AURN News

As the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder approaches, the Trump administration has dealt a gut punch to communities demanding police accountability. In a sweeping rollback of civil rights enforcement, the DOJ is shutting down federal oversight agreements in Minneapolis and Louisville — two cities where investigators previously found rampant police abuse, excessive force and systemic racism. That means no more federal push for reform in the city where Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck. No more binding accountability in Louisville, where Breonna Taylor was killed in her home. The DOJ is also closing civil rights investigations into six other cities, including Memphis, Phoenix and Lexington, where findings include officers punching restrained individuals, deploying canines on children and tasering men until they collapsed. Trump’s DOJ claims the Biden-era investigations were “micromanagement” and based on flawed methodology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — With talk of the 2026 midterm elections beginning to heat up, a new poll offers early insights into the political landscape — and a potential shift in Democratic Party leadership. The latest survey from Co/efficient shows Democrats holding a narrow lead over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, with 45% of respondents saying they would vote for a Democrat compared to 42% for a Republican. Among independents, the gap widens slightly, with Democrats leading 40% to 31%. But it’s the question of party identity that may draw the most attention. When asked who they view as the face of the Democratic Party, 26% of likely general election voters named Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — the highest for any individual. Sen. Bernie Sanders followed at 12%, while Rep. Jasmine Crockett received 8%. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries each received 5%. The Co/efficient poll surveyed 1,462 likely general election voters from May 7 to May 9. Of those polled, 72% identified as white, 11% as Hispanic and 10% as Black. In terms of ideology, 24% said they were MAGA voters, 16% identified as conservative, 29% as moderate, 15% as liberal and 16% as progressive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia died Wednesday morning at age 75, his family announced, according to CNN. In a statement, the family said Connolly died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. Last month, Connolly announced he would not seek reelection and would step down from his leadership role on the House Oversight Committee following the return of his esophageal cancer, first diagnosed in November. He vowed transparency, saying he would continue serving “with grace.” Connolly had represented Virginia’s 11th District since 2009 and previously served 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. His family remembered him as a devoted public servant who championed justice and the voiceless, saying, “His absence will leave a hole in our hearts.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Is your immune system strong enough for politics? In a reversal of federal public health policy, the Trump administration announced it will restrict access to seasonal COVID-19 shots, reserving them mainly for seniors and high-risk individuals. That’s despite the fact that COVID-19 claimed more than 47,000 American lives last year, including 231 children. Under new FDA guidance backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., most healthy Americans under 65 will not be eligible for updated boosters unless new clinical trials prove they’re necessary. That means, for the first time, your access to a shot could depend on whether you’re deemed high-risk. The new policy reflects a growing movement inside the administration to pull back on vaccines, especially for the young and healthy. Dr. Vinay Prasad, now the FDA’s top vaccine official, described the decision as a compromise. Critics call the policy dangerous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — President Donald Trump’s fiscal policies are under renewed scrutiny after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, citing the nation’s rising debt, widening deficits and mounting interest costs. While Moody’s did not name Trump in its downgrade announcement, the agency pointed to long-term trends that have intensified under his administration. Federal spending has increased sharply, and Trump has called for extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — moves that analysts say are worsening the country’s fiscal outlook. “Over more than a decade, US federal debt has risen sharply due to continuous fiscal deficits. During that time, federal spending has increased while tax cuts have reduced government revenues,” Moody’s said in a statement. The agency projected that without changes to taxation or spending, the government’s budget flexibility will remain limited. It expects mandatory spending — including interest payments — to rise from 73% of total federal outlays in 2024 to 78% by 2035. Moody’s also warned that extending the 2017 tax law would add about $4 trillion to the federal primary deficit over the next decade. Deficits are projected to reach nearly 9% of GDP by 2035 — up from 6.4% this year — with debt rising to 134% of GDP, up from 98% in 2024. According to CBS News, federal spending under Trump is now higher on a day-to-day basis than in nine of the past 10 years. In the first 100 days of his presidency, spending was $200 billion higher than during the same period the year before. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan watchdog group, called the downgrade a warning sign that policymakers are heading in the wrong direction. “Can you hear that? It’s the sound of not one, not two, but all three major credit rating agencies now saying the same thing: the US fiscal situation is unsustainable,” said Maya MacGuineas, the group’s president. “At the very least, we should not be considering adding more than $3 trillion to the debt — or $5.2 trillion if temporary provisions are made permanent — after we were just told our credit worthiness is inferior to what it was,” she added.Trump has touted cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency, but so far, overall federal expenditures have continued to grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially launched her campaign for Georgia governor, becoming the most prominent Democrat to enter the 2026 race. In her announcement video, titled For Georgia, she recalls her grandmother teaching her to “always stand up to bullies” and sharply criticizes President Donald Trump, calling him “a disaster.” She accuses Trump of empowering “an unelected billionaire” to threaten Medicare and Social Security — a reference to Elon Musk. Bottoms is entering the Democratic primary and vows to make expanding Medicaid her top priority, while also proposing to eliminate state income taxes for teachers. The 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a rare and fiery clash between Congress and the Trump administration, Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey is facing federal assault charges after what her supporters call a chaotic overreach by ICE officers outside the Newark Immigration Detention Center. McIver says she was simply doing her job conducting oversight when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested trying to join her. The charges against Baraka have quietly been dropped, but McIver is being prosecuted for allegedly elbowing an officer in the crowd. Homeland Security released shaky video footage, but it does not clearly show intent. Democrats are calling foul, accusing Trump’s Justice Department of weaponizing law enforcement to silence dissent. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the charges, calling them a "morally bankrupt attack on legislative oversight." Framing the charges as political retaliation, McIver says she’s not backing down — and she’s ready for court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with stripping temporary deportation protections from more than 300,000 Venezuelan migrants, marking what legal experts call the largest removal of immigration status for any group in modern U.S. history. The case centers on Temporary Protected Status, or TPS — a designation created for migrants fleeing dangerous conditions. It was expanded under President Joe Biden due to Venezuela’s collapsing economy and political chaos. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem abruptly reversed it, prompting lawsuits from Venezuelan nationals who say the decision was rooted in racial and political bias. The high court did not explain its reasoning and made no mention of the work permits already granted under the Biden extension. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenter. Is this law — or politics in legal disguise? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — President Donald Trump is pushing back against Walmart after the retail giant said updated tariffs would raise prices for American consumers. In a post Saturday on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!” The statement follows comments from Walmart’s Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey, who told CNBC in an interview last week that suppliers cannot absorb the cost of the 30% tariffs recently announced by the Trump administration. “I’m concerned that consumer is going to start seeing higher prices,” Rainey said, warning of noticeable increases by the end of May and more in June. According to economists and trade experts, tariffs are not paid by foreign exporters directly. Instead, the cost is typically borne by U.S. importers — such as retailers — and often passed on to American consumers in the form of higher prices. That’s why many policy analysts describe tariffs as a “tax on the American people.” The updated 30% tariffs are scheduled to remain in effect for 90 days. Trump has continued to defend his tariff strategy, claiming it protects American manufacturing and improves negotiating leverage with China. Yet in the end, it is Americans who are now footing the bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to the Associated Press, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vetoed a bill to create a commission to study slavery reparations, calling it a difficult decision but saying the issue had already been thoroughly examined. The bill was a top priority for the Legislative Black Caucus — the largest such group in the nation. Moore, the state’s first Black governor, said it’s time to act — not study — by closing the racial wealth gap and supporting Black communities. The veto drew sharp criticism from the caucus, which called it a missed opportunity to address historical harms. The measure passed both chambers with veto-proof majorities. Lawmakers could revisit it in a future session. Moore issued 23 vetoes in total Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. The news came Sunday in a statement from his office detailing a Gleason score of 9 — the most severe grade for this cancer. It means it’s fast-moving and deadly serious. Doctors say it’s hormone-sensitive, which opens the door for treatment. But make no mistake — cancer that reaches the bones is not curable. The 82-year-old has long championed cancer research, after losing his son Beau to brain cancer in 2015. In office, he revived the Cancer Moonshot and pushed to cut U.S. cancer deaths in half over the next 25 years. Now, he’s facing the very disease he once vowed to end. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all offered public well-wishes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — So much for the art of the deal. President Donald Trump’s signature budget proposal — the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — failed to advance in the House Budget Committee on Friday, after a handful of Republicans voted against it, handing the White House a major legislative defeat. The sweeping measure proposed trillions in tax cuts and new restrictions on Medicaid — including work requirements and ending eligibility for illegal immigrants. It also sought to increase funding for the military and border enforcement — priorities Trump has championed since his return to office. House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, a Texas Republican, opened the committee’s markup session with a full-throated defense of the bill. “Today, we stand on the precipice of a generational opportunity to make an unprecedented investment in the safety and security of the American people by equipping our Border Patrol agents and our sons and daughters in the armed services with the tools and resources to safely and successfully do the first and most important job of the federal government: to provide for the common defense,” Arrington said. “But we also have an urgent responsibility to put in place the policies that will unleash economic growth and future prosperity—reining in wasteful spending and begin restoring the fiscal health of our nation, which has been in rapid decline over the last couple of decades.” Despite support from Trump and party leadership, five Republican members voted no: Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania. Following the failed vote, Trump lashed out on Truth Social. “Republicans MUST UNITE behind, ‘THE ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL!’” he wrote. “Not only does it cut Taxes for ALL Americans, but it will kick millions of Illegal Aliens off of Medicaid to PROTECT it for those who are the ones in real need.” He warned that without the bill, Americans could see tax hikes and more chaos in the health care system — and pointed fingers at internal dissent. “We don’t need ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ in the Republican Party,” Trump added. “STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE! It is time to fix the MESS that Biden and the