This Morning's Political News: 4‑Minute Read
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Thursday, May 28, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET
Federal Level
In Shift, GOP Senate Leader Backs Ken Paxton
Senate Majority Leader John Thune spent more than a year trying to persuade President Trump to back incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas primary, only to watch Trump endorse Paxton days before Tuesday’s runoff. After Paxton won handily, Thune reversed course on Wednesday, calling Paxton directly and then publicly backing him in a radio interview. “Ken Paxton is our nominee heading into November, and we’ve got to pivot and go all in to make sure that we keep Texas red,” Thune said. Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) also posted his support, saying: “Now I stand united with President Trump, Ken Paxton, and Texans who want to protect our Republican Majority.” Thune called on GOP donors nationwide to open their wallets, adding: “Losing is not an option when it comes to the state of Texas.” 1, 2
Trump: Iran ‘Negotiating on Fumes,’ No Deal Yet
President Trump convened his Cabinet on Wednesday and said Iran wants a deal but that the U.S. is “not satisfied” with the terms on the table. Trump warned that Iran cannot “out-wait” him and suggested the U.S. may need to “go back and finish the job” if an agreement is not reached. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would see what progress could be made “over the next few hours and days.” The White House said negotiations are “proceeding nicely” but that Trump will only sign a deal that permanently prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 3, 4, 5
DOJ Opens Criminal Probe Into Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll
The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation on Wednesday into E. Jean Carroll, the writer who won two civil judgments against President Trump for sexual assault and defamation, according to sources cited by Reuters, CNN, and The New York Times. Prosecutors are examining whether Carroll committed perjury in a 2022 deposition when she said she received no outside funding for her lawsuits, after her lawyers later disclosed that LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman had paid some of her legal bills. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recused himself because he represented Trump in the Carroll civil suits. 6, 7, 8
Biden Sues DOJ to Block Release of Interview Recordings
Former President Biden filed suit in federal court on Wednesday to prevent the Justice Department from releasing audio recordings and transcripts of private conversations he had with his biographer in 2016 and 2017. The DOJ had planned to release the materials on June 15 to the House Judiciary Committee after special counsel Robert Hur used them in his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. Biden’s attorneys argued the recordings were obtained during a criminal inquiry and that the DOJ has a legal obligation to keep them private. 9, 10, 11
Court Orders Customs Chief to Appear Over Tariff Refund Compliance
A federal trade court judge ordered the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to appear at a June hearing on Wednesday to address the administration’s management of approximately $166 billion in tariff refunds owed to importers after the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs. Court filings show CBP has processed about $20.6 billion in refunds, with another $85 billion in certified refunds still in the pipeline. The government has acknowledged it can only process refunds for roughly $127 billion of the total $166 billion collected. 12, 13
State Level
ICE Pepper-Sprays Senator Kim at NJ Detention Protest
Federal agents fired pepper balls into a crowd of protesters outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark on Monday, enveloping U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) in pepper spray during what he described as “chaos inside and outside” the facility. About 300 detainees had been on a hunger and work strike to protest inadequate food and medical care. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who was denied entry to the facility, called the agents’ actions “completely out of control” on Wednesday and accused ICE of working to incite the crowd rather than keep order. 14, 15, 16
California Governor’s Race Tightens Ahead of June 2 Primary
With California’s gubernatorial primary five days away, the Democratic contest has narrowed to a two-way race between former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire investor Tom Steyer. Becerra holds a consistent polling lead, drawing support from business and centrist Democrats, while Steyer has attracted progressive backing and high-profile endorsements. The winner will likely face Republican Steve Hilton in November in a race that could shape the political direction of the nation’s most populous state. 17, 18
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Article Sources
References
1. The Wall Street Journal, “In Shift, GOP Senate Leader Backs Ken Paxton,” May 27, 2026.
2. The Wall Street Journal, “’We’ve Got to Pivot’ to Keep Texas in Republican Hands, Says Top Republican John Thune,” May 27, 2026.
3. The Guardian, “Trump news at a glance: president lobs accusation at Iran and threat at Oman with peace talks in limbo,” May 27, 2026.
4. ABC News, “Trump meets with Cabinet members at White House amid negotiations for Iran peace deal,” May 27, 2026.
5. Al Jazeera, “’Deep suspicion’ of US lingers as Iran ponders agreement to end war,” May 27, 2026.
6. Reuters, “DOJ launches criminal probe into E. Jean Carroll, source says,” May 27, 2026.
7. The New York Times, “U.S. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry of E. Jean Carroll Over Accusations Against Trump,” May 27, 2026.
8. The Guardian, “US justice department reportedly opens criminal inquiry into Trump accuser E Jean Carroll,” May 27, 2026.
9. Reuters, “Former President Biden sues DOJ over release of interview audio,” May 27, 2026.
10. NPR, “Biden sues DOJ to stop release of audio and transcripts tied to special counsel probe,” May 27, 2026.
11. Axios, “Biden files lawsuit in bid to block DOJ audio interview release,” May 27, 2026.
12. The New York Times, “Court Orders Customs Chief to Address Compliance on Refunding Tariffs,” May 27, 2026.
13. New York Post, “Trump administration refunds $20B in overturned tariffs after Supreme Court loss,” May 27, 2026.
14. The Hill, “Senate Democrat pepper sprayed at protest outside ICE detention facility in New Jersey,” May 26, 2026.
15. NJ.com, “ICE agents pepper-spray protesters, N.J. senator in clash outside Delaney Hall in Newark,” May 27, 2026.
16. NJ.com, “Sherrill says ICE agents who pepper-sprayed protesters, U.S. Senator were ‘completely out of control,’” May 27, 2026.
17. CalMatters, “Last-minute voter guide for California governor election,” May 25, 2026.
18. ABC7 News, “Who’s running for California governor? Hear from top candidates,” May 20, 2026.