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House relents, finally ends record-breaking Homeland Security shutdown

Updated April 30, 2026, 2:13 p.m. ET WASHINGTON ‒ Congress finally ended the historic Department of Homeland Security shutdown, resolving the longest crisis of its kind in American history. In an abrupt afternoon voice vote on Thursday, April 30, the House of Representatives passed a funding bill for the agency with seemingly unanimous support, sending it to President Donald Trump's desk. The vote resolved a political showdown that has plagued Capitol Hill and the country for more than ...

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Trump demands judge halt new discovery in Jan 6. lawsuit against him because new revelations would create...distractions

Apr 30th, 2026, 2:19 pm Donald Trump wants to block evidence and testimony from being shared in a civil case against him that argues the president bears responsibility for the Jan. 6 riot. In a 17-page motion submitted on Wednesday, Trump contends that U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta's order that the case may continue to the discovery stage is moot because the commander in chief has since appealed the decision. This appeal in pursuit of a finding that he had presidential immunity on that day, ...

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ArcelorMittal Donates Steel for Trump Ballroom

April 30, 2026, at 11:25 a.m. April ⁠30 (Reuters) - ⁠ArcelorMittal said on ⁠Thursday it had donated steel for a White House ballroom project backed by ‌U.S. President Donald Trump. The ‌Luxembourg-based steelmaker's donation is ongoing ⁠and ⁠it has delivered 600 tonnes for the project to date, according to finance chief Genuino Christino, who disclosed the contribution on a call with analysts. "We have a track record ⁠ ...

Omaha Steve

'We want to be paid a living wage': Graduate student workers at UIC go on strike

Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune Thu, April 30, 2026 at 5:00 AM CDT Isobel Araujo, a second-year Ph.D. student, earns $24,000 a year as a teaching and resident assistant at the University of Illinois Chicago. Between classes, coursework and dorm duties, she babysits to make ends meet. She’s now searching for new housing on a tight budget. “It’s really depressing. There’s not a single apartment that we’ve been able to find that you can afford with a wage like that,” Araujo said. Araujo is one of ...

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Mexico will extradite officials to U.S. only if given "irrefutable evidence" of cartel links, president says

April 30, 2026 / 12:15 PM EDT Mexico is seeking "irrefutable evidence" to back up U.S. drug trafficking charges against a state governor and other officials before proceeding with extradition requests, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday. The U.S. Justice Department unveiled charges on Wednesday against Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine others, accusing them of working with the notorious Sinaloa cartel to distribute "massive quantities" of narcotics to the U ...

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Commanders to brief Trump on new Iran military options Thursday

(Axios) President Trump is slated to receive a briefing on new plans for potential military action in Iran on Thursday from CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, two sources with knowledge tell Axios. The briefing signals that Trump is seriously considering resuming major combat operations either to try to break the logjam in negotiations or to deliver a final blow before ending the war. Behind the scenes: CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran — likely including infrastructure targets — in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock, three sources with knowledge said.

mahatmakanejeeves

Hegseth Cites Falsehood to Defend His Firing of Senior Officers

(New York Times) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday defended his decisions to fire or sideline nearly 30 generals and admirals over the past year with little explanation by falsely comparing his record to that of President Barack Obama. “I would also note that under Barack Obama, 197 general officers were removed,” Mr. Hegseth said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. The number Mr. Hegseth gave has no basis in fact. It originated with an unsigned 2018 editorial in Investor’s Business Daily, which cites the right-wing news site “Breitbart.com’s Facebook page” as its source.

BumRushDaShow

Hegseth says $400M in Ukraine support released after McConnell's angry op-ed

(The Hill) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said $400 million in Ukraine support was released after Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) penned an angry op-ed criticizing the stall in funding. “The department recognizes that $400 million was allocated for European capacity building, and as of yesterday, it has been released,” Hegseth said in response to a question about the aid from Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.). Elfreth followed up to ask whether the money was released under contract. Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III said the aid was “not under contract, but released to be put under contract.”

demmiblue

Janet Mills, Governor of Maine, Suspends Senate Campaign

(New York Times) Gov. Janet Mills of Maine, the Democratic establishment’s choice to run for the Senate seat long held by Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, suspended her campaign on Thursday, saying she no longer had the financial resources to compete against Graham Platner, a progressive political newcomer. Her exit paves the way for Mr. Platner, an oysterman who has led her in polls, to become the Democratic nominee in one of the most important Senate races in the country.

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Cigna to exit Affordable Care Act market, adding to tumult

4 hrs ago - Cigna Group will exit the Affordable Care Act market next year, the latest sign of turmoil in a business that has been hit hard by the loss of federal subsidies. Cigna will be the second major health insurer to leave the rapidly shrinking ACA market, ... (Wall Street Journal (no paywall))

The first direct US-Venezuela commercial flight in 7 years lands in Caracas

5 hrs ago - CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The first direct commercial flight between the United States and Venezuela arrived Thursday in the capital of the South American country, seven years after the U.S. Homeland Security Department ordered an indefinite sus ... (AP)

Trump sons to take stake in Kazakh miner that won $1.6bn US backing

6 hrs ago - Trump sons to take stake in Kazakh miner that won $1.6bn US backing Donald Jr and Eric have sought to capitalise on sectors supported by father's presidential administration There is no suggestion that Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump knew that Cove wa ... (Financial Times)

