Good evening,

Tonight, the story is power. Trump and Republicans are trying to change voting maps in key states. Congress is struggling to do basic work. Prices are rising again. The debt is growing. The Coast Guard is under strain. And Trump is using his platform to attack the media and push another loyalty test around who is “fit” to lead. That is not normal government. That is scary.

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Here’s the news:

• Republicans are moving to change the maps before voters even cast ballots: Louisiana suspended its congressional primaries after the Supreme Court struck down the state’s second majority-Black congressional district. The ruling weakened part of the Voting Rights Act and opened the door for more redistricting fights. In Florida, lawmakers passed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new map, which could help Republicans gain up to four seats. That matters because maps can decide who holds power before Election Day even arrives.

This is why gerrymandering is so dangerous. Voters are supposed to pick their leaders. Leaders are not supposed to pick their voters. But when politicians redraw districts to protect their own party, they can make elections less fair. That is the fight happening right now. It is not just about lines on a map. It is about whether people get real representation.

• Congress is barely doing its job: House Republicans are struggling to pass major bills, including bills tied to homeland security, spy powers, and the farm bill. Lawmakers are also taking more time away from Washington after already being gone for two weeks. For regular people, that is hard to watch. Families do not get to stop paying bills because things are hard. Congress should not get to stop governing because its own party cannot agree.

• Trump is still trying to pressure the media: Trump demanded that ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel, calling him “seriously unfunny” and saying, “It better be soon.” CNN reported that Disney is standing firm. This is not just about one late-night host. This is about Trump using public pressure against people who criticize him. In a free country, presidents can be criticized. That is not a problem. That is democracy.

• Trump is also calling for cognitive exams for candidates: Trump posted that anyone running for president or vice president should be forced to take a cognitive exam. He used the post to attack Barack Obama and Joe Biden, then claimed he took the exam three times and “aced” it. Voters have every right to ask questions about any leader’s health, age, judgment, and fitness. But that standard has to apply to everyone. It should be based on facts, not insults or political theater.

• Americans are paying more because of political choices: Inflation rose to 3.5 percent in March, up from 2.8 percent in February. The increase was measured by the PCE price index, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure. That number is still above the Fed’s 2 percent target. Food and energy prices have spiked during the Iran war, and those costs hit families fast. People feel it at the store, at the pump, and in their monthly bills.

• The national debt has crossed a major line: The U.S. national debt now tops 100 percent of GDP. Publicly held debt was $31.265 trillion as of March 31, while the economy over the past year was $31.216 trillion. That means the debt is now slightly bigger than the yearly size of the U.S. economy. The government is spending $1.33 for every $1 it brings in. That is not a small problem. That is a sign of deep stress.

• Americans are pushing back: A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 56 percent of Americans oppose Trump’s White House ballroom project, while only 28 percent support it. Another poll found that 52 percent oppose building a 250-foot arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. And 68 percent oppose printing Trump’s signature on paper money instead of the Treasury secretary’s signature. The public is sending a clear message. People want leaders to govern. They do not want vanity projects while the country has real problems.

The maps are being changed. Congress is barely working. Prices are going up. Debt is growing. Service members are being squeezed. And Trump is still focused on enemies, media fights, and symbols of personal power. That is the part people need to see. This is not one story. It is a pattern. And when power keeps protecting itself instead of serving the public, the public has every right to call it out.

I’ll see you soon.

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Good morning,

Today’s news is about power.

Who gets to vote under fair maps. Who gets heard when workers and families stay home. Who gets to lead inside the Democratic Party. And who pays when war gets more expensive.

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Here’s the news:

* Louisiana could redraw its House map before voters cast ballots: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is planning a move that could pause next month’s primary elections so state lawmakers can draw a new congressional map first. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana unlawfully used race when it created a second majority-Black House district. The political effect could be huge. A new map may help Republicans gain one or two House seats as both parties fight for control of Congress. This matters because voters are already being asked to trust a system where the rules keep changing close to Election Day.

