20 stories credited to 100 Percent Fed Up
Latest story Apr 20, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for 100 Percent Fed Up
Originality
17 of those 20 carry an unconfirmed copying flag, which is not evidence either way.
20 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026
Writing quality 64 of 100: the average rating of 16 stories, each rated on its own (separate from credibility). How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 24, 2026.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to 100 Percent Fed Up, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from 100 Percent Fed Up
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | 1 | 425 |
| April 2026 | 19 | 4,537 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 0 | 598 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Ethics/Corruption17
85% of 20 stories · 62% across all outlets
- Criminal Justice7
35% of 20 stories · 20% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending6
30% of 20 stories · 33% across all outlets
- Immigration6
30% of 20 stories · 13% across all outlets
- Voting Rights6
30% of 20 stories · 20% across all outlets
- Defense/Military4
20% of 20 stories · 26% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy3
15% of 20 stories · 30% across all outlets
- Economy2
10% of 20 stories · 26% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 37 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 46 story–official pairs, from 20 stories.
- Republican65% · 30 pairs
- Democrat26% · 12 pairs
- Party not recorded9% · 4 pairs
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 20 stories.
- 1Donald TrumpR5 stories · 25%
- 2Mike JohnsonR3 stories · 15%
- 3Ayanna PressleyD2 stories · 10%
- 4Don BaconR2 stories · 10%
- 5Susie LeeD2 stories · 10%
- 6Abigail Davis SpanbergerD1 story · 5%
- 7Anna Paulina Luna–1 story · 5%
- 8Brandon GillR1 story · 5%
- 9Brooke RollinsR1 story · 5%
- 10Chuck GrassleyR1 story · 5%
+ 27 other officials (27 story–official pairs)
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not 100 Percent Fed Up’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 20 stories.
- Good Look
- 4 (20%)
- Mixed
- 11 (55%)
- Informational
- 0 (0%)
- Bad Look
- 5 (25%)
Related sources
Lean 95% range 76–84 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 76.2–85.2 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 76–82 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 74–84 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 75–88 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 72–84 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from 100percentfedup.com
47
Tim Kaine Admits Virginia’s Redistricting Scheme Is Really About Stopping ‘Trump’s Tyranny’
Virginia voters head to the polls tomorrow for a special election that could reshape the entire state’s congressional delegation. On the ballot: a constitutional amendment that would let the Democrat-controlled legislature redraw the state’s congressional map, flipping it from a 6-5 Democratic edge to a staggering 10-1 Democratic supermajority. Democrats have been selling this as “restoring fairness.” Governor Abigail Spanberger says it’s about giving voters “the power to respond” to Republican redistricting in other states. Barack Obama recorded a video urging Virginians to vote YES. But then Senator Tim Kaine went on Fox News Sunday and accidentally told everyone what this is actually about. Obama was among the biggest names pushing voters toward the April 21 referendum: Virginia, if you haven’t done it already, make a plan to vote YES on the redistricting referendum. You can vote early by April 18 or on Election Day, April 21. Find your polling place at https://t.co/vsawTNnoax. pic.twitter.com/NiCTBpS10I April 17, 2026 When Fox News anchor Shannon Bream confronted Kaine with the math, pointing out that Kamala Harris won Virginia by just 5 points in 2024 and asking why 90 percent of the state’s congressional delegation should then be Democrats, Kaine’s answer was revealing. “90% of Virginians are not Democrats… that’s true,” Kaine admitted. “But about 100 percent of Virginians want election results to be respected.” Then came the real reason: “We’re giving Virginians a chance to vote about whether they want to have a congressional delegation that will stand up against Donald Trump’s tyranny.” There it is. Not “fair maps.” Not “proportional representation.” Not even “leveling the playing field.” The quiet part, out loud: this is about loading Virginia’s congressional delegation with anti-Trump votes. CNN published a detailed breakdown of the proposed maps today, and the designs tell the story just as clearly as Kaine’s words: Virginia Democrats proposed a congressional map designed to secure 10 of 11 House seats in a state won by Kamala Harris with just 52% of the vote in 2024. The plan aimed to flip four Republican districts through aggressive partisan gerrymandering. The map carves heavily Democratic northern Virginia into five districts with “pinwheel” patterns extending outward to capture conservative rural areas. The new 7th District stretches so extensively it splits in half to avoid Democratic areas around Charlottesville, creating a shape likened to “a lobster with a long skinny tail and two wide claws.” A map so aggressively drawn that one district literally looks like a lobster. Five districts shaped like pinwheels, reaching out from Northern Virginia into rural conservative counties to dilute their votes. All of it sold under the banner of “fairness.” Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has called it “the most gerrymandered map in America” and has personally invested more than $500,000 into the campaign to defeat it. Former Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is co-chairing the Vote No effort, put it bluntly: “self-serving politicians went into a back room and drew a map that serves politicians, not Virginians.” Youngkin has put serious money where his mouth is: Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin gave another $180K to the Vote No campaign yesterday. That puts his total given at more than $500k April 17, 2026 As Townhall noted today, Kaine’s admission is especially damaging because it contradicts every talking point Democrats have used to justify the referendum: When asked why 90% of Virginia’s congressional delegation should be Democratic when Kamala Harris won the state by only 5 points, Kaine responded: “90% of Virginians are not Democrats…that’s true. But we need a congressional delegation that will stand up” to Trump-related concerns. Critics argued that Kaine’s comments revealed the redistricting scheme was really about opposing Trump rather than achieving fair representation, contradicting the amendment’s stated justification. Here is the part that makes this even more outrageous. Just six years ago, 65.7 percent of Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish nonpartisan redistricting through an independent commission. Virginians already chose fair maps. They voted for it overwhelmingly. Now Democrats want to override that decision because it didn’t produce the results they wanted. Meanwhile, liberal dark money groups have poured nearly $50 million into backing the YES campaign. Governor Spanberger herself, who in 2019 posted on social media that gerrymandering “weakens the individual voices that form our electorates,” is now the face of the effort to do exactly that. The vote is tomorrow. Virginia voters now get to decide whether they want a congressional map designed by politicians to protect politicians, or whether the bipartisan commission they already voted for gets to do its job. Tim Kaine just made the choice a whole lot clearer. What’s your perspective?
Tim Kaine Admits Virginia’s Redistricting Scheme Is Really About Stopping ‘Trump’s Tyranny’
Virginia voters head to the polls tomorrow for a special election that could reshape the entire state’s congressional delegation. On the ballot: a constitutional amendment that would let the Democrat-controlled legislature redraw the state’s congressional map, flipping it from a 6-5 Democratic edge to a staggering 10-1 Democratic supermajority. Democrats have been selling this as “restoring fairness.” Governor Abigail Spanberger says it’s about giving voters “the power to respond” to Republican redistricting in other states. Barack Obama recorded a video urging Virginians to vote YES. But then Senator Tim Kaine went on Fox News Sunday and accidentally told everyone what this is actually about. Obama was among the biggest names pushing voters toward the April 21 referendum: Virginia, if you haven’t done it already, make a plan to vote YES on the redistricting referendum. You can vote early by April 18 or on Election Day, April 21. Find your polling place at https://t.co/vsawTNnoax. pic.twitter.com/NiCTBpS10I April 17, 2026 When Fox News anchor Shannon Bream confronted Kaine with the math, pointing out that Kamala Harris won Virginia by just 5 points in 2024 and asking why 90 percent of the state’s congressional delegation should then be Democrats, Kaine’s answer was revealing. “90% of Virginians are not Democrats… that’s true,” Kaine admitted. “But about 100 percent of Virginians want election results to be respected.” Then came the real reason: “We’re giving Virginians a chance to vote about whether they want to have a congressional delegation that will stand up against Donald Trump’s tyranny.” There it is. Not “fair maps.” Not “proportional representation.” Not even “leveling the playing field.” The quiet part, out loud: this is about loading Virginia’s congressional delegation with anti-Trump votes. CNN published a detailed breakdown of the proposed maps today, and the designs tell the story just as clearly as Kaine’s words: Virginia Democrats proposed a congressional map designed to secure 10 of 11 House seats in a state won by Kamala Harris with just 52% of the vote in 2024. The plan aimed to flip four Republican districts through aggressive partisan gerrymandering. The map carves heavily Democratic northern Virginia into five districts with “pinwheel” patterns extending outward to capture conservative rural areas. The new 7th District stretches so extensively it splits in half to avoid Democratic areas around Charlottesville, creating a shape likened to “a lobster with a long skinny tail and two wide claws.” A map so aggressively drawn that one district literally looks like a lobster. Five districts shaped like pinwheels, reaching out from Northern Virginia into rural conservative counties to dilute their votes. All of it sold under the banner of “fairness.” Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has called it “the most gerrymandered map in America” and has personally invested more than $500,000 into the campaign to defeat it. Former Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is co-chairing the Vote No effort, put it bluntly: “self-serving politicians went into a back room and drew a map that serves politicians, not Virginians.” Youngkin has put serious money where his mouth is: Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin gave another $180K to the Vote No campaign yesterday. That puts his total given at more than $500k April 17, 2026 As Townhall noted today, Kaine’s admission is especially damaging because it contradicts every talking point Democrats have used to justify the referendum: When asked why 90% of Virginia’s congressional delegation should be Democratic when Kamala Harris won the state by only 5 points, Kaine responded: “90% of Virginians are not Democrats…that’s true. But we need a congressional delegation that will stand up” to Trump-related concerns. Critics argued that Kaine’s comments revealed the redistricting scheme was really about opposing Trump rather than achieving fair representation, contradicting the amendment’s stated justification. Here is the part that makes this even more outrageous. Just six years ago, 65.7 percent of Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish nonpartisan redistricting through an independent commission. Virginians already chose fair maps. They voted for it overwhelmingly. Now Democrats want to override that decision because it didn’t produce the results they wanted. Meanwhile, liberal dark money groups have poured nearly $50 million into backing the YES campaign. Governor Spanberger herself, who in 2019 posted on social media that gerrymandering “weakens the individual voices that form our electorates,” is now the face of the effort to do exactly that. The vote is tomorrow. Virginia voters now get to decide whether they want a congressional map designed by politicians to protect politicians, or whether the bipartisan commission they already voted for gets to do its job. Tim Kaine just made the choice a whole lot clearer. What’s your perspective?
