Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego; Trump says U.S. won't go forward with scheduled attack on Iran.
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Today's Political News Compilation - Monday, May 18, 2026
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Trump says he’s called off Iran strike planned for Tuesday at request of Gulf allies
By MICHELLE L. PRICEUpdated 5:51 PM CDT, May 18, 2026
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because “serious negotiations” are underway to end the war.
“There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy,” Trump said at the White House on Monday evening, after first making the announcement in a social media post.
Trump said he had planned “a very major attack” but put it off — “for a little while, hopefully, maybe forever.” He said America’s allies in the Gulf asked him to wait for two to three days because they feel they are close to a deal with Iran.
Trump has been threatening for weeks that the ceasefire reached in mid-April could end if Iran did not make a deal, with shifting parameters for striking such an agreement. Over the weekend he warned, “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them.”
The president has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran and then backed off. But he’s also previously indicated he would hold off on military action to allow talks to continue — only to turn around and launch strikes. That’s what happened at the war’s outset, when he ordered strikes in late February shortly after indicating he would let talks play out. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit
The Trump administration has announced the creation a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they have been unjustly investigated and prosecuted.
apnews.com
Trump’s crusade to oust disloyal Republicans underscores the party’s dilemma: From the Politics Desk
Plus, surveying GOP officials for a vibe check ahead of the midterms.
www.nbcnews.comSupreme Court sends closely watched Native American voting rights decision back to lower court
The Supreme Court has acted in a Voting Rights Act case brought by Native American tribes, saying a closely watched ruling needs to be reconsidered after the high court weakened the Civil Rights-era law.
apnews.com
At least 4 Virginia Democratic House candidates drop out after courts toss new map
Overturning a new congressional map in Virginia that would have favored Democrats has had an outsized impact on the state’s U.S. House primaries.
Drone strikes UAE nuclear plant as US and Iran signal they are prepared to resume war
A drone strike has targeted the United Arab Emirates’ sole nuclear power plant. No one has been blamed and no major damage is reported.
apnews.com
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie defiant as Trump seeks to oust him in primary: "I'm going to win"
Massie said the president is worried about his preferred candidate Ed Gallrein's chances in the Kentucky race.
www.cbsnews.comFACT FOCUS: Trump distorts recent revisions of scientific projections of global warming
President Donald Trump blasted the accuracy of scientists' global warming projections in a social media post that itself painted a distorted view of the science, projections and policy of climate change.
apnews.com
Rep. Clyburn says GOP redistricting push is part of larger Black disenfranchisement effort
Some experts have told ABC News that redistricting in the South could wipe out up to a third of seats in Congress held by African American legislators.
The New York Times sues the Pentagon a second time over Hegseth's media restrictions
The New York Times sued the Defense Department Monday for the second time in recent months over media access.
apnews.com
Trump jabs Gov. Wes Moore over Maryland ballot mix up, pushes for probe
Some voters received a ballot for the wrong party ahead of the June 23 primary election, the Maryland State Board of Elections said last week.
www.usatoday.com
Democrats: DOJ’s $1.776B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund ‘raises the specter of corruption unparalleled’
Numerous Democratic lawmakers are criticizing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) new “anti-weaponization” fund, with a group of House Democrats even filing suit to block its creation. Earlier Monday, a...
Court dismisses Elon Musk's case against Sam Altman and OpenAI
The three-week trial featured testimony from tech billionaire Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Hegseth unleashes on Massie in GOP primary showdown against Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet
Trump-backed Ed Gallrein gets boost from Defense Secretary Hegseth on the eve of Kentucky's GOP primary challenge against Rep. Thomas Massie.
Who could benefit from Trump's $1.7+ billion "weaponization" fund?
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the creation of the fund as part of the settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax returns.
www.cbsnews.comWhat to know about Trump’s $1.7B fund to compensate allies claiming political targeting
The Justice Department has announced a $1.7 billion compensation fund for Trump allies who believe they were wrongly prosecuted by the Biden administration.
apnews.com
Rep. Thomas Massie confronts the full force of Trump’s wrath in a Republican primary
The Kentucky Republican has emerged as perhaps the president’s most critical primary target after bucking him on issues ranging from budget legislation to the Epstein files.
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Trump admin. proposes admitting thousands more Afrikaners to U.S. as refugees
The Trump administration is doubling down on efforts to resettle White Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees in the U.S., proposing to increase the government's refugee cap to welcome thousands more of them, according to a State Department plan sent to Congress and obtained by CBS News.
The administration has effectively closed the U.S. refugee program for most nationalities, except Afrikaners from South Africa, arguing they're the victims of racial oppression for being White. The South African government has denied persecuting the ethnic...
Continue reading...The administration has effectively closed the U.S. refugee program for most nationalities, except Afrikaners from South Africa, arguing they're the victims of racial oppression for being White. The South African government has denied persecuting the ethnic...
5/18: CBS Evening News
3 adults killed, 2 suspects also dead in shooting at Islamic Center of San Diego; evacuations underway as wildfire burns in California's Simi Valley.
Continue reading...Three killed in suspected hate crime at San Diego mosque
A note left by one of the teenage suspects contains general "hate rhetoric", investigators say.
Continue reading...Hegseth campaigns against Massie in Kentucky with primary a day away
Pete Hegseth hit the campaign trail Monday, an unusual move for a defense secretary, stumping in Kentucky for Ed Gallrein, a Trump-backed challenger to Republican congressman and frequent Trump critic Thomas Massie. Ed O'Keefe has more.
Continue reading...Hegseth unleashes on Massie in GOP primary showdown against Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet
HEBRON, KY - Ed Gallrein, the Republican congressional candidate backed by President Donald Trump who is challenging Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky for the GOP nomination, landed extra firepower on the eve of the state's primary.
Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and Kentucky farmer, was joined on the campaign trail Monday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Massie has long been one of Trump's most vocal GOP critics in Congress and the Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, in the north-central part of the state, the latest test of...
Continue reading...Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and Kentucky farmer, was joined on the campaign trail Monday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Massie has long been one of Trump's most vocal GOP critics in Congress and the Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, in the north-central part of the state, the latest test of...
New York Times sues Pentagon a second time over press access policy
The New York Times sued the Defense Department on Monday for the second time in five months, arguing a requirement that journalists be escorted while on Pentagon grounds violates the First Amendment.
The lawsuit casts the escort policy as part of "a series of escalating steps designed to stop unfavorable coverage" and "dramatically curtails longstanding press access to the Pentagon," in violation of the First and Fifth amendments.
The policy is "an unconstitutional attempt by the Pentagon to prevent independent reporting on military affairs," a...
Continue reading...The lawsuit casts the escort policy as part of "a series of escalating steps designed to stop unfavorable coverage" and "dramatically curtails longstanding press access to the Pentagon," in violation of the First and Fifth amendments.
The policy is "an unconstitutional attempt by the Pentagon to prevent independent reporting on military affairs," a...
Massie defiant as Trump seeks to oust him in primary: "I'm going to win"
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has faced a barrage of attacks from President Trump heading into Tuesday's primary against former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, who has the president's endorsement.
But Massie doesn't appear to be sweating it, even after several of Mr. Trump's perceived adversaries have suffered primary defeats stemming from the president's ire — most recently GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
In the days leading up to the contest in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, Mr. Trump has labeled Massie "the worst congressman in...
Continue reading...But Massie doesn't appear to be sweating it, even after several of Mr. Trump's perceived adversaries have suffered primary defeats stemming from the president's ire — most recently GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
In the days leading up to the contest in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, Mr. Trump has labeled Massie "the worst congressman in...
Senate Republicans confirm nearly 50 of Trump's picks for energy, land management
Senate Republicans moved one step closer to clearing out the backlog of President Donald Trump's nominees.
The GOP confirmed 49 of Trump’s picks on Monday, a move that will have installed 60% of his civilian nominees. It’s also the fourth time Republicans have confirmed a slate of nominees in a batch since changing the Senate’s rules last year.
Included in the latest batch are 20 different positions, including a dozen U.S. attorneys, several U.S. marshals, ambassadors and members of a variety of agencies, including the departments of War...
Continue reading...The GOP confirmed 49 of Trump’s picks on Monday, a move that will have installed 60% of his civilian nominees. It’s also the fourth time Republicans have confirmed a slate of nominees in a batch since changing the Senate’s rules last year.
Included in the latest batch are 20 different positions, including a dozen U.S. attorneys, several U.S. marshals, ambassadors and members of a variety of agencies, including the departments of War...
Trump v Massie: Could president's Republican nemesis survive $20m attack to oust him?
The Kentucky congressman, who has crossed the president on federal spending and the Epstein files, faces Republican voters on Tuesday.
Continue reading...Trump administration unveils $1.7bn fund to compensate his allies as he drops tax lawsuit
The settlement will go towards individuals who allege they were subjected to unfair investigations.
Continue reading...Two men arrested over stunt at enclosure of famous monkey Punch
Two US nationals have been arrested after one jumped the fence of the monkey, who went viral online, police say.
Continue reading...'FedEx says your parcel has drugs': The scam that trapped an Indian comedian
Ankita Shrivastav is among millions of Indians who fall prey to cybercrimes every year.
Continue reading...Trump told Taiwan not to 'go independent' - but does it want to?
Taiwan independence is the reddest of red lines for China, which claims the island as its own.
Continue reading...What is Ebola and why is stopping this outbreak so difficult?
An outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo involves a rare strain and is in an area affected by conflict.
Continue reading...Who could benefit from Trump's $1.7+ billion "weaponization" fund?
When President Trump and the Justice Department settled the president's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department Monday over the leak of his tax returns, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced, as part of the agreement, the creation of a $1.7+ billion "anti-weaponization fund," which he said would "provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare."
The fund's creation is the latest step Mr. Trump has taken to enact his pledge to bring "retribution" for his...
Continue reading...The fund's creation is the latest step Mr. Trump has taken to enact his pledge to bring "retribution" for his...
The story of the 1996 shootdown that could lead to Raúl Castro's indictment
In February 1996, three small civilian planes took off from a Miami-area airport, operated by a Cuban exile group that searched for people seeking to flee the island nation in rafts. Two of the planes were shot down by a Cuban fighter jet, killing four people.
Now, 30 years later, the deadly shootdown appears to be the focus of a potential federal criminal case against one of the most powerful figures in Cuba.
The U.S. is taking steps to indict Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old who led Cuba after the retirement of his older brother, Fidel, CBS News was...
Continue reading...Now, 30 years later, the deadly shootdown appears to be the focus of a potential federal criminal case against one of the most powerful figures in Cuba.
The U.S. is taking steps to indict Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old who led Cuba after the retirement of his older brother, Fidel, CBS News was...
WATCH: Mamdani bashed for going 'full deranged marxist' with rip on famous Ronald Reagan line
New York City’s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is facing backlash for criticizing a famous quote from former President Ronald Reagan, who cautioned about the dangers of big government.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and New York’s first Muslim mayor, voiced his disagreement with the beloved conservative president as he launched the first of his long-promised city-run grocery stores in the Bronx.
"Standing here this morning, I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. He famously said the nine most terrifying words...
Continue reading...Mamdani, a democratic socialist and New York’s first Muslim mayor, voiced his disagreement with the beloved conservative president as he launched the first of his long-promised city-run grocery stores in the Bronx.
"Standing here this morning, I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. He famously said the nine most terrifying words...
Shakira wins £50m tax refund from Spanish government
The Colombian singer says the court ruling means the "narrative" that she was guilty now "crumbles".
