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Sen. Ted Cruz says Blanche faced “full-on revolt” over “anti-weaponization fund” in meeting with GOP senators

2026-05-22T18:33:00-0400 / CBS News

By Caitlin Yilek Politics Reporter
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.

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Updated on: May 22, 2026 / 6:34 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said a two-hour meeting Thursday with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the Justice Department’s new “anti-weaponization fund” was “one of the roughest meetings I’ve seen in my entire time in the Senate.”

“There were fireworks at an epic level,” Cruz said Friday on his podcast. “Fiery does not begin to cut it.”

Blanche was dispatched to the Capitol to try and convince skeptical Republican lawmakers to drop their opposition to the nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people who claim they were politically persecuted. The announcement of the fund — part of a settlement to resolve President Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS — came as senators prepared to vote on a reconciliation package to fund border security and immigration enforcement through the end of Mr. Trump’s term.

The reconciliation measure is unrelated to the Justice Department fund, but Democrats vowed to force votes on amendments targeting the fund during the Senate’s vote-a-rama on the funding package, which was expected to begin Thursday. Instead, lawmakers canceled votes after the Blanche meeting and went home for the Memorial Day recess.

“We were going to lose those amendment votes because of the 40-plus Republicans in the room, I’d say half of them were ready to vote with the Democrats on this,” Cruz said. “If the judgment fund had not been announced this week, we would be right now on the Senate floor, we’d be funding border security.”

“We will see the administration announcing at a minimum a modification of this, because if they don’t, they’ve got a full-on revolt in the Senate,” he added.

Cruz said about 45 of the 53 Senate Republicans were attendance and “at least half of them were blasting the attorney general and they were pissed.”

“They were screaming at the acting attorney general,” he said. “There were multiple senators who were yelling at the attorney general — and it was not calm, it was yelling — and they were saying this feels like self-dealing.”

Cruz said Blanche tried to assure senators that Mr. Trump and his family, as well as those who assaulted police officers or committed acts of violence connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, would not be eligible for pay outs from the fund. Some Jan. 6 defendants have already said they intend to apply for payouts.

“Todd Blanche was adamant, and he said not just ‘no,’ but ‘hell no,’” Cruz recalled about the response to senators’ concerns about the Jan. 6 defendants.

In a statement Thursday, a Justice Department spokesperson said the meeting included “a healthy discussion on the settlement.”

“Blanche made clear that the Anti-Weaponization Fund announced Monday has nothing to do with reconciliation, indeed not a single dime from the money the President is seeking in reconciliation would go toward anything having to do with the Fund,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to work with the Senate to get critical reconciliation funds approved.”

Alan He contributed to this report.

Some Republicans object to DOJ fund

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/republican-lawmakers-react-to-trumps-doj-anti-weaponization-fund/

Republican lawmakers react to Trump’s DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund

(03:07)

Kyle Busch was coughing up blood a day before his death, 911 call reveals

May 22, 2026 3:30 PM EDT / CBS/AP

NASCAR star Kyle Busch experienced shortness of breath, felt he was overheating and was coughing up blood the day before his death, according to a 911 call obtained Friday by CBS News.

Busch died Thursday at age 41. No cause of death has been given, though his family said earlier he had been hospitalized with a “severe illness” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord, North Carolina, on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon from the General Motors training facility, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and the caller told dispatch “He is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office.

The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, a former teammate of Busch, expressed shock and sadness at the sudden loss.

“I’m kinda lost for words at this moment, but we’re gonna miss you, buddy. Gone too soon to say the least,” Johnson told “CBS Mornings” on Friday.

He described Busch as “just that spirited, ruthless competitor on track. And I use ruthless in the best way possible. If you took an inch, he was going to take two. And there was an amount of respect on the track that you just showed him, as a result. At the same time, [he] would race you so hard and so clean, and just an incredible competitor.”

According to Richard Childress Racing, Busch had 63 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series and held an all-time NASCAR record with 19 consecutive seasons with a victory from 2004 to 2023.

“Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series,” the statement said. “His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’”

His death came 11 days after Busch radioed into his crew near the end of a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen asking a doctor to give him a “shot” after he finished the race. According to the TV broadcast, Busch had been struggling with a sinus cold that was exacerbated by the intense G-forces and elevation changes at the New York road course.

Busch finished the race in eighth place.