The Youngest Republican In Congress Just Asked A Democrat One Simple Question About Somali Immigrants. She Had No Answer.
A Texas Republican just delivered one of the most devastating one-liners in recent congressional history, and Democrats still haven’t recovered. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), the youngest Republican in Congress, went head-to-head with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) during a heated hearing on immigration. The exchange quickly went viral, racking up tens of millions of views across social media and trending nationwide on X with over 47,000 posts. The moment came when Jayapal made the bold claim that immigrants from Somalia have “BUILT this country.” Gill’s response was surgical: “Name one Somali political philosopher who influenced America’s system of government.” She couldn’t. Conservative journalist Eric Daugherty captured the exchange, and it spread like wildfire: JUST IN: Rep. Brandon Gill DROPS THE MIC on unhinged Rep. Pramila Jayapal JAYAPAL: “Immigrants from Somalia [have] BUILT this country!” GILL: “Name one Somali political philosopher who influenced America’s system of government.” They can’t name ONE. pic.twitter.com/21S0m6ToPe April 18, 2026 The clip has now been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, with Daugherty’s post alone pulling in over 268,000 views, 15,000 likes, and more than 3,000 retweets. The question Gill posed was simple, direct, and unanswerable. America’s founding was shaped by thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and the writers of the Federalist Papers. None of them were Somali. That’s not a controversial statement. It’s a historical fact. Gill has been one of the loudest voices in Congress pushing back on what he sees as a failed immigration experiment in places like Minnesota. During a January hearing before the House Oversight Committee, Gill cited data showing that 81% of Somali-headed households in Minnesota are on welfare, and that 78% of Somali immigrants who have been in the country for ten years are still receiving government assistance. Even Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) couldn’t resist piling on. He reposted the clip with a sarcastic caption that captured exactly what millions of Americans were thinking: Montesquieu = obviously Somali https://t.co/iFN0O5awX4 pic.twitter.com/qGHmvoLx1B April 18, 2026 Jayapal’s claim is part of a broader pattern from Democrats who try to rewrite American history to fit their open-borders agenda. The founding of the United States was the product of specific philosophical traditions rooted in Western political thought. Acknowledging that isn’t bigotry. It’s basic civics. Rep. Gill has introduced legislation that would place a 25-year moratorium on Somali immigration to the United States, citing the staggering welfare dependency rates and concerns about assimilation. His bill has gained significant traction among Republican voters who are fed up with being told they can’t ask basic questions about immigration policy. The viral moment is the latest in a string of confrontations where Gill has put Democrats on the spot with straightforward questions they simply cannot answer. And judging by the reaction on social media, millions of Americans are glad someone is finally asking them. How does that sound?
The Youngest Republican In Congress Just Asked A Democrat One Simple Question About Somali Immigrants. She Had No Answer.
A Texas Republican just delivered one of the most devastating one-liners in recent congressional history, and Democrats still haven’t recovered. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), the youngest Republican in Congress, went head-to-head with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) during a heated hearing on immigration. The exchange quickly went viral, racking up tens of millions of views across social media and trending nationwide on X with over 47,000 posts. The moment came when Jayapal made the bold claim that immigrants from Somalia have “BUILT this country.” Gill’s response was surgical: “Name one Somali political philosopher who influenced America’s system of government.” She couldn’t. Conservative journalist Eric Daugherty captured the exchange, and it spread like wildfire: JUST IN: Rep. Brandon Gill DROPS THE MIC on unhinged Rep. Pramila Jayapal JAYAPAL: “Immigrants from Somalia [have] BUILT this country!” GILL: “Name one Somali political philosopher who influenced America’s system of government.” They can’t name ONE. pic.twitter.com/21S0m6ToPe April 18, 2026 The clip has now been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, with Daugherty’s post alone pulling in over 268,000 views, 15,000 likes, and more than 3,000 retweets. The question Gill posed was simple, direct, and unanswerable. America’s founding was shaped by thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and the writers of the Federalist Papers. None of them were Somali. That’s not a controversial statement. It’s a historical fact. Gill has been one of the loudest voices in Congress pushing back on what he sees as a failed immigration experiment in places like Minnesota. During a January hearing before the House Oversight Committee, Gill cited data showing that 81% of Somali-headed households in Minnesota are on welfare, and that 78% of Somali immigrants who have been in the country for ten years are still receiving government assistance. Even Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) couldn’t resist piling on. He reposted the clip with a sarcastic caption that captured exactly what millions of Americans were thinking: Montesquieu = obviously Somali https://t.co/iFN0O5awX4 pic.twitter.com/qGHmvoLx1B April 18, 2026 Jayapal’s claim is part of a broader pattern from Democrats who try to rewrite American history to fit their open-borders agenda. The founding of the United States was the product of specific philosophical traditions rooted in Western political thought. Acknowledging that isn’t bigotry. It’s basic civics. Rep. Gill has introduced legislation that would place a 25-year moratorium on Somali immigration to the United States, citing the staggering welfare dependency rates and concerns about assimilation. His bill has gained significant traction among Republican voters who are fed up with being told they can’t ask basic questions about immigration policy. The viral moment is the latest in a string of confrontations where Gill has put Democrats on the spot with straightforward questions they simply cannot answer. And judging by the reaction on social media, millions of Americans are glad someone is finally asking them. How does that sound?
