Speaker Mike Johnson, third in line for the presidency, called on Republican-led statehouses today to redraw their congressional maps before November.
Florida had already adopted a new Republican map hours before the Supreme Court ruling came down. Louisiana canceled a primary election that had already begun, so its legislature can redraw two majority-Black districts. By afternoon, Trump was on Truth Social telling Tennessee’s governor to “PUSH HARD” on dismantling the state’s only majority-Black congressional district.
Up to 18 districts where Black and Hispanic voters outnumber white voters are now threatened because the Voting Rights Act no longer protects them. Memphis is the seat Trump named today. Call your state legislators and demand they stop putting their thumb on the scale.
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Washington Post analysis of higher-resolution video shows Secret Service officer fired four times at suspect with no visible muzzle flash from suspect's shotgun, three shots fired toward fellow security personnel.
Today’s GovBrief News
Hegseth tells Senate the 60-day war powers clock is paused by April 7 ceasefire one day before deadline as Pentagon presents Trump strike options.
Source: CNN
April 30, 2026
U.S. flew Union Jack upside down at Arlington National Cemetery and put up Australian flags on D.C. streets during King Charles' state visit, both protocol failures.
Source: USA Today
April 30, 2026
CMS defers another $91 million in Minnesota Medicaid funding citing fraud, on top of February's $259 million, as Walz calls it "campaign of retribution."
Source: The Duluth News Tribune
April 30, 2026
DHS environmental waivers allowed border wall construction to destroy 60-foot section of 1,000-year-old Hia-ced O'odham intaglio in Arizona wildlife refuge.
Source: The Washington Post
April 30, 2026
Trump approves Bridger Pipeline Expansion to carry 550,000 barrels of Canadian oil daily through Montana and Wyoming, dubbed "Keystone Light" after Biden killed original.
Source: The Associated Press
April 30, 2026
Louisiana Governor Landry suspends May 16 U.S. House primaries after voters cast absentee ballots, giving legislature time to redraw two majority-Black districts.
Source: The Louisiana Illuminator
April 30, 2026
Trump praises Louisiana primary suspension and says Tennessee Governor Lee will "correct" the state's map as Speaker Johnson urges all states to gerrymander before midterms.
Source: News from the States
April 30, 2026
Trump lifts 10% tariff on U.K. whiskey as parting gift to King Charles, citing intertwined Scotch and Kentucky bourbon barrel trade.
Source: USA Today
April 30, 2026
Trump signs executive order creating TrumpIRA.gov, putting his name on a portal that routes 56 million Americans to retirement match passed under 2022 Secure 2.0 law.
Source: CNBC
April 30, 2026
DOJ sues New Jersey to overturn 2013 and 2018 laws giving undocumented immigrants in-state tuition and financial aid at public colleges.
Source: Politico
April 30, 2026
Trump signs bill ending record 76-day shutdown with DHS funding that excludes ICE and Border Patrol as Republicans pivot to reconciliation for enforcement money.
Source: Newsweek
April 30, 2026
Louisiana Attorney General Murrill indicts outgoing Orleans Parish Sheriff Hutson on 30 felony counts framed around last year's jail break, which is not mentioned in the indictment.
Source: WGNO New Orleans
April 30, 2026
Education Department finalizes graduate loan caps eliminating Grad PLUS and excluding nursing, physical therapy, and social work from higher "professional" tier.
Source: The Hill
April 30, 2026
House passes 45-day FISA Section 702 extension after Senate rejected three-year renewal, with Wyden securing 15-day declassification deal on secret surveillance court opinion.
Source: NextGov
April 30, 2026
Senate unanimously bars members and staff from prediction market betting after special forces soldier netted $400,000 on Polymarket bet about Maduro raid.
Source: NOTUS
April 30, 2026
Trump withdraws wellness influencer Casey Means as surgeon general pick and nominates Fox News contributor Nicole Saphier, a Caribbean-trained radiologist with an herbal supplement business.
Source: Ars Technica
April 30, 2026
FEMA reinstates 15 whistleblowers placed on leave for signing August "Katrina Declaration" protesting fired DHS Secretary Noem's gutting of disaster agency.
Source: NBC News
April 30, 2026
Flock surveillance employees accessed cameras in children's gymnastics room and Jewish community center pool during sales demos, public records reveal, as company expands across U.S. police departments.
Source: 404 Media
April 30, 2026
Medicare portal exposed dozens of provider Social Security numbers in DOGE-led directory that Sens. Wyden and Merkley flagged for rushed rollout in November.
Source: The Washington Post [gift link]
April 30, 2026
Air Force agrees to buy interceptor drones from Powerus, a West Palm Beach company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
Source: Bloomberg
April 30, 2026
ICE releases Mississippi high school brothers detained at school bus stop with valid F-1 student visas after Republican Sen. Wicker's office and Sen. Hyde-Smith's office press the case.
Source: WDBD Jackson MS
April 30, 2026