Politics and views in the United States

Democrats blast what they call the president's "slush fund" at a Senate hearing, a Montana judge blocks the state's Election Day registration cutoff ahead of the primary, Missouri advances year-long birth control access plan and a GOP Trump critic faces primary voters.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

This Department of Justice is sending the message that if you're wealthy, if you're powerful, if you are well-connected, you won't be held accountable, even if you abuse children.

Democratic Washington State Senator Patty Murray says part of a $1.8 billion slush fund the administration once dispersed to people prosecuted under federal law could end up going to several January 6 rioters separately found guilty of child sexual abuse.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the deal the Justice Department reached in return for President Donald Trump dropping a lawsuit over leaked tax returns, insisting Trump wouldn't personally control payouts to what the White House calls victims of lawfare.

As an agreement between the president and an agency he controls, the money would not have to be administered by a court or appropriated by Congress.

Trump's endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is frustrating Senate Republicans and hurting Senator John Cornyn's re-election bid.

Cornyn is a conventional Republican and a member of Senate leadership.

Paxton is more of a MAGA populace, but his long history of legal troubles might make him a weaker candidate against Democratic State Representative James Tallarico.

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massey has lost an ugly Republican primary to veteran Ed Gowrine.

Trump endorsed Gal Ryan after Massey forced the release of files on dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Young Montana voters are celebrating a judge's decision to block a new law that would have cut off election day voter registration at noon.

Supporters of the law say it would ease pressure on election workers and protect election security.

But Hannah Gale with Forward Montana says it could deny the ballot to legitimate young voters who don't stay at the same address long.

Every time you move, you need to re-register to vote at your current address.

Someone goes thinking they're registered to vote, but then the records don't match.

Being able to correct it same day is really important.

As of now, voters can still register on the day of Montana's primary, June 2nd.

Missouri lawmakers have voted to let people with private insurance get a full year of birth control at a time.

Critics are raising cost concerns and religious objections.

Supporters like Phyllis Langsdorf with the National Council of Jewish Women say it strengthens family planning.

It now expands the access to contraception, which is a critical step toward ensuring that everyone has the freedom to decide when, if, and how to grow their family without unnecessary barriers.

President Trump is defending plans for a new White House ballroom after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that a billion dollars for related Secret Service funding could not be included in a Republican reconciliation bill immune from the filibuster.

I'm Joe Ulory for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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