lower house of the United States Congress
Key FactsAward-Winning Trump Photo Captures Presidency Essence
11 hours ago · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: buzzfeed.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: buzzfeed.com
- The honored photograph depicts Trump gazing away while a man nearby faints.
- Captured by Andrew Harnik in 2025, the image received recognition for excellence in presidential news coverage.
- Observers widely regard the picture as a defining symbol of the Trump administration.
- The photo also sparked humorous reactions linked to Trump's recent claim about a Jesus portrayal.
The White House on Wednesday called allegations involving former Representative Eric Swalwell “disgusting,” with press secretary Karoline Leavitt urging ... Show more
How Eric Swalwell's fall was brought on by a network of women who organized online
npr.org/2026/04/15/nx-s1-5784021/eric-swalwell-resignation-california-congress
Key FactsDemocrats Push to Impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth
22 hours ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: time.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: time.com
- Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing abuse of power and war crimes allegations.
- The six articles include unauthorized war actions against Iran and reckless endangerment of U.S. service members without congressional approval.
- Hegseth is accused of violating laws of armed conflict by targeting civilian infrastructure, including a girls' school in Minab, Iran.
- The Pentagon and White House defended Hegseth’s leadership, highlighting the success of Operation Epic Fury against the accusations.
escalating a devastating, illegal war, threatening massive war crimes and targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran— Yassamin Ansari, Democratic representative from Arizona, accusing Trump of escalating a devastating, illegal war and threatening war crimes in Iran
Vance says pope should ‘be careful’ when talking about theology: While speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vice President JD Vance said ...
nbcnews.com/video/vance-says-pope-should-be-careful-when-talking-about-theology-261400645540
Key FactsVP Vance Challenges Pope on War and Theology
6 hours ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: theatlantic.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: theatlantic.com
- Vice President Vance openly criticized Pope Leo XIV’s condemnation of the U.S. war in Iran, questioning the pope’s theological authority.
- Pope Leo XIV condemned war as incompatible with Christian discipleship, emphasizing that followers of Christ should reject violence.
- Vance dismissed centuries-old just-war doctrine and lectured the pope, despite Leo’s background in Augustinian theology.
- The head of the U.S. Catholic bishops rebuked Vance, affirming the pope’s role as the supreme pastor preaching the Gospel.
Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.— Pope Leo XIV, in a public declaration about war and peace
OpinionWhat Brought Down Eric Swalwell: Jon Allsop on the downfall of former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, and how the attention economy produced a moment of ...
newyorker.com/news/the-lede/what-brought-down-eric-swalwell
Key FactsEric Swalwell’s Fall: Media Influence and Political Reckoning
1 days ago · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: newyorker.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: newyorker.com
- Eric Swalwell faced multiple sexual misconduct allegations in 2026 that ultimately ended his political career.
- Social media influencers initially amplified the accusations and connected the accusers with established news organizations like CNN.
- Swalwell denied the most serious claims but admitted poor judgment, suspending his gubernatorial bid and resigning from Congress.
- The situation highlights how modern media ecosystems, combining legacy journalism and digital influencers, can hasten political accountability.
Katie Miller Said 'Liberal Men Aren't Attractive' — And You Know What Happened Next
huffpost.com/entry/katie-miller-shri-thanedar-stephen-miller_n_69e0e36fe4b023b635da659c
Mike Johnson Says The Pope Had It Coming
huffpost.com/entry/latest-news-live-updates_n_69dcb4aae4b00247ba9c0bc9/liveblog_69dfaaf9e4b0223b4584addf
Key FactsJohnson Backs Trump Amid Pope Leo Feud
1 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
- Mike Johnson suggested Pope Leo XIV invited political backlash by commenting on the Iran conflict.
- President Trump attacked the pope for being weak on crime and foreign policy after the pope’s anti-war remarks.
- Johnson cited the just war doctrine to support military actions aimed at combating terrorism sponsors.
- The U.S. Catholic Bishops clarified the pope only endorses war as legitimate self-defense after peace efforts fail.
Enough of war!— Pope Leo XIV during Mass, responding to remarks about war and not naming Trump specifically.
