Trump News for Monday, May 4, 2026

White House Considers Vetting AI Models Before They Are Released

BeauHD, Slashdot.org

The Trump administration is reportedly considering an executive order to create a working group that could review advanced AI models before public release. The shift follows concerns over Anthropic's powerful Mythos model and its cyber capabilities, with offi…

Reality Shows Are Increasingly Shot Abroad, But Networks & Streamers Would Like To Film More In U.S. – Reality TV Summit

Peterdeadline, Deadline

Rob Lowe, host of Fox game show The Floor, made a lot of noise last year when he detailed how it was cheaper to bring 100 Americans to Ireland than to walk across the lot at Fox and shoot it in LA. The Floor, which is shot just outside of Dublin, Ireland, is …

Secret Service officers exchange gunfire with armed suspect near White House: USSS

Meredith Deliso, Abcnews.com

A plainclothes Secret Service officer observed a "suspicious individual that appeared to have a firearm," USSS Deputy Director Matt Quinn said during a press briefing.

For Christians in Israel and Jerusalem, intolerance is becoming normal

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Despite official framing, for Christians there is little new in last week's assault on a French nun in East Jerusalem.

Trump eyes a new construction project

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Donald Trump is eyeing a new target in his effort to r…

Hotels have a big World Cup problem: Bookings are running far below projections

Rafael Nam, NPR

Nearly 80% of hotels surveyed by a body representing the industry reported bookings were running below projections — a worrisome sign with only weeks to go before the World Cup.

White House Lawyers Secretly Prep Trump Team for Brutal Midterms

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

The White House is forecasting a rough November for congressional Republicans.In private briefings, attorneys at the White House Counsel’s Office are preparing executive branch staff for a blue wave in the 2026 elections, The Washington Post reported Monday.T…

Republican whispers about Vance getting louder...

Matthew Bartlett, MS Now

Republican whispers about Vance getting louder... (Second column, 7th story, link) Related stories:IVANKA THE REAL NEXT TRUMP CONTENDER?

Judge apologizes to accused Correspondents' Dinner gunman for treatment in DC jail...

John Gonzalez, Rebecca Turco, WJLA

Judge apologizes to accused Correspondents' Dinner gunman for treatment in DC jail... (First column, 2nd story, link) Related stories:Secret Service says individual shot near White House triggering lockdown...

Brazil’s Lula to travel to US to meet with Trump later this week

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Media reports say the Brazilian president will meet with his US counterpart in the White House in the coming days.

Hormuz tensions push ceasefire to the brink as Trump threatens Iran

Ali Harb, Al Jazeera English

US military says it is encouraging ships to pass through Hormuz Strait, but Iran says it is in full control of waterway.

Russia and Ukraine declare competing ceasefires

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Moscow's declaration of May 9 truce comes as Kyiv revels in its adversary's 'fear' of Ukrainian drones.

Trump stops short of saying Iran violated ceasefire: 'not heavy firing'

Jonathan Karl, Abcnews.com

Trump told ABC News Iran "better hope" the ceasefire holds.

Exclusive-US intelligence indicates limited new damage to Iran's nuclear program, sources say

By Gram Slattery, Jonathan Landay and Erin Banco, Yahoo Entertainment

By Gram Slattery, Jonathan Landay and Erin Banco WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that the time Iran would need to build ...

Judge Says Jan. 6 Rioters Treated Better in Jail Than WHCD Gunman

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

A federal judge on Monday apologized to Cole Allen, the alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter, for what his lawyers described as “excessive restrictions on his liberty that serve no justifiable purpose.”Cole Allen, who stormed into the Washington…

Section 702 Vote Pushed Back Another Six Weeks Following GOP’s ‘But With Cryptocurrency Ban’ Failure

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

The administration isn’t exactly winning here. The GOP has been opposed to a clean reauthorization since its first brush with warrantless surveillance back during the Biden administration. GOP members weren’t upset that the FBI routinely abused the NSA’s Sect…

Europe Without America

Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic

The Iran war has given European leaders new impetus to plan for self-defense.

Medicaid Money Trail Leads to Biggest Scandal Ever Found...