* A May Day economic blackout is planned across the country: Organizers are calling for people to take part in a one-day action tomorrow, May 1, with a simple message: no school, no work, no shopping. Labor unions, community groups, and Democratic organizations are helping plan events in cities across the country. One organizer said more than 3,000 actions are expected nationwide. The goal is to use economic pressure to send a message about workers’ rights, immigration enforcement, voting rights, and the direction of the country.

* Janet Mills drops out of the Maine Senate race: Maine Gov. Janet Mills has suspended her campaign for the Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Mills said she no longer had the money needed to compete against Graham Platner, a progressive newcomer who has led her in polls. Platner is now on track to become the Democratic nominee. This is a major blow to the Democratic establishment and shows how much the party’s base is pushing for younger, more combative leadership.

* The war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far: Pentagon officials now estimate the war in Iran has cost $25 billion in just two months. That money is mostly tied to replacing weapons, moving ships and planes, running bases, and repairing damage. To put that number in plain terms, $25 billion is close to NASA’s annual budget. It is also more than the annual budget of many federal agencies. And it is not the final bill. The war is in a fragile cease-fire, but the cost is still growing.

* Oil and gas prices are climbing: Oil prices hit a wartime high above $120 a barrel before pulling back in volatile trading. The average price of regular gas in the United States rose to about $4.30 a gallon, up 27 cents in one week. That hits families fast. Higher gas prices can also make food, flights, shipping, and basic goods more expensive. This is one of the ways war reaches people far from the battlefield: through the bills they pay every day.

That is the throughline this morning: the cost of power.

Sometimes that cost shows up in a courtroom. Sometimes it shows up on a ballot. Sometimes it shows up at work, at school, or at the gas pump. But regular people keep being asked to carry the weight. They are asked to pay more, trust more, wait longer, and accept decisions made far above them. That is why this moment matters. Democracy is not just about what happens in Washington. It is about whether people still have a real voice in the systems that govern their lives.

I’ll see you later.

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Good evening,

Tonight’s news is about power — who has it, who checks it, and what happens when the guardrails start to bend.

We have the defense secretary facing Congress after the Iran war began. We have the Justice Department moving to roll back gun rules. We have Pam Bondi now set to testify on the Epstein files after contempt pressure. We have a major Supreme Court voting rights ruling. And we have the House voting to renew one of the government’s most powerful surveillance tools.

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Here’s the news:

* Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced his first major House hearing since the Iran war began, and it was tense from the start. Hegseth accused Democrats, and some Republicans, of using “reckless” and “defeatist” words. Democrats pressed him hard over the war, his leadership, and the recent firings of top military officials. Most Republicans kept their criticism quiet, though Rep. Don Bacon warned that having the power to fire senior leaders does not always make it wise. The hearing showed a Pentagon chief under pressure at a time when the country still needs clear answers about the war, the mission, and who is being trusted to lead it.

* The Justice Department is expected to announce a rulemaking package aimed at rolling back several Biden-era gun regulations. The package is tied to Trump’s executive order on Second Amendment rights and is expected to include changes from the ATF, including revisions to Form 4473. This is the kind of move that will immediately split the country: gun rights groups will call it a victory, while gun safety advocates will warn that loosening rules could make communities less safe. The key question now is what exactly the rule changes do, who they help, and how far the administration is willing to go.

* Pam Bondi is now expected to testify before Congress on May 29 about the Epstein files after Democrats moved to hold her in contempt. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said contempt charges were filed after Bondi refused to testify, and that Republicans announced her appearance date less than an hour later. That timeline matters. This is no longer only a fight over records. It is now a test of whether Congress can force answers from people in power when the public is still demanding transparency, and survivors are still owed the truth.

