Poles begin voting for a new president in a pivotal runoff election

Poles begin voting for a new president in a pivotal runoff election

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poles began voting Sunday ina decisive presidential runoffthat could set the course for the nation's political future and its relations with the European Union. The contest pits Warsaw MayorRafał Trzaskowski, a liberal pro-EU figure, against Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historianbacked by the right-wing Law and Justice party. The outcome will determine whether Poland continues alonga nationalist pathor pivots more decisively toward liberal democratic norms. With conservative President Andrzej Duda completing his second and final term, the new president will have significant influence over whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government can fulfill its centrist agenda, given the presidential power to veto laws. Voting began at 7 a.m. local time and will end at 9 p.m., when an Ipsos exit poll is expected. Final results are likely to be announced Monday. The runoff follows a tightly contested first round on May 18, in which Trzaskowski won just over 31% and Nawrocki nearly 30%, eliminating 11 other candidates. The campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to restore judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions, and promote constructive ties with European partners. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, skeptical of the EU, and aligned with U.S. conservatives, includingPresident Donald Trump. Nawrocki's candidacy has been clouded by allegations of past connections to criminal figures and participation in a violent street battle. He denies the criminal links but acknowledges having taken part in "noble" fights. The revelations have not appeared to dent his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated. Amid rising security fears over Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine,both candidatessupport aid to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it in the future. Nawrocki's campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including an emphasis on traditional values. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish affairs to larger European powers like France and Germany. Many European centrists are rooting for Trzaskowski, seeing in him someone who would defend democratic values under pressure from authoritarian forces across the globe.

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Poles begin voting for a new president in a pivotal runoff election

Poles begin voting for a new president in a pivotal runoff election WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poles began voting Sunday ina decisive presidentia...

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Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats

Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats

SINGAPORE (AP) — China and North Korea's support for Russia in itswar against Ukrainehas exposed how lines between regions have blurred, and the need for a global approach toward defense, top security officials said Sunday. North Korea has sent troops to fight on the front lines in Ukraine, while China has supported Russia economically and technologically while opposing international sanctions. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premiere defense forum, that if Ukraine were to fall, it would have a ripple effect in Asia and suggested it could embolden China in its territorial claims on Taiwan and virtually the entire South China Sea. "If Russia prevails in Ukraine, it's not about Europe. It's not about one region," she said. "It will send a very clear signal also to smaller states here in Indo-Pacific that anyone can ignore their borders, that any fabricated excuse can justify invasion." The comments echoed those fromFrench President Emmanuel Macronas he opened the conference on Friday advocating for greater European engagement in the Indo-Pacific. On Saturday,U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethsuggested European countries should focus their defense efforts in their own region andleave the Indo-Pacific more to the U.S.,but Šakalienė said the regions were clearly intertwined. "It's not a secret that when we talk about the main perpetrators in cyber security against Japan it's China, Russia and North Korea," she said. "When we talk about main cyber security perpetrators against Lithuania it's Russia, China and Belarus — two out of the three are absolutely the same." She added that "the convergence of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea into an increasingly coordinated authoritarian axis," demands a unified response. Iran has been a key supplier of attack drones to Russia for its war effort. "In this context, the United States' strategic focus on Indo-Pacific is both justified and necessary, but this is not America's responsibility alone," she said. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters on the sidelines that his main takeaway from the three-day conference, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, was the "real intent in the way in which European countries have engaged" in the debates. "It reflects the sense of connection, interconnectedness ... between Indo-Pacific on the one hand and the North Atlantic on the other," he said. China sent a lower-level delegation from its National Defense University this year to the conference, but its Foreign Ministry on Sunday responded to comments from Hegseth that Beijing was destabilizing the region and preparing to possibly seize Taiwan by force. "No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself, who is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific," it said, while reiterating its stance that the Taiwan issue was an internal Chinese matter. "The U.S. must neve play with fire on this question," the ministry said. Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, whose country has been involved inincreasingly violent clashes with Chinaover competing claims in the South China Sea, scoffed at the idea that the U.S. was the problem. "What the Chinese government considers fair and just may stand in stark contrast to the norms and values accepted by the rest of the world, especially the smaller countries," he said. "To envision a China-led international order, we only need to look at how they treat their much smaller neighbors in the South China Sea." He also underscored the international implications of the tensions in the Indo-Pacific, noting that the South China Sea was one of several maritime routes that are "arteries of the global economy." "Disruption in any of these maritime corridors triggers ripple effects across continents, impacting trade flows, military deployments, and diplomatic posture," he said. Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said China missed an opportunity to have its voice heard by not sending its own defense minister, but it was still incumbent upon others to reach out to Beijing to try and build bridges and prevent misunderstandings. Singapore has close ties to both the U.S. and China, and is part of the regionally influential Association of Southeast Asian Nations along with the Philippines and others. "It is in the interest of all of us to work with China, and it is also in the interest of China to work with everyone else in the world," he said. "It is in the interest of all of us to have a deeper understanding of China's fears, concerns and aspirations, just as it is important for China to understand how the rest of the world perceives China."

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Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats

Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats SINGAPORE (AP) — China and North Korea's support for Ru...

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A new natural gas project off Senegal makes fishing communities feel threatened

A new natural gas project off Senegal makes fishing communities feel threatened

GUET NDAR, Senegal (AP) — It's impossible to miss the gas platform off the coast of northernSenegal. Its flare stack burns day and night above the rolling breakers. Thenatural gas project, a joint venture between British energy giant BP and U.S.-based Kosmos Energy, started operations on the final day of 2024. It is meant to bring jobs to the densely populated fishing community of Guet Ndar, just outside the old colonial capital of Saint Louis. The gas extraction plant, the deepest in Africa, is aimed at helping to transform Senegal's stagnant economy after the discovery just over a decade ago ofoil and gas off the country's coast. The first offshore oil project also began last year. Fishermen say the project is killing their livelihoods Mariam Sow, one of the few remaining sellers in the once-thriving fish market, said the decline began in 2020 when the platform started rising from the sea. "This market used to be full every day," Sow said, gesturing at the barren lot. The nearby beach is now occupied by hundreds of unused boats. Fishing is central to life in coastal Senegal. It employs over 600,000 people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The country exported nearly half a billion dollars worth of fish in 2022, according to think tank Chatham House, citing international trade data. What's the gas project about? The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim project plans to extract gas off Senegal and neighboring Mauritania. According to BP, the field could produce 2.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas every year. Last year, Senegal electedPresident Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who ran on an anti-establishment platform. He pledged to maximize the country's natural resources, including by renegotiating what he called unfair contracts with foreign firms and distributing revenues to the population. "I will proceed with the disclosure of the effective ownership of extractive companies (and) with an audit of the mining, oil, and gas sector," he said in his first address. It was not clear whether contract renegotiation efforts had begun, or whether they would include the gas project. The fishermen of Guet Ndar say the benefits promised by both the project and Senegal's government have not materialized. The cost of living remains high, and the price of natural gas, a major cooking source in Senegal, is still rising. Lower gas prices had been a major selling point for the gas project. Mohamed Sow, a shopkeeper in Dakar, said his customers complain that a 12-liter gas canister has gone from 5,000 CFA ($8.50) to 8,000 CFA ($13.80) in the past few years. "It's impossible to keep raising the price," he said. Senegal's government did not respond to requests for comment. The fishing community near the project says it has noticed more signs of trouble. A leak that took weeks to fix Soon after the gas project's production began, fishermen said they noticed a large number of bubbles in the sea. BP cited a temporary gas leak that "had no immediate impact on ongoing production activities from the remaining wells." The leak took weeks to fix. BP did not say how much gas — largely methane — leaked into the ocean, or what caused a leak so early in the new project. In a response to written questions, BP said "the environmental impact of the release was assessed as negligible" considering the "low rate" of release. The environmental charity Greenpeace, however, called the effects of such spills on the environment significant. "The GTA field is home to the world's largest deep-water coral reef, a unique ecosystem. A single spill can wipe out decades of marine biodiversity, contaminate food chains and destroy habitat," it said in a statement. Sitting outside a BP-built and branded fish refrigeration unit meant to help community relations, Mamadou Sarr, the president of the Saint Louis fishermen's union, talked about the concerns. Sarr asserted that fish have become more scarce as they are attracted to the platform and away from several reefs that the people of Guet Ndar had fished for centuries. Drawing in the sand, he explained how the fish, drawn by the project's lights and underwater support structures, no longer visit their old "homes." Areas around the platforms are off-limits to fishermen. Sarr also said an artificial reef that BP is building lies in the path of ships that regularly visit the structures, keeping the fish away. A fisherman's life One fisherman, Abdou, showed off his catch after two days at sea: two insulated boxes full of fish, each about the size of an oil drum. A box of fish fetches 15,000 CFA, or $26. Prior to the gas project, he said, he would get four or five boxes per two-day trip. Now, getting two is a win. That worsens a problem already created byoverfishingby foreign vessels. BP stressed that face-to-face talks with members of the community about such issues are ongoing, and noted its community-facing projects such as microfinance and vocational training programs in the region. Sarr said that despite its promises, the government failed to consider his community when agreeing to the gas project. "This is our land and sea, why don't we get a voice?" he asked. He and others expressed irony that the refrigeration unit sitting next to them cannot be opened. The key is "somewhere in Dakar" Sarr said, and locals said they have never seen inside it. ___ For more on Africa and development:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

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A new natural gas project off Senegal makes fishing communities feel threatened

A new natural gas project off Senegal makes fishing communities feel threatened GUET NDAR, Senegal (AP) — It's impossible to miss the ga...

