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NYC Mayor Mamdani Pushes Plan to Seize Private Property from Landlords
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his Block by Block housing plan on May 26, 2026. The plan pushes aggressive legal actions to strip negligent owners and managers of control of neglected buildings. It then, unconstitutionally, transfers that private property ownership to community land trusts, nonprofits, or tenants. Officials frame homelessness as a housing supply issue and commit billions toward new units and stabilization efforts. This revives elements of the prior Third Party Transfer program. That program drew legal challenges over inadequate due process and just compensation in government takings of private real estate. Such moves invite claims of unconstitutional confiscation by bypassing full Fifth Amendment protections on private property rights.
đď¸ Politics & Government
Homeland Security Prepares To Halt International Flight Processing At Sanctuary City Airports
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the Trump administration is drawing up plans to stop processing international travelers and cargo at major U.S. airports located in sanctuary cities. These jurisdictions have limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Mullin made the comments during a Fox News interview. He argued that cities unwilling to support federal law enforcement should not receive federal customs and immigration services at their airports. Affected locations could include busy gateways such as those in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Newark. The proposal remains in the planning stage with no final decision. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has voiced opposition to disrupting air travel based on local politics. The move comes amid ongoing tensions over sanctuary policies and ahead of major international events like the FIFA World Cup.
Trumpâs Endorsement Machine Rolls On as Primaries Deliver More Wins with a Perfect 188 for 118
President Trump kept his perfect primary endorsement record intact at 118 wins with no losses as his backed candidates advanced or prevailed in key races. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary runoff. Separately, longtime Democratic Congressman Al Green was ousted in a primary runoff by Christian Menefee in Houstonâs redrawn 18th Congressional District. On the Republican side in the Houston area, Alex Mealer secured the GOP nomination for the newly drawn 9th Congressional District by defeating state Representative Briscoe Cain. These outcomes from Tuesdayâs runoffs underscore the strong influence of Trumpâs support among Republican voters selecting nominees for the 2026 midterms.
New Jersey Democrat Candidateâs Bosnia Volunteer Work Tied to Later-Designated Al-Qaida Front
New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Adam Hamawy volunteered in 1994 with the Benevolence International Foundation in Bosnia. He distributed humanitarian supplies in Sarajevo and Zenica. U.S. and international authorities later designated the group as an Al-Qaida affiliate that provided support to Osama bin Laden. Hamawy has received endorsements from Rep. Ilhan Omar and other prominent progressives. He previously faced scrutiny for his association with convicted terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman, known as the Blind Sheikh, including serving as a translator and defense witness. Hamawy has highlighted his service as a U.S. Army doctor and 9/11 responder while dismissing questions about his past as biased attacks.
Becerraâs Migrant NGO Web Shows Close Mexican Government Links
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra maintains extensive personal and political connections to major migrant advocacy nonprofits with documented operational ties to the Mexican government. These groups include UnidosUS, CHIRLA, and CARECEN-LA. Becerraâs daughter interned at UnidosUS in 2012. The organization sponsored a trip for him in 2005 and backed his HHS nomination. Mexican officials have engaged UnidosUS for civic mobilization efforts inside the U.S. Becerra has called CHIRLA part of his family. The group has received computers from the Mexican government, hosted joint workshops at consulates, and earned an Ohtli Award for its CEO. CHIRLA also runs voter outreach and provides migrant services while drawing substantial taxpayer grants. Becerra sponsored a congressional earmark for CARECEN-LA. That group has partnered with Mexican consuls on immigration workshops where Becerra has spoken. These alliances place Becerra at the intersection of powerful U.S. migrant networks and Mexican interests as he seeks higher office in California.
Biden Sues DOJ to Block Release of Ghostwriter Interview Audio
Former President Joe Biden filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department on May 26, 2026, to prevent the planned June 15 release of audio recordings and transcripts from his 2016 and 2017 interviews with a ghostwriter for his memoir. These materials, which included private conversations that revealed details about his family during his son Beauâs illness, were gathered during Special Counsel Robert Hurâs 2023 investigation into Bidenâs handling of classified documents after leaving the vice presidency. Hur referenced the recordings in declining charges, citing concerns over Bidenâs memory. The suit targets releases sought by the House Judiciary Committee and the Heritage Foundation under Freedom of Information Act requests. Bidenâs legal team argues the demands are pretextual and seek to protect personal privacy.
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SNAP Benefits Diverted Overseas in Alleged Shipping Scheme
Taxpayer-funded groceries obtained through SNAP benefits and food pantries in Massachusetts communities with high Dominican populations are reportedly collected and packed into blue barrels for shipment to the Dominican Republic, where they are sold in local stores for profit. Residents in Lawrence, Massachusetts, use EBT cards at markets accepting them or obtain free items from pantries and churches before routing the goods through shipping hubs in New York to ports like Newark for export. Investigators traced the pipeline over weeks, documenting how the practice has operated openly for more than a decade, with economics that only make sense if the food is acquired at little or no cost to the shippers. This diverts assistance meant for American households into a resale market abroad.
American Journalist Faces Charges For Alleged Work As Unregistered Agent For Chinese Government
Thomas Weir Pauken II, an American journalist and author who lived in China for over a decade and wrote under the pseudonym Tom McGregor for Chinese state media outlets, faces federal charges for acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government. Court documents indicate he prepared confidential political reports for handlers linked to Chinaâs Ministry of State Security. Those handlers claimed the material reached President Xi Jinping. Pauken took a lie detector test at their request and attempted to connect a U.S. government job seeker with Chinese contacts while acknowledging an 80 percent chance that classified information might be shared. He was arrested in early March and has a court appearance scheduled. His lawyer has noted that Pauken is not charged with espionage or mishandling classified information.