* The Supreme Court issued a major ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map, and the political fight over redistricting may now get much bigger. The Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s map with a Black-majority district was unconstitutional, but it did not completely wipe out Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. That part matters, because the worst-case outcome for voting rights did not happen. But the ruling may still set off a new map war. Republican-led states are already looking at ways to draw more favorable maps, and Democratic-led states are signaling they may hit back by targeting Republican-held seats of their own. If this becomes a state-by-state fight over raw power, voters may be left watching politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their leaders.

* The House voted 235-191 to renew Section 702, one of the government’s most powerful surveillance tools. Section 702 is supposed to let U.S. intelligence agencies target foreigners overseas, not people inside the United States. But Americans and people living in America talk to people overseas every day — family members, journalists, lawyers, students, activists, aid workers, and business contacts. That is where the danger comes in. Their communications can get swept up, and privacy advocates in both parties argue the government should need a warrant before searching that information. National security matters. But so does the basic rule that the government should not get a backdoor into people’s private lives without real limits.

That is the throughline tonight.

A war hearing. A gun rule rollback. An Epstein files fight. A voting rights ruling. A surveillance vote. Different stories. Same question. When government power expands, who is strong enough to check it?

That answer should never depend on which party is in charge. Rights are not supposed to be temporary. Privacy is not supposed to be partisan. Voting power should not belong to whoever draws the lines. And accountability should not require weeks of pressure just to get someone in front of Congress.

I’ll see you soon.

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Good morning,

It is Wednesday, and today’s news is really about power. Who gets protected by it. Who gets investigated by it. Who gets ignored by it. And who gets turned into a symbol by it.

Some of these stories are heavy. Some are political. One is almost absurd. But all of them point to the same larger question: when government power moves, who is watching? If you value fact-based independent reporting, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support this work.

Here’s the news:

* Epstein’s New Mexico ranch is back under scrutiny: New allegations tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico are bringing new attention to one of the least examined parts of his network. Rep. Melanie Stansbury says one alleged victim described being invited to the ranch, drugged, and raped. That person also says he witnessed multiple young men being assaulted there. New Mexico officials have reopened their investigation, and a Truth Commission is now working with the state’s Department of Justice to review whether any of these cases can still lead to charges against Epstein’s associates. For years, survivors described the ranch as isolated and terrifying. Now the question is not only what happened there, but how much was missed.

* An ICE agent is reportedly back on duty after killing Renée Good: An ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross, who shot and killed Renée Good, was reportedly moved within the system and returned to work. That raises serious questions about what accountability looks like inside federal law enforcement after someone is killed. Families deserve answers. The public deserves transparency. And when an officer involved in a fatal shooting is quietly allowed to keep working, people have a right to ask who reviewed the case, what was found, and why the public had to learn about it this way.

* James Comey is expected to surrender: Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to surrender to authorities in the Eastern District of Virginia after a federal grand jury indicted him over a since-deleted Instagram post. The case centers on a photo Comey posted showing the numbers “86 47” written in seashells on a beach. Trump allies claimed the post was a threat against Trump, who is the 47th president. Prosecutors say the post would be understood as a serious threat. Comey says he is innocent and says he still believes in the independent federal judiciary. This is now a major test of how the Justice Department handles speech, politics, and criminal charges against one of Trump’s longtime opponents.

* The Trump administration is moving to tighten asylum-related travel rules: The Trump administration is reportedly seeking new rules that could make it harder for some asylum seekers to obtain U.S. travel documents. Under the proposed changes, visa applicants would be asked whether they have been harmed or fear harm in their home country. If they answer yes, diplomatic missions would have to refuse the travel documents. That matters because those are the very questions at the center of many asylum claims. People seeking protection often say they fear harm if they are sent back. This rule could turn that fear into the reason they are blocked from reaching the United States in the first place.

