Imtiaz Tyab is the first American network news correspondent to get a look inside the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war.
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MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News
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Today's Political News Compilation - Thursday, April 16, 2026
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House rushes to overnight vote to renew key surveillance tool used by US spy agencies
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and LISA MASCAROUpdated 11:19 PM CDT, April 16, 2026
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rushed early Friday to renew a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies that is set to expire in a matter of days, unveiling several changes and calling lawmakers back to session for a middle-of-the-night vote.
Republican leaders rolled out a new proposal that would extend the program for five years with changes — far from the clean renewal President Donald Trump has demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed.
Democrats late Thursday blasted the process ahead of votes expected early Friday.
“Does anybody actually know what the hell is in this thing?” Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern said after the proposal was unveiled.
At the center of the standoff that has stretched throughout the week is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. In doing so, they can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets.
Its path to passage has teetered all week in a familiar fight, as lawmakers weigh civil liberties concerns against intelligence officials’ warnings about national security risks. The program is set to expire April 20 and still must pass the Senate. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Hegseth attacks 'unpatriotic' media and compares reporters to Jewish biblical group
The defense secretary has frequently attacked the media over Iran war coverage.
www.nbcnews.comA vaccine standoff and other key moments from RFK Jr.'s first congressional hearing in months
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended a more than 12% proposed cut to his department's budget and dodged arrows from angry Democrats as he kicked off an expected sprint of seven hearings in Congress over the next seven days.
apnews.com
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas blasts progressivism as threat to America
He said that the values enshrined in the 1776 Declaration of Independence have “fallen out of favor” among Americans.
Progressive Analilia Mejía takes New Jersey US House special election, giving Democrats another win
New Jersey Democrat Analilia Mejía has won a special election to fill the U.S. House seat that was vacated by Democratic Gov.
apnews.com
Democrat Analilia Mejia wins New Jersey special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's House seat
NBC News projects that Mejia, a progressive activist, defeated Republican Joe Hathaway in the Democratic-leaning 11th District.
www.nbcnews.comGeorgia Democrats try to make their move in a jumbled, low-dollar primary for governor
Democrats running for governor in Georgia are scrambling for attention and cash. The political environment may favor a Democrat to win Georgia's top post for the first time since 1998.
apnews.com
Army secretary calls fired general 'transformational' after Hegseth ousted him
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised a top general who was recently fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Democrats crow about fundraising in competitive Senate races
Democrats are boasting of eye-popping fundraising hauls in some of this year's most competitive Senate contests.
apnews.com
Ex-Trump allies Olivia Troye, Geoff Duncan run as Democrats for Congress
Olivia Troye, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, announced a run for Congress. Find out which other political leaders are running as anti-Trump Democrats.
www.usatoday.com
Democratic primary challengers stockpile cash, putting House incumbents on defense
Nearly 20 House Democrats are facing primary challengers who raised at least $200,000 in the first three months of the year, according to new campaign finance reports.
www.nbcnews.comTrump defends economic policies, casts aside ‘fake inflation’ amid Iran war
President Trump defended his administration’s economic policies at an event in Las Vegas on Thursday amid rising energy costs resulting from the U.S.’s conflict with Iran. Trump cast doubt on a recent...
US eyes Iran fast boats with ‘kill’ tactics tested in Venezuela drug-boat strikes
The U.S. prepares for high-risk naval encounters with Iran's fast-attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz as the blockade of Iranian ports continues.
U.S. intelligence detects signs China is weighing giving Iran advance radar systems
The technology would enhance Iran's ability to detect and track incoming threats, like low-flying drones and cruise missiles.
www.cbsnews.com
'Tyrants.' Pope blasts 'those who manipulate religion' as Trump feud escalates
Pope Leo, on tour in Africa, delivered a speech that could escalate his feud with Trump. It comes a day after the president shared a fresh AI Jesus image.
www.usatoday.com
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Trump speaks at Turning Point USA event after declaring Strait of Hormuz open
President Trump headlined a rally for Turning Point USA with Erika Kirk in Phoenix on Friday. His goal is to fire up Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections. Caitlin Huey-Burns has more details.
Continue reading...4/17: The Takeout with Major Garrett
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz with U.S. blockade still in effect; Congress passes temporary extension of surveillance law FISA.
Continue reading...Thomas, Alito not planning to retire from Supreme Court this year, sources say
Sources close to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito confirm that he is not planning to retire this year. Sources close to Justice Clarence Thomas also tell CBS News that he does not plan to step down.
