[Saturday, May 31] US News Headlines from r/Conservative

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1. Executive Branch Developments

1.1 DOGE and Elon Musk’s Departure

Despite reports of Elon Musk leaving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Trump has stated Musk is “not really leaving” [1]. A federal judge has expanded DOGE’s authority by approving its access to sensitive data systems [2]. Analysis suggests Musk’s claims of “chainsawing government spending” have been “more like a trim” [3]. Reports indicate tensions within the administration, with allegations of a “physical confrontation” between Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent [4].

[1] Trump says Elon Musk is ’not really leaving’, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ger3gxdjro.amp
[2] Judge approves Treasury DOGE team’s access to sensitive data systems, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/judge-treasury-doge-access-data-payment-systems-00371969
[3] Musk said he was chainsawing government spending. It was more like a trim, https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/musk-said-he-was-chainsawing-government-spending-it-was-more-like-trim-2025-05-30/
[4] Steve Bannon Says Elon Musk and Scott Bessent Had ‘Physical Confrontation’, https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-scott-bessent-physical-confrontation-2079285

1.2 Presidential Authority and Decision-Making

President Trump recently fired the Director of the National Portrait Gallery, citing issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives [1]. The president has pardoned individuals described as “drug kingpins” while simultaneously intensifying rhetoric on drug crimes [2]. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is considering reformatting Trump’s intelligence briefings as video presentations resembling Fox News broadcasts, as Trump has been taking these briefings less frequently than his predecessors [3]. The Army has warned that Trump’s planned military parade could cause $16 million in damage to Washington streets [4].

[1] Trump Says He Fired Director of National Portrait Gallery, Citing D.E.I., https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/arts/design/trump-smithsonian-kim-sajet-fired.html
[2] Trump pardons drug kingpins even as he escalates U.S. drug war rhetoric, https://www.npr.org/2025/05/31/nx-s1-5415939/trump-pardons-drug-kingpins-even-as-he-escalates-the-u-s-drug-war
[3] Gabbard considering ways to revamp Trump’s intelligence briefing | One idea is to make the briefing, which according to his schedule Trump has been taking less often than his predecessors, a video that looks like Fox News., https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/gabbard-considering-ways-revamp-trumps-intelligence-briefing-rcna209805
[4] Army says Trump’s military parade could cause $16 million in damage to Washington streets, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna210131

1.3 Federal Workforce Restructuring

New hiring guidelines require federal job applicants to write essays demonstrating how they would advance Trump’s policy priorities, focusing on hiring “patriotic Americans” [1]. An appeals court has maintained a block on the administration’s attempts to downsize the federal workforce [2]. President Trump has claimed the Library of Congress as his personal institution despite its status as a legislative branch entity [3].

[1] Trump administration to prioritize ‘patriotic Americans’ for federal jobs: Applicants for government jobs will be required to write essays explaining how they will advance President Donald Trump’s policy priorities., https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/trump-administration-patriotic-americans-federal-workforce-00376752
[2] Appeals court keeps block on Trump administration’s downsizing of the federal workforce, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/appeals-court-keeps-block-on-trump-administrations-downsizing-of-the-federal-workforce-00378769
[3] It’s called the Library of Congress. But Trump claims it’s his., https://wapo.st/4dQh5Hm

2. Economic Policy

2.1 Tariffs and International Trade

President Trump has implemented 50% tariffs on steel while celebrating what he described as a “blockbuster” deal with Japan [1]. New executive orders could effectively end Chinese drone sales in the United States [2]. Import volumes have reportedly experienced a significant decline, characterized as an “early sign of Trump tariff impact” [3]. The administration’s tariff policies have encountered legal obstacles, with conflicting court rulings creating uncertainty [4].

[1] Trump announces 50% steel tariffs and hails ‘blockbuster’ deal with Japan, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/30/trump-tariffs-steel-japan
[2] Trump orders could end Chinese drone sales in the U.S., https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/30/trump-executive-orders-china-drones/
[3] Imports plunge in early sign of Trump tariff impact, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/trump-tariffs-imports-economy-inflation-00376354
[4] What’s next for President Trump’s tariffs after whiplash court rulings?, https://abcnews.go.com/Business/president-trumps-tariffs-after-whiplash-court-rulings/story?id=122323318

2.2 Budget and Economic Concerns

Wall Street entities have warned administration officials that the Republican tax legislation could potentially disrupt bond markets [1]. The White House has released a partial budget document that omits important details [2]. Energy Department workers have warned that budget reductions are “going to increase prices on everybody” [3]. Questions are being raised about the practicality of President Trump’s vision for “Made in America” iPhones [4], while artificial intelligence is poised to disrupt white-collar employment, with one CEO forecasting a “white-collar bloodbath” [5].