* Newsom mocks Trump’s passport design: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office responded to the Trump State Department’s new commemorative passport design by posting a fake California driver’s license with Newsom’s own photo on it. The passport design was created to mark America’s 250th anniversary and included Trump’s image. Newsom’s office turned that into a parody, joking that California would roll out a special license featuring a “handsome” photo of Newsom. It is a lighter story, but it says something real about this political moment. Even basic government documents are now being pulled into the world of personal branding, trolling, and online spectacle.

That is the thread this morning.

Power keeps trying to move behind closed doors. At a ranch. Inside federal law enforcement. Through the courts. At the border. Even through government symbols most people do not think twice about.

And that is why independent journalism matters. Not because every story is the same size. They are not. But because every story tells us something about what power thinks it can do when no one is paying close attention.

See you soon.

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Thank you for reading and supporting independent journalism.

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Good evening,

Today’s news has a clear throughline: power is moving fast, and in several cases, it is moving in ways that deserve close public attention.

We are seeing criminal charges tied to political speech, a passport redesign featuring Trump, a Justice Department filing that reads more like a political argument than a standard court motion, a fight with a major U.S. ally, and a civil rights agency reportedly shifting its focus.

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Here’s the news:

• James Comey faces new charges: Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted after a federal grand jury returned new charges against him in a case tied to a social media post. The post showed seashells arranged to read “86 47,” which Trump officials viewed as a threat against Trump, the 47th president. Comey has said he did not mean it as a threat, deleted the post, and said he opposes violence. This is important to say clearly: an indictment is not a conviction, and an arrest warrant does not mean someone is guilty. Comey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

• Trump image appears in America 250 passport design: The State Department posted images connected to a new America 250 passport design, and Fox News presented it as an exclusive look at the plan. The images show patriotic artwork tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, including a page with Trump’s image, the Declaration of Independence, and other American symbols. The issue here is not just design. It is whether official government documents should feature a sitting president in a way that blurs the line between the country and the person holding power.

• DOJ filing uses unusually political language: Trump’s Justice Department filed a new motion asking a federal court to dissolve an injunction blocking the White House ballroom project. The filing argues the project is needed for security after the attempted attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. But the language in the motion is getting attention because it attacks the National Trust for Historic Preservation, calls the lawsuit “frivolous,” and even refers to “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Court filings are supposed to make legal arguments. This one also carries a clear political tone, and that matters.

• Trump attacks Germany’s chancellor: Trump publicly attacked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after Merz criticized the U.S. handling of Iran and said the U.S. had been humiliated and lacked a clear strategy to end the war. Trump responded by claiming Merz thinks Iran should have a nuclear weapon, then said Germany is doing poorly economically and otherwise. This is not just a personal fight. Germany is a major U.S. ally, and public attacks like this can make already tense foreign policy moments even more unstable.

• EEOC reportedly fast-tracking reverse discrimination cases: The EEOC is reportedly speeding up some discrimination cases brought by white men, including claims tied to workplace DEI policies. Civil rights enforcement is supposed to protect workers from discrimination under the law. The concern is whether the agency is being turned into a political tool at a time when many historically marginalized communities are still fighting for equal treatment and basic protection in the workplace.

That is where we are tonight. A former FBI director is facing charges. A government passport design is raising questions about political imagery. A Justice Department filing is raising questions about tone and independence. Trump is attacking an allied leader. And a civil rights agency is reportedly changing its focus.

These stories may seem separate. They are not. They are all about whether public institutions serve the people, the law, and the country — or whether they are being pulled closer to one man’s politics.

I’ll see you soon.

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Good morning,

This morning’s brief is about power and what happens when people at the top expect the public to keep paying, keep watching, or keep trusting without real accountability.

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Here’s the news:

• Former lawmakers could still receive taxpayer-funded pensions: Former Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales left Congress after misconduct allegations, but they may still be eligible for congressional pensions once they reach retirement age because they served more than five years. Swalwell could reportedly qualify for about $22,000 a year, while Gonzales could receive nearly $15,000 a year. A new proposal from Rep. Suhas Subramanyam and Sen. Josh Hawley would block pensions for lawmakers convicted of certain crimes, including rape and sexual assault, and could also affect members found by Congress to have had sex with staff. Neither Swalwell nor Gonzales has been charged with a crime.