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Trump officials are visiting Alaska to discuss a gas pipeline and oil drilling

Trump officials are visiting Alaska to discuss a gas pipeline and oil drilling

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Trump administration is sending three Cabinet members to Alaska this week as it pursues oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and reinvigorating anatural gas projectthat's languished for years. The visit by Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin comes after Trumpsigned an executive orderearlier this year aimed at boosting oil and gas drilling, mining and logging in Alaska. It also comes amidtariff talkswith Asian countries that are seen as possible leverage for the administration to secure investments in the proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas project. Their itinerary includes a meeting Sunday with resource development groups and U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski in Anchorage before heading to Utqiagvik, an Arctic town on the petroleum-rich North Slope where many Alaska Native leaders see oil development as economically vital to the region. The federal officials also plan to visit the Prudhoe Bay oil field Monday — near the coast of the Arctic Ocean and more than 850 miles (1,368 kilometers) north of Anchorage — and speak at Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy's annual energy conference Tuesday in Anchorage. While it's not unusual for U.S. officials to visit Alaska during warmer weather months, Dunleavy's office said the officials' visit is significant. Dunleavy,a Trump ally, said he is thankful for an administration that "recognizes Alaska's unique value." Government and industry representatives from a number of Asian countries, including Japan, are expected to participate in a portion of the trip, reflecting pressure from the U.S. to invest in the pipeline — despite skepticism and opposition from environmental groups. In Alaska, some environmentalists criticized the agenda for Dunleavy's conference. Highlighting fossil fuels alongside renewable or alternative energy make "energy sources of the past look more legitimate at a conference like this," said Andy Moderow, senior policy director with the Alaska Wilderness League. "I think we should be looking at climate solutions that work for Alaskans, not trying to open up places that industry is taking a pass on, namely the Arctic refuge," he said. A push for more drilling Trump has long taken credit for provisions of a 2017 tax law championed by Alaska's congressional delegation that called for two oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain by late 2024.The firstone remains the subject of ongoing litigation, with the main bidder a state corporation that saw itsseven leases later canceledby then-President Joe Biden's administration.A judge in Marchruled Biden's administration overstepped, and the Interior Department, in line with Trump's executive order, is working to reinstate the leases. There weren't any bids in the second sale, held under Biden andblasted by the stateas overly restrictive. Debate over drilling in the refuge — home to polar bears, musk ox, birds and other wildlife — has long been a flashpoint. Indigenous Gwich'in leaders consider the coastal plain sacred land, noting its importance to a caribou herd they rely upon. ManyNorth Slope Iñupiat leaderswho support drilling in the refuge felt their voices were not heard during the Biden era. During the Trump officials' visit, they also hope to make a case for additional development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which Trump has advocated, and for being included in planning decisions. Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, an advocacy group whose members include leaders from the region, called the officials' visit "a step in the right direction." 'Gigantic natural gas pipeline' For years, the state has sought to develop its stores of North Slope natural gas as a way to provide affordable energy to more residents and bolster revenues via exports. But cost concerns,shifts in direction, competition from other projects and questions about economic feasibility have stymied progress. Oil companies have long reinjected gas that occurs with oil deposits on the slope to produce more oil, which remains Alaska's economic lifeblood. The latest gas proposal calls for a roughly 810-mile (1,300-kilometer) pipeline that would carry gas from the North Slope to port and a facility that would process and export liquefied natural gas to Asian countries. In a March speech to Congress, Trump touted his ongoing support of the "gigantic natural gas pipeline." He said countries like Japan and South Korea "want to be our partner, with investments of trillions of dollars each." No firm commitments from countries have been made. The company advancing the project — in partnership with a state corporation — is in a stage of refining cost estimates, previously pegged at around $44 billion for the pipeline and related infrastructure, before final decisions are made on whether to move forward with the project. Alaska in the spotlight While Dunleavy has likened Trump's friendly approach to energy development as "Christmas every day," Alaska's fortunes remain tightly linked to the volatility of oil prices, which are down sharply from a year ago, squeezing state revenues. State lawmakers across party lines overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging Congress to provide Alaska with 90% of royalty revenues for oil and gas leases in the Arctic refuge, arguing the U.S. government reneged on past promises for such a share. The resolution also asked for that to be extended to the petroleum reserve. Alaska's tax structure allows companies like ConocoPhillips Alaska — which is pursuing amassive oil project known as Willowin the reserve — to write off a portion of their development costs against production taxes they incur elsewhere on the North Slope. While lawmakers widely support Willow, they also have argued a change in federal royalty share would address a hit to state revenues created by production in the reserve.

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Trump officials are visiting Alaska to discuss a gas pipeline and oil drilling

Trump officials are visiting Alaska to discuss a gas pipeline and oil drilling JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Trump administration is sending thr...

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Putin’s tough stance on a Ukraine peace plan shows his resolve on Russia’s demands

Putin's tough stance on a Ukraine peace plan shows his resolve on Russia's demands

By making harsh, uncompromising demands inpeace talks with Ukrainewhile continuing to pummel it withwaves of missiles and drones,Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending a clear message: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until they're met. At the same time, he has sought to avoid angering U.S.President Donald Trumpby praising his diplomacy and declaring Moscow's openness to peace talks — even as he set maximalist conditions that are rejected by Kyiv and the West. Trump, who once promised to end the3-year-old warin 24 hours, hasupended the U.S. policyof isolating Russia by holding calls with Putin and denigrating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, however, Trump warned Putin against "tapping me along" and threatened Moscow with sanctions if it fails to back his peace proposals. Trump says Putin is 'playing with fire' In recent days, Trump signaled he was losing patience with Putin, declaring the Russian leader had gone "crazy" by stepping up aerial attacks on Ukraine. He also said: "What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who serves as deputy head of Putin's Security Council, fired back: "I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!" Fyodor Lukyanov, a Moscow-based analyst familiar with Kremlin thinking, said Putin is engaged in a "psychological game" with Trump, with both men thinking they understand each other well. "Putin's tactics is apparently based on an assumption that the issue has a lesser priority for his interlocutor, who wants to get rid of it one way or another, while for the Russian side, nothing compares to it in importance," Lukyanov wrote a commentary. "In this logic, the one who sees it as something of lesser importance will eventually make concessions." While Ukraine's European allies urge Trump to ramp up sanctions against Moscow to force it to accept a ceasefire, some fear that Trump may end up distancing the U.S. from the conflict. If the U.S. halts or reduces military aid to Kyiv, it would badly erode Ukraine's fighting capability. Growing Russian pressure Kyiv already is experiencing a weapons shortage, particularly air defense systems, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to Russian missile and drone attacks. Across the over 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line, the exhausted and outgunned Ukrainian troops are facing increasing Russian pressure. This month, Russian forces accelerated their slow push across the Donetsk region, the focus of Moscow's offensive, grinding through Ukrainian defenses at the quickest pace since last fall. Russia also expanded its attacks in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions following Putin's promise to create a buffer zone along the border. Many observers expect Russia to expand its offensive over the summer to try to capture more land and set even tougher conditions for peace. "Moscow thinks its leverage over Ukraine will build over time, and since Trump has strongly implied that he will withdraw from negotiations the Russian military is set to intensify its operations," said Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute in London. He predicted Russia would intensify efforts to take all of the Donetsk region while also pressing a bombing campaign. "The Kremlin will want to suggest a deteriorating situation as negotiations continue and to signal to Europe that the rear is not safe, to discourage European militaries from putting forces in country," Watling said in an analysis. Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin, Moscow-based analyst, said the long-expected offensive hasn't yet begun in earnest as Russia is cautious not to anger Trump. "If Kyiv derails peace talks, the Russian army will start a big offensive," he said. Putin's conditions for peace Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully controlled. That demand had been rejected by Kyiv and its allies, but the Russian delegation reportedly repeated it during talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16. Those talks, the first since botched negotiations in the opening weeks of the war, came after Putin effectively rejected a 30-day truce proposed by Trump that was accepted by Kyiv. Russia had linked such a ceasefire to a halt in Ukraine's mobilization effort and a freeze on Western arms supplies. Putin proposed talks to discuss conditions for a possible truce. Trump quickly prodded Kyiv to accept the offer, but the negotiations yielded no immediate progress except an agreementto exchange 1,000 prisonerseach. Russia offered to hold another round of talks Monday in Istanbul, where it said it will present a memorandum setting conditions for ending hostilities. It refused to share the document before the negotiations. Some observers see the talks as an attempt by Putin to assuage Trump's growing impatience. "Putin has devised a way to offer Trump an interim, tangible outcome from Washington's peace efforts without making any real concessions," said Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Facing Western accusations of stalling, the Kremlin responded that the conflict can't be resolved quickly and emphasized the need to address its "root causes." When Putin invaded Ukraine, he said the move was needed to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and protect Russian speakers in the country -– arguments strongly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies as a cover for an unprovoked act of aggression. Along with those demands, Putin also wants limits on Ukraine's sovereignty, including the size of Ukraine's military, and for Kyiv to end what Moscow sees as glorification of Ukraine's World War II-era nationalist leaders, some of whom sided with the invading forces of Nazi Germany over the Soviet leadership in the Kremlin. A Kremlin negotiator who's been there before Seeking to underline that Moscow will press home its initial demands, Putin appointed his aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead the Russian delegation in Istanbul. He also led the Russian side in the 2022 talks. Kyiv reportedly has asked the U.S. to encourage Putin to replace him. The soft-spoken, 54-year-old career bureaucrat, who was born in Ukraine, ascended through the Kremlin ranks after writing a series of books exposing purported Western plots against Russia. In an interview with Russian state television after the May 16 talks, Medinsky pointed to Russia's 18th century war with Sweden that lasted 21 years, a signal that Moscow is prepared to fight for a long time until its demands are met. "History repeats itself in a remarkable way," he said.