House Democrat Reportedly Close To Eric Swalwell Accused Of Inappropriate Behavior With Congressional Staffer
According to the New York Post, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), who is married, was allegedly spotted kissing a much younger congressional staffer in 2023. Gomez was a member of former Congressman Eric Swalwell’s “Cool Kids Clique,” the outlet stated. The ‘clique’ reportedly included Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) while all three were in the House of Representatives. Rep. Jimmy Gomez – member of Eric Swalwell's 'Cool Kids Clique' – accused of kissing much younger staffer https://t.co/JVOwmNYH0f pic.twitter.com/gczHji4VL7 — New York Post (@nypost) April 18, 2026 More from the New York Post: While Gallego, Swalwell’s closest friend in Congress, faced questions about what he knew after at least five women accused Swalwell of sexual assault and harassment, people involved in Democratic politics told The Post that the lower-profile Gomez warrants more scrutiny. “This behavior of open philandering by married male members of Congress is pervasive and long overdue to be addressed,” one source told The Post. “Regardless [of whether] it is a staff member of their own or another congressman, there is a massive power dynamic that fosters a culture of abuse. You have these married male congressmen openly cheating on their wives with female staffers — how is that not grounds for expulsion?” The 2023 incident involved Gomez, now 51, making out with an aide to a different House Democrat outside a backyard party hosted by Swalwell to celebrate the start of the August congressional recess. The aide, two decades younger than Gomez, “was sitting on the hood of the car and they were going at it,” according to a source who was smoking a cigarette in front of Swalwell’s home about a mile from the Capitol. “They were down the street a little bit. But it wasn’t that discreet.” A second source, who was waiting for an Uber, recalled that “someone pointed it out and it took me a second to recognize who it was. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said Gallego faces allegations of sexual misconduct and sent the matter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office for investigation. “S*xual In Nature” – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Says Senate Democrat Faces Allegations “It’s seems like the Senate has its own trash to take out. @LeaderJohnThune. You need to look into the allegations against one of your Senators, it’s very disturbing. My chief will be contacting your chief,” Luna previously wrote in a cryptic post. It’s seems like the Senate has its own trash to take out. @LeaderJohnThune You need to look into the allegations against one of your Senators, it’s very disturbing. My chief will be contacting your chief. — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 15, 2026 Luna confirmed her post was referring to the Arizona Democrat. “We are talking about an Arizona senator that was very closely tied to Eric Swalwell, and I have since confirmed with Senator John Thune’s chief of staff, as well as their linking us to their ethics that they are investigating, and we are sending all appropriate information directly to them now,” Luna said. The Florida Republican said a woman is allegedly preparing to come forward with attorneys and wants to go on the record about allegations against Gallego. Luna said the allegations are allegedly “sexual in nature.” She also referenced allegations of “campaign finance violations.” Watch below: NEW: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is accusing Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of misconduct, telling CBS News’ Major Garrett her office has provided Senate Majority Leader Thune’s staff with allegations related to Gallego that are “sexual in nature.” CBS News has reached out to… pic.twitter.com/z4L54nix3v — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 16, 2026 Newsweek shared further: A Gallego spokesperson dismissed the allegations, telling CBS News on Thursday: "These are right-wing conspiracy theories being parroted by a fringe far right member of Congress. Senator Gallego has not received notification or been contacted by the ethics committee." Sexual misconduct allegations have gripped Congress this week. Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and resigned from Congress on Tuesday following multiple sexual assault allegations. Swalwell has denied the accusations, and when reached via phone on Tuesday afternoon, he told Newsweek, "I have no comment on anything—period—and I'm going to hang up now." Meanwhile, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas—who admitted in March to having had an affair with a staffer who died by suicide last year, and was last week hit with new allegations that he sent sexual messages to a separate campaign staffer in 2020—said on Monday that he would resign from Congress amid mounting bipartisan scrutiny of his conduct.
House Democrat Reportedly Close To Eric Swalwell Accused Of Inappropriate Behavior With Congressional Staffer
According to the New York Post, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), who is married, was allegedly spotted kissing a much younger congressional staffer in 2023. Gomez was a member of former Congressman Eric Swalwell’s “Cool Kids Clique,” the outlet stated. The ‘clique’ reportedly included Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) while all three were in the House of Representatives. Rep. Jimmy Gomez – member of Eric Swalwell's 'Cool Kids Clique' – accused of kissing much younger staffer https://t.co/JVOwmNYH0f pic.twitter.com/gczHji4VL7 — New York Post (@nypost) April 18, 2026 More from the New York Post: While Gallego, Swalwell’s closest friend in Congress, faced questions about what he knew after at least five women accused Swalwell of sexual assault and harassment, people involved in Democratic politics told The Post that the lower-profile Gomez warrants more scrutiny. “This behavior of open philandering by married male members of Congress is pervasive and long overdue to be addressed,” one source told The Post. “Regardless [of whether] it is a staff member of their own or another congressman, there is a massive power dynamic that fosters a culture of abuse. You have these married male congressmen openly cheating on their wives with female staffers — how is that not grounds for expulsion?” The 2023 incident involved Gomez, now 51, making out with an aide to a different House Democrat outside a backyard party hosted by Swalwell to celebrate the start of the August congressional recess. The aide, two decades younger than Gomez, “was sitting on the hood of the car and they were going at it,” according to a source who was smoking a cigarette in front of Swalwell’s home about a mile from the Capitol. “They were down the street a little bit. But it wasn’t that discreet.” A second source, who was waiting for an Uber, recalled that “someone pointed it out and it took me a second to recognize who it was. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said Gallego faces allegations of sexual misconduct and sent the matter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office for investigation. “S*xual In Nature” – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Says Senate Democrat Faces Allegations “It’s seems like the Senate has its own trash to take out. @LeaderJohnThune. You need to look into the allegations against one of your Senators, it’s very disturbing. My chief will be contacting your chief,” Luna previously wrote in a cryptic post. It’s seems like the Senate has its own trash to take out. @LeaderJohnThune You need to look into the allegations against one of your Senators, it’s very disturbing. My chief will be contacting your chief. — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 15, 2026 Luna confirmed her post was referring to the Arizona Democrat. “We are talking about an Arizona senator that was very closely tied to Eric Swalwell, and I have since confirmed with Senator John Thune’s chief of staff, as well as their linking us to their ethics that they are investigating, and we are sending all appropriate information directly to them now,” Luna said. The Florida Republican said a woman is allegedly preparing to come forward with attorneys and wants to go on the record about allegations against Gallego. Luna said the allegations are allegedly “sexual in nature.” She also referenced allegations of “campaign finance violations.” Watch below: NEW: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is accusing Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of misconduct, telling CBS News’ Major Garrett her office has provided Senate Majority Leader Thune’s staff with allegations related to Gallego that are “sexual in nature.” CBS News has reached out to… pic.twitter.com/z4L54nix3v — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 16, 2026 Newsweek shared further: A Gallego spokesperson dismissed the allegations, telling CBS News on Thursday: "These are right-wing conspiracy theories being parroted by a fringe far right member of Congress. Senator Gallego has not received notification or been contacted by the ethics committee." Sexual misconduct allegations have gripped Congress this week. Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and resigned from Congress on Tuesday following multiple sexual assault allegations. Swalwell has denied the accusations, and when reached via phone on Tuesday afternoon, he told Newsweek, "I have no comment on anything—period—and I'm going to hang up now." Meanwhile, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas—who admitted in March to having had an affair with a staffer who died by suicide last year, and was last week hit with new allegations that he sent sexual messages to a separate campaign staffer in 2020—said on Monday that he would resign from Congress amid mounting bipartisan scrutiny of his conduct.
Sources Near Two Supreme Court Justices Address Retirement Rumors, Report Says
Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas do not plan to step down this year, CBS News reports. There has been much speculation that President Trump may need to nominate his fourth justice to the high court during his second term. BREAKING: Justice Samuel Alito NOT retiring. Sources close to Justice Alito confirm the Fox News report that he has decided not to step down this year. In addition, sources close to Justice Thomas tell me he’s not retiring. That indicates that this year, with the midterms… — Jan Crawford (@JanCBS) April 17, 2026 CBS News shared further: Speculation about possible retirements tends to arise as the court approaches the end of its term. Mr. Trump told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo earlier this week that he’s “prepared” to name two or three new justices if vacancies open up. “In theory, it’s two — you just read the statistics — it could be two, could be three, could be one,” Mr. Trump said. “I don’t know. I’m prepared to do it.” He added, “when you mention Alito, he is a great justice.” Alito has served on the high court since 2006 and Thomas since 1991. Trump nominated Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett during his first term. Rumors about Alito’s retirement intensified earlier this month after being hospitalized due to becoming ill at a dinner in Philadelphia. Supreme Court Justice Was Hospitalized Last Month After Becoming Ill, Report Says Fox News noted: A Supreme Court spokesperson clarified at the time that the justice was "thoroughly checked" and quickly returned to the bench. Justice Clarence Thomas, an appointee of President George H. W. Bush, has drawn less retirement speculation despite being one year older than Alito at 77 and in his own lengthy tenure. Thomas has been a conservative fixture on the court for more than three decades and holds a record as the second-longest serving justice in history. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters earlier this week he would recommend Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Mike Lee, R-Utah, as top candidates if Alito were to retire. Grassley said he hoped Alito would not step down but said his committee is "fully prepared" to process a nominee before the midterm elections. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday the GOP majority would be able to fill a Supreme Court vacancy quickly. "That’s a contingency I think around here you always have to be prepared for. And if that were to happen, yes, we would be prepared to confirm," Thune said.