Luke Rosiak, The Daily Wire

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just before the Department of Government Efficiency closed its doors, it made a quiet move that may end up as its most lasting impact on the federal deficit.DOGE published a massive trove of data in February that, for the first time, lets the…

Pulitzers Recognize Reporting On Donald Trump’s Second Term Fallout; Julie K. Brown Awarded Special Citation For Jeffrey Epstein Coverage

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The New York Times, The Washington Post and Reuters were multiple winners of Pulitzer Prizes on Monday, while the journalism committee awarded a special citation to the Miami Herald’s Julie K. Brown for her reporting on Jeffrey Epstein. A number of the winner…

Judge raises alarm about WHCD suspect's post-arrest treatment

Alexander Mallin, Abcnews.com

The judge convened a hearing on Monday after attorneys for Cole Allen requested over the weekend that he be removed from suicide watch at D.C.'s jail facility.

Barack Obama + Luke Skywalker = Star Wars Day 2026: “Strong, The Dad Jokes Are!”

Dominic Patten, Deadline

It’s Star Wars Day today, but it is starting to feel a lot like Barack Obama Week too. One day before a much hyped sit-down with Stephen Colbert, the 44th POTUS teamed up with Luke Skywalker himself Monday to celebrate May The 4th Be With You, as well as the …

Trump-Linked World Liberty Financial Accuses ‘Victimized’ Crypto Billionaire of Defamation

Kyle Torpey, Gizmodo.com

Justin Sun was once one of the biggest supporters of Trump's crypto agenda.

Judge warns of 'serious consequences' if administration begins work DC golf course

Peter Charalambous, Luke Barr, Abcnews.com

A judge has warned DOJ lawyers of "serious consequences" if the Trump administration begins major work at a public D.C. golf course without first notifying the court.

Trump's plan to transfer millions of student-loan accounts to the Treasury is in the works, officials confirm

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

The Treasury Department confirmed to Sen. Elizabeth Warren that it has started the process of taking over defaulted student-loan borrowers' accounts.

Iran-US clash over alleged warship attack in Strait of Hormuz

Al Jazeera English

Iran claims its navy forced a US warship to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz as Washington denies any clash.

DeSantis Signs Gerrymandered Florida Map to Flip Seats for Republicans

Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made his state’s new gerrymandered congressional map official Monday. DeSantis signed the map that his own office specifically drew in order to capture four more Republican seats in time for November’s midterm elections, hoping t…

Zambia delaying US deals over minerals and data demands

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Government calls for partnership not aid as it rejects US funds due to strategic autonomy concerns.

Trump Threatens Iran as His Plan for Strait of Hormuz Disintegrates

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

The war on Iran is very much back on, and President Trump is making more genocidal threats. Iran on Monday bombed a South Korean ship and civilian sites in the United Arab Emirates, in the wake of President Trump’s announcement that the United States would be…

Staffing Crisis In DOJ, Giving Criminal Defendants New Leverage...

Scott MacFarlane, Substack.com

Staffing Crisis In DOJ, Giving Criminal Defendants New Leverage... (First column, 13th story, link) Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron

Oil Prices Surge After Iran Hits UAE Oil Facility With Drone and US Sinks 6 Iranian Boats

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The U.S. is encouraging ships to travel through the Strait of Hormuz which is still a risky proposition.

The $16 Million Question: If Editing Harris Was ‘Election Interference,’ What Was Editing Trump?

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

In late 2024, Donald Trump sued CBS for $10 billion claiming “election interference” because 60 Minutes had the audacity to (*gasp*) edit a Kamala Harris interview down for broadcast. The lawsuit was, on its face, ridiculous — editing interviews is protected …

IATSE Files Unfair Labor Practice Charges Against Kennedy Center Over Worker Layoffs In Advance Of Planned Closure

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said that it has filed unfair labor practice charges against the Kennedy Center over the layoffs of workers in advance of the arts institution’s planned closure in July. The charges, filed with the Nati…

NASA Welcomes Malta as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory

Elizabeth Shaw, NASA

The Republic of Malta became the 65th signatory to the Artemis Accords on Monday during a ceremony in the town of Kalkara with NASA and U.S. Department of State officials present. “Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome the Republic of Malta to the Artemis Accord…

The Supreme Court gets thrown back into the abortion wars

Ian Millhiser, Vox

On Friday evening, the far-right United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit attempted to cut off access to the abortion drug mifepristone. If you’re experiencing déjà vu, you should be, because in 2023, the far-right United States Court of Appeals for…

US Supreme Court temporarily lifts ban on abortion pill mail delivery

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Top court restores telehealth access to mifepristone for at least one week as legal challenges to medication play out.