Trump administration orders green card applicants to leave the US, apply from their home countries

May 22, 2026 1:49pm EDT / Fox News

Maye Musk reacted by recounting her own lengthy green card process as a Canadian immigrant

By Alexandra Koch, Bill Melugin, Fox News

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday a major shift in immigration policy, dictating that noncitizens in the U.S. who have applied for a green card, or lawful permanent resident status, must leave the country indefinitely — even if they are in the country legally and regardless of whether they have spouses or children with citizenship.

Green card petitioners will then be required to wait for their application to be processed outside the country through consular processing via the U.S. Department of State.

USCIS said it will grant “adjustment of status” only in extraordinary circumstances, on a case-by-case basis.

CAN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEPORT GREEN CARD HOLDERS? HERE’S WHAT RIGHTS THEY HAVE IN THE US

U.S. citizens and green card holders stand in a long line to clear immigration at Newark international airport in Newark, N.J., on Monday, March 9, 2026.(Fox News Digital)

The Trump administration’s position remains that when noncitizens travel into the country via student visas, tourist visas or temporary work status, they are supposed to leave once that term expires and that temporary permission to be in the U.S. should not serve as the first step toward getting a green card.

Officials claim the policy reflects the original intentions of the law, though lawsuits and litigation are expected to follow.

“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler wrote in a statement. “From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes.”

It is unclear if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will begin deporting green card applicants.(John Moore/Getty Images)

‘SHAMEFUL’: LEGAL IMMIGRANTS FACE UPHILL BATTLE AMID ONGOING BORDER CRISIS

Kahler added that when noncitizens apply for a green card from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who “decide to slip into the shadows” and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency.

“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose,” he said. “Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the green card process.

Candidates for U.S. citizenship sit before receiving their certificates of naturalization during a formal ceremony in Manhattan, New York City, on June 4, 2025. One hundred twenty applicants from 39 countries received their certificates at the ceremony.(Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

“Following the law allows the majority of these cases to be handled by the State Department at U.S. consular offices abroad and frees up limited USCIS resources to focus on processing other cases that fall under its purview, including visas for victims of violent crime and human trafficking, naturalization applications and other priorities,” Kahler added. “The law was written this way for a reason, and despite the fact that it has been ignored for years, following it will help make our system fairer and more efficient.”

Critics of the policy shift argue many overstays have U.S. citizen spouses or children, pay taxes and fill labor shortages and, if removed from the country, will face long processing delays and humanitarian concerns.

It is unclear if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will begin deporting green card applicants.

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Maye Musk, Elon Musk’s mother, took to X to react to the policy change.

“When I wanted to get my green card, I had to have numerous vaccinations, health tests and a lung x-ray,” Maye Musk wrote in a post. “Because I was Canadian, I had to fly to Montreal to have a lung x-ray again to confirm that it’s the same person. However, when the x-ray had to be delivered to me at my friend’s home, the delivery truck was stuck on a bridge because of thick ice. I had to stay an extra day. Nothing was easy. It took another five years before I could get citizenship. Worth it.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.

She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.

Kevin Warsh sworn in as new Fed chair at White House, replacing Powell

May 22, 2026 / 3:33 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the chairman of the Federal Reserve on Friday, taking the reins of the central bank from Jerome Powell after a ceremony at the White House.

“With this oath, I’ve accepted a high and solemn responsibility,” Warsh said.

“Our mandate at the Fed is to promote price stability and maximum employment,” he said. “When we pursue those aims with wisdom and clarity, independence and resolve, inflation can be lower, growth stronger, real take-home pay higher and America can be more prosperous. And no less important, America’s place in the world more secure.”

Warsh said he will “lead a reform-oriented Federal Reserve, learning from past successes and mistakes both, escaping static frameworks and models, and upholding clear standards of integrity and performance.”

President Trump introduced Warsh in the White House East Room, addressing a crowd that included Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, Cabinet members and business leaders. Justice Clarence Thomas swore Warsh into office. He took the oath on a Bible held by his wife.

“Honestly, I really mean this, this is not said in any other way, I want Kevin to be totally independent,” Mr. Trump said. “I want him to be independent and just do a great job. Don’t look at me, don’t look at anybody, just do your own thing and do a great job, OK?”

Kevin Warsh takes the oath of office from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to become Fed chairman in the East Room of the White House on May 22, 2026. Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images

The president said he thinks Warsh “will go down as one of the truly great chairmen of the Federal Reserve that we’ve ever had,” adding that he has “abilities that very few people have” and is “respected by everybody.”

