The first claim has come in on Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, with a former Trump official asking for $2.7 million, according to reporting by CNN.
"I was the target of the illegal Crossfire Hurricane investigation," wrote Michael Caputo in a letter acquired by CNN. "Our family suffered greatly during the dark era of political weaponization."
Crossfire Hurricane was an FBI investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russian interference efforts. Caputo worked for the Department of Health and Human Services under Trump during COVID.
According to CNN, it was "the first known claim made to the fund," which was set up as part of a settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS.
Kentucky Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear tore into Vice President JD Vance during a live CNN broadcast on Tuesday.
Beshear joined CNN anchor Kasie Hunt to talk about the primary election in Kentucky when he gave his real opinions of Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — taking a clear jab at the Trump administration and the cabinet leaders. Hunt asked Beshear what he thought about Vance or Rubio launching a 2028 presidential bid. Beshear slammed Vance's comment during a White House press conference that he would not rule out using money from a $1.8 billion fund to pay potential Jan. 6 rioters.
"Flat out crazy, and it's allout fraud," Beshear said. "I mean, Donald Trumpmade JD Vance the czar fraud.Well, there's now a 1.78, 1.7,or $1.8 billion slush fund for Donald Trump's allies. There's$1 billion ballroom that hasn'tbeen approved. Donald Trump isbuying stocks and then pumpingup the companies. Hey, JD,there's the fraud. Go get it."
Hunt also asked Beshear if he thought it would be more difficult for a Democrat to face off against Vance or Rubio in a potential 2028 presidential bid. The Democrat had a few personal comments on both Trump allies.
"I think we've got tobe ready for whoever it is, andwe've got to be ready for themto be willing to say anything," Beshear responded. "Imean, JD Vance pretends he'sfrom Kentucky. He's not. He's from the suburbs of Cincinnati.He made his money off talkingdown to the people of Appalachia. It was povertytourism. This is a guy whochanged his name multiple timesand who calls his childhood hisorigin story."
He turned to Rubio, and what Beshear views as the secretary of state's desperate attempts to please Trump.
"Marco Rubioappears to be willing to doanything to get ahead," Beshear added. "I mean,he works for a president thatcalled him little Marco, thatinsulted him over and over. Andwhat's his response? Yes, sir.And yes, sir. So I think the American people are going to beready regardless for realleadership, people that have thereceipts of getting thingsdone in their states, andthey're going to be looking forsomeone that again,doesn't just swing that pendulumfrom one side to another, butcan actually restore thestability of this country, canrestore the stability of oureconomy and can make sure we'reno longer viewed internationallyas the bully on the playground — but once again, the leader ofthe free world."
Trump brought on the manager of his New Jersey golf club to advise on a major Lincoln Memorial project despite having no engineering background, according to reporting by The New York Times.
David Schutzenhofer has run the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster for 20 years, and he's been playing a "major role" in the Reflecting Pool renovations, The New York Times reported. He's "a private citizen with no known training for engineering or architecture," the newspaper added.
He was key in recruiting Greenwater Services to take on a $1.7 million no-bid contract to put a permanent purification system in the landmark, the Times reported
"Mr. Trump previously took credit for picking one of the contractors repairing the Reflecting Pool, saying the company had worked on the swimming pool at his golf club in Sterling, Va.," according to the report. "The president later reversed himself, saying he did not know the firm."
The Times also noted that if Schutzenhofer had been a government employee, "he would have been required to take ethics training and pledge to avoid conflicts of interest."
According to the report, Schutzenhofer declined to comment, and the Interior Department didn't go into detail about "Mr. Schutzenhofer's involvement in the project." However, an Interior Department spokesperson defended his involvement.
"Mr. Schutzenhofer is unpaid and is volunteering his time to offer suggestions on this project because he is an American patriot," Interior Department spokesperson Katie Martin told the Times.
President Donald Trump was angry on Tuesday after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — a sharp critic of the president — pointed out that Trump had endorsed him in the past.
Massie, an incumbent lawmaker fighting to maintain his congressional seat as a Republican representing Kentucky, has been going up against Trump-backed candidate Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in a heated primary that's been called the most expensive House primary in history.
Hours before polls were set to close, Trump tore into Massie, who has publicly questioned the president's ties to late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Iran war and the country's affordability crisis. The president lambasted the longtime GOP leader on his Truth Social platform.
"Horrible Congressman Thomas Massie put out an old Endorsement, from many years ago, of him by me long before I found out that he was the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country," Trump wrote. "I endorsed Ed Gallrein, a true American Patriot, which Massie knows full well, so the statement that he put out is fraudulent, just like HE is fraudulent. WITHDRAW YOUR FAKE STATEMENT, MASSIE, RIGHT NOW! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) interrupted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing Tuesday to tell the Texas Republican she felt "personally aggrieved" by his lecturing — only to have Cruz fire back by invoking the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, snapping, "You're not Dianne Feinstein."
