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May 15, 2026
Trump leaves Beijing with few wins but warm words for Xi
(Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump left China on Friday with no major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite two days spent heaping praise on his host, Xi Jinping. Trump's visit to America's main strategic and economic rival, the first by a U.S. president since his last trip in 2017, had aimed for tangible results to beef up his sagging approval ratings before midterm elections. The summit was filled with pageantry, from goose-stepping soldiers to tours of a secret garden, but behind closed doors Xi issued a stark warning to Trump that any mishandling of China's top concern, Taiwan, could spiral into conflict.
Go to discussion'Significant blow': Senate rules referee blows up key piece of Trump's immigration plan
(Raw Story) Republicans were dealt a severe setback as the top Senate rule keeper called foul on an immigration enforcement funding package. Migrant Insider reported that Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough "delivered a significant blow" by stopping the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol reconciliation package, which Republican senators have been pushing as the second step to fully fund immigration enforcement after the months-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown ended.
Go to discussionTrump expected to drop $10 billion lawsuit, then launch $1.7B 'weaponization' fund for allies
(ABC News) Trump is expected to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service in exchange for the creation of a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The commission overseeing the compensation fund would have the total authority to hand out approximately $1.7 billion in taxpayer funds to settle claims brought by anyone who alleges they were harmed by the Biden administration's "weaponization" of the legal system, including the nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack as well as potentially entities associated with President Trump himself.
Go to discussionDemocrats eye "hidden" Latino battlegrounds in 2026
(Axios) The post-2024 narrative that Latino voters shifted right is facing its first real stress test — including in districts Republicans thought were safely red. The biggest immediate test is in Texas, where Republicans drew new maps assuming continued Latino gains. But GOP House seats are also at risk in California, New York, Colorado and Nevada. New modeling from Democratic group Oath finds several GOP-drawn "safe" districts could become competitive if recent Latino voting trends hold.
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The Supreme Court keeps abortion pill mifepristone available by telehealth
(NPR) The Supreme Court decided to keep the status quo in place for medication abortion access Thursday. The high court's order means the abortion pill mifepristone will remain available via telehealth as a case brought by Louisiana against the Food and Drug Administration proceeds through the lower courts. The Supreme Court stayed a May 1 ruling from the New Orleans-based, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals which would have banned mifepristone from being mailed. The appeals court ruling would have applied to the whole country, not just states like Louisiana that have abortion bans.
Go to discussionWatchdog groups urge Senate to investigate Samuel Alito over oil stock conflicts
(The Guardian) The supreme court justice Samuel Alito, who owns stock in oil companies, may be violating court ethics codes by participating in certain cases that could benefit big oil, government watchdog groups say. In a Thursday letter, a coalition of watchdog organizations called on the Senate judiciary committee to investigate Alito, the sole supreme court justice with holdings in energy companies.
Go to discussionNJ-07: The Mystery of a Congressman's Absence Deepens
(NY Times) Where is Representative Thomas Kean Jr.? Lately, curious political watchers have noted where Mr. Kean is not. He seems to be absent on Capitol Hill, where he represents the people of New Jersey’s Seventh District but hasn’t cast a vote in more than two months. Mr. Kean, a Republican, has not been seen on the campaign trail as he runs for re-election in a competitive midterm race. He has not appeared in pixel form, either: No candid photos have emerged of the incumbent to allay the worries of donors and constituents.
Go to discussionTrump-Appointed Judge Calls Administration's Behavior 'Appalling' In 24-Page Ruling
(Huff Post) A federal judge blasted the Trump administration for its “reckless” efforts to mislead and manipulate the courts, and target transgender youth by pressuring hospitals to disclose sensitive medical information, according to an order issued Wednesday night. Judge Mary S. McElroy, who was nominated to the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island by President Donald Trump in 2019, halted the Department of Justice’s subpoena into more than five years of records about transgender minor patients at Brown Health’s Rhode Island Hospital.
Go to discussionU.S. moving to indict Cuba's Ral Castro, sources say
(CBS News) The U.S. is taking steps to indict Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba and brother of Fidel, in connection with the downing of planes 30 years ago, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The potential indictment — which would need to be approved by a grand jury — is expected to focus on Cuba's deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
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