Only 49 percent of “normal Republicans” are extremely motivated to vote this election year.

There are concerns that Trump would act on one or more options available to him to maintain a Republican majority in Congress or serve a third term himself.

Trump will be the first president to personally profit from an airport named after him.

Senate Republicans want to provide $1 billion for Trump’s ballroom and White House security upgrades, despite Trump initially saying the project wouldn’t be paid for with tax dollars.

The White House is preparing administration officials for the increased oversight that would come from a Democrat-controlled Congress.

The Trump Administration publicly criticized a federal judge in Rhode Island for ordering the release of an immigrant who was charged with murder in the Dominican Republic. But the administration purposely withheld this information from the judge, who as a result has referred the DOJ attorney in the case to investigation for misconduct.

An FAA employee from New Hampshire was charged with threatening to kill Trump, and an individual was taken into custody after shooting a gun near JD Vance’s motorcade in Washington.

Economy

The average U.S. gas price is over $4.50 a gallon.

The U.S. trade deficit increased 4.4 percent to $60.3 billion.

An FCC commissioner says there needs to be more transparency and scrutiny of foreign investments in the merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.

James Murdoch is looking to buy New York magazine.

International

Trump says Pope Leo is endangering Catholics by speaking against his war with Iran.

Democrats are pushing for transparency on Israel’s nuclear capabilities, as the country continues to maintain and escalate conflicts in the Mideast.

A British retailer association is asking its government for financial and regulatory support due to negative economic impacts from the Trump-Israel war with Iran.

Australia will spend over $7 billion to establish its own fuel reserve, after the country has faced energy issues following the Trump-Israel war with Iran. New Zealand is considering fuel storage for its country in Malaysia and Singapore.

Sweden is reorganizing and strengthening its foreign intelligence agency due to Russian aggression and other international conflicts.

Clarence Thomas is the second-longest-serving Supreme Court justice in history.

Economy

Suppliers to U.S. manufacturers face delays and higher prices due to Trump and Israel’s war with Iran.

Unilever is raising prices on its consumer goods due to the war.

International investors and pension funds are reducing their investments in the U.S.

Morgan Stanley says there’s a backlog of business deals waiting to happen and that Trump’s policy to limit regulations is helping.

Iran War

Iran is on the same pace to build a nuclear weapon, despite the U.S. attack last summer and its war with Iran on behalf of Israel.

The U.S. and Iran began attacking each other again, and the United Arab Emirates also took fire from Iran.

The U.S. is offering a currency swap with the United Arab Emirates due to the financial challenges the country is facing since the war. The U.S. currently only has this partnership with the established economies of Europe, England, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland.

The war has caused inflation in the Philippines to reach 7.2 percent.

International

Trump is reportedly ending his effort to manage a ceasefire and facilitate redevelopment in Gaza.

The UK raised its terrorism threat level, indicating an attack could be imminent.

Poland is increasing its defense spending and providing emergency response training for its citizens.

It’d take 10 years and $340-720 billion annually for Europe to establish a new world order, as Trump pulls back U.S. leadership.

Claudia Sheinbaum announced new policies for economic investment in Mexico. Mark Carney recently announced similar policies, as Canada and Mexico head into trade talks with the U.S.

The EU and UK are loaning Ukraine $105 billion to help with its war against Russia.

Sweden seized a Russian tanker in the Baltic Sea.

Israel continues its attacks in Lebanon.

Trump and Xi Jinping are meeting in Beijing May 14-15, and Brazilian president is meeting with Trump this week in Washington.

The widow of the man killed at Trump’s 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, believes that Biden was involved in the assassination attempt, that the shooter couldn’t have acted alone.

The U.S. has spent $400 million to upgrade the Qatari Boeing 747 that will become Air Force One.

Amazon owns The Apprentice and is considering a restart of the once-popular show with Donald Trump, Jr. as host.

As Andy Beshear considers a presidential run, his wife gets a puff piece and photo spread on her preparation for the Kentucky Derby.

The judge in Trump’s personal lawsuit against the IRS has asked his attorneys and the DOJ for their take on how the case could proceed, due to the obvious conflict of Trump as president running the two agencies.

Congressional Republicans continue to battle with each other and get nothing done.

Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna, and Nancy Mace are being recognized for their work against sexual abuse on Capitol Hill.

Economics

Trump’s policies continue to create economic worries for farmers.

International

Trump and Israel’s war with Iran has so far cost the U.S. 14 lives and $25 billion.

The Trump Administration approved $8.6 billion in sales of rockets and air defense systems to Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates.

