Trump News for Thursday, May 28, 2026

Tense protests erupt outside Delaney Hall immigrant detention centre in US

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

A hunger strike at the New Jersey facility has raised questions about conditions in US immigration detention centres.

Here's the $250 bank note with Trump's mugshot on it

Rob Beschizza, Boing Boing

Introducing a forthcoming hypothetical $250 bill featuring President Trump's mugshot, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent seemed unable to suppress a faint air of amused dégoût — though it might be argued this is simply his customary manner of addressing other h…

Violent Crime In The US Is At Record Lows, But The DOJ Is Eliminating The Funding That Helped Reduce Crime

Andrea Hagan, Techdirt

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in mo…

WATCH: Teen summer jobs hit historic lows, new data shows

ABC News, Abcnews.com

ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze explains why teen summer jobs are harder to find, while MIT grad and creator Gohar Khan shares resume, interview and AI job search advice.

Guatemala denies agreeing to US strikes against drug traffickers

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

President Bernardo Arevalo's government says it requested security cooperation but did not approve US attacks.

Why Trump is investigating E. Jean Carroll

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: President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is investi…

Election triumphs, a series of scandals dot Ken Paxton's political timeline

Bill Hutchinson, Abcnews.com

Backed by President Donald Trump, Ken Paxton won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate this week. A look at his political career.

US judge rejects immediate block on Trump’s mail-in voting executive order

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Judge Carl Nichols says Democrats’ legal challenge is premature as the administration moves to implement the measure.

Graham Platner Is Forcing Centrist Dems to Reckon With “Vote Blue No Matter Who”

Eoin Higgins, The Intercept

Rep. Jake Auchincloss urging Democrats to vote against the presumptive Maine Senate nominee exposes the limits of party unity. The post Graham Platner Is Forcing Centrist Dems to Reckon With “Vote Blue No Matter Who” appeared first on The Intercept.

Ken Griffin's $238 million New York City penthouse isn't the only pied-à-terre he owns. See what else is in his portfolio.

Jordan Pandy, Business Insider

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin doesn't approve of New York City Mayor Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax. See all the homes he owns around the country — and the world.

Trump administration sues states for denying ICE agents undercover plates

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Department of Justice has argued that states are obliged to give ICE vehicles confidential licence plates.

ABC Tells FCC Its Early Review Of Broadcast Licenses Chills Free Speech: “An Extraordinary Demonstration Of Power And Coercion”

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The Walt Disney Co. and ABC are once again pushing back on the FCC, this time over the agency’s demand that it file early renewal applications for its broadcast licenses, a move that the company calls a threat to the First Amendment. “It is an extraordinary d…

White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval on research grants

Dan Vergano, Scientific American

These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque

From Viral Memes To Heartfelt Tributes, Harambe’s 10th Anniversary Sparks Frenzy With White House In The Mix

Analice Couto, Boredpanda.com

Ten years ago, a 17-year-old western lowland silverback gorilla named Harambe became the center of one of the internet’s most emotionally charged viral moments following his 2016 demise.

Mistral CEO Says the Pope’s Comments Are a Big Problem for Europe’s War on American Tech

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

CEO Arthur Mensch argues Europe needs its own advanced AI capabilities in order to avoid getting left behind by American rivals.

Brett Kavanaugh just won a surprising victory for racial justice

Ian Millhiser, Vox

Justice Brett Kavanaugh is a Republican. He served in a Republican White House, typically votes with the Court’s other Republicans, and even sometimes sides with President Donald Trump in major cases that divide the Republican Party. He’s not the sort of pers…

Rebuilding US weapons stockpile may ‘take years’ post-Iran war

Urooba Jamal, Al Jazeera English

Restoring pre-war stockpiles of critical US munitions will take at least two years, according to CSIS report.

