Politics and views in the United States

A Republican rebuke of Trump’s anti-weaponization fund stalls a budget reconciliation bill. Senator John Cornyn vows to fight Ken Paxton in the runoff election and Democrats revisit the 2024 loss in a new report.

Transcript

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

If they want to spend money on securing the White House, I think it would be very much a good expenditure.

President Donald Trump's command over Senate Republicans may be slipping, with several resisting spending on the White House ballroom and Trump's so-called anti-weaponization fund.

After the anti-weaponization fund was added, Senate leaders canceled a vote on a budget reconciliation bill for immigration enforcement without ICE reforms demanded by Democrats.

That fund also faces bipartisan opposition in the House and a lawsuit from two police officers attacked during the Capitol riot.

GOP members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee blocked a Democratic-led proposal to prevent payouts for pardoned January 6th insurrectionists who are convicted child predators.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer describes the fund as deeply corrupt and says there are real needs that deserve the money and Congress's attention.

We want to help people feed themselves.

We want to help people be able to go to work and pay for that tank of gas.

We want to help first-time homebuyers afford a mortgage.

And they're busy fighting amongst themselves on something the American people don't care about.

House Republicans canceled a vote on a war powers resolution seeking to limit Trump's authority to wage war with Iran.

The conflict has gone cold as talks continue, although it's profoundly unpopular, as are the higher gas prices it's led to.

The resolution may have enough votes to pass, in part because the president has alienated members of his own party.

Trump endorsed former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his effort to unseat the powerful incumbent John Cornyn in the primary.

Early voting ends today in the runoff between the two.

Paxton says both should stop running negative ads, but Cornyn says he won't stop, quote, telling the truth about Paxton's extensive legal troubles and misdeeds.

On what possible basis would you trust Ken Paxton?

So no, we're not going to quit telling the truth about his record because I believe that accountability is critical.

And I do believe May 26th will be judgment day for Ken Paxton and Texas.

Texas observers say Democratic candidate James Tallarico would do better against Paxton, but Democrats face their own intraparty wounds like those opened by a just-released DNC report on the loss in 2024.

The report points to underfunded state parties, declines in Democratic voter registration, and a lack of support from the Biden White House for Vice President Kamala Harris in office and on the campaign trail.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro for murder and conspiracy to kill four U.S. nationals 30 years ago.

Castro was central to the downing of two planes operated by an anti-regime humanitarian group.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says foreign leaders can't kill Americans and not be held accountable.

President Trump is committed to restoring a very simple but important principle.

If you kill Americans, we will pursue you, no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold, and in this case, no matter how much time has passed.

I'm Edwin J. Vieira for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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