Sources Near Two Supreme Court Justices Address Retirement Rumors, Report Says
Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas do not plan to step down this year, CBS News reports. There has been much speculation that President Trump may need to nominate his fourth justice to the high court during his second term. BREAKING: Justice Samuel Alito NOT retiring. Sources close to Justice Alito confirm the Fox News report that he has decided not to step down this year. In addition, sources close to Justice Thomas tell me he’s not retiring. That indicates that this year, with the midterms… — Jan Crawford (@JanCBS) April 17, 2026 CBS News shared further: Speculation about possible retirements tends to arise as the court approaches the end of its term. Mr. Trump told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo earlier this week that he’s “prepared” to name two or three new justices if vacancies open up. “In theory, it’s two — you just read the statistics — it could be two, could be three, could be one,” Mr. Trump said. “I don’t know. I’m prepared to do it.” He added, “when you mention Alito, he is a great justice.” Alito has served on the high court since 2006 and Thomas since 1991. Trump nominated Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett during his first term. Rumors about Alito’s retirement intensified earlier this month after being hospitalized due to becoming ill at a dinner in Philadelphia. Supreme Court Justice Was Hospitalized Last Month After Becoming Ill, Report Says Fox News noted: A Supreme Court spokesperson clarified at the time that the justice was "thoroughly checked" and quickly returned to the bench. Justice Clarence Thomas, an appointee of President George H. W. Bush, has drawn less retirement speculation despite being one year older than Alito at 77 and in his own lengthy tenure. Thomas has been a conservative fixture on the court for more than three decades and holds a record as the second-longest serving justice in history. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters earlier this week he would recommend Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Mike Lee, R-Utah, as top candidates if Alito were to retire. Grassley said he hoped Alito would not step down but said his committee is "fully prepared" to process a nominee before the midterm elections. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday the GOP majority would be able to fill a Supreme Court vacancy quickly. "That’s a contingency I think around here you always have to be prepared for. And if that were to happen, yes, we would be prepared to confirm," Thune said.
10 House Republicans Just Helped Democrats Pass a Bill Shielding 330,000 Haitians From Deportation
Ten House Republicans just crossed the aisle and voted with every single Democrat to pass a bill extending deportation protections for over 330,000 Haitian nationals. The vote was 224-204. President Trump has already signaled he will veto it. Let that sink in. While the Trump administration has been working to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, arguing the designation “contradicts U.S. national interests,” a group of GOP members decided to join the progressive wing of the Democrat Party and go around their own leadership to make it happen. The bill, HR 1689, would extend Haitian TPS through 2029. It was forced to the floor through a discharge petition led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, the same progressive Democrat who has called for abolishing ICE. She needed 218 signatures to bypass Republican leadership, and she got them. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama was not impressed. She made it clear exactly where this bill is headed next. This is dead on arrival in the Senate. Temporary Protected Status is just that: temporary. Beyond that, 91% of all Haitian TPS holders entered the country illegally. In the last election, the American people rejected mass migration policies that effectively grant amnesty to… https://t.co/eim5EUE3AA — Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) April 17, 2026 Britt is right. The bill has virtually zero chance in the Republican-controlled Senate. And even if it somehow squeaked through, President Trump would veto it in a heartbeat. So who are the 10 House Republicans who voted for this? CBS News reported on the full list of Republican crossovers: Seven Republicans broke ranks across procedural and final votes. Discharge petition signers included Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, and Don Bacon of Nebraska. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, and Kevin Kiley of California supported the floor procedure. Mike Carey of Ohio, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rich McCormick of Georgia, and Mike Turner of Ohio voted for final passage. Rep. Mike Lawler highlighted a contradictory policy: “The State Department itself says Haiti is unsafe for Americans to travel to,” creating what he called a logical inconsistency with deportation plans. Three of the ten are from Florida, where large Haitian communities could factor into midterm races. Two are from Ohio. The political calculus is obvious, even if the timing is terrible. And Pressley? She was celebrating like she just won the Super Bowl. WE DID IT! We forced the House to pass our extension of TPS for Haiti. This is a victory in our long-fought battle to protect the dignity & humanity of our Haitian neighbors. To our Haitian family in the MA-7th and across this country, this one's for you. On to the Senate. https://t.co/HknDUsG7C8 pic.twitter.com/JLtMI0AMkn — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 16, 2026 Newsweek detailed the arguments some of these Republicans used to justify their votes: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said nursing homes in her district would lose skilled and dedicated staff if TPS is not renewed. “These are Haitian immigrants who are working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy and fulfilling a healthcare need,” she said. Rep. Don Bacon argued that removing TPS would cost 350,000 healthcare workers their jobs during serious workforce shortages. “Deporting people who are here legally and contributing seems unconscionable,” Bacon said. Here is the full list of Republican members who voted with Democrats: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Don Bacon (NE), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Carlos Gimenez (FL), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Rich McCormick (GA), Mike Turner (OH), Mike Carey (OH), and Mario Diaz-Balart (FL). California independent Kevin Kiley, who caucuses with Republicans, also voted yes. The irony here is thick. The bill closely mirrors legislation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio himself authored back in 2019 when he was still a senator. But that was a different political moment, and the Trump administration has made it clear that extending TPS for Haitians is not on the table. The bottom line: this bill is going nowhere. Senator Britt called it “dead on arrival” and she is almost certainly correct. But the 10 Republicans who crossed the aisle just handed Democrats a talking point and gave their own voters a reason to question their loyalty. With midterms on the horizon, that is a bet some of them may come to regret.
10 House Republicans Just Helped Democrats Pass a Bill Shielding 330,000 Haitians From Deportation
Ten House Republicans just crossed the aisle and voted with every single Democrat to pass a bill extending deportation protections for over 330,000 Haitian nationals. The vote was 224-204. President Trump has already signaled he will veto it. Let that sink in. While the Trump administration has been working to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, arguing the designation “contradicts U.S. national interests,” a group of GOP members decided to join the progressive wing of the Democrat Party and go around their own leadership to make it happen. The bill, HR 1689, would extend Haitian TPS through 2029. It was forced to the floor through a discharge petition led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, the same progressive Democrat who has called for abolishing ICE. She needed 218 signatures to bypass Republican leadership, and she got them. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama was not impressed. She made it clear exactly where this bill is headed next. This is dead on arrival in the Senate. Temporary Protected Status is just that: temporary. Beyond that, 91% of all Haitian TPS holders entered the country illegally. In the last election, the American people rejected mass migration policies that effectively grant amnesty to… https://t.co/eim5EUE3AA — Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) April 17, 2026 Britt is right. The bill has virtually zero chance in the Republican-controlled Senate. And even if it somehow squeaked through, President Trump would veto it in a heartbeat. So who are the 10 House Republicans who voted for this? CBS News reported on the full list of Republican crossovers: Seven Republicans broke ranks across procedural and final votes. Discharge petition signers included Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, and Don Bacon of Nebraska. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, and Kevin Kiley of California supported the floor procedure. Mike Carey of Ohio, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rich McCormick of Georgia, and Mike Turner of Ohio voted for final passage. Rep. Mike Lawler highlighted a contradictory policy: “The State Department itself says Haiti is unsafe for Americans to travel to,” creating what he called a logical inconsistency with deportation plans. Three of the ten are from Florida, where large Haitian communities could factor into midterm races. Two are from Ohio. The political calculus is obvious, even if the timing is terrible. And Pressley? She was celebrating like she just won the Super Bowl. WE DID IT! We forced the House to pass our extension of TPS for Haiti. This is a victory in our long-fought battle to protect the dignity & humanity of our Haitian neighbors. To our Haitian family in the MA-7th and across this country, this one's for you. On to the Senate. https://t.co/HknDUsG7C8 pic.twitter.com/JLtMI0AMkn — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 16, 2026 Newsweek detailed the arguments some of these Republicans used to justify their votes: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said nursing homes in her district would lose skilled and dedicated staff if TPS is not renewed. “These are Haitian immigrants who are working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy and fulfilling a healthcare need,” she said. Rep. Don Bacon argued that removing TPS would cost 350,000 healthcare workers their jobs during serious workforce shortages. “Deporting people who are here legally and contributing seems unconscionable,” Bacon said. Here is the full list of Republican members who voted with Democrats: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Don Bacon (NE), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Carlos Gimenez (FL), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Rich McCormick (GA), Mike Turner (OH), Mike Carey (OH), and Mario Diaz-Balart (FL). California independent Kevin Kiley, who caucuses with Republicans, also voted yes. The irony here is thick. The bill closely mirrors legislation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio himself authored back in 2019 when he was still a senator. But that was a different political moment, and the Trump administration has made it clear that extending TPS for Haitians is not on the table. The bottom line: this bill is going nowhere. Senator Britt called it “dead on arrival” and she is almost certainly correct. But the 10 Republicans who crossed the aisle just handed Democrats a talking point and gave their own voters a reason to question their loyalty. With midterms on the horizon, that is a bet some of them may come to regret.