The blowup came after Cruz delivered a lengthy monologue at a hearing on the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais ruling — a 6-3 decision gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — accusing Democrats of believing Black candidates can only win in gerrymandered districts.
"The Democrats are fond of telling this story that is, and I wish I could find a kinder way to say it, a flat-out lie," Cruz said, rattling off Black Republican lawmakers elected in majority-white districts: Sen. Tim Scott, Reps. Burgess Owens, Byron Donalds, John James, and Wesley Hunt.
"In the Democrats' world, you're not Black if you're not a liberal Democrat," Cruz declared. "There is an arrogance to African American voters."
The Texas Republican then accused Democrats of being the real gerrymandering offenders, demanding to know how many Republicans represent New England in the U.S. House.
"Zero. Zero," Cruz said. "They've drawn every district in a naked gerrymander, and yet they're very upset that their illegal pursuit of power has now been stopped by the Supreme Court."
That's when Hirono cut in.
"Point of personal privilege," she said. "I feel personally aggrieved to sit here and to be lectured by my colleague from Texas."
Hirono then reached back more than a decade to invoke a now-famous clash between Cruz and Feinstein, who memorably told a freshman Cruz during a 2013 hearing on gun safety that she was "not a sixth grader."
"This reminds me of the time when he was first elected to the Senate, and the Judiciary Committee had a hearing on gun safety, and he felt a need to lecture Dianne Feinstein," Hirono said. "And she said to him, something along the lines of, 'I did not sit here on this committee for however many years she did, only to be lectured by you.'"
"And that is how I feel," Hirono continued. "So why don't you just stop lecturing the rest of us? Just because you think you are the smartest person in the world doesn't mean the rest of us agree with that."
Cruz didn't let it go.
"I knew Dianne Feinstein. I served with Dianne Feinstein," he shot back. "And you're not Dianne Feinstein."
The Department of Justice has issued an order permanently barring the United States from pursuing any tax claims or other legal actions against President Donald Trump, his family, his trusts, and his companies, according to a Justice Department document signed Tuesday by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The order, issued in connection with the settlement of Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, stated, "The United States RELEASES, WAIVES, ACQUITS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES" the plaintiffs and is "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED from prosecuting or pursuing, any and all claims, counterclaims, causes of action, appeals, or requests for any relief" against Trump or related parties.
The settlement agreement had already created what the DOJ calls Trump's "Anti-Weaponization Fund," a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded pot to compensate people who claim they were politically targeted by previous administrations.
The barred claims include anything that "have been or could have been asserted" against the plaintiffs arising from three categories: matters raised or that could have been raised in the case or pending agency claims; "Lawfare and/or Weaponization"; or "any matters currently pending or that could be pending (including tax returns filed before the Effective Date) before Defendants or other agencies or departments."
The order was first flagged by CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane.
During testimony on Tuesday, Blanche defended the $1.776 billion fund and was accused of still acting as Trump's personal attorney.
MeidasTouch wrote in reaction, "Trump's personal attorney is at it again."
Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) had a warning for Republicans on Tuesday, suggesting that the Department of Justice's $1.8 billion fund that could give Trump supporters compensation will create a serious backlash for the GOP in midterm elections.
Flake told CNN anchor Brianna Keilar on Tuesday that he expects to see Republicans flee Congress as a result of the decision and expected that more conservative lawmakers would need to take a firm stance on the Trump DOJ's announcement.
"If I were a Republican, I would run so farand so fast away from this andcondemn it, because it'sgoing to come back to haunt Republicans and this White Houseand anybody who's associatedwith it," Flake said. "The way thepresident has already directedthe Department of Justice to goafter his political enemies. And now we'll use this toreward his political friends.This is something that if you'rea Republican, you don't want tobe anywhere near."
With midterms months away, and President Donald Trump pushing for revenge against Republicans who have challenged him and targeting primary races in battleground states, Flake suggested it could cost GOP lawmakers in the long-term.
"After thiselection, I mean, the presidentwill be a lame duck," Flake said. "There's already going to beafter the filing deadlines aredone, after the primaries arecomplete and certainly after themidterms, you'll see a greatmigration of Republicans awayfrom some of the president'spolicies, certainly on tariffs and on the war and someother things that they want todistance themselves from. But ifthere's something like this thatthat just smacks of corruption — directing money toward yourpolitical allies. That'ssomething that Republicans notjust for this election, but forfuture elections, and justbecause it's not a good thing,to stand up, for therepublic. I mean, they're going to want to distance themselvesfrom this. This is a bad deal."
