Another one of 17 Americans who are being flown home has mild symptoms, the US health department says.
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MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News
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Today's Political News Compilation - Weekend Update - May 9 & 10, 2026
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Rejecting church and state separation is on the wish list for Trump’s religious liberty commission
By PETER SMITHUpdated 12:15 PM CDT, May 9, 2026
One member calls for a Presidential Medal of Freedom for a baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
Another calls for court interventions by the Department of Justice on behalf of Amish parents fighting New York vaccine requirements and Catholic nuns challenging that state’s requirement that they accommodate hospice patients’ gender identities.
And the chair of the Religious Liberty Commission is calling for a federal hotline with this automated recording: “There is no separation of church and state.”
These are just some of the recommendations that members of the advisory panel formed by President Donald Trump last year want to see included in the commission’s final report.
That report is still in the works, but commissioners had an opportunity to describe their wish lists during their most recent meeting in April. There was little dissent as the commissioners, most drawn from Trump’s base of conservative Christian supporters, covered the items they want in the report.
Their ideas reflect the prevailing perspectives on the definition of religious liberty among many conservative Catholic and evangelical activists: increasing avenues for religious expression in public schools; expanding opportunities for faith-based organizations to receive public money; and allowing for religious-based exemptions in areas ranging from labor law to classroom lessons to healthcare mandates. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
President of Parks and Rec? Trump asserts authority over public spaces in DC
President Donald Trump is making significant changes to the nation's capital as he focuses on renovations and new projects.
apnews.com
Saudis feared Trump’s Project Freedom would spur Iran to attack, officials say
Washington launched the operation without notifying key Gulf allies first, U.S. officials tell NBC News. Then Trump abruptly canceled it.
www.nbcnews.com
Iran live updates: 'We'll see what happens,' Trump says on Iran's response to proposal
The U.S. conducted "self-defense" strikes against Iranian targets after Iran fired at U.S. destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to CENTCOM.
Tennessee redistricting plan splits Memphis neighbors and reshapes midterms as other states follow
A new congressional map in Tennessee splits the majority-Black city of Memphis into three districts.
apnews.com
Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Kamala Harris claims Virginia Supreme Court ruling on redistricting maps boosts Trump's alleged effort to rig the 2026 midterm elections for Republicans.
Iran warns of attacks on US bases and ‘enemy ships’ if its tankers are hit
US-Iran ceasefire holds as Tehran warns Washington against attacks on tankers and Israel kills 24 people in Lebanon.
Video Nationwide battle over redistricting escalates
The fight to redraw the nation’s congressional maps is escalating as Virginia asks its own Supreme Court to pause the ruling that struck down a new map Democrats had counted on.
Labour MP puts Cabinet 'on notice,' threatens to trigger leadership challenge against Starmer by Monday
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a potential Labour leadership challenge after the party suffered major losses in Thursday's local elections.
The British military says a ship caught fire after being hit off the coast of Qatar
The British military says a ship caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Qatar.
apnews.com
Are Trump and Musk giving up on Mars?
Exploring Mars used to be a top priority for NASA and SpaceX. But a dramatic shift is underway as the administration tries to cut science spending and return to the moon.
www.nbcnews.comLabour MP puts Cabinet 'on notice,' threatens to trigger leadership challenge against Starmer by Monday
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a potential Labour leadership challenge after the party suffered major losses in Thursday's local elections.
Republicans gain upper hand in redistricting fight, but they still face midterm headwinds
While Republicans have scored redistricting wins in recent weeks, they’re still contending with Trump’s negative job ratings and other evidence of rising Democratic performance.
www.nbcnews.comWhat to know about the latest wave of changes to congressional districts
The congressional map appears to be tilting more red amid the latest flurry of redistricting developments across the U.S.
apnews.com
More than 100 sickened in norovirus outbreak aboard Caribbean Princess cruise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak was reported Thursday during the ship’s April 28 to May 11 voyage through the Caribbean.
www.nbcnews.com[URL...
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