Two U.S. troops are missing off the Moroccan coast after rescuing another soldier who fell into the ocean.

Marco Rubio is planning to meet with Pope Leo at the Vatican.

A former Republican congressman from Florida and friend of Marco Rubio was convicted of lobbying for the Venezuelan government.

The men who targeted Keir Starmer were receiving directions for the crimes in Russian.

The U.S. has charged a Mexican governor with supporting a drug cartel.

Minnesota

David Hann dropped out of the U.S. Senate race. Kristin Robbins did the same in the governor’s race, acknowledging in her statement that Amy Klobuchar will win.

Democrats are focusing on affordability leading into the election, while Republicans face a number of credibility and messaging issues, plus infighting.

Voting rights groups have successfully stopped five of Trump’s requests to get states’ voter rolls. The administration is appealing three of these cases and 25 new cases are pending. Seventeen states have given the administration their files.

Both the GAO and the DOJ inspector general are reviewing the government’s release of the Epstein files, as concerns continue that the Trump Administration hasn’t released all of the files and is trying to move on from the matter.

In an abuse of power and a constitutional conflict, Trump is having the FCC review Disney’s TV licenses following Jimmy Kimmel’s latest joke about the Trump’s.

All six conservative Supreme Court justices attended the White House state dinner for King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Economics

U.S. consumer confidence continues to reflect pessimism on the economy.

Gas prices continue to rise.

International

The Trump Administration is having the CIA assess if it can declare victory in Iran, because the war is politically unpopular and Republicans don’t want it to be an issue this election. In the meantime, Trump has decided to keep stalling the Iranian — and in turn the world — economy.

The U.S. says the UN must meet certain policy and budget conditions before receiving any funding.

The UK isn’t following through on its threat to stop Russian ships from passing through its waters.

Israel is buying stolen Ukrainian grain from Russia.

A Texas man has repeatedly tried to get into CIA headquarters.

Minnesota

Michelle Fischbach has limited interactions and availability with constituents.

Forty-two state legislators are not seeking re-election this year.

64 percent disapprove of the job he’s doing and only 34 percent approve.

The support Trump had from Hispanics during the last election has dropped significantly, with only 27 percent currently approving.

Only 27 percent of all surveyed approve of how he’s handling the economy. Trump’s net approval on the economy is -36 percent and -47 percent on cost of living.

Independent voters currently support Democrats by 14 points.

Only 34 percent approve of Trump and Israel’s war with Iran.

More takeaways from the poll can be found in a data summary and article.

Democrats are planning to spend $272 million on ads for U.S. House races, versus $153 million by Republicans.

Far-left activists have lately conducted more anti-government attacks than the far-right.

Trump had the U.S. government settle with Carter Page for $1.25 million over improper wiretaps during the Russia investigation of Trump’s first term.

Trump is trying to get Jimmy Kimmel fired again.

Economics

Value airlines are requesting $2.5 billion from the U.S. government to help with high fuel costs.

Mideast sovereign funds could end up owning half of Paramount.

International

Two Israeli political parties are unifying in an effort to oust Benjamin Netanyahu in an election later this year.

Under a new Trump policy, immigrants to America will be denied entrance and citizenship if they are opposed to Israel.

A Norwegian soccer official is seeking to abolish the ridiculous FIFA Peace Prize given to President Trump.

Trump is inviting Putin to this year’s G-20 meeting in Miami.

Iran War

The Trump-Israel war with Iran is causing significant economic issues around the world. Countries are connecting with China and Russia for help instead of the U.S.

Iran’s foreign minister visited Russia to meet with Putin about the ongoing war with Trump and Israel.

Minnesota

Several thousand jobs were lost in Minnesota during Trump’s ICE raids earlier this year.

Tim Walz is writing a book entitled Good Neighbors to be published in 2027 by W. W. Norton.

Amy Klobuchar’s management style could clash with the responsibilities of the governor’s office.

Matt Klein got suspended and fined by Kalshi for betting that he would win his congressional race primary election.

Royce White used campaign funds for an attorney to represent him in a no-contact case filed by his ex-wife and son, the latest legal issue for him.

A U of M economics professor has been nominated by Trump to serve as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.

A Minneapolis man with ties to Somali was sentenced to prison for attempting to join ISIS.

A Minneapolis woman whom ICE had wrongfully detained and denied medical care is taking steps to sue the U.S. government.

Minnesota defense contractors are making more money as Trump increase military spending.

