Federal appeals court rejects Trump defamation case en banc hearing
Federal appeals court rejects Trump's en banc defamation case hearing request in New York.
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US Government Shutdown Resolution
The House unanimously approved a Senate bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, ending the 76-day shutdown after Speaker Mike Johnson reversed his position following White House pressure. Republicans plan a separate reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement without Democratic support.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 May, 02:08 UTC
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What happened
Defense Secretary Hegseth defends Trump's Iran war strategy before Senate
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, defending the Trump administration's 2027 military budget proposal which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion. Hegseth criticized what he termed the reckless approach of congressional Democrats and some Republicans, defending Trump's budget request and stating the president inherited a defense industrial base that had been hollowed out by previous policies.
Attacker disrupts Senate hearing on Iran war; suspect arraigned in Washington attack
Cole Thomas Allen appeared before a U.S. magistrate on Thursday without entering a plea following his arrest for running through a magnetometer at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night while carrying a long gun. Prosecutors allege Allen planned the attack for weeks and tracked Trump's movements online. A Secret Service officer was shot but survived because of a bullet-resistant vest. Allen was injured during the incident but was not shot.
Senate Democrat warns Iran war damages military trust and culture
Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered a sharp critique of Defense Secretary Hegseth during his opening statement. Reed argued that the Iran war has left the U.S. in a worse strategic position because the Strait of Hormuz is closed and 13 U.S. military members have been killed. Reed warned that Hegseth's efforts to remake military culture could do long-term harm to public trust in the military.
GOP Senator Wicker describes China, Russia, Iran, North Korea as growing alliance
Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi outlined what he characterized as a growing alliance among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Wicker said these four countries share a goal to oppose U.S. interests and those of democratic countries globally, describing their ties as closer than ever and supporting each other's aggressive endeavors.
Chinese Vice Premier discusses trade concerns with U.S. Treasury and Trade officials
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng spoke by video with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. China's state media reported that both sides had a candid, in-depth and constructive exchange. The Chinese side lodged formal concerns over recent restrictive trade measures imposed by the U.S., though the statement did not specify which measures.
Consumer spending growth slows to 1.6% in first quarter 2026
Growth in consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of U.S. economic activity, slowed to 1.6% in the first quarter of 2026 from 1.9% at the end of 2025. Business investment rose at an 8.7% pace, likely driven by investments in artificial intelligence.
Trump threatens to reduce U.S. military presence in Germany
President Trump threatened that the United States could reduce its military presence in Germany, a key NATO ally and the European Union's largest economy. Trump's threat followed comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that the U.S. was being humiliated by Tehran. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO for its refusal to assist the U.S. in its Iran war and has mused for years about reducing America's military presence in Germany.
Total unemployment benefits claims fall to 1.79 million for week ending April 18
The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the week ending April 18 fell to 1.79 million, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week. Jobless claims are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and provide a real-time indicator of labor market health.
U.S. GDP rebounds to 2.5% in first quarter of 2026
Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.5% annual rate in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from a lackluster 0.5% expansion in the last three months of 2025. Federal government spending and investment grew at a 9.3% annual rate in the first quarter, adding more than half a percentage point to overall growth after reducing growth by 1.16 percentage points in fourth-quarter 2025.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell decides to remain as board member after term ends
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced he plans to remain on the board of the Federal Reserve after his term as chair ends next month for a period of time to be determined. Powell cited unprecedented legal attacks by the Trump administration as putting the independence of the nation's central bank at risk. Powell's decision to stay denies Trump an opportunity to fill a seat on the central bank's seven-member governing board with his own appointee. This will be the first time a Fed chair has remained on the board as a governor since 1948.
Coast Guard commandant describes workforce as furious over shutdown delay
Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, told CBS News that his workforce was furious over the extended DHS shutdown. Lunday called the funding impasse incredibly frustrating, emphasizing the strain the shutdown placed on Coast Guard operations and personnel.
