group leaders in January 2024.
The request for vacating convictions follows a legal practice where the government can ask courts to clear cases if it serves justice.
This appeal is filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The original convictions were for trying to prevent the lawful transfer of power after the 2020 election.
The Justice Department's motion is supported by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
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Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales resigned from his position after admitting to having an affair with a staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. The resignation came amidst mounting pressure and an ethics investigation due to allegations of misconduct. Similarly, Congressman Eric Swalwell from California resigned after allegations of sexual harassment, although he denied the claims.
Key Facts
Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales resigned after admitting to an affair with a staff member who died by suicide.
The staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, died in September 2025, and her death was ruled a suicide.
Gonzales initially denied the allegations but later confirmed the affair, leading to a congressional ethics investigation.
Gonzales decided not to run for re-election in November but resigned early due to pressure.
Congressman Eric Swalwell also resigned over sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.
Both lawmakers submitted their resignations to avoid being expelled from Congress, allowing them to keep pension benefits.
The resignations did not affect the balance of power in Congress, where Republicans have a majority.
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If you miss the tax deadline, you may face penalties or fees. David Perez, a tax expert, explains common questions about what happens after the tax deadline passes.
Key Facts
The tax deadline is less than 24 hours away.
Missing the deadline can lead to penalties or extra charges.
David Perez is a CEO and enrolled agent who answers tax questions.
Tax Day is April 14, 2026.
The article provides information on what penalties apply if taxes are filed late.
It aims to help people understand tax rules and avoid problems with the IRS.
The focus is on U.S. federal income tax deadlines and consequences.
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Sharon Simmons, known as the "DoorDash Grandma," delivered a DoorDash order to President Donald Trump at the White House during a press event. Some online users claimed that Simmons, who wore a DoorDash T-shirt, was a paid actor, but she denied these claims, stating she is a regular DoorDash worker. The event highlighted a new policy by President Trump about not taxing tips.
Key Facts
Sharon Simmons delivered two McDonald’s bags to President Trump at the White House.
Simmons denied online claims that labeled her as a "paid actor."
The delivery was part of a press event for Trump’s "no tax on tips" policy.
Simmons started working for DoorDash in 2022 and has completed over 14,000 deliveries.
DoorDash confirmed Simmons is an actual delivery worker, not an actor.
The event took place on the eve of Tax Day, highlighting a tax deduction for tips.
President Trump tipped Simmons $100.
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President Donald Trump's approval rating among Republicans has increased in recent weeks, according to a poll by The Economist and YouGov. Despite this rise among Republicans, President Trump's overall approval rating remains low, with concerns over inflation and the war with Iran affecting his support.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating among Republicans reached 86% in a recent poll.
The poll was conducted from April 10 to April 13, surveying 1,748 U.S. adults.
President Trump's overall approval rating is 38%, with a 56% disapproval rate.
Previous polls showed Trump's Republican approval at 82% and earlier at 81%.
Concerns such as inflation and the war with Iran are influencing approval ratings.
Another poll by Harvard CAPS/Harris indicated a decline in Trump's approval among young voters, from 38% to 25%.
A White House spokesperson highlighted President Trump's decisive actions on national security as important to Americans.
Political analysts note Trump's strong Republican support but weaker appeal among Democrats and independents.
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Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley suggested Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee as possible replacements if Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito retires. Republicans want to secure a conservative seat while they still control the Senate and President Donald Trump is in office. The possibility of Alito's retirement is being considered due to his age and the upcoming election that might shift Senate control.
Key Facts
Chuck Grassley named Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee as potential replacements for Justice Alito.
Justice Samuel Alito, aged 76, has served on the Supreme Court since 2005.
Republicans aim to appoint a new justice before the upcoming elections potentially change Senate control.
The GOP currently holds a 52-48 majority in the Senate.
Prediction markets give a 50-53% chance that Alito might retire this year.
President Trump has not publicly commented on Alito's potential retirement plans.
Alito was briefly hospitalized recently but has since returned to his duties.
If Democrats gain Senate control, Trump's nominees could face blocking challenges.
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Democrats in Congress want to reverse a rule change by the Trump administration affecting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The change could limit the number of borrowers eligible for loan forgiveness, impacting those in public service jobs.
Key Facts
The PSLF program is designed to forgive student loans for workers in public service jobs after 10 years of qualifying payments.
The program includes federal, state, and local government jobs, as well as nonprofit organizations.
A new rule by the Trump administration narrows the list of employers eligible for PSLF.
The rule gives the Education Secretary authority to exclude borrowers whose employers have "substantial illegal purposes."
Democrats claim the rule targets organizations working with immigrants and transgender youth.
Democrats introduced resolutions to block the new rule before it takes effect in July.
Over a million people have already received forgiveness through PSLF, with many more hoping to in the future.
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Conservative women are gaining influence in the MAGA media as some male members criticize President Trump. New voices like Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly have become more popular through their podcasts and videos. Some women focus on lifestyle topics to attract more conservative women to the movement.