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Putin’s tough stance on a Ukraine peace plan shows his resolve on Russia’s demands

Putin's tough stance on a Ukraine peace plan shows his resolve on Russia's demands By making harsh, uncompromising demands inpeace t...

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Trump White House steps up attacks on courts after tariff ruling

Trump White House steps up attacks on courts after tariff ruling

The White House is increasing its attacks on the judicial branch in the wake of decisions that briefly blocked President Trump's sweeping tariffs. It's a battle-tested playbook the administration has used before on a number of fronts with the courts, which have emerged as an even greater bulwark to the president's policies in his second term, especially with a GOP Congress that has largely left him unchallenged. At the same time, the Trump team's verbal attacks on the judiciary are more intense than any other administration in recent U.S. history, and underscore the public relations battle the White House is engaging in. That battle is intended to rile up Trump's base, while also pressuring his opponents and the courts. Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller decried a three-judge panel's ruling that initially halted Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs as "judicial tyranny." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it part of a "troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process." National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, a typically mild-mannered adviser, attacked the panel as "activist judges." It echoed the same rhetoric Miller, Leavitt and others have routinely used to push back on judicial rulings that block or undermine the administration's agenda on immigration, efforts to shrink the government and more. It is also similar to the way Trump attacked judges who handled his legal cases before he won a second term. The tactic serves the White House's goals on multiple fronts. It allows officials to go on offense, where they are most comfortable. It also provides fodder to Trump's MAGA base, creating a common opponent at a time when Democrats are out of power and largely helpless to impede the president's agenda. The strategy has been cause for alarm for Democrats and experts who have voiced concerns about the long-term impact of attacks on the courts. "Courts upholding the rule of law is what separates America from dictatorships around the world. We are not ruled by kings, but by laws," Skye Perryman, president of left-leaning legal group Democracy Forward, posted on the social platform X. "Intimidation of courts and ignoring the rule of the law betrays these values." The three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of International ruled on Wednesday to block Trump's April 2 "Liberation Day" tariffs, which placed a 10 percent levy on all imports along with higher "reciprocal" tariffs for dozens of countries that could go into effect over the summer. The ruling also blocked earlier orders that imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. Many had already been adjusted or delayed as stocks fell, and Treasury yields rose in the wake of Trump's trade shifts. An appeals courttemporarily liftedthe block in a ruling on Thursday. But in the 24 hours in between, Trump allies went to work attacking the trade court and portraying it as the latest instance of judges deliberately undermining the president. The attacks came despite the fact that one of the judges who presided over the tariffs case was appointed by Trump. Leavitt devoted the start of her briefing with reporters on Thursday to bashing the decision. She argued Trump was on sound legal footing and was being undermined by judges who "brazenly abused their judicial power." Jason Miller, a former senior adviser on the Trump campaign, claimed the trade court's ruling showed a brewing battle "between American sovereignty and having a globalist takeover." After an appeals court temporarily reversed the trade court's ruling, the target shifted slightly to the conservative group the Federalist Society and its longtime leader, Leonard Leo, who played a central role in shaping Trump's judicial picks during his first term. "I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations," Trump wrote Thursday. "This is something that cannot be forgotten! With all of that being said, I am very proud of many of our picks, but very disappointed in others." Alex Brusewitz, a GOP digital strategist and Trump adviser, called the Federalist Society "anti-MAGA." The barrage of attacks on the trade court followed a well-worn strategy Trump and his allies have used to try to shake confidence in judges and the court system. Dating back to his first campaign in 2016, Trump questioned whether one judge was biased against him because of their Mexican heritage. During the 2024 campaign, Trump relentlessly attacked the judge overseeing his hush money trial, comparing him to "a devil" in remarks after the case concluded with Trump being found guilty on 34 felony counts. Critics argue that the attacks from Trump and his allies are not only harmful, but also ignore context about who is ruling against the president. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, noted the federal judges who have issued court orders blocking or pausing the Trump administration's actions thus far have been appointed by five presidents. "Trump keeps taking executive actions that blatantly, flagrantly exceed his authorities under the law and the Constitution. And he keeps losing in court, regardless of WHO appointed the judges. (Some of them were HIS.)," David Axelrod, an official in former President Obama's administration, posted on X. "Yet he and his apparatchiks call it a 'judicial coup.'" But the attacks are part of a hardened outlook among Trump and some of his closest advisers that judges across the country are attempting to run out the clock on his second term by issuing injunctions and rulings that halt his agenda. "That is the crisis in the courts," said one White House official. "The president is elected to a four-year term, and it should not be possible for a dozen district court judges to grind down that term to prevent the president from doing what he campaigned on." Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

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May 31, 2025

Trump White House steps up attacks on courts after tariff ruling

Trump White House steps up attacks on courts after tariff ruling The White House is increasing its attacks on the judicial branch in the wak...

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White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

TheWhite Houseon Saturday said it is in Iran's "best interest to accept" its proposal on a nuclear deal following a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency saying the country is swiftly increasing its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium. "President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media." The IAEA's reportsaid Iranhad increased its stockpile to 900.8 pounds of uranium enriched by up to 60% as of May 17, a nearly 50% increase since the agency's last report in February, which put the stockpile at 605.8 pounds. The report said Iran is "the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material," which is a "serious concern." Iran Condemns Austria Over Report On Advanced Nuclear Weapons Program The IAEAadded that just 92 pounds of 60% enriched uranium is enough to produce an atomic bomb if it is enriched to 90%. Read On The Fox News App Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but U.S. intelligence agencies say the country has "undertaken activities that better position it to produce anuclear device, if it chooses to do so." Iran's Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a joint statement that the report was based on "unreliable and differing information sources," claiming that it was biased and unprofessional. The statement added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its disappointment about the report, which was prepared by imposing pressure on the agency for political purposes, and expresses its obvious objection about its content." On Thursday, Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that he was unsure a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could be imminently reached. "Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights — including enrichment," he wrote. Iran Foreign Minister Vows Nuclear Enrichment Will Continue 'With Or Without A Deal' Oman Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi presented the Trump administration's first formal proposal in Tehran Saturday, which calls for Iran to cease all uranium enrichment and for a regional consortium that includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states and the U.S. for producing nuclear power, TheNew York Times reported, citing people familiar with the document. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also put out a rare statement on a Saturday about the IAEA's report, calling it "grave." "The agency presents a stark picture that serves as a clear warning sign: Despite countless warnings by the international community, Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu's office said. "The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years — the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran's uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever. "The report clearly indicates that Iran remains in non-compliance of its fundamental commitments and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and continues to withhold cooperation from IAEA inspectors. The international community must act now to stop Iran." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source:White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

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May 31, 2025

White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike

White House urges Iran to accept nuclear deal as IAEA reports uranium enrichment spike TheWhite Houseon Saturday said it is in Iran's ...

