The Atlantic
The Real Reason Thomas Massie Lost
He broke the one real rule of the MAGA Republican Party.
Center Left
The New Republic
Trump’s $1.8 Billion Slush Fund Finds Its First Shady Applicant
Donald Trump’s allies are racing to get a piece of his $1.8 billion slush fund.Michael Caputo served in the Trump administration during his first term as a campaign strategist and spokesperson at the Department of Health and Human Services, where he interfered with CDC findings on Covid. He is now seeking $2.7 million in damages from the government, claiming his life was upended after being investigated as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe in 2016.“I was the target of the illegal Crossfire Hurricane investigation and our family suffered greatly during that dark era of political weaponization,” Caputo wrote in a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche obtained by CNN. He claimed he was still under FBI investigation as recently as December 2025.“They found nothing; we lost everything,” he wrote.Caputo resided in Russia in the 1990s while an employee of the U.S. government. The Mueller report determined he had helped arrange a meeting between Roger Stone—Trump’s campaign manager and close associate—and a Russian agent, for the purpose of sharing information about Hillary Clinton.But who cares what FBI investigations say when your buddy is president? Now Caputo can get a huge chunk of taxpayer money because he thinks he was wronged by people Trump doesn’t like.Caputo is the first to publicly seek damages after the slush fund was created, but he won’t be the last.The Department of Justice has not said exactly who can profit off the fund, but hundreds of Trump allies—including January 6 rioters and members of Trump’s own super PAC—could theoretically get a piece of the pie.
Left
Alternet.org
Republicans say Trump blew up Texas for 'his ego'
Former Bush Speechwriter David Frum and Republican strategist David Urban each took turns unloading on President Donald Trump for making Republicans’ difficult November fight even harder in ruby-red Texas and everywhere else.The punches came after Trump endorsed problematic Texas AG Ken Paxton over incumbent Texas Republican John Cornyn, who was assured an easy victory.“I think [Sen.] Lindsey Graham summed it up best,” Urban told CNN anchor Kaitlyn Collins. “It's going to cost three times as much now [to win that Texas seat]. That's what's really underpinning all this in a Texas race that Cornyn … was kind of a walk to win and beat [Democratic challenger James] Talarico. But Paxton — completely different story.”“I've seen some numbers where it's estimated the [National Republican Senatorial Committee] is going to have to spend an additional $250 million in Texas. That's not pocket change, when you got a race in Maine and a race in Alaska to help protect. Some of these races are going to be close. And if you have to spend 250 million bucks in Texas now to kind of prop up a guy who may not be the strongest candidate in a general election.”“I also think that if you look at the situation in May and project it forward to November, you're not understanding the dynamics of the American economy,” warned Frum. “This is a slowing economy. By November, it will be clear that Donald Trump lost the war in Iran. It will be clear that all Americans got out of it was higher gas prices, higher food prices, higher fuel prices. You're probably going to be in a very slow job creation situation by the second half of the year and continuing high rising prices.”“So, the situation is deteriorating,” said Frum “I think that that's the sense of panic you're hearing from the Republican senators. They know it's going to get worse. And Donald Trump is doing his part to make it worse because of his own ego needs: his desire is to get the ballroom and never pay taxes again and punish my enemies.”Ashley Allison, a former senior staffer with the Obama and Biden campaigns, said “Republican senators are lying in the bed that they made.”“They had moments of intervention, and they didn't have the moral courage, and it still came to bite them in the long run,” Allison told Collins and the panel. “Texas is going to be hard [for Democrats]. But what I will say is in the primary with James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett, we had some of the largest turnout of democratic voters in history there, because Democrats have not always organized in Texas and didn't always have a strong democratic infrastructure.” - YouTube youtu.be
Left
Alternet.org
Trump and the GOP obliterated the Founders' key fix for a corrupt president
The Founding Fathers of the U.S. had a system in mind to rein in a rogue, criminal president, one who might try to pardon themselves for their own crimes.It was a system, however, that could never have conceived of a president like Donald Trump, or a party like the modern GOP that surrounds him, according to a new piece from The Dispatch, leaving the fundamentals of the constitutional order in disarray.In the piece, Dispatch editor-in-chief Jonah Goldberg observed that a foundational rule undermining the drafting of the U.S. Constitution came from British statesman Edmund Burke, and said that in a decent society, "no man should be judge in his own cause." James Madison later added to that idea, "because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.""This idea lurks behind all of Congress’ powers and responsibilities, including advice and consent, the sole authority to tax and spend, the power to declare war, and, of course, impeachment," Goldberg wrote. "Presidents are not arbitrary rulers. They are stewards, with defined and limited powers."One of Trump's latest corrupt acts, however, runs directly in the face of that notion: the settlement of Trump's suit against the IRS by creating a "weaponization" slush fund to pay out to his allies, and absolve him of future audits."On Monday, President