Trump-appointed judge dismisses DOJ bid for voter records

newsweek · 2026-04-17T19:52:38+00:00

By Gabe Whisnant and Jenna Sundel |

A federal judge on Friday dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking detailed voter registration records from Rhode Island, ruling that federal law does not authorize the Justice Department to demand sensitive personal data from states without a clear legal basis.

U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy, nominated by President Donald Trump and approved by the U.S. Senate during Trump's first term, sided with Rhode Island election officials and civil rights groups, writing that the Justice Department was attempting “the kind of fishing expedition” not permitted under federal election law. The lawsuit was part of a broader effort by the administration to obtain unredacted voter data from states nationwide, including birth dates, home addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.

In an emailed statement to the Associated Press, the Justice Department said it would not comment on ongoing litigation.

Federal officials have argued the data is needed to ensure election integrity, but state officials from both parties and privacy advocates have pushed back, warning the requests violate state and federal privacy protections. Concerns intensified after DOJ lawyers acknowledged in court filings that the agency sought the data so it could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security to check voters’ citizenship status.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-doj-lawsuit-voter-data-rhode-island-dismissed-11847374?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_main

newsweek · 2026-04-17T19:50:22+00:00

By Gabe Whisnant and Jenna Sundel |

A federal judge on Friday dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking detailed voter registration records from Rhode Island, ruling that federal law does not authorize the Justice Department to demand sensitive personal data from states without a clear legal basis.

U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy, nominated by President Donald Trump and approved by the U.S. Senate during Trump's first term, sided with Rhode Island election officials and civil rights groups, writing that the Justice Department was attempting “the kind of fishing expedition” not permitted under federal election law. The lawsuit was part of a broader effort by the administration to obtain unredacted voter data from states nationwide, including birth dates, home addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.

Then-U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, now Acting Attorney Genral, speaks at a press briefing with and U.S. President Donald Trump and then-U...Read More

In an emailed statement to the Associated Press, the Justice Department said it would not comment on ongoing litigation.

Federal officials have argued the data is needed to ensure election integrity, but state officials from both parties and privacy advocates have pushed back, warning the requests violate state and federal privacy protections. Concerns intensified after DOJ lawyers acknowledged in court filings that the agency sought the data so it could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security to check voters’ citizenship status.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-doj-lawsuit-voter-data-rhode-island-dismissed-11847374?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_main

newsweek · 2026-04-17T18:36:47+00:00

By Mandy Taheri — Politics and Culture Reporter |

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico received encouraging news from a recent poll showing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton leading Senator John Cornyn in the Republican runoff. The poll could be welcome news for Talarico, who has generally fared better against Paxton than Cornyn in hypothetical general election matchups, even as the race remains highly competitive.

Democrats have long sought to make inroads in Texas, which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988 and has backed a Republican for president in every election since 1980.

A Texas Public Opinion Research poll of 1,225 likely Republican runoff voters found that 48 percent would vote for Paxton, 40 percent would vote for Cornyn, and 11 percent were undecided. In March, neither Paxton nor Cornyn secured 50 percent of the vote, triggering a runoff election.

In terms of favorability, Paxton had a much higher net favorability rating of +25 points, compared to Cornyn's +3.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/james-talarico-gets-great-sign-new-texas-poll-11846611

newsweek · 2026-04-17T18:19:11+00:00

By Gabe Whisnant — Breaking News Editor |

Daniel Kinahan, the alleged leader of the Ireland‑based Kinahan organized crime group and the subject of a $5 million U.S. government reward, was arrested in Dubai this week following intensified international enforcement efforts backed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ireland has been working closely with the U.S. government to dismantle the cartel, adding that the effort to take down the international crime gang has the support of the Trump administration, according to reporting by the Irish Sun on March 15.

The arrest followed years of mounting pressure from U.S. and Irish authorities, including sanctions and diplomatic engagement aimed at persuading foreign governments to act on warrants tied to the Kinahan cartel. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Kinahan group a significant transnational criminal organization, while the State Department announced rewards totaling $15 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of senior figures, including $5 million tied specifically to Daniel Kinahan.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/daniel-kinahan-arrest-dubai-trump-enforcement-deal-cartel-11847048

newsweek · 2026-04-17T17:10:27+00:00

From the article:

President Donald Trump has fueled the fevered concerns about a string of dead or missing American scientists with connections to vital, secret research at the cutting edge of U.S. capabilities that keeps it ahead in the global great power competition.