[1] Wall Street warns Trump aides the GOP tax bill could jolt bond markets, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/31/wall-street-warns-trump-tax-bill/
[2] White House releases partial budget, but without critical details, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/30/trump-administration-budget-proposal/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com
[3] ‘Going to increase prices on everybody’: US energy department workers sound alarm over cuts, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics
[4] Is Trump’s ‘Made in America’ iPhone a Fantasy?, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/technology/apple-iphone-trump-india-china.html
[5] Behind the Curtain: Top AI CEO foresees white-collar bloodbath, https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropic

3. Foreign Policy and National Security

3.1 Defense and International Relations

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has characterized China’s military activities as an “imminent” threat, stating that China’s army “is rehearsing for the real deal” [1]. He has called on Asian allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP [2]. A Trump envoy announced that the United Kingdom will join the United States at upcoming Ukraine-Russia peace talks, with messaging directed at Putin to “take the deal” [3]. In what appears to be a conciliatory stance, another Trump envoy has stated that Russia’s concerns about NATO expansion are “fair” [4].

[1] Hegseth says U.S. will stand by Indo-Pacific allies against ‘imminent’ threat of China | China’s army “is rehearsing for the real deal,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a security conference in Singapore., https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/china-indo-pacific-allies-taiwan-pete-hegseth-military-economic-threat-rcna210105
[2] US defence chief Hegseth tells Asian allies: Raise defence spending to 5% of GDP like Europe., https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/us-defence-secretary-hegseth-tells-asian-allies-to-up-defence-expenditure-to-match-europes-5-of-gdp
[3] Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump envoy says UK to join US at next peace talks while Putin told “take the deal”, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-live-peace-talks-casualties-putin-trump-zelensky-b2760501.html
[4] Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair, https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-envoy-says-russian-concern-over-nato-enlargement-is-fair-2025-05-30

3.2 Security Threats and Surveillance

A U.S. general has warned that a terrorist group based in Africa has developed capabilities that could enable attacks within the United States [1]. One of President Trump’s closest advisors has been impersonated after their phone was hacked [2]. U.S. immigration authorities are reportedly collecting DNA information from children and storing it in criminal databases [3]. The Trump administration is pursuing what critics describe as a “secretive” effort to centralize government data on millions of Americans [4].

[1] Africa terror group could soon strike inside the US, general says, https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5326324-terrorist-threat-sahel-region-us/?tbref=hp
[2] One of Trump’s closest advisors is impersonated after phone is hacked, https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/05/one-of-trumps-closest-advisors-is-impersonated-after-phone-is-hacked.html
[3] US immigration authorities collecting DNA information of children in criminal database, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/31/cbp-dna-collection-children-immigrants
[4] Has Big Brother arrived? Inside the secretive Trump effort to centralize government data on millions of Americans, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-doge-palantir-data-immigration-b2761096.html

4. Healthcare and Public Health

4.1 Healthcare Initiatives and Research

The Trump administration has terminated a program described as critical to the search for an HIV vaccine [1] and is reportedly ending multiple HIV vaccine studies [2]. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report has come under scrutiny after it was found to contain references to nonexistent studies [3]. A new COVID subvariant is spreading rapidly as the administration shifts away from vaccine-focused strategies [4].

[1] Trump Administration Ends Program Critical to Search for an H.I.V. Vaccine, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/health/trump-hiv-cuts.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
[2] Trump administration ending multiple HIV vaccine studies, scientists and officials say, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/trump-administration-ending-multiple-hiv-vaccine-studies/
[3] RFK Jr.’s “MAHA” report contained nonexistent studies. White House says it will be updated., https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-maha-report-flaws/?user_id=66c4c308600ae1507591f14e
[4] A new COVID subvariant spreads rapidly as Trump pivots away from vaccines, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-30/a-new-covid-subvariant-spreads-rapidly-as-trump-pivots-away-from-vaccines

4.2 Medicaid and Healthcare Policy

Republicans and Democrats are clashing over Medicaid changes in what Republicans term Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” Democrats claim the legislation would “kick millions of people off their health insurance,” which Republicans have labeled “blatantly false” [1]. Republican Senator Joni Ernst has defended proposed Medicaid cuts with the statement that “we all are going to die” [2], later doubling down with what reports describe as a “sarcastic video ‘apology’” [3].