Trump settled a $10 billion lawsuit a $10 billion lawsuit brought by himself," Goldberg detailed. "In his first term, Trump’s tax returns were illegally leaked. When Trump returned to the presidency, he filed suit against the Internal Revenue Service. So, as a constitutional matter, Trump is suing the executive branch he runs for a crime committed by the IRS back when he ran it in his first term... On Tuesday, the DOJ announced that Trump, his family and business will be functionally exempt from IRS audits or prosecutions from any past tax returns, literally placing him above the law."Goldberg further laid out some of the most blunt and high-profile examples of Trump declaring himself the sole arbiter of government action, without regard for Congress. On the subject of the U.S. potentially lending aid to Taiwan if it were invaded by China, Trump said, "I'm the only person" who would decide what happens. Following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, Trump said that only his "own morality" and "own mind" decided the limits of his executive actions."It may, in fact, be legal for the president to be the judge in his own cause and create a taxpayer-financed slush fund for him to reward cronies and henchmen on a whim," Goldberg concluded. "It is already clear that presidents can launch wars without Congress or the courts unduly getting in the way. But I struggle to think of hypothetical scenarios that would be more likely to arouse in Madison and his contemporaries the—now misplaced—reassurance that impeachment was an available remedy."
Left
US news | The Guardian
January 6 police officers sue Trump over $1.8bn fund, alleging ‘presidential corruption’
Retired Capitol police officer and DC officer allege Trump’s $1.8bn fund unlawfully rewards January 6 rioters and alliesUS politics live – latest updatesTwo police officers who clashed with rioters at the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection in 2021 have sued Donald Trump over plans to create a $1.776bn “anti-weaponization” fund.The fund, which critics have argued is essentially a slush fund, is set to compensate allies of the US president who he claims were victims of prosecutorial overreach. Continue reading...
Center Left
US news | The Guardian
Trump tightens grip on GOP after Massie’s defeat in Kentucky primary – US politics live
Republican Congressman defeated by Trump-backed challenger in most expensive House primary in historySign up for the Breaking News US emailOther election results poured in as polls closed in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Oregon.Among the most notable: US senator Tommy Tuberville won the Republican nomination for Alabama governor, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic nomination for governor in Georgia and state representative Chris Rabb won the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s third congressional district. Continue reading...
Center Left
Axios
Massie loses primary challenge in victory for Trump
Rep. Thomas Massie lost his primary Tuesday against Ed Gallrein, a huge win for President Trump's unprecedented campaign to oust the Kentucky Republican.Why it matters: Massie's loss sends another warning to Republicans about the dangers of crossing Trump, and shows that the president's broader political problems haven't diminished his power with the base.The race was Trump's last, and most important, stop on his revenge tour to oust Republican defectors.Trump's political operation launched an aggressive effort to unseat Massie last year, its first such effort to defeat a sitting Republican incumbent.The fight between Massie and Gallrein was the most expensive House primary in history, drawing more than $32 million in ad spending, according to AdImpact.Driving the news: Trump spent months portraying Massie as disloyal to the MAGA movement. He's called Massie a "moron," a "nut job" and a "major Sleazebag.""We're in a fight against the worst congressman in the history of our country," Trump said in an Oval Office video posted on Truth Social Monday.At a March rally in Massie's district, Trump said: "Give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massie, and I got somebody with a warm body, but a big, beautiful brain, and a great patriot."Gallrein is a farmer and former Navy SEAL officer hand-picked by Trump to challenge Massie.He's unequivocally backed the Trump agenda, saying Monday: "There has never been a more important time to stand behind our president."The other side: Massie contends the White House wants "100% compliance.""I vote with the President 90% of the time. I voted for the SAVE Act. I voted for DHS. In fact, by most scorecards, I'm the most conservative Republican, so it's only the 10% of the time they're mad about," he said.Catch up quick: Massie and Trump's contentious relationship dates back to Trump's first term.In 2020, Massie opposed Trump's COVID relief package, leading the president to call for Massie to be thrown "out of the Republican Party."Massie was also one of only two House Republicans to vote against Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" in 2025. Last summer, Massie sought to repair his relationship with the president, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was able to broker a truce, Axios previously reported.The ceasefire didn't last long. Days later, Massie ramped up his public criticism of the administration's handling of the Epstein files, and later led the push to release the files in defiance of Trump.Between the lines: Trump has taken out a number of Republican politicians who cross him.Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a top target of the president, lost his reelection bid on Saturday when he failed to finish in the top two in the state's GOP primary.Trump also exacted retribution on a group of Indiana Republican state legislators who blocked his push to redraw the state's congressional map.