Mamdani condemns ICE action at Bushwick hospital, says NYPD didn’t coordinate

Ben Feuerherd, Arya Sundaram, Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist

Brooklyn Brought President Antonio Reynoso speaks at a rally Monday, May 4, 2026, outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick. Immigration advocates and local officials also condemned the action and praised the effort by New Yorkers to disrupt ICE. …

What’s Going on With This Stock Market?

James Surowiecki, The Atlantic

The boom is not as untethered from reality as it may look.

The UAE says Iran resumes attacks as the U.S. moves to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

The Associated Press, NPR

The U.S. military said it helped two merchant ships transit the Strait of Hormuz, and the United Arab Emirates said it was fending off Iranian missiles and drones.

US releases Touska container ship crew: Why it matters

Caolán Magee, Al Jazeera English

Pakistan said the release of the crew members reflected a 'confidence-building measure' between Tehran and Washington.

US official says China is ‘funding’ Iran, urges Beijing to help open Hormuz

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Scott Bessent says US has 'absolute control' of Hormuz, but calls on China to 'step up' with diplomacy to reopen strait.

Has Trump Ever Actually Played UNO Before?

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

Donald Trump has the reputation of being a bit of a card shark—but apparently, he has no idea what he’s doing at the table.The president was roasted alive on Sunday after he revealed via a photoshopped image that he doesn’t understand the rules of the popular…

Peter Arnell selected as America's first chief brand architect

Ben Dreith, Dezeen

The US government has selected American design executive Peter Arnell to serve as the chief brand architect within the newly formed National Design Studio and shape the identity of a "different type of government". The position entails leading "strategic and …

Trump family's crypto firm sues investor Justin Sun, escalating feud

Lucien Bruggeman, Abcnews.com

The Trump family's cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, has filed a defamation suit against Chinese crypto mogul Justin Sun, escalating an ongoing feud.

China blocks Meta AI deal over security concerns

Fox News

China's regulators stopped Meta's reported $2 billion deal to acquire Manus, an AI startup, requiring all parties to withdraw amid a growing U.S.-China tech rivalry.

Does Trump hold ‘all the cards’ against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz?

Usaid Siddiqui, Al Jazeera English

Trump signals confidence in Iran standoff as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz.

CBS News ratings sink further

Rob Beschizza, Boing Boing

Ratings at CBS News fell further in the latest ratings data published by Nielsen. Even right-wing media seem to consider the management of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss a disaster for the network. Here's The New York Post: For the week ending April 20, "CBS Mor…

Judge on challenge to Trump golf course takeover: ‘I’m no Amy Poehler’

Zach Schonfeld, The Hill

A federal judge declined to immediately block the Trump administration from closing East Potomac Golf Links, saying recent reports about renovation plans...

The 2028 Democratic Primary Is Shaping Up as a Generational Opportunity for the Left

Jacob Weindling, Jezebel

It would not shock me at all to see most primaries unfold with AOC getting around 40% of the vote, Newsom and Harris each getting about 20%, and everyone else combining for the remaining 20%. If Ocasio-Cortez can pick off enough mainstream Democratic voters i…

War preparations under way in Iran as Hormuz tensions with US escalate

Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera English

Amid stalled talks and sparring over key waterway, Iranian media say US warship struck, but Washington denies incident.

Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’: Can US navy ‘guide’ stuck ships out of Hormuz?

Caolán Magee, Al Jazeera English

Trump says US navy will free up ships stranded in the Gulf, but it remains unclear how the campaign will be implemented.

Melania Hates Trump’s Dancing Too

Claire Guinan, Jezebel

“She hates when I dance to what is sometimes referred to as the gay national anthem,” Trump told the crowd at a rally. What’s the problem, Melania? You got a problem with gay people? Or do you just hate your husband's dancing? (Or just your husband?)

Paramount Reveals Company Will Be 49.5% Owned By Foreign Investors If Warner Bros Merger Approved

Karl Bode, Techdirt

FCC boss Brendan Carr has spent much of the last five years on cable TV whining incessantly about foreign entanglement with U.S. companies. Even companies he doesn’t regulate. He was positively apoplectic about China’s ownership of TikTok, which you may recal…

SCOTUS Rules Telehealth Abortions Safe, For Now

Danielle Han, Jezebel

“Of course, we are relieved that the stay allows telehealth providers to continue to mail abortion pills,” Elisa Wells, co-founder of Plan C, told Jezebel. “But we remain concerned about the final outcome of this case, which bases its claims on bogus claims a…

‘Israel is not implementing the ceasefire agreement in Gaza’

Al Jazeera English

‘Israel is not implementing the ceasefire agreement in Gaza’

Winning peace in Lebanon is harder than winning war

Lorenzo Kamel, Al Jazeera English

Resolving the conflict in Lebanon necessitates taking into account its long history and new geopolitical realities.

The Southern Poverty Law Center Indictment

Alex Tabarrok, Marginalrevolution.com

The excellent Patrick McKenzie has a very long Bits About Money post on the the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) indictment. It is filled with details about bank operating procedures. I’m going to summarize. The post is divided into what I think of as two p…

Iran says it fired missiles at US warship to prevent it entering Hormuz

Al Jazeera English

Iranian state media says two missiles have struck a US navy destroyer to prevent it entering the Strait of Hormuz.

Young men’s religious revival is a myth

Amanda Marcotte, Salon

New polling suggests the recent “converts” care more about gender than Jesus

'Persistently high' number of NYC kids rely on food pantries as aid cuts loom

Karen Yi, Gothamist

Families receive food at the Reaching Out Community Services food pantry on March 25, 2025, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. City Harvest released its annual report on child hunger as families brace for deep cuts to SNAP. [ more › ]

Trump is bleeding his 2024 voters, but not fast enough for the midterms

Russell Payne, Salon

Once confined to commentary, dissatisfaction with Trump is breaking containment among GOP voters

10 Monday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My back-to-work morning train reads: • Sell in May and Go Away? Not This Year. The S&P 500 Just Had Its Best Month Since 2020. Don’t let sell in May’ spook you. Stocks have been on a tear. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA -0.31% has risen 0.9% this past …

8 things you should know about Trump’s effort to “take over” the midterm elections

ProPublica, Salon

Trump is gutting federal agencies and installing allies who supported his claim that the 2020 vote was stolen.

Trump’s Penn Station rebuild opens door to unifying New York’s railroads

Stephen Nessen, Gothamist

NJ Transit trains like this one could keep rolling out to Long Island under a "through-running" plan for Penn Station. For decades, transportation planners have sought to create a single passenger rail system that runs through Penn Station. [ more › ]

Republicans see GOP dysfunction as major liability ahead of midterms

Alexander Bolton, The Hill

Senate Republicans say the dysfunction in the House is becoming a liability for the broader GOP brand ahead of this year’s midterm elections, warning that if...

Barack Obama Considers His Role in the Age of Trump

Peter Slevin, The New Yorker

The former President remains one of the most popular politicians in the country. What are his obligations to it? Peter Slevin reports on Obama’s role—and its limits.

Is the Twenty-fifth Amendment Really an Option?

Diego Lasarte, The New Yorker

After J.F.K.’s assassination, a neophyte lawyer named John Feerick was summoned to Washington to draft the provision. Now everyone wants him to weigh in on booting Trump from office. Diego Lasarte writes.

Two Hundred and Fifty Years of Complicated Commemorations

Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker

Jelani Cobb on observing the Declaration of Independence on previous landmark anniversaries—in the wake of the Civil War, the Vietnam War, Watergate—and why we are unlikely to see Donald Trump presiding over nuanced celebrations of our history this July 4th.

How Americans Caught Gold Fever Again

Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker

Soaring gold prices, viral panning influencers, gold-rush shows on Discovery TV, and Trump’s gold obsession have ignited a craze for prospecting not seen since the forty-niners headed West. Jennifer Wilson reports.

Metallic scorpion stingers, preeclampsia hope, canceled wind energy projects

Rachel Feltman, Andrea Gawrylewski, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura, Scientific American

A look at what makes scorpions so deadly, why there’s hope for preeclampsia and how President Trump is gutting wind energy

NATO chief says Europeans have ‘gotten the message’ from Trump on defence

Adam Hancock, Al Jazeera English

The US president has accused some NATO countries of not doing enough to support the US-Israel war on Iran.