Morris Day and Young MC nope out of Trump-linked festival

Jason Weisberger, Boing Boing

Continuing to bust moves, Young MC has joined Morris Day in walking away from Trump's big MAGA-palooza. The Trump-linked Freedom 250 festival, part of the planned Great American State Fair on the National Mall, is already shedding performers. However, after …

US and Iran reach tentative deal for 60-day truce extension, officials say

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The memorandum of understanding, which would enable further negotiations, still requires Donald Trump's final approval.

Treasury pushing plans for $250 bill with Trump's portrait and signature, sources say

Rachel Scott, Abcnews.com

Administration officials have pushed to move forward with designing a $250 bill with Donald Trump's portrait and signature, should legislation pass.

Mullin threatens to pull agents from Newark airport over ICE detention center protest

Luke Barr, Ayesha Ali, Ivan Pereira, Abcnews.com

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin amped up his threats Thursday to pull officers who process international passengers at Newark International Airport.

35 Former Federal Judges Call Trump’s Self-Settlement A Fraud On The Court

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

Thirty-five (thirty-five!) former federal judges are asking a current federal judge to reopen the case where Donald Trump sued his own IRS, and then “settled” the case on terms extremely favorable to himself, his family, and his MAGA loyalists. Law schools ar…

The real lesson of the E. Jean Carroll investigation is Trump’s weakness

Zack Beauchamp, Vox

Had you time-traveled back to 2023, and started telling people that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department would soon be trying to imprison a woman who had accused him of rape, most would likely have dismissed it as a paranoid #resistance fantasy. Yet no…

Words of War

Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic

Four terms that are proving unhelpful in understanding the war with Iran

The TACO Equilibrium

Rogé Karma, The Atlantic

Oil markets expect Donald Trump to end the Iran war imminently. That might be why he doesn’t.

The Good Liars tried selling Trump bibles and got no takers

Grant St. Clair, Boing Boing

If you're not caught up on Trump's God Bless the USA Bible, let me give you a quick rundown: it's a King James Bible with the Bill of Rights and the lyrics to a Lee Greenwood song stuck in the middle. — Read the rest The post The Good Liars tried selling Tru…

Back-to-back chemical accidents raise alarm over EPA push to reduce oversight

Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American

A near-miss incident and a deadly chemical accident in a single week have affected thousands and drawn scrutiny to federal rules around risk management at chemical plants

Trump Just Had His Third Annual Physical In Two Years Since Becoming President Again. Unrelated, But Here Are 17 Pictures Of His Hands Over The Years

Bella Arnold, Buzzfeed

There's no shame in going to Sephora to get professionally color-matched!View Entire Post ›

Trump Points Middle Finger At The American Dream, Tells Green Card Applicants To GTFO

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Poll everyone you can. Even the most MAGA never dreamed up this scenario. There’s no single-issue voter whose kink is “surely the people wanting green cards can get that done in their own countries.” Nope, this is Trump’s kink. This is a blatant attempt to ju…

Trump’s $55 ‘Patriotic’ Hats Are Missing Two States, Because MAGA Math Is Hard

Wren Woodson, Jezebel

Next time Trump hugs a flag, he might want to take a second to count the stars.

Google Engineer Charged With Using Insider Info for $1 Million Haul on Polymarket

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

The Google employee allegedly used confidential Google search data to place Polymarket bets about the most-searched people in 2025.

MAGA’s civil war over immigration is over. Silicon Valley lost.

Eric Levitz, Vox

The Trump administration announced last Friday that US visa holders who want a green card must first return to their home countries and apply from there, “except in extraordinary circumstances.” On its face, this rule — which was officially promulgated in a m…

Mamdani announced New York City's answer to DOGE

Allie Kelly, Business Insider

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is launching his own government efficiency effort to cut red tape and reduce unnecessary spending in NYC.

The King of Queens

Ashley Parker, The Atlantic

President Trump loves “handsome” men, especially the muscular ones.