Center Left
US news | The Guardian
Trump’s allies in danger of scraping false hope from Maga victory in Kentucky primary
US president, like a cult leader whose commune keeps getting smaller, commands fierce loyalty from a shrinking base“Thomas Massie caught in a throuple!” screamed the AI-generated attack ad that showed the Republican congressman supposedly dining with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar then checking into a hotel with the two progressives. “Thomas Massie betrayed President Trump!” it added.Crude but effective, as it turns out. Massie, from northern Kentucky, lost the most expensive House of Representatives primary election in history on Tuesday to Ed Gallrein, a farmer and former US Navy Seal backed by Donald Trump. Continue reading...
Center Left
Alternet.org
Longtime MAGA voter says he’s voting 'against Trump' in GOP primary
There are several elections on Tuesday in the U.S., but one major one is a Kentucky House race that has proven to be the most costly in history ($32 million). On the ground, Republicans are voting on whether to retain Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has been a thorn in the side of President Donald Trump in the past year. One MAGA voter was all in on Massie, despite their feud. CNN national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny said that the election is for Massie, but it might as well be about Trump. "It's a loyalty test for President Trump. And Thomas Massie has long been on the list of the White House as the top Republican who infuriates the president more than anyone else," said Zeleny. "Why is that? Of course, Thomas Massie led the charge to release the [Jeffrey] Epstein files. He has also voted against some key pieces of legislation, and he's been a critic of the Iraq War. Otherwise, he largely votes the conservative line. There's no doubt that Massie has a contrarian libertarian streak. That is one of the things that voters here say they like about him a lot, actually."Trump, on the other hand, is "fixated" on Massie, Zeleny continued. He's been willing to throw as much money as necessary to go after Massie and tear him down. "But as we've been talking to voters here in northern Kentucky, they're viewing this race through a different lens," he explained. Kentucky voter Rob Barkley said he voted for Trump in 2016 but didn't support him recently. Now that it has come between Trump or Massie, Barkley said he's against Trump. "I voted for Massie because he's pretty much against — he's on the Republican side. So he does have a conservative mindset, but he's not as far leaning right as the trump politics and basically a voting against Trump, honestly," the GOP voter said. "You voted against Trump?" Zeleny asked."I did not vote for Trump in the previous election. I voted for him the first time, and then I went against him the second time. But on this one, it's predominantly around just his — the stuff he does," said Barkley.
