{"id":12967,"date":"2026-05-19T18:23:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/05\/19\/live-updates-blanche-defends-nearly-1-8b-fund-to-compensate-trump-allies-before-congress-ap-news\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T18:23:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:23:17","slug":"live-updates-blanche-defends-nearly-1-8b-fund-to-compensate-trump-allies-before-congress-ap-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/05\/19\/live-updates-blanche-defends-nearly-1-8b-fund-to-compensate-trump-allies-before-congress-ap-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Blanche defends nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies before Congress &#8211; AP News"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-module data-gtm-region=\"Here's what we're following: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday wouldn\u2019t rule out the possibility that violent rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will be considered for payouts from a new $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals who believe they were targeted politically. Testifying before Congress for the first time since taking the reins of the Justice Department last month, Blanche defended the \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund\u201d while Democrats blasted it as an illegal abuse of power. Trump said he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because \u201cserious negotiations\u201d are underway to end the war. Trump said he had planned \u201ca very major attack\u201d but put it off \u2014 \u201cfor a little while, hopefully, maybe forever.\u201d He said America\u2019s allies in the Gulf asked him to wait for two to three days because they feel they are close to a deal with Iran. Republican voters in northern Kentucky will choose between U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein in Tuesday\u2019s House primary, another test of Trump\u2019s power over his party after he handpicked Gallrein to take on the incumbent. Follow live updates of Tuesday's primary elections.\" data-align-center id=\"blogBody\">\n<p><b>Here\u2019s what we\u2019re following:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul id=\"rte-39323b52-536d-11f1-8cdc-8be2630fc295\">\n<li>Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/todd-blanche-justice-department-congress-irs-fund-1b8c7130c12253af161367b701d914b7\"><b>wouldn\u2019t rule out the possibility<\/b><\/a><\/span> that violent rioters <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/january-6-cases\/\">at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021<\/a><\/span>,<b> will be considered for payouts from a new <\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-lawsuit-irs-leak-3729de38770b558be01712a143437bf8\"><b>$1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals<\/b><\/a><\/span> who believe they were targeted politically.<b> Testifying before Congress for the first time since taking the reins of the Justice Department last month<\/b>, Blanche defended the \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund\u201d while Democrats blasted it as an illegal abuse of power.<\/li>\n<li><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/donald-trump\">Trump<\/a><\/span> said <b>he is holding off on a <\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/iran\"><b>military strike on Iran<\/b><\/a><\/span> planned for Tuesday because <b>\u201cserious negotiations\u201d are underway to end the war<\/b>. Trump said he had planned <b>\u201ca <\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-ceasefire-strikes-military-984b44a42e512a4cbf8fcc5cd0d82fbe\"><b>very major attack\u201d but put it off<\/b><\/a><\/span><b> \u2014 \u201cfor a little while,<\/b> hopefully, maybe forever.\u201d He said America\u2019s allies in the Gulf asked him to wait for two to three days because they feel <b>they are close to a deal with Iran.<\/b><\/li>\n<li>Republican voters in northern Kentucky <b>will choose between U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein<\/b> <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47\">in Tuesday\u2019s House primary<\/a><\/span>, another test of <b>Trump\u2019s power over his party<\/b> after he handpicked Gallrein to take on the incumbent. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/live\/election-primary-05-19-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Follow live updates<\/a><\/span> of Tuesday\u2019s primary elections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">                      <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Vance seizes opportunity to say he\u2019s focused on his current job, not a presidential campaign\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4176-d22e-a1ff-4d7f69cf0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779214838342\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4176-d22e-a1ff-4d7f69cf0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Vance seizes opportunity to say he\u2019s focused on his current job, not a presidential campaign         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The vice president remarked on a reporter referring to him as a \u201cpotential future candidate\u201d to say: \u201cI\u2019m not a potential future candidate. I\u2019m a vice president.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really like my job, and I\u2019m going to try to do as good of a job as I can,\u201d Vance said.<\/p>\n<p>The vice president has said similar when brushing aside questions about whether he will run for the White House in 2028.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Vance says Pope Leo XIV\u2019s AI views will \u2018have some influence,\u2019 but doesn\u2019t necessarily agree \" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4168-d1e6-a3df-75ef86810000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779214738516\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4168-d1e6-a3df-75ef86810000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Vance says Pope Leo XIV\u2019s AI views will \u2018have some influence,\u2019 but doesn\u2019t necessarily agree          <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Vance said that the expected encyclical from Pope Leo XIV on artificial intelligence will be \u201cvery important\u201d and \u201chave some influence,\u201d but he said he may or may not agree with its findings.<\/p>\n<p>Vance noted that the previous Pope Leo led the Roman Catholic church during the industrial revolution and a transformation that, \u201caccording to a lot of people, led to the rise of fascism and communism in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vance said the Trump administration wants to take a \u201cpro-innovation\u201d approach to AI and outpace other countries in developing the technology.<\/p>\n<p>But the vice president said the administration wants to protect people\u2019s data and privacy as AI is developed for both the economy and national security.