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South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here’s what to know

South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here's what to know

After half a year of political turmoil, uncertainty and division, South Korea will vote for a new president to succeed Yoon Suk Yeol, the disgraced former leader who plunged the democratic nation into chaos by declaring martial law in December. This election feels particularly significant; the country, a US ally andAsian economic and cultural powerhouse, has floundered for months with a revolving door of interim leaders while navigating Yoon's impeachment trial and a multipronged investigation into the fateful night of his short-lived power grab. All the while, South Korea's economy has suffered, with US President Donald Trump's trade war and a potential global recession looming in the background. Two men are each promising to help the country recover if elected – a lawyer turned politician dogged by legal cases who survived an assassination attempt, and a former anti-establishment activist turned conservative minister. Polls open on Tuesday morning and a winner could be declared by Wednesday. Here's what you need to know. The frontrunner is Lee Jae-myung, 60, of the liberal opposition Democratic Party. A former underage factory worker from a poor family, Lee became a human rights lawyer before entering politics. He is a former mayor and governor, and most recently served as a lawmaker after narrowly losing to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election. He survivedan assassination attemptin January 2024 when a man stabbed him in the neck during a public event. He again made headlines on December 3, 2024 – the night Yoon declared martial law and sent troops to parliament. Lee was among the lawmakers who rushed to the legislature and pushed past soldiers to hold an emergency vote to lift martial law. Helive streamed himselfjumping over a fence to enter the building, in a viral video viewed tens of millions of times. On the campaign trail, Lee promised political and economic reforms, including more controls on a president's ability to declare martial law, and revising the constitution to allow two four-year presidential terms instead of the current single five-year term. He has emphasized easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula while holding on to the longtime goal of denuclearizing North Korea; he also supports boosting small businesses and growing the AI industry. But Lee has also been dogged by legal cases, including several ongoing trials for alleged bribery and charges related to a property development scandal. Separately, he was convicted of violating election law in another ongoing case that has been sent to an appeals court. Lee denies all the charges against him. Speaking to CNN in December, he claimed he had been indicted on various charges "without any evidence or basis," and that the allegations are politically motivated. Lee's main rival is Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP). When Yoonleft the party in May,he urged supporters to back Kim – a 73-year-old former labor minister, who had been a prominent labor activist at university, even being expelled and imprisoned for his protests. He eventually joined a conservative party, and stepped into the nomination after several rounds of party infighting. The PPP initially selected Kim as its candidate; then dropped him, eyeing former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instead. The party finally chose Kim after he filed legal challenges. But the PPP remains deeply divided and its candidate trailed Lee in pre-election polling. In a statement after his nomination, Kim vowed to seek unity and build a "big tent" coalition to take on Lee,according to Reuters. Kim has also promised to reform the country's politics, judiciary and election management systems to rebuild public trust. His campaign emphasized making South Korea business-friendly through tax cuts and eased restrictions, and by promoting new technologies and nuclear energy. Several third-party and independent candidates are also running for the presidency. They include Lee Jun-seok, a former PPP leader who founded his own conservative New Reform Party last year. At the forefront of voters' minds is the country's flailing economy and rising cost of living. Youth unemploymenthas surgedand consumption has declined, with the economyunexpectedly contractingin the first quarter of this year. Part of that is due to Trump's trade war – which has hit South Korea's export-reliant economy hard.South Korea's exports to the US fellsharply in the first few weeks of April after US tariffs kicked in, andthe nation's largest airline haswarned the downturn could cost it up to $100 million a year. Though officials from both nations have met for tariff talks, the political turmoil at home is likely slowing progress and hampering a possible trade deal until a new South Korean president is elected. That's why both main candidates have focused on the economy, promising to stabilize the cost of goods and improve opportunities in housing, education and jobs. But there's a host of other problems the next president will have to tackle, too – such as the country'srapidly aging societyandplummeting birth rates, which represent an urgent demographic crisis also seen in other countries in the region likeJapanandChina. Among the common complaints of young couples and singles are the high cost of childcare, gender inequality and discrimination against working parents. Then there are regional tensions. There's the ever-present threat from North Korea, which hasrapidly modernized its armed forces, developingnew weaponsand testing intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach almost anywhere in the United States. Experts have warned in recent years that the country may also be preparing to resume nuclear tests, which it paused in 2018. Across the Yellow Sea lies China, which South Korea has a strong trade relationship with – but historically fraught diplomatic relations. South Korea also maintains a close security alliance with the US, and hosts nearly 30,000 American troops in the country. In recent years, South Korea, Japan and the US have drawn closer together, working to counter Chinese influence in the strategically important Asia-Pacific region. Yoon was removed from office in April following months of legal wrangling, after parliamentvoted to impeach himlate last year. It was a remarkable fall from grace for the former prosecutor turned politician, who rose to prominence for his role in the impeachment of another president – only to eventually meet the same fate. Soon after, Yoon moved out from the presidential residency and into an apartment in the capital Seoul. But his legal battles are ongoing; he faces charges including insurrection, an offense punishable by life imprisonment or death (though South Korea has not executed anyone in decades). Yoon denies all charges against him. CNN's Yoonjung Seo and Gawon Bae contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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May 31, 2025

South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here’s what to know

South Korea is voting for a new president after six months of political chaos. Here's what to know After half a year of political turmoi...

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At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine

At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine

At least seven people were killed and 30 hospitalized after "illegal interference" caused a bridge to collapse and a train to derail in Russia's Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, Russian authorities said early on June 1. The train's locomotive and several cars derailed "due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport," Russian Railways said on the Telegram messaging app. Two children were among those hospitalized, one of them in serious condition, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, said on Telegram. Among those killed was the locomotive driver, Russia's state news agencies reported, citing medics. More:'Very disappointed': Trump continues to criticize Putin's war tactics during negotiations Russia's ministry of emergency situations said on Telegram that its main efforts were aimed at finding and rescuing victims, and that some 180 personnel were involved in the operation. Russia's Baza Telegram channel, which often publishes information from sources in the security services and law enforcement, reported, without providing evidence, that according to preliminary information, the bridge was blown up. Reuters could not independently verify the Baza report. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Since the start of the war that Russia launched more than three years ago, there have been continued cross-border shelling, drone strikes, and covert raids from Ukraine into the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions that border Ukraine. The train was going from the town of Klimovo to Moscow, Russian Railways said. It collided with the collapsed bridge in the area of a federal highway in the Vygonichskyi district of the Bryansk region, Bogomaz said. The district lies some 62 miles from the border with Ukraine. More:US and Russia clash over intensifying Ukraine war U.S. PresidentDonald Trumphas urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a deal to end the war, and Russia has proposed a second round of face-to-face talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul. Ukraine is yet to commit to attending the talks on Monday, saying it first needed to see Russian proposals, while a leading U.S. senator warned Moscow it would be "hit hard" by new U.S. sanctions. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Daniel Wallis) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Seven killed, 30 hurt after bridge collapse causes train derailment

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May 31, 2025

At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine

At least 7 killed, 30 injured after bridge collapse, train derailment in Russia near Ukraine At least seven people were killed and 30 hospit...

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Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP's Midterm Silver Bullet

