President Donald Trump WINS By Just 2 Votes After Last-Minute Drama - Livid Democrats Rage After Trump's Fed Chair Pick Move...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 4, 2026
The Senate Banking Committee voted along party lines Wednesday to approve Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, positioning him to replace current chair Jerome Powell. The vote was 13-11, with all Republican senators supporting the nomination and Democrats voting against it.
Warsh previously served as a top Fed official but has also sharply criticized the institution and Jerome Powell’s leadership. He has argued that the inflation surge to 9.1% in 2022 marked the central bank’s biggest policy mistake in four decades.
A full Senate vote is not expected until next month, though he could be confirmed before Powell’s term as chair ends May 15, the Associated Press reported.
The committee vote was the first of two major developments involving the Fed’s leadership this week. Also Wednesday, Jerome Powell was set to preside over what could be his final meeting of the Fed’s rate-setting committee as chair. During an afternoon news conference, Powell signaled he would take the virtually unprecedented step of remaining on the central bank’s Board of Governors after his term expires.
By staying on the Board, Powell deprives the incoming administration of the opportunity to name a new member. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Powell’s decision in an interview with Fox Business host and former first-term Trump economist Larry Kudlow.
“It is unusual for soon-to-be-former Fed Chair Jay Powell to stay on at the @federalreserve. For someone who speaks so often of norms, his unilateral decision to stay flies in the face of tradition,” Bessent posted on the X platform along with a video clip of his interview.
“Kevin Warsh will bring about a new day at the Fed, with accountability, management, and sound policymaking in the lead,” he added.
Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican and chair of the Banking Committee, praised Warsh as “battle tested” and added that “It is incredibly important that we break the bind of Bidenomics on households across this nation.”
The vote came the same day Powell and the Fed decided to leave interest rates at their current 3.6 percent level, once again defying calls for a lower rate.
In March, a federal judge blocked the Justice Department’s effort to issue grand jury subpoenas targeting the Federal Reserve Board. The judge concluded the move appeared to be an attempt to pressure Powell.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who has issued a number of rulings against the Trump administration, made the determination in a newly unsealed ruling. He said prosecutors failed to present evidence that Powell committed any crime.
Boasberg wrote that the subpoenas appeared to serve an improper purpose. He suggested the effort was intended to pressure Powell into lowering interest rates or stepping down.
“Did prosecutors issue those subpoenas for a proper purpose? The Court finds that they did not. There is abundant evidence that the subpoenas’ dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign and make way for a Fed Chair who will,” he wrote.
The dispute stems from a criminal inquiry opened earlier this year by U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro. The investigation focused on Powell’s June 2025 testimony before the Senate Banking Committee.
That testimony centered on the Federal Reserve’s long-running renovation project at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Powell disclosed the existence of the investigation in January and described it as an attack on the central bank’s independence.
Pirro responded Friday by announcing that the Justice Department will appeal the ruling. She accused Boasberg of interfering with the legal process.
“This process has been arbitrarily undermined by an activist judge,” Pirro said, arguing further that the ruling improperly blocked prosecutors from pursuing the case.
The developments reflect ongoing tensions over the future direction of monetary policy and the independence of the Federal Reserve as the new administration prepares to take office. The committee’s approval of Warsh marks a key step in reshaping leadership at the central bank, with Republicans emphasizing the need for greater accountability and a shift away from policies they associate with the previous administration’s economic challenges.
Top Democrat SHREDDED After Backing Graham Platner - His Career Is Over
Washington, D.C. - June 7, 2026
Rep. Ro Khanna Endorses Graham Platner for Maine Senate Despite Allegations of Past Misconduct
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has publicly endorsed Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, even as Platner faces allegations of abusive behavior in past relationships. A New York Times report this week detailed claims from an ex-girlfriend alleging volatile and abusive conduct.
Platner has denied the allegations of physical abuse. In an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, he stated that the ex-girlfriend was lying about the abuse claims. He also criticized the media coverage as “journalistic malpractice” and accused the whistleblower of political motivation.
Platner has additionally addressed a Nazi-themed tattoo he received, stating that he did not know the design at the time it was applied. He described allegations that he knew the tattoo’s meaning as politically motivated.
Khanna’s Defense of Platner
Khanna acknowledged the New York Times report and described some of Platner’s past relationships as “toxic and volatile.” He stated that no one should make excuses for the past conduct or attack the women who came forward. Khanna added that Platner has “sought redemption,” “took accountability,” and has “worked to be a better man, a better human being.”
During a rally for Platner in Maine, Khanna attributed some of the candidate’s past difficulties to his service in the War on Terror, suggesting that the experience “broke” him and thousands of other veterans. He stated that sometimes the country itself feels “broken.”
Platner previously made public comments blaming women for being raped, which have also drawn criticism during the campaign.
Campaign Context
Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination for the open Senate seat in Maine. The race has drawn national attention as Democrats work to retain or expand their presence in the chamber. Khanna, often described in media reports as a progressive voice within the party, has positioned his support for Platner around themes of personal growth and accountability.
The allegations and Khanna’s response have generated discussion within Democratic circles about candidate vetting and standards for elected officials. Platner has maintained that he is committed to moving forward and representing Maine in the Senate.
The Democratic primary in Maine remains competitive, with vote counting and candidate positioning continuing in the weeks ahead of the general election.
Judge Delivers Ruling on Mail-In Ballots as Election is Too Close To Call
Washington, D.C. - June 7, 2026
Federal Judge Denies Immediate Injunction Against Trump Executive Order on Mail-In Voting
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ruled on May 28 that a request by Democrats for a preliminary injunction against President Donald Trump’s March 31 executive order on mail-in voting was premature. The judge concluded that federal agencies had not yet taken concrete steps to implement the order, so no immediate harm had been demonstrated.
Trump’s executive order directs federal agencies to compile a list of confirmed U.S. citizens and requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail-in ballots only to voters appearing on approved state mail-in voting lists.
Democrats challenged the order in court, arguing that it exceeds presidential authority and could affect voting access for millions of Americans. Nichols did not issue a ruling on the legality of the executive order itself. He determined only that the plaintiffs had not shown sufficient grounds for immediate judicial intervention at this stage.
The decision leaves existing voting procedures unchanged for now. No alterations to how Americans currently cast ballots have taken effect as a result of the ruling.
Appeal and Ongoing Litigation
The Democratic Party has formally appealed the May 28 decision. Legal challenges to the executive order are proceeding on multiple fronts. A separate lawsuit filed in Massachusetts by several voting rights organizations seeks to block portions of the order. A federal judge in Boston is scheduled to hear arguments in that case.
On May 29, the U.S. Postal Service proposed a rule that would require states to provide lists of voters who receive mail-in ballots. The proposal is undergoing a 30-day public comment period before any final action.
The Massachusetts lawsuit was brought by groups including the League of Women Voters, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, the U.S. Vote Foundation, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The plaintiffs are represented by organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Legal Defense Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that the Constitution reserves authority over election rules to the states and Congress, not the president. They expressed concern that the order could affect organizations assisting voters who rely on mail-in ballots, including overseas voters, military families, seniors, voters with disabilities, students, and rural residents.
Administration Position
The administration has defended the executive order as a measure to strengthen election security and improve verification processes. The Justice Department has not yet commented on the appeal of the May 28 ruling.
The executive order remains in effect while litigation continues. Federal courts are expected to play a significant role in determining the scope of presidential authority over election procedures in the coming months. Multiple lawsuits are advancing simultaneously, and additional rulings are anticipated before future federal elections.