Joe Rogan thinks the GOP's Iran war could blow up in their faces — and hand Democrats the White House in 2028.
The popular podcaster — and longtime pal of President Donald Trump — floated the prediction Tuesday during a sprawling conversation with venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who had spent much of the episode raging against proposed wealth tax measures in California and at the federal level.
"People look at what's going on right now with the Republicans. The Iran war, which is extremely unpopular, very unpopular," Rogan said. "I mean, what is it polling at now? It's something like low 30% of people that think it's a good idea."
Then came the kicker.
"So the Democrats come along, you know, and they win in 2028," Rogan continued. "And then you have these ideas pushed forward because people want something different than what you have now."
Andreessen agreed, warning, "And then it just opens the door to this stuff."
Rogan's numbers track closely with recent surveys. A Pew Research Center poll conducted in March found roughly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the conflict, while just 37% approve. Pew also found that Democrats overwhelmingly believe the U.S. made the wrong decision to use military force in Iran.
Emerson College polling from the same month showed that 47% of likely voters opposed U.S. military action in Iran, while only 40% supported it. The same survey found Trump's overall approval underwater at 42%, and Democrats holding a 7-point edge on the generic 2026 congressional ballot.
A Data For Progress survey released through the IMEU Policy Project went further, finding 53% of voters disapprove of Trump's strikes against Iran — what the group called "the lowest approval at the start of a US war in decades." That poll also concluded voters are less likely to back Republicans in November as a direct consequence of the war.
The Rogan prediction is particularly notable given the podcaster's role as one of Trump's most influential boosters in the 2024 election. Rogan hosted Trump for a marathon three-hour interview just days before the vote and formally endorsed him in its closing stretch — a moment widely credited with helping the GOP nominee lock down young male voters.
The 2028 conversation veered into focus after Andreessen unloaded on a California ballot measure that would impose a wealth tax — and on Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-MA) proposal for a 6% annual federal tax on unrealized gains. Andreessen claimed the Biden administration had tried to push through a similar federal asset tax twice and would have done so again in 2025 had Kamala Harris won.
"This is the single most activating thing I've seen happen in politics that has people in the valley cranked up," Andreessen said, warning that Silicon Valley figures are fleeing California for Nevada, Texas and Florida.
But Rogan's point ran counter to the billionaire's optimism: if Trump's Iran war keeps cratering, voters may not care what Silicon Valley wants.
"There's something in the water that's pushing in this direction," Andreessen conceded, pointing to similar leftward political shifts unfolding in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins directly asked Vice President JD Vance about his previous comments about Jan. 6 rioters as the Trump administration faced backlash over the Justice Department's compensation fund on Tuesday.
Collins mentioned the contradicting remarks during a fiery White House press conference, just a day after the DOJ announced a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded compensation fund for President Donald Trump's allies, including Jan. 6 rioters, who claim political targeting by previous administrations.
Vance appeared to reverse his stance, telling Collins and the group of reporters that people who attacked Capitol police should not be ruled out from the DOJ fund.
"You previously told me that anyone who assaulted a police officer on Jan. should go to prison. So why not rule out giving them taxpayer-funded money?" Collins asked.
"Well, Kaitlan, what I said is we're going to look at everything case by case," Vance said.
But Collins wanted Vance to clarify what he was saying.
"Why not rule it out?" Collins said, pushing back.
"Because, Kaitlan, there are people who I don't know their individual circumstances and I don't rule things out categorically when I know nothing about a person's individual circumstances," Vance said.
You previously told me that anyone who assaulted a police officer on January 6th should go to prison. So why not rule out giving them taxpayer funded money?
Vance: "Well, Kaitlan, what I said is we're going to look at everything case by case..."
A self-described Trump lover lit up a MAGA network call-in show this week to call out the president.
"Matt from Las Vegas" phoned into Real America's Voice host Eric Bolling on Tuesday and cut straight into the administration's Iran war narrative, questioning why commercial ships can't pass through the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. military thoroughly destroyed Iran's Navy and Air Force.
"If they don't have a Navy, how can they stop ships?" Matt demanded to know. "What are they using to stop ships and redirect ships?"
Iran has throttled traffic through the strait since being attacked by the U.S. and Israel in late February and triggered a global energy crisis that has rattled markets and strained American alliances. The U.S. announced a blockade on April 13, and forces have directed at least 38 vessels to turn around since. Despite the massive American military campaign, commercial shipping through the waterway remains largely paralyzed.
"I'm being lied to by my own government," the caller railed. "I hate to say it, Mr. Trump, and I love Donald Trump. But all this 'they're annihilated' and all your bulls--- — Iran won this round, as far as I'm concerned."
