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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The U.S. Supreme Court will have a public session on Friday to potentially announce at least one opinion from the bench. Later, the justices will hold a private meeting to discuss ongoing cases and decide on new petitions. Several important cases, covering topics like citizenship and gun laws, are still awaiting decisions before the court's summer break.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court will convene for a public session at 10 a.m. on Friday.
At the session, the court may announce one or more opinions.
Opinions will be posted on the court’s website after the announcement.
The justices have a private conference later in the day to discuss cases.
The court will release its next order list on Monday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m.
Remaining cases include topics like birthright citizenship, gun laws, and voting rights.
The Supreme Court typically announces most opinions in the final weeks of its term.
The term ends in late June or early July.
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Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales have formally resigned from Congress due to sexual misconduct scandals. Swalwell's resignation is immediate, while Gonzales' resignation took effect later the same day.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales are members of Congress from California and Texas, respectively.
Swalwell faced accusations from four women involving sexual misconduct, which he denies.
Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.
Both resignations occurred on the same day, with different effective times.
They resigned because they were at risk of being expelled from Congress.
The House clerk recorded the times when their resignations became effective.
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President Donald Trump's administration has proposed a significant reduction in the fruit and vegetable benefits for the WIC program in its 2027 budget request. This change could affect the nutritious food access of families relying on WIC, which supports low-income women, infants, and children. Congress previously rejected similar cuts, opting instead to boost WIC funding.
Key Facts
The WIC program provides nutrition support to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children.
Current WIC benefits for fiscal year 2026 include $26 per month for children and $52 for breastfeeding participants.
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 suggests reducing these benefits to $10 for children and $13 for breastfeeding participants.
The proposal includes a $500 million increase to WIC's contingency fund.
Nutrition experts link WIC to better dietary intake and child health outcomes.
Congress rejected similar budget cuts for fiscal year 2026.
Nearly all states have implemented changes to WIC food packages including more options for fruits and vegetables.
Walmart accepts WIC benefits in most locations, but online use is limited to certain states.
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A woman in California claims that Representative Eric Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2018. She plans to report the incident to the police. Swalwell announced he would resign from Congress following these and previous allegations.
Key Facts
A woman accused Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual assault in 2018.
The alleged assault took place in a Southern California hotel.
The accuser is named Lonna Drewes.
Drewes claimed she was drugged by Swalwell before the assault.
Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress.
There were earlier allegations of sexual assault against Swalwell from another woman.
Swalwell also quit the California governor's race.
Swalwell's attorney, Elias Debaie, did not provide a comment.
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The 2020 U.S. Census data shows that the most common last names in the United States have stayed mostly the same over the past decade. However, Asian last names are among the fastest-growing, reflecting changing demographics. The Census also released first-name data for the first time since 1990, showing little change in the most common first names.
Key Facts
The five most common U.S. last names in 2020 were Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones.
Rodriguez moved to the 8th spot in the top 10 most common last names, swapping places with Davis.
Asian surnames Zhang, Liu, and Wang were the three fastest-growing from 2010 to 2020.
Asians are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S., now making up roughly 7% of the population.
The Census also provided last name data by racial and ethnic groups, noting unique common names for each group.
The 2020 Census included first-name data for the first time since 1990, showing stable rankings.
Common male first names in 2020 included Michael, John, and James; female names included Mary and Maria.
Census name data covers all ages, unlike the Social Security Administration's list that focuses only on newborns.
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President Donald Trump, impeached twice during his first term, may consider trying to remove the record of his 2019 impeachment after new documents were released. These documents suggest a potential bias in the impeachment process involving former Inspector General Michael Atkinson. Legal experts, however, say there's no clear process to expunge an impeachment.
Key Facts
President Trump was impeached in 2019 and acquitted by the Senate in 2020.
Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz believes Trump may have grounds to seek an expungement of his 2019 impeachment.
Newly declassified documents suggest Michael Atkinson relied on potentially biased narratives in the impeachment process.
The U.S. Constitution does not specify a way to expunge an impeachment, and no historical precedent exists.
Some Republican lawmakers have tried to introduce measures to remove Trump's impeachments, but these efforts have not succeeded.
Legal experts argue that once an impeachment happens, it cannot be undone because it involves the Senate trial process.
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A U.S. appeals court ruled that a federal judge's contempt investigation into the Trump administration's deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants must end. The court found that the judge overstepped his authority in the criminal contempt proceedings related to deportation flights in March 2025. The case reflects ongoing legal challenges in President Trump's deportation efforts.
Key Facts
The appeals court decided a judge must stop a contempt investigation related to deportation flights.
Chief Judge James Boasberg was found to have overstepped his authority in the legal proceedings.
The investigation concerned flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.
The case is part of President Trump's broader deportation campaign.
A three-judge panel ruled, with two in favor and one dissenting.
The White House claimed Boasberg was biased against the Trump administration.
The original March 2025 court order did not clearly forbid the government from transferring the migrants.
Legal responses continue, with the ACLU planning to seek further court review.
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A group of lawmakers led by Representative Jamie Raskin is proposing a new panel to assess President Donald Trump's ability to fulfill his duties. This initiative aims to use the 25th Amendment as a way to potentially remove him from office. The proposed commission would be permanent and nonpartisan.
Key Facts
Representative Jamie Raskin introduced a bill to create a panel related to the 25th Amendment.
The purpose of the panel is to evaluate President Trump’s ability to do his job.
The panel would be permanent and nonpartisan.
This panel would offer a new way to use the 25th Amendment to remove a president if necessary.
The bill has support from 50 lawmakers.
Concerns about President Trump's recent actions prompted this proposal.
The 25th Amendment addresses the removal of a president who is unable to fulfill their duties.
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The Senior Citizens League estimates that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 will be 2.8%, the same as in 2026. This expected increase may not help seniors keep up with rising costs for housing, healthcare, and other daily expenses.
Key Facts
The estimated 2027 COLA for Social Security is 2.8%.
This COLA estimate is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation.
Senior households typically have about 58% of the income of working-age households.
Rising costs in areas like housing and healthcare greatly impact seniors.
If COLA does not increase, seniors' purchasing power could decrease.
Over 40% of retirees rely solely on Social Security for income.
Inflation rates might be higher than the COLA adjustment.
The official 2027 COLA will be announced in October.
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A Minnesota county is investigating the arrest of ChongLy "Scott" Thao by federal immigration officers, viewing it as a possible case of kidnapping. Thao, a U.S. citizen, was taken from his home without a warrant. The Department of Homeland Security has not fully cooperated with the investigation.
Key Facts
Federal officers arrested ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a Hmong American, without showing a warrant.
Thao was taken from his home in St. Paul, Minnesota in freezing weather.
Thao is a U.S. citizen and was eventually returned home after a few hours.
Ramsey County is investigating the arrest as potential kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has not cooperated with the investigation as of the report.
ICE said they were looking for two convicted sex offenders, but one of these men was still in prison at the time.
Videos of the arrest show neighborhood residents protesting against the officers.
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Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who was shot by ICE agents in California, was arrested by the FBI after leaving the hospital. His lawyer says federal officials have not explained why Mendoza was taken into custody or what charges he may face. Mendoza had surgeries for gunshot wounds and claims he should not have been discharged.
Key Facts
Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez was shot by ICE agents in California.
The incident happened during an enforcement stop targeting Mendoza.
Mendoza was discharged from the hospital and then arrested by the FBI.
His lawyer, Patrick Kolasinski, says officials have not provided charge details.
Mendoza claims he was not in a gang and was acquitted of murder in El Salvador.
ICE agents say they fired defensive shots as Mendoza tried to drive into them.
Dashcam footage shows agents with weapons drawn as Mendoza drove away.
Mendoza is a dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico, living in the U.S. since 2019.
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The race for the next governor of California is crowded, with no clear Democratic frontrunner after Rep. Eric Swalwell's campaign ended. California's primary system allows only the top two candidates, regardless of party, to move to the general election, raising concerns among Democrats about vote splitting. Several candidates from both major parties, including Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Matt Mahan, Betty Yee, and Xavier Becerra, are vying for the position.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell's exit has left the Democratic field without a clear leader.
California uses a top-two primary system where all candidates compete together, and only the top two advance.
Democrats worry that a divided vote could let two Republicans advance to the general election.
Republican candidates include Chad Bianco, supported by President Trump, and Steve Hilton, a former TV commentator.
Democratic candidates include Katie Porter, an ex-congressmember, Tom Steyer, a former presidential candidate, Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, Betty Yee, ex-state controller, and Xavier Becerra, former U.S. health official.
The general election is set for November, with mail-in voting beginning soon.
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President Donald Trump held a photo opportunity at the Oval Office with Sharon Simmons, a DoorDash delivery driver, to promote his "no tax on tips" policy before Tax Day. The stunt, intended to replicate the success of his 2024 McDonald's visit, faced criticism and questions about authenticity from Democrats and labor advocates.
Key Facts
President Trump hosted a photo-op with Sharon Simmons, a DoorDash delivery driver, to promote his "no tax on tips" policy.
The event took place at the Oval Office just before Tax Day.
Critics questioned the authenticity of the event, leading DoorDash to defend the setup.
Simmons denied being a paid actor and appeared on Fox News.
Gas prices had recently increased by 35 percent in a month, affecting gig workers like Simmons.
During the event, Trump tipped Simmons $100 and diverted from the main topic with unrelated questions.
A previous campaign event at McDonald's in 2024 had been viewed as successful for Trump.
Trump's approval rating on economic management had fallen to a low of 31 percent, based on a CNN poll.
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