Mr. Trump hasn’t been shy about his goals for the Federal Reserve. For months, he has pushed the central bank to rapidly slash interest rates, and he’s attacked Powell relentlessly for lowering rates at a slow and cautious clip. Lower rates could boost economic growth and cut borrowing costs, but they could also cause inflation to resurge.

The president didn’t say outright on Friday that he wants the Fed to lower interest rates, but he did push the central bank to prioritize economic growth.

“Thankfully, unlike some of his predecessors, Kevin understands that when the economy is booming, that’s a good thing,” Mr. Trump said. “We want to stop inflation, but we don’t want to stop greatness. … You don’t have to stop the world because you’re doing well.”

Over the last year, the president has been more explicit about his desire for lower rates. He branded Powell a “numbskull,” a “stubborn mule” and a “moron,” and openly flirted with firing him. Powell alleged that the Justice Department launched a criminal investigation in order to intimidate him into adjusting his monetary policy views, which prosecutors denied but a judge agreed with. Prosecutors closed the probe last month because the Fed’s internal watchdog is taking it over.

Powell has chaired the Fed since 2018, steering the central bank through the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe run-up in inflation.

Warsh has vowed to preserve the Fed’s independence over monetary policy, telling lawmakers he will never “predetermine” interest rates at Mr. Trump’s request. He has suggested he’s open to working with the Trump administration on other issues, arguing last year that the Fed and the Treasury Department could strike a new “accord” governing the central bank’s balance sheet.

It’s unclear whether Warsh will deliver on the president’s desire for lower rates. Monetary policy decisions are made by a committee of 12 top Fed officials, and while the chair usually has a lot of sway, Warsh would still need to persuade the panel that rate cuts make sense.

Right now, the Fed is dealing with a tricky economic picture. Inflation is still above the Fed’s 2% target, and it spiked in March due to the Iran war. Some supporters of rate cuts are concerned the labor market could weaken, though employment figures have been strong.

Members of the rate-setting committee are divided — and some of them seem unconvinced that they should ease rates. The panel voted to leave rates stable at its last meeting in April, but three members objected to a sentence in the Fed’s post-meeting statement that hinted at cuts. A “majority” of participants felt that a rate increase would probably be necessary if inflation remains stuck above 2% per year, according to meeting minutes released earlier this week.

Financial markets also don’t expect an interest rate cut any time soon. Investors believe the most likely scenario is for the committee to leave rates stable at its next meeting in June, and by the end of the year, investors think there’s a nearly 70% chance that rates will be above their current levels, according to CME Group’s FedWatch, which tracks market sentiment.

In a break with tradition, one of the deciders will be Powell. He is planning to remain on the Fed’s Board of Governors — entitling him to a seat on the rate-setting committee — until he decides the Justice Department probe is “well and truly over.”

Warsh, for his part, has not hinted at whether he will pursue rate cuts.

When Warsh served on the Fed board from 2006 to 2011, he had a reputation as a hawk, known for preferring tighter monetary policy. But last year, he came out in favor of lower rates, and he has argued that artificial intelligence will push down inflation and boost productivity, giving the Fed room to ease up. That could be a point of debate on the rate-setting committee: At least one other member thinks the AI boom might cause higher inflation.

Randall Kroszner — who served with Warsh on the Fed board and as an economic staffer under former President George W. Bush — told CBS News last week he does not expect Warsh to give into short-term political pressure.

“Kevin is a long-run strategic thinker,” said Kroszner, who is now a University of Chicago professor. “He understands that to get things done, you need to … build a consensus around things. You can’t just come in and say, ‘Off with their heads, I want to do this or I want to do that.’ That’s not going to be very effective.”

Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.

Trump, who claimed he “wasn’t involved” in creation of “anti-weaponization” fund, now says he allowed it

May 22, 2026 / 12:11 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — President Trump on Friday defended the Justice Department’s new $1.7 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and said he had “allowed” it to go forward, just days after the president asserted he was not involved in its creation.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said that he could have received a significant amount of money as part of a settlement of the civil lawsuit he filed against the Internal Revenue Service over a leak of his tax returns, but instead decided to assist others who he claimed were unfairly targeted by the Biden administration.

“I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced Anti-Weaponization Fund to go forward,” the president wrote. “I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my Tax Returns and the equally illegal BREAK IN of Mar-a-Lago, for an absolute fortune. Instead, I am helping others, who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration, receive, at long last, JUSTICE!”

