Third Cabinet member departs; Kash Patel sues over magazine article
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The Supreme Court said it will hear arguments that Colorado should exempt Catholic entities from a nondiscrimination provision in its state-funded preschool program.
What to know today
- LABOR SECRETARY RESIGNS: Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned according to two sources with knowledge of the decision, making her the third Cabinet member to depart during President Donald Trump’s second term. She'd been facing an inspector general probe over potential misconduct.
- KASH PATEL LAWSUIT: FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit over a report in The Atlantic magazine that alleged he drinks to excess and has had unexplained absences from the bureau.
- RELIGIOUS RIGHTS CASE: The Supreme Court today took up its latest case asserting religious rights claims, agreeing to hear arguments that Colorado should exempt Catholic entities from a nondiscrimination provision in its state-funded preschool program.
- TRUMP’S APPROVAL RATING: Trump's approval rating has sunk to a new low as Americans express growing concerns about rising costs and the war with Iran, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey.
Graham Platner seizes on voter backlash to the Iran war to propel his Maine Senate campaign
Graham Platner during a rally at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, in Portland, Maine, on Saturday. Sofia Aldinio for NBC News
Graham Platner, a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and grew deeply disillusioned with war, is angry about Trump’s military action in Iran.
Rep. Nancy Mace introduces measure to expel fellow Republican Cory Mills from Congress
Nancy Mace and Cory Mills. Anadolu ;CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution today to expel Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., from Congress over accusations that include sexual misconduct.
Mills is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee in connection with allegations of “sexual misconduct and/or dating violence” and campaign finance violations. He has denied any wrongdoing.
While some Democrats have called for his expulsion, Mace went further by announcing this evening that she had filed a measure that would remove him from office.
“The swamp has protected Cory Mills for far too long and we are done letting it slide,” Mace said in a statement. “We tried to censure him and strip him from his committee assignments. Both parties blocked it, but we are not backing down.”
Democratic Rep. Analilia Mejia of New Jersey sworn in after winning special election
Rep. Analilia Mejia, D-N.J., was sworn in this evening by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the House floor.
She won a special election last week to fill the seat previously held by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
The House balance of power is now 217 Republicans and 214 Democrats, plus independent Rep. Kevin Kiley, who still caucuses with Republicans. A majority is 217 Republicans, so if Kiley votes with the GOP, the House can only afford to lose one member and still have a majority.
Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi, first U.S. governor of Asian American descent, dies at 100
Former Hawaii Gov. George R. Ariyoshi — the nation’s first Asian American governor — has died at 100 years old.
Governor-elect of Hawaii George Ariyoshi in November 1974. Bettmann / Getty Images
Ariyoshi, a Democrat who led the state from 1973 to 1986, died peacefully while surrounded by family last night, according to a statement today from current Gov. Josh Green.
“Governor Ariyoshi devoted his life to Hawaiʻi with humility, discipline and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the people he served,” Green said. “He led our state during a pivotal moment with quiet strength and integrity, and his legacy as a trailblazer and public servant will endure for generations.”
Ariyoshi was a three-term governor who first rose to the position in October 1973. Three years earlier, he had been elected lieutenant governor, and he then became acting governor when Gov. John Burns fell ill with cancer.
Trump invokes Defense Production Act to fund energy projects
Trump today signed five presidential determinations, invoking the Defense Production Act to fund energy projects, as the White House aims to curb the impacts of rising oil and gas prices stemming from the war in Iran.
“President Trump promised to fully unleash American energy dominance to protect our economic and national security — today’s determinations allow the Department of Energy to use funding secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill to strengthen our grid infrastructure and unleash reliable, affordable, secure energy,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said on X.
Bloomberg was first to report the development.