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not going to get ahead of the executive order or any other actions that are going to come out, but we\u2019re trying to balance those two things\u201d regarding innovation and protecting people\u2019s privacy, Vance said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Vance says no part of DOJ fund will go to Trump, his family\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4163-d215-afbe-ebe331290000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779213757493\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4163-d215-afbe-ebe331290000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Vance says no part of DOJ fund will go to Trump, his family         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>As he defended the new Justice Department weaponization fund, the vice president said unequivocally that neither the president, his administration, nor his family will benefit from the new $1.8 billion pot of money.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs a dollar of this money going to the Trump administration? No,\u201d Vance said. \u201cIs a dollar of this money going to Donald Trump personally? No. Is a dollar of this money going to Donald Trump\u2019s family? No.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vance said that anyone can apply to be compensated from the fund and defended using taxpayer money for it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhenever the United States government incurs legal expenses, it pays out those legal expenses,\u201d Vance said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Vance says Iran would be \u2018first domino\u2019 in race by countries to get nuclear weapons\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4160-d33b-a7ff-c3f1c9580000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779213478243\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4160-d33b-a7ff-c3f1c9580000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Vance says Iran would be \u2018first domino\u2019 in race by countries to get nuclear weapons         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Vice President JD Vance resurrected the Cold War-era \u201cdomino theory\u201d to justify the Iran war, saying that a failure to stop that country\u2019s nuclear ambitions would lead to other countries pursuing atomic weapons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you have every country in the world scrambling to try to get a nuclear weapon, it would make us all much less safe,\u201d Vance told reporters at the White House briefing. \u201cAnd Iran would really be the first domino.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During the Cold War with the Soviet Union, U.S. policymakers argued that if a country went communist, it could cause neighboring nations to fall like dominoes into communism as well.<\/p>\n<p>This led to efforts to contain the spread of communism and resulted in American interventions in Vietnam and other nations.<\/p>\n<p>The Vietnam War lasted nearly 20 years.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Vance backs Paxton endorsement\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-415d-dd14-a39e-5fff59ef0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779213321007\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-415d-dd14-a39e-5fff59ef0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Vance backs Paxton endorsement         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>With his briefing coming shortly after Trump\u2019s endorsement in the Texas Senate primary, the vice president stressed that Paxton will be a \u201cgreat senator for the people of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Echoing Trump\u2019s endorsement statement, Vance noted that he has known Cornyn for a long time, but that ultimately, Paxton was the one who was there for the president.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the message that people should take from this is fundamentally, you have got to serve the people who sent you,\u201d Vance said. \u201cAnd if you don\u2019t do that, you\u2019re going to find yourself out of step with voters or out of step with the president of the United States. And that\u2019s not a good place to be politically.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Vance briefing underway\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-414b-d953-a3df-694ff7560000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779213095686\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-414b-d953-a3df-694ff7560000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Vance briefing underway         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The vice president began his turn in the White House press briefing room on Tuesday by making a joke about what reporters to avoid.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve got my cheat sheet here, so I know who to call on, most importantly, who not to call on,\u201d Vance quipped. (Rubio, during his stint at the lectern, made a similar joke.)<\/p>\n<p>In his opening remarks, Vance announced that he would deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy next week and touted the work of his anti-fraud task force.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Rubio heads to NATO FMs meeting as European angst over Trump reliability, US troop levels grow\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4137-df27-a5ff-dfbf0da70000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779211148705\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4137-df27-a5ff-dfbf0da70000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Rubio heads to NATO FMs meeting as European angst over Trump reliability, US troop levels grow         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The secretary of state will travel this week to a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, where U.S. plans to reduce troop levels in Europe, coupled with Trump\u2019s often inconsistent stance on the alliance, have raised concerns as the world grapples with the fallout from the war with Iran and rising energy prices.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of State said Tuesday that Rubio would attend the NATO meeting in Helsingborg on Friday before traveling on to India, where he plans to visit four cities, including Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi.<\/p>\n<p>In Sweden, Rubio will call \u201cfor increased defense investment and greater burden sharing in the alliance,\u201d the department said in a statement. It added that he would also focus on Arctic issues. The statement did not mention Greenland by name, but Trump has rankled Europeans with persistent talk of taking over the Danish territory.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump endorses AG Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4128-d33f-abbe-45abbd340000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779209996654\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4128-d33f-abbe-45abbd340000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump endorses AG Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General<span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/ken-paxton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Ken Paxton<\/a><\/span>, supercharging his effort to oust incumbent Sen. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/john-cornyn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John Cornyn<\/a><\/span> in a Republican primary runoff.<\/p>\n<p>Paxton and Cornyn qualified for the May 26 runoff after a March 3 primary, while Congressman Wesley Hunt finished third and did not advance.