Earlier this week, Mr. Trump twice claimed he was not involved in the settlement of his lawsuit and the creation of the fund announced by the Justice Department on Monday.

“It’s been very well received, I have to tell you. I know very little about it. I wasn’t involved in the whole creation of it and the negotiation,” he said of the fund during an event Monday. “But this is reimbursing people who were horribly treated.”

He reiterated Wednesday to reporters that he “wasn’t involved in the settlement.”

In response to a request for comment to CBS News, a White House official said: “There is no discrepancy. As the President said, he was not involved in the creation of the fund, but he could have chosen to settle his case, therefore preventing the fund. The IRS leaked the President’s tax returns, and the individual who committed the crime is currently sitting in prison. The fund is about accountability for anyone who was a victim of weaponization — regardless of political affiliation.”

The Justice Department says the $1.7 billion fund, called the Anti-Weaponization Fund, aims to “provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.”A board appointed by the attorney general would determine payments.

The Justice Department has come under pressure to provide additional details about the fund, including how it will operate and who could receive payments. During a closed-door meeting Thursday, Senate Republicans pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for more information about the program. Several GOP senators have raised concerns that people who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement — and later pardoned by Mr. Trump — during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol would receive money.

Already, some have said they intend to apply for payouts from the $1.7 billion pot, including Michael Cohen, a former lawyer to Mr. Trump who is now a fervent critic of the president, and former Trump adviser Michael Caputo.

Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right group the Proud Boys, also suggested he may seek compensation from the fund. Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 assault. He was among the more than 1,500 defendants who were convicted of crimes stemming from the Jan. 6 attack and received clemency from Mr. Trump on the first day of his second term.

Under the terms of the settlement deal over his IRS lawsuit, Mr. Trump and two of his sons, who were part of the suit, will receive a “formal apology” from the U.S. government, but will not receive any monetary payment or damages. The agreement also permanently bars the IRS from pursuing any claims against Mr. Trump or his company arising out of previously-filed tax returns. The president is also shielded from claims stemming from “lawfare and/or weaponization,” though the terms are not defined.

House Republicans rip into Senate for delaying immigration reconciliation package: ‘I’m very frustrated’

May 22, 2026 12:20pm EDT / Fox News

Trump wanted a bill on his desk by June 1, but the GOP will not meet that deadline

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396305770112

Deadlocked GOP congressional leaders send lawmakers home until June

Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on division amongst congressional Republicans over a $1.8 billion compensation fund on ‘Special Report.’

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House Republicans are reportedly frustrated by the Senate GOP’s move to kick the can down the road instead of voting on a budget reconciliation package pertaining to immigration enforcement this week.

“The Senate’s demonstrated once again that they don’t even know how to get their work done properly,” Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida said, according to The Hill.

President Donald Trump is backing Donalds for Florida governor.

“It’s gutless, and I’m very frustrated,” Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee said, according to the outlet. “They need to work. They didn’t want to work …. The Senate ought to be calling on the leadership over there. If the House did it, I’d be doing it too.”

SENATE GOP ERUPTS OVER TRUMP DOJ ‘ANTI-WEAPONIZATION’ FUND, PUNTS ICE, BORDER PATROL FUNDING

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 21, 2026.(Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“I’m frustrated that it’s not done, but hopeful that they can finish it up when they come back, I guess, and we can get this done,” Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., said, according to The Hill.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House.

President Donald Trump indicated on Truth Social in April that he wanted a bill on his desk by June 1 to provide funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol.

The Justice Department recently announced an “Anti-weaponization Fund,” noting in a press release “that as a part of the settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service,the Attorney General established ‘The Anti-Weaponization Fund’ to provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.”

TRUMP ADMIN PUSHES BACK ON ‘SLUSH FUND’ ATTACKS AGAINST ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND AND LAYS OUT WHO QUALIFIES

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Senate Republicans on Thursday.

Sources told Fox News Digital that over two dozen Republicans demanded answers from Blanche on what kind of guardrails could be put into the fund, and specifically if those convicted for assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, riots could be excluded.

There have been discussions of including those guardrails into the reconciliation package, given that the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees the DOJ, is a major part of the process.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department told Fox News Digital that Blanche had a “healthy discussion on the settlement.”

