🏛 US-Politik-Nachrichten

• Maine Governor Janet Mills announced on Thursday that she will withdraw her planned Senate bid, removing herself from the Democratic primary and effectively clearing the way for state Senator Ben Chipman to enter an open contest. • Mills cited family considerations and the toll of a high‑profile Senate race as key reasons, saying that Maine “needs steady leadership” in the governor’s office as she continues her second term. • Her exit reshapes the state’s political map, likely sparing Democrats from a bruising intra‑party primary in a state that has recently trended purple in national elections.

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Homeland Security appropriations bill on Thursday, clearing the way to end a two‑month agency shutdown that had idled parts of federal immigration, border, and cybersecurity operations. • President Donald Trump signed the measure shortly after, restoring full funding for the Department of Homeland Security and averting potential disruptions to airport security, deportation operations, and border enforcement through the fiscal year. • The shutdown clash pitted Trump allies against centrist Republicans and Democrats over border enforcement levels, but the final bill preserved core Trump‑era border initiatives while softening some hard‑line spending demands.

• A Pennsylvania state court ordered election officials to draw a new congressional map by June 2026, ruling that the current Republican‑backed map unlawfully diluted the voting strength of Black and Latino communities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. • The judge found that the existing districts concentrated minority voters into a handful of “safe” Democratic seats, limiting their influence in neighboring competitive districts and violating state constitutional protections for equal representation. • The decision threatens Republican hopes of holding a narrow House majority in 2026 and could force the legislature into a court‑supervised redistricting process if lawmakers cannot agree on a replacement map.

• The U.S. Congress passed a 45‑day stopgap extension of a controversial law granting warrantless surveillance authority under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, giving lawmakers more time to debate limits on bulk data collection. • The extension narrowly averted an automatic lapse of the surveillance regime, which intelligence officials say underpins roughly half of the National Security Agency’s counterterrorism and counter‑espionage operations. • Civil‑liberties groups criticized the short‑term fix, arguing that the U.S. government continues to collect vast amounts of Americans’ digital communications without individualized warrants, while the White House pressed Congress to restore full Section 702 powers.

• A bipartisan advisory panel convened under President Biden’s tech‑regulation agenda delivered a draft report recommending that Congress ban politically targeted digital ads that spread “clearly false or misleading information” about voting procedures, candidates, or ballot access. • The panel, whose members include former FEC commissioners and civil‑rights leaders, argues that such ads undermine trust in elections and disproportionately affect voters of color, urging platforms to adopt stricter labeling and ad‑library rules. • The proposal sparks backlash from free‑speech advocates, who warn that any government‑defined standard for political misinformation could chill legitimate debate and benefit incumbent parties.

• The Justice Department announced an expanded criminal investigation into fundraising and expenditure patterns of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and related political action committees, focusing on compliance with federal campaign finance and foreign‑donor laws. • Investigators are examining at least a dozen large donations that may have been routed through shell corporate accounts or foreign‑linked entities, according to law‑enforcement officials briefed on the probe. • White House spokespeople framed the action as part of “routine post‑election review,” while Trump allies accuse the department of partisan bias and warn that any charges could ignite a political firestorm ahead of the 2026 midterms.

• Hundreds gathered at the U.S. Supreme Court on April 29, 2026, for arguments on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, with justices scrutinizing President Trump's authority to end the program. • The bench appeared skeptical of broad executive power to revoke deportation amnesties, per reports from the hearing. • A ruling could impact thousands facing deportation and test limits on immigration executive actions ahead of midterms.

• House Democrats skeptically questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the first time since the Iran war began, pressing on strategy and costs during an April 29 hearing. • One Democrat accused Hegseth of partisanship, quoting his prior statements back at him in a heated exchange. • The confrontation highlights partisan divides over the war's economic toll and Trump's foreign policy amid plunging approval ratings.

• The U.S. Justice Department charged Sinaloa state Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Mexican officials with aiding the Sinaloa drug cartel on April 29, 2026. • Indictments allege corruption including money laundering and protection rackets, marking a major blow to cartel operations. • This escalates U.S.-Mexico tensions on fentanyl crisis and border security, with potential extradition battles ahead.

• Ex-FBI Director James Comey surrendered to authorities and appeared in court on April 29, 2026, facing DOJ charges for allegedly threatening President Trump's life via a seashell social media post. • Prosecutors claim the post symbolized a threat, leading to swift federal action amid heightened political tensions. • The case underscores escalating rhetoric between Trump allies and former officials, potentially influencing 2026 midterm dynamics.

• Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced plans on April 29, 2026, to suspend House primaries after a court ruling on congressional maps intensified redistricting fights. • The decision stems from ongoing battles over racial gerrymandering, with dozens more cases looming before midterms. • Suspension could delay elections and reshape GOP strategies in the state.

• The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a Senate-approved budget resolution on April 29, 2026, enabling billions in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). • Republicans utilized a filibuster-skirting procedure to advance the blueprint, criticized by Democrats like Congresswoman Doris Matsui as prioritizing enforcement over other needs. • This move supports Trump administration immigration policies amid ongoing border security debates and midterm election pressures.

• Gas prices have surged above $4 per gallon and flights skyrocketed as the Strait of Hormuz blockade impacts energy markets amid the US-Israel war with Iran, eroding Trump's key political advantage. • More than three-quarters of registered voters—including over half of Republicans and 82% of independents—now blame Trump for the cost-of-living crisis affecting fuel, groceries, housing, and healthcare. • Trump's second-term approval ratings have fallen far faster than previous presidents after a government shutdown, tariffs, and the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warning the war is fueling inflation.

• The Supreme Court decided on April 29, 2026, whether Louisiana's new congressional map constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, marking a significant ruling on voting rights and district boundaries. • The case, Louisiana v. Callais, examined Louisiana's 2022 redrawn congressional districts that were previously challenged in federal court under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. • This decision affects ongoing redistricting battles across the country as states prepare for the 2026 midterm elections, with implications for both Democratic and Republican seat counts.

• A suspect was charged on Monday with attempting to assassinate President Trump after storming the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with multiple weapons in April 2026. • The incident has intensified partisan disputes over political rhetoric and violence, with both parties blaming the other's language for contributing to the escalation. • The alleged assassination attempt has shocked Washington and drawn comparisons to historical political violence, prompting discussions about security and the current political climate.

• 88-year-old DC congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton responded defiantly to the most serious federal threat to the city's government in 30 years from Trump. • Norton, supported by Muriel Bowser allies, views Trump's actions as a political win for local control. • The standoff underscores ongoing power struggles between federal and DC governance.

• In New York City Council race, Zohran Mamdani's endorsement faces doubt as the incumbent struggles with low polls and a split base. • The defiant candidate refuses to step aside for a centrist challenger despite poor numbers. • This local race signals shifting Democratic dynamics in urban politics for national implications.

• A politically ambitious Connecticut Democrat abandoned bipartisan negotiations on government funding amid party pressure for inclusion. • The walkout escalates tensions over federal budget priorities and spending cuts. • This could delay funding bills critical for upcoming fiscal deadlines.