<\/p>\n<p>Although the four-term Cornyn has backed Trump\u2019s agenda in Washington, Paxton pitched himself as a political warrior for the Make America Great Again movement. Trump\u2019s endorsement Tuesday puts him at odds with his party\u2019s establishment, which is convinced Cornyn is the better candidate for November\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n<p>The runoff has been shaping up as a bitter and expensive battle for the future of the Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p>The Democrats nominated Texas State Rep.<span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/james-talarico-texas-senate-cornyn-crockett-08c8716aed7e66c29d7e29f2c035ac5d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> James Talarico<\/a><\/span> as their Senate candidate.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-texas-senate-endorsement-paxton-cornyn-adb4c7213fc2d0db0b29d0ab65d49384\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Rubio says US will \u2018lean into\u2019 Ebola response, notes WHO was late to identify outbreak\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4100-d630-a39f-ffc076fd0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779208838217\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4100-d630-a39f-ffc076fd0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Rubio says US will \u2018lean into\u2019 Ebola response, notes WHO was late to identify outbreak         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>In a brief appearance before reporters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration would \u201clean into\u201d Ebola response efforts \u201cpretty heavy\u201d with a priority on funding 50 emergency clinics in affected areas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a little tough to get to because it\u2019s in a rural area. So, it\u2019s a kind of confined and hard-to-get-to place in a war-torn country, unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. has so far contributed $13 million to the effort and Rubio said more would be coming.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio said, adding that the lead agencies in the response would be the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, which Trump withdrew from last year and which Rubio complained had been \u201ca little late to identify this thing, unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn<br \/>&#8221; data-post-id=&#8221;0000019e-411a-d33f-abbe-45bb252e0000&#8243; data-posted-date-timestamp=&#8221;1779208730296&#8243; data-seconds-delta-text=&#8221;sec ago&#8221; data-minutes-delta-text=&#8221;min ago&#8221; data-hours-delta-text=&#8221;h ago&#8221;>              <a id=\"0000019e-411a-d33f-abbe-45bb252e0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn<br \/>         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"State Department raises travel alert warnings for Ebola-hit countries, neighbors\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40fc-dac7-adff-e3feec3e0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779207008000\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40fc-dac7-adff-e3feec3e0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             State Department raises travel alert warnings for Ebola-hit countries, neighbors         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The State Department is strongly urging Americans against any travel to the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda after the outbreak of a rare Ebola virus strain there and advising Americans to reconsider visiting Rwanda.<\/p>\n<p>The heightened advisories date back to Sunday when the World Health Organization declared the outbreak an international public health emergency. The advisories expand on similar warnings issued on May 15 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is taking the lead on the U.S. response to the virus.<\/p>\n<p>Of the four, only South Sudan had previously been identified as a Level 4 \u2013 Do Not Travel \u2013 country due to unrest. Congo and Uganda had previously been identified as Level 3 \u2013 Reconsider Travel \u2013 and Rwanda as Level 2 \u2013 Exercise Increased Caution. Level 4 is the most severe warning that the State Department issues.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Reports that Iran retains access to missile sites are inaccurate, US commander says\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40e3-d33f-abbe-45e37ce80000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779205856097\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40e3-d33f-abbe-45e37ce80000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Reports that Iran retains access to missile sites are inaccurate, US commander says         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military leader in the Middle East, was questioned about reports on Iran\u2019s missile capabilities during Tuesday\u2019s hearing before the House Armed Services Committee.<\/p>\n<p>The New York Times and other publications have reported that U.S. intelligence assessments have found that Iran regained access to many of its missile sites and underground facilities following U.S. and Israeli military strikes.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper, the leader of U.S. Central Command, said the reports were inaccurate. He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Republicans largely steer clear of compensation fund during Blanche questioning\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40d1-d33b-a7ff-c3f1eaaa0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779205103512\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40d1-d33b-a7ff-c3f1eaaa0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Republicans largely steer clear of compensation fund during Blanche questioning         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Republicans pressed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about violent crime, drug enforcement and other conventional Justice Department topics.<\/p>\n<p>But for the most part, they\u2019re steering clear of the Justice Department\u2019s creation of a new $1.776 fund created to compensate allies of President Trump who say they\u2019ve been mistreated by the criminal justice system and Democrats. That\u2019s in contrast to their Democratic counterparts, who routinely pressed Blanche on the fund.<\/p>\n<p>The primary exception on the GOP side was Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who asked Blanche about the fund.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says he\u2019s going to be making an endorsement Tuesday in Texas Republican Senate race\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40ce-d33f-abbe-45ef491c0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779203816420\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40ce-d33f-abbe-45ef491c0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says he\u2019s going to be making an endorsement Tuesday in Texas Republican Senate race         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The president said he would be making an announcement in the early afternoon in the contest between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton, \u201cAnd I hope you find it good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump didn\u2019t say who he would endorse but said, \u201cI\u2019ve pretty much always known who I was going to endorse.