Continue reading...Skid Row election scheme allegedly fueled by pocket-change payoffs busted by Trump DOJ
The Department of Justice charged a California woman with paying people — including homeless individuals on Los Angeles’ Skid Row — to register to vote while she worked as a paid ballot-petition signature collector, according to federal prosecutors.
"False registrations undermine Americans’ faith in elections – even more so when payoffs are involved," assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a press release Monday.
"This Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all U.S. elections...
Continue reading..."False registrations undermine Americans’ faith in elections – even more so when payoffs are involved," assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a press release Monday.
"This Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all U.S. elections...
Selling children to survive: Afghan fathers forced to make impossible choices
In Afghanistan today, a staggering three in four people cannot meet their basic needs.
Continue reading...WATCH: Eye-popping illegal immigration stat prompts senator's demand to 'redouble' deportations
Testimony from a policy analyst at a libertarian think tank was unexpectedly highlighted by immigration hawks after he delivered an opening statement at a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing featuring controversial Fairfax County prosecutor Stephen Descano.
The hearing, chaired by Rep. Thomas McClintock, R-Calif., examined several examples of allegedly lax prosecutions by Descano involving illegal immigrants with prior rap sheets — including a Sierra Leone national accused of murdering a young woman at a bus stop on U.S. 1.
In his opening remarks...
Continue reading...The hearing, chaired by Rep. Thomas McClintock, R-Calif., examined several examples of allegedly lax prosecutions by Descano involving illegal immigrants with prior rap sheets — including a Sierra Leone national accused of murdering a young woman at a bus stop on U.S. 1.
In his opening remarks...
Senate Republican threatens to derail ICE, Border Patrol package over Trump's billion-dollar request
An internal dispute could derail Republicans’ goal of funding immigration operations for the remainder of President Donald Trump's presidency.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told his colleagues that he would not support the GOP’s $72 billion reconciliation package if it included $1 billion in funding for Trump’s ballroom.
His defection, along with a handful of other Republicans critical of the funding, could sink the bill.
SENATE REPUBLICANS BALK AT $1B WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM REQUEST: ‘YOU MADE THAT NUMBER UP’
And given the GOP’s narrow margin in the...
Continue reading...Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told his colleagues that he would not support the GOP’s $72 billion reconciliation package if it included $1 billion in funding for Trump’s ballroom.
His defection, along with a handful of other Republicans critical of the funding, could sink the bill.
SENATE REPUBLICANS BALK AT $1B WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM REQUEST: ‘YOU MADE THAT NUMBER UP’
And given the GOP’s narrow margin in the...
Trump’s Taiwan ‘negotiating chip’ remark sparks alarm over how far he'd shift US-China policy
President Donald Trump suggested Friday that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan could factor into broader negotiations with China, drawing a swift response from Taiwan’s president and reigniting debate in Washington about the future of longstanding U.S. policy toward the island.
Asked by Fox News whether he would move forward with a delayed $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, Trump replied: "I’m holding that in abeyance, and it depends on China. It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons."
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te...
Continue reading...Asked by Fox News whether he would move forward with a delayed $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, Trump replied: "I’m holding that in abeyance, and it depends on China. It’s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It’s a lot of weapons."
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te...
Reporter’s Notebook: Democrats say they can still flip the House despite GOP redistricting gains in the South
Redistricting and race.
Democrats are beside themselves, watching what Republicans are doing on redistricting — especially in the South.
"What we're seeing is an attack on legitimate opportunities for Black candidates to have representation here in Congress," said Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., who is on track to lose his district in Mobile.
Democrats say they know what Republicans are up to.
"They've also been trying to eliminate teaching America's history, right? Whitewashing America's history," said former Vice President Kamala Harris...
Continue reading...Democrats are beside themselves, watching what Republicans are doing on redistricting — especially in the South.
"What we're seeing is an attack on legitimate opportunities for Black candidates to have representation here in Congress," said Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., who is on track to lose his district in Mobile.
Democrats say they know what Republicans are up to.
"They've also been trying to eliminate teaching America's history, right? Whitewashing America's history," said former Vice President Kamala Harris...