Trump News for Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Indiana senator who defied Trump over redistricting loses reelection bid, AP projects

Oren Oppenheim, Abcnews.com

He's one of seven senators who Trump endorsed challengers against.

Trump announces pause on US operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US president says ‘Project Freedom’ paused to see whether an agreement with Iran can be finalised and signed.

Rubio says operation in Iran is 'over,' nuclear material 'has to be addressed'

Mary Bruce, Abcnews.com

In his first turn at the White House briefing room podium, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was definitive that Operation Epic Fury in Iran is "over."

Charting how Trump became historically unpopular president...

Aaron Blake, Amy O’Kruk, Koko Nakajima, Ariel Edwards-Levy, CNN

Charting how Trump became historically unpopular president... (First column, 3rd story, link) Related stories:Republicans propose $1 billion in taxpayer dollars for Trump ballroom... White House East Wing debris dumped at nearby golf co…

What Trump’s ballroom could cost you

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: Stop me if you’ve heard this one — President Donald Tr…

Battle For L.A.: Mayor Candidate Nithya Raman On Production Crisis, Bass Attacks, Pratt Stunts, LA28 & Paramount-WBD Merger Dangers

Dominic Patten, Deadline

Editor’s Note: In what could be one of the most consequential elections in Los Angeles’ history, the race this year for mayor sees two former allies in an increasingly sharp bid to take over City Hall. With many issues in the contest between incumbent Mayor K…

Iran’s Unexpected Resilience

Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic

Two months of fighting have emphasized some of the country’s advantages.

Correspondents' dinner shooting suspect indicted by a grand jury on 4 counts

Alexander Mallin, Luke Barr, Abcnews.com

Cole Tomas Allen faces charges including attempted assassination of the president.

Coinbase to Layoff 14% of Workforce Amid AI Disruption and Crypto Volatility

Kyle Torpey, Gizmodo.com

The crypto exchange has joined the bull market for blaming cuts on AI.

Before Vatican trip, Rubio defends Trump remarks on Pope Leo over Iran

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Comments come before Marco Rubio’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday.

US Army says ‘Project Freedom’ in blockaded Hormuz has ‘just begun’

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

A US Central Command spokesperson says the mission to secure a safe passage of ships in the blocked waterway has begun.

Trump immigration czar pledges punishment if NY lawmakers limit cooperation with ICE

Jimmy Vielkind, Gothamist

Border czar Tom Homan said he'll "flood" New York with ICE agents if lawmakers pass a sanctuary state law. “We're going to flood the zone. You're going to see more ICE agents than you've ever seen before,” Border czar Tom Homan said. [ more › ]

Brighton Beach concert of Uzbek pop star canceled after criticism from Bruce Blakeman

Walter Wuthmann, Gothamist

GOP candidate for governor Bruce Blakeman. Yulduz Usmonova had been booked for a sold-out Mother’s Day concert at the Oceana Theater. [ more › ]

Trump Administration’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Sues The New York Times Over Reverse Discrimination Claims

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against The New York Times on Tuesday, alleging that it violated federal law when it passed up a white male employee for a promotion because of his race or sex. The lawsuit reflects a shift in the Trump a…

Someone Ask Alito: If December Was Too Late To Fix Unconstitutional Gerrymandering For The 2026 Midterms, Why Is May Okay?

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

Last December, Justice Alito told Texans they had to vote under an unconstitutional gerrymander because changing maps in December would deprive them of “certainty” before the 2026 midterms. Yesterday, with voting already underway in Louisiana, he rushed the c…

Mission is to preach peace, says Pope in response to Trump attacks

BBC News

Trump lashed out at the pope for condemning the conflict in the Middle East, as his secretary of state heads to the Vatican.

US plans to hike tariffs on EU cars to 25% will hit luxury market the most

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

US says it will hike tariffs to 25% because the EU has not complied with trade deal last year that set tariffs at 15%.

Apple Looking to Samsung and Intel for Chips Amid Shortages, Report Says

Omar Gallaga, CNET

Apple is reportedly keeping its options open beyond its main supplier, Taiwan Semiconductor.

Historic LaGuardia Airport terminal deserted after Spirit Airlines shutdown

Stephen Nessen, Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist

The rotunda at LaGuardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal was empty on Tuesday after Spirit Airlines went belly up. The Marine Air Terminal has served New York City air travelers since 1940. It's been forsaken due to the abrupt shutdown of Spirit Airlines. [ …

Hakeem Jeffries pushes New York to join redistricting battle

Jimmy Vielkind, Gothamist

U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle met Tuesday with Gov. Kathy Hochul U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle visited Albany Tuesday to urge lawmakers to adopt a mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps. [ more › ]

Hegseth Clings to Phony Ceasefire to Help Trump Evade War Powers Pressure

Nick Turse, The Intercept

War Secretary Pete Hegseth insists “the ceasefire is not over,” despite renewed combat between U.S. and Iranian forces. The post Hegseth Clings to Phony Ceasefire to Help Trump Evade War Powers Pressure appeared first on The Intercept.