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-6b0000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"President Donald Trump speaks as he tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/146cc5c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5726x3817+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F74%2Fad%2F61e57dc548c2bd24b058f5573ffa%2Fap26139545216018.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>President Donald Trump speaks as he tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump speaks as he tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"CENTCOM chief pushed by lawmaker on whether the Iran war is actually over\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40cc-dcf1-a59e-ebed44c00000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779203718157\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40cc-dcf1-a59e-ebed44c00000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             CENTCOM chief pushed by lawmaker on whether the Iran war is actually over         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>During a hearing Tuesday, Democrat Rep. John Garamendi asked Adm. Brad Cooper whether the Pentagon\u2019s assessment is that hostilities between Tehran and Washington have been halted since the ceasefire was announced last month.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper continued to testify that the U.S. remained in a ceasefire despite several attacks from both sides in the last several weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s not my question,\u201d Garamendi said. \u201cMy question was is the military assessment that hostilities have ceased since April?\u201d Cooper responded that was his assessment but added that \u201cIran pushes it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says China\u2019s president promised to not send weapons to Iran\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40ca-d6ae-a9bf-f6de2bfd0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779203582296\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40ca-d6ae-a9bf-f6de2bfd0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says China\u2019s president promised to not send weapons to Iran         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>There have been reports that China, which has close ties to Iran, has considered sending weapons for use in the conflict against the United States.<\/p>\n<p>But Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that wasn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe promised that he\u2019s not sending any weapons,\u201d Trump told reporters after he was asked about the reports.<\/p>\n<p>The leaders held two days of in-person talks last week in Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s foreign ministry has denied the reports.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he\u2019s \u2018not a fan\u2019 of the settlement fund\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40c7-d1e6-a3df-74efe41f0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779203444449\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40c7-d1e6-a3df-74efe41f0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he\u2019s \u2018not a fan\u2019 of the settlement fund         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Thune told reporters he isn\u2019t sure how the administration intends to use it, but said \u201cI don\u2019t see a purpose for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thune\u2019s comments come after Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost reelection in a GOP primary Saturday, called it a \u201cslush fund\u201d on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are a nation of laws,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cYou can\u2019t just make up things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It is unclear, though, if Republicans will try to block the funding.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Congressman said he doesn\u2019t trust admiral\u2019s answer on Iran school bombing\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40c5-d953-a3df-68cf62e80000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779203296609\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40c5-d953-a3df-68cf62e80000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Congressman said he doesn\u2019t trust admiral\u2019s answer on Iran school bombing         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The House Armed Services Committee\u2019s ranking Democrat pressed the top U.S. military leader in the Middle East for information on the bombing of a school that killed more than 165 people when the U.S. and Israel launched the Iran war.<\/p>\n<p>Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. Central Command, said the bombing is still under investigation. He said the strike was complex, noting how the school was on a missile site operated by Iran\u2019s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper said he\u2019s committed to transparency once the investigation is complete. But Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington said, \u201cI do not trust that answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smith said he respects Cooper, but accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of showing a \u201ccallous disregard\u201d for protecting civilian life.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Blanche again doesn\u2019t rule out possibility of Jan. 6 rioters getting paid from compensation fund\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40c3-dd14-a39e-5ee7673e0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779203136133\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40c3-dd14-a39e-5ee7673e0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Blanche again doesn\u2019t rule out possibility of Jan. 6 rioters getting paid from compensation fund         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Under questioning from Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, Blanche said he \u201cwill definitely encourage the commission\u201d responsible for deciding on the payouts to \u201ctake everything into account.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also said he\u2019ll commit to \u201cmaking sure that the commissioners are effectively doing their jobs and that includes setting your guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But he declined to explicitly rule out the idea that people implicated in the violence of Jan 6. could apply for payments from the fund, which was set up to pay people who believe they\u2019ve been mistreated by the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"US imposes sanctions on European flotilla organizers\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40c0-da77-a59e-51cdd5db0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779202997411\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40c0-da77-a59e-51cdd5db0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             US imposes sanctions on European flotilla organizers         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against four people aboard an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip organized by the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, also subject to U.S. sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>Included in the sanctions are a group of European activists: Saif Abu Keshek, Jaldia Abubakra Aueda, Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfuz and Mohammed Khatib.