Trump News for Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Endorsed by Trump, Ed Gallrein defeats Rep. Thomas Massie in GOP House primary

Sylvia Goodman, NPR

In a major victory for President Trump, his hand-picked challenger, Ed Gallrein, beat out U.S. House Rep. Thomas Massie in a Kentucky House GOP primary, ending Massie's reelection bid.

WATCH: Primaries in 6 states test Trump’s grip on the GOP

ABC News, Abcnews.com

ABC News political correspondent Steven Portnoy breaks down the key races that will prove just how powerful Trump’s endorsement still is.

Trump backs down from idea of banks collecting citizenship information

Yahoo Entertainment

Putin meets Xi: Why Russia and China need each other

Caolán Magee, Al Jazeera English

Vladimir Putin’s arrival was announced just a day after United States President Donald Trump left Beijing.

Georgia 2026 live primary election results

Halle Troadec, Abcnews.com

Republicans battle over who will go against Jon Ossoff in Senate race in November.

Heads, Trump Wins

Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic

Tails, he still wins—at taxpayers’ expense.

Even Cops Aren’t Willing To Back Up Colorado GOP Governor Hopeful’s Insane ‘Gang Infestation’ Lies

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

As convenient as it is for cops to play along with hysterical claims made by politicians, sometimes a politician goes too far. That seems to be the case here. Scott Bottoms — currently a state rep in Colorado — tried to flex his self-proclaimed “far right” bo…

Congress Could Require EV Drivers to Pay $130 a Year for Road Maintenance

Omar Gallaga, CNET

A bipartisan bill would ask electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid drivers to pay annual fees because they don't pay gas taxes.

2 TSA experiments show a new direction after chaos during the government shutdowns

Taylor Rains, Business Insider

The TSA is experimenting with new ways to make airport security less of a headache, and it's leaning more on private companies to do it.

DOJ addendum to Trump settlement bars IRS from auditing him and his family

Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous, Katherine Faulders, Abcnews.com

In an addendum to its settlement ending President Trump's IRS lawsuit, the DOJ has barred the IRS from auditing the tax returns of Trump, his family and his companies.

Trump showcases new ‘drone-protected’ White House ballroom

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump has given reporters a tour around the construction site of his White House ballroom.

The DOJ's sweeping Trump settlement bars the IRS from pursuing any unpaid taxes claims it may have against Trump

Insider Inc., Business Insider

The DOJ's settlement of Trump's lawsuit related to his leaked tax returns includes a sweeping pledge.

Trump's plan to limit student loans for borrowers — including nurses — is illegal, 25 states say in a fresh lawsuit

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

A group of 25 states sued the Department of Education, saying that the student-loan borrowing caps would exacerbate the healthcare shortage.

More than 15,800 people killed in Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine: UN

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Nearly 800 children are among those killed in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the UN says.

Alito Helped Normalize Unreasoned Shadow Docket Orders. Now He’s Mad About One.

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

A couple weeks back, Supreme Court watcher Steve Vladeck pointed out a fascinating “tell” by Justice Samuel Alito in dealing with stays that he will issue on shadow docket requests. If he is prone to agree with the underlying claim, he’ll issue an unbounded s…

Trump says White House ballroom will be a 'shield' as he shows off construction site

Isabella Murray, Abcnews.com

President Trump, over the noise of drills and hammers, showed off the construction site for his controversial White House ballroom in a tour with reporters.

Greenlanders offer Trump envoy the universally understood finger gesture for "no to annexation"

Jason Weisberger, Boing Boing

In what appears to have been a pilot program for "colonialism, but make it weirdly condescending," Trump emissary Jeff Landry reportedly tried to win over Greenlanders with MAGA merch and cookie promises, receiving in return a remarkably clear statement of lo…

Minnesota Becomes First State to Ban Prediction Markets, Feds Immediately Sue

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The CFTC has sued several states that have tried to regulate prediction markets at the local level.

Trump approval drops to 35% as Republican support softens, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

By Jason Lange and Nathan Layne, Yahoo Entertainment

By Jason Lange and Nathan Layne WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's presidential approval rating fell to nearly its lowest level since he returned ...

US government agrees to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement

FATIMA HUSSEIN, Yahoo Entertainment

The U.S. government will permanently drop tax claims against President Donald Trump, according to a settlement document made public Tuesday, in an...

