News for May 18, 2026

The Senate confirmed Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management as the Trump administration pushes to expand mining and drilling on public lands.

The New York Times sued the Defense Department again, saying the Pentagon’s escort rule for reporters limits press access and violates the Constitution.

Rep. Thomas Massie says he is likely to beat Donald Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein in Kentucky’s Republican primary, even as Trump tries hard to unseat him.

News organizations are asking a court to unseal DOJ filings and subpoenas in the Fulton County election probe, saying the public has a right to see them.

Trump said he will ask the Justice Department to investigate a Maryland mail ballot mix-up, while state officials said the error came from a printing vendor and that no illegal or fake ballots were sent.

President Donald Trump said he called off a planned U.S. attack on Iran after Gulf leaders asked for more time for talks.

President Donald Trump said he paused a planned US attack on Iran after requests from Gulf states, saying talks could still lead to a deal that blocks nuclear weapons.

An ICE agent in Minnesota has been charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime after prosecutors said he shot a Venezuelan immigrant during an arrest attempt and then gave a false account.

As the World Cup nears in Southern California, worries that ICE could be present at games are pushing Latino vendors and stadium workers to choose between earning money and feeling safe.

The Supreme Court sent two voting rights cases back to lower courts for another review after a recent ruling weakened part of the Voting Rights Act.

A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax records after the Justice Department said it would use a settlement fund to pay people who claim they were unfairly targeted by government investigations.

A New York judge ruled that some key evidence can be used in Luigi Mangione’s state trial, while other items from his backpack search will be kept out.

Donald Trump said his leadership style and deal-making power may not last beyond his presidency, highlighting a succession risk tied to how much depends on one person.