Federal Government Sues UCLA Again for Tolerating Antisemitic Harassment of Students
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the University of California on May 26, 2026, in the Central District of California. This action accuses UCLA of deliberate indifference to antisemitic harassment and discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint details how university officials failed to address incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, including a pro-Palestinian encampment that blocked access to campus areas and led to physical assaults on Jewish students, such as slapping, kicking, beating with sticks, pepper spraying, and knocking individuals unconscious. Administrators knew of the problems through complaints and their own task force report, yet they took minimal action for weeks and imposed little discipline on participants. This marks the second federal lawsuit against UCLA this year, following one focused on employees. The government seeks repayment of federal funds and policy changes to protect students.
Texas Far-Left Progressive Cashes In Big After Paxtonâs Primary Triumph
Texas state Rep. James Talarico pulled in $600,000 for his U.S. Senate campaign in just the first two hours after Attorney General Ken Paxton clinched the Republican nomination. This surge marked the strongest fundraising window of Talaricoâs bid so far. Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP runoff on May 26, setting up a November matchup against the Austin Democrat. Talarico had already posted eye-catching quarterly hauls earlier in the cycle, including a record $27 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Harvard Radcliffe Institute Awards High-Paid Fellowships to Anti-Israel Activists
Harvard Radcliffe Institute is providing four individuals with prominent fellowships worth around $90,000 for the 2026-2027 academic year. These include a filmmaker who has backed boycotts of Israel and appeared to justify the October 7 attacks, a journalist for a Qatari-owned outlet who supports BDS and has interviewed anti-Israel activists sympathetically, an English professor from a Hamas-influenced Gaza university who accuses Israel of scholasticide and domicide, and a University at Buffalo professor who has labeled Israel an ecofascist state. The fellows gain stipends, housing support, Harvard resources, and research assistance while pursuing projects that bring perspectives critical of Israel to campus. Harvardâs announcement highlighted some fellows but placed these four on a separate full list.
đ International
White House Slaps Down Iranian State Media Claims Of Peace Draft While Uranium Issue Lingers
The White House rejected Iranian state television reports of a draft memorandum of understanding with Tehran as a complete fabrication. Iranian media described the supposed framework as calling for the United States to withdraw military forces from Iranâs vicinity, lift its naval blockade, and allow commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to return to pre-war levels within a month. In exchange, Iran would restore transit ships but exclude military vessels. The White House stressed that nobody should believe Iranian state media on this. Tehran notably sidestepped any mention of its enriched uranium stockpile in the reported draft. Iranian officials, including President Pezeshkian, emphasized economic resilience as the new battleground. The IRGC issued fresh warnings about turning parts of Iran into a graveyard for any aggressors if the ceasefire falters. Airports damaged in earlier strikes continue to reopen as both sides engage in indirect contacts.
International Coalition Assembles to Clear Iranian Mines from Strait of Hormuz
A coalition mainly of European nations has put together naval forces for a minesweeping operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces laid the mines during a months-long standoff with the United States and Israel. The strait serves as a narrow choke point for global oil, fertilizer, and commodity shipments. European countries bring specialized mine-hunting ships and equipment that complement ongoing American efforts. Deployment remains conditional on a lasting end to hostilities. Several nations have already repositioned assets like minehunters to the Mediterranean for quicker access if called upon.
Iranian President Orders âRestorationâ of International Internet Access After Prolonged Blackout
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian directed the reopening of international internet access following nearly 90 days of a nationwide blackout. Authorities first imposed restrictions in January amid protests against the government. They reinstated the cutoff at the end of February during U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. The near-total isolation from global networks lasted about 88 days, one of the longest such shutdowns recorded. Even with the order, full connectivity remains uncertain as the regime maintains heavy censorship and speed limits on allowed access. Iranian officials cited the need for stability and economic relief as factors in the decision. Partial restoration has begun, according to monitoring groups, though social media platforms remain blocked, and skepticism persists among residents about complete implementation.
Europe Wary of Growing Reliance on Beijing After Russian Energy Lesson
European officials are growing concerned about heavy dependence on China for critical goods after previously focusing on reducing ties to the United States. Italy joined Chinaâs Belt and Road Initiative in 2019 as the only G7 nation to do so but later withdrew under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called the move a mistake. This reflects a broader shift in European thinking. Leaders once pushed for strategic autonomy to lessen reliance on Washington for defense, technology, and trade. Events such as the coronavirus pandemic traced to China, Beijingâs support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, and Chinaâs control over solar panels, electric vehicles, and rare-earth minerals have heightened worries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has noted Chinaâs significant economic and geopolitical leverage. Policymakers aim to avoid the error made with cheap Russian energy, which left Europe vulnerable during the 2022 Ukraine war. The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods and offered subsidies for domestic industries while promoting de-risking instead of full decoupling.
US Pentagon Slashes NATO Crisis Force Pledges for Europe
The Pentagon plans to cut by as much as half the forces it would send to Europe in a major crisis. This includes reductions in strategic bombers, warships, refueling tankers, and other advanced capabilities that have long supported NATOâs defense plans. Officials delivered the news to allies at a closed-door meeting in Brussels last week. The changes target the NATO Force Model for the first 10, 30, and 180 days of a conflict. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described the move as a chance for European nations to step up and handle more of their own conventional defense. The administration has already pulled an Army brigade from Romania and canceled an armored brigade deployment to Poland. Some Republican lawmakers raised concerns about the timing and signals sent to adversaries. Additional details are expected at a force generation conference in June.