Video: Trump says Iran should ‘wave the white flag’

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump said Iran should ‘wave the white flag of surrender’ in the war.

NPR went looking for Polymarket's Panama headquarters. It's elusive

Bobby Allyn, NPR

The hugely popular prediction market was shut down by U.S. regulators in 2022 and re-opened in Panama, where it has benefited from tax and legal benefits for years.

US push for Lebanon and Israel leaders to meet could inflame tensions

Justin Salhani, Al Jazeera English

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun is under pressure to meet with Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu on a US visit this month.

GOP bill adds $1 billion in security upgrades for Trump’s ballroom

Associated Press

Senate Republicans have added $1 billion in White House security upgrades to legislation that would fund immigration enforcement agencies, a proposed boost for President Donald Trump’s ballroom project after a man was charged with trying to assassinate him at…

Trump Rants About Iran War and Trans Athletes to Children in Oval Office

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

Donald Trump revived the Presidential Fitness Test Award in an Oval Office ceremony, ranting to children about the Iran war and trans athletes.

GOP aims to secure $1B for security-related aspects of White House ballroom project

Steven Portnoy, Allison Pecorin, Abcnews.com

The request comes as part of a $70 billion immigration enforcement package.

A nearly year-long deployment at sea takes a toll on military families

Steve Walsh, NPR

Families in Norfolk, Va., await the return of roughly 15,000 sailors and Marines as the USS Ford continues a deployment that started more than 10 months ago.

Fulton County challenges DOJ subpoena targeting 2020 election workers

Peter Charalambous, Alexander Mallin, Abcnews.com

The Department of Justice demanded the names and contact information for every election worker in Fulton County, Georgia, involved in the 2020 election.

The Presidential Physical Fitness Award is back as Trump revives annual fitness test

COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press, DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press, Abcnews.com

President Donald Trump is reviving the Presidential Physical Fitness Award as he reintroduces a competitive physical fitness test in America's schools

Air Travel Is About to Get Even More Expensive

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Thanks, Mr. President!

Did FBI Director Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys?

Geoff Brumfiel, NPR

An analysis by NPR suggests that frames from an iconic music video were used to generate content for a tweet by the FBI director.

Microsoft, Google, xAI give US access to AI models for security testing

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The deal comes days after the Pentagon announces an agreement with seven tech giants to use AI in classified systems

NASA Chief Jared Isaacman Is Fighting To Make Pluto A Planet Again - Here's Why

staff@bgr.com (Alec Hively), BGR

Current NASA head Jared Isaacman, himself something of a controversial choice, is determined to get Pluto reclassified as a planet again. Here's why.

Unfortunately, We Do Have to Worry About the National Debt

Jacob Weindling, Jezebel

Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

ICE is giving local police big money to help with immigration enforcement

Meg Anderson, NPR

The federal government is offering local law enforcement incentives to join a program that gives their officers authority to make immigration arrests. Police leaders say the funds, which include money for salaries, equipment and vehicles, are enticing.

The SEC is taking a step toward letting companies report earnings twice a year

Alex Bitter, Business Insider

The SEC issued a proposed rule Tuesday that would cut the number of mandatory earnings reports for public companies to two a year.

Trump’s AI Oversight Plan Is Everything VCs Claimed To Hate About Biden’s Plan — Only Worse

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

A key takeaway of the Trump II admin is that they came in declaring a whole bunch of things to be stupid and worth ripping apart, only to later realize how important and structurally necessary those things were, and then rush to recreate them in a much sloppi…

DeepMind Workers Vote to Unionize Following Google’s Pentagon AI Deal

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

Workers are standing up to big tech's push to partner with the war machine.

The viral TikTok $1.75 billion bid to save Spirit Airlines is fighting the wrong villain

Eva Roytburg, Yahoo Entertainment

Spirit isn’t being scooped up by private equity, as 22-year-old Hunter Peterson behind "Let's buy Spirit" claims.

Does a psychedelic trip change your brain? A new study offers a tantalizing clue

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American

Scientists gave people a “heroic” dose of psilocybin and then looked at their brain. Here’s what happened

Murdoch family reportedly trying to get its hand on New York magazine

Drew Gillis, Jezebel

Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

Polling Shows Republicans Genuinely Have No Idea What “Political Violence” Even Means

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

FAA employee arrested after allegedly using work computer to threaten Trump

Aaron Katersky, Abcnews.com

A federal worker was arrested after he allegedly threatened to harm the president and used a work computer to research his plans, prosecutors said.