10 House Republicans Just Helped Democrats Pass a Bill Shielding 330,000 Haitians From Deportation
Ten House Republicans just crossed the aisle and voted with every single Democrat to pass a bill extending deportation protections for over 330,000 Haitian nationals. The vote was 224-204. President Trump has already signaled he will veto it. Let that sink in. While the Trump administration has been working to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, arguing the designation “contradicts U.S. national interests,” a group of GOP members decided to join the progressive wing of the Democrat Party and go around their own leadership to make it happen. The bill, HR 1689, would extend Haitian TPS through 2029. It was forced to the floor through a discharge petition led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, the same progressive Democrat who has called for abolishing ICE. She needed 218 signatures to bypass Republican leadership, and she got them. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama was not impressed. She made it clear exactly where this bill is headed next. This is dead on arrival in the Senate. Temporary Protected Status is just that: temporary. Beyond that, 91% of all Haitian TPS holders entered the country illegally. In the last election, the American people rejected mass migration policies that effectively grant amnesty to… https://t.co/eim5EUE3AA — Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) April 17, 2026 Britt is right. The bill has virtually zero chance in the Republican-controlled Senate. And even if it somehow squeaked through, President Trump would veto it in a heartbeat. So who are the 10 House Republicans who voted for this? CBS News reported on the full list of Republican crossovers: Seven Republicans broke ranks across procedural and final votes. Discharge petition signers included Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, and Don Bacon of Nebraska. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, and Kevin Kiley of California supported the floor procedure. Mike Carey of Ohio, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rich McCormick of Georgia, and Mike Turner of Ohio voted for final passage. Rep. Mike Lawler highlighted a contradictory policy: “The State Department itself says Haiti is unsafe for Americans to travel to,” creating what he called a logical inconsistency with deportation plans. Three of the ten are from Florida, where large Haitian communities could factor into midterm races. Two are from Ohio. The political calculus is obvious, even if the timing is terrible. And Pressley? She was celebrating like she just won the Super Bowl. WE DID IT! We forced the House to pass our extension of TPS for Haiti. This is a victory in our long-fought battle to protect the dignity & humanity of our Haitian neighbors. To our Haitian family in the MA-7th and across this country, this one's for you. On to the Senate. https://t.co/HknDUsG7C8 pic.twitter.com/JLtMI0AMkn — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 16, 2026 Newsweek detailed the arguments some of these Republicans used to justify their votes: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said nursing homes in her district would lose skilled and dedicated staff if TPS is not renewed. “These are Haitian immigrants who are working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy and fulfilling a healthcare need,” she said. Rep. Don Bacon argued that removing TPS would cost 350,000 healthcare workers their jobs during serious workforce shortages. “Deporting people who are here legally and contributing seems unconscionable,” Bacon said. Here is the full list of Republican members who voted with Democrats: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Don Bacon (NE), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Carlos Gimenez (FL), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Rich McCormick (GA), Mike Turner (OH), Mike Carey (OH), and Mario Diaz-Balart (FL). California independent Kevin Kiley, who caucuses with Republicans, also voted yes. The irony here is thick. The bill closely mirrors legislation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio himself authored back in 2019 when he was still a senator. But that was a different political moment, and the Trump administration has made it clear that extending TPS for Haitians is not on the table. The bottom line: this bill is going nowhere. Senator Britt called it “dead on arrival” and she is almost certainly correct. But the 10 Republicans who crossed the aisle just handed Democrats a talking point and gave their own voters a reason to question their loyalty. With midterms on the horizon, that is a bet some of them may come to regret.
10 House Republicans Just Helped Democrats Pass a Bill Shielding 330,000 Haitians From Deportation
Ten House Republicans just crossed the aisle and voted with every single Democrat to pass a bill extending deportation protections for over 330,000 Haitian nationals. The vote was 224-204. President Trump has already signaled he will veto it. Let that sink in. While the Trump administration has been working to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, arguing the designation “contradicts U.S. national interests,” a group of GOP members decided to join the progressive wing of the Democrat Party and go around their own leadership to make it happen. The bill, HR 1689, would extend Haitian TPS through 2029. It was forced to the floor through a discharge petition led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, the same progressive Democrat who has called for abolishing ICE. She needed 218 signatures to bypass Republican leadership, and she got them. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama was not impressed. She made it clear exactly where this bill is headed next. This is dead on arrival in the Senate. Temporary Protected Status is just that: temporary. Beyond that, 91% of all Haitian TPS holders entered the country illegally. In the last election, the American people rejected mass migration policies that effectively grant amnesty to… https://t.co/eim5EUE3AA — Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) April 17, 2026 Britt is right. The bill has virtually zero chance in the Republican-controlled Senate. And even if it somehow squeaked through, President Trump would veto it in a heartbeat. So who are the 10 House Republicans who voted for this? CBS News reported on the full list of Republican crossovers: Seven Republicans broke ranks across procedural and final votes. Discharge petition signers included Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, and Don Bacon of Nebraska. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, and Kevin Kiley of California supported the floor procedure. Mike Carey of Ohio, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rich McCormick of Georgia, and Mike Turner of Ohio voted for final passage. Rep. Mike Lawler highlighted a contradictory policy: “The State Department itself says Haiti is unsafe for Americans to travel to,” creating what he called a logical inconsistency with deportation plans. Three of the ten are from Florida, where large Haitian communities could factor into midterm races. Two are from Ohio. The political calculus is obvious, even if the timing is terrible. And Pressley? She was celebrating like she just won the Super Bowl. WE DID IT! We forced the House to pass our extension of TPS for Haiti. This is a victory in our long-fought battle to protect the dignity & humanity of our Haitian neighbors. To our Haitian family in the MA-7th and across this country, this one's for you. On to the Senate. https://t.co/HknDUsG7C8 pic.twitter.com/JLtMI0AMkn — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 16, 2026 Newsweek detailed the arguments some of these Republicans used to justify their votes: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said nursing homes in her district would lose skilled and dedicated staff if TPS is not renewed. “These are Haitian immigrants who are working, paying taxes and contributing to our economy and fulfilling a healthcare need,” she said. Rep. Don Bacon argued that removing TPS would cost 350,000 healthcare workers their jobs during serious workforce shortages. “Deporting people who are here legally and contributing seems unconscionable,” Bacon said. Here is the full list of Republican members who voted with Democrats: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Don Bacon (NE), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Carlos Gimenez (FL), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Rich McCormick (GA), Mike Turner (OH), Mike Carey (OH), and Mario Diaz-Balart (FL). California independent Kevin Kiley, who caucuses with Republicans, also voted yes. The irony here is thick. The bill closely mirrors legislation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio himself authored back in 2019 when he was still a senator. But that was a different political moment, and the Trump administration has made it clear that extending TPS for Haitians is not on the table. The bottom line: this bill is going nowhere. Senator Britt called it “dead on arrival” and she is almost certainly correct. But the 10 Republicans who crossed the aisle just handed Democrats a talking point and gave their own voters a reason to question their loyalty. With midterms on the horizon, that is a bet some of them may come to regret.