The determinations cover grid infrastructure, equipment and supply chain capacity, manufacturing and deployment of large-scale energy and energy-related infrastructure, natural gas transmission, processing, storage and liquefied natural gas capacity, coal supply chains and baseload power generation capacity, domestic petroleum production, and refining and logistics capacity.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned according to two sources with knowledge of the decision, making her the third Cabinet member to depart during Trump’s second term.
Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, resigns. Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Chavez-DeRemer had been facing a probe from the Labor Department’s inspector general for potential misconduct. That investigation has already resulted in multiple of her top staffers being placed on administrative leave and then ultimately leaving their posts.
Nick Oberheiden, an attorney for Chavez-DeRemer, told NBC News that her resignation “is not the result of legal wrongdoings. It is a personal decision.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung on Monday confirmed Chavez-DeRemer’s departure.
House Ethics Committee encourages victims of sexual misconduct by lawmakers and staffers to contact the panel
The House Ethics Committee released a statement today encouraging “anyone who may have experienced sexual misconduct by a House Member or staffer, or who has knowledge of such conduct” to contact the bipartisan panel.
It also released a list of publicly disclosed investigations by the committee into House lawmakers who were accused of sexual misconduct. The list, dating back to 1976, details the outcome of each probe, including whether the committee lost jurisdiction due a lawmaker's resignation.
“Over the last decade, the Committee has adopted a more aggressive and robust approach to allegations of sexual misconduct,” the committee said today. “Since 2017, the Committee has initiated investigations in 20 matters involving allegations of sexual misconduct by a Member.”
The list includes former Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, both of whom resigned from the House last week. Swalwell is facing allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, while Gonzales acknowledged a romantic relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide. Swalwell has denied the allegations against him.
The committee's list also notes that the investigation into allegations of “sexual misconduct and/or dating violence” and campaign finance violations by Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., is ongoing. Mills has denied wrongdoing.
Some lawmakers have warned that Congress hasn't done enough to protect staff from sexual misconduct, with some members taking action to provide a safe space to report allegations.
Democrat Betty Yee drops out of crowded California governor's race
Former California state Controller Betty Yee dropped out of the state’s packed race for governor today after lagging behind in polling and fundraising.
Yee’s announcement comes eight days after former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the race — following sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which he has denied — scrambled the contest. And it comes five days after a deadline that had been set by the state Democratic Party chairman, who implored candidates without a viable path to victory to end their campaigns.
Yee said she was not making an endorsement in the contest. Despite launching her campaign early — back in March 2024 — Yee had never polled higher than the low single digits.
The crowded and unsettled state of the race has led to concerns among Democrats that two Republicans could advance from the June 2 primary to the November general election. In California, all candidates regardless of party appear on the same primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters moving on.
Trump to hold tele-rally against Virginia’s redistricting referendum
Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will hold a tele-rally at 7:00 p.m. ET today for opponents of Virginia’s redistricting referendum, according to a person familiar with the matter, ahead of tomorrow’s election.
The news was first reported by Axios.
Rep.-elect Analilia Mejia will be sworn in this evening
Rep.-elect Analilia Mejia, D-N.J., will be sworn in this evening.
The progressive activist won the special election last week to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Mikie Sherrill after she was elected governor. The 11th Congressional District includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
Once she is sworn in, the House balance of power will be 217 Republicans and 214 Democrats, plus independent Rep. Kevin Kiley, of California, who caucuses with Republicans.
The narrow margin means Republicans will be able to lose only one vote, including Kiley's, and still advance legislation along largely party lines.
Sen. Mark Warner announces the death of his daughter: 'We are heartbroken beyond words'
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., announced in a statement that his family was "heartbroken beyond words" by the death of his 36-year-old daughter, Madison, "after a decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues."
"She filled our lives with love and laughter, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void," the statement said. "We are grateful for the loving support of friends and family during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we navigate this profound loss.
Warner did not provide further details about the cause of death.
Construction steals the spotlight at this year’s White House spring garden tours
The White House held its annual spring garden tours over the weekend, a rare opportunity for the public to grace the South Lawn and admire the historic gardens and greenery in bloom. But this year, heavy equipment, towering cranes and ongoing construction disrupted the scenes of spring serenity.