Left
Alternet.org
Donald Trump is not coming back from this
Donald Trump’s rapid descent into his own special hell is gaining speed. This hulking, demented racist conman will eventually land with a thud, with only the billions in cold, hard cash he has drained from the American taxpayer to cushion his collapse.Our standing on the world stage has taken a hit we might never recover from. We have no allies, only old neighbors who are watching in disbelief as the big, old white house on the block burns out of control. Our air and water is getting dirtier by the hour, and food prices are higher every time we wander into a store. Women have less rights than they did 50 years ago, and the Jim Crow South is back. Our government has been dismantled by greedy, billionaire Orcs, so that it works exclusively for them and not us.America has never been worse off, and that is the best we could have hoped for following that ghastly election in November, 2024, which handed Republicans the Executive, the Court, the House and the Senate.Because it actually could have been worse …In the worst-case scenario, Trump would have been an incoherent madman able to rein in his worst instincts as a subhuman, and worked diligently to at least give the phony appearance he was doing all he could to keep prices under control, and America out of any asinine wars.He would have worked quietly behind the scenes raking in cash to ruin us at the behest of those billionaire Orcs, and most Americans wouldn’t have been the wiser. As we have painfully learned over the past decade there are more than enough shallow people in America who are willing to go along with almost any abomination — including the caging of children — just as long as the gasoline they are pumping into their hulking vehicles is as cheap as they are.Under this worst-case scenario enough Americans would have gone along with Trump’s very worst, because somehow they would have continued to believe the fantasy that their lives would improve, even if every metric told them otherwise.Republicans’ chances going into midterms would be decent. There would be no talk of Democrats taking back the Senate, and plenty of predictions that Republicans would actually increase their advantage.Troops would be in the streets just in case.Three-dollar gas can mask a world of hurt in America.Well, that worst-case scenario didn’t come to pass, and there are signs everywhere that upwards of 70 percent of Americans do not like what is happening in their country right now. Whether that matters or if it is too late is still up for debate, but at this moment, America still has a shot to save itself in the nick of time.A New York Times/Siena poll released Monday has Trump’s approval rating at 37 percent, which is the lowest number in that paper’s polling since Trump hulked on the scene in 2016.Under the headline: Trump’s Approval Sinks Amid Unpopular War, Darkening GOP Prospects the case is made by the paper that …“… no president’s approval rating has been under 38 percent for more than a few days in the last 17 years. If there has been a floor during this partisan era of politics, Trump’s ratings today have fallen to it.”Adding …“The most immediate political consequences is that Democrats appear increasingly well positioned for the midterm elections in November. The poll shows Democrats have a double-digit lead, 50 percent to 39 percent, when registered voters are asked which party’s candidate they’ll support for Congress.” If you are one of those people saying right now that it is insane his approvals are that high, I will readily agree, but one of us hasn’t been paying attention to the past decade during which America has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it isn’t even a good country, much less a great one ...Under this best-case scenario we simply must accept that historically low approvals is the best we can hope for as we steam toward the latest most-important elections of our lives in November.The NYT poll mirrors an NPR poll two weeks ago that I typed about extensively. From that story:More than 80% of Americans say pain at the pump is straining their household budgets and a striking majority blames the president, according to a NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The poll found that President Trump faces his lowest popularity ever and is experiencing major declines with key demographics since being sworn in for his second term. Most Americans said the economy isn’t working for them. The war in Iran — which has directly led to higher gas prices — is increasingly unpopular. Those challenges have given Democrats a distinct advantage in the midterm elections.
Left
Raw Story
Trump wanders out of White House to give free-wheeling rant in front ballroom construction
President Donald Trump stepped outside the White House on Tuesday to survey the sprawling construction site where his prized ballroom is rising from the rubble of the demolished East Wing — and delivered a lengthy, freewheeling tour that touched on drone warfare, Greek architecture, and his place in history."This is my gift to the United States of America," Trump told reporters as he gestured at the concrete skeleton taking shape on the White House grounds. "I'm going to be able to use it very little. When it's finished, we're talking about six or seven months. But it will be used for hopefully hundreds of years by other presidents."Trump's remarks ranged across the building's classical facade ("This is Rome. They like the flat roof. Greece likes the triangles"), its four-inch-thick bulletproof glass, and its "dead flat roof" — designed, he said, specifically to serve as a military drone port. "It's built for our snipers," he added, "not the enemy's snipers."The president also took a swipe at a federal judge who has repeatedly tried to halt construction. "We have a judge that thinks it's a terrible thing that we're making a gift," Trump said. "He said it's terrible — that it should be paid for by the taxpayer. That's something I've never heard before."The ballroom, now projected to cost $400 million and set to open around September 2028, has been a near-daily obsession for the president. Trump has publicly highlighted the ballroom project on roughly a third of all days this year — and it shows no sign of slowing down.When a reporter pressed Trump on why Congress was being asked to weigh in if the project is privately funded, he acknowledged the tension — barely. "Congress is approving money for security," he said. "It may go — some of it may go here for additional security. I don't know."That's something of an understatement. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has introduced legislation including $1 billion earmarked for security improvements accompanying the ballroom project — a far cry from Trump's repeated vow that "not one penny" of taxpayer money would be spent.The project has been dogged by legal challenges, design mockery from architects, and polls showing Americans oppose it 2-to-1. A YouGov survey found that 61% of U.S. adults did not approve of the construction, and the National Capital Planning Commission received over 32,000 public comments, overwhelmingly opposing it — some comparing its aesthetics to a "Vegas casino."None of that appeared to dampen Trump's enthusiasm on Tuesday."There will never be anything like this built again," he said. "There will never be a roof built with this kind of safety."