Randy Rep Boebert Gives ‘Horny’ Colleagues Intriguing Advice: The Colorado firebrand asked “why is everybody so horny here?”
thedailybeast.com/randy-rep-lauren-boebert-gives-horny-colleagues-intriguing-advice/
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will take strong action after Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned over alleged misconduct involving staffers ... Show more
Raskin Proposes New Health Panel for POTUS Fitness Under 25th Amendment: The bill would make it easier to remove US presidents from office for reasons related to ...
truthout.org/articles/raskin-proposes-new-health-panel-for-potus-fitness-under-25th-amendment/
"God has a plan for us all": Gonzales announces resignation after outcry over affair - Salon.com
salon.com/2026/04/13/rep-gonzales-announces-resignation-after-outcry-over-affair/
Key FactsTony Gonzales Resigns Amid Ethics Investigation
2 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
- Texas Republican Tony Gonzales announced his intention to resign from Congress amid an ethics inquiry.
- His departure comes just before a critical vote that could have expelled him from the House.
- Gonzales faced scrutiny for a relationship with a former aide and inappropriate text messages.
- The resignations of Gonzales and Swalwell represent a significant development in ongoing misconduct controversies.
There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.— Tony Gonzales, on X announcing his retirement
The Citizen 19h
A key KwaZulu-Natal DA mayor has withdrawn his candidacy for the next municipal elections.
The uMngeni mayor Chris Pappas did not apply to stand for a second ... Show more
House Speaker Mike Johnson talks about Pope Leo's recent comments on the war in Iran.
Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez of California criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing over his actions ... Show more
A New Jersey special election could soon narrow the House GOP’s razor-thin majority
edition.cnn.com/2026/04/16/politics/new-jersey-special-election-analilia-mejia-joe-hathaway
Iran War Powers Vote Fails House by 1 Vote, With 1 Democrat Opposed: The Democrat, Jared Golden, announced last year that he’s not running for reelection after a ...
truthout.org/articles/iran-war-powers-vote-fails-house-by-one-vote-with-one-democrat-opposed/
House Republican Likens Trump to the ‘Second Coming’ of Christ While Dismissing Pope Attacks
mediaite.com/politics/house-republican-likens-trump-to-the-second-coming-of-christ-while-dismissing-pope-attacks/
OpinionMaybe Republicans are right. Has the pope even read the Bible? | Opinion: Is it just me or does it seem like Pope Leo XIV won't stop talking about religion? But ...
usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/04/15/trump-johnson-just-war-doctrine-catholic-pope-leo/89629589007/
Key FactsPope Leo XIV Challenges Trump’s Global Influence
2 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: english.elpais.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: english.elpais.com
- Pope Leo XIV has become a prominent moral figure by responding firmly to attacks from President Trump.
- His position has elevated the Catholic Church's international status and created a political divide among far-right supporters.
- This confrontation forces leaders and voters to choose allegiance between the pope and Trump.
- The Church increasingly advocates for human rights, peace, and international law in opposition to nationalist rhetoric.
I’m not afraid of Trump.— Pope Leo XIV — in response to Donald Trump insulting him
‘Men Suck!’ Heartbroken Rosie O’Donnell Reveals Message She Sent Eric Swalwell After Sca ...
mediaite.com/media/entertainment/men-suck-heartbroken-rosie-odonnell-reveals-message-she-sent-eric-swalwell-after-scandal-broke/
‘You’re Just Making Stuff Up!’ RFK Jr. Throws Down with Dem Claiming He Wants To ‘ ...
mediaite.com/media/tv/youre-just-making-stuff-up-rfk-jr-throws-down-with-dem-claiming-he-wants-to-re-parent-black-children/
Key FactsRFK Jr. Defends Cuts and Vaccine Policy Amid Criticism
in 1 hours · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cbsnews.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cbsnews.com
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended a proposed reduction exceeding 12% to his department’s budget before the House Ways and Means Committee.
- He emphasized reforms in dietary guidelines and efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, receiving praise from Republicans.
- Democrats challenged the budget cuts and the scaling back of vaccine recommendations, linking these actions to preventable deaths.