<\/p>\n<p>Israel has recently intercepted dozens of aid flotillas after more than 50 vessels departed from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their planned journey to Gaza\u2019s shores.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the flotilla \u201cpro-terror\u201d and \u201ca ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump\u2019s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says he\u2019s giving Iran days to make progress in negotiations to avoid resumption of strikes\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40ba-df27-a5ff-debb9a4a0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779202838093\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40ba-df27-a5ff-debb9a4a0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says he\u2019s giving Iran days to make progress in negotiations to avoid resumption of strikes         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The president said he was giving Iran \u201ctwo or three days,\u201d but then suggested he might give Iran a week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week. A limited period of time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The president said he \u201cwas an hour away from making the decision\u201d to launch strikes on Tuesday before calling them off Monday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says he was \u2018an hour away\u2019 from ordering strikes on Iran\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40b8-de94-a5fe-debeb99d0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779202424167\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40b8-de94-a5fe-debeb99d0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says he was \u2018an hour away\u2019 from ordering strikes on Iran         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Asked how close he was to striking Iran and ending a fragile ceasefire, Trump on Tuesday said he was \u201can hour away\u201d from making the call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was an hour away from making the decision to go today,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House.<\/p>\n<p>He said the strikes \u201cwould have been happening right now\u201d if he hadn\u2019t held off. \u201cThe ships are all loaded, they\u2019re loaded to the brim,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Trump on Monday announced he was <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-ceasefire-strikes-military-984b44a42e512a4cbf8fcc5cd0d82fbe\">holding off on military<\/a><\/span> strikes planned for Tuesday because \u201cserious negotiations\u201d were underway to end the war.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says Cuba is calling the US for help \u2018and we\u2019ll do that\u2019\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40a8-d6ae-a9bf-f6bca0d80000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779202304477\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40a8-d6ae-a9bf-f6bca0d80000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says Cuba is calling the US for help \u2018and we\u2019ll do that\u2019         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The president told reporters Cuba may not need a change in regime to address his concerns but said if he wanted to, \u201cI can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t offer many details about what he wanted from Cuba but said: \u201cThat\u2019s not going to be hard for us to solve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cuba\u2019s economic and <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/cuba-solar-power-charging-station-panels-santa-clara-solinera-0dc6f6ea3fcc3edb37a4e045425e26f0\">energy crises<\/a><\/span> have deepened this year after the U.S. invaded Venezuela in early January, halting critical oil shipments from the South American country. Then in late January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island.<\/p>\n<p>A severe gas shortage has persisted and widespread blackouts continue across the island.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump takes reporters to ballroom construction site\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-40a1-d6ae-a9bf-f6bd2a5b0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779201198783\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-40a1-d6ae-a9bf-f6bd2a5b0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump takes reporters to ballroom construction site         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-4c0000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"535\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"535\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"513\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"513\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"401\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"401\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"President Donald Trump tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/ac7d363\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3936x2632+0+0\/resize\/599x401!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F7f%2Fa7%2Ff8af152445a685f2b5e58b08406b%2Fap26139531531709.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>President Donald Trump tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump tours Ballroom construction around the outside the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis is a room that\u2019s been wanted for 150 years by presidents,\u201d Trump said of the ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has renderings of the building on easels as he explains the various components, including what he calls a \u201cdrone-free\u201d roof.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne thing doesn\u2019t work without the other,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Trump said the ballroom will be paid for by donors and himself. Republicans in Congress are grappling with a $1 billion funding request to cover all the security elements.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Blanche pledges transparency in fund payouts\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4090-d33f-abbe-45b30a510000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779200694476\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4090-d33f-abbe-45b30a510000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Blanche pledges transparency in fund payouts         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The acting attorney general said the Justice Department is committed to \u201cfull transparency\u201d in providing public information about beneficiaries of the new fund meant to compensate allies of President Trump who say they were mistreated by the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche said in response to a question at the Senate budget hearing that there are privacy laws that mandate some information be kept quiet, but that otherwise, the department intended to be transparent.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Blanche suggests Jan. 6 rioters will be eligible to apply for compensation from the fund\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4088-d630-a39f-ffc865be0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779199629392\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4088-d630-a39f-ffc865be0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Blanche suggests Jan. 6 rioters will be eligible to apply for compensation from the fund         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen pressed Blanche on the creation of the fund during a budget hearing and asked him directly whether Jan. 6 rioters involved in crimes of violence could apply for payment from the fund.