That indicates that this year, with the midterm elections on the horizon, President Trump will not be able to plan on an opportunity to make his fourth nomination to the Supreme Court.
Alito's plans were first reported by Fox News. Alito, who is 76, and Thomas, 77, are two of the core members of the court's conservative majority.
This is a...
Continue reading...That indicates that this year, with the midterm elections on the horizon, President Trump will not be able to plan on an opportunity to make his fourth nomination to the Supreme Court.
Alito's plans were first reported by Fox News. Alito, who is 76, and Thomas, 77, are two of the core members of the court's conservative majority.
This is a...
Grieving mothers scorch Dem lawmaker after he pivots during hearing to attack 'MAGA Republicans'
A congressional hearing featuring the victims of crimes tied to illegal immigration erupted into a tense confrontation Thursday, as Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., drew fierce backlash from grieving mothers and Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, for appearing to dismiss their tragedies while pivoting to attacks on "MAGA Republicans."
The fiery exchange happened during a hearing focused on "The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies," where Johnson claimed the victims' families' comments were a "Steve Miller approved" stunt with the sole purpose of "stir[ring] up...
Continue reading...The fiery exchange happened during a hearing focused on "The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies," where Johnson claimed the victims' families' comments were a "Steve Miller approved" stunt with the sole purpose of "stir[ring] up...
Newsom PAC bought thousands of memoir copies about his hardships, juicing sales
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s political action committee spent more than $1.5 million buying thousands of copies of his new memoir — accounting for about two-thirds of all copies sold nationwide — according to campaign finance filings.
The PAC spending helped propel Newsom’s memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," onto the New York Times bestseller list and is raising new scrutiny as his national profile builds ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.
In November, the Campaign for Democracy Committee launched a book campaign asking donors to...
Continue reading...The PAC spending helped propel Newsom’s memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," onto the New York Times bestseller list and is raising new scrutiny as his national profile builds ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.
In November, the Campaign for Democracy Committee launched a book campaign asking donors to...
Alito not expected to retire this term, cooling Supreme Court vacancy speculation: sources
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is not expected to step down this term and has already hired all four law clerks for the upcoming annual term, multiple sources said, despite speculation that the high court justice was weighing retirement.
Alito "is not stepping down this term and is in the process of hiring the rest of his clerks for the next term," a source told Fox News Digital. Two other sources told Fox News that Alito is not retiring this term, which lasts until the Supreme Court's new year kicks off in October.
Justices tend to hire their...
Continue reading...Alito "is not stepping down this term and is in the process of hiring the rest of his clerks for the next term," a source told Fox News Digital. Two other sources told Fox News that Alito is not retiring this term, which lasts until the Supreme Court's new year kicks off in October.
Justices tend to hire their...
Utah leaders launch probe into Supreme Court justice over alleged relationship with redistricting lawyer
Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and top state lawmakers ordered an independent investigation Friday into a state Supreme Court justice over allegations she had an unethical relationship with an attorney who worked on a high-stakes redistricting case.
Justice Diana Hagen, who was appointed by Cox, stands accused by her ex-husband of sending what he described as "inappropriate" text messages to an attorney who helped challenge a Republican-friendly map that maintained four red congressional seats in Utah. Hagen joined a unanimous decision to toss out...
Continue reading...Justice Diana Hagen, who was appointed by Cox, stands accused by her ex-husband of sending what he described as "inappropriate" text messages to an attorney who helped challenge a Republican-friendly map that maintained four red congressional seats in Utah. Hagen joined a unanimous decision to toss out...
Texas AG sues Houston mayor and city council over new sanctuary city ordinance limiting ICE cooperation
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Houston city officials over the adoption of a "sanctuary" ordinance designed to limit cooperation between local authorities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The ordinance, passed by a 12-5 vote last week, ended a Houston police policy that required officers to wait at least 30 minutes for ICE to arrive if a suspect had an immigration warrant.
The lawsuit names Houston Mayor John Whitmire, the city's 16 council members, and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz as defendants.
Paxton argued...
Continue reading...The ordinance, passed by a 12-5 vote last week, ended a Houston police policy that required officers to wait at least 30 minutes for ICE to arrive if a suspect had an immigration warrant.
The lawsuit names Houston Mayor John Whitmire, the city's 16 council members, and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz as defendants.
Paxton argued...
Boebert fires back at Dave Chapelle over 'weaponized' transgender jokes
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., lashed back at accusations she "weaponized" a social media post with Dave Chappelle, arguing the comedian had already waded into the political debate over transgender issues.