- Kennedy denied allegations of racist remarks and engaged in heated debates with lawmakers while occasionally showing moments of cooperation.
Do you agree with the majority of doctors that the measles vaccine could have saved that child's life in Texas?— Rep. Linda Sanchez, during the House Ways and Means Committee hearing, questioning RFK Jr. about the measles vaccine and its life-saving potential.
Illapa Sairitupac is a @demsocialists-backed candidate for the New York state house in Lower Manhattan.
He is hoping to revive the Lower East Side’s proud ... Show more
jacobin.com
jacobin.com
Videos appearing to show Eric Swalwell kissing a woman in a hotel bed were verified as authentic and do feature the now-resigned California Democratic ... Show more
House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed to “exact punishment” on “predators” in Congress during a Wednesday morning press conference after two members of the House ... Show more
Spanberger signs bill ending tax breaks for Confederate groups: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Monday signed into law a bill eliminating tax exemptions ...
thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5831524-virginia-confederacy-tax-bill/
House Democrats filed six articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Wednesday. They were introduced by Yassamin Ansari of Arizona ... Show more
Lauren Boebert calls out Dave Chappelle for saying she 'weaponized' his jokes about transgender people
ew.com/lauren-boebert-calls-out-dave-chappelle-for-saying-she-weaponized-his-jokes-about-transgender-people-11951961
Mike Johnson Vows to ‘Exact Punishment’ on ‘Predators’ in Congress Accused of R ...
mediaite.com/politics/mike-johnson-vows-to-exact-punishment-on-predators-in-congress-accused-of-detestable-sexual-misconduct/
Pamela Brown Fires Back When Stefanik Accuses CNN of Ignoring Swalwell Scandal: ‘I Did the Reporting ...
mediaite.com/media/tv/pamela-brown-fires-back-when-stefanik-accuses-cnn-of-ignoring-swalwell-scandal-i-did-the-reporting-with-my-team/
Dem Threatens To Hold Pam Bondi In Contempt After Deposition No-Show
huffpost.com/entry/latest-news-live-updates_n_69dcb4aae4b00247ba9c0bc9/liveblog_69de5a9ce4b0f26bda61fd2c
Embattled GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales announces he’s stepping down from Congress: Embattled Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Monday that he would step down ...
edition.cnn.com/2026/04/13/politics/tony-gonzales-leaving-congress
What Will Happen to Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales’ House Seats?: Their resignations add more vacancies to the narrowly divided chamber ahead of the midterms.
time.com/article/2026/04/14/eric-swalwell-tony-gonzales-house-seats-replacements-special-election/
Testifying on President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget request, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said gas is “$1 a gallon cheaper” than during the Biden ... Show more
Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough warned President Donald Trump that his “grotesque” Jesus memes were offending conservatives and “people of faith” after the ... Show more
Karoline Leavitt calls allegations against Eric Swalwell “disgusting,” urging journalists to ask Democrats what they knew and why they “never said or did ... Show more
Raskin calls for Trump to take cognitive test in wake of Iran threats as Democrats question president’s fitness
edition.cnn.com/2026/04/10/politics/raskin-trump-cognitive-test-iran-threats
House Bucks Trump, Votes to Shield Haitians From Deportation: The House bucked Trump by voting to shield Haitians from deportation. Haitian refugees were a Trump ...
nymag.com/intelligencer/article/house-bucks-trump-votes-to-shield-haitians-from-deportation.html
Ilhan Omar Tells Republicans ‘Please Investigate What You Want’ and Says Probes Against Her Ar ...
mediaite.com/media/radio/ilhan-omar-tells-republicans-please-investigate-what-you-want-and-says-probes-against-her-are-nothing-but-clout-chasing/
Rep Triggers Katie Miller With Brutal Insult About Her Husband: Miller took offense at the barb about her husband, the “sexual matador.”