MAGA’s favorite psychedelic

Kelli Wessinger, Jonquilyn Hill, Vox

The Trump administration has a surprising new agenda item: It’s all-in on legalizing a psychedelic drug called ibogaine.  Ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I drug, which means it’s illegal on the federal level. But some studies show it may be able to treat…

The media starts receiving the first Trump Mobile T1 Phone units, launch is imminent

Ro, GSMArena.com

The Trump Mobile T1 Phone was supposed to launch last year in August, but many future customers who put a $100 pre-sale order were left empty-handed until now. It looks like the T1 Phone is actually happening as the company started distributing units to media…

High prices in Iran’s stunted housing market leave tenants with few options

Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera English

Tenants face bleak prospects as economic uncertainty persists amid a potential resumption of fighting.

Trump’s Board of Peace urges fix to ‘gap’ in funding

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

UN-approved body says that pledged funds have not materialised despite urgent situation in Gaza.

Members of legacy political families look to succeed in the midterms

Jared Kofsky, Abcnews.com

From Kennedy family member Jack Schlossberg in New York to Jonathan Bush in Maine, many voters’ ballots in 2026 will include members of longstanding political families.

Trump backs Ken Paxton in crucial Texas Republican Senate run-off

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

Polls show mixed results, with Paxton and Cornyn in close battle against Democrat James Talarico.

Hey Platforms: Add TAKE IT DOWN To Your Transparency Reports

Riana Pfefferkorn, Techdirt

Today marks the deadline for online platforms to implement a process for notice-and-takedown of nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) under the TAKE IT DOWN Act (TIDA), which became law one year ago. Starting today, platforms must conspicuously offer a notice…

Trump says he’s 'concerned' about Ebola outbreak

Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, USA Today

Trump and health officials expressed concern about the deadly outbreak that has grown to more than 500 suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Somaliland to open embassy in Jerusalem, Israel in Hargeisa: Envoy

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The move comes months after Israel officially recognised the independence of Somalia's breakaway region.

US imposes sanctions on Gaza flotilla organisers amid Israeli crackdown

Ali Harb, Al Jazeera English

Rights advocate accuses Washington of using 'terrorism label' to shut down Palestine activism internationally.

Trump says Xi assured him China would not send weapons to Iran

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US president also says he could again strike Iran if progress on ceasefire is not made within 'days'.

Trump endorses Ken Paxton over GOP incumbent John Cornyn in Texas Senate primary

ABC NEWS, Abcnews.com

President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued an endorsement in the Texas Senate primary, backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Republican incumbent John Cornyn.

The Norwegian Dawn cruise ship flunks health inspection

Jennifer Sandlin, Boing Boing

Fruit flies, mold, and refrigeration failures, oh my! Cruise ships sure are having a moment. Just in the first half of 2026, norovirus outbreaks sickened 115 people on the Caribbean Princess in early May, dozens on the Oceania Insignia in early April, and at …

"Raise Your Sons Better": 37 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week

Morgan Sloss, Buzzfeed

"My hot take is US Senators should be paid whatever their states minimum wage is. That’s how you represent your constituents, you live like them."View Entire Post ›

Senator Wyden Again Tells Trump Administration It Owes The Public Access To A Section 702 Ruling

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Section 702 surveillance powers are still limping along, mostly unimpeded, despite on-again/off-again objections by federal politicians. More active recently have been several GOP politicians. These representatives are newly opposed to clean reauthorization o…

States sue over new student loan limits on certain nursing and healthcare degrees

Cory Turner, NPR

New York, Arizona, North Carolina, Kentucky and Nevada are among the states challenging a rule that limits federal student loans for graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy and more.

Republicans defeat Gallego amendment pushing back on fund to compensate Trump allies

Max Rego, The Hill

Republican senators on Tuesday tabled an amendment introduced by Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) that would bar the Trump administration from creating its...

Trump says US may attack Iran again but that Tehran wants deal

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 19 () - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U. may need to strike Iran again and that he had been an hour away from...

Qatar says US-Iran negotiations need ‘more time’

Al Jazeera English

Qatar’s foreign ministry says more time is needed for US-Iran negotiations.

NBC's Steve Kornacki talks Georgia races, Senate hopefuls and more

Irene Wright, USA TODAY, USA Today

USA TODAY spoke with NBC's Steve Kornacki on all things Georgia elections heading into election day on May 19. He has his eyes on the Senate primary.

Acting AG Todd Blanche faces questions on $1.7 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'

Alexander Mallin, Luke Barr, Abcnews.com

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing questions Tuesday on the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund."