House Speaker’s FISA Plan Collapses at 2 A.M. After 20 Republicans Revolt
It was quite a night on Capitol Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson tried everything. A five-year extension. An 18-month extension. President Trump personally urged Republicans to get in line. None of it worked. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning, Johnson’s plan to renew the government’s controversial surveillance powers collapsed — tanked by 20 members of his own party who refused to budge on privacy concerns. Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna was practically gloating about the late-night chaos: They have called us back at midnight to cast a secret vote to reauthorize FISA while America sleeps. A yes vote gives Trump more power to surveil Americans. Every Democrat must vote no. Everyone who loves the constitution must vote no. pic.twitter.com/kJGQm5EWW3 — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 17, 2026 Here’s how it all went down. Johnson rushed lawmakers back into session late Thursday night for a series of back-to-back votes on extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the provision that lets intelligence agencies monitor foreign targets but has been criticized for sweeping up Americans’ communications without a warrant. First, leadership tried a five-year renewal with revisions. That went nowhere. Then they tried to salvage President Trump’s preferred option — a clean 18-month extension with no new limits on surveillance. That also crashed and burned, failing 197 to 228. Newsweek published the full list of GOP holdouts: According to the House clerk’s official vote record, 20 Republicans voted against moving forward with the 18-month extension: Lauren Boebert, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Michael Cloud, Andrew Clyde, Eli Crane, Warren Davidson, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Diana Harshbarger, Thomas Massie, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, John Rose, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz, Sheri Biggs, and Mark Harris. President Donald Trump had previously urged Republicans to support extending the program. “I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” Trump wrote on Truth Social this week. “We need to stick together.” Twenty Republicans looked at that message from the President and said: no thanks. Rep. Bob Good praised the holdouts for standing firm on the Fourth Amendment: Thank you to the 6 House R’s who withstood the pressure early this morning and voted against BOTH the 5 yr & 18-mo FISA reauthorizations w/out sufficient reforms: Andy Harris MD, Thomas Massie KY, Andy Ogles TN, Scott Perry PA, John Rose TN & Keith Self TX — Bob Good (@RepBobGood) April 17, 2026 With both proposals dead in the water, the House scrambled. At 2:09 a.m., they passed a bare-minimum 10-day extension by unanimous consent — kicking the can down the road to April 30. The Senate cleared it by voice vote Friday, sending it to President Trump’s desk. PBS News put it in perspective: The revolt is a significant setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House, who both pushed for a clean long-term extension of the surveillance authority. With Johnson controlling a slim majority, he has little room for dissent. The short-term fix leaves the future of Section 702 unresolved, as lawmakers remain divided over how to balance national security considerations with concerns over privacy. Senator Mike Lee made it crystal clear that the fight over FISA reforms is far from over: FISA 702 must be reformed As the failed House vote last night made clear, it can’t be reauthorized without reforms @SenatorDurbin and I have a bipartisan bill that reforms FISA 702 in a way that allows it to perform its national-security functions while protecting Americans pic.twitter.com/AKLHEs9LpC — Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) April 17, 2026 Congress has 10 days to figure out what they couldn’t resolve in months. Good luck with that.
House Speaker’s FISA Plan Collapses at 2 A.M. After 20 Republicans Revolt
It was quite a night on Capitol Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson tried everything. A five-year extension. An 18-month extension. President Trump personally urged Republicans to get in line. None of it worked. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning, Johnson’s plan to renew the government’s controversial surveillance powers collapsed — tanked by 20 members of his own party who refused to budge on privacy concerns. Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna was practically gloating about the late-night chaos: They have called us back at midnight to cast a secret vote to reauthorize FISA while America sleeps. A yes vote gives Trump more power to surveil Americans. Every Democrat must vote no. Everyone who loves the constitution must vote no. pic.twitter.com/kJGQm5EWW3 — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 17, 2026 Here’s how it all went down. Johnson rushed lawmakers back into session late Thursday night for a series of back-to-back votes on extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the provision that lets intelligence agencies monitor foreign targets but has been criticized for sweeping up Americans’ communications without a warrant. First, leadership tried a five-year renewal with revisions. That went nowhere. Then they tried to salvage President Trump’s preferred option — a clean 18-month extension with no new limits on surveillance. That also crashed and burned, failing 197 to 228. Newsweek published the full list of GOP holdouts: According to the House clerk’s official vote record, 20 Republicans voted against moving forward with the 18-month extension: Lauren Boebert, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Michael Cloud, Andrew Clyde, Eli Crane, Warren Davidson, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Diana Harshbarger, Thomas Massie, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, John Rose, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz, Sheri Biggs, and Mark Harris. President Donald Trump had previously urged Republicans to support extending the program. “I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” Trump wrote on Truth Social this week. “We need to stick together.” Twenty Republicans looked at that message from the President and said: no thanks. Rep. Bob Good praised the holdouts for standing firm on the Fourth Amendment: Thank you to the 6 House R’s who withstood the pressure early this morning and voted against BOTH the 5 yr & 18-mo FISA reauthorizations w/out sufficient reforms: Andy Harris MD, Thomas Massie KY, Andy Ogles TN, Scott Perry PA, John Rose TN & Keith Self TX — Bob Good (@RepBobGood) April 17, 2026 With both proposals dead in the water, the House scrambled. At 2:09 a.m., they passed a bare-minimum 10-day extension by unanimous consent — kicking the can down the road to April 30. The Senate cleared it by voice vote Friday, sending it to President Trump’s desk. PBS News put it in perspective: The revolt is a significant setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House, who both pushed for a clean long-term extension of the surveillance authority. With Johnson controlling a slim majority, he has little room for dissent. The short-term fix leaves the future of Section 702 unresolved, as lawmakers remain divided over how to balance national security considerations with concerns over privacy. Senator Mike Lee made it crystal clear that the fight over FISA reforms is far from over: FISA 702 must be reformed As the failed House vote last night made clear, it can’t be reauthorized without reforms @SenatorDurbin and I have a bipartisan bill that reforms FISA 702 in a way that allows it to perform its national-security functions while protecting Americans pic.twitter.com/AKLHEs9LpC — Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) April 17, 2026 Congress has 10 days to figure out what they couldn’t resolve in months. Good luck with that.
House Speaker’s FISA Plan Collapses at 2 A.M. After 20 Republicans Revolt
It was quite a night on Capitol Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson tried everything. A five-year extension. An 18-month extension. President Trump personally urged Republicans to get in line. None of it worked. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning, Johnson’s plan to renew the government’s controversial surveillance powers collapsed — tanked by 20 members of his own party who refused to budge on privacy concerns. Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna was practically gloating about the late-night chaos: They have called us back at midnight to cast a secret vote to reauthorize FISA while America sleeps. A yes vote gives Trump more power to surveil Americans. Every Democrat must vote no. Everyone who loves the constitution must vote no. pic.twitter.com/kJGQm5EWW3 — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 17, 2026 Here’s how it all went down. Johnson rushed lawmakers back into session late Thursday night for a series of back-to-back votes on extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the provision that lets intelligence agencies monitor foreign targets but has been criticized for sweeping up Americans’ communications without a warrant. First, leadership tried a five-year renewal with revisions. That went nowhere. Then they tried to salvage President Trump’s preferred option — a clean 18-month extension with no new limits on surveillance. That also crashed and burned, failing 197 to 228. Newsweek published the full list of GOP holdouts: According to the House clerk’s official vote record, 20 Republicans voted against moving forward with the 18-month extension: Lauren Boebert, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Michael Cloud, Andrew Clyde, Eli Crane, Warren Davidson, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Diana Harshbarger, Thomas Massie, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, John Rose, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz, Sheri Biggs, and Mark Harris. President Donald Trump had previously urged Republicans to support extending the program. “I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” Trump wrote on Truth Social this week. “We need to stick together.” Twenty Republicans looked at that message from the President and said: no thanks. Rep. Bob Good praised the holdouts for standing firm on the Fourth Amendment: Thank you to the 6 House R’s who withstood the pressure early this morning and voted against BOTH the 5 yr & 18-mo FISA reauthorizations w/out sufficient reforms: Andy Harris MD, Thomas Massie KY, Andy Ogles TN, Scott Perry PA, John Rose TN & Keith Self TX — Bob Good (@RepBobGood) April 17, 2026 With both proposals dead in the water, the House scrambled. At 2:09 a.m., they passed a bare-minimum 10-day extension by unanimous consent — kicking the can down the road to April 30. The Senate cleared it by voice vote Friday, sending it to President Trump’s desk. PBS News put it in perspective: The revolt is a significant setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House, who both pushed for a clean long-term extension of the surveillance authority. With Johnson controlling a slim majority, he has little room for dissent. The short-term fix leaves the future of Section 702 unresolved, as lawmakers remain divided over how to balance national security considerations with concerns over privacy. Senator Mike Lee made it crystal clear that the fight over FISA reforms is far from over: FISA 702 must be reformed As the failed House vote last night made clear, it can’t be reauthorized without reforms @SenatorDurbin and I have a bipartisan bill that reforms FISA 702 in a way that allows it to perform its national-security functions while protecting Americans pic.twitter.com/AKLHEs9LpC — Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) April 17, 2026 Congress has 10 days to figure out what they couldn’t resolve in months. Good luck with that.