An Osseo high school planned to make a prayer room for Muslim students during a renovation project.

This morning he called live into The Sunday Briefing on Fox News and was interviewed by Jacqui Heinrich, the incoming WHCA president who was on the dais with Trump and others last night when the shooting happened.

Whenever Trump calls into a Fox News show, the flattering hosts practically turn the time over to him, allowing long and rambling answers to their low-depth questions. That was the case with this interview by Heinrich, though she’s usually more insightful at press conferences and with her regular reports outside of a TV studio.

Heinrich was able to fit a lot of topics into the 30-minute interview: the shooting, the ballroom, FISA, Iran, China, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, King Charles’ visit, redistricting. But Trump didn’t offer any new info nor any notable takes on the matters.

His second interview following the incident, conducted by Norah O’Donnell for 60 Minutes, was more noteworthy. This was O’Donnell’s second interview with Trump, and it was recorded this afternoon and aired tonight on CBS.

Anytime this network snags a big interview with the administration, you have to wonder if it’s because the new CBS owner, David Ellison, has been friendly with Trump. Ellison needed the administration’s blessing for his acquisition of Paramount and CBS. Leading up to this, Ellison settled Trump’s lawsuit against the network, ended Stephen Colbert’s show, and put Bari Weiss in charge of CBS News.

Trump told O’Donnell that the shooter, Cole Allen, was going through a lot and had become anti-Christian. Allen’s siblings had previously reported his behavior to law enforcement.

The president said he wasn’t worried at the event because he understands life and that we live in a crazy world.

Before he got pushed to the floor by Secret Service, Trump had told them he wanted to see what was happening. Later he tried to have the event continue, though it may be held again within a month.

The interview got heated when O’Donnell read excerpts of a note written by the shooter which seemed to be critical of the president and his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

For asking these questions, Trump said O’Donnell was horrible, disgraceful, and should be ashamed of herself. He added that he has been “totally exonerated” in the Epstein matter, though the DOJ has held back on releasing all of the files and many Epstein questions remain unanswered.

Trump ended this portion of the interview by saying, “If I was a king I wouldn’t be dealing with you.”

O’Donnell also asked about political violence and how this could be changed. Trump criticized Democrats and what he said was hate speech by them.

The interview was a 15-minute segment on 60 Minutes tonight and an extended, 40-minute interview was also released.

The Trump Administration is keeping a tight control on info related to its midterm election plans.

The ACLU and others are suing the Trump Administration over its requests to states for voter rolls.

Democrats’ redistricting effort in Virginia is drawing Abigail Spanberger into partisan politics, which she campaigned against.

The DOJ charged the Southern Poverty Law Center with using its funds to place informants in hate groups, funds which the DOJ says helped the groups with their efforts. The investigation originated during the Biden Administration.

Economics

Companies are starting to report more economic impacts due to the Trump-Israel war with Iran.

Trump says he’s tracking which companies request tariff refunds.

In bailing out Spirit Airlines, the U.S. could end up owning 90 percent of the company.

Like everything else, the cost of Mother’s Day lunches is also going up.

Palantir has signed a contract with USDA to manage its systems for delivering farm programs.

Trump Administration

Ukraine is thinking about renaming a territory in dispute with Russia as Donnyland, as an attempt to get support from Trump.

Devin Nunes is out at Trump Media. He was a strong congressional defender of Trump during his first administration.

Iran War

Military planners from over 30 countries, led by Britain and France, are meeting in London to discuss strategies for opening the Strait of Hormuz.

The IEA says the war has created the greatest energy crisis in history.

International

The Israeli soldiers who destroyed a statue of Jesus in a Christian village in Lebanon had been sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Israeli troops killed two civilians, including a teenage boy, during an altercation in the West Bank.

Scott Bessent says several Middle East and Asian countries have requested financial support from the U.S.

Mexico is raising questions about the presence of two CIA officers in their country after they were killed in a car accident following a drug operation.

Paraguay is receiving migrants from other counties that have been deported from the U.S.

The Trump Administration is planning to resettle in Congo the Afghans who assisted the U.S., since the administration stopped the program which would allow them to come to the U.S.

Minnesota

Trump’s ICE operation in the Twin Cities earlier this year is estimated to have negatively impacted the economy by $850 million.

Steve Simon talks with MPR about the midterm elections.

Angie Craig is trying to downplay her alignment with and donations from AIPAC.

Lisa Demuth is low on direct fundraising, but several PACs are assumed to be helping her.

Cyberattacks against local governments in Minnesota are increasing.

