News of the Week for May 3rd, 2026
- 2026 Election
- Abortion
- Gun Rights
- Hide the Decline
- Socialized Medicine
- War & Terror
- National News
- Economy & Taxes
- International News
- Opinion
2026 Election
Ron DeSantis unveils new Florida congressional map that would give the GOP an extra four seats
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis revealed the new redistricted congressional map for the state, which shows the GOP gaining an extra four seats.
Beasts of no party: the curious history of America’s animal mayors
Small towns across the US have elected animals to the pinnacle of civic leadership – and it seems to work for them
Keeping an Eye on Josh Shapiro’s Far-Reaching Ambitions
At the tail end of today’s Morning Jolt, I mentioned a curious expenditure on the part of Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro’s campaign. Shapiro is a figure worth keeping an eye on as he runs for reelection in 2026, and likely, runs for president in 2028. Shapiro is a heavy favorite against the GOP nominee, state treasurer Stacy Garrity (no relation), outraising her roughly 10-to-1.
‘This is the new Ohio’: Why everyone’s watching the Nevada governor’s race
The neck-and-neck Nevada governor’s race is shaping up as one of the earliest tests of whether Republicans can separate themselves from Trump’s political fortunes — without losing his coalition.
Louisiana governor prepares to suspend House primaries after court ruling
Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told Republican House candidates he plans to suspend the May 16 primary elections so lawmakers can redraw the congressional map.
Tens of thousands of Nevadans are losing food stamps benefits. Here’s what to know.
The number of people on federal food assistance was already dropping, likely because of economic trends and a recent rule change making noncitizens ineligible.
Louisiana sued for suspending active election, nullifying votes to draft GOP gerrymander
A new lawsuit is challenging Louisiana’s extraordinary decision to suspend congressional primaries already underway — arguing the state is illegally nullifying votes and plunging an active election into chaos following the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act.
The Ruby Red Farm State That Is Now a Political Battleground
Iowa has trended red for a decade, but Democrats are showing signs of life, and that could help their party reclaim Congress and maybe even a governorship
The Pressure’s on in Maine
With Janet Mills out of the Maine Senate race, the competition is likely between incumbent Susan Collins and Democrat Graham Platner. Dan Foster, on today’s edition of The Editors, points out that “this is a Groundhog’s Day thing with the Maine ladies. They’re always facing the most dangerous challenge of their political career.
Team Trump fears a Nancy Mace governorship
President Trump’s allies are growing alarmed that GOP Rep. Nancy Mace — who infuriated him by calling for the release of the Epstein files — will defy expectations and win the South Carolina governor’s race.
Abortion
Court Cases & Legislation
Abortion pill dispute returns to Supreme Court
On Saturday, two companies that manufacture mifepristone came to the court in Danco Laboratories v. Louisiana, asking the justices to pause a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in a lawsuit by Louisiana that reinstated the requirement that the drug, which is used in about 60% of abortions nationwide, be dispensed only in person. Danco and GenBioPro told the justices that the 5th Circuit’s order was “unprecedented” and “injects immediate confusion and upheaval into highly time-sensitive medical decisions.”
Gun Rights
Court Rules 2nd Amendment Covers Firearms Parts, Good News for Those Who Build Guns
A federal court ruled that firearms parts without serial numbers could be protected under the Second Amendment. That’s good news for Wyomingites who build or customize their own guns, which one enthusiast likened to “Barbie dolls for men.”
Hide the Decline
Environment &“Green Energy”
Appalachia Lithium Cache Could Power U.S. for Centuries
The newly published lithium resource numbers are estimates, and much more work needs to be done to take advantage of our current mineral capacity.
Socialized Medicine
Government in Healthcare
Dementia Patients and Death by Intentional Undernourishment
Last year, I wrote here warning about a bioethics paper that advocated restricting the amount of orally received food and water given to dementia patients, an intentional undernourishment approach that the authors labeled “minimal comfort feeding.”
War & Terror
Iran selected for a vice presidency post at UN’s nuclear non-proliferation confab
US envoy tells conference that Tehran’s selection is an ‘affront’ to the NPT, given that the Islamic Republic has ‘long demonstrated its contempt for non-proliferation commitments’
UK to create alliance of ‘northern navies’ to counter Russian threat
The head of the Royal Navy has set out plans for a multinational force commanded from London ‘that trains, exercises and prepares together’
The BBG-1 argument is obscuring the long-running requirement for capability
…there is a pedigree here…
Victims of Communism Day – 2026
May Day should be a day to honor victims of an ideology that took tens of millions of lives. But we should also be open to alternative dates if they can attract broad enough support.