Encouraging unmotivated Trump voters to cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm elections may be crucial for the Republican Party to maintain control of both chambers of Congress. Recentresearchfrom J.L. Partners —first reportedby Politico on Thursday — found that a large number of Americans who previously voted for President Donald Trump now feel unenthusiastic about voting Republican in 2026. Some analysts told the Daily Caller News Foundation that whether the GOP is able to motivate large voter turnout among low-propensity voters in the upcoming midterms could determine the balance of power in Congress in 2026. "Republicans will have a hard time surviving the 2026 midterms without figuring out how to engage the low-propensity Trump voter," Sam Kay, a pollster at OnMessage Inc., a Republican consulting firm, told the DCNF. "We've seen that these voters are largely apathetic toward politicians who aren't Donald Trump. They believe he's the only one willing to take on the Washington establishment, so they're only interested in showing up for him." "If we want low-propensity Trump voters to turn out in 2026, we need to make this election about protecting President Trump's agenda," Kay added. "Emphasize that the Democrats will do anything to stop him, and drive home the message that he can't finish the job he started unless Republicans keep both the House and Senate."(RELATED: 'Hang It Around Their Neck' — Against Long Odds, GOP Operatives Have A Plan To Win In 2026) US President Donald Trump and US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speak to the press as he arrives for a House GOP Conference Meeting at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on May 20, 2025. (Photo by ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) James Johnson, pollster and co-founder of J.L. Partners, told Politico on Thursday that he believes some Americans may view voting Republican in the 2026 midterms as a way to increase the GOP's chances of winning in the 2028 presidential election. "Most (64%) would still vote GOP if the election were held tomorrow, but lack a clear reason to do so," Johnson told Politico. "We believe they are the critical difference that will settle the House and Senate." "Compared to overall Trump voters, these voters skew younger (18–29) and [are] more likely to be black," Johnson told the outlet. "What motivates these voters is not arguments about Trump, judicial appointments or even the 2027-9 agenda. It is instead the argument that by voting for a Republican-controlled Congress in 2026, they will help the Republicans win the presidency in 2028 … They are thinking through a presidential election prism." The Democratic Party notably suffered significant losses in the 2024 election cycle, with Trump sweeping all seven swing states and the vast majority of counties in the U.S.shiftingto the right. "Pairing the midterm history with the demographic changes in the electorate presents a challenge for Republicans in the context of elections this year and next year, so of course Republicans will want to motivate their electorate as best that they can next year. That's easier said than done," Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, the University of Virginia Center for Politics' nonpartisan newsletter on American campaigns and elections, told the DCNF. Kondik said he believes the 2026 midterm elections should be viewed separately from the2028presidential election, citing the fact that presidential elections historically have higher voter turnout than midterms. "Midterms should be considered separately from presidential elections," Kondik told the DCNF. "The president is not on the midterm ballot and the presidential contest has larger turnout, and midterms don't necessarily predict presidential outcomes. Democrats, for instance, got blown out in the 2010 midterm, but that didn't prevent Obama from winning reelection in 2012. Republicans were on the wrong side of both the 2018 and 2020 elections, but they were clearly more competitive in 2020 than they were in 2018. Even if Republicans do very poorly in 2026, it doesn't necessarily mean anything for 2028, and there are plenty of voters who won't show up in 2026 but will in 2028." "Midterm turnout is always lower than presidential turnout, and it's common for the midterm electorate to be more open to the non-presidential party than the previous cycle's presidential electorate was," Kondik said. "In the Trump era, there also has been a demographic tradeoff occurring, in which Democrats have picked up a smaller number of white college-educated voters from the Republicans while Republicans have picked up a larger number of white and nonwhite working class voters from the Democrats." WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 24: The U.S. Capitol Dome is seen as House Republicans continue to search for a Speaker of the House in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on October 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) "That has made the Republican coalition larger than it was before Trump, but the voters that Republicans have lost — specifically white college-educated voters — are generally more reliable voters in off-years, which may give Democrats a bit of an edge in lower-turnout elections, and every election is lower turnout than a presidential election," Kondik added. Republicans currently have aneight-seatmajority in the House, including vacancies caused by the recent deaths ofthreeHouse Democrats. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in Aprilreleaseda list of 35 "competitive" Republican-held seats it said will determine the House majority, including several congressional districts that Trump won by double digits in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in Marchpublisheda list of 26 Democratic-held seats they view as potential key pickup opportunities for House Republicans to expand their narrow majority. The Democratic Party is also aiming to regain control of the Senate and House in 2026. Though, some Democratic lawmakers have recentlyexpresseddoubtthat their party will be able to retake the Senate in the next midterm election cycle. A spate of recentsurveyshave shown that Americans view Republicans more favorably than Democrats. An Economist/YouGovpollconducted in May found that 41% of Americans viewed Republicans favorably, while just 36% of respondents said they held a favorable view of Democrats. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contactlicensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

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May 31, 2025

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP's Midterm Silver Bullet Encouraging unmotivated Trump voters to cast their ballots in ...

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Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

President Donald Trump at the U.S. Steel Corporation—Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Penn., on Friday, May 30, 2025. Credit - Rebecca Droke—Getty Images President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum—increasing the charge from 25% to 50%. The tariff escalation comes at a precarious time, asTrump's "reciprocal" tariffsare immersed inlegal trouble at the court leveland manyU.S. businessesare struggling to contend with the back-and-forth nature of the levies. Trump's announcement also coincides with the "blockbuster" agreement between U.S. Steel and Japanese steel company Nippon, a deal which he promised will include no layoffs and the steelmaker will be "controlled by the USA." The steepened tariffs could potentially further escalate tensions between the U.S. and its previous top steel partners, which include Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam. As theU.S.' number one steel importer, Canada—with whom the U.S. has already escalated tensions due to Trump's other tariffs—stands to feel the pressure of this latest move. Here's what to know about Trump's doubled tariffs and what experts have to say about it. Trump announced his decision during a rally at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant near Pittsburgh in West Mifflin, Penn., surrounded by hardhat-donned steel workers. "We're going to bring it from 25% percent to 50%—the tariffs on steel into the United States of America—which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," Trump told the crowd, offering his reasoning that the increased charges will ultimately help the domestic industry. "Nobody's going to get around that." He later posted about his decision on social media, revealing that the tariffs would also be raised for aluminum."Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before," Trumpwrote on Truth Social. "This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers." In Trump's announcement post on Truth Social, he said that the doubled tariffs would come into effect on Wednesday, June 4. Although it's worth noting that other tariff threats—such as the proposed50% charge on the E.U.and the majority of Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs that he announced on April 2—have been temporarily paused to allow time for negotiations. It remains to be seen if an extension will be granted for this new June 4 date. The back-and-forth on tariff dates and rates has left many businesses in limbo, though Felix Tintelnot, professor of economics at Duke University, says that with steel and aluminum, the Administration has generally followed through on the timings they've announced. The question, he says, is how long the 50% will stand, as he's seen the rates "flip-flopping all the time." Tintelnot argues that the resulting uncertainty is causing real harm to U.S. businesses and thus, in turn, impacting workers, despite Trump's claims that the tariffs will bring large amounts of money to the U.S. steel industry. "We're talking about expansion of capacity of heavy industry that comes with significant upfront investments, and no business leader should take heavy upfront investments if they don't believe that the same policy is there two, three, or four years from now," Tintelnot says. "Regardless of whether you're in favor [of] or against these tariffs, you don't want the President to just set tax rates arbitrarily, sort of by Executive Order all the time." Though Tintelnot agrees that the escalated tariffs should help the domestic steel industry, he says it will be coinciding with struggles in other U.S. industries as a result of the increase. "So, this is expected to raise the price of aluminum, which is important in inputs for downstream industries like the automotive industry, as well as construction, so there's sort of a distributional conflict here," Tintelnot warns. "Yes, it does help the domestic steel sector, but [it's] hurting these other sectors of the economy, and they are already hard hit by other tariffs." The USW (Unity and Strength for Workers, most commonly referred to as United Steelworkers)—a trade union of steelworkers across North America— saidin a statementthat the increase will have a negative impact on Canada's industries and jobs. "This isn't trade policy—it's a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers," said Marty Warren, United Steelworkers national director for Canada. "Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers." Meanwhile, Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress,said that the planto double tariffs is a "direct attack on Canadian workers and a reckless move" and warned that it "could shut Canadian steel and aluminum out of the U.S. market entirely and put thousands of good union jobs at risk." Speaking about the tariffs overall, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carneysaid on Fridaythat he intends to jumpstart and fast track national building projects throughout the country to respond to Trump's trade war, "ensuring that the Canadian government becomes a catalyst for, not an impediment to, nation-building projects that will supercharge growth in communities, both large and small." Other international lawmakers, meanwhile, have voiced their disapproval of Trump's tariffs escalations. Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, saidthat Trump's doubled charges were "unjustified and not the act of a friend." Contact usatletters@time.com.

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May 31, 2025

Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

Trump Explains Reason For Doubling Steel, Aluminum Tariffs President Donald Trump at the U.S. Steel Corporation—Irvin Works in West Mifflin,...

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Democrats ponder the 'manosphere'

Democrats ponder the 'manosphere'