Trump and the Republican Party have $1 billion in funds for the midterm elections.

An RFK Jr. loyalist is fundraising and donating to MAHA candidates this election cycle, and hopes to keep the movement going for the remainder of the Trump Administration and beyond.

Trump Administration

Trump’s labor secretary is resigning due to scandals. This is the third cabinet member to have left in Trump’s second term.

The Trumps are planning to attend the White House Correspondents Association dinner for the first time.

Trump loyalists have created a 250th anniversary group that is competing against the official one for events and federal funding.

Economics

Trump is considering a government bailout or investment for Spirit Airlines. Spirit and other low-cost airlines are also asking for tax incentives due to high fuel costs from the Iran war.

Trade negotiations between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are supposed to begin next month.

Iran War

The U.S. is now the one blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

The United Arab Emirates has asked the U.S. for financial support because of the Iran war.

Trump claims Israel didn’t pressure him to start the Iran war, despite other reports saying Netanyahu pitched the plan at the White House.

International

An Israeli soldier was photographed destroying a statue of Jesus in Christian village in Lebanon.

Israel continues to conduct strikes in Gaza. A study estimates it’ll cost $71 billion to rebuild Gaza after Israel destroyed it.

The U.S. struck another boat in the Caribbean which they said was trafficking drugs.

Japan is building up its defenses and allowing its defense contractors to make sales abroad.

The Czech Republic is interested in aligning with France’s nuclear weapons plan.

JPMorgan is expanding its defense investment strategy to Europe.

The U.S. military is conducting drills with the Philippines near Taiwan. China warned the two countries about it.

The U.S. may limit North Korea intelligence sharing with South Korea.

French business leaders have created a Christian think tank to advance a conservative agenda leading into the country’s presidential election next year.

Trump’s DOJ has requested the 2024 election ballots from Detroit, suggesting that there was fraud there. Michigan officials are refusing to comply.

Republican candidates in Minnesota are eyeing Trump’s endorsement.

RFK Jr. is expected to hit the campaign trail and try to help Republican candidates in November. He’s the most popular Trump official, but many of the administration’s health care policies are controversial.

Syracuse University displayed a portrait of Joe Biden it had commissioned to recognize his public service and attendance at the law school.

Economics

The U.S. energy secretary said high gas prices will continue into 2027.

The U.S. government will soon begin refunding businesses for the tariffs Trump subjected them to, which the Supreme Court found to be illegal.

The U.S. is advocating within the G20 for a coordinated effort to maintain fertilizer supplies.

The hospitality industry is struggling with higher input costs and lower sales.

Businesses are successfully advocating against anti-immigrant bills at the state level.

IBM settled with the U.S. government for $17 million over its DEI policies.

Iran War

Trump is again threatening to attack Iran’s power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure if negotiations this week don’t progress.

Young Republicans are split over Trump and Israel’s war with Iran.

International

North Korea is testing missiles again, raising concerns on its capabilities while much of the world is already facing conflict.

Russia wants to meet with the U.S. about economic relations.

The DOJ has an extra 90 days to respond to Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit where he claims the government didn’t do enough to stop the leak of his tax returns.

Trump is having the DOJ review and consolidate into one case all the previous federal investigations into him as a “grand conspiracy,” and appointing loyalists to lead the effort, which would be tried in a judicial district run by a judge Trump appointed.

Regarding Trump’s attacks on the Pope and how it’s created conflicts for Republican candidates and voters, the White House implies that Catholic Republicans should stick with Trump because he leads the Republican Party.

Following the week of attacking the Pope and insulting Catholics, Trump and other administration officials are participating in an event where the entire Bible is read.

Meanwhile, the Pope’s brother who lives near Chicago received a bomb threat at his home.

JD Vance has been actively fundraising for the Republican Party, which helps position him to run for president in 2028.

U.S. House Democrats requested that Stephen Miller and Tom Homan testify about Trump’s immigration policies.

U.S. House Republicans have lost control of their agenda, putting the body into a stalemate on several policies.

Turning Point USA has been facing membership and organizational issues since Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

International

Iran and the U.S. continue to battle over the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran attacking two Indian ships.

The U.S. began actively negotiating with Cuba in an effort to change its government and economy.

Viktor Orban was funneling Hungarian tax dollars to Matt Schlapp’s Conservative Political Action Conference.

Mark Carney is hosting an investors summit in September, hoping to attract nearly $750 billion in new investments for Canada.

The Trump Administration continues to destroy boats it says are trafficking drugs, though no evidence is provided and there are legal questions around the attacks.