• Congress faces a wider accountability problem: The pension fight is not happening in a vacuum. A review of House sexual misconduct investigations shows decades of allegations involving members of Congress, staffers, lobbyists, pages, and minors. Some members resigned. Some faced public findings. Others were investigated without sexual misconduct violations being found. The bigger issue is simple: Congress has long struggled to police itself, even when public trust is on the line.

• CBS ratings fall after leadership shakeup: CBS is facing new questions after CBS Evening News reportedly fell below 4 million viewers during the week of April 6. That put the network far behind ABC’s World News Tonight, which drew 8.42 million viewers, and NBC Nightly News, which averaged 6.43 million viewers. The drop comes after Bari Weiss promised major changes at the network. The story matters because legacy news outlets are still trying to win back trust in a media environment where viewers have more choices than ever.

• California billionaire tax moves closer to the ballot: California unions say they have gathered more than 1.5 million signatures to put a billionaire wealth tax before voters. The signatures still need to be verified by state officials before the measure officially qualifies. The proposal would ask the wealthiest Californians to pay more, with supporters arguing the money should help fund public services at a time of deep income and wealth inequality. It is another sign that taxes, fairness, and public investment will be major fights heading into November.

• Trump administration removes National Science Board members: The Trump administration has dismissed the members of the National Science Board, the independent body that helps oversee the National Science Foundation. The NSF funds major research at universities and plays a key role in science, technology, medicine, and national security. Critics warn the move could weaken independent science at the exact moment the United States is competing with China in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. This is not just about scientists in a room. It is about who gets to shape the future.

That is what ties these stories together this morning. Whether it is Congress protecting its own, a major network losing viewers, or the government removing independent science oversight, the question is the same: who is being held accountable?

Because when powerful people make decisions behind closed doors, the public usually finds out later — and too often, we are the ones left paying for it.

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I want to bring attention to something most people would never see unless someone was there looking for it.

I spoke with Nick Benson, a Minnesota activist who says he has spent months going to the Minneapolis airport to document flights that he believes are being used to move immigrants out of Minnesota and into detention facilities in other states.

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According to Benson, this is not something he has seen once or twice. He told me he has personally watched more than 1,000 people board these flights.

Benson says he and other community observers have been showing up at the airport to count how many people get on the planes, how many get off, and where the flights appear to be going. He told me they are doing this because, in his view, the public is not getting clear, real-time information from the state, the federal government, or the airport.

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was the scale. Benson said the largest number of people he has seen on one flight was 127. More recently, he says he has seen smaller numbers, sometimes between 12 and 40 people. But he does not believe that means the system has stopped.

He told me that earlier on, these flights looked like they were happening about once a week. Then, he said, the pace increased. At certain points, he says they were happening every day. During one surge, he said there were days with as many as three flights. In one month, Benson said he counted 42 flights in 31 days.

He also told me the destinations appear to have changed over time. Benson said many recent flights seemed to be going to El Paso, Texas. Before that, he says he saw flights going to places like Harlingen, Texas, and Alexandria, Louisiana.

But this story is not just about flights or numbers. It is about people.

Benson described seeing young people, older people, and workers being moved in shackles. He said some appeared to still be wearing work clothes, including Home Depot and Amazon vests. That detail is hard to ignore. These are people who, according to Benson’s account, may have been pulled out of normal daily life and moved through a system most of the public never sees.

He also described seeing at least 31 people return to Minnesota after previously being sent to El Paso. That part matters too, because it shows there are still many unanswered questions about how this system works, who is being moved, where they are being sent, and what happens next.

To be clear, much of this is based on what Benson says he has personally witnessed and documented. Some parts still need more reporting. But his account raises serious questions about transparency and accountability.