“He made clear that the Anti-Weaponization Fund announced Monday has nothing to do with reconciliation. Indeed, not a single dime from the money the president is seeking in reconciliation would go toward anything having to do with the fund,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to work with the Senate to get critical reconciliation funds approved.”

President Donald Trump arrives at the commencement ceremony on Cadet Memorial Field at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., on May 20, 2026.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Trump declared in a Friday Truth Social post, “I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced Anti-Weaponization Fund to go forward. I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my Tax Returns and the equally illegal BREAK IN of Mar-a-Lago, for an absolute fortune. Instead, I am helping others, who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration, receive, at long last, JUSTICE!”

Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller and Fox News Channel’s Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

Judge dismisses charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, saying Todd Blanche spurred a ‘tainted investigation’

2026-05-22 3:28 PM ET / CNN

By Holmes Lybrand

Updated May 22, 2026, 3:53 PM ET

PUBLISHED May 22, 2026, 3:28 PM ET

Kilmar Abrego, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador made him a symbol of U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, walks to the car, after appearing for a check-in at the ICE Baltimore field office, a day after his release from criminal custody in Pennsylvania, in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 12, 2025.

Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Summary

• A federal judge in Tennessee dismissed criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, citing a tainted investigation.
• The judge’s opinion cited public statements Todd Blanche made on Fox News about reopening the investigation.
• The judge wrote that the evidence before the court reflected an abuse of prosecuting power by the Executive Branch.

AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.

The criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia — the man the Trump administration deported to El Salvador last year despite a judge’s order barring his removal to the country – have been dismissed by a federal judge in Tennessee, who cited a “tainted investigation” by now-acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

When he was transported back to the US last year, Abrego Garcia was immediately charged with two counts over allegedly transporting unlawful migrants in 2022. His attorneys fought the charges, saying they should be dismissed because they were selective and vindictive because of the administration’s public missteps in deporting Abrego Garcia.

“The objective evidence here shows that, absent Abrego’s successful lawsuit challenging his removal to El Salvador, the Government would not have brought this prosecution,” Judge Waverly Crenshaw wrote in his opinion dismissing the counts Friday.

The judge added that the investigation into the 2022 traffic stop was closed, and “only after Abrego succeeded in vindicating his rights did the Executive Branch reopen that investigation.”

“The evidence before this Court sadly reflects an abuse of prosecuting power,” Crenshaw wrote.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/22/politics/judge-dismisses-charges-against-kilmar-abrego-garcia

Blanche: Jan. 6 rioters’ conduct will be considered for ‘anti-weaponization’ fund payouts

3:49 • Source: CNN

Blanche: Jan. 6 rioters’ conduct will be considered for ‘anti-weaponization’ fund payouts

3:49

Role of Todd Blanche

A key aspect was the role that then-Deputy Attorney General Blanche played in what the judge says was the “tainted investigation” that led to the indictment.

After officials announced Abrego Garcia’s return to the US, Blanche said on Fox News the same day that the DOJ began looking into him after a federal judge determined he was improperly deported earlier in the year.

Attorneys for Abrego Garcia fought unsuccessfully to have Blanche testify in an evidentiary hearing for the case, relying instead on public comments Blanche had made to show the Justice Department only brought the case because of the administration’s mishap.

“Blanche’s words directly confirm that the Executive Branch reopened the criminal investigation because the Judicial Branch required the Executive Branch to facilitate Abrego’s return from El Salvador,” the judge wrote in his opinion dismissing the charges Friday.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

CBS News poll finds most Americans doubt U.S. government will ensure AI is used appropriately

May 22, 2026 12:26:00 EDT / CBS News

By Jennifer De Pinto

Updated on: May 22, 2026 / 12:28 PM EDT / CBS News

Most Americans continue to believe AI will reduce the number of jobs in the U.S., but that’s not their only AI concern. They are also skeptical about whether the U.S. government will implement a policy to ensure the technology is used appropriately.

That skepticism is fairly widespread. Majorities across age groups and education levels don’t think government policy will ensure AI is used appropriately. Democrats and independents share that view, while Republicans are generally divided.

Meanwhile, people see a range of reasons AI companies are encouraging AI use — from making everyday tasks easier to replacing human workers altogether.

Two-thirds of Americans think U.S. government policy certainly or probably will not make sure AI is used in appropriate ways. Those who hold that view are especially likely to believe AI will cost the U.S. jobs.