Court Upholds Ban on Military Retirement Home Residents’ Wearing Political Clothing in Public Spaces
The Court has in the past upheld restrictions on political activity (such as candidate speeches) on military bases, see Greer v. Spock (1976), and lower courts have upheld restrictions on speech by outsiders on various kinds of government property, including military bases. But when may the government restrict speech by people who actually live on government property—military bases or otherwise—and who aren’t active duty military or even other government employees?
Trump Tells Congress ‘Hostilities’ with Iran Have ‘Terminated’ Despite Dueling Blockades
My weekend column addresses the implausibility of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s claim, in Senate testimony, that the so-called cease-fire ordered by President Trump in the Iran war constituted a last-second freeze of the 60-day War Powers Act clock — after which the statute calls for the commander in chief to withdraw U.S. forces unless Congress has authorized combat. (The 1973 War Powers Act is often referred to as the War Powers Resolution.)
A ‘Cease-Fire’ Does Not Stop the Clock on the War Powers Act
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth makes an implausible claim.
National
Trump DOJ Brings a Second Bogus Comey Indictment
If it’s possible, the Trump Justice Department’s new indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is even more absurd than the previous indictment. That one failed to state a crime. This one fabricates a crime.
New DHS chief’s call for quieter immigration enforcement alarms MAGA base
Groups like the Mass Deportation Coalition see Markwayne Mullin’s push to restore confidence in DHS after fatal shootings as a potential betrayal of the president’s promise.
Supreme Court limits key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act
The decision could touch off a scramble by Republicans to redraw minority-majority congressional districts, especially in the South, that could cost many Black Democrats their seats.
Trump administration fires independent board overseeing National Science Foundation
The Trump administration has fired members of an independent board that oversees the National Science Foundation.
Texas A&M ‘writing intensive’ course allows AI for 20% of essay
Students can use ChatGPT to write up to 20 percent of their essays in a “writing intensive” course at Texas A & M University.
A Unanimous Supreme Court First Amendment Victory for Crisis Pregnancy Centers — but Not Only a Win for Pro-Lifers
The Supreme Court this morning decided First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin, a case at the hot-button intersection of abortion, free speech, lawfare, and standing to sue. Yet, perhaps surprisingly, the win for pro-lifers was unanimous. Justice Neil Gorsuch’s opinion illustrates the Court’s consensus on free speech issues in general and government abuses of investigative authority to chill speech in particular.
The Evolving News Landscape: Comparing Media Habits and Trust Between Teens and Adults
Older adults are more likely to show stronger confidence in traditional news outlets while teens and young adults distribute trust more evenly across traditional outlets and alternative sources of information like independent creators.
John Seymour, California’s last Republican US senator, dies at 88
Pop quiz: Who was the last Republican to represent California in the U.S. Senate? The answer is John Seymour, the longtime Orange County political force who was appointed to the Senate by then-incoming Gov. Pete Wilson in 1991 and left after losing an election for the full-time job, in 1992, to former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein.
NJ governor put his children on state board just before leaving office
Democrat Phil Murphy’s appointments are not the only controversial acts he made just before ending his two terms.
Rep. Chuck Edwards under investigation by House Ethics
The House Ethics Committee has begun investigating Rep. Chuck Edwards over unspecified allegations against the North Carolina Republican, Axios has learned from three sources familiar with the probe.
A Little-Known Lawsuit May Weaken University Ethics Boards
Ethical oversight or suppression of speech?
Utah’s Age-Verification Law Targets VPNs, Risks Ensnaring All Users
The law tries to crack down on minors using VPNs to access porn sites. But its vague wording could have unintended consequences, NordVPN and the Electronic Frontier Foundation warn.
“Gaslighting” Isn’t “Abuse” for Child Custody Law Purposes
So holds an Oregon appellate court.
Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal
Smart meters, bad metaphors, and the color of state law
Uterine Transplants and Reproductive Anarchy
Uterine transplants are becoming more common to enable infertile women — and perhaps, eventually men — to give birth. How’s that project going? A new study detailing the outcomes of more than 40 cases of uterine transplants and subsequent IVF-enabled pregnancies published in JAMA provides details
Economy & Taxes
United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC May 1, energy chief says still committed to oil price stability
The United Arab Emirates said it will exit OPEC on May 1. The UAE was the third-largest producer in OPEC behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The shock announcement comes after the UAE was the target of missile and drone attacks for weeks by fellow OPEC member Iran.
Warren’s Wealth Tax and the Return of Feudalism
The week of April 27, 2026: What’s next with wealth taxes, Spirit Airlines, the Fed, and much more.
Powell confirms he will stay on the Fed board after he steps down as chair
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed Wednesday that he will be stepping aside as central bank leader next month but intends to continue his concurrent term as a governor, which extends until 2028.
