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House Speaker Mike Johnson is drawing a firm line against action on health care this year, refusing to advance legislation that would extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire and potentially raise premiums for millions of Americans. But his stance is fueling growing frustration among vulnerable House Republicans, some of whom are openly considering breaking with party leadership to force a vote.

According to Axios, several swing-district GOP lawmakers facing tough reelection fights believe inaction on the subsidies could carry serious political consequences. While the House is scheduled to vote on a Republican-backed health care package this week, an extension of ACA subsidies is not expected to be included, leaving moderates searching for alternative paths.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed sharply with Sen. Mark Kelly during a classified congressional briefing Tuesday, erupting into a heated exchange over the Trump administration’s controversial lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean near Venezuela.

According to Punchbowl News, the confrontation unfolded after Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona and a Navy veteran, questioned officials about the ongoing military operations. Hegseth responded by referencing a separate Department of Defense investigation into Kelly, which stems from a video the senator recorded with other Democratic veterans warning active-duty service members not to follow unlawful orders.

Middletown, Ohio shows little sign of celebrating its most famous son. Many residents actually express ambivalence — or even discomfort — about JD Vance's rise, according to a Washington Post report. While some locals view his ascent as notable, others say his behavior and political alignment don’t reflect the city. With manufacturing jobs still scarce and costs still high, residents remain divided over whether Vance offers hope for revival or simply underscores Middletown’s long-running struggles.

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Wrestling legend Mick Foley says he is walking away from WWE after three decades with the company, citing its close ties to Donald Trump and what he described as the president’s increasingly “cruel” rhetoric as the breaking point.

Foley, 60, confirmed he will not renew his WWE contract when it expires in June, according to The Daily Beast. While he said he had been troubled for months by WWE’s longstanding relationship with Trump, Foley pointed to Trump’s recent comments following the deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, as the final catalyst for his decision.

In a rare public account, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Patricia Schmidt has offered a detailed glimpse into her relationship with the late financier, describing how he used intimacy and emotional manipulation to maintain control and extract social and professional advantage.

Schmidt, who was 23 and working at Bear Stearns when she first met Epstein in 1987, shared excerpts from her personal diaries with The New York Times Magazine and spoke publicly for the first time about their time together. The diary entries chronicle their interactions throughout the late 1980s, revealing a relationship marked by power imbalances, deception, and psychological control.

Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles delivered unusually blunt criticism of Elon Musk in a bombshell Vanity Fair interview, portraying the billionaire as erratic, difficult, and reckless during his brief but powerful role in the administration. Wiles described clashing with Musk over mass firings tied to the Department of Government Efficiency, referenced his public flirtations with authoritarian figures, and suggested drug use was influencing his behavior — remarks she later tried to walk back before audio confirmed them.

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Donald Trump was “mighty unhappy” and caught off guard when the Justice Department transferred convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison after interviewing her, according to unusually candid remarks from his chief of staff, Susie Wiles. In interviews with Vanity Fair, Wiles said the decision was driven by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, not the president, and insisted Trump had no advance knowledge of the move.

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Sen. Mark Kelly’s attorney warned the Pentagon on Monday that the Arizona Democrat is prepared to sue to stop what he calls an illegal, politically motivated investigation tied to President Donald Trump’s demands for retaliation. Kelly was singled out after appearing in a video reminding service members to refuse unlawful orders, which Trump blasted as “seditious.” In a sharply worded letter, Kelly’s lawyer said any attempt to recall the retired Navy aviator for court-martial or discipline would be unconstitutional and an extraordinary abuse of power.

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Legal advocates celebrated Friday’s abrupt resignation of Trump ally Julianne Murray as U.S. attorney in Delaware, calling it another blow to the president’s efforts to bypass Senate confirmation rules. On their podcast, Norm Eisen and Kate Phang said Murray stepped aside after a key 3rd Circuit ruling undercut similar interim appointments, including that of Alina Habba.

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The Supreme Court’s decision siding with Donald Trump on a potential TikTok ban dangerously expanded presidential power under the guise of national security, critics warn. Writing in the Guardian, legal scholars Evelyn Douek and Jameel Jaffer argue the court failed to scrutinize weak security claims and instead blessed a First Amendment violation that gives the government sweeping control over online speech. They warn the ruling sets a precedent that could haunt future free-speech cases.

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Donald Trump’s apparent indifference to warnings from pollsters and allies is stoking fears he’s checked out as GOP leader, leaving MAGA voters uneasy. The Washington Post reports that conservative pollster Mark Mitchell tried to push Trump on unmet economic promises during a White House lunch, but the president showed little interest. As living costs remain high, conservative influencers are voicing frustration over a lack of follow-through, warning Trump’s disengagement could depress MAGA turnout in the 2026 midterms.

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Erika Kirk announced she will meet privately with Candace Owens on Monday, despite warnings from conservatives that the sit-down could worsen an already explosive feud. Owens has repeatedly attacked Kirk over conspiracy theories tied to her husband Charlie Kirk’s death, and critics fear the encounter will only deepen divisions within the MAGA movement rather than calm them.

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