What’s the significance of UAE’s Fujairah, hit on Monday?

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

If confirmed, it would be Iran’s first attack on the UAE since the US-Iran ceasefire took effect on April 8.

Grandpa Pudding Brains insists test was difficult, struggles to keep details straight

Jason Weisberger, Boing Boing

Real, stable genius Donald Trump is again touting his cognitive test results, this time describing a question involving a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a squirrel. The problem is this example that differs from the versions he offered just days earlier. — Re…

Trump angers right-wing fans with censorship campaign

Sophia Tesfaye, Salon

As some members of MAGA media begin pushing back against Trump, there may be a limit to his campaign of retribution

FTC Settles With Media Matters After Watchdog Group Claimed Agency Retaliation For Article On Elon Musk’s X

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The Federal Trade Commission and Media Matters have settled their litigation following a court ruling that the federal agency violated the First Amendment when it issued a civil investigative demand to the media watchdog. The Media Matters lawsuit was dismiss…

US-Iran ceasefire holds despite Hormuz standoff: Pentagon chief Hegseth

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Trump aide says the US has established a security 'dome' for ships over Hormuz, but traffic in strait remains stalled.

Amid attacks by Trump, Justice Gorsuch says "my loyalty is to the Constitution"

Yahoo Entertainment

Why Europe’s car industry is at the centre of a new US trade war

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on EU cars and trucks exported to the US from 15 percent to 25 percent.

North Korea Provides Rare Response to Longstanding Crypto Crime Accusations

Rhett Jones, Gizmodo.com

The government did not admit to doing all the crimes.

Map of dominance: Why Iran can’t afford to give up Hormuz control

Federica Marsi, Al Jazeera English

The vital passageway is key for Tehran as it seeks to leverage in negotiations with Washington.

Anduril announces team for its Golden Dome space-based missile interceptor effort

By Mike Stone, Yahoo Entertainment

By Mike Stone WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - Defense technology company Anduril Industries on Tuesday announced its consortium to develop space-based...

US, Iran, UAE trade Hormuz attack claims: What we know

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

Experts say claims and counterclaims threaten the diplomatic route to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

The Democratic National Committee is boosting Kamala Harris for 2028

Norman Solomon, Salon

DNC Chair Ken Martin's refusal to release the party's 2024 autopsy benefits one person — the former vice president

The Latest: Hegseth and Caine say ceasefire between the US and Iran is not over

The Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

U.S. forces are pressing ahead Tuesday with an effort to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but so far only two vessels, both of them...

Congrats Everyone: U.S. Now Ranked 64th In Global Press Freedom

Karl Bode, Techdirt

Good news if you really enjoy corporatism, autocracy, propaganda and a violently misinformed electorate! The U.S. has fallen to sixty-fourth place (now below Ukraine) in the annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. As corrupt, oligarc…

CAF is failing Africa’s World Cup fans

Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, Al Jazeera English

The confederation’s silence on US travel bans and visa restrictions for African fans is shameful.

Trump Admin Official Brags About Kicking 4.3 Million Americans Off SNAP

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

Trump Promotes Lincoln Reflecting Pool Plan With Unhinged AI Photo

Mabel Kabani, Jezebel

The original design was meant to create a reflective space—but that restraint feels increasingly out of step with the current aesthetic: louder, shinier, with a hint of Mar-a-Lago.

Iran’s New Winter

Christopher de Bellaigue, The New York Review of Books

The US-Israeli war against Iran, far from encouraging a popular uprising, has strengthened the regime’s grip and set back the cause of Iranian freedom indefinitely.

Trump and Hegseth Are Now Just Pretending We’re No Longer at War with Iran

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

"The ceasefire is not over" said Hegseth, hours after U.S. forces destroyed multiple Iranian boats firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Rose Farts and the Invisible Hand

Alex Tabarrok, Marginalrevolution.com

In Modern Principles, Tyler and I show the invisible hand by telling the story of how the increase in oil prices in the 1970s encouraged millions of adjustments in how goods were produced and allocated, everything from an increased use of brick for driveways …

My Role as a ‘Complicit’ Journalist

Michael Scherer, The Atlantic

Algorithms turn nuanced articles into rage bait that helps fuel political violence.

Democrats Sound a Bit Too Giddy About the Midterms

Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic

They have good reason to be optimistic. But they are sounding a bit too giddy.