"Dave Chappelle can have his little counseling session with NPR," Boebert told Fox News Digital, referring to an interview Chappelle gave earlier this week when he criticized a post of the two of them together at the U.S. Capitol.
"That's fine. You know, I took a photo with 50 Cent, a lot of people and posted about them. And none of them cried...
Continue reading..."Dave Chappelle can have his little counseling session with NPR," Boebert told Fox News Digital, referring to an interview Chappelle gave earlier this week when he criticized a post of the two of them together at the U.S. Capitol.
"That's fine. You know, I took a photo with 50 Cent, a lot of people and posted about them. And none of them cried...
White House meets AI firm Anthropic amid political tensions, Pentagon dispute
One month after President Donald Trump ordered a government-wide halt on artificial intelligence firm Anthropic’s technology following a clash with the Pentagon, the company’s CEO is back at the White House for high-level talks — as officials reconsider whether a system they sidelined over national security and political concerns may be too important to ignore.
A source familiar with the meeting told Fox News White House chief of staff Susie Wiles met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Friday.
Anthropic’s new artificial intelligence model, Mythos...
Continue reading...A source familiar with the meeting told Fox News White House chief of staff Susie Wiles met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Friday.
Anthropic’s new artificial intelligence model, Mythos...
Chicago mayor links restaurant industry to ‘slavery’ as tipped wage fight intensifies
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson linked the restaurant industry to "slavery" Wednesday as he defended his push to eliminate the tipped wage, doubling down after surviving a City Council effort to block the policy.
Johnson’s remarks came after the Chicago City Council failed to override his veto of a measure that would have halted the city’s phaseout of the subminimum wage for tipped workers — a policy set to raise base pay to the full minimum wage by 2028 that is opposed by restaurant owners who warn it could drive up prices and cut jobs.
He called on...
Continue reading...Johnson’s remarks came after the Chicago City Council failed to override his veto of a measure that would have halted the city’s phaseout of the subminimum wage for tipped workers — a policy set to raise base pay to the full minimum wage by 2028 that is opposed by restaurant owners who warn it could drive up prices and cut jobs.
He called on...
Sanders-backed Dem blistered for making 'excuses for terrorists,' slamming 'high and mighty' Americans
Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers said his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, has "no business" running for public office after seeing a video of him discussing the importance of having empathy for terrorists.
El-Sayed, a medical doctor and former Wayne County health director, is running in the Democratic primary for Michigan's open Senate seat in the 2026 midterms. He suggested during a town hall last summer that the United States should try to understand why terrorists commit such "heinous acts," suggesting those actions stem from...
Continue reading...El-Sayed, a medical doctor and former Wayne County health director, is running in the Democratic primary for Michigan's open Senate seat in the 2026 midterms. He suggested during a town hall last summer that the United States should try to understand why terrorists commit such "heinous acts," suggesting those actions stem from...
Japan reveals new name for 40C-and-hotter days after blistering summer
The term - kokushobi - translates to "cruelly hot", "brutally hot" or "severely hot", and comes after Japan's hottest summer on record.
Continue reading...Officer on horseback chases suspect through New York streets
The suspect was accused of purse-snatching and has been charged with larceny and providing false information.
Continue reading...Lead prosecutor on probe into John Brennan is removed from case, sources say
The lead career federal prosecutor in Miami who was overseeing a criminal investigation into whether former CIA Director John Brennan lied to Congress is no longer assigned to the case, multiple sources confirmed to CBS News on Friday.
Maria Medetis Long, who is the head of the national security section for the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of Florida, informed lawyers who have clients involved in the matter late this week that she was off the case, several of them confirmed.
Medetis Long did not explain the reason for her...
Continue reading...Maria Medetis Long, who is the head of the national security section for the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of Florida, informed lawyers who have clients involved in the matter late this week that she was off the case, several of them confirmed.
Medetis Long did not explain the reason for her...
Judge rejects DOJ effort to get sensitive voter information from Rhode Island
Washington — A federal judge on Friday rejected the Justice Department's effort to force Rhode Island to turn over sensitive voter information, dealing another blow to the Trump administration's attempts to gain access to state voter registration lists.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, who was appointed by President Trump in his first term, granted a request from Rhode Island officials to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit that sought the state's unredacted voter rolls, which contain personal information about residents registered to vote...
Continue reading...U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, who was appointed by President Trump in his first term, granted a request from Rhode Island officials to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit that sought the state's unredacted voter rolls, which contain personal information about residents registered to vote...