Key Facts
Conservative women are gaining a larger role in the MAGA media scene.
Some conservative men are critical of President Trump, creating space for women's influence.
Candace Owens' podcast is quickly growing and gaining millions of views.
Megyn Kelly's podcast ranked among the top 25 on Apple Podcasts.
Bari Weiss is leading The Free Press media startup and seeing growth.
Owens and Kelly have become more critical of President Trump's actions.
Other women focus on lifestyle discussions to appeal to conservative women.
The MAGA media space remains mostly male-dominated, despite women's growth.
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Senator Susan Collins plans to have several Cabinet officials testify about President Trump's budget. She aims to complete the government funding process before the fiscal year ends on September 30. Collins seeks support from Democrats to follow the traditional appropriations process instead of using reconciliation.
Key Facts
Senator Susan Collins is the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
She will call members of President Trump's Cabinet to testify next week.
The fiscal year ends on September 30, and Collins is pushing to fund the government before then.
Cabinet officials expected to testify include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Collins hopes to finish bill discussions (markups) by June and bring them to vote in July.
Collins wants bipartisan support for appropriations, as she prefers it over the reconciliation process.
Senate Republicans are planning a partial reconciliation package for some agencies.
A previous government funding issue occurred due to a dispute over the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
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Virginia has joined the National Popular Vote Compact, an initiative by some Democratic-leaning states to change how presidential elections are decided. This compact aims to use the national popular vote instead of the Electoral College to determine the winner of presidential elections.
Key Facts
Virginia has become part of the National Popular Vote Compact.
The compact seeks to use the national popular vote instead of the Electoral College in presidential elections.
Democratic-leaning states initiated the compact.
The compact started gaining support after the 2016 election when President Trump won despite losing the popular vote.
Virginia's Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the law for Virginia to join.
A total of 18 states with 222 electoral votes are now part of the compact.
The compact will only take effect when states with at least 270 electoral votes have joined.
No states that supported President Trump in 2024 are part of the compact.
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A U.S. federal appeals court has stopped contempt proceedings against President Trump’s administration concerning the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants. The court decided that the lower court judge’s action was inappropriate because the legal order was not explicit enough. The case involves the 2025 deportation of Venezuelan nationals, which sparked debate due to the use of a historic law.
Key Facts
An appeals court in Washington, DC, blocked contempt proceedings against President Trump’s administration.
Judge Boasberg initially sought to hold hearings to examine potential criminal contempt by officials.
The controversy arose from deportation flights to El Salvador in March 2025.
The deportations involved 137 Venezuelan nationals linked by the U.S. to a gang.
The Alien Enemies Act was used to justify the deportations, a law granting the president broad powers during war or invasion.
Critics argued that the deportees’ rights were violated due to rapid deportation preventing appeals.
Judges Neomi Rao and Justin Walker, both Trump appointees, ruled that the proceedings were an abuse of discretion.
The legal dispute also involves claims about decisions made during court hearings by the Trump administration and the motivations behind the deportations.
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Several U.S. states have redrawn their congressional district maps before the usual 10-year schedule to influence the 2026 midterm elections. This redistricting aims to create districts favorable to either Democrats or Republicans, affecting how many seats each party could win in Congress.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump encouraged Republican-led states to redraw districts to gain more GOP-friendly seats.
Redistricting usually happens once every 10 years after the U.S. Census, but some states are doing it mid-decade now.
Virginia voters approved a new map that could increase Democratic seats to 10, leaving only one Republican district.
Texas Republicans created five GOP-leaning seats with new district lines signed by Governor Greg Abbott.
California redrew its map to favor Democrats, with voters approving the plan by a large margin.
Missouri and North Carolina also redrew districts to help Republicans by targeting Democratic incumbents.
Indiana legislators rejected a GOP-backed redistricting plan despite pressure from President Trump and bomb threat concerns.
Utah’s map was changed after a judge ruled the previous GOP-drawn districts were unfairly drawn to favor Republicans.
Maryland’s attempt to redraw districts to remove the state’s only Republican congressman failed in the state Senate.
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A man from China, who used to work as a researcher in Indiana, admitted to smuggling E. coli DNA into the U.S. by hiding it in a package labeled as women's underwear. This was done to avoid detection by customs officers. He was found guilty and sentenced to prison, fined, and will be deported after serving his sentence.
Key Facts
Youhuang Xiang, a Chinese national, admitted to smuggling E. coli DNA into the U.S.
He concealed the bacteria in a package falsely labeled as women's underwear.
The bacteria were shipped to his home in Bloomington, Indiana.
Xiang previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Indiana University.
The FBI began investigating after noticing unusual shipments from China to the university.
He was detained in November 2025 and later pleaded guilty to smuggling.
Xiang was sentenced to over four months in prison and fined $500.
He will be deported to China after completing his prison sentence.
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