Democrats know they have a problem with men, particularly the young men who have drifted away from them in recent years. But six months after the gender gap contributed to the party's disappointing showing in last year's election, top Democrats are still throwing spaghetti at the wall, lacking a unified theory on how to win these voters back. Some are trying to break into the culturally conservative podcasts that have thrived at building big audiences of Gen Z men. Some are ceding ground on issues Democrats have long seen as sacred in the culture war, while others insist that the party's current message will work. Some are pitching grand plans aboutfunding a new influencer ecosystemthat subtly boosts the left. At the center of all of this is an acknowledgement that public opinion on the Democratic Party hasdipped to an all-time low, men are souring on the party especially quickly, and losing ground with about half the voting population isn't a recipe for success. It's weighing heavily on the minds of Democrats while making Republicans giddy: On Friday, President Donald Trump needled Democrats for wanting to "spend money to learn how to talk" to men. Jeff Horwitt, a Democratic pollster with Hart Research Associates (who conducts the NBC News poll with a Republican counterpart), told NBC News that a look at recent presidential exit poll results shows that "when Democrats do well broadly with men, they are competitive. When Democrats are not competitive with men, Democrats lose." And while Horwitt doesn't believe Republicans "have a lock on young men," the GOP spoke to their economic anxiety in 2024 in a way that loomed large in 2024. "There was one party that was really addressing that and feeding that anger — I would argue in an unproductive but, unfortunately, ultimately more compelling way," Horwitt said, "while the Democratic Party was focusing more on other issues and not addressing some of the uncomfortable reality of what was going on." Much of the attention of Democrats in the aftermath of the 2024 election has centered on young men. While younger voters lean more liberal, the recentNBC News Stay Tuned Pollpowered by SurveyMonkey found the largest gender gap of any generation was among Gen Z, with the largest gaps in that cohort on Trump's approval rating and key cultural issues. The poll also included one potential partial explanation for why: differences in how men and women consume news. Younger women were more likely to turn to TikTok. Younger men were more likely to say YouTube and X were their favorite news sources. The YouTube, social media and podcasting universe exploding in popularity with young men has been nicknamed the "manosphere" — a spectrum of podcasts hosted by men that generally cover sports, internet culture, dating and sometimes politics. "The Joe Rogan Experience" has become the exemplar of the genre. The freewheeling three-hour podcast features interviews with a variety of guests. It doesn't structure the unscripted conversations around politics, even if an often right-leaning worldview sometimes colors the conversation. Other shows in this space also garner hundreds of thousands to millions of views per episode, ranging from shows focused on comedy (like the "Flagrant" podcast hosted by comedians Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh and "This Past Weekend" hosted by comedian Theo Von) to shows focused on military veterans and strength (like the "Shawn Ryan Show") to those focused on sports (like Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take"). The lengthy-yet-revealing Rogan-style interviews are a popular feature on these shows, often covering new ground about a celebrity or a taboo topic. Some of these podcasts have also faced accusations of misogyny and racism, while other, more controversial figures on the fringes of the "manosphere" have been accused of sexual harassment or rape. Jackson Katz, a gender violence prevention activist and educator and co-founder of the Young Men Research Initiative, said that young men aren't necessarily drawn to the podcasts because of their perceived politics, but for the other topics they discuss. "They don't see themselves as political actors, if you will. A lot of these hosts, they see themselves as … guys just hanging out with the guys, you know, talking about sports, talking about relationships, talking about working out, eating, eating healthy, you know, things like that, and throwing in some politics," Katz told NBC News. Engaging on these platforms was part of the Trump campaign's strategy last year, with Trump appearing on more than a dozen "manosphere" podcasts during his 2024 campaign. His October appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" alone generated almost 60 million views. Trump and his closest allies have also flirted with the darker corners of the "manosphere." Trump appeared on a livestream withcontroversial influencer Adin Ross. Trump's two eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, spoke on social mediawith Andrew TateandRussell Brand, respectively, in 2024. At that time, Tate had been charged with human trafficking in Romania and Brand had been facingallegations of sexual assaultfor which he has since beencharged. Both men deny the allegations against them. Trump talked not only about politics but also about football, drugs, aliens and UFOs on the shows — conversations Katz said were "about proving that he could be relatable and could hang with the guys." And the conversations reverberated across social media, reaching a wider audience than just regular listeners. Trumpthanked some of those podcasts and hosts by nameduring his victory speech. Some Democratswere quick to blameVice President Kamala Harris' comparative lack of appearances on podcasts and unscripted platforms as part of the reason why she lost, and some have argued that engaging on these platforms is part of the pathway back. "A lot of young men were attracted to spaces that weren't as buttoned up, were more free-flowing and open to unstructured conversations," Rotimi Adeoye, a political writer and Democratic strategist who used to work on Capitol Hill and for the ACLU, told NBC News. "People like Theo Von and Joe Rogan came up through a culture that prioritizes detours over script and emotional honesty over polish. But Democrats have, at times, leaned on polish because it does well with constituencies like college-educated liberals," Adeoye continued. It's one reason why a flood of Democrats are starting their own podcasts or are putting themselves through the wringer in hour-plus interviews with these popular personalities. But even those conversations illustrate how the party is grappling with bigger questions on its communication and outreach strategies. One example is California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who started his own podcast in the wake of Democrats' loss in 2024. Newsom promised listeners that the show would feature conversations with "voices from across the political spectrum, including those I fundamentally disagree with." The deep divisions among Democrats about how to engage men, how to juggle that outreach with more controversial pieces of the "manosphere," and even the definition of masculinity itself were all on display during Newsom's recent chat with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — a discussion between two men weighing bids for higher office. Questioning Newsom's decision to invite Trump allies like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon onto his podcast, Walz told Newsom, "I can't message to misogynists." The 2024 vice presidential candidate later asked, "How do we push some of those guys back under a rock?" Newsom replied that he wants to "understand what their motivations are" and pushed back on the idea they were solely motivated by racism and misogyny, calling back to earlier in the podcast when he told Walz that "not everybody that disagrees with us is a misogynist." "I think there's a lot of that, but I don't think it's exclusively that," Newsom said, adding that Bannon's talk about the working class reminds him of his grandfather. Shortly before that exchange, Walz lamented how during his time on the 2024 presidential ticket, conservative media would do segments like one that mocked him for drinking a milkshake with a straw. "How do you fight it? I think I can kick most of their ass[es]. I do think that, if they want to, I know I can outrun them," Walz said shortly afterward, questioning the wisdom of getting into a "WWE fight" with conservatives. Walz, a Midwestern governor who was tapped for the presidential ticket after gaining prominence among Democrats for his straight talk on the stump, did make attempts to reach out to men during the campaign. He appeared at the national convention with his former football team, he played Madden on a Twitch stream and went hunting with influencers as part ofa charm offensive toward men. But during a recent interview with the Harvard University Institute of Politics, he admitted the efforts came up short, even as he said a lesson from Trump's win is "if you leave a void, Donald Trump will fill it." "I also was on the ticket, quite honestly, because I could code talk to white guys watching football, fixing their truck, doing that, that I could put them at ease. I was the permission structure to say: Look, you can do this and vote for this. And you look across those swing states, with the exception of Minnesota, we didn't get enough of those votes," he said. Katz, the researcher who also appeared on a later episode of Newsom's podcast, told NBC News he understood Walz' hesitance to appear on "manosphere" podcasts, but he argued Democrats should be entering these spaces. "I think some Democrats have been reluctant, because you can't control the message coming from the other side. In other words, you don't know what the podcasters are going to say," Katz said. "They might say things that wouldn't pass muster on the ... progressive, liberal side of the house. But if you want to engage people, you have to engage people, and you have to have dialogue with people." "If we truly believe our own ideas, why are we afraid to be challenged on them?" he added. Some prominent politicians are already bringing their message to these spaces, like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who each recently appeared on "Flagrant," which Trump also joined last year. While the 83-year-old Sanders, a two-time runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination, isn't likely to run for the White House again, the 43-year-old Buttigieg is clearly eyeing higher office. Buttigieg and Sanders embraced the wide-ranging, off-the-cuff nature of "Flagrant," with Buttigieg sharing his opinions about the finale of HBO's "White Lotus" and discussing his journey toward coming out as gay, while Sanders mused about his childhood love of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Both politicians offered sharp critiques of Trump but also of the Democratic Party, with Sanders drawing the ire of some Democrats for agreeing with the hosts when they argued the Democratic Party hasn't run a "fair primary" since 2008. Buttigieg lamented Democrats' reticence to appear on podcasts and other nontraditional forms of media, arguing Democrats have rested on their laurels after being early adopters of social media. "We have to be encountering people who don't think like us and don't view the world the way we do, both in order to actually legitimately become smarter and better and make better choices and have better positions, and just in order to persuade. There's no persuasion now, or there's not enough persuasion," he added. While Buttigieg and Sanders recently traveled to appear on one of the more popular shows in this space, some want Democrats to bankroll their own media ecosystem. They hope to poach male listeners and viewers from these podcasts and build their own space that's friendlier to liberal voices and perspectives while maintaining some of the trappings and attraction of shows like Rogan's. The New York Timesrecently reported on one such pitch, a $20 million plan called "Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan" that aims to "study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces." Adeoye, the Democratic strategist, said he fears Democratic donors trying to take their ball and go home won't ultimately be successful because that lacks the authenticity that drew men to these spaces in the first place. "They have good intentions, but if they just want to throw money at the problem and create new podcasts instead of engaging with people where they already exist, they are breaking the core rule of politics: meeting people where they are," Adeoye said.

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May 31, 2025

Democrats ponder the 'manosphere'

Democrats ponder the 'manosphere' Democrats know they have a problem with men, particularly the young men who have drifted away from...