General Caine testifies Russia has aided Iran's war effort
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told senators that Russian President Vladimir Putin has aided Iran's military efforts. Caine declined to provide specific details due to the public nature of the hearing but confirmed that Russia is taking action in support of Iran.
Florida Governor DeSantis approves new congressional district map favoring Republicans
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced he would not delay signing the new congressional map passed by the GOP-dominated Florida Legislature on Wednesday. The map is intended to help Republicans gain as many as four additional U.S. House seats in November, increasing the GOP advantage in Florida to 24-4.
76-day DHS shutdown ends with House passage of funding bill
The Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, will end upon President Trump's signature of the funding legislation. The 76-day shutdown is the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. The shutdown has impacted agencies including the Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Brent crude oil surges past $126 per barrel amid Iran talks stall
The price of Brent crude oil briefly surged past $126 per barrel early Thursday as stalled U.S.-Iran talks raised doubts over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a permanent end to the Iran war. Brent crude for June delivery jumped 3.3% to $121.90, while July delivery rose 1.4% to $112.02. Benchmark U.S. crude climbed 1.3% to $108.28 per barrel. Before the Iran war began in late February, Brent crude was trading around $70 per barrel.
Chinese foreign minister emphasizes leader-level diplomacy with US
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and called leader-level diplomacy the guiding star of China-U.S. relations. Wang credited the strategic leadership of both Xi Jinping and Donald Trump for overall stability in bilateral relations. Wang urged the U.S. to make the right choice on the Taiwan issue, which Beijing considers the most risky in China-U.S. relations.
Trump administration faces 60-day limit on Iran military action under 1973 law
The Trump administration is constrained by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires that military action authorized by the president must end after 60 days unless Congress has explicitly approved it or declared war. The 60-day deadline for the Iran military action expires on Friday. Administration officials indicated they are in active conversations with lawmakers about addressing the deadline and can request a 30-day extension by notifying Congress in writing of the continued need for military action.
Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged amid inflation concerns
The Federal Reserve kept its key short-term interest rate unchanged following concerns about rising inflation driven by elevated energy prices. The Fed typically keeps rates elevated or raises them to combat higher inflation. The central bank has not cut interest rates despite having cut them three times during the previous year.
Trump criticizes German Chancellor Merz over Iran war focus
President Trump posted on social media criticizing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying Merz should spend more time ending the Russia-Ukraine war and fixing Germany's issues with immigration and energy. Trump's criticism came a day after announcing he was reviewing U.S. military presence in Germany.
House approves Senate bill to fund Department of Homeland Security
The House of Representatives unanimously approved a Senate-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security by voice vote on Thursday. The legislation excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The bill now proceeds to President Trump's desk for signature.
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2 alternative perspectives
DeSantis approves Republican-favoring congressional redistricting map
DeSantis approves Florida congressional map favoring Republican electoral prospects.
Democrats resist EPA cuts as shutdown resolution sparks policy debate
Democrats oppose EPA cuts emerging from shutdown resolution negotiations.
Powell to stay at Fed as Warsh approved as next chairman
Senate approves Warsh as Fed chair; Powell stays as board member.
Security disruptions interrupt Senate Iran war hearings and defense testimony
Senate security disrupted twice during Iran war hearings and defense testimony.
Oil shock from Iran blockade fuels U.S. inflation as economy shows mixed signals
Oil shock from Iran blockade pushes inflation to 3.5% while economic growth moderates.
Trump tensions escalate with allies over geopolitical strategy
Trump escalates tensions with Germany over strategy while warning of adversarial alliance formation.
US-China diplomatic reset gains momentum with spring summit plans
Trump plans Beijing summit in May while US-China trade and diplomatic talks advance.
Pentagon and Congress debate Iran military options amid diplomatic constraints
Trump administration evaluates Iran military strategy within legal constraints while exploring diplomatic alternatives.
House ends 76-day DHS shutdown, faces aftermath of worker departures
House funding approval ends 76-day DHS shutdown but leaves workforce retention challenges unresolved.