10 House Republicans Join Democrats To Restore Temporary Protected Status For Haitian Immigrants
The House of Representatives approved legislation to reinstate temporary protections for Haitian immigrants living in the United States. The measure passed in a 224-204 vote, with 10 Republicans voting yes. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin listed the 10 Republicans who supported the measure: 10 House Republicans + 1 independent voted w/ Dems to pass it. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL) Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) Democrats broke out into applause after it passed. BREAKING: The House just voted 224 to 204 to PASS a 3 year extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. 10 House Republicans + 1 independent voted w/ Dems to pass it. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Rep. Brian… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 16, 2026 NBC News shared further: The White House has vowed that Trump would veto the bill should it reach his desk. It next heads to the Senate, but it’s unclear if it can pass the upper chamber. The bill would require the Homeland Security secretary to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for three years, as Haitians here find themselves in legal limbo. The Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS for Haitians, but a federal court stepped in to block Trump’s move. The president’s attempts to remove TPS status for immigrants from both Haiti and Syria are now before the Supreme Court. “The Administration understands members have to vote their districts at times. This terrible bill is going nowhere and there has been a veto threat issued,” a White House official said Thursday. “The administration is focused on enforcing federal immigration law and putting American citizens first.” Thursday marked the fourth time this Congress that a small bloc of moderate Republicans has worked with Democrats to circumvent Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders to advance legislation not supported by the vast majority of Republicans. “Right now, more than 350,000 Haitians in the US face the threat of losing Temporary Protected Status. It is cruel, unlawful, & life-threatening. This week, we’re forcing the House to vote on extending TPS for Haiti. This is good policy, good for families, & good for America,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said. Right now, more than 350,000 Haitians in the US face the threat of losing Temporary Protected Status. It is cruel, unlawful, & life-threatening. This week, we're forcing the House to vote on extending TPS for Haiti. This is good policy, good for families, & good for America. pic.twitter.com/S8SsqmG5CX — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) April 15, 2026 “Removing TPS status for Haitians living in the United States would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we’re already facing serious workforce shortages. I’ve heard from healthcare providers and business leaders across Nebraska, including @OmahaChamber, who are concerned about the impact this would have on patient care and our economy. I don’t see the goodness of deporting people who are here legally, working, and contributing to our country,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said. Removing TPS status for Haitians living in the United States would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we’re already facing serious workforce shortages. I’ve heard from healthcare providers and business leaders across Nebraska, including @OmahaChamber, who… — Rep. Don Bacon (@RepDonBacon) April 15, 2026 POLITICO has more: A handful of Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for the bill from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who used the discharge petition maneuver to compel a vote on the legislation — the latest instance where Republicans have broken rank to support a procedural gambit typically deployed exclusively by members of the minority party. Pressley’s measure would reinstate temporary protected status for Haitian migrants who came to the United States amid decades of upheavals and natural disasters in the beleaguered Caribbean country. While this designation does not afford a path to citizenship for Haitian migrants, it does allow migrants to live and work in the United States.
10 House Republicans Join Democrats To Restore Temporary Protected Status For Haitian Immigrants
The House of Representatives approved legislation to reinstate temporary protections for Haitian immigrants living in the United States. The measure passed in a 224-204 vote, with 10 Republicans voting yes. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin listed the 10 Republicans who supported the measure: 10 House Republicans + 1 independent voted w/ Dems to pass it. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL) Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) Democrats broke out into applause after it passed. BREAKING: The House just voted 224 to 204 to PASS a 3 year extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. 10 House Republicans + 1 independent voted w/ Dems to pass it. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Rep. Brian… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 16, 2026 NBC News shared further: The White House has vowed that Trump would veto the bill should it reach his desk. It next heads to the Senate, but it’s unclear if it can pass the upper chamber. The bill would require the Homeland Security secretary to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for three years, as Haitians here find themselves in legal limbo. The Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS for Haitians, but a federal court stepped in to block Trump’s move. The president’s attempts to remove TPS status for immigrants from both Haiti and Syria are now before the Supreme Court. “The Administration understands members have to vote their districts at times. This terrible bill is going nowhere and there has been a veto threat issued,” a White House official said Thursday. “The administration is focused on enforcing federal immigration law and putting American citizens first.” Thursday marked the fourth time this Congress that a small bloc of moderate Republicans has worked with Democrats to circumvent Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders to advance legislation not supported by the vast majority of Republicans. “Right now, more than 350,000 Haitians in the US face the threat of losing Temporary Protected Status. It is cruel, unlawful, & life-threatening. This week, we’re forcing the House to vote on extending TPS for Haiti. This is good policy, good for families, & good for America,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said. Right now, more than 350,000 Haitians in the US face the threat of losing Temporary Protected Status. It is cruel, unlawful, & life-threatening. This week, we're forcing the House to vote on extending TPS for Haiti. This is good policy, good for families, & good for America. pic.twitter.com/S8SsqmG5CX — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) April 15, 2026 “Removing TPS status for Haitians living in the United States would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we’re already facing serious workforce shortages. I’ve heard from healthcare providers and business leaders across Nebraska, including @OmahaChamber, who are concerned about the impact this would have on patient care and our economy. I don’t see the goodness of deporting people who are here legally, working, and contributing to our country,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said. Removing TPS status for Haitians living in the United States would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we’re already facing serious workforce shortages. I’ve heard from healthcare providers and business leaders across Nebraska, including @OmahaChamber, who… — Rep. Don Bacon (@RepDonBacon) April 15, 2026 POLITICO has more: A handful of Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for the bill from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who used the discharge petition maneuver to compel a vote on the legislation — the latest instance where Republicans have broken rank to support a procedural gambit typically deployed exclusively by members of the minority party. Pressley’s measure would reinstate temporary protected status for Haitian migrants who came to the United States amid decades of upheavals and natural disasters in the beleaguered Caribbean country. While this designation does not afford a path to citizenship for Haitian migrants, it does allow migrants to live and work in the United States.
10 House Republicans Join Democrats To Restore Temporary Protected Status For Haitian Immigrants
The House of Representatives approved legislation to reinstate temporary protections for Haitian immigrants living in the United States. The measure passed in a 224-204 vote, with 10 Republicans voting yes. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin listed the 10 Republicans who supported the measure: 10 House Republicans + 1 independent voted w/ Dems to pass it. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL) Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) Democrats broke out into applause after it passed. BREAKING: The House just voted 224 to 204 to PASS a 3 year extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. 10 House Republicans + 1 independent voted w/ Dems to pass it. Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Rep. Brian… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 16, 2026 NBC News shared further: The White House has vowed that Trump would veto the bill should it reach his desk. It next heads to the Senate, but it’s unclear if it can pass the upper chamber. The bill would require the Homeland Security secretary to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for three years, as Haitians here find themselves in legal limbo. The Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS for Haitians, but a federal court stepped in to block Trump’s move. The president’s attempts to remove TPS status for immigrants from both Haiti and Syria are now before the Supreme Court. “The Administration understands members have to vote their districts at times. This terrible bill is going nowhere and there has been a veto threat issued,” a White House official said Thursday. “The administration is focused on enforcing federal immigration law and putting American citizens first.” Thursday marked the fourth time this Congress that a small bloc of moderate Republicans has worked with Democrats to circumvent Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders to advance legislation not supported by the vast majority of Republicans. “Right now, more than 350,000 Haitians in the US face the threat of losing Temporary Protected Status. It is cruel, unlawful, & life-threatening. This week, we’re forcing the House to vote on extending TPS for Haiti. This is good policy, good for families, & good for America,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said. Right now, more than 350,000 Haitians in the US face the threat of losing Temporary Protected Status. It is cruel, unlawful, & life-threatening. This week, we're forcing the House to vote on extending TPS for Haiti. This is good policy, good for families, & good for America. pic.twitter.com/S8SsqmG5CX — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) April 15, 2026 “Removing TPS status for Haitians living in the United States would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we’re already facing serious workforce shortages. I’ve heard from healthcare providers and business leaders across Nebraska, including @OmahaChamber, who are concerned about the impact this would have on patient care and our economy. I don’t see the goodness of deporting people who are here legally, working, and contributing to our country,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said. Removing TPS status for Haitians living in the United States would cost 350,000 workers their ability to work at a time when we’re already facing serious workforce shortages. I’ve heard from healthcare providers and business leaders across Nebraska, including @OmahaChamber, who… — Rep. Don Bacon (@RepDonBacon) April 15, 2026 POLITICO has more: A handful of Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for the bill from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who used the discharge petition maneuver to compel a vote on the legislation — the latest instance where Republicans have broken rank to support a procedural gambit typically deployed exclusively by members of the minority party. Pressley’s measure would reinstate temporary protected status for Haitian migrants who came to the United States amid decades of upheavals and natural disasters in the beleaguered Caribbean country. While this designation does not afford a path to citizenship for Haitian migrants, it does allow migrants to live and work in the United States.