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs was made plain yesterday, anybody in this country is eligible to apply if they believe they were a victim of weaponization,\u201d Blanche said.<\/p>\n<p>The decisions on payouts will be made a five-member commission appointed by Blanche.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Blanche defends the creation of the fund as having precedent\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-407d-d33f-abbe-45ffe7920000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779199102669\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-407d-d33f-abbe-45ffe7920000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Blanche defends the creation of the fund as having precedent         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>In response to questions from Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, he said that though the fund was \u201cunusual,\u201d it\u2019s not unprecedented.<\/p>\n<p>He said the fund was similar in structure to one created during the Obama administration to compensate Native American farmers who alleged they were victims of racial discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche said the fund will not be limited to Republicans or to people who were investigated or prosecuted by the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p>He also said he expected the payouts, which will be decided by a five-member commission, to be a matter of public record.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Senate Democrat calls new Anti-Weaponization Fund a \u2018pure theft of public funds\u2019\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4076-dac7-adff-e3f6dcd10000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779198445302\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4076-dac7-adff-e3f6dcd10000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Senate Democrat calls new Anti-Weaponization Fund a \u2018pure theft of public funds\u2019         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, castigated acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the new $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of President Trump who feel they\u2019ve been unjustly targeted by the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n<p>Van Hollen called the Anti-Weaponization Fund announced Monday a \u201cpure theft of public funds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He told Blanche he was \u201cstill acting as the president\u2019s personal lawyer\u201d and not the acting attorney general that he is.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Blanche\u2019s first Congressional hearing as acting attorney general gets underway\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-405a-dac7-adff-e3fa51730000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779197975507\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-405a-dac7-adff-e3fa51730000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Blanche\u2019s first Congressional hearing as acting attorney general gets underway         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The acting attorney general\u2019s testimony before a Senate appropriations subcommittee comes a day after the Justice Department announced a <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-lawsuit-irs-leak-3729de38770b558be01712a143437bf8\">$1.776 billion fund to pay allies of the Republican president<\/a><\/span> who believe they were targeted politically.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s hearing is meant to address the Trump administration\u2019s budget request for the Justice Department. But it\u2019s likely to delve into other controversies that have escalated concerns about the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fbi-justice-department-trump-bondi-bove-adams-a003af9d9aebe89cd289361a65c9401b\">erosion of the law enforcement agency\u2019s tradition of independence<\/a><\/span> from the White House.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Will Trump\u2019s endorsement continue to carry the day in Tuesday\u2019s primaries?\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4049-dcf1-a59e-ebed58b90000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779195395845\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4049-dcf1-a59e-ebed58b90000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Will Trump\u2019s endorsement continue to carry the day in Tuesday\u2019s primaries?         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>He\u2019s repeatedly shown that Republican primary voters will follow his lead, even as his popularity wanes with the broader electorate.<\/p>\n<p>In Kentucky, he\u2019s supporting first-time candidate Ed Gallrein over Massie, who\u2019s been in office since 2012. Massie is trying to convince Republicans they can support <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/massie-trump-gallrein-kentucky-primary-republican-election-ea4731167f8d7eade91a6b5d612dca9f\">both himself and Trump<\/a><\/span> at the same time, a proposition that\u2019s been tried unsuccessfully in other races around the country.<\/p>\n<p>In the race for <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/georgia-primary-governor-senate-b765f60ae3157443ddaf189938b0ef5b\">Georgia<\/a><\/span> governor, <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/burt-jones-georgia-governor-republican-0d1adbec70df34d801b9a93b55d286d6\">Trump is backing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones<\/a><\/span> in an unexpectedly ugly battle for the Republican nomination. Jones, who comes from a wealthy Georgia family, has given his campaign $19 million. But billionaire <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/rick-jackson-georgia-governor-burt-jones-trump-4c1789c599857e220180068e26de9199\">Rick Jackson<\/a><\/span>, a health care tycoon, has put more than $83 million of his fortune into the race. Trump\u2019s endorsement power has rarely been tested against that level of lopsided spending.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/live\/election-primary-05-19-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Follow live updates<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Is there a future in politics for Republicans who cross Trump?\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4032-df27-a5ff-debbe1850000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779194996081\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4032-df27-a5ff-debbe1850000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Is there a future in politics for Republicans who cross Trump?         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The signs this year suggest no, and Trump has convinced his voters to defeat his adversaries <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/indiana-trump-redistricting-primary-senate-9bf5b270d77714e1149ab6a6567071a0\">again<\/a><\/span> and <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/louisiana-republican-senate-primary-2026-cassidy-letlow-1c8b927fd981c40cb4a538b0f89671dc\">again<\/a><\/span>. The next test of the president\u2019s power to extract retribution is Tuesday, when Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky faces a Trump-backed primary challenger.