Who is keeping track of these flights? Who is counting the people being moved? Who is telling the public what is happening in real time?

Benson’s answer is simple: if officials will not provide that information, community members have to show up and document it themselves.

And whether people agree with him politically or not, the bigger question should matter to everyone. When the government moves people through a system that most of the public never sees, someone should be watching.

That is what this story is really about.

It is about what happens in plain sight, at a major American airport, while most people walk by without knowing what they are looking at.

If this kind of reporting matters to you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps me keep showing up, asking questions, documenting what is happening, and traveling to cover the stories that too often happen out of sight. Independent journalism only works when people are willing to stand behind it — and I’m grateful to everyone who helps keep this work going.

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Good morning Everyone,

Today is a special morning for me. It is my one-year anniversary of bringing you the news, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you for reading, for showing up, for caring about the truth, and for letting me do this work with you every day. I’m really excited, and tonight I’m going to celebrate the way I love to, with a movie and my favorite popcorn. This work means a lot to me, and so do all of you. If you value fact-based independent reporting, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support this work.

Here’s the news:

* Iran seizes ships in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran fired on ships and seized two container vessels in the Strait of Hormuz just hours after Trump extended a cease-fire. That matters because this is one of the most important shipping routes in the world, with about one-fifth of global oil trade moving through it. Even if airstrikes slow down, this shows the wider crisis is still active and the risk to shipping, energy prices, and global stability is still very real.

* Rep. Cory Mills faces serious allegations: Florida Rep. Cory Mills is under an active House Ethics Committee investigation tied to allegations that include sexual misconduct, dating violence, financial disclosure issues, and possible campaign finance violations. A judge also previously ordered him to have no contact with an ex-girlfriend and stay away from her home and workplace. He denies wrongdoing, but the case is raising bigger questions about how Congress handles serious accusations against its own members.

* South Carolina bathroom bill raises civil rights concerns: South Carolina lawmakers passed a bill that would require students in public schools and colleges to use shared bathrooms and changing facilities based on the sex definition written into the bill. Schools would have to offer other accommodations, which critics say could mean trans students are pushed into separate spaces. Supporters say it protects privacy, but opponents say it targets trans kids and opens the door to exclusion backed by state law.

* Trump attacks Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court after it moved against him on tariffs and targeted Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson with a personal insult. This is bigger than one post. It is another example of Trump attacking democratic institutions when they do not deliver the outcome he wants, and this time it was directed at a sitting justice on the nation’s highest court.

* Rep. David Scott dies at 80: Rep. David Scott of Georgia has died at 80 after more than two decades in Congress. He was a trailblazer on Capitol Hill and became the first Black lawmaker to chair the House Agriculture Committee. His death marks the loss of a historic figure in Congress and closes a long chapter of public service.

This morning’s stories are all about power, pressure, and who gets protected when the stakes get high. Whether it is a shipping crisis overseas, accountability inside Congress, attacks on trans students, or public pressure on the courts, these stories all point to the same question: what kind of country are we becoming, and who pays the price when power goes unchecked?

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In today’s late Tuesday news brief, I’m covering six major stories you need to know.

We start with a growing split inside Trump’s own base, as more MAGA supporters push conspiracy theories claiming the assassination attempt against him was fake. Then we move to new ethics concerns surrounding the secret White House ballroom fundraising contract, which was only made public after a lawsuit and court order.

I also break down the DOJ’s case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, where federal prosecutors allege the group funneled more than $3 million to people tied to extremist organizations. From there, I cover Trump’s decision to extend the Iran ceasefire after previously saying he would not, while still keeping U.S. military pressure in place.

I also look at Trump’s latest attacks on Democrats and major news outlets as he defends his Iran operation, and I close with the resignation of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick just before a House Ethics Committee sanction hearing.

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Good morning everyone. I will be publishing your Morning News Brief later this afternoon.

Have a wonderful morning.

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