Minnesota

Tim Walz has created the Minnesota Truth Council to investigate ICE’s controversial work in the state earlier this year.

Trump is on shaky ground with Catholic voters.

After the scandals of Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzalez, and Trump portraying himself as Jesus after attacking Pope Leo, Karl Rove writes that “voters are desperate for leaders…to act with integrity and build up trust.”

States are starting to regulate AI political ads.

Trump Administration

Trump insulted Catholics by posting an image of himself portraying Jesus and issuing a statement critical of Pope Leo. JD Vance, a Catholic who had an upcoming book on his conversion, gave a weak answer on the matter.

Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for publishing his drawing of a naked woman for his friend Jeffrey Epstein was dismissed.

Trump has pushed for his arch to be bigger, and there’s concern it’ll overshadow Arlington National Cemetery.

Economics

The average tax refund has been $350, less than the $1,000 Trump had said.

Homebuilder confidence dropped further this month.

Many factors have increased costs for businesses in recent years. But they’ve continued to raise prices and make profits, despite consumers facing financial challenges.

The Trump Administration is asking manufacturers to make military weapons and supplies.

Iran War

Trump is sending over 10,000 more troops to the Middle East.

U.S. House Republicans continue to provide cover for Trump and stall on a hearing with Pentagon officials about the Trump-Israel war with Iran.

U.S. Senate Republicans again blocked an effort to limit Trump’s war with Iran.

The IMF is warning countries about accumulating debt due to the Trump-Israel war. Nonetheless, Japan is providing $10 billion to nearby Asian countries to assist them with energy costs.

International

Viktor Orban is voted out of office in Hungary.

Mark Carney now leads a majority-government in Canada.

Minnesota

Radical-right, do-nothing state legislators failed in an attempt to impeach Tim Walz and Keith Ellison over fraud matters.

Tyler Kistner is ending his third run for CD2 and deploying to the Middle East.

Bishop Robert Barron joins other Catholic leaders in condemning Trump’s attacks against Pope Leo.

Rumors continue that either Samuel Alito or Clarence Thomas, or both of them, may retire while Trump is in office and Republicans control the Senate.

Maureen Dowd writes how Melania Trump resurrected the Epstein issue.

Trump attended the UFC fight in Miami while negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were ongoing in Pakistan.

Economics

An arsonist destroyed a paper warehouse in California, causing $600 million in damage, to make a statement against capitalism.

Anthropic met with Christian leaders to discuss how Claude could have better moral and spiritual awareness.

Iran War

The cost to restore Iran’s economy after attacks by the U.S. and Israel is estimated to be $300 billion to $1 trillion. This is expected to be a focus of Iran’s negotiations this weekend.

International

Leading up to a pivotal election, key people have been leaving Viktor Orban’s political party in Hungary.

Legislation is being introduced to create a commission for removing presidents unable to do their duties, though the 25th amendment and ability to impeach exist.

The number of congressional Democrats calling for Trump’s impeachment is increasing. They may get the opportunity if they win majorities through the midterm elections.

Minnesota Republican governor candidates believe there are vulnerabilities to Amy Klobuchar’s record and candidacy.

Trump has been suggesting that he’ll issue mass pardons to his staff before his term ends.

There are calls for the CFTC to investigate trades that corresponded with Trump’s announcements on Iran.

Trump released design images of his planned arch in Washington, D.C.

Elise Stefanik has a book coming out.

The DNC has fundraising issues.

James Blair is taking leave from the White House to run Trump’s political operation leading into the midterm election.

Economics

Consumer spending is weakening.

The U.S. price of gas increased 25% from February to March, the highest monthly price increase ever, to an average of $3.64.

Businesses are suing the Trump Administration over its latest attempt at tariffs.

The Trump Administration is requesting an unprecedented level of funding for cargo and utility ships.

Iran War

JD Vance faces unwanted pressure to lead this weekend’s negotiations with Iran.

The U.S. says Iran is unable to remove mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which is why it hasn’t been open to more ships yet.

Iran still has a strong supply of missiles. It’s believed China will also be providing Iran with air defense systems in the coming weeks.

Iran has an ongoing effort to conduct cyberattacks against U.S. water systems.

The Iran war could create “a structural shift in global energy systems,” with countries relying on their own resources or establishing new partners.

European airports warn of jet fuel shortages if the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t reopen within three weeks.

International

As the UK strengthens partnerships with other countries and takes the lead in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Kier Starmer says he’s “fed up” with Trump.