Ex-Trump Campaign Chief Funneled Millions of Israeli Government Money to His Longtime Allies’ Companies

Nick Cleveland-Stout, Jacqueline Sweet, The Intercept

New public disclosures reveal a web of right-wing businesses being paid by Israel through Brad Parscale. The post Ex-Trump Campaign Chief Funneled Millions of Israeli Government Money to His Longtime Allies’ Companies appeared first on The Intercept.

US Treasury threatens Oman with sanctions over Hormuz Strait

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US official says Oman should know that Washington 'will aggressively target' actors that facilitate tolls in waterway.

'Out of control': Doctors on the front line of Ebola outbreak speak out

Tom Soufi Burridge, Dragana Jovanovic, Aicha El Hammar Castano, Sarah Baniak, Abcnews.com

Doctors at the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo told ABC News that the deadly virus is still spreading at an alarming rate.

Report says Iran and U.S. reach outline ceasefire deal after latest attacks

By Jana Choukeir, Enas Alashray and Phil Stewart, Yahoo Entertainment

By Jana Choukeir, Enas Alashray and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 28 (Reuters) - The United States and Iran have reached an outline agreement to extend ...

‘State Of Firsts’ Trailer: Sarah McBride Becomes First Openly Trans Person Elected To U.S. Congress, Faces Immediate GOP Backlash

Matthew Carey, Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: After Sarah McBride won election in 2024 to represent Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives, she became the first openly transgender person to serve in Congress. How did some members of the Republican majority greet her? By deliberately mis…

US attacks Bandar Abbas again: Why is the port so important for Iran?

Caolán Magee, Al Jazeera English

Bandar Abbas, which the US has targeted multiple times, occupies a strategically sensitive position in Strait of Hormuz.

Trump plan to give start-ups plutonium harvested from Cold War–era nuclear weapons is risky, experts say

Adam Kovac, Scientific American

Weapons-grade plutonium can fuel nuclear reactors known as mixed oxide reactors, but none of these exist in the U.S.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan says she won't run for president in 2028

JOEY CAPPELLETTI, Yahoo Entertainment

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan put to rest speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid, saying Thursday that she will not join what is ...

Trump Admin Removed Treasury Official After She Objected to Printing $250 Bill with Trump’s Face

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

As if it needs to be said, it is plainly illegal under U.S. law for the Treasury to print a new $250 bill with Trump's face on it.

See inside a historic Air Force Two plane used by vice presidents and first ladies during 5 presidencies

Talia Lakritz, Business Insider

The VC-9C plane known as Air Force Two transported vice presidents, first ladies, and other VIP passengers from 1975 to 2011.

The U.S. Senate Battlegrounds in 2026: 12 Races to Watch in the Midterms

Josh Jackson, Jezebel

We've ranked the 12 most competitive Senate races in the upcoming midterms, from most to least likely to turn or remain blue.

Boards of Canada and Warp Condemn Trump White House Over Social Media Video

Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork

An eerie 15-second clip sets nationalist imagery to the Scottish duo’s new song “Deep Time”

Why the US won’t treat Ebola patients at home | The Excerpt

Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, USA Today

US keeps Ebola cases abroad as outbreak grows in Africa. Experts question travel policy, funding gaps and readiness for a deadly spread.

WATCH: Video shows harrowing effort to rescue victims from flooded cave

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Five people were located alive yesterday, but rescue divers say getting them out will not be easy as crews search for two remaining miners trapped in a flooded cave in Laos.

Donald Trump Files New Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal Over Story On Jeffrey Epstein Letter

Ted Johnson, Deadline

Donald Trump filed an amended defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over the publication’s reporting on a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. A federal judge dismissed Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit in April, concluding that it failed to adequately …

There is no art to Trump’s Iran deal

Heather Digby Parton, Salon

Rumors of an agreement keep coming. But the president says “We don’t need anything”

UFC Is Coming to the White House. Here’s What You Need to Know

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

Donald Trump invited Dana White to stage a mixed-martial arts extravaganza on the South Lawn to celebrate America's 250th — and the president's 80th

Why has Trump threatened to bomb Oman, amid Iran war escalation?