[1] GOP rails against ‘blatantly false’ Dem claims about Medicaid reform in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’: The DCCC says, ‘House Republicans’ giant tax scam will kick millions of people off their health insurance,’ which the NRCC says is ‘blatantly false’, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-rails-against-blatantly-false-dem-claims-about-medicaid-reform-trumps-big-beautiful-bill
[2] Republican Sen. Joni Ernst defends proposed Medicaid cuts: ‘We all are going to die’, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republican-sen-joni-ernst-defends-proposed-medicaid-cuts-are-going-die-rcna209972
[3] Ernst doubles down on Medicaid comment with sarcastic video ‘apology", https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5327320-ernst-medicaid-comment-response/

5. Immigration and Justice

5.1 Immigration Enforcement

The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to cancel the legal status of approximately half a million immigrants [1]. Immigration agencies have increasingly conducted courthouse arrests, which critics argue deprives migrants of due process [2]. The administration has implemented specialized vetting for visa applicants with connections to Harvard University [3]. The Trump administration’s approach to identifying “sanctuary jurisdictions” contains apparent inconsistencies, with the official list including some localities that actually support the President’s immigration policies [4].

[1] Supreme Court allows Trump administration to cancel legal status for half-million immigrants, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/supreme-court-trump-immigration-parole-00376419
[2] Immigration arrests in courthouses have become the new deportation tool, stripping migrants of a legal process, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/immigrations-arrests-ice-deportations-courthouse-legal-process-ice-rcna209671
[3] Trump administration orders enhanced vetting of all Harvard University-linked visa applicants, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-orders-extra-vetting-all-visa-applicants-linked-harvard-2025-05-30/
[4] Trump’s list of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ includes some that support his immigration policies, https://apnews.com/article/immigration-sanctuary-jurisdictions-reaction-81059c23b02f82c7dbf6ae77c21bfab8

5.2 Pardons and Legal Issues

President Trump has pardoned individuals described as “drug kingpins” while simultaneously intensifying rhetoric about fighting drug crimes [1]. Questions persist about Trump’s own legal status following a felony conviction a year ago [2]. The FBI is investigating attempts to impersonate one of President Trump’s senior advisers [3], while FBI Director Kash Patel has stated that bureau resources have been diverted to investigate “copycat” incidents related to a post referencing “Comey ‘86 47’” [4].

[1] Trump pardons drug kingpins even as he escalates U.S. drug war rhetoric, https://www.npr.org/2025/05/31/nx-s1-5415939/trump-pardons-drug-kingpins-even-as-he-escalates-the-u-s-drug-war
[2] A year after his felony conviction, is Trump still a felon?, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/30/trump-conviction-anniversary-criminal-record/83883564007/
[3] FBI probes efforts to impersonate one of Trump’s most powerful advisers, https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/30/politics/susie-wiles-impersonation-investigation
[4] FBI Director Patel says he’s had to divert resources to investigate ‘copycats’ of Comey ‘86 47’ post, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-director-patel-says-hes-had-divert-resources-investigate-copycats-comey-86-47-post

6. Politics and Civil Society

6.1 Civil Rights and Political Strategy

The Trump administration faces a lawsuit from a deaf association over the lack of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at presidential press briefings [1]. PBS has reportedly removed both a drag queen-themed children’s episode and a trans-inclusive gaming documentary following Republican complaints [2]. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expanding his national profile, suggesting Democrats need to “be a little meaner” and calling Trump a “cruel man” [3]. Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized former Vice President Harris’s campaign for failing to connect with working-class voters [4].

[1] Deaf association sues Trump for lack of ASL interpreters at press briefings, https://www.newsweek.com/deaf-association-sues-trump-lack-asl-inerpreters-press-briefings-2078561
[2] PBS removes drag & trans content after GOP complains about it turning kids queer. PBS recently removed a drag queen-themed children’s episode and a trans-inclusive gaming documentary., https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/05/pbs-removes-drag-trans-content-after-gop-complains-about-it-turning-kids-queer/
[3] Gov. Tim Walz Suggests It’s Time for Democrats to ‘Be a Little Meaner,’ Calls Trump a ‘Cruel Man’, https://time.com/7290249/tim-walz-speech-democrats-meaner-donald-trump-bully-analogy/
[4] Sanders says Harris fell short with working class. He has a plan to correct that., https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/31/bernie-sanders-harris-democrats/

6.2 Party Dynamics and Public Opinion

Within the Democratic Party, Senator Ruben Gallego has broken with some party positions by stating that concerns about transgender athletes in sports are “legitimate” [1]. Survey data indicates that Americans perceive Republicans as growing more comfortable expressing their views publicly while Democrats are becoming less so [2]. Politico reports a significant division between MAGA supporters and the influential Federalist Society [3].

[1] Democratic Senator Gallego says concerns about trans athletes are ’legitimate’, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/29/ruben-gallego-trans-athletes-00374825
[2] Americans see Republicans growing more comfortable, and Democrats less, with sharing their views, https://www.pewresearch.org/