Trump’s redevelopment effort for Gaza is not getting the funding it needs.

There’s a growing need for countries to protect underwater cables from Russia and China.

The president of Cuba says he won’t step down.

A European company is donating its foreign-made steel for Trump’s ballroom at the White House. Soon after the company did so, it got a break on tariffs by the Trump Administration.

A conservative community in Pennsylvania is opposed to the Trump Administration’s plan to hold thousands of illegal immigrants at an old warehouse in the town.

Brooke Rollins is facing questions about an overly religious email she sent to all USDA employees on Easter Sunday.

Economics

Hillary Clinton writes about the affordability issues families face and what can be done about it.

The IMF says the ongoing Iran war will lead to slower economic growth this year.

Iran War

Yesterday’s death toll in Lebanon from Israel’s attack has increased to over 300.

The Selective Service System is automatically pulling names from various government databases to create a pool of young men who could get drafted for war. This is a change from the long-standing practice where men would register themselves.

International

Russian submarines were near Britain to spy on underwater telecommunication lines and pipelines.

Democrats continue to do well in special elections, a predictor of how the midterm elections could go.

Michael Avenatti is out of jail for extortion and financial crimes. The attorney became a popular media commentator against Trump and Republicans after he represented porn actress and stripper Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump about their alleged affair.

Trump’s presidential library is expected to cost at least $2 billion.

State legislatures are making it harder for citizen-led efforts to pass.

Economics

The San Francisco Fed president says consumers are still spending and businesses are still investing, despite larger economic issues.

Delta is halting planned growth for the quarter due to higher fuel costs of $2 billion.

Farmers and truck drivers are protesting high fuel costs in Dublin.

Iran War

Israel selfishly ruined the U.S.-Iran truce by conducting its heaviest day of bombing yet in Lebanon, killing over 250 people and wounding over 1,150. The UN said the amount of deaths and injuries were “appalling.”

Keir Starmer is in Saudi Arabia to meet with British troops and other leaders.

International

After Israel blew up Hezbollah pagers in September 2024, Hungary reached out to Iran, the sponsor of Hezbollah, to offer assistance in assessing the attack.

Hungary also gave Russia official documents about the EU’s work with Ukraine.

Ukraine intelligence suggests Russian and Iranian hackers are working together.

Polling indicates the center-right political party in Hungary, which is opposed to the Trump- and Putin-aligned prime minister Viktor Orban, is positioned to gain a parliamentary majority.

France is planning to invest $39 billion in its defense systems, including nuclear weapons.

Minnesota

Steve Simon is tracking efforts and issues that may stymie the November election.

Keith Ellison and the Democrat attorneys general from Illinois and Oregon are holding a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on April 22 on their work against the Trump Administration.

During Monday’s Angela Davis show on MPR about current agricultural issues, Thom Petersen avoided the question about potentially being on Amy Klobuchar’s ticket for governor.

The Hampton Inn hotel in Lakeville that refused reservations to ICE agents and then was removed from the hotel brand has been sold at a discount.

Winona County was hit by a cyberattack. The National Guard is assisting with the response.

Democrats are running on the same economic messages that Republicans used to win in 2024.

The Republican Party and Democratic Party in Arizona unified to stop the formation of an Independent Party, which shows how challenging it is to establish an effective third party in the U.S.

Tony Gonzalez has been accused of sexually harassing another female staffer. House Republicans won’t expel him because it’d threaten their majority. The first staffer harassed by Gonzalez committed suicide.

Bill Gates will testify about Epstein before the U.S. House Oversight Committee.

Mark Penn writes that Trump should work to make American optimistic again, as it was under Reagan and Clinton. It’s unlikely. Gerard Baker correctly says voters want normalcy.

Noncitizens voting in America is an actual issue that continues to grow.

Research suggests that citizen assemblies could help societies decide how to move forward on policy issues.

Fox News will start using Kalshi’s prediction market data in its reporting.

Trump Administration

The White House is keeping Kristi Noem’s $70 million DHS jet for Melania Trump and other Trump officials to use. The jet has luxurious furnishings.

Trump’s DOJ is investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, a former Trump White House staffer in his first administration, for her testimony four years ago at a January 6 committee hearing.

JD Vance thinks that campaigning for Viktor Orban in Hungary will help him run for president in 2028.

Economics

Central banks say geopolitics is the current top risk to the world’s economy.

The White House still has work to do on helping farmers with a reliable workforce.

Much of the agriculture land in the country has been in a drought which could create economic issues for farmers and consumers.