When asked about a range of potential reasons AI companies and developers are encouraging AI use, big majorities see these companies giving themselves more power and replacing human workers with AI as top motives. Sizable but relatively smaller majorities also see making scientific and medical advancements and simplifying tasks for people as reasons to encourage its use.

AI and jobs

As was true over the past year, a majority of Americans continue to think AI will take away U.S. jobs.

Most younger and older Americans foresee a reduction of jobs due to AI, although younger people relatively less so.

This may be because younger Americans tend to be more familiar with AI. Previous CBS News polling has shown that younger people report using AI themselves and having a good understanding of it in higher numbers than older people.

Anthony Salvanto and Fred Backus contributed to this report.

This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,064 U.S. adults interviewed between May 13-15, 2026. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ±2.7 points.

Toplines

CBS News artificial intelligence poll

Trump-appointed federal judge rules against admin on Maine voter roll data

May 22, 2026 1:40pm EDT / Fox News

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said she helped lead a coalition of states to fight back against the DOJ’s demand

By Robert McGreevy, Fox News

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A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Thursday.

The lawsuit, brought against Bellows in September, alleged that Maine violated federal election laws when the state refused to turn over data about Maine voters to the federal government.

Bellows argued that the DOJ did not provide an explanation for how it planned to use the data they requested, which included the names of everybody on Maine’s voter rolls as well as driver’s license numbers, partial Social Security numbers and full dates of birth.

She rejected the DOJ’s request in August and then filed a motion to dismiss the federal lawsuit in December.

TRUMP-APPOINTED FEDERAL JUDGE TOSSES DOJ LAWSUIT SEEKING ARIZONA VOTER DATA

Maine Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Shenna Bellows speaks during a May Day rally organized by local unions, on May 1, 2026, outside City Hall in Portland, Maine.(Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)

“The Gulf of Maine is awfully cold, but maybe that’s what the DOJ needs to cool down. So, here’s my answer to Trump’s DOJ today: Go jump in the Gulf of Maine,” she said in a July news conference.

On Thursday, Maine Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker, who Trump appointed in 2018, granted Bellows’ motion and dismissed the DOJ lawsuit.

“The United States’ requests would require me to turn a blind eye to traditional practices of federalism and how those expressions have found expression in American elections,” Walker said.

DOJ SUES SIX STATES FOR REFUSING TO TURN OVER VOTER REGISTRATION ROLLS, WARNS ‘OPEN DEFIANCE’ OF FEDERAL LAW

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows demonstrates how Mainers are now electronically registering to vote or updating voter registration at BMV locations during a visit to the BMV in Portland on Thursday, June 23, 2022.(Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

Bellows praised the ruling. “Today’s ruling affirms that the states, not the federal government, are in charge of our elections. From the moment the Trump Administration sought every American’s voter data, I said no. When they tried to bully me by suing Maine, I helped lead of coalition of states to fight back – and we’re winning. I will continue to defend every Mainer’s voting rights and their privacy,” she said in a statement.

“Let me be clear – Trump and the DOJ may continue to try to interfere with free and fair elections run by the states. We will not let them,” Bellows said. “Under our Constitution, states are the primary regulators and administrators of elections for federal office, unless Congress passes legislation that preempts that framework. And Congress’s power to do even that is itself subject to limitations.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General for the Fraud Division Colin McDonald leave the Justice Department after a news conference on the Trump administration’s anti-fraud efforts in Washington on April 7, 2026.(J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

The DOJ has sued 30 states for refusing to turn over unredacted lists of their voter rolls. Those lawsuits have been dismissed in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island and now Maine, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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The DOJ has not publicly commented on the dismissal.

Fox News Digital contacted the DOJ and Maine secretary of state for additional comment.

‘Use social media to tame social media.’ Nearly 60-year public servant & former Senator on how to fix modern politics

2026-05-22 1:29 PM EDT / CNN

By Dana Bash, CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/22/politics/video/inside-politics-lamar-alexander-interview-education-of-a-senator

‘Use social media to tame social media.’ Nearly 60-year public servant & former Senator on how to fix modern politics

Inside Politics

For nearly 60 years Sen. Lamar Alexander dedicated his life to public service. He joins Inside Politics to reflect on all he’s seen, and how much has changed—the subject of his new book, “The Education of a Senator.” He says the arrival of “digital democracy” in 2008 “drove all politics to the extremes and left people who are center-left and center-right without anyone to vote for.” His prescription: use social media to get more people involved in primary season to get better nominees.