Federica Marsi, Al Jazeera English

The US president has issued a stark warning to a US ally, in a sign of rising tensions over Strait of Hormuz.

The MyPillow Guy Is Getting Dragged Back Into Cyber Warfare

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

Trump ally Mike Lindell denies claims that his company was hacked by a ransomware gang, saying the allegations are politically motivated.

CBS News Officially Fires Sharyn Alfonsi and 60 Minutes Head Tanya Simon

Drew Gillis, Jezebel

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

‘Trump Mobile’ Has Struggled To Ship Any Phones, But Has Already Leaked Subscriber Data

Karl Bode, Techdirt

The Trump Organization still hasn’t shipped their promised Trump phone to most customers who laid down a $100 deposit a year ago. But rubes patriots who signed up did get something else instead: their private data leaked to the public. According to Techcrunch…

GAO investigating student loan transfers to Treasury Dept., Warren says

Arthur Jones II, Abcnews.com

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has triggered an investigation into the Trump administration's transfer of student loan services to the Department of the Treasury.

The Download: climate tech goes public and the AI Hype Index returns

Thomas Macaulay, MIT Technology Review

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Climate tech companies are going public. What’s next? Solar and battery company Solv Energy went public in February, hitt…

U.S. strikes Iran again. And, DOJ charges Google staffer over Polymarket trades

Brittney Melton, NPR

The U.S. says it has struck Iran again as peace talks continue to end the conflict. And, the federal government has charged a Google staffer for allegedly using insider information in Polymarket trades.

Is There Anything More Foul than Siccing the Justice Department on Your Own Sexual Abuse Victim?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

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

Americans know something is deeply wrong. They’re not imagining it

Chauncey DeVega, Salon

Surveys and data confirm a country in crisis — stressed and divided, but not yet ready to give up

10 Thursday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My morning train WFH reads: • Land Appreciates. Homes Depreciate. The structure (house) is a depreciating asset: without continuous investment and updates, its value declines over time, even after renovations. The land is the appreciating component: long-term…

As the US Navy pushes to build more submarines, shipyards keep losing young workers to less demanding jobs

Chris Panella, Business Insider

Retention rates are highest among young, entry-level workers who leave the demanding roles for similar jobs in other industries.

Judge allows Trump to implement mail-in voting executive order

Yahoo Entertainment

Trump’s war on free speech extends far beyond campus walls

Bruce Schneier, Jon Penney, Salon

The chilling effect of Trump's actions is felt well beyond the quad.

Microsoft and Dell just won a $9.7 billion clean-up contract with the United States Department of Defense — Dell stock hits an all-time high

jez@windowscentral.com (Jez Corden) , Jez Corden, Windows Central

Microsoft will remain at the core of the United States Pentagon, with Dell operating as the sole software middle-man.

The people who actually want AI to replace humanity

Sigal Samuel, Vox

“I want AI to be a tool that allows human flourishing!” exclaimed Brad Carson, a former member of Congress. “There is an option out there where AI is just a tool for us.” This is a normal thing to say in most circles. But Carson was speaking at an invite-only…

Trump pledged to house 6,000 homeless vets. His budget funds zero

Quil Lawrence, NPR

Veteran groups hoped a Trump executive order would supercharge housing for homeless vets. That hasn't happened, and veterans' advocates want to know why.

Trump wants a gas tax holiday. There's a much bigger problem looming

Camila Domonoske, NPR

Suspending the federal gasoline tax could save drivers up to 18.4 cents per gallon. But it would drain the fund meant to cover roadbuilding and repairs — a fund that's already in trouble.

These swing voters are adding high gas prices into their political calculations

Tamara Keith, NPR

As part of NPR's Swing Shift project checking in with swing voters, these Americans are split on who is to blame for high gas prices but they all agree it has an impact on their personal finances.

Iran and US trade attacks after Trump rejects report of Hormuz agreement

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

IRGC says it targeted a base used by US forces after US attacks on site near Bandar Abbas.