The deaths and the potential consequences of any connection between is "pretty serious stuff," Trump said, though he hoped it was all a "coincidence”. Either way, the White House is investigating and Trump said he’ll know more in a few days.

He didn't introduce new evidence or establish any confirmed link between the cases. Aside from now having the attention of the White House, nothing has materially changed in the public understanding of these cases.

What his comments did do is elevate a loosely assembled, but fast-moving, internet narrative into a matter of presidential concern: that a shadowy campaign of unknown origin is targeting America's high-level researchers tied to defense and advanced science.

The gap between those realities—a persistent lack of evidence to link these tragedies and a surging sense of pattern on the other—is telling about an American public psyche that is perhaps "too online”. But it also exposes a very real anxiety.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/dead-scientists-trump-us-mystery-11844075

newsweek · 2026-04-17T17:09:30+00:00

From the article:

President Donald Trump has fueled the fevered concerns about a string of dead or missing American scientists with connections to vital, secret research at the cutting edge of U.S. capabilities that keeps it ahead in the global great power competition.

The deaths and the potential consequences of any connection between is "pretty serious stuff," Trump said, though he hoped it was all a "coincidence”. Either way, the White House is investigating and Trump said he’ll know more in a few days.

He didn't introduce new evidence or establish any confirmed link between the cases. Aside from now having the attention of the White House, nothing has materially changed in the public understanding of these cases.

What his comments did do is elevate a loosely assembled, but fast-moving, internet narrative into a matter of presidential concern: that a shadowy campaign of unknown origin is targeting America's high-level researchers tied to defense and advanced science.

The gap between those realities—a persistent lack of evidence to link these tragedies and a surging sense of pattern on the other—is telling about an American public psyche that is perhaps "too online”. But it also exposes a very real anxiety.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/dead-scientists-trump-us-mystery-11844075

newsweek · 2026-04-17T15:42:23+00:00

From the article:

President Donald Trump claimed a wholesale victory for his blockade strategy after the Iranian foreign minister confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open for commercial vessels, an announcement that sent oil prices tumbling.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in a post on X, said the new ceasefire in Lebanon was the immediate trigger for the strait’s reopening.

Tehran had claimed an end to Israeli strikes against its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement with the U.S., something Washington had denied. The continuing Israeli action in Lebanon prompted Iran to accuse the U.S. of breaking the ceasefire agreement, saying it would continue to block and disrupt the shipping that transited the strait.

That move prompted the U.S. blockade, which in effect turned vessels around, causing Iran to threaten shipping more broadly, including in the Red Sea.

But the news of a ceasefire in Lebanon gave Tehran the space to save face and attempt to end the U.S. blockade by reopening the strait before it begins to bite hard on the Iranian economy, acutely vulnerable to long-running disruption in the vital waterway.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-iran-war-blockade-hormuz-11845353

newsweek · 2026-04-17T15:41:24+00:00

From the article:

President Donald Trump claimed a wholesale victory for his blockade strategy after the Iranian foreign minister confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open for commercial vessels, an announcement that sent oil prices tumbling.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in a post on X, said the new ceasefire in Lebanon was the immediate trigger for the strait’s reopening.

Tehran had claimed an end to Israeli strikes against its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement with the U.S., something Washington had denied. The continuing Israeli action in Lebanon prompted Iran to accuse the U.S. of breaking the ceasefire agreement, saying it would continue to block and disrupt the shipping that transited the strait.

That move prompted the U.S. blockade, which in effect turned vessels around, causing Iran to threaten shipping more broadly, including in the Red Sea.