Far Left
TIME
What to Know About the DOJ’s $1.7B 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' That Could Compensate Trump Allies Investigated Under Biden
The creation of the fund, which could be used to compensate Trump allies investigated under Biden, is part of deal to resolve the President's lawsuit against the IRS.
Center Left
The Daily Brief
Get the top headlines from Left, Right, and Center delivered to your inbox every morning.
Join Free→
Alternet.org
Senate majority leader signals tough road ahead for Trump’s $1.7 billion slush fund
Much of the criticism of President Donald Trump's $1.7 billion "weaponization fund" is coming from Democrats, who are attacking it as a "slush fund." But some conservatives are speaking out as well — including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota), who is saying he's "not a big fan" of the fund. After Trump and his allies dropped their $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), they did so on the condition that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) would set up a $1.7 billion fund to help people who, MAGA Republicans claim, were wrongly targeted for "lawfare" under former President Joe Biden and ex-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.According to The Hill's Alexander Bolton, Thune said of the fund, "Not a big fan. I'm not exactly sure how they would use it but my understanding is that was just announced. But yeah, I don't see a purpose."On the right, the fund is also drawing criticism from the conservative National Review's editorial board — which used much stronger language in a scathing editorial published on May 19.The Review editors argued that "hard-to-supervise slush funds aimed at financing well-connected political allies are exactly the sort of thing a populist presidency is supposed to end."Trump is claiming that Biden used the DOJ to target his political enemies, and he is describing the "anti-weaponization fund" as a way to help them out.
Left
Raw Story
5 things to know as new details emerge about deadly shooting at San Diego Islamic Center
Two suspects and three victims have died at a shooting at the San Diego Islamic Center on Monday as more details emerged. Investigators shared additional information about the shooting at 7050 Eckstrom Ave, just west of the 805 Freeway.Here are five things to know about the fatal shooting.1. Two suspects, who died of self-inflicted gunshots and were found in a vehicle near the mosque, were reportedly teenagers. They were believed to be ages 17 and 19, according to the FBI. Their names were not immediately released. It's unclear what motivated the shooting.CNN analyst Josh Campbell described the involvement of two shooters as "unusual."2. A security guard killed in the shooting was "pivotal" in preventing further deaths or harm.“One of the deceased is a security guard that works there and I think played a pivotal role in assisting from this being much worse,” San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl told reporters.The security guard's name was not immediately released. It appears this guard prevented people from entering the location where a group of children was located. No children were hurt. Children were seen in footage holding hands and escorting the site.The suspects also shot at a gardener. The gardener was not injured, according to authorities.3. The FBI was investigating the incident as a hate crime. No known motive was immediately released. Authorities said they would investigate the incident as a hate crime until it's determined that it's not because it's a place of worship. 4. The location of the shooting is the largest Islamic center in San Diego. The mosque is about 9 miles north of San Diego and is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to The Associated Press.5. Authorities were asking the public to contact them with additional information and tips. Anyone with information can visit at fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI to report any information about the incident.
Far Left
NYT > U.S. > Politics
What to Know About House Primaries as Massie Faces Trump-Backed Challenger in Kentucky
In Kentucky, Thomas Massie is fighting off a Trump-backed challenger. Democrats in Pennsylvania have a big decision to make.
Center Left
NYT > U.S. > Politics
Who is Ken Paxton, Trump’s pick in the Texas Senate race?
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, seems poised to defeat Senator John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent.