thedailybeast.com/rep-shri-thanedar-triggers-katie-miller-with-brutal-insult-about-husband-stephen/
Things were looking up for Rep. Eric Swalwell. A darling of the anti-Trump resistance, he was starting to gather momentum in the race to be the next governor ... Show more
Swalwell’s Stunning Downfall Creates a Reckoning for Democrats
Swalwell’s Stunning Downfall Creates a Reckoning for Democrats
Swalwell’s Stunning Downfall Creates a Reckoning for Democrats
Swalwell’s Stunning Downfall Creates a Reckoning for Democrats
Rep. Eric Swalwell to resign from Congress after news of sexual misconduct probe: Swalwell’s announcement came just hours after the House Ethics Committee ...
ms.now/news/house-ethics-committee-to-investigate-rep-eric-swalwell
‘It’s a Fact, Sir! House Democrat Confronts RFK Jr on Healthcare Fraud and Trump Administration
mediaite.com/media/news/its-a-fact-sir-house-democrat-confronts-rfk-jr-on-healthcare-fraud-and-trump-administration/
Scoop: Democrats eye new strategy after Iran war powers fail: Progressive Caucus members are discussing forcing a war powers vote in the House every day.
axios.com/2026/04/16/iran-war-powers-trump-democrats-congress-house
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said the Republican party was fractured and has not accomplished “anything” despite their majority in both the House and Senate ... Show more
Tuberville says GOP ‘ain’t done anything in the majority’
Tuberville says GOP ‘ain’t done anything in the majority’
Antisemitic Instagram king who wants to 'kill Israelis' launches bid for Congress
ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/hyrl1v62bl
Republicans Break Ranks in Humiliating Snub to Trump: Floor vote forced on Haitian protections in the first GOP revolt against immigration policy.
thedailybeast.com/republicans-break-ranks-in-humiliating-snub-to-donald-trump/
Jimmy Kimmel Ignores Eric Swalwell Rape Allegations and Resignation, Months After Launching His Gubernator ...
mediaite.com/media/tv/jimmy-kimmel-ignores-eric-swalwell-rape-allegations-and-resignation-months-after-launching-his-gubernatorial-campaign-on-show/
Trump’s Acting A.G. Says He Won’t Release Even One More Epstein File: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is behaving like he has no authority to release ...
newrepublic.com/post/209046/acting-attorney-general-blanche-wont-release-more-epstein-files
As a feud between the Vatican and the White House continues to gain steam, House Speaker Mike Johnson says pope should expect "political response ... Show more
Speaker Mike Johnson sides with Trump, Vance in feud with Pope Leo
Speaker Mike Johnson sides with Trump, Vance in feud with Pope Leo
'Foreign Billionaires First, America Last': Critics Slam GOP Over Mining Approval Near Minnesota Boundary Waters
commondreams.org/news/boundary-waters-mining
On Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell's resignation from Congress, White House Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt says she thinks it’s “quite plausible” that “there ... Show more
Eric Swalwell’s Former Chief of Staff Says He ‘Rightfully Has No One Working for Him Anymore&# ...
mediaite.com/politics/eric-swalwells-former-chief-of-staff-says-he-rightfully-has-no-one-working-for-him-anymore/
Democratic Lawmaker Dresses Down RFK Jr. for Allowing ‘Conspiracy Theories to Run Our Public Health’
mediaite.com/media/news/democratic-lawmaker-dresses-down-rfk-jr-for-allowing-conspiracy-theories-to-run-our-public-health/
The Korea Times Apr 14
Who is Michelle Park Steel, Trump's pick for ambassador to Korea?: U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Michelle Park Steel, Monday (local time) ...
koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20260414/who-is-michelle-park-steel-trumps-pick-for-ambassador-to-korea
The Bulwark Apr 15
Cali Dems Need to Get Their Sh*t Together: At this point, Gov. Tom Steyer might be the least bad outcome.
thebulwark.com/p/california-dems-need-to-get-it-together-swalwell-harris-steyer-primary-governor-magyar-anti-corruption-orban-hungary
Lauren Boebert tells workers facing mistreatment to come to her office, offering anonymity and saying she’s “happy to issue receipts” on their behalf.
'Summer House' Star Luke Gulbranson Is Running For Congress
huffpost.com/entry/latest-news-live-updates_n_69dcb4aae4b00247ba9c0bc9/liveblog_69dfd945e4b0f26bda636264