Trump is ignoring requests by Ford and other American manufacturers to stop aluminum tariffs.

Iran War

Pope Leo called Trump’s threat against the entire country of Iran “truly unacceptable” and encouraged U.S. citizens to contact their elected officials and push for an end to the war.

Republicans may require congressional approval at the end of the month for the Iran war to continue. Some Republicans have also expressed concern over Trump’s latest rhetoric on Iran.

The FBI says Iranian hackers may target U.S. infrastructure.

Portugal will allow U.S. aircraft to use its bases as long as they don’t bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran. The UK took a similar position.

The Iran war is another issue created by Trump that makes our traditional foreign partners question their alliance with the U.S.

Minnesota

Elliot Engen and Walter Hudson have been removed from their committee assignments after they were pulled over after drinking. Democrats are also filing an ethics complaint against them.

The Minnesota Republican congressional delegation has been silent about Trump’s war and his latest comments on destroying the country. Tina Smith was interviewed by Clay Masters about the issue.

Kelly Morrison visited an ICE detention facility in Texas where detainees from Minnesota have been taken.

International

Israel kills 39 in Lebanon with its Easter Sunday attacks. The fighting has prevented the Vatican from providing resources to Catholic communities that have been threatened.

U.S. troops may be on the ground in Ecuador to help the country counter drug gangs.

The DOJ prevented Russian hackers from accessing various internet networks.

Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar are providing an estimated $24 billion in financing for Paramount Skydance’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. Their investments don’t require U.S. approval nor FCC regulation.

Donald Trump Jr. criticized the EU during a visit to Bosnia.

Germany clarified a policy requiring military-age men to get permission before leaving the country for over three months.

The U.S. Senate Leadership Fund is planning to spend over $340 million this fall to maintain a Republican majority.

No Kings hopes to keep organizing people for the midterm elections.

The Democratic Party has a nepotism problem.

Economics

The average U.S. home is 44 years old and likely needs costly upgrades.

Rural healthcare systems are at risk due to Medicaid changes and other costs.

Iran War

U.S. troops on a Kuwaiti island were attacked by Iran. They were on the island because their original base had also been attacked.

The Japanese prime minister is planning a call with the Iranian president.

The International Red Cross president called on countries to follow rules of war. Despite concerns with Trump’s rhetoric against Iran, it’s unlikely he could get charged with war crimes.

China is not feeling the impact of rising energy costs from the Iran war like other countries, and is well-positioned if the world increases its push to renewable energy. The U.S. economy has been more unstable.

International

Israel killed local leaders of a Christian political party in Lebanon during a strike using bombs provided by the U.S.

Thirty-one Christians were rescued in Nigeria after they were kidnapped from their churches during Easter Sunday services.

Polls in Spain indicate that its far-right political party aligned with Trump is losing support among voters.

As JD Vance prepares to visit Victor Orban immediately before he faces a re-election vote as Hungary’s prime minister, there are new questions on Russia using Hungary to spread nationalist messaging to the American MAGA movement and how associates of Vance and Don Trump Jr. are involved.

Through a new regulation, German men ages 17 to 45 must get permission to leave their country for more than three months. In the UK, young adults are increasingly joining the military because other jobs for them are limited.

South Korea believes Kim Jong Un’s daughter will be his successor to lead North Korea.

A conservative candidate is leading polls in Peru for its presidential election.

Minnesota

Republican state legislators in Minnesota districts that Kamala Harris won in 2024 could be at risk and lead to full Democrat control of the state.

The DOJ’s use of military attorneys in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute civilians is being challenged in court. The office has been short on attorneys after several resigned earlier this year due to Trump’s policies and how his administration has handled the ICE presence and killing of civilians in Minnesota earlier this year.

We saw the complete opposite this Easter Sunday morning from President Trump.

Instead of a Christian message on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a belief valued by conservative voters and countless Americans, Trump instead spoke to his and Israel’s unfocused war with Iran, suggesting that power plants and bridges will be attacked on Tuesday and that Iranians are “crazy bastards” who will be “living in Hell” if they don’t open the Strait of Hormuz. He ended by praising the Islamic god Allah.

Altogether, it was an un-Christian statement to make on an important Christian holiday. If Trump fails to make a thoughtful statement on Easter, how are we supposed to believe him at other times when he does make religious references or acknowledge people’s faith?

Aside from matters of religion, the statement adds to the ambiguity around Trump’s strategy with Iran. At one moment it seems like he’s trying to find a way to end the conflict, the next he’s identifying more strikes to make.