President Trump: I’ve ‘Held Back’ Long Enough — The Fed Chair Has Until May 15
Trump has been patient with Jerome Powell. He’s said so himself, multiple times. But as of Wednesday, that patience officially has a hard deadline — and the deadline is May 15. In a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo, President Trump put Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on notice: leave quietly when your chairman’s term ends next month, or get fired. No more waiting. No more holding back. “I’ve held back firing him,” Trump said. “I’ve wanted to fire him, but I hate to be controversial, you know?” Then the bottom line: “Well then, I’ll have to fire him.” Here’s what he said: https://x.com/CNN/status/2044394017970929693 This has been building for a long time. Trump has been pressing Powell for months to lower interest rates. He’s called him ineffective. He’s said the Fed is out of step with what the American economy needs. And every time, Powell holds the line and does nothing. So now there’s a deadline. Powell’s term as Fed chairman ends May 15. Trump’s pick to replace him — former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh — has his confirmation hearing scheduled for next Tuesday, April 21. The plan was a clean handoff: Warsh comes in, Powell steps out, everyone moves on. Except Powell won’t step out. Wall Street Journal Fed reporter Nick Timiraos broke down the full standoff Wednesday: https://x.com/NickTimiraos/status/2044421630256906698 Here’s the deal. Powell’s chairman term ends May 15 — but his term as a Fed board governor runs to 2028. And Powell says he’s not walking away from that board role because of a DOJ criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation. He won’t leave until it’s “well and truly over.” The problem? A federal judge already ruled that investigation was a political setup. Judge James Boasberg found the government offered “no evidence whatsoever that Powell committed any crime other than displeasing the President” — and wrote there was “abundant evidence that the subpoenas’ dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign.” Despite that ruling, DOJ prosecutors showed up at the Fed construction site on Tuesday. They’re not backing down either. NPR had more on what both sides are saying: “He’s doing a bad job,” Trump said of Powell. “He should be lowering interest rates.” Powell told reporters he would stay on the job. “That is what the law calls for,” he said. “And that’s what we’re going to do in this situation.” He also declared: “I have no intention of leaving the board until the investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality.” Trump declined to halt the DOJ probe. “Don’t you think we have to find out what happened there?” the president said. Now here’s what makes this whole thing a knot. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina — a Republican and key vote on the Senate Banking Committee — says he won’t confirm Warsh as the new Fed chair until the DOJ investigation against Powell is resolved. So the investigation Trump is using to pressure Powell out is also blocking his replacement from getting in. Trump isn’t backing down. He says Tillis will come around — suggesting the senator “doesn’t want the legacy of having an incompetent guy stay there for longer than is necessary.” And if Tillis doesn’t? Trump says he’ll fire Powell the moment his chair term ends and sort out the confirmation mess later. Spectrum News laid out where the legal battle stands: The investigation concerns Powell’s testimony about the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion Washington headquarters renovation. A federal judge quashed government subpoenas last month after prosecutors acknowledged finding no evidence of crime, though U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro vowed to appeal the decision. The Supreme Court is separately reviewing Trump’s attempt to remove Fed board member Lisa Cook — a case that could ultimately define just how much authority a president has over the supposedly independent Federal Reserve. So here’s where things stand on the eve of a Senate confirmation hearing that might not go anywhere: Powell is dug in. Trump has issued a deadline. The Senate is gridlocked. The courts are watching. And Jeanine Pirro is appealing. May 15 is less than a month away. Something is going to have to give. What’s your perspective?
President Trump: I’ve ‘Held Back’ Long Enough — The Fed Chair Has Until May 15
Trump has been patient with Jerome Powell. He’s said so himself, multiple times. But as of Wednesday, that patience officially has a hard deadline — and the deadline is May 15. In a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo, President Trump put Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on notice: leave quietly when your chairman’s term ends next month, or get fired. No more waiting. No more holding back. “I’ve held back firing him,” Trump said. “I’ve wanted to fire him, but I hate to be controversial, you know?” Then the bottom line: “Well then, I’ll have to fire him.” Here’s what he said: https://x.com/CNN/status/2044394017970929693 This has been building for a long time. Trump has been pressing Powell for months to lower interest rates. He’s called him ineffective. He’s said the Fed is out of step with what the American economy needs. And every time, Powell holds the line and does nothing. So now there’s a deadline. Powell’s term as Fed chairman ends May 15. Trump’s pick to replace him — former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh — has his confirmation hearing scheduled for next Tuesday, April 21. The plan was a clean handoff: Warsh comes in, Powell steps out, everyone moves on. Except Powell won’t step out. Wall Street Journal Fed reporter Nick Timiraos broke down the full standoff Wednesday: https://x.com/NickTimiraos/status/2044421630256906698 Here’s the deal. Powell’s chairman term ends May 15 — but his term as a Fed board governor runs to 2028. And Powell says he’s not walking away from that board role because of a DOJ criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation. He won’t leave until it’s “well and truly over.” The problem? A federal judge already ruled that investigation was a political setup. Judge James Boasberg found the government offered “no evidence whatsoever that Powell committed any crime other than displeasing the President” — and wrote there was “abundant evidence that the subpoenas’ dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign.” Despite that ruling, DOJ prosecutors showed up at the Fed construction site on Tuesday. They’re not backing down either. NPR had more on what both sides are saying: “He’s doing a bad job,” Trump said of Powell. “He should be lowering interest rates.” Powell told reporters he would stay on the job. “That is what the law calls for,” he said. “And that’s what we’re going to do in this situation.” He also declared: “I have no intention of leaving the board until the investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality.” Trump declined to halt the DOJ probe. “Don’t you think we have to find out what happened there?” the president said. Now here’s what makes this whole thing a knot. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina — a Republican and key vote on the Senate Banking Committee — says he won’t confirm Warsh as the new Fed chair until the DOJ investigation against Powell is resolved. So the investigation Trump is using to pressure Powell out is also blocking his replacement from getting in. Trump isn’t backing down. He says Tillis will come around — suggesting the senator “doesn’t want the legacy of having an incompetent guy stay there for longer than is necessary.” And if Tillis doesn’t? Trump says he’ll fire Powell the moment his chair term ends and sort out the confirmation mess later. Spectrum News laid out where the legal battle stands: The investigation concerns Powell’s testimony about the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion Washington headquarters renovation. A federal judge quashed government subpoenas last month after prosecutors acknowledged finding no evidence of crime, though U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro vowed to appeal the decision. The Supreme Court is separately reviewing Trump’s attempt to remove Fed board member Lisa Cook — a case that could ultimately define just how much authority a president has over the supposedly independent Federal Reserve. So here’s where things stand on the eve of a Senate confirmation hearing that might not go anywhere: Powell is dug in. Trump has issued a deadline. The Senate is gridlocked. The courts are watching. And Jeanine Pirro is appealing. May 15 is less than a month away. Something is going to have to give. What’s your perspective?