America’s dangerous, messy deepfakes crackdown is here

Lauren Feiner, The Verge

A law requiring social networks to quickly remove sexual deepfakes and other nonconsensual imagery is now fully in force. But experts warn the policy could do little to help victims - and at worst could facilitate censorship online. Last May, President Donald…

Literally No One Wants to Watch Diet Fox News

Jacob Weindling, Jezebel

Bari Weiss fleeced David Ellison, and now she is captaining a ship that could very well sink his hopes to become this next generation’s Rupert Murdoch. She really might wind up being the single most effective resistance to the conservative media takeover in t…

Why the go-to guide for Warren Buffett's big Berkshire Hathaway bash expects a much bigger crowd next year

Theron Mohamed, Business Insider

Tilman Versch, who's published numerous guides to Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting, explained why he's optimistic about attendance next year.

Super-sized utility merger runs through Virginia

Nico Portuondo, Adam Aton and Kelsey Tamborrino, Politico

Virginia could be a major bump in the road for NextEra's proposed $67 billion merger with Dominion Energy.

US extends sanctions waiver on Russian oil: Why it matters

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

The US has extended its waiver on sanctioned Russian oil until June 17.

ICYMI, the Trump Admin Wants to Create a Slush Fund for Trump’s Biggest Suck-Ups

Danielle Han, Jezebel

At the top of minds over this grift-launch is the likelihood that it will be used to give handouts to Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

Who was Amin Abdullah, the ‘hero’ guard killed in San Diego shooting?

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

Tributes have poured in for the guard, who was among the three people killed in the shooting at the San Diego mosque.

FTC’s Strict Anti-Deepfake Rule Kicks in Today. Here’s What That Means for Grok

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

Digital platforms will be held liable for nonconsensual sexual images but critics say it will be a free speech disaster.

China-Russia relations are as strong as ever thanks to Trump

Leonid Ragozin, Al Jazeera English

The US president failed to ‘un-unite’ the two powers because he has repeated the same mistakes his predecessors made.

Trump isn’t on the ballot in Georgia, but he could decide Tuesday's races

Halle Troadec, Hannah Demissie, Abcnews.com

The president's election influence will again be put to the test.

New Trump FCC Plan To ‘Fight Robocalls’ Raises Red Flags And Major Privacy Concerns

Karl Bode, Techdirt

We’ve talked a lot about how Americans have somehow accepted the fact that our voice networks are now saturated with scammers, fraudsters, and robocallers (no, that’s not something that happens in well run, functionally regulated countries). I’ve also explain…

Israeli far-right minister Smotrich says ICC seeks his arrest

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Smotrich is the third Israeli official targeted by the ICC, after Netanyahu and Gallant, for war crimes in Gaza.

Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen ties with Putin during China visit

Al Jazeera English

China’s Xi Jinping is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, just days after welcoming Donald Trump to Beijing.

New infrastructure projects seek to bypass Hormuz

Tim McDonnell, Semafor.com

The UAE said it is racing to complete a new pipeline by next year that will double its oil export capacity bypassing the waterway.

Trump says Iran attack on ‘hold’: What we know about latest negotiations

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

Tehran said its demands for peace include lifting sanctions against Iran but other sticking points likely to remain.

Kentucky's GOP primary battle pits Massie against Trump-backed Gallrein

Emily Chang, Abcnews.com

The race has seen more than $32.6 million in ad spending and reservations, according to AdImpact.

The All-Out Assault on Black Voting

Adam Serwer, The Atlantic

Democracy is becoming a racial entitlement.

10 Tuesday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My Taco Tuesday morning train strike Lyft reads: • Words That Mattered: Fed Chair Jay Powell: A close reading of Powell’s most consequential lines, dated and re-contextualized. Excellent reference for the next FOMC parse. (Stay-at-Home Macro) • How Trump plan…

NASA dreams of a nuclear power plant on the moon. Here’s why

Robin George Andrews, Scientific American

To build its moon base, NASA needs a lot of power

The US, Israel and the normalisation of scandal

Belén Fernández, Al Jazeera English

Thanks to Netanyahu and Trump, scandal is now our new normal - call it 'Everythinggate'.

Jon Stewart tries to wring some advice for the class of 2026 out of Trump

Drew Gillis, Jezebel

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

Why Is No One Talking About the ICE Agent Who Has Been a Fugitive for a Month?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Donnell Morgan Jr. remains at large, and ICE won't even acknowledge that he exists despite the nationwide warrant for his arrest.