<\/p>\n<p>Massie has been a thorn in the president\u2019s side for pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, opposing the war with Iran and voting against Trump\u2019s signature tax legislation last year.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Georgia is about to feature a fresh case study in the divergent paths available to Republicans who defy Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan were among the few Republicans to speak out against Trump\u2019s attempt to overturn his 2020 loss. Both are now running for governor \u2014 Raffensperger as a Republican and Duncan as a Democrat \u2014 and both are trying to convince voters to look past things they said in the past.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/live\/election-primary-05-19-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Follow live updates<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump\u2019s tough-talk foreign policy is hitting a wall with Iran as it grips Strait of Hormuz\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-402a-d908-a9df-e7eec8950000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779193522988\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-402a-d908-a9df-e7eec8950000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump\u2019s tough-talk foreign policy is hitting a wall with Iran as it grips Strait of Hormuz         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>President Trump has considered himself an <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-transactional-diplomacy-tariffs-russia-ukraine-canada-e70f0e800b1c7891a0fa4f21a28c67af\">effective dealmaker above all else<\/a><\/span>, but he appears to have hit a wall with Iran as his tough talk, threats and even military action haven\u2019t moved Tehran from its long-established positions.<\/p>\n<p>With <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-objectives-one-month-1a32141f5ca2104af78625b3aa277421\">shifting goals<\/a><\/span> that make it difficult to judge the status of the U.S. effort, Trump and his top aides have insisted the U.S. has already won the war and that Iran is ready to reach an agreement in the wake of <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-threats-civilization-war-crimes-758eb5cd680d7d275c4e1c38b2e01e6d\">escalating U.S. threats<\/a><\/span> during <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-israel-china-war-may-11-2026-0e9067769efea20e9d45e3d43158ad8c\">a tenuous ceasefire<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>But <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-ceasefire-strikes-military-984b44a42e512a4cbf8fcc5cd0d82fbe\">Trump once again backed down<\/a><\/span>, saying Monday that he\u2019d put plans for an imminent resumption of attacks on hold at the request of Gulf Arab states because \u201cserious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Crucially, Iran still has a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane for global oil supplies, even as the U.S. military has enforced its own blockade on Iranian ports.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-pressure-campaign-strait-hormuz-de-8166b4d513523ee8b73ff058210dc581\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Putin visits China to reaffirm Russia ties as Xi also seeks stable US relations after Trump summit\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-4024-d22e-a1ff-4c2d0c440000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779192997909\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-4024-d22e-a1ff-4c2d0c440000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Putin visits China to reaffirm Russia ties as Xi also seeks stable US relations after Trump summit         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin is <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/russia-ukraine-war-putin-china-visit-75d703648da64e2caaace39e6415dc35\">traveling to China<\/a><\/span> to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping less than a week after President Trump wrapped up <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-xi-china-trade-iran-taiwan-f6c59000412653e445acbf9672ac7f47\">his own trip to Beijing<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Putin is scheduled to be in China on Tuesday and Wednesday in a visit likely to be closely watched as Beijing seeks to maintain stable relations with the United States while also preserving strong ties with Russia.<\/p>\n<p>The Kremlin has said Putin and Xi plan to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries, but also \u201ckey international and regional issues.\u201d The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship signed in 2001.<\/p>\n<p>China is a key trading partner for Russia, especially after Moscow\u2019s <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/russia-ukraine\">full-scale invasion of Ukraine<\/a><\/span> in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/china-russia-putin-xi-beijing-visit-trump-0c0086341e9694122a49fb7054b41d97\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says he\u2019s called off Iran strike planned for Tuesday at request of Gulf allies\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-3fe1-d33f-abbe-3fe3053e0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779188326079\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-3fe1-d33f-abbe-3fe3053e0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says he\u2019s called off Iran strike planned for Tuesday at request of Gulf allies         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Trump said he is holding off on a <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/iran\">military strike on Iran<\/a><\/span> planned for Tuesday because \u201cserious negotiations\u201d are underway to end the war.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I\u2019d be very happy,\u201d Trump said at the White House on Monday evening, after first making the announcement in a social media post.<\/p>\n<p>Trump said he had planned \u201ca very major attack\u201d but put it off \u2014 \u201cfor a little while, hopefully, maybe forever.\u201d He said America\u2019s allies in the Gulf asked him to wait for two to three days because they feel they are close to a deal with Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has been threatening for weeks that the ceasefire reached in mid-April could end if Iran did not make a deal, with shifting parameters for striking such an agreement. Over the weekend he warned, \u201cFor Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won\u2019t be anything left of them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-iran-ceasefire-strikes-military-984b44a42e512a4cbf8fcc5cd0d82fbe\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"What to know about Trump\u2019s nearly $1.8B fund to compensate allies claiming political targeting\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-3fde-dd14-a39e-3fff6ed60000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779188170396\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-3fde-dd14-a39e-3fff6ed60000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             What to know about Trump\u2019s nearly $1.8B fund to compensate allies claiming political targeting         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Trump\u2019s allies who believe they have been wrongly investigated and prosecuted could soon have access to <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-lawsuit-irs-leak-3729de38770b558be01712a143437bf8\">a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund<\/a><\/span>, the Justice Department announced Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Acting Attorney General <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/todd-blanche-bondi-attorney-general-trump-doj-06eb9b651c41e887ef2276198e330c3d\">Todd Blanche<\/a><\/span> said in a statement that the \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund\u201d will represent \u201ca lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.\u201d Blanche\u2019s statement made no mention of how investigations and prosecutions of Trump\u2019s political opponents under his watch have exposed the Justice Department to the same claims of politicized law enforcement that he has said he opposed.<\/p>\n<p>The fund was announced as part of a deal to resolve Trump\u2019s $10 billion <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-treasury-irs-tax-records-e3a79e1bfdc94a663504754af80ce183\">lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service<\/a><\/span> over the leak of his tax returns.<\/p>\n<p>The fund is in keeping with Trump\u2019s long-running claims that the Justice Department during the Biden administration was weaponized against him, even though then-President Joe Biden himself was scrutinized during that time. <\/p>\n<p>Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday the fund is dedicated to \u201creimbursing people who were horribly treated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-doj-fund-irs-trump-family-lawsuit-c9aaa94c59988508c253d7200043cecc\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"US Rep. Thomas Massie\u2019s GOP primary in Kentucky is the latest test of Trump\u2019s power over the party\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-3fdc-d33f-abbe-3fffc4260000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779188000659\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-3fdc-d33f-abbe-3fffc4260000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             US Rep. Thomas Massie\u2019s GOP primary in Kentucky is the latest test of Trump\u2019s power over the party         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-bf0000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, speaks to reporters after a Kentucky Educational Television (KET) debate, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo\/Jon Cherry)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/233b7c3\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7317x4878+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F93%2F84%2F8a5dff2c2facda61c247fa87e8ad%2F6c3595c09f49489daef0cf434f187cdb\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, speaks to reporters after a Kentucky Educational Television (KET) debate, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo\/Jon Cherry)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, speaks to reporters after a Kentucky Educational Television (KET) debate, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo\/Jon Cherry)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<p>Republican voters in northern Kentucky will choose between U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein in Tuesday\u2019s House primary, another test of President Donald Trump\u2019s power over his party after he handpicked Gallrein to take on the incumbent.<\/p>\n<p>The primary race turned white hot in the final stretch. Massie brought in a phalanx of other Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert, in an attempt to show voters that they could support both him and Trump. Trump ratcheted up his social media attacks on Massie, calling him \u201can obstructionist and a fool,\u201d and Gallrein shared a stage with <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/hegseth-massie-kentucky-war-trump-81468ad187df701b96c60f0a120e41c7\">Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a><\/span> on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has tightened his grip on the Republican Party in his second term, successfully purging those who deviate from his agenda, but Massie is one of the last and most outspoken holdouts. A Massie defeat on Tuesday would serve as one of the most powerful demonstrations yet of Trump\u2019s influence over Republican voters.<\/p>\n<p>The matchup has become the most expensive U.S. House primary in history.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Blanche will face questions from lawmakers over a nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-3fdb-d33f-abbe-3ffb5e5e0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1779187891377\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-3fdb-d33f-abbe-3ffb5e5e0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Blanche will face questions from lawmakers over a nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear on Capitol Hill Tuesday for his first congressional testimony since taking the reins at the DOJ as the law enforcement agency faces intense scrutiny over its plans to create a <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-lawsuit-irs-leak-3729de38770b558be01712a143437bf8\">$1.776 billion fund to pay allies of the Republican president<\/a><\/span> who believe they were targeted politically.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche\u2019s testimony before a Senate appropriations subcommittee follows Monday\u2019s announcement about the creation of the \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund,\u201d which critics decried as an illegal abuse of power designed to line the pockets of Trump supporters with taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n<p>In the weeks since <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-bondi-zeldin-justice-department-4b1bf39326d2d2c3fd41cadff91dd75b\">assuming control of the Justice Department<\/a><\/span>, Blanche has moved aggressively to advance the president\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s hearing is meant to address the Trump administration\u2019s budget request for the Justice Department but is likely to delve into other controversies that have escalated concerns about the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fbi-justice-department-trump-bondi-bove-adams-a003af9d9aebe89cd289361a65c9401b\">erosion of the law enforcement agency\u2019s tradition of independence<\/a><\/span> from the White House.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/todd-blanche-justice-department-congress-irs-fund-1b8c7130c12253af161367b701d914b7\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post>               <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s what we\u2019re following: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday wouldn\u2019t rule out the possibility that violent rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will be considered for payouts from a new $1.776 billion fund to compensate individuals who believe they were targeted politically. Testifying before Congress for the first time since [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12968,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}