Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home Thursday rather than vote on Trump’s war.
He didn’t have the votes. Senate Republicans also walked away from Trump’s $72 billion immigration enforcement bill, and Mitch McConnell called Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund “utterly stupid, morally wrong.” The Senate went home too.
Tens of thousands of service members stuck in the Gulf war zone don’t get a three-day weekend. Use 5 Calls or Resistbot to tell Congress to end the war when they return from Memorial Day recess.
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Unidentified substance at New Mexico home kills three and hospitalizes 18 first responders called to suspected overdose.
Today’s GovBrief News
Chula Vista police sought court order to remove guns from San Diego mosque shooter's home 16 months before attack, citing Nazi idolization.
Source: The San Diego Union Tribune
May 21, 2026
Trump deploys 5,000 additional troops to Poland citing his Nawrocki endorsement, weeks after pulling 5,000 from Germany over Merz's criticism.
Source: UPI
May 21, 2026
Iran reviews latest U.S. peace proposal as Trump says he is willing to wait "a couple of days" before resuming strikes.
Source: CBS News
May 21, 2026
Trump says he'll "try" to make Don Jr.'s Bahamas wedding this weekend, citing Iran war days after claiming the conflict was in "final stages."
Source: CNN
May 21, 2026
US-bound Americans from Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan must enter through Dulles only after Trump's administration cut $11.5 billion in virus monitoring.
Source: Scripps News
May 21, 2026
EPA loosens grocery store refrigerant rule from Trump's 2020 bipartisan climate law, pitching rollback of potent greenhouse gas as a grocery price fix.
Source: The Guardian
May 21, 2026
Louisiana House committee advances new congressional map eliminating second majority-Black district three weeks after Supreme Court's Callais ruling, hiding voided ballot counts from disclosure.
Source: The Louisiana Illuminator
May 21, 2026
Maine and Wisconsin judges become seventh and eighth to reject DOJ voter roll demands, Trump-appointed judge says interpretation takes a sledgehammer to congressional balance.
Source: CBS News
May 21, 2026
CFPB deletes 1,700 pre-Vought pages including medical debt and solar loan consumer advisories as Russell Vought seeks to cut staff from 1,174 to 556.
Source: NOTUS
May 21, 2026
Florida pays $485,000 to biologist fired over Kirk parody, second First Amendment payout this week after Tennessee's $835,000.
Source: The Florida Phoenix
May 21, 2026
DOJ charges 15 defendants in $90 million Minnesota Medicaid fraud sweep targeting autism, housing, and childcare programs as CMS withholds $350 million.
Source: KSTP St. Paul
May 21, 2026
Tennessee halts Tony Carruthers execution and grants one-year reprieve after medics cannot establish backup IV line per state protocol.
Source: NBC News
May 21, 2026
House defeats Smithsonian women's history museum bill 204-216 after Republicans add transgender exclusion and presidential site-relocation power.
Source: The Hill
May 21, 2026
Rep. Kean tells New Jersey Globe he'll return in weeks after missing 99 votes since March, will run for third term in toss-up district.
Source: The New Jersey Globe
May 21, 2026
Senate Republicans punt $72 billion ICE funding past Trump's June 1 deadline after McConnell rejects $1.8 billion DOJ slush fund.
Source: USA Today
May 21, 2026
Speaker Johnson pulls Iran war powers vote rather than lose first congressional rebuke of Trump's war to GOP defections.
Source: Axios
May 21, 2026
Labor Department appoints faith services director Wolfe to lead civil rights enforcement for up to 25% of U.S. workforce, an office set for elimination.
Source: Wired
May 21, 2026
Commerce Department takes equity stakes worth $2 billion in nine quantum firms including one backed by Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm and another taken public by a Pentagon official.
Source: Ars Technica
May 21, 2026
Trump postpones AI security order after Sacks, Musk, and Zuckerberg lobbied against pre-evaluation provisions in overnight phone calls.
Source: CNBC
May 21, 2026
Trump-appointed Fine Arts Commission approves 250-foot triumphal arch over public opposition as White House signals it will skip Congress entirely.
Source: ARLnow
May 21, 2026
Trump-appointed U.S. attorney drops Chicago immigration protest case with prejudice after judge scrutinizes prosecutor meeting with grand juror outside proceedings.
Source: The Associated Press
May 21, 2026