The Venture-Capital Populist

George Packer, The Atlantic

How David Sacks and the new tech right went full MAGA and captured Washington

Trump’s Killing Spree Isn’t Stopping the Flow of Drugs Into the U.S.

Nick Turse, The Intercept

The Trump administration falsely claims that boat strikes target fentanyl and have halted 97 percent of cocaine shipments to the U.S. The post Trump’s Killing Spree Isn’t Stopping the Flow of Drugs Into the U.S. appeared first on The Intercept.

Poll Finds 62% of Americans Don’t Trust Trump on Crypto

Kyle Torpey, Gizmodo.com

Despite his campaign's emphasis on crypto, one of Trump's signature pledges remains unfulfilled.

Trump administration falls behind on wildfire prevention with risky fire season ahead

Lauren Sommer, NPR

Many of the nation's overgrown forests are at high risk of burning. Under the Trump administration, work to reduce flammable vegetation fell by more than a million acres compared to previous years.

Iran war: What’s happening on day 66 as Trump announces Hormuz mission?

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump orders new Hormuz mission after Iran says it receives US response to its peace proposal.

Welcome to the Great American Satellite Age

Paresh Dave, Wired

A new generation of satellite startups in San Francisco is racing to capitalize on recent technological breakthroughs in space-based data collection and communications.

The worst way to make money off Trump: invest in his company

estewart@insider.com (Emily Stewart), Business Insider

Trump Media stock is down nearly 90% since its peak. Here's why the company behind Truth Social hasn't lived up to expectations.

Iran warns US to stay out of Hormuz after Trump says US will ‘guide’ ships

Adam Hancock, Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

President Trump said the US will begin Project Freedom on Monday to guide stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Former NYC Mayor Giuliani hospitalised in ‘critical condition’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Spokesman says Giuliani in 'critical but stable' condition as President Trump hails 'true warrior'.

NATO's Rutte says Europeans have 'gotten message' from Trump

By Andrew Gray, Yahoo Entertainment

BRUSSELS, May 4 (Reuters) - European nations have "gotten the message" from U. President Donald Trump and ‌are now ensuring that agreements on the use ‌of...

China has a welcome mat for Trump: it just rewrote the rules on U.S. sanctions

Yahoo Entertainment

UAE says Iran has resumed attacks as the US moves to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

ADAM SCHRECK and SAM METZ, Yahoo Entertainment

The U.S. military said Monday it battled Iranian forces and sank six small boats as it moved to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates, a key...

Spirit Airlines shut down during my first trip to the US. I treated it like another tourist experience.

Aditi Bharade, Business Insider

Nicole Liel's Spirit flight from Chicago to NYC was canceled after the airline failed to secure a bailout from the Trump administration.

Iran live updates: UKMTO reports attacks on 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz

David Brennan, Abcnews.com

President Donald Trump said he ordered U.S. forces to guide ships and crews from countries that are not involved with the Iran war out of Strait of Hormuz.

TikTok recreates its ads for billboards through Vistar partnership

Krystal Scanlon, Digiday

Partnering with Vistar Media, TikTok is rebuilding — not repurposing — ad creative for OOH, with tight control over branding and execution.

Trump says US to begin escorting ships in Strait of Hormuz

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump has announced a naval mission to escort stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices flat as Trump’s plan for Strait of Hormuz fails to calm market

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Brent crude is largely unmoved by Trump's announcement of the operation, dubbed Project Freedom.

WATCH: America Strong: A 'miracle baby’ born twice

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A family in Orlando, Florida, celebrates their “miracle baby” Cassian after a rare and groundbreaking surgery allows him to be born “twice,” saving his life.

WATCH: Car filled with explosives crashes into club

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A former employee allegedly rammed his car through the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon. The car was packed with explosives and the driver killed in the explosion, officials said.

Trump says US to 'guide' stranded ships through Strait of Hormuz

BBC News

More than 100 aircraft and 15,000 personnel will be part of the operation due to start on Monday, the US military says.

Rudy Giuliani In “Critical But Stable Condition” In Florida Hospital

Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is currently in a Florida hospital in “critical but stable condition,” per reporting from The New York Times. It’s unclear what ailment led Giuliani to the hospital, nor when he was transported. His spokesman, Ted Good…

Rudy Giuliani in critical condition in hospital

BBC News

The long-time champion of Trump and former New York mayor is in hospital, according to his spokesman.