We Still Haven’t Seen How Bad Gerrymandering Can Get

Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic

The Supreme Court has opened the door to aggressive Republican redistricting schemes that will trigger escalating Democratic reprisals.

For Ibram X. Kendi, It’s Nazis All the Way Down

Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic

His new book describes the “Great Replacement” theory as a convoluted plot, but fails to explain why it appeals to people in the first place.

America’s global collapse is happening. Where is Marco Rubio?

Chauncey DeVega, Salon

The secretary of state is busy remaking his department as a tool of MAGA and white racial authoritarianism

Migrant children are being detained longer, fewer in NYC are being released under Trump

Joe Hong, Gothamist

A Gothamist data analysis shows children who cross the border without a parent or guardian have been kept in federal custody nearly four times as long. [ more › ]

Exclusive: VA conducted internal investigations into employees who attended vigil for Alex Pretti

Brian Todd, CNN, CNN

Becky Halioua, who attended a vigil for Pretti after his death, feels the VA probe is a “scare tactic” and an attempt to silence those “with the loudest...

Trump Reportedly Considering Executive Order Aimed at Vetting New AI Models

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

Let him cook.

“A huge setback”: New EPA directive could weaken hundreds of chemical regulations

Sharon Lerner, Salon

Internal memo shows Trump appointee targeting EPA program that assesses toxic chemicals.

Ohio Primary Elections Map: Live Results

The New Yorker

Sherrod Brown is running in the Democratic primary for J. D. Vance’s Senate seat; Vivek Ramaswamy looks to win the Republican primary for governor.

Indiana state Senate races are a test of Trump's endorsement, redistricting vote

Oren Oppenheim, Will Lennon, Abcnews.com

A set of state Senate primary races in Indiana on Tuesday have turned into a test of the sway of President Donald Trump.

US Secret Service shoots gunman near White House

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The suspect has been taken to hospital following the shooting in Washington.

Ohio Democrats hope Trump and high prices will put governor and U.S. Senate in play

Diana Paulsen, Abcnews.com

Former GOP presidential candidate Ramaswamy headlines field of candidates.

Minneapolis immigrants still feeling the sting of Trump's largest crackdown yet

Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR

The impact of Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities can still be felt, even three months after it ended. For immigrants, the impact has been devastating — many are at risk of losing their homes and business, and some are dealing with mental health challen…

Immigrants targeted by scams amid Trump administration's deportation push

Laura Romero, Aaron Katersky, Abcnews.com

The relatives of some migrants in ICE detention are being scammed into paying for fake legal services that purport to help free them, law enforcement officials say.

Confused Trump Openly Admits Plot to Rig Midterms as Polls Turn Brutal

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, The New Republic

Last week, the Supreme Court gutted protections against racial gerrymandering, and Donald Trump is already urging Republicans to seize on it. Trump unleashed a Truth Social rant on Monday urging GOP state legislatures to maximize the gerrymandering, insisting…

What to know ahead of the Ohio primary election

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Several races being closely watched as both parties prepare for the crucial midterm elections in November.

Thiago Ávila’s letter from Israeli prison to his daughter

Thiago Ávila, Al Jazeera English

The Brazilian activist explains to his little girl his motivation to join the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla.

Iran war: What’s happening on day 67 as Hormuz crisis deepens?

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

The UAE says it intercepted Iranian missiles after a suspected drone attack, with no comment from Iran.

Iran says US military killed five civilians in attacks on passenger boats

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Iranian commander says US military attacked two passenger boats, not IRGC vessels, in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Trump's retribution? What to watch in Tuesday's elections in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan

JONATHAN J. COOPER, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump's campaign to politically punish Republicans who stand in his way moves through Indiana on Tuesday, when seven state senators face...

Oil prices surge as violence flares in Strait of Hormuz

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Brent crude rises nearly 6 percent as soaring tensions in waterway push ceasefire to the brink.

Trump Does An RFK Jr.: Fires Entire 22 Member Board Of The National Science Foundation

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

The Trump administration’s war on science has been a furious one. Be it deep cuts to scientific research, policies that ignore scientific research, or the appointment of deeply unscientific people to lead scientific cabinet positions, it seems that Trump thin…

A decades-long plan to abolish the Electoral College may finally pay off

Andrew Prokop, Vox

The Electoral College — our nation’s bizarre system that hands a few narrowly-divided states the privilege to choose our presidents — has been entrenched for two centuries. But a long-game effort from reformers, which has played out quietly in blue states acr…

NIH grant cuts disproportionately hit minority and female scientists

Max Kozlov, Nature.com

A survey reveals sharp divides in who bore the brunt of last year’s spree of grant cancellations by the Trump administration.