US debt tops 100% of GDP
The U.S. national debt now exceeds 100% of gross domestic product, crossing a once-unthinkable threshold, on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II.
Inflation spikes to 3.5 percent in March as Iran war drove prices higher
Prices grew at a far more rapid rate in March as the war in Iran drove a significant increase in inflation, according to data released Thursday by the Commerce Department.
Is It Too Expensive to Sell a House?
Millions of Americans are holding onto empty homes, fearing the tax hit a sale would bring.
Wages of Lawfare: Powell Will Stay on at the Fed
I’ve noted a number of times that President Trump’s lawfare jihad against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was doubly self-destructive. First, it impeded the confirmation of Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to replace Powell as chairman. Second, the baseless implication that Powell was corrupt would probably convince him to remain on the Federal Reserve Board until the end of his term, in January 2028, rather than allow Trump to replace him while Republicans still firmly controlled the Senate — i.e., while the president could reasonably expect to confirm a nominee sympathetic to his desire for low interest rates despite persistent inflation.
House Passes DHS Funding Bill After Record-Setting Shutdown
The House passed a bill on Thursday to fund most of the subagencies within the Department of Homeland Security after a 76-day shutdown of the department.
The Monarchical Logic of Trump’s Tariffs
Americans were summarily informed by the president on Thursday that he would loosen the reins he had imposed on American importers in deference to the king of England
We Meant to Do That
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson recently manufactured a viral moment for herself
She received a $20,000 basic income. Two years later, she’s back to working multiple jobs.
Cepia Harper recieved $850 a month for two years from an Atlanta basic income program. She earned a teaching certification and built savings, but is back to working multiple jobs. US cities have run hundreds of programs offering no-strings-attached cash to low-income families.
International
Orbán associates rush to move wealth out of Hungary after election defeat
Incoming PM Péter Magyar accuses Fidesz-linked figures of trying to shield their wealth from accountability
Mexico arrests cartel leader amid widening gang crackdown
Mexico’s military arrested a top cartel leader in a raid involving more than 500 troops, the country’s security minister announced on Monday, as President Claudia Sheinbaum intensifies her gang crackdown.
Queen guitarist Brian May barred from planting daffodils in his village on safety grounds
Legendary rocker Brian May became a local hero in the quiet English village where he lives when he donated thousands of daffodil bulbs to brighten up the green outside the church last year.
Opinion
A social media ban for kids puts all our privacy at risk
his week parliament will attempt to conclude legislation allowing the government to ban young people from social media. It’s taken weeks of ‘ping-pong’ to land on the specific form that these restrictions will take, and there has been no shortage of ideas. Tory peer Lord Nash’s proposals would introduce a blanket ban on all social media for under-16s, while the government is angling to implement restrictions on features and even introduce online curfews.
Rethinking Conservative Approaches to Executive Power
Conservative legal commentator Gregg Nunziata outlines reasons why conservatives should reject broad views of executive power.
Why Trump’s ballroom can’t host the White House correspondents’ dinner
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is an independent celebration of press freedoms.
The Freedom of Speech Bill (2026)
There is rarely a liberty more important than that of speech – Thomas Paine, the great contemporary of Adam Smith, wrote “he who dares not offend, cannot be honest”. In a free society, which is what we aspire to create and traditionally had held dear, it is freedom of speech alongside the protection of property and freedom of contract, which underpin our way of life. Sadly, that is under threat, and has been for almost 50 years. Every year, thousands of citizens are arrested for what they say online – sometimes, what is said is unpleasant and offensive, other times, it is a misunderstanding of the laws in place. But what cannot be debated is the simple fact that in a nation which seeks to prosper, respect human rights, and allow its people to reach fulfilment, freedom of speech must be sacrosanct.
Leave the United States Out of Trump’s Lawfare ‘Indictments’
Forget the passport. And the dollar. And the Kennedy Center. And the battleships. Forget the national park passes, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the gargantuan banners draped across federal buildings, the children’s savings and investment accounts. The proprietary interest of the United States on which President Trump should really be etching his name, graven image, and Sharpie signature is the federal indictment.
Shell Speech: Why the Second Comey Indictment is Likely to Fail
Below is my column on Fox.com on the second indictment of former FBI director James Comey. Despite being one of Comey’s longest critics, the indictment raises troubling free speech issues. In the end, it must be the Constitution, not Comey, that drives the analysis and this indictment is unlikely to withstand constitutional scrutiny. If it did, it would allow the government to criminalize a huge swath of political speech in the United States.
The New Never Trumpers
The MAGA true believers who have gone full Bulwark.
How European Libertarians Differ From American Ones
As I saw at a recent conference, the two groups are similar in many ways. But there are a few notable differences.