Pennsylvania primaries to set up key House races, midterm election battles

Oren Oppenheim, Abcnews.com

Democrats are trying to flip four GOP-held House seats in the Keystone State.

‘China holds the cards’: Why Putin’s visit to Beijing after Trump matters

Urooba Jamal, Al Jazeera English

Scant progress in US-China talks bolsters Putin, while for China, hosting back-to-back visits is a diplomatic flex.

Trump Mobile’s T1 Phone finally ships out after months of vaporware fears

Aamir Siddiqui, Android Authority

The Trump Mobile T1 Phone is finally shipping to media, revealing a rebranded HTC U24 Pro design with an updated manufacturing claim.

'We're not kids anymore': The DACA generation hits their 30s with an unstable future

Ximena Bustillo, NPR

Recipients of the Obama-era DACA program are aging, even as the Trump administration moves to weaken the program's protections and benefits.

What we know about how the U.S. government uses spyware (and what we don't)

Jude Joffe-Block, NPR

Critics of spyware, which can be used to remotely hack into phones, worry the Trump administration is eroding policies that stigmatized the commercial spyware industry.

These men voted for President Trump. They have very different views of how he's doing

Tamara Keith, NPR

Two Black men from Georgia who voted for President Trump in 2024 have very different views of how the country is doing now, in the first installment of Swing Shift from NPR's Tamara Keith.

Lebanon and Syria reshape ties amid Israeli attacks and regional shifts

Justin Salhani, Al Jazeera English

Damascus and Beirut focus on sovereignty and cooperation, moving away from decades of Syrian dominance over Lebanon.

Iran war day 81: Trump delays attack; Tehran says won’t ‘surrender’

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

US president says he held off a scheduled attack on Iran after pressure from Gulf allies as renewed talks gain momentum.

India-Nordic summit: Why is Modi wooing Northern Europe?

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

Technology, green transition, geopolitics and India's role in the Arctic region are among key topics on the agenda.

Jon Stewart Worries About Trump’s Foreign Policy Skills: ‘He Should Not Have This Job’

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

"You flew there to personally confront our rival superpower on the escalating trade and geopolitical tensions between us, and all you came back with was his Instagram?"

Putin visits China to reaffirm Russia ties

The Associated Press, NPR

The Kremlin has said Putin and Xi plan to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries, but also "key international and regional issues."

“Wokeness has peaked. What followed is worse.”

Tyler Cowen, Marginalrevolution.com

That is the topic of my latest column for The Free Press.  Excerpt: It is important to distinguish between the positive side of wokeism and the unreasonable side. The positive side supported gay rights and discouraged racism in the public sphere. The unreason…

How Philadelphia’s Democratic primary tests the bounds of US progressivism

Chris Hughes, Al Jazeera English

The race for Pennsylvania's third congressional district reveals divisions between Democrats closely aligned on policy.

US Yields Flirting With 2007 Highs Entice and Divide Investors

Greg Ritchie and Michael MacKenzie, Yahoo Entertainment

(Bloomberg) -- A surge in longer-maturity US Treasury yields is testing the resolve of global bond investors torn between the possibility of locking in the...

Russia-China ties ‘stabilising’ force in world, Putin says before Xi talks

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Russia's Vladimir Putin is travelling to China for second meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in less than a year.

‘The Worst Leak That I’ve Witnessed’: U.S. Cybersecurity Agency Leaves Its Digital Keys Out in Public on GitHub

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

Passwords were stored as plain text in a public GitHub repository.

Pelosi endorses Connie Chan in race to replace her in San Francisco

Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN, CNN

Nancy Pelosi is officially wading into the race to replace her in Congress, endorsing San Francisco supervisor Connie Chan after weeks of more subtly...

Iran war: Trump's series of unenforced deadlines

Justin Fishel, Emily Chang, Abcnews.com

With the war in Iran now past the 12-week mark, Trump has threatened for weeks to restart attacks if the country doesn't reach a deal with the US, but has yet to commit.

WATCH: David Muir shares surprise dad shared at daughter's wedding reception

ABC News, Abcnews.com

While the bride danced with her father for their father-daughter dance, her dad's plan to cut in with an old audio recording took everyone by surprise – and had the groom crying tears of joy.

Iran war live: Trump says Iran attack postponed at request of Gulf allies

Lyndal Rowlands, Zaid Sabah, Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran says Iran's leaders are 'projecting defiance' and rejecting 'pressure' from the US.