In U.S. politics and elections

The White House is asking Congress for about $87.6 billion in new spending, with most of it tied to a possible war with Iran. The request lands in a Congress that already voted to curb Trump’s war powers, so this one should glide through the usual process, meaning it will probably hit a wall.

On the voting front, a federal appeals court said Michigan does not have to hand over sensitive voter data to the Trump administration. Separately, Postmaster General David Steiner told senators the Postal Service could withhold mail ballots from states that do not share absentee-ballot request lists if a proposed rule is adopted. The bureaucracy, as ever, remains committed to making democracy feel like a compliance exercise.

In the world

A powerful earthquake struck Venezuela, with reports of major shaking in Caracas and damaged buildings in the capital. USGS data described a pair of strong quakes, and tsunami threats were reported in surrounding areas. Emergency crews will be dealing with the usual post-quake realities, which are never subtle and rarely brief.

In brief

The Justice Department has charged 12 people in a drone-smuggling scheme that allegedly moved drugs and other items into prisons. It is a reminder that every bad idea eventually finds a hobbyist with a battery pack.