Center Left
NBC News Politics
Justice Department agrees not to pursue any tax claims against Trump as part of IRS deal
An addendum to the settlement says the government is “forever barred” from seeking any sort of financial relief against Trump, his oldest sons and their companies.
Center Left
NYT > U.S. > Politics
I.R.S. Must Drop Audits of Trump and Family
As part of the Justice Department’s compensation fund deal, officials vowed not to pursue any matters, including those involving President Trump’s tax returns, that are pending.
Center Left
TIME
Could the U.S. Indict Cuban Ex-President Raúl Castro?
The exact charges may be announced soon, as the Trump Administration escalates pressure on yet another foreign government.
Center Left
Axios
Trump's revenge tour comes for Massie
Today's Kentucky primary is President Trump's biggest test yet of whether his iron grip on the Republican base can hold even as war and inflation batter his national standing.Why it matters: Trump is trying to take out longtime antagonist Thomas Massie in the most expensive House primary in history — a contest that will show whether his iconoclastic brand of libertarian politics still has a place in the GOP. Until now, the seven-term Massie had never faced a serious threat to reelection. Trump changed that.Trump's political operation launched an aggressive effort to unseat Massie last year, its first such effort to defeat a sitting Republican incumbent.The fight between Massie and Trump-backed rival Ed Gallrein has drawn more than $32 million in ad spending, according to AdImpact.Driving the news: Trump has spent months portraying Massie as disloyal to the MAGA movement. He's called Massie a "moron," a "nut job" and "major Sleazebag.""He is the Worst "Republican" Congressman in History," Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday.At a March rally in Massie's district, Trump said: "Give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massie, and I got somebody with a warm body, but a big, beautiful brain, and a great patriot."The other side: "They want 100% compliance," Massie said of the White House."I vote with the President 90% of the time. I voted for the SAVE Act. I voted for DHS. In fact, by most scorecards, I'm the most conservative Republican, so it's only the 10% of the time they're mad about."Between the lines: Trump has taken out a number of Republican politicians who cross him.Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a top target of the president, lost his reelection bid when he failed to finish in the top two in a primary Saturday.Trump also exacted retribution on a group of Indiana Republican state legislators who blocked his push to redraw the state's congressional map. Five of the seven lost their primaries last month.And Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who spent the weekend campaigning with Massie in his district, has now caught the ire of Trump. The president invited a primary challenger to run against her in a post on Truth Social Saturday, calling Boebert "weak minded."Catch up quick: Massie and Trump's contentious relationship dates back to Trump's first term.In 2020, Massie opposed Trump's Covid relief package, leading the president to call for Massie to be thrown "out of the Republican Party."Massie was also one of only two House Republicans to vote against Trump's "big, beautiful bill."Last summer, Massie sought to repair his relationship with the president, and Speaker Mike Johnson was able to broker a truce, Axios previously reported.The ceasefire didn't last long. Days later, Massie ramped up his public criticism of the administration's handling of the Epstein files, and later led the push to release the files in defiance of Trump.Zoom in: The race has spiraled into an especially nasty and personal fight, with both sides trying to portray the other as out of step with the GOP base on a range of culture-war issues.Outside groups aligned with Trump and pro-Israel donors have spent millions attacking Massie over his criticism of Israel and opposition to some foreign aid packages.Pro-Massie groups, meanwhile, have labeled Gallrein "Woke Eddie" and aired an AI-generated ad depicting the retired Navy SEAL abandoning Trump on a battlefield.One pro-Massie ad attacked Gallrein's ties to GOP megadonor Paul Singer — who is Jewish and supports LGBTQ rights — by featuring a rainbow-colored Star of David and warning that the "LGBTQ mafia" was trying to take over the district. "If Gallrein wins, the weirdos take over," the ad says.The bottom line: A loss for Massie would send another warning to Republicans about the dangers of crossing Trump — and show that the president's broader political problems haven't diminished his power with the base."If I lose, I think it's going to disenfranchise a large part of the coalition that was formed to give us the majority here and to give us the White House," Massie told reporters at the Capitol last week.