He went further, accusing Iran of having Trump "by the short hairs" over the oil disruption, and suggesting the U.S. had been reduced to begging China for help, making America look like "a paper tiger, just like Russia."
Bolling pushed back, arguing that Iran's remaining small "mosquito boats" and the threat of underwater mines were enough to deter any captain from attempting passage even without a full Navy.
"We're crushing their Navy. We're crushing them. We're crushing their economy," Bolling insisted.
But he admitted Matt made a good point on what's coming.
"I do believe you're right," Bolling said. "We will have a tough midterm election."
President Donald Trump's endorsement of Republican Ken Paxton on Tuesday could backfire in the Texas Senate primary race — putting Democrat Rep. James Talarico in the lead for the first time, according to a Kalshi Prediction Market report.
Kalshi has signaled that the president's move could flip the ruby-red Senate seat to blue.
"The Trump endorsement likely carries clear, quantifiable weight in Paxton's chances, as shown by the absurd 40% rise in odds of Paxton's chances to win the nomination," Kalshi reported.
"Likely as a result, traders in the market on the general election for the open Senate seat in Texas have perceived this as good news for James Talarico, who is now favored for the first time ever," according to Kalshi.
If elected, Talarico would be the first Democrat to hold a Senate seat in Texas since 1993.
He has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2019, representing House District 50 in the Austin area. His work has focused on progressive advocacy on education funding, healthcare access and social justice issues within the Texas legislature.
Donald Trump's latest attempt to win over the people of Greenland crashed and burned after the president dispatched Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to the Danish territory as a goodwill ambassador — only to have locals greet him with middle fingers and rejections of his giveaway MAGA merchandise.
According to the New York Times, Landry arrived in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, on Sunday claiming he was on a mission to "make a bunch of friends." Within hours, the Times reported, he got nothing but cold shoulders and dismissals.
Landry toured the town in cold drizzle, offering free MAGA hats to Greenlandic children, only to be greeted with refusals. He then attempted to sweeten his pitch by telling some kids that if they visited his Louisiana mansion, they could have "all the chocolate chip cookies you can eat."
Landry's delegation carried "cardboard boxes stuffed with MAGA hats," but few residents wanted them, the report said.
As Landry traveled about on Sunday, he was the recipient of "scowls," with local Hanne Hansen bluntly stating, "They should fix their own country first," and her friend Vivi Nielsen adding, "They need to get out," the Times added.
The next day, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed his country's firm rejection of American pressure.
"We have our red lines. And no matter how many chocolate cookies we get, we are not going to change them," Nielsen told Denmark's public broadcaster DR.
The offer of free MAGA hats was noteworthy in that Greenlandic entrepreneurs have already had success selling red baseball caps reading "Make America Go Away"
Landry's visit comes as the Trump administration is pursuing aggressive demands on Greenland far beyond Trump's earlier threats to seize the island. The U.S. is demanding effective veto power over major investment deals to exclude Russia and China, and is pushing to insert a "forever clause" into decades-old military agreements ensuring U.S. troops remain on the island even if Greenland becomes independent, the Times' Maya Tekeli and Jeffrey Gettleman reported.
Greenlandic officials were particularly troubled by an American doctor accompanying Landry to assess Greenland's medical system — one of the top reasons Greenlanders cite for not wanting to join the United States.
President Donald Trump's Republican Party has been shifting, and younger voters have appeared to start questioning his demands, according to a new report on Tuesday.
The Bulwark editor at large William Kristol, a former chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle, described recent polling that shows Trump does have loyalists, but those followers are aging. He points to signs that a "fair number of young" MAGA voters could be "ready to defect from Trumpism."
"It is, as Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday, Trump’s party," Kristol wrote. "The new New York Times/Siena poll shows Trump with the approval of 37 percent of all Americans, with 59 percent disapproving. But 76 percent of Republicans and Republican learners continue to approve of their leader, with only 19 percent breaking ranks. What’s more, a majority of Republican voters still want their next presidential candidate to follow Trump’s lead rather than move in a new direction."
That's not the case for some young Republican voters.
"But the younger you are, the less likely you are to be a true believer," Kristol wrote. "Just 61 percent of Republican voters under 45 approve of Trump, while 33 percent disapprove. By contrast, among those 45 and up, 83 percent approve and just 13 percent disapprove. Only a third of younger Republicans want the next nominee to follow Trump’s lead, by contrast with two-thirds of their parents and grandparents. And polling for today’s primary in Kentucky shows a massive generation gap, with older voters in overwhelming support of Trump’s choice, and younger voters willing to buck Trump’s orders."
"So it is Trump’s party. But Trump’s party does seem to be an aging one and a shrinking one," Kristol added.