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Hegseth gutted Pentagon office that said it would oversee testing of Golden Dome missile defense system

Hegseth gutted Pentagon office that said it would oversee testing of Golden Dome missile defense system

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the gutting of a Pentagon office shortly after it disclosed that it would be overseeing the testing of PresidentDonald Trump'sGolden Domemissile defense system and the programs associated with the massive, multi-billion dollar project, multiple officials familiar with the matter told CNN. At the end of April, the little known Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation drafted and disseminated a memo to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and other DoD offices that put Golden Dome on its oversight list, in line withDoD instructionsandlaws requiringthat a major defense acquisition program be tested before being fielded, the officials said. Days later,Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency asked the office for a meeting. Musk's company, SpaceX, is among the companies vying for a role in developing Golden Dome. DOGE representatives asked DOT&E officials more about what they did and their plans for this year, officials said, and seemed surprised that much of the office's work was required by law. But there were no outward signs that the office was on the chopping block. On Wednesday, though, DOT&E employees were abruptly summoned to a meeting at the Pentagon and told that the office would be cut to just 30 people, down from over 100, the officials told CNN. Contractors would also no longer be assigned to support the office, per the new guidance. A defense official told CNN that they believe the administration was concerned about DOT&E conducting independent oversight of Golden Dome, and the problems it might uncover in the process. "This administration only wants wins. They don't want bad news and they're getting bad news on all sorts of fronts," the official said. "DOT&E is an honest broker of information. We report the truth and that's all we do." Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement on Thursday that he is concerned that the move to gut the office "appears retaliatory, driven by Mr. Hegseth's opposition to some of DOT&E's recent, legally required oversight decisions." "With staffing reduced to a skeleton crew and limited contractor backing, DOT&E may be unable to provide adequate oversight for critical military programs, risking operational readiness and taxpayer dollars," Reed said, calling the decision "politically motivated interference." Asked for comment, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN, "The Department's reorganization of the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation will return DOT&E to its statutory intent as an oversight body and eliminate duplicative efforts. This decision has nothing to do with Golden Dome and everything to do with rooting out redundancies." But officials CNN spoke to argued that DOT&E is not redundant—rather, it has a unique position as an independent auditor of equipment and systems used by all of the services across the military. It also does not have an enforcement mechanism and is not legally able to shut anything down if it uncovers problems when testing and evaluating various systems. Trumpformally announcedthe plans for the project last week, and $25 billion has already been carved out in next year's defense budget for Golden Dome. But the Congressional Budget Office has estimated the US may have to spend more than $500 billion – over the course of 20 years – to develop a layered missile defense system of the size and scale Trump has demanded. The system will likely encompass over 100 separate programs and require establishing a large, interconnected network of government agencies and private contractors. Defense officials and industry executives largely agree that it will take years before a system like Golden Dome is fully operational, CNN has reported. But the Trump administration is already on the clock to prove that the concept can work in order to justify the future funding for the project. In a videoposted to Xon Wednesday, Hegseth said the office was restructured to allow the services to "go faster with the capabilities that they need." Another defense official said DOT&E had no intention of slowing down the project. But they did want to ensure it worked properly, and that it would be survivable and lethal against realistic threats. "It's much cheaper and faster to find out problems quickly and get data as early as possible so we can determine whether the program is going to be effective," the official said. The first official said that the massive reduction in staff and the fact that contractors will no longer be assigned to DOT&E will lead to some programs dropping off the office's radar and getting no scrutiny at all. "It's concerning that there will be certain programs out there with potentially a lot of money being spent," this official said. "And we'll have no idea if it's being tested properly." CNN's Zachary Cohen contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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May 31, 2025

Hegseth gutted Pentagon office that said it would oversee testing of Golden Dome missile defense system

Hegseth gutted Pentagon office that said it would oversee testing of Golden Dome missile defense system Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth or...

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Joe Biden strikes optimistic tone about cancer diagnosis: ‘We’re going to be able to beat this’

Joe Biden strikes optimistic tone about cancer diagnosis: 'We're going to be able to beat this'

Former President Joe Biden struck an optimistic tone when discussing his cancer diagnosis for the first time Friday, saying, "We're going to be able to beat this." Biden, 82, revealed he has started treatment in the form of a pill to treat an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. "Well, the prognosis is good you know, we're working on everything, it's moving along. I feel good," Biden said in an exchange with CNN and other reporters after speaking at a Memorial Day service in New Castle, Delaware. "All the folks are optimistic." Biden said he is taking a pill for the next six weeks before beginning another pill regimen. He noted he is being treated by a leading surgeon who was diagnosed with the same type of cancer three decades ago. CNN has asked Biden's office for more details about the type of pill he is taking for treatment. "The expectation is we're going to be able to beat this," he said. "It's not in any organ, it's in – my bones are strong, it hadn't penetrated. So, I'm feeling good." Biden's comments mark the first time he's publicly spoken about the cancer diagnosis he received two weeks ago. It also comes as he and his aides have faced renewed scrutiny as a new book by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson detailed signs of mental and physical decline during his final year in office. "You can see that. I'm mentally incompetent and I can't walk," Biden joked, adding he could "beat the hell out of both of them" — an apparent reference to the authors. When asked about Democrats questioning whether he should have run for reelection in the first place, Biden said, "Why didn't they run against me then? Because I would have beaten them." "I don't have any regrets," he added. "There's a lot going on. And I think we're in a really difficult moment, not only in American history, in world history. I think we're at one of those inflection points in history where the decisions we make in the next little bit are going to determine what things look like for the next 20 years." "I've been talking like that for a long time, and I'm very proud. I'd put my record as president against any president at all," he added. The comments came after Biden delivered remarks at a Memorial Day service in New Castle, Delaware, where he offered a spirited defense of democracy and the country's founding ideals, saying that "every generation has to fight to maintain that democracy." The event coincided with the ten-year anniversary of his son Beau Biden, a former Delaware attorney general and member of the Delaware National Guard, passing away from glioblastoma. "I know for many of you, Memorial Day, like for us, is deeply personal. For the Bidens, this day is the 10th anniversary of the loss of my son Beau, who spent a year in Iraq. And to be honest, it's a hard day," Biden said. "Being with all of you, quite frankly, makes things a little bit easier. It really does. So, thank you for allowing me to grieve with you." Biden was joined at the event by Beau's son Hunter, and the Biden family attended a private mass together on Friday morning to mark Beau's passing. The former president offered a tribute to service members and warned against political interference with the military. "My friends, Memorial Day is about something profound – our politics have become so divided and so biter, all of the years I've been doing this, I never thought we'd get to this point. But we are." he said. "Our troops don't wear a uniform that says I'm a Democrat, or I'm a Republican – it says, I'm an American." Biden then urged the audience to "renew our pledge to honor our heroes" and defend the country's democratic ideals. "Folks, you know, for generation after generation, that profound idea has been defended by ordinary citizens who stepped up and answered the call," Biden said. "Because of them, American democracy has endured for nearly 250 years. Every generation – every generation – every generation – has to fight to maintain that democracy. Every time, every generation. Because of them, our government is still of the people, by the people, and for the people. They – they are we. And we are still free. And now, we must make sure that sacrifice has never been in vain." He continued, "Let me close with this: the women and men we honor today, that are no longer with us. But you can still hear their echoes." "They're not asking us to risk our lives, they're asking us to stay true to what America stands for. They're not asking us to do their jobs – they're asking us to do our jobs, to protect our nation, in our time, now. To defend democracy. Be a part of something bigger than ourselves. So today, let's renew our pledge to honor our heroes," the former president said. Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rep. Sarah McBride, Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay, and former Sen. Tom Carper also spoke at the event Friday. While this marked the first time Biden spoke publicly since the cancer diagnosis, he was spotted by travelers at an airport in Connecticut last Friday when he traveled to his grandson's high school graduation. Biden thanked those offering well wishes after his cancer diagnosis became public in apost on Xlast week. "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places," Biden wrote. "Thank you for lifting us up with love and support." Asked for his response to those who have counted him out, Biden said, "Well, I say lots of luck in your senior year." This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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May 31, 2025

Joe Biden strikes optimistic tone about cancer diagnosis: ‘We’re going to be able to beat this’

Joe Biden strikes optimistic tone about cancer diagnosis: 'We're going to be able to beat this' Former President Joe Biden struc...

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No, Trump did not approve $1,200 for stay-at-home moms, despite viral TikTok videos

No, Trump did not approve $1,200 for stay-at-home moms, despite viral TikTok videos

A viralTikTok soundclaims that PresidentDonald Trumpapproved a $1,200 payment for single mothers, butit isn't real. "Breaking news, Trump just announced a new plan: $1,200 a month forstay-at-home moms," an apparently fake newscaster voice says over a montage of Trump signing executive orders and mothers taking care of kids in a video. It was posted around May 29. "No job, no problem....single moms and low-income families get priority." The voiceover was used in several similar videos, some of them with tens of thousands of likes and shares on the platform. It goes on to sayTrump proposeda way to make parenting a full-time job under federal law, another false tidbit, before inviting users to weigh in on the idea in the comments. Here is what we know about the fake TikTok news clips. Trump and Pepe the Frog:2016 campaign turned meme political. Then it became a hate symbol No. Trump has not yet announced any executive efforts to directly pay stay-at-home moms. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the fake videos. The Republican tax bill making its way through Congress, dubbed by Trump as the "Big Beautiful Bill," has some provisions that could bring more money to young families One part of the bill is a new savings account called "Trump Accounts." It would give aone-time $1,000 paymentinto a savings account for any babies born between January 2025 and January 2029. The savings account would be invested in a fund that would grow with the U.S. stock market, and parents could contribute up to $5,000 a year. The babies would be able to use some of the funds for select expenses after the age of 18, and the full account after the age of 30. The bill would also boost the child tax credit. But the hefty piece of legislation is not yet law; next, it will be considered by the Senate, where it could be further amended after the House voted to pass it on May 22. Contributing: Riley Beggin, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is Trump giving $1,200 to stay-at-home moms? No, the TikToks are fake

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May 31, 2025

No, Trump did not approve $1,200 for stay-at-home moms, despite viral TikTok videos

No, Trump did not approve $1,200 for stay-at-home moms, despite viral TikTok videos A viralTikTok soundclaims that PresidentDonald Trumpappr...