Center Left
NBC News Politics
After primary loss, Sen. Bill Cassidy defends his 2021 vote to convict Trump
Sen. Bill Cassidy defended his 2021 vote to convict President Donald Trump on impeachment charges, saying he would rather be remembered for standing up for his principles even if it ended his career in the Senate.
Center Left
NYT > U.S. > Politics
Republican Primary for Georgia Governor Will Go to a Runoff
The state’s lieutenant governor, Burt Jones, will face a billionaire health care executive, Rick Jackson, on June 16 to decide the party’s standard-bearer to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp.
Center Left
NYT > U.S. > Politics
Senate Votes to Take Up Measure to Force Trump to End Iran War
With four Republican backers, Democrats won a vote to advance a resolution that would force the president to end hostilities or win authorization from Congress.
Center Left
NBC News Politics
Senate advances resolution to end Iran war as GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy flips to support it
The Senate voted to move forward with a resolution to force President Donald Trump to end the war in Iran, a breakthrough for the Democratic-led effort.
Center Left
ParallaxNews.io
Support ParallaxNews.io
Shopping on Amazon? Use our link to support Parallax at no extra cost to you.
Shop Now→
US news | The Guardian
‘He sacrificed his life’: security guard killed in San Diego mosque attack hailed as hero
Amin Abdullah, 51, was one of the three victims of deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on MondayA security guard who was killed during the shooting at a San Diego mosque on Monday is being hailed as a hero after police said that his actions “undoubtedly” saved lives.On Monday, two teenagers opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, shooting and killing three men. The two attackers, aged 17 and 18, were found dead several blocks away, from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, officials said. Continue reading...
Center Left
Axios
Rubio offers "new relationship" to Cuban people
Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Cuban Independence Day on Wednesday with a Spanish-language video message to the people of the island that blamed their "unimaginable hardships" on their communist leadership.Why it matters: This is the first time Rubio has addressed the Cuban population directly as secretary of state. It's part of the Trump administration's multi-layered pressure campaign targeting Havana."The real reason you don't have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people," Rubio says in the speech.Later Wednesday, the Justice Department will unveil the indictment of Cuba's de facto leader, Raúl Castro, for allegedly ordering the shootdown of two Miami-based rescue planes in 1996.Zoom in: Rubio's speech focuses on the Cuban military business conglomerate known as GAESA — founded by Castro — that has an estimated $18 billion in assets and controls 70% of Cuba's economy through its control of hotels, construction, banks, stores and cash remittance from the U.S.Rubio contrasts the wealthy elites who run GAESA with the lives of destitute Cubans, seeking to show that revolutionary communism is a kleptocratic sham."Cuba is not controlled by any 'revolution.' Cuba is controlled by GAESA," Rubio says.'The only role played by the so-called 'government' is to demand that you continue making 'sacrifices' and repressing anyone who dares to complain."He adds: "Today, from media to entertainment, from the private sector to politics, and from music to sports, Cubans have reached the top of virtually ALL industries, in all countries, except one ... Cuba."The other side: Cuba's government and supporters blame the island's troubles on the longstanding U.S. embargo, the Trump administration's new sanctions and the lack of oil it used to receive for free from Venezuela before the U.S. seized leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3."Acting as the world's policeman and in blatant violation of international law and the fundamental principles of free trade in goods and services, the sovereign right of all states that have or wish to maintain economic, commercial, and financial relations with Cuba is being explicitly, blatantly, and directly attacked," read a May 8 editorial in state-run media that criticized Trump's recent executive order imposing new sanctions.At Rubio's suggestion, Trump's executive order was issued on May 1 because it coincided with the communist International Workers Day.The big picture: Cuba's economy and government have never been in such an advanced state of decay as it is now. Food and fuel are scarce. Electricity is available for only two hours a day in some places."President Trump is offering a new relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. But it must be directly with you, the Cuban people, not with GAESA," Rubio says.The Trump administration is offering "$100 million in food and medicine for you, the people," he says, but it needs to be distributed by the "Catholic Church or other trusted charitable groups. Not stolen by GAESA to sell in one of their stores."Meanwhile, U.S. officials told Axios, Cuba's government has found enough money to buy at least 300 attack drones from Russia and China in case hostilities erupt.Cuba also hosts Iranian, Russian and Chinese military and intelligence officials.Flashback: In Trump's first term, Rubio was a U.S. senator from Florida and helped the president in 2017 construct a new sanctions regime that revolved around starving GAESA of money.A year later, Rubio and his fellow Cuban