Month: May 2026

President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff against longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, delivering a major setback to Cornyn just days before voters return to the polls. The endorsement lands at a critical point in the race, in which neither Paxton nor Cornyn secured a majority in Texas’ March Republican primary, forcing a May 26 runoff (after Cornyn narrowly led with roughly 42% of the vote to Paxton’s 41%.)  Early voting began Monday.

In a Truth Social post Tuesday, Trump praised Paxton as “a true MAGA Warrior” and “a WINNER,” while criticizing Cornyn for failing to support him during difficult political moments, particularly during the 2024 campaign cycle. Although Trump acknowledged that Cornyn had been “a good man” to work with, he emphasized that the senator had been slow to endorse him. For months, Cornyn had worked to rebuild ties with Trump and secure the president’s backing, while Paxton positioned himself as the more loyal conservative ally.

Paxton welcomed the endorsement, calling it an “incredible honor,” while fellow Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt quickly followed by backing Paxton as well, writing: “To EVERY supporter who believed in what we fought for, I am now asking you to unite behind the next United States Senator from Texas. He has the total and complete endorsement of President Donald Trump, and he has mine as well.”

Trump had hinted since March that he would soon endorse a candidate and even suggested the losing contender should step aside to avoid prolonging the expensive battle. Cornyn responded by arguing that Republican voters must decide whether they want a nominee capable of protecting the GOP seat in November or someone who could put it at risk. Senate Republican leaders have long viewed Cornyn as the safer general-election candidate, especially against Democratic nominee James Talarico, who has already consolidated Democratic support and built a well-funded campaign. Talarico dismissed the Republican infighting after Trump’s endorsement, saying, “it doesn’t matter who wins this runoff,” while framing his campaign as a fight against wealthy political donors and entrenched power.

The race has also exposed divisions inside the Republican Party. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who had quietly pushed Trump to support Cornyn, reacted cautiously by saying only that the endorsement was “his decision.” Other GOP senators voiced deeper concerns. Lisa Murkowski said she was “supremely disappointed,” warning Republicans could jeopardize a traditionally red Texas seat. Susan Collins described Paxton as “ethically challenged,” while Lindsey Graham acknowledged that a Paxton candidacy would likely require significantly more campaign spending.

Paxton has built his political identity around unwavering support for Trump. He backed efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, spoke at the rally before the January 6 Capitol attack, and was among the earliest officials to endorse Trump’s 2024 comeback bid. He also appeared at Trump’s criminal trial in New York in support of the former president. However, despite strong backing from conservative votersPaxton’s political career has been shadowed by controversy. Since taking office in 2015, he has faced securities fraud allegations, survived a 2023 impeachment trial in Texas, and dealt with public accusations regarding infidelity during divorce proceedings involving state Sen. Angela Paxton. Paxton has repeatedly argued that the investigations against him were politically motivated.

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Health officials are sounding the alarm over a fast-growing Ebola outbreak spreading across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning about the crisis’s rapid escalation and the challenges of containing it.

According to Congolese health authorities, at least 131 people have died and more than 500 suspected cases have been identified. The outbreak is centered in the conflict-ridden Ituri province in eastern Congo, though infections have also appeared in Uganda and other areas connected by cross-border travel and mining activity.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he is “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic,” especially because the outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola — a variant with no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The virus went undetected for weeks, complicating efforts to slow its spread. Health experts say ongoing violence, population movement and funding shortages are making the response even more difficult. WHO officials say medical supplies, including protective equipment, are being rushed into affected areas. Still, aid agencies warn that cuts to global health funding could weaken the response at a critical moment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had confirmed that at least one American in Congo tested positive for Ebola and said several additional high-risk contacts are also being relocated to Germany for monitoring or treatment. U.S. officials stressed that the risk to the American public remains low because Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids rather than through the air.

Among those infected is American missionary Dr. Peter Stafford, who contracted the virus while treating patients at Nyankunde Hospital in Congo. Stafford, who has worked in the region since 2023 with the Christian missions organization Serge, reportedly developed symptoms including fever and fatigue before testing positive. Serge said in a statement that Stafford was exposed during medical procedures at the hospital and has since been evacuated to Germany for treatment. His wife, Rebekah Stafford, and fellow physician Patrick LaRochelle remain in quarantine and are being monitored, though neither has shown symptoms. Serge executive director Matt Allison: “Peter’s doing well, all things considered. He’s sick. He’s sad to be away from his family, but he’s getting the best care available to him.”