Traditional green spaces were notably different from years prior, with one garden ripped up and out of view, and another turned to stone. As visitors walked along the South Lawn driveway, cranes moved overhead, and construction workers made progress on the president’s latest projects.
Visitors were first greeted by the construction barrier lining the site of the president’s proposed ballroom. Out of view were the spots where the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden and the East Wing used to be, although both were torn down last year to make way for the president’s ballroom project.
On the other side of the South Lawn, visitors could see the Rose Garden, which previously boasted lush grass that was replaced with white stone last year for what Trump now refers to as “The Rose Garden Club.” The space is often filled with patio tables and yellow umbrellas, similar to his private clubs.
Beyond the new patio, the “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a gallery of presidential portraits, on the West Colonnade was covered in plastic as workers could be seen replacing the previously white colonnade walkway with black granite. At the same time, other construction workers were busy installing a new walkway that leads from the Oval Office to the driveway.
Some of the president’s more completed additions were also in view, such as the towering flagpole on the South Lawn, newly placed statues in the Rose Garden, and gold embellishments added to the West Colonnade.
The completed and ongoing projects largely stole the show of this year’s White House spring garden tours as the president continues to reshape the White House and beyond.
Kash Patel sues over report alleging drinking and absences
FBI Director Kash Patel filed a lawsuit today against The Atlantic over a story it published Friday that alleged he drinks to excess and has had unexplained absences at the bureau.
Patel's attorneys allege in the lawsuit that the story is a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece,” and Patel is seeking $250 million from the magazine.
Epstein survivor says it’s not too late to expose what happened at his New Mexico ranch
STANLEY, N.M. — More than two decades after she was sexually abused at Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch, Rachel Benavidez is still waiting for someone to be held responsible for crimes there.
She is among at least 10 girls and young women who have alleged they were groomed or assaulted at Zorro Ranch, Epstein’s gated compound, beginning in the late 1990s. Benavidez and others said they were lured by promises of money or career help, then found themselves trapped, surrounded by miles of dry grassland with no neighbors in sight. They said they were groped, forced into nude massages, assaulted with sex toys, raped. They overcame paralyzing fear to share their ordeals again and again. And yet authorities have never fully investigated what happened at the ranch.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani describes his relationship with Trump as ‘honest, direct and productive’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called his relationship with Trump “honest, direct and productive” in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Wednesday, one day before Trump said Mamdani is “destroying New York” by proposing a new property tax on wealthy New Yorkers.
“He’s the president of the United States of America. I’m the mayor of New York City, and we know that so much of what the city needs is also dependent on a relationship with the federal administration,” Mamdani said in an interview marking his first 100 days in office that aired yesterday.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren rallies with Graham Platner in Maine’s heated Democratic Senate primary
PORTLAND, Maine — At a packed rally Saturday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called on voters to support political newcomer Graham Platner in a closely watched Democratic primary to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
“I’m here because Washington needs fighters, and Graham Platner is the fighter we need,” Warren told the crowd. “Graham is a combat veteran. He’s an oyster farmer, he is an organizer, and he is the person who is going to beat Susan Collins.”
The primary has divided the party: Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are backing Platner, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is supporting two-term Gov. Janet Mills.
Supreme Court takes up Catholic objection to Colorado’s preschool program
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court today took up its latest case asserting religious rights claims, agreeing to hear arguments that Colorado should exempt Catholic entities from a nondiscrimination provision in its state-funded preschool program.
The Archdiocese of Denver, which runs 34 preschools, says it is excluded from the statewide program because of a nondiscrimination rule that prohibits preschools from refusing admission to any child on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Trump tariff refund portal launches today
NEW YORK — A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the Supreme Court ruled Trump imposed without the constitutional authority to do so is scheduled to launch today.
