u/NewsHour

In the span of 48 hours, the U.S. government, acting on orders from the Trump Justice Department, did something no administration in American history has ever done before.

The agency created a nearly $1.8 billion fund, drawn from taxpayer money, designed to compensate allies of the president who claim they were mistreated by the Biden Justice Department.

Then, the administration permanently banned the IRS from ever examining President Donald Trump's prior tax returns or those of his sons, his company, or any affiliated trust. That move was quietly announced a day later.

Former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen reacts to these developments. Watch Geoff Bennett's interview with him, and read more here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/dojs-tax-settlement-with-trump-sets-dangerous-precedent-former-irs-commissioner-says

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., repeatedly asked acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday in a hearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee whether the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was closed or open.

“When you say the ‘Epstein investigation,’ what are you referring to, Senator?” Blanche said.

Merkley said the FBI announced last year that its investigation into Epstein was closed. Blanche said the agency didn’t say that.

Merkley repeated his question.

“I guess I don't understand what ‘Epstein investigation’ means,” Blanche said. “The investigation into Jeffrey Epstein himself? Yes, he's dead. Any investigation into potential other bad guys will always be open if we have evidence that supports in any way, shape or form that we can make a case.”

Merkley said President Donald Trump said in November that he’s asked the DOJ to investigate a list of people, particularly targeting Democrats, for their possible connections to Epstein. The senator asked if any investigations, “blind to party affiliation,” were being pursued under Blanche’s direction.

“No matter Republican, Democrat, man, woman, old, young – any investigation will be open if the Department of Justice and the FBI have evidence that a crime has been committed.”

Blanche was invited to testify on President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget request for the Justice Department, but faced questions on a number of issues.

On Monday, the Justice Department announced an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement with Trump to end a lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax returns. The nearly $1.8 billion fund would offer payouts to Trump allies who claim they had been unfairly targeted by the Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Government watchdogs and Democratic lawmakers blasted the creation of the fund as corruption, saying it could reward – with taxpayer money – people who had helped storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, among others.

Watch more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-acting-attorney-general-blanche-may-be-questioned-on-weaponization-fund-in-budget-hearing

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., questioned acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the Justice Department’s new “Anti-Weaponization Fund” on Tuesday in a hearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.

On Monday, the Justice Department announced an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a settlement with Trump to end a lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax returns. The $1.7 billion fund would offer payouts to Trump allies who claim they had been unfairly targeted by the Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Government watchdogs and Democratic lawmakers blasted the creation of the fund as corruption, saying it could reward – with taxpayer money – people who had helped storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, among others.

Murray asked Blanche whether he thought it was appropriate for President Donald Trump to use Americans’ “tax dollars to set up a slush fund to enrich his own friends.”

She noted the economic pressures of inflation and gas prices, which have been on the rise for months due to the U.S. war in Iran.

Blanche disagreed with Murray’s characterization of the fund, but Murray doubled down.

“I just have to tell you, this is corruption that has never been more blatant,” Murray said.

“What is happening is, you write the check, Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers, who are already being whacked with high prices, are gonna foot the bill. That's what we are seeing today," she added.

Blanche was invited to testify on Trump’s 2027 budget request for the Justice Department, but faced questions on a number of issues.

Watch more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-acting-attorney-general-blanche-may-be-questioned-on-weaponization-fund-in-budget-hearing

The Senate has unanimously passed a measure to withhold its own pay during future government shutdowns.

The resolution passed by voice vote and would block senators from getting paid whenever a shutdown affects one or more agencies. But like federal employees, they would get back pay once the government reopens.

The measure's sponsor, Republican Sen. John Kennedy, has said the move is about "putting our money where our mouth is."

The resolution is set to take effect after the midterms and does not apply to members of the House.

Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-senate-votes-to-withhold-their-own-pay-during-future-shutdowns

As Americans continue to feel the economic impact of the war with Iran, one economist warns that inflation could hit 4% next month and remain elevated for the rest of the year.

"Inflation will probably hit 4% maybe in May or the June readings," Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, told PBS News Hour's Geoff Bennett on Tuesday. "If we don't have a resolution to the Middle East conflict, then we could see, potentially, even higher numbers."

Long added that inflation will remain "pretty elevated" for the year, even if there's a resolution to the war.

"This isn't going away any time soon. And I think consumers will continue to feel that squeeze of inflation being above their wage gains, probably for most, if not all of the year," she said.

The Labor Department's latest inflation report, released Tuesday, showed price increases for American consumers in April hit a three-year high, driven by a spike in gas prices. The Consumer Price Index, which includes energy and food costs, rose 3.8% year over year.

Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/inflation-could-hit-4-next-month-and-stay-elevated-for-rest-of-year-economist-warns

Source: https://youtu.be/Y-NaBznjSMI

Source: https://youtu.be/a1gNL-BVbUo

REPORTER:

When you're negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, to what extent are Americans' financial situations motivating you to make a deal?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:

Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran? They can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about any-- I think about one thing. You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all. That's the only thing that motivates.

Source: https://xcancel.com/ElizLanders/status/2054265101322993816#m

From PBS News' Liz Landers:

I just asked (@)potus if he would send the National Guard or ICE to voting locations in November.

He did not rule it out.

The president: “Well you know what. I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections. We have to have honest elections."

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President Donald Trump, when asked Tuesday about the possibility of federal agents at polling places during the November midterm elections, told PBS News’ Liz Landers that he supports "anything" to ensure "honest elections."

Federal law bars the deployment of “troops or armed men” at polling stations and prohibits voter intimidation. The Department of Homeland Security told state officials earlier this year that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will not be present at voting locations during the midterm elections.

Yet other Trump administration officials have not unequivocally knocked down the idea. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier this month that he was “not sure of the uproar of the risk of having a Border Patrol or an ICE agent at a polling location, or looking into whether somebody is voting that shouldn't be.”

Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections; some municipalities allow them to vote in local elections.

Source: https://youtu.be/RjxDHAjErTI

EDIT: More info: "Cases of hantavirus infection are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 890 cases in the U.S. from 1993, when surveillance began, through the end of 2023." https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/medical-epidemiologist-explains-what-to-know-about-the-cruise-ship-hantavirus-outbreak

Source: https://youtu.be/sBqtGZTCkvM

EDIT: More info: "Cases of hantavirus infection are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 890 cases in the U.S. from 1993, when surveillance began, through the end of 2023." https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/medical-epidemiologist-explains-what-to-know-about-the-cruise-ship-hantavirus-outbreak