The CDC has activated emergency response operations and is coordinating with the State Department, airlines and international health agencies. The U.S. is also preparing temporary entry restrictions for some foreign travelers who recently visited affected regions in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan.

The outbreak marks Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola epidemic since the virus was first identified in the 1970s. The Bundibugyo strain has only caused two previous known outbreaks — in Uganda in 2007 and Congo in 2012 — with fatality rates ranging from 30% to 50%. Early symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. As the illness progresses, patients may develop vomiting, diarrhea, organ failure and internal or external bleeding. Family members, caregivers and healthcare workers face the highest risk because the virus spreads through close physical contact.

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A deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego left five adults dead, including two suspected gunman, and prompted a massive law enforcement response in the city’s Clairemont neighborhood.

Police said officers were called to the mosque and adjoining school shortly before noon after reports of violence at the complex, located about eight miles north of downtown San Diego. When officers arrived, they discovered three men dead outside the building. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators later received additional calls about gunfire nearby. A landscaper working in the area was reportedly targeted but was not hurt.

Soon afterward, officers located a vehicle a short distance away containing two suspected shooters, believed to be 17 and 18 years old. Authorities said both appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and investigators do not believe police fired any shots during the encounter.  Among those killed was a security guard at the mosque, whom Wahl credited with playing a “pivotal” role in helping prevent further casualties. According to CNN, one of the suspects was identified as Cain Clark. Hours before the attack, the 17-year-old’s mother told police her son and car were missing, along with three weapons.

The Islamic Center of San Diego, the county’s largest mosque, serves as both a place of worship and an educational campus with an Islamic school on site. An imam from the center said all students, teachers and staff members inside the school were safely accounted for following the shooting.

Investigators are still working to determine what led to the attack. Wahl said authorities are examining events that may have occurred beforehand, noting that incidents like this rarely happen without warning signs. For now, police are treating the case as a possible hate crime “until it’s not. The circumstances that led up to this, and the details of what happened in exactly which time it happened, will come out in the days ahead.” He also praised the large-scale emergency response, saying officers from across the region immediately rushed toward danger after hearing reports of gunfire.

The FBI is assisting in the investigation. FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily confirmed the two suspects were found dead inside the nearby vehicle. In response to the shooting, the Los Angeles Police Department announced increased patrols around mosques, Islamic centers and other houses of worship across Los Angeles, while emphasizing there is no known threat to the city.

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President Donald Trump, along with sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and the Trump Organization, has agreed to dismiss a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service as part of a settlement with the Justice Department that creates a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for people claiming they were unfairly targeted by government investigations.

The Justice Department announced the establishment of the Anti-Weaponization Fund to hear and redress claims of targeting by previous administrations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Monday that the agreement will establish a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” designed to review complaints from individuals who say they were victims of politically motivated investigations or “lawfare.” The Justice Department said the Trumps will not receive financial compensation, though they will receive a formal apology. “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Blanche said. “As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

Trump originally filed the lawsuit in January in federal court in Miami, accusing the IRS and Treasury Department of improperly allowing former contractor Charles Littlejohn to leak his tax records to media organizations in 2019 and 2020. Littlejohn later pleaded guilty and received a five-year prison sentence for disclosing confidential tax information. The lawsuit claimed the leak damaged the Trump family’s reputation and business interests, alleging the disclosures caused financial harm and public embarrassment.

Under the settlement, the newly created fund will be overseen by a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general. The panel will have authority to review claims, issue formal apologies, and potentially award compensation to approved applicants. The DOJ said claims will no longer be accepted after Dec. 15, 2028, and any remaining money will return to the federal government.

As part of the agreement, Trump also agreed to withdraw separate administrative claims tied to investigations involving Mar-a-Lago and the Russia inquiry.

Court filings submitted Monday the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida confirmed the lawsuit was dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning the same claims cannot be brought again. Trump’s legal team also argued the dismissal does not require judicial approval, effectively sidestepping further review from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, who had recently questioned whether a sitting president could legally sue agencies under his own administration.

The settlement quickly drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and ethics groups. Ninety-three Democratic members of Congress attempted to intervene in the case, warning the arrangement could direct taxpayer money toward Trump allies. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sharply condemned the deal, calling it “the most brazen act of self-dealing in the history of the presidency.” The organization argued the fund could potentially benefit political supporters and raised concerns about constitutional issues tied to presidential financial interests.

Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team defended the settlement, saying the president pursued the agreement “for the benefit of the American people” and would continue efforts to hold government agencies accountable for alleged political targeting.

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