Americans from Miami called for the indictment of Castro by the Justice Department, which will officially happen today.Between the lines: The Castro indictment signifies that U.S. negotiators aren't making significant progress with Cuban leaders in negotiating a peaceful transition to a more democratic country that's no longer considered a state sponsor of terror by the U.S.State Department personnel and CIA Director John Ratcliffe have flown to Cuba and spoken to leaders there, including Castro's grandson, Raulito Castro, who has also met with Rubio.All U.S. officials have delivered the same message urging Cuba to free political prisoners, hold free elections and return land to U.S. persons and businesses that were seized after the 1959 revolution.Zoom out: May 20 marks Cuba's birth as a republic in 1902 following the Spanish-American War, but the holiday isn't celebrated on the island itself.Fidel Castro's government scrapped the holiday after the 1959 revolution.What's next: More indictments of other Cuban officials and more sanctions announcements are likely on their way from the Trump administration.Rubio's speech doesn't mention that, but instead offers "you, the ordinary Cuban, and not just GAESA," the right to own a business, whether it's a gas station or a media company."A new Cuba," Rubio says, would be a place where people can vote on their government officials and "where...
Center Left
NYT > U.S. > Politics
Raúl Castro Has Guided Cuba for Decades
Raúl Castro is 94 and no longer holds any official title, but he still wields enormous power, experts say, particularly over the military.
Center Left
NBC News Politics
DOJ indicts Raúl Castro over fatal 1996 civilian planes’ shooting
The Justice Department indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro on Wednesday in connection to the 1996 shooting of two civilian planes that killed four Cuban Americans.
Center Left
US news | The Guardian
First Thing: Five people, including two suspects, killed in shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque
Teenage suspects died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, say officials. Plus, why American women want to leave the US at twice the rate of men• Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Authorities are investigating a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego as a hate crime.What do we know about the suspects? The mother of one of the suspects had called police about two hours prior, informing them that her son was missing along with several of her weapons and her vehicle. Police were looking for the teenager and his friend when they received a 911 call from ICSD.What is Trump claiming now? That the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia approached Washington over the chance of making a deal that would be “very acceptable” to the US, and stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.… and Iran? Its foreign military spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, claimed Pakistan had shared Iran’s latest proposal with the US. There were contradictory reports from Islamabad, which has acted as mediator: one source appeared pessimistic, while others said Tehran had made concessions. Continue reading...
Center Left
Axios
Trump says he's pausing plan to attack Iran
President Trump said Monday that he'd planned to strike Iran "tomorrow" but was holding off to give negotiations another chance. He claimed he made the decision at the request of several Arab leaders.Why it matters: The White House saw an updated peace proposal Iran sent Sunday as insufficient, leading to a growing expectation — including inside the White House — that Trump was about to strike.Trump has extended deadlines and postponed planned attacks on Iran at least half a dozen times since the war began.Driving the news: Trump was expected to convene his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss military options, two U.S. officials told Axios.A senior U.S. official told Axios on Monday morning that if Iran didn't shift its position, the U.S. would have to continue the negotiations "through bombs."What he's saying: "I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow," Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.He added that the Arab leaders told him that "serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond."Trump claimed the deal would make sure that Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons.He has made repeated claims about progress toward a deal since the war began, but there have been no recent breakthroughs.Behind the scenes: Trump spoke on the phone with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE in the 24 hours before his announcement, two sources with knowledge said. One U.S. official claimed there had been "a unified message from Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. It was along the lines of 'give negotiations a chance because if you hit Iran, we will all pay the price for it.'"A second source with knowledge said Trump had told some of his hawkish political allies the three Arab leaders told him "they don't want their oil and energy facilities blown up" due to Iranian retaliation.Trump told reporters the Arab leaders had asked him to hold off "for two or three days," adding that he'd informed Israel ahead of time of his decision.What to watch: The president wrote Monday on Truth Social that he had instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine to suspend the attack plans but to be prepared to go forward "with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached."
Center Left
Trigger