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Trump administration unveils more detailed proposal for steep 2026 spending cuts

Trump administration unveils more detailed proposal for steep 2026 spending cuts

The Trump administration on Friday unveiled more details of the president's vision for how to fund the government in fiscal year 2026, expanding on its request earlier this monthfor steep spending cuts. Thelengthy budget appendix, which stretches to more than 1,200 pages, comes as Republicans in both chambers have pressed the administration for more information about the president's proposed funding cuts. President Trump is calling for more than $160 billion in cuts to nondefense discretionary spending — amounting to about 22 percent — while requesting a boost to defense dollars. While presidential budget requests aren't signed into law, they can serve as a blueprint for lawmakers as they begin crafting their funding legislation. House appropriators will take up the first set of funding bills next week, with subcommittees on military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, rural development, and the Department of Agriculture set to meet to consider the proposals on Thursday. The White House rolled out Trump's so-called skinny budget about a month ago. It ran 46 pages, and it's not unusual for presidents to first roll out shorter versions of their proposals before releasing more details. But GOP appropriators said they needed more information about the president's funding wishlist, and budget hawks grumbled at the time about key details missing. "There needs to be a lot more programmatic detail to write these bills to," Cole told The Hill ahead of the current congressional recess. "Their skinny line budget is just that. It's not a full presidential budget." "We will just do a better job for them," Cole said at the time, if appropriators have more guidance from the administration. The documents released Friday build upon the cuts outlined in Trump's earlier request, which called for double-digit cuts for a list of agencies including the departments of Agriculture, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and State. The administration is also pushing for Congress to put dozens of programs on the chopping block, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Job Corps, the Community Development Block Grant program and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, the administration noted that, for defense programs, the document only contained appropriations language and that a "separate document containing budget estimates for the Department of Defense will be published in June 2025." It also said "mandatory spending and receipts proposals in this document are limited to those proposals that support the president's 2026 discretionary request." The forthcoming funding bills from the GOP-led House are expected to be more partisan in nature than in the Senate, where Democratic votes will be needed to get annual funding legislation across the floor.or. The bills from the GOP-led House are expected to be more partisan in nature than in the Senate, where Democratic votes will be needed to get annual funding legislation across the floor. Democrats have already come out in strong opposition to the president's budget request. And there are serious trust issues in the party about eventual negotiations with Republicans on fiscal year 2026 funding as the administration has undertaken a sweeping operation to shrink the size of the government without buy-in from Congress. "This is a draconian proposal to hurt working people and our economy, and it is dead on arrival in Congress as long as I have anything to say about it," Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement Friday. "This is not a complete budget," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, also said Friday. "We are supposed to start putting together the funding bills for 2026 next week. If, as expected, House Republicans follow what President Trump has proposed so far, it is not a serious effort to deliver for the American people." Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

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May 31, 2025

Trump administration unveils more detailed proposal for steep 2026 spending cuts

Trump administration unveils more detailed proposal for steep 2026 spending cuts The Trump administration on Friday unveiled more details of...

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Musk leaves D.C. with black eye: 5 takeaways from Oval Office sendoff with Trump

Musk leaves D.C. with black eye: 5 takeaways from Oval Office sendoff with Trump

Elon Muskarrived in Washington, D.C., with high hopes. He left with a literal and reputationalblack eye. President Donald Trumpmarked the end of Musk's tenure as a government employee with an event in the Oval Office May 30, where he thanked the billionaire for his work leading the Department of Government Efficiency and gave him a golden key. "Elon's delivered a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington," Trump declared. The warm sendoff came after Musk struggled to unlock cost savings in the federal government, deliveringfar less than what he promised. He leaves Washington D.C. a much more polarizing figure, the subject of intensecriticism and proteststhat have dinged his business empire. Musk showed up in the Oval Office dressed all in black, from his DOGE hat to his t-shirt and blazer. He also had a black eye given to him by his young son. More:Elon Musk's rise and fall: From Trump's chainsaw-wielding sidekick to a swift exit Musk's DOGE work, meanwhile, left his reputation badly bruised, which formed the subtext of much of the Oval Office gathering. Trump complained about the billionaire suffering "the slings and the arrows" and Musk said DOGE became a "bogeyman." Musk used DOGE to bulldoze through the federal government, shuttering whole agencies and instituting mass layoffs. The result, he said May 30, is about $160 billion in savings so far,far below the $2 trillion he talked about on the campaign trailand $1 trillion he pledged after Trump took office. Critics complained that he hurt vital programs with indiscriminate cutting and nonpartisan researchers calculated thatmost of the savings will be wiped outby the costs of reinstating workers whose firings were illegal, defending those cases in court, and other effects like lost revenue from shrinking the IRS. The resulting backlash took a toll. The billionaire is nowstepping awayfrom his government work to focus more on his businesses such as electric car company Tesla, which was targeted by protesters and has seen sales slip. Here are five takeaways from the Oval Office event. Musk's exit as the DOGE leader came as his designation as a "special government employee" ‒ which allowed him to stay on the job for 130 calendar days a year ‒ ended. "My time as a special government employee necessarily had to end, it was a limited-time thing," Musk said May 30. The billionaire vowed that DOGE's work will continue, though, calling it a "way of life" that is "permeating throughout the government." Musk also said he'll still continue to visit and consult with Trump. "Elon's really not leaving, he's going to be back and forth… it's his baby," Trump said. Yet Musk has taken steps to distance himself from politics and the Trump administration after a tumultuous period.He recently said heplans to spend "a lot less" money on campaigns − after dropping $290 million getting Trump elected and $20 million on a losing judicial race in Wisconsin − and attracted attention forcriticizing Trump's top legislative priority, saying it would add to the deficit and "undermine the work that the DOGE team is doing." The backlash to DOGE hurt Musk's reputation. He also suffered some physical pain recently, the result of "horsing around" with his 5-year-old son, X. "I said, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face.' And he did it,"Musk saidin the Oval Office in explaining his black eye. The injury prompted immediate speculation on social media. Musk's 14 childrenhave been a source of fascinationas he stepped into the public spotlight to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, with X spending weeks tagging along in the Oval Office and around Capitol Hill. The Oval Office meeting came the same daythe New York Times reportedthat Musk allegedly frequently useddrugs such as ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms while campaigning with Trump in 2024. The paper said it was unclear whether Musk used drugs while working for Trump in the Department of Government Efficiency. A reporter tried to ask Muskabout his alleged drug useduring the 2024 campaign. But Musk dodged the question and criticized the New York Times' reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 election. "Let's move on,"Musk said, standing behind the president at the Resolute Desk. Musk, the CEO of carmaker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX, and owner of social-media platform X,acknowledged in March 2024that he used prescription ketamine to combat bouts of depression. He worried corporate executives by smoking marijuanaduring a podcast in 2018. The New York Times story built on aWall Street Journal story in January 2024that alleged Musk used drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and mushrooms. The campaign featured some erratic behavior, such as Musk jumping on stage behind Trump during an October rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Musk didn't respond to reporters' questions related to his drug use, but he has previously acknowledged using "small amount" of ketamine "once every other week" and marijuana "almost never." The New York Times reported that his ketamine use was often enough to affect his bladder. Musk's shiner from his son wasn't the only physical incident that came up during the Oval Office event. Trump offered some advice for French President Emmanuel Macron aftera videoof Macron's wife apparentlyshoving himin the face in front of an open plane door went viral: "Make sure the door remains closed." Trump downplayed the incidentwhen asked about it. "He's fine too. They're fine," Trump said. "They're two really good people I know them very well." Macron called speculation about the incident with his wife, Brigitte Macron, "nonsense," saying it showed the couple "joking around." The clip was taken after the couple landed in Hanoi, Vietnam, as part of a Southeast Asia tour. Trump also fielded a question aboutpardoning the rapper known as Diddy, saying he hadn't been approached about it but not ruling out the clemency move. Fox News Reporter Peter Doocey questionedTrump on May 30 about a possible pardon for Sean Combs, the musician who is on federal trial in New York for racketeering and sex trafficking. The two men have been friends in the past. "Well, nobody's asked," Trump replied. "I know people are thinking about it." Contributing: Joey Garrison This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump gives Musk Oval Office sendoff after DOGE turbulence

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May 31, 2025

Musk leaves D.C. with black eye: 5 takeaways from Oval Office sendoff with Trump

Musk leaves D.C. with black eye: 5 takeaways from Oval Office sendoff with Trump Elon Muskarrived in Washington, D.C., with high hopes. He l...

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