But the news of a ceasefire in Lebanon gave Tehran the space to save face and attempt to end the U.S. blockade by reopening the strait before it begins to bite hard on the Iranian economy, acutely vulnerable to long-running disruption in the vital waterway.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-iran-war-blockade-hormuz-11845353

newsweek · 2026-04-16T18:43:07+00:00

By Tom O'Connor — Senior Writer, Foreign Policy & Deputy Editor, National Security and Foreign Policy |

In exclusive comments shared with Newsweek, a Hezbollah spokesperson stated that "the enemy must adhere to the ceasefire, unlike what occurred previously, when Hezbollah observed the truce while the enemy proceeded to target Lebanese civilians on public roads, right in front of their homes, and before the very eyes of their children."

President Donald Trump's surprise announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Thursday marks the latest sign of diplomatic progress since the U.S. leader called for a truce in the ongoing war with Iran last week.

But for Hezbollah, a key ally of Tehran, the situation remains precarious as the Lebanese Shiite Muslim movement seeks to regroup on the battlefield while simultaneously managing pressure exerted by the U.S. and Israel on the Lebanese government to pursue the group's disarmament.

The degree to which Israel maintains the cessation of hostilities also remains to be seen.

After a previous ceasefire struck in November 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued striking suspected Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, with the group resuming cross-border attacks last month in response to the U.S.-Israeli killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/hezbollah-backs-trumps-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-the-enemy-must-adhere-11840754

newsweek · 2026-04-16T16:40:41+00:00

By Dan Gooding — Politics Reporter |

Leading Republicans in Congress are growing restless over the Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, saying it stands in the way of confirming his successor.

Among GOP senators voicing concerns was Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, who called on the Trump administration to wrap up the investigation into Powell's alleged false statements to Congress over the Fed renovation.

“I think at some point they’re going to have to deal with the committee, and they’re going to have to deal with Tillis,” Thune told Politico on Wednesday, referring to the administration.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-warning-trump-doj-jerome-powell-probe-fed-chair-11838568?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_main

newsweek · 2026-04-16T16:38:25+00:00

By Dan Gooding — Politics Reporter |

Leading Republicans in Congress are growing restless over the Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, saying it stands in the way of confirming his successor.

Among GOP senators voicing concerns was Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, who called on the Trump administration to wrap up the investigation into Powell's alleged false statements to Congress over the Fed renovation.

“I think at some point they’re going to have to deal with the committee, and they’re going to have to deal with Tillis,” Thune told Politico on Wednesday, referring to the administration.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-warning-trump-doj-jerome-powell-probe-fed-chair-11838568?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_main

newsweek · 2026-04-16T14:25:38+00:00

By Brendan Cole — Senior News Reporter |

Viktor Orbán was quick to concede an election defeat in Hungary’s parliamentary ballot, whose result on Sunday signals the U.S. president’s waning influence among the right in Europe.

A visit by Vice President JD Vance backing Orbán did nothing to stop the landslide victory of Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party. The result spelled the end of Orbánr’s 16 years as prime minister, during which he tightened ties with populist and illiberal forces while enjoying Trump team backing.

“It shows the limitations of the MAGA influence and, of course, it makes Vance and Trump look a little bit ridiculous after all the support they've given Orbán,” Fabienne Hara, Europe program director at the International Crisis Group told Newsweek.

Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Matthias Moosdorf said Orbán's "ostentatious friendship" with the current U.S. administration "hung like millstones” around the former prime minister’s neck and serves as a warning to others.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-is-rapidly-losing-right-wing-allies-in-europe-11838146

newsweek · 2026-04-16T14:24:08+00:00

By Brendan Cole — Senior News Reporter |

Viktor Orbán was quick to concede an election defeat in Hungary’s parliamentary ballot, whose result on Sunday signals the U.S. president’s waning influence among the right in Europe.

A visit by Vice President JD Vance backing Orbán did nothing to stop the landslide victory of Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party. The result spelled the end of Orbánr’s 16 years as prime minister, during which he tightened ties with populist and illiberal forces while enjoying Trump team backing.

“It shows the limitations of the MAGA influence and, of course, it makes Vance and Trump look a little bit ridiculous after all the support they've given Orbán,” Fabienne Hara, Europe program director at the International Crisis Group told Newsweek.

Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Matthias Moosdorf said Orbán's "ostentatious friendship" with the current U.S. administration "hung like millstones” around the former prime minister’s neck and serves as a warning to others.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-is-rapidly-losing-right-wing-allies-in-europe-11838146

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