White House reviewing cases of missing, dead scientists for possible links as 11th person identified
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that the Trump administration is working with federal agencies and the FBI to review a growing number of cases involving American scientists who have gone missing or died and to determine whether any of the cases may be connected.
"In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any...
Continue reading..."In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any...
Judge warned of 'very concerning' Justin Fairfax behavior weeks before Dem gunned down wife
A Virginia judge expressed concern over the mental state of former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax while ruling on a child custody case involving two teenage children, commenting on his behavior and isolation.
Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. McEvoy detailed these concerns in a March 30 court order involving Fairfax, his estranged wife, and their two children, writing that Fairfax’s "isolation, drinking and lack of participation in family life are manifestations of what seems to be a sense of fatalism and hopelessness," WTOP reported.
Fairfax...
Continue reading...Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. McEvoy detailed these concerns in a March 30 court order involving Fairfax, his estranged wife, and their two children, writing that Fairfax’s "isolation, drinking and lack of participation in family life are manifestations of what seems to be a sense of fatalism and hopelessness," WTOP reported.
Fairfax...
Virginia Dems accused of illegally ‘steamrolling’ state law that could upend redistricting crusade
Virginia voters are set to decide a redistricting referendum Tuesday, even as a high-stakes legal challenge before the state’s Supreme Court argues the amendment should be invalidated because it was pushed through an unlawfully extended legislative session.
The case centers on whether lawmakers violated the Virginia Constitution by keeping the special session open for nearly two years to pass the redistricting measure, a move critics say was an abuse of legislative authority. The measure, if it passes Tuesday and survives state Supreme Court...
Continue reading...The case centers on whether lawmakers violated the Virginia Constitution by keeping the special session open for nearly two years to pass the redistricting measure, a move critics say was an abuse of legislative authority. The measure, if it passes Tuesday and survives state Supreme Court...
Obama urges Virginians to vote yes on redistricting measure that could give Democrats 4 more House seats
Former President Barack Obama is urging Virginians to vote in favor of a congressional redistricting ballot measure that if passed, could give Democrats a big boost in this year's midterm elections.
"By voting yes, you have the chance to do something important — not just for the Commonwealth, but for our entire country," Obama said in the video. "By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms."
The video by the former president, who remains one of the most popular former...
Continue reading..."By voting yes, you have the chance to do something important — not just for the Commonwealth, but for our entire country," Obama said in the video. "By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms."
The video by the former president, who remains one of the most popular former...
Kanye West concert in Poland cancelled over antisemitic comments
The UK government blocked the rapper from entering the country over his history of making pro-Nazi and racist statements.
Continue reading...Palestinians hand over suspect in 1982 attack on Jewish restaurant in Paris
Hicham Harb is suspected of directing the attack in the Rue des Rosiers and acting as one of the gunmen who shot at diners.
Continue reading...Trump says Iranians have "agreed to everything," including removal of enriched uranium
President Trump said in a phone interview that Iran has "agreed to everything," and will work with the U.S. to remove enriched uranium from Iran.
He insisted that doing so will not involve U.S. ground troops. But when asked who would retrieve it, he would only say "our people."
"No. No troops," he said. "We'll go down and get it with them, and then we'll take it. We'll be getting it together because by that time, we'll have an agreement and there's no need for fighting when there's an agreement. Nice right? That's better. We would have done it the...
Continue reading...He insisted that doing so will not involve U.S. ground troops. But when asked who would retrieve it, he would only say "our people."
"No. No troops," he said. "We'll go down and get it with them, and then we'll take it. We'll be getting it together because by that time, we'll have an agreement and there's no need for fighting when there's an agreement. Nice right? That's better. We would have done it the...
White House eyes alleged Utah scandal as GOP frets about redistricting loss
White House officials are closely monitoring an alleged Utah scandal, leaning on Republicans there to delve further into ethics concerns about a relationship between two key players in a high-profile gerrymandering case, sources told CBS News.
It's another twist in an ongoing battle over Utah's court-ordered congressional map that made a GOP-majority district much friendlier for Democrats, and a new tactic in the Trump administration's push to hold Republicans' slim majority in the U.S. House.
Lawmakers in the state legislature are asking...
Continue reading...It's another twist in an ongoing battle over Utah's court-ordered congressional map that made a GOP-majority district much friendlier for Democrats, and a new tactic in the Trump administration's push to hold Republicans' slim majority in the U.S. House.
Lawmakers in the state legislature are asking...