This Morning's Political News: 4‑Minute Read
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Saturday, May 16, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET
Federal Level
Trump Returns from China Noncommittal on Taiwan
President Trump landed at the White House on Friday after his three-day Beijing summit, declaring the trip a “tremendous success,” while raising new questions about U.S. policy toward Taiwan. In a Fox News interview, Trump declined to commit to defending Taiwan if China attacked, saying he was “not looking” to fight a war 9,500 miles away and that both sides should “cool it.” Secretary of State Rubio stated that U.S. policy on Taiwan “remains unchanged as of today,” though Trump acknowledged he had no answer ready when Xi Jinping asked him directly about American defense commitments.1, 2, 3
DOJ to Create $1.776B Fund for Trump Allies
The Justice Department on Friday was finalizing a deal to establish a so-called “Truth and Justice Commission” with a $1.776 billion compensation fund, according to ABC News. The fund would pay claims from individuals who allege they were targeted by the Biden administration, including roughly 1,600 people charged in the January 6 Capitol attack. In exchange, President Trump would drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Democrats immediately condemned the proposal as a taxpayer-funded “slush fund,” and legal experts noted the fund would operate with little transparency.4, 5, 6
Supreme Court Kills Democrats’ Virginia Map
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday unanimously rejected Virginia Democrats’ emergency appeal to reinstate a newly drawn congressional map that voters had approved in April. The one-sentence order upheld a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that the referendum was procedurally invalid under the state constitution. The decision eliminates four House districts that were expected to lean Democratic and delivers a decisive blow to Democrats’ efforts to offset Republican redistricting gains across the country before the November midterms.7, 8
Iran-Backed Commander Charged in U.S. Jewish Site Terror Plots
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Friday unsealed charges against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a commander of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia, accusing him of plotting attacks on Jewish sites in New York, California, and Arizona. The DOJ says Al-Saadi coordinated at least 20 terrorist attacks in Europe and Canada since February and was planning additional strikes inside the United States. FBI Director Kash Patel called Al-Saadi a “high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism.” Al-Saadi appeared in federal court Friday but did not enter a plea.9, 10, 11
GOP Scrambles as Senate Parliamentarian Strikes Again
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on Friday continued scrutinizing Republicans’ $72 billion immigration reconciliation bill, with the GOP already rewriting portions she struck down Thursday for violating the Byrd Rule. The $1 billion Secret Service provision potentially tied to President Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom was among the measures under review Friday. Senate Majority Leader Thune said discussions are focused on how to get 50 votes, as each adverse ruling forces a rewrite or raises the bar to 60.12, 13
State Level
S.C. Redistricting Session Opens Amid Democratic Protests
South Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature convened Friday for a special session called by Governor Henry McMaster to redraw the state’s congressional districts. The primary goal is to dismantle the only majority-Black district in the state, currently held by 19-term Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn. Democrats on the chamber floor sharply criticized the rushed process, calling it an unconstitutional gerrymander. Republicans face a hard deadline, as early voting in the state begins May 24 and any primary delay must be enacted before that date.14, 15
Tennessee’s Lone Democrat in Congress Announces Retirement
Rep. Steve Cohen, a 19-year Democrat from Memphis and Tennessee’s only member of his party in Congress, announced Friday that he will not seek re-election after the state’s new congressional map carved his majority-Black district into three Republican-leaning seats. Cohen, 76, said he refused to run in what he described as “gymandered” districts and added that he would re-enter the race if a court challenge restores his original boundaries. His announcement marks the 59th House retirement this cycle, the second-highest count since 1930.16, 17
Colorado Democrat Commutes Sentence of 2020 Election Clerk
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, commuted the nine-year prison sentence of Tina Peters on Friday, a former Mesa County clerk convicted of allowing an unauthorized person to access county election equipment while promoting unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Peters will be eligible for parole on June 1 and issued a statement expressing regret for her actions for the first time. Polis said he believed the sentence was excessive, while making clear he was not issuing a pardon, and that Peters remains a convicted felon.18, 19
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Article Sources
1. CNBC, May 15, 2026, https://www.cnbc com/2026/05/15/trump-china-xi-taiwan.html
2. CNN, May 15, 2026, https://www.cnn com/2026/05/15/politics/video/trump-us-china-conflict-taiwan-vrtc
3. The Guardian, May 15, 2026, https://www.theguardian com/us-news/2026/may/15/trump-news-at-a-glance-latest-updates-today
4. ABC News, May 15, 2026, https://abcnews com/US/trump-administration-create-1776b-truth-justice-commission-compensate/story?id=133005480
5. Yahoo News, May 15, 2026, https://www.yahoo com/news/articles/trump-set-drop-lawsuit-against-002340425.html
6. Vox, May 15, 2026, https://www.vox com/the-logoff-newsletter-trump/488910/trump-irs-lawsuit-tax-returns-weaponization-compensation-fund
7. New York Times, May 15, 2026, https://www.nytimes com/2026/05/15/us/politics/supreme-court-virginia-redistricting.html
8. NPR, May 15, 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/nx-s1-5823911/supreme-court-virginia-redistricting
9. Jewish Insider, May 15, 2026, https://jewishinsider com/2026/05/kataib-hezbollah-commander-charged-terror-plot-american-jews/
10. New York Times, May 15, 2026, https://www.nytimes com/2026/05/15/nyregion/hezbollah-arrest-nyc-jewish-targets.html
11. Daily Wire / DOJ, May 15, 2026, https://www.dailywire com/news/iran-backed-terror-operative-brought-to-u-s-over-plot-targeting-american-jews
12. Politico, May 15, 2026, https://www.politico com/live-updates/2026/05/15/congress/gop-nervous-ballroom-senate-00923042
13. The Hill, May 15, 2026, https://thehill com/homenews/senate/5879721-immigration-bill-parliamentarian-ruling/
14. Democracy Docket, May 15, 2026, https://www.democracydocket com/news-alerts/south-carolina-redistricting-dems-slam-gop-colleagues-amid-rush-to-pass-gerrymander/
15. Washington Post, May 15, 2026, https://www.washingtonpost com/opinions/2026/05/15/trump-redistricting-war-forces-south-carolina-surrender/
16. NBC News, May 15, 2026, https://www.nbcnews com/politics/2026-election/democratic-rep-steve-cohen-retire-republican-led-redistricting-tenness-rcna345324
17. The Guardian, May 15, 2026, https://www.theguardian com/us-news/2026/may/15/tennessee-democrat-steve-cohen-ends-re-election-bid
18. NBC News, May 15, 2026, https://www.nbcnews com/politics/elections/tina-peters-release-colorado-governor-jared-polis-commutes-sentence-rcna345391
19. Politico, May 15, 2026, https://www.politico com/news/2026/05/15/colorado-clemency-trump-election-conspiracy-theorist-00924870