“The Trump administration’s recent moves to make flavored e-cigarettes and vapes more widely available have caused a splintering among prominent voices in the MAHA movement and even some federal health officials,” NBC News reports.
Israel Says It Killed Leader of Hamas Military Wing
“Israel says it has killed the leader of Hamas’ military wing, one of the architects of the Oct, 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war in Gaza,” the AP reports.
“Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in a strike in Gaza City on Friday, Israel’s army said. He was one of the last senior commanders in Hamas’ military who had directed the planning and execution of the Oct. 7. Hamas-led attacks on Israel.”
Republicans Skewer Pentagon Over Poland Move
“Top Republicans on Friday condemned the Pentagon for canceling a U.S. troop deployment to Poland, an abrupt move that also appeared to catch Army leaders by surprise,” Politico reports.
“The decision, House Armed Service Committee members said, amounted to a gut punch to the NATO ally and to a Congress that has sought to beef up the U.S. presence in Europe. They made those frustrations clear at a hearing with Army officials, where the service’s top civilian and uniform leaders had few answers about the rationale for the move and confirmed its last-minute timing.”
Inside Trump’s Midterm Strategy
Wall Street Journal: “With under six months to go before the midterm elections, Republicans are staring down a litany of challenges: historic trends against the party controlling the White House, fresh economic troubles fed by an unpopular war with Iran and a president who has been dismissive of voter anxieties over rising prices.”
“To overcome those obstacles, President Trump’s allies are counting on massive financial resources—including an unprecedented $347 million from a Trump-aligned political committee—and closer coordination on a strategy to flip the economy on Democrats.”
“The message: Putting Democrats in power will only lead to gridlock.”
“The goal is to prevent the election from becoming a referendum on Trump and to capitalize on Democrats’ bruised public image, people involved in the effort said.”
The Next James Bond?
I had a nice conversation with the great Julie Mason about Donald Trump’s trip to China, what might happen next in Cuba and who should be the next James Bond.
Justices Won’t Restore Virginia’s Gerrymander
“The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia’s bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House of Representatives,” the AP reports.
“The court’s order is the latest twist in the nation’s mid-decade redistricting competition.”
Colorado Governor Grants Clemency to Tina Peters
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) “will reduce Tina Peters’ sentence by half, he confirmed Friday, appearing to bend to demands from President Donald Trump — while ignoring the pleas of many other Colorado elected officials and the prosecutor who won the former county clerk’s conviction in an election data-breach scheme,” the Denver Post reports.
“The commutation will reduce Peters’ original sentence of nearly nine years, which was thrown out last month, to about 4.5 years, Polis said in an interview Friday. His decision will make her parole-eligible for release from prison beginning June 1.”
New York Times: “Mr. Polis said he believed that Ms. Peters, a nonviolent first-time offender, had received too harsh a sentence because of her embrace of conspiracy theories about Mr. Trump’s 2020 election loss.”
Oil Prices Could Soon Rise Convulsively
The Economist: “The largest supply shock in petroleum history is getting larger fast. Some 2 billion barrels, or 5% of the world’s yearly oil supply, have already been lost because the Strait of Hormuz is shut. Every day it remains closed the deficit grows by 14 million barrels. Since peace talks between America and Iran have stalled, a reopening still seems many days away.”
“Yet oil markets look strangely calm. Brent crude futures, at $105 a barrel, have fallen from April highs of nearly $120. They remain below the peak of $129 in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. Spot prices have slid even more, implying that crude oil is more plentiful than it was earlier in the war. The surprising mini-glut is real—but do not take too much comfort from it. A full-blown energy disaster may be weeks away.”
Another Bonus Quote of the Day
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for the country. To the folks at CBS, in the words of the great Ed Murrow: Good night, and good luck, motherfuckers.”
— David Letterman, quoted by CNN, speaking to Stephen Colbert as “The Late Show” ends its 33-year run on CBS.
Eric Trump to Sue Jen Psaki Over China Trip Claims
Eric Trump said he will sue MS NOW and one of its hosts Jen Psaki after a monologue on her show questioned whether his business interests, combined with traveling with his father on a high-stakes trip to China, was a conflict of interest, The Hill reports.
Republicans Waited to Challenge Trump on the Iran War
New York Times: “The Republican-led Congress has missed a crucial window to play a role in the U.S. military operation in Iran, with G.O.P. lawmakers who deferred to President Trump for months on the war now hand-tied by their reticence to challenge him and his administration’s efforts to evade congressional oversight or input.”
“That posture — the latest move by Republicans to cede congressional power to the president — has effectively allowed Mr. Trump to run out the clock for quick action by Congress on the conflict.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“This administration is dripping with corruption from top to bottom, but rushing a settlement to steal $1.7 billion taxpayer dollars for a slush fund before a judge can toss your junk lawsuit would be among the most corrupt acts in American political history. This lawsuit has never been anything more than a shakedown of the American people by a crook president and his crook lawyers.”
— Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), quoted by CNBC, on the reported settlement proposal the Justice Department has with President Trump for his lawsuit against the IRS.
Executions Surge in Iran Since Ceasefire
New York Times: “Iran has executed four prisoners this week on charges that include espionage and terrorism, according to Iranian news media, the latest in what rights groups say is a rapid escalation in the government’s use of the death penalty.”
“Iran has long been one of the world’s most frequent users of capital punishment. Yet the pace of sentencing and hangings appears to have surged over the last two months, amid the war with the United States and Israel.”
Trump Waffles on $14 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan
President Trump said he’s unsure whether he would greenlight a planned $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan after discussing arms sales in “great detail” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Axios reports.
Demonstrations to Sweep the South Over Redistricting
Axios: “A wave of voting rights battles and GOP redistricting fights is triggering a coordinated response across the South, with organizers preparing a ‘Summer of Action’ campaign with marches that start this weekend.”
“Organizers say the fight over congressional maps, voting access and political representation is accelerating in real time as states redraw political power ahead of November’s midterms and the 2028 general election.”
Democrats Have ‘Break-the-Glass’ Plan for California
“Gavin Newsom said he’s confident at least one Democrat will advance from California’s June gubernatorial primary, hinting at a ‘break-the-glass’ contingency plan as he declined — yet again — to endorse in the race,” Politico reports.
Newsom “alluded to behind-the-scenes efforts to rally people. He did not specify his activities, but the Democratic Governors Association recently began sending mail highlighting Republican Steve Hilton as a fierce conservative. The ostensible opposition campaign could drive GOP voters to Hilton, ensuring he consolidates the party’s voters and saps the support of the other Republican candidate, Chad Bianco, enough to keep him from finishing in the top two.”
Trump Faces Decision on Whether to Resume Iran Strikes
New York Times: “President Trump returned from China on Friday facing major decisions on Iran, as his top aides have drafted plans for a return to military strikes if Mr. Trump decides to try to break the impasse with more bombs.”
“Mr. Trump has yet to make a decision on his next steps, the aides say. Officials from interested countries have been trying to patch together a compromise that would prompt Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow Mr. Trump to declare victory and try to convince skeptical American voters that the expensive and deadly military foray into Iran was a success.”
Absent GOP Congressman Is Under Doctor’s Care
“Top House Republicans have grown increasingly concerned by Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s mysterious absence from the chamber,” CNN reports.
“Now his father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., is seeking to offer assurances that his son will be returning soon — though he, too, declined to offer any specifics as to why the congressman has been out of the public eye for more than two months.”
“Kean Sr. said his son is recovering from what he described as a serious but temporary illness, pushing back on speculation surrounding the congressman’s prolonged absence from Washington.”