Importers and their brokers will be able to begin claiming refunds through an online portal beginning at 8 a.m., according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency administering the system.
It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might eventually lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for some or all of the tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States.
Companies must submit declarations listing the goods on which they collectively put billions of dollars toward the import taxes the court subsequently struck down. If CBP approves a claim, it will take 60-90 days for a refund to be issued, the agency said.
The government expects to process refunds in phases, however, focusing first on more recent tariff payments. Any number of technical factors and procedural issues could delay an importer’s application, so any reimbursements businesses plan to make to customers likely would trickled down slowly.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court on Feb. 20 found that Trump usurped Congress’ tax-setting role last April when he set new import tax rates on products from almost every other country, citing the U.S. trade deficit as a national emergency that warranted his invoking of a 1977 emergency powers law.
Although the court majority did not address refunds in its ruling, a judge at the U.S. Court of International Trade determined last month that companies subjected to IEEPA tariffs were entitled to money back.
CBP said in court filings that more than 330,000 importers paid a total of about $166 billion on over 53 million shipments.
Not all of those orders qualify for the first phase of the refund system’s rollout, which is limited to cases in which tariffs were estimated but not finalized or within 80 days of a final accounting.
To receive refunds, importers have to register for the CPB’s electronic payment system. As of April 14, 56,497 importers had completed registration and were eligible for refunds totaling $127 billion, including interest, the agency said.
Jenna Bush Hager sits down with former Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden
Each of the four former U.S. presidents — Joe Biden, 83; Barack Obama, 64; Bill Clinton, 79; and George W. Bush, 79 — sat down with “TODAY” co-host Jenna Bush Hager and shared a message for the American people ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in July.
Bush Hager, the daughter of former President Bush, shared today in a “TODAY” exclusive that she spoke individually with each at a private event over the weekend in Philadelphia hosted by the History Channel. The event, named “History Talks,” traditionally features former presidents, and was done in partnership with Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal.
The “TODAY” co-host also asked each of the four former presidents about what inspired them to run for the highest office in the nation — and what moments were most meaningful to them during their time in the Oval Office.
U.S. military strike on alleged drug boat kills 3 in Caribbean Sea
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said it launched another strike on a boat accused of ferrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people yesterday.
The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up alleged dru trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has persisted since early September and killed at least 181 people in total. Other strikes have taken place in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Poll: Trump’s approval rating hits second-term low as Americans sour on the economy and Iran war
Trump’s job approval rating has sunk to a new low as Americans express growing concerns about rising costs and the war with Iran, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey.
Overall, 37% of adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 63% disapprove — including 50% who said they disapprove strongly — putting his job rating at the lowest point of his second term in NBC News Decision Desk polling. Two-thirds of respondents also disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation and the Iran conflict.
Justice Department demands Michigan county turn over 2024 ballots
The Justice Department has demanded Wayne County, Michigan, turn over all ballots from the November 2024 election, another escalation of the Trump administration’s voting inquiries.
In a letter to the chief election official of Wayne County dated April 14, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon cited three convictions for election fraud and five lawsuits against the county that alleged election fraud. Dhillon gave the county 14 days to produce the requested documents, which included ballots, ballot receipts and ballot envelopes.
Trump loyalist Joe diGenova now leading ‘grand conspiracy’ probe of president's targets
Joe diGenova, a former Trump campaign lawyer who backed his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, will head up a Florida-based federal investigation into former federal officials who investigated Trump, a Justice Department official confirmed to NBC News on this weekend.
DiGenova, 81, who was U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia during the Reagan era, will lead a sprawling investigation targeting Trump’s enemies, reaching all the way back to a previous Justice Department inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
New poll reveals how Trump’s support among young Americans is significantly changing
Young Americans are down on the state of the country. They’re pessimistic about their future. And, in increasing numbers, they disapprove of Trump and how he’s handling the issue most important to them: the economy.