Jensen Huang joins the Tsinghua University advisory board chaired by Tim Cook

Ana-Maria Stanciuc, The Next Web

The Nvidia CEO accepts a seat on Tsinghua’s School of Economics and Management board alongside Musk, Dell, Nadella, Zuckerberg, Dimon and Fink, days after travelling to China with Trump. Jensen Huang has accepted an invitation to join the advisory board of Ts…

What’s happening on Iran war day 90 as US launches new strikes

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

The US strikes near Bandar Abbas as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz; Iran reports no casualties or damage.

Pentagon gives Dell a $9.7bn contract to consolidate Microsoft licences across the military

Ana-Maria Stanciuc, The Next Web

The five-year deal consolidates scattered Microsoft 365 and cloud subscriptions for the Defense Department, intelligence community and Coast Guard. Dell, not Microsoft, is the prime contractor. The US Department of Defense has awarded Dell a five-year, roughl…

Ebola outbreak: What travel restrictions have countries imposed?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Canada, the Bahamas and the US are banning arrivals from affected countries to prevent the spread of the rare strain.

Out Of Control RFK Jr. Fires Leaders Of Preventative Services Task Force

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

Alright, this is getting dire. In addition to all of the anti-vaxxer bullshit that has infected HHS thanks to RFK Jr.’s appointment to run the department, we have also made the point recently that an equally big problem is the talent drain occurring at HHS as…

News Emmys: ABC, Nat Geo Top 2026 Wins, Thanks to ‘World News Tonight’ and ‘Trafficked With Mariana van Zeller’

Varietyschneider, Variety

ABC News led the 47th annual News Emmys with eight wins, including the top prize for outstanding live news program — repeating last year’s victory for “ABC World News Tonight With David Muir.” But coming on strong was a Disney sibling: Nat Geo, which won seve…

Aid cuts and climate change drive deadly malaria surge in Zimbabwe

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

A surge in malaria cases in Zimbabwe is exposing fragile health systems and growing treatment shortages in rural areas.

Student Journalist Speaks Out On CBS News’ Direction As He Receives Network-Funded Mike Wallace Scholarship At News Emmys

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The upheaval at CBS News — and 60 Minutes in particular — was on display at the News & Documentary Emmys on Wednesday evening, with the winner of a journalism scholarship calling out the network’s recent direction as something that “stains” its legacy. Santia…

Steven Spielberg On “Where I Draw The Line” With AI: “There Is No Substitute For The Soul”

Glenn Garner, Deadline

As the discourse around artificial intelligence (AI) in Hollywood continues to buzz, Steven Spielberg recently shared his two cents. The 3x Oscar winner noted that he’s “withholding judgment on AI” until he has a better understanding of how it’s being used, b…

Bipartisan group of former judges asks court to investigate Trump’s IRS deal

Max Rego, The Hill

A group of former federal judges on Wednesday asked a federal court to reopen President Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), arguing...

US carries out new strikes on Iran military site

BBC News

The latest wave of attacks comes as President Trump has said that Iran is "negotiating on fumes".

DOJ launches criminal probe into E. Jean Carroll: Sources

Katherine Faulders, Aaron Katersky, Alexander Mallin, Abcnews.com

The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the former Elle magazine columnist who accused Trump of sexual assault.

Talarico walks back comments on religion and gender after Paxton's win

Diana Paulsen, Abcnews.com

James Talarico appears to walk back some of his comments on religion that have become a line of attack in his race for the Texas Senate seat against Ken Paxton.

AP Exclusive: Trump administration tells prosecutors to stand down on Venezuela leader, sources say

JOSHUA GOODMAN, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and JIM MUSTIAN, Yahoo Entertainment

The Trump administration has quietly instructed federal prosecutors in Miami to avoid pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting President...

US returns Palestinian rights expert Francesca Albanese to sanctions list

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Trump administration has sought to pressure international officials who scrutinise reported abuses by Israeli forces.