Medicare portal database exposed health providers' Social Security numbers

6 hrs ago - April 30, 2026 at 8:08 p.m. EDT The Trump administration inadvertently exposed the Social Security numbers of health care providers in a database powering a new Medicare portal, The Washington Post found. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service ... (Washington Post)

Voting rights advocates vow to 'relocate' fight after supreme court gutting

6 hrs ago - Thu 30 Apr 2026 10.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 30 Apr 2026 11.19 EDT The voting rights advocates who fought for majority-minority districts across the US south are organizing their next steps after the supreme court effectively gutted the Voting Righ ... (The Guardian)

US Judge Rejects Trump Administration's Halt on Immigration Applications

7 hrs ago - April 30, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. BOSTON, April 30 (Reuters) - A federal judge on ⁠Thursday ⁠ruled that policies that make it ⁠harder for people from countries on President Donald Trump's travel ban list to get green cards and wo ... (US News & World Report/Reuters)

Top Democrat decries 'slow-mo self-destruction' of Senate Judiciary Committee

7 hrs ago - April 30, 2026 WASHINGTON (CN) — Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse issued a stark warning to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, urging his colleagues to claw back their power over White House judicial nominees and end what he call ... (Courthouse News Service)

Jeffrey Epstein's Possible Suicide Note Reportedly Locked In a Courthouse

8 hrs ago - Apr 30th, 2026, 4:42 pm A suicide note possibly written by Jeffrey Epstein is allegedly hidden away in a New York courthouse, according to a new report by The New York Times. This report says Epstein’s cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, uncovere ... (MEDIAite)

Federal judges sued by Trump administration ask appeals court to reject 'misguided' lawsuit

8 hrs ago - April 30, 2026 12:14 PM EDT Updated 6 hours ago April 30 (Reuters) - Federal judges in Maryland are urging an appeals court to uphold the dismissal of a lawsuit President Donald Trump's administration filed against them challenging a court ord ... (Reuters)

Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla near Crete and detains 175 activists

9 hrs ago - Pro-Palestinian activists say 22 boats from a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza have been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near the Greek island of Crete. The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) denounced the action as "pi ... (BBC)

Deadly Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

9 hrs ago - At least nine people, including two children, were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the health ministry said, as violence continues despite a ceasefire now in its second week. The strikes - which Israel said were targeting H ... (BBC)

US Congress passes short-term renewal of Fisa warrantless spying powers

9 hrs ago - Thu 30 Apr 2026 16.57 EDT Last modified on Thu 30 Apr 2026 16.59 EDT The US Congress has passed a 45-day extension of a law that grants US intelligence agencies warrantless spying powers. Bitter infighting over section 702 of the Foreign Intelligenc ... (The Guardian)

Trump's call to reduce US troops in Germany shocks Pentagon

10 hrs ago - 04/30/2026 01:28 PM EDT Updated: 04/30/2026 02:11 PM EDT President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday that he was considering pulling some U.S. troops out of Germany stunned defense officials, who scrambled to figure out if the president was ... (Politico)

Trump demands judge halt new discovery in Jan 6. lawsuit against him because new revelations would create...distractions

10 hrs ago - Apr 30th, 2026, 2:19 pm Donald Trump wants to block evidence and testimony from being shared in a civil case against him that argues the president bears responsibility for the Jan. 6 riot. In a 17-page motion submitted on Wednesday, Trump contends t ... (Law & Crime)

Senate passes 45-day FISA extension

11 hrs ago - 04/30/26 3:19 PM ET The Senate on Thursday passed a 45-day extension of the nation’s warrantless spy powers, rejecting a longer House-back proposal and teeing up continued debate over how to reform the program. In turning to a 45-day extension, ... (The Hill)

'We want to be paid a living wage': Graduate student workers at UIC go on strike

11 hrs ago - Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune Thu, April 30, 2026 at 5:00 AM CDT Isobel Araujo, a second-year Ph.D. student, earns $24,000 a year as a teaching and resident assistant at the University of Illinois Chicago. Between classes, coursework and dorm duties ... (Chicago Tribune Yahoo)

Senate bans its own members and staff from betting in prediction markets

11 hrs ago - April 30, 2026, 2:53 PM EDT / Updated April 30, 2026, 3:10 PM EDT The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution to ban members and staff from trading on prediction markets. The resolution, which changes the rules of the Senate, passed unanimously withou ... (NBC News)

Mexico will extradite officials to U.S. only if given "irrefutable evidence" of cartel links, president says

12 hrs ago - April 30, 2026 / 12:15 PM EDT Mexico is seeking "irrefutable evidence" to back up U.S. drug trafficking charges against a state governor and other officials before proceeding with extradition requests, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday. The ... (CBS News/AFP)

Oil price hits highest since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options

12 hrs ago - Oil prices jumped to their highest level since 2022 after a report that the US military is set to brief President Donald Trump on new plans for potential action in the Iran war. Brent crude rose by almost 7% to more than $126 (£94) a barrel at ... (BBC)

Trump Eyes Tennessee Map Reset After Supreme Court's Voting Rights Decision

12 hrs ago - updated Apr 30, 2026 at 01:32 PM EDT By Gabe Whisnant and Jesus Mesa President Donald Trump said Tennessee officials are moving to respond to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on congressional maps, urging Republican Governor Bill Lee to pursue redistric ... (newsweek.com)