Democrats gave us.” The bill’s collapse casts early doubt on Trump’s second-term agenda and signals potential hurdles ahead for his legislative goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A major blow to the Voting Rights Act just landed — this time from a federal appeals panel affecting seven states across the Midwest. In a controversial 2-1 decision, judges from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled private citizens can no longer bring lawsuits to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — a cornerstone of civil rights litigation against racial discrimination at the polls. Historically, these private lawsuits have accounted for hundreds of critical voting rights victories. The latest ruling stems from a case involving North Dakota's Native American voters, whose representation vanished from the state Senate after GOP-led redistricting. Advocates argue the new map systematically diluted Native voting strength. With the Trump administration pulling back Justice Department enforcement efforts, questions loom: Who exactly will safeguard voters now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is National Malcolm X Day, a moment to honor one of the most fearless and visionary leaders in Black history. Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925 — he would have turned 100 years old this coming Monday. As we reflect on his centennial year, we remember a man who spoke truth to power — without apology. Malcolm X demanded justice, dignity and liberation for Black people “by any means necessary.” His legacy challenges us not just to remember him, but to act — to speak boldly, organize strategically and walk in our power. Today, we don’t just honor his memory — we carry his mission. Even a hundred years later, Malcolm’s voice still echoes in the struggle for freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drama is taking center stage at the Kennedy Center — but it’s not the kind you’d expect. Employees at the famed performing arts institution announced plans to unionize, citing layoffs, anxiety and a troubling lack of transparency from leadership since President Trump took the reins in February. The new union, dubbed Kennedy Center United Arts Workers, is partnering with the UAW — the same union that represents auto and aerospace workers. More than 60% of eligible employees have already thrown their hats into the ring, officially filing with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a formal union vote. This move comes on the heels of Trump's controversial takeover, where he promptly ousted Biden-era leadership, including longtime president Deborah Rutter. Since then, nearly 10% of the staff has been laid off. Employees say communication from Trump’s appointed leadership has dwindled to sparse emails — fueling uncertainty and frustration. Workers aim to transition from at-will employment to for-cause, meaning they cannot be fired without legally defensible reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — Walmart is warning that U.S. shoppers should prepare to pay more as a result of updated tariffs on imported goods — raising fresh questions about the cost of President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade strategy with China. According to CNBC, Walmart says the tariffs are too steep for suppliers to absorb, and consumers will likely begin seeing higher prices by the end of the month — with more noticeable increases expected in June. “It’s more than any supplier can absorb. And so I’m concerned that the consumer is going to start seeing higher prices,” said Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey in an interview with the network. The updated tariffs — set at 30% for a 90-day period — are the latest development in a trade dispute that Trump has continued to portray as a success. Last week, the president posted on Truth Social: “A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner. We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!” Experts have noted that companies often pass tariff-related costs on to consumers, with some calling the policy a "hidden tax" on the American public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to The Washington Post, Democrat John Ewing Jr. pulled off an upset in Omaha, defeating three-term Republican Mayor Jean Stothert to become the city’s first Black mayor. Ewing’s victory is a major political shift in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, a key battleground where Trump’s agenda has grown increasingly unpopular. Omaha — where Malcolm X was born — has long stood out as a Democratic stronghold in an otherwise red state. Ewing, Douglas County treasurer and former deputy police chief, focused on affordable housing and equitable development during his campaign. His win is part of a broader national trend, as Democrats gain ground in contested areas ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court tackles a case that could redefine judicial power — and even who counts as “we the people.” At issue is whether a single federal judge can block a president's policy nationwide. In this instance, it involves President Donald Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship for babies born to undocumented parents. Lower courts froze the ban across all 50 states. The administration argues that sweeping injunctions have reached epidemic proportions — stripping the executive branch of its authority. If the justices side with the White House, federal judges could only halt policy for the specific plaintiffs before them — clearing the way for the administration to deny citizenship in dozens of states still awaiting challenge. But if the White House gets what it wants, could it be endangering the rights of thousands of American-born children? Is this more than a procedural issue — part of Trump's hardline immigration agenda aimed at deterring migrants, pressuring lawmakers and weaponizing the courts to bypass Congress? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new AP-NORC poll finds just one-third of Democrats are optimistic about their party's future — down from six in 10 last July. Only 33% of Democrats say they're very or somewhat optimistic — a collapse driven by frustration that leaders aren't pushing back hard enough on Trump's agenda. Meanwhile, Republicans' optimism is on the rise. Fifty-five percent of GOP voters feel good about their party's direction — up from 47% a year ago. But neither party enjoys widespread love. Only 40% of Americans view the GOP favorably, and just one-third feel that way about Democrats. Among Democrats, only 30% have a positive view of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 21% back Chuck Schumer, and Bernie Sanders leads with 40% approval. With gerrymandering and the Electoral College leaving 55% of Democrats doubting the system, the question is clear: Will the party find its next unifying leader in time, or will pessimism prevail? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices