“Hundreds of vessels were seen clustering near Dubai on Tuesday, as more ships moved away from a still-empty Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s efforts to widen its area of control,” Bloomberg reports.
Trump Won’t Say If Ceasefire Is In Effect
President Trump won’t say whether the U.S.-Iran truce remains in place after both sides fired shots in the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reports.
He also warned Iranian forces they would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they targeted US ships in the strait or the Persian Gulf.
House Sexual Harassment Payouts Exceeded $300,000
“The federal government paid out more than $338,000 to settle allegations of sexual harassment on behalf of House members or their offices since 2004 — far more than had been previously known — according to Rep. Nancy Mace and a person granted anonymity to describe data provided to the House Oversight Committee,” Politico reports.
It’s Showtime for Trump’s Revenge Tour
“President Donald Trump’s power as the GOP’s kingmaker faces a major test with this month’s primaries. So far, he’s on rocky footing,” Politico reports.
“His revenge tour kicks off Tuesday in Indiana, as he tries to oust eight Republican state legislators who blocked his redistricting effort there. Then it moves on to Louisiana and Kentucky, where he’s backing challengers to two longtime enemies, Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Thomas Massie, who he’s been itching to unseat for years. Trump has also selected his favorite candidates in the crowded GOP primaries for Alabama Senate and Georgia governor.”
“But his picks have struggled to dominate their fields, with most holding only narrow leads in polling and some failing to pull far ahead in fundraising. In Indiana, even a few allies of the president are tempering expectations of a full eight-lawmaker sweep.”
Inside the Messy Iowa Democratic Senate Primary
Punchbowl News: “Democrats are banking on a high-stakes, long-shot win in Iowa.”
“The Hawkeye State voted for President Donald Trump by 13 points in 2024 and hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008. Still, Democrats are optimistic that a perfect storm of soaring gas and healthcare costs, tariffs and an unpopular president could help them flip the Senate seat blue.”
“But Democrats first must get through a contentious June 2 primary between state Sen. Zach Wahls and state Rep. Josh Turek before they can even turn their attention to the presumptive GOP nominee, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa).”
“The clash is a microcosm of the establishment moderate-versus-progressive insurgent battle raging within the Democratic Party, an ideological tussle that could cost them in November.”
Infighting Erupts as Democrats Intervene In Primaries
“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sparked a rare and heated bout of public infighting between House Democrats on Monday by endorsing multiple candidates who are still locked in contested primaries,” Axios reports.
“The blowup is dredging up an intense, long-standing debate about whether Democratic leadership is acting un-democratically to boost the candidates they view as more electable.”
Pirro Changes Course in Fed Investigation
“U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro on Monday asked a federal judge to vacate his decisions blocking aspects of her criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve under Chair Jerome Powell,” CNBC reports.
“Pirro’s motion effectively walks back an often-repeated plan to appeal the judge’s rulings to a higher court. That ends, for the time being, the threat that Powell could be forced to turn over evidence to Pirro. Still, it is unlikely to provide the Fed chair the certainty he wants that the legal threat against him and the central bank have dissipated.”
Supreme Court Agrees to Fast-Track Louisiana Map
New York Times: “The Supreme Court on Monday evening agreed to immediately transmit to the lower courts its opinion striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, rather than wait 32 days, as would have been routine.”
“Last week’s landmark opinion from the court, which weakened the Voting Rights Act by concluding that one of Louisiana’s majority-Black congressional districts was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, has set off a chaotic scramble in the state.”
Washington Post: Supreme Court clears path for Louisiana to redraw map in redistricting fight.
Trump Tries to Downplay Economic Effects of Iran War
New York Times: “Facing pressure to address the economic fallout of his war in Iran, President Trump on Monday sought to portray his policy wins for small businesses as evidence that he was succeeding in building up the economy.”
“Speaking to business leaders from across the country at an event in the East Room of the White House, Mr. Trump declared that slashing taxes and regulations had yielded ‘record business,’ and that the economy was ‘roaring’…”
“But looming over it all was a war abroad that Mr. Trump had begun, and whose economic impact is compounding cost-of-living concerns among Americans, many of whom increasingly say their economic reality has worsened under his tenure.”
RFK Jr.’s Podcast Is as Weird as You’d Expect
Wired: “The launch of The Secretary Kennedy Podcast — not to be confused with The RFK Jr. Podcast, which covered similar ground — comes amid signs of trouble in the MAHA movement…”
“The second episode of Kennedy’s podcast is just 15 minutes long and features professional boxer Mike Tyson, who appeared in a MAHA-aligned Super Bowl ad for ‘real food.’ Kennedy introduces Tyson, who was convicted in 1992 of raping a teenager and served three years in prison, as one of his ‘heroes.’”
Iran’s Attacks Test Trump’s Desire to End War
Wall Street Journal: “President Trump’s desire to end the Iran war is being put to the test after Tehran fired at American warships on Monday and violently disrupted a U.S. effort to revive shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”
“U.S. officials say Trump for days has toggled between two competing impulses: severely punishing Iran for failing to abandon its nuclear work, and avoiding a significant escalation that could draw the U.S. deeper into a Middle East conflict. Trump wants to avoid a fresh bombing campaign, officials say, preferring a negotiated end to Tehran’s nuclear advancements and the weekslong war that has raised gas prices and hurt the global economy.”
“Now, Trump has little choice but to make a decision between ordering a fresh round of airstrikes against Iran or brushing off Tehran’s provocations and charging ahead with his diplomatic initiative.”
Chuck Edwards Singled Out Young Female Aides
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) told a young female staffer that she had “written a complex chapter in my heart” shortly before she was set to leave his office, according to a handwritten letter he sent her, Axios reports.
“Edwards is now the subject of a House Ethics Committee probe… That probe was prompted in part by Edwards’ conduct toward two female staffers.”
Bill Cassidy Says Primary Is Julia Letlow’s to Lose
Punchbowl News: “Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) told reporters Monday that his three-way primary race is Rep. Julia Letlow’s (R-LA) to lose, saying his campaign will focus on keeping her out of a runoff.”
“Cassidy is locked in a messy primary battle with Letlow, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, and former Rep. John Fleming (R-LA), who has become a real threat in the contest. Cassidy is still in danger of not making it to a runoff as he fights through opposition from Trump.”
Trump Defends the Blockade of Iran
President Trump told Fox News that his military blockade of Iran is the “greatest military maneuver in history.”
Senate GOP Drafts Iran War Authorization
Senate Republicans are devising a plan behind the scenes to authorize U.S. military action in Iran, which would “likely limit ground troops and provide for a finite period of conflict,” Semafor reports.
Lindsey Graham Calls for ‘Big’ Retaliation Against Iran
“Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for President Donald Trump to launch a ‘big, strong, painful and short’ military retaliation against Iran on Monday, following Iran’s attack on the UAE, which he claimed violated the current ceasefire,” Mediaite reports.
Judge Warns Trump Not to Begin Golf Course Project
ABC News: “A federal judge on Monday warned Justice Department lawyers of ‘serious consequences’ if the Trump administration begins major work at a public golf course in the District of Columbia without getting approval and notifying the court in advance.”
Pundit Who Worked for Russian TV Challenges Charges
New York Times: “An American commentator for Russian television who was indicted during the Biden administration as part of an effort to combat Moscow’s propaganda filed a legal motion on Monday to dismiss the charges on First Amendment grounds.”
“Dimitri K. Simes, who was an adviser to Donald J. Trump’s first presidential campaign, and his wife, Anastasia Simes, were charged in 2024 with violating U.S. economic sanctions against Russia for their work for a state-owned television network.”
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