Trump also has the incredible ability to blame others for the problems he creates. On behalf of Israel, he started this war and obviously underestimated Iran’s position and the economic impacts. But now, depending on the day, it’s either Iran who needs to concede on the Strait, or European countries who need to get involved and help with the matter.

It also seems very unwise to mock the religious figure of an intensely religious country that operates in terrorism and regularly threatens our country. At some point, Trump’s ongoing, thoughtless, immature rhetoric will become too much and America will suffer because of it.

Several lawsuits have been filed against Trump’s effort to limit mail-in voting.

Voters in competitive congressional districts are getting frustrated with ongoing economic issues and Congress’ lack of work to address them.

A new poll finds that differences in political views are within generations and not genders.

The leading potential Democrat presidential candidates for 2028 voice opposition to Israel. Karl Rove also explains the 2026 races which may predict the 2028 election.

Anonymous donations are increasing through super PACs and nonprofits, mostly by and for the benefit of Democrats.

ActBlue, the fundraising platform for Democrat candidates at all levels of government across the country, is under DOJ investigation for potentially facilitating foreign campaign contributions and not doing enough to prevent this from happening.

Economics

The average mortgage rate increased for the fifth straight week in a row.

World food prices increased last month and are expected to continue to as the Iran war goes on.

Trump’s war in Iran has increased farmers’ fertilizer costs and is threatening their livelihood. Farmers have also been spending less on equipment.

The IPOs of SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI could create 16,000 millionaires.

Iran War

Two U.S. military planes were shot down by Iran, one pilot is still missing, and two search-and-rescue helicopters were also hit.

The Defense Department says 365 troops have been injured and 13 killed in the Iran war. Over 3,500 Iranians are estimated to have been killed, including over 1,600 civilians of which nearly 250 are children.

Iran is taking additional steps to prepare for an ongoing war. Its army commander says they must be prepared for anything.

The NATO secretary-general is visiting D.C. after Trump has been stepping up his criticism of NATO allies not doing enough to help in Iran.

International law experts say the Trump Administration may be violating humanitarian laws and conducting war crimes in Iran.

The Wall Street Journal details how whoever gets control of the Strait of Hormuz is the winner of the Iran war. U.S. intelligence reports indicate Iran currently has a strong control over it. The UK is holding a meeting in London between 35 countries to discuss reopening the strait. J.P. Morgan estimates oil could hit $150 a barrel if the strait is closed into May.

Pope Leo said in a homily that Christianity shouldn’t be used to justify war.

Trump Administration

Todd Blanche will be serving as acting attorney general after Trump fired Pam Bondi. Blanche was one of Trump’s personal attorneys before his second administration. Trump is also considering more changes to his Cabinet.

The Washington Post profiles the Methodist church featured on the cover of JD Vance’s forthcoming book. It’s getting attention because Vance has never been Methodist and the book is about his conversion to Catholicism.

JD Vance will be visiting Hungary prior to their presidential election to meet with Victor Orban, who is politically-aligned with Trump.

A liberal group is worried about Supreme Court justices retiring and Trump having the opportunity to appoint younger ones. Samuel Alito was treated at a hospital last month after feeling sick at an event in his honor.

Tiger Woods called President Trump immediately after his car crash.

A FEMA official in Trump’s administrations claims he was teleported to a Waffle House in Georgia.

A former county clerk in Colorado, who supports President Trump and tampered with voting machines in 2020, is having her sentence reconsidered.

Trump is following up on his idea to reopen and use Alcatraz as a prison by requesting $152 million for the project.

International

The Trump Administration is in talks with Congo about deporting illegal immigrants there.

A second Russian oil tanker is en route to Cuba, despite Trump saying countries would be blocked from doing so.

Russia is believed to have helped organize arson attacks in Poland.

Sweden is investing in air defense and anti-drone systems.

China is building a base in the South China Sea near Taiwan and the Philippines. Taiwan is also building up defenses in response to China.

Trump removed sanctions against Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president of Venezuela, allowing the country to do business with American industries and companies. Rodriguez was a key member of the administration of Nicolas Maduro, who Trump ousted.

Minnesota

Activating the Minnesota National Guard earlier this year to deal ICE’s presence in the Twin Cities is estimated to cost $5.2 million.

Trump is having JD Vance lead a task force to investigate fraud in Minnesota and other Democrat-led states.

Over the last year, Trump’s tariffs have created confusion and extra costs for Minnesota businesses.

Forum Communications let go of its liberal columnists.