US justice department ‘forever’ bars IRS from auditing Trump’s past tax returns Addendum quietly slipped into widely criticized agreement creating a $1.7bn fund to compensate president’s allies The Guardian - US · May 19
A third of Republican voters want to move in a new direction and away from Trump, poll finds A 55% majority of crucial, GOP-leaning independents generally oppose Trump’s policies, survey finds The Independent UK · May 19
Crude Oil Prices Slip on Diplomatic Hopes to End Iran War June WTI crude oil (CLM26 ) on Tuesday closed down -0.89 (-0.82%), and June RBOB gasoline (RBM26 ) closed down -0.0645 (-1.72%). Crude oil and gasoline prices retreated on Tuesday after the dollar index ($DXY ) jumped to a 6-week high. Crude prices also moved lower after President Trump late... Barchart · May 19
JD Vance just tried to reassure America. He made everything so much worse ANALYSIS: Tasked with making Iran, the president and a slush fund for Trump allies sound good, the VP dug his heels in — and proved exactly why he remains so unpopular to Americans across the political spectrum, writes Holly Baxter The Independent UK · May 19
Trump and Mark Cuban end war of words to tag-team America's drug pricing crisis: ‘Democrats want cheaper medications, too’ Trump seemed to relish winning the support of his onetime foe, turning to Cuban and saying, “Well, he made a mistake. It was a big mistake.” Fortune · May 19
Trump's Gaza board reports funding 'gap', urges quicker disbursement The report did not say how much money it had received or how big the gap was, though it said that the amount pledged remained $17 billion. The Board of Peace did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Board of Peace official said the board had been… The Economic Times · May 19
Lying ICE Officer Exposed After Framing Innocent Victims in the Minnesota Immigrant Shooting An ICE agent is charged with assault and false reporting after shooting a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis. Video evidence contradicts the initial federal narrative, sparking legal and jurisdictional debates. International Business Times UK · May 19
JD Vance says Hunter Biden ‘welcome’ to apply for some of taxpayer $1.8B in Trump’s ‘lawfare’ fund ‘This is about compensating Americans for the lawfare they experienced under the last administration,’ Vance said Tuesday The Independent UK · May 19
Trump says he was ‘an hour away’ from launching Iran attack and threatens ‘another big hit’ IN FULL The Independent UK · May 19
Timeline of how US-Cuba tensions escalated to possible Raúl Castro indictment This development unfolds as the US navigates an uneasy ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with Iran The Independent UK · May 19
U.S. Investigates Whether Chinese Firms Cut Shipping Container Output Before COVID: Report Federal authorities are reportedly investigating whether Chinese companies deliberately restricted production of shipping containers just before the COVID-19 pandemic, a move that could have worsened one of the most painful supply chain shocks in recent history. International Business Times · May 19
Trump turns to Middle East allies as deal to end Iran war proves elusive President claims planned Tehran attack postponed to allow talks to continue – but no indication peace plan is imminent The Guardian - US · May 19
The Guardian - US · May 19 Rubio criticizes WHO’s Ebola response as US continues sweeping public health cuts US secretary of state says WHO was ‘a little late’ in identifying deadly Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda
The Conversation · May 19 5 reasons Stephen Colbert is one of the most important satirists in American history Stephen Colbert’s final episode as host of “The Late Show” on May 21, 2026, won’t mark the end of his career.
The Times of India · May 19 Indian family of 4 completes 3 months in Texas ICE detention; 12-year-old bleeding in stool, his sister vomiting frequently The Indian family of four - parents and two kids -- completes almost 90 days at Dilley detention center in Texas, with their future looking bleak and their health deteriorating. They were arrested in February during a routine check-in appointment and were put in the controversial center which reopened after…
The Independent UK · May 19 Democrat Senator clashes with acting AG Todd Blanche: ‘You’re acting like Trump’s personal attorney’ A Democrat Senator accused acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of acting like the president’s personal attorney over a new ‘slush fund’ to give taxpayer money to Trump allies and acolytes.
International Business Times · May 19 One-Third of Republican Supporters Want GOP to Move Beyond Trump, New Poll Shows President Donald Trump remains the dominant force in Republican politics, but a new poll shows that a significant number of GOP voters and Republican-leaning independents are beginning to look for a different path after his second term as president ends in 2028.
The Conversation · May 19 San Diego mosque shooting reflects how online rhetoric, media depictions and political discourse contribute to increased Islamophobia Many Muslim Americans are fearful following a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three worshipers dead. Investigators reportedly found hate speech and anti-Islamic writing inside the vehicle of the suspected shooters, who killed themselves soon after the attack.
The Independent UK · May 19 Voices: Trump and Putin agree on one thing – Xi is key to ending their wars in Iran and Ukraine THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: Editorial: The leaders of both declining superpowers have headed to Beijing stuck in conflicts they started but cannot finish – giving China a chance to build a role in the world where it actively works for peace rather than against it
The Economic Times · May 19 Weaponised dependency: Chinese mercantilism is more damaging to global trade than Trump tariffs The recent US-China summit saw improved engagement but little progress on global economic challenges. China's trade practices continue to impact global markets. The US seeks a weaker dollar to address its economic imbalances. Both nations are weaponizing trade dependencies, leading to tech sector balkanization. India must focus on reforms to…
The Guardian - UK · May 19 Trump threatens ‘a big hit’ if Tehran does not make deal soon Renewed threat comes after US president said he was ‘an hour away’ from ordering a strike before pulling back
The Texas Tribune · May 19 In GOP attorney general runoff, two hard-right conservatives spar over experience, Trump loyalty State Sen. Mayes Middleton says Rep. Chip Roy betrayed the MAGA movement, while Roy says Middleton isn't qualified to work at the attorney general’s office, let alone lead it.
Latin Times · May 19 Trump Calls High Gas Prices "Peanuts" as Americans Pay More at the Pump President Donald Trump dismissed the economic pain of rising gas prices as "peanuts" Tuesday, even as Americans face the highest fuel costs in years and inflation shows new signs of pressure from the war with Iran.