Politics and views in the United States

Trump threatens Oman during the Strait of Hormuz standoff, Texas Republicans now brace for the general election for Senate and the firing of immigration judges rattle confidence in the courts.

Transcript

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

Oman will behave just like everybody else, so we'll have to blow them up.

They understand that.

They'll be fine.

President Donald Trump warned Oman not to help Iran control the Strait of Hormuz, threatening military action against the generally peaceful and neutral Gulf state if it helps block the waterway at borders.

He also said Iran is, quote, negotiating on fumes and dismiss concerns about the war's political impacts.

The Texas election confirmed Trump's grip on Republicans and party leaders are urging Senator John Cornyn's congressional peers to coalesce in support of State Attorney General Ken Paxton.

In his concession speech, Cornyn reflected on a bruising defeat in an ugly campaign, the most expensive Senate primary in history.

I believe public service is an honorable calling.

Serving others is a high purpose.

And while much about politics is ugly, we choose to serve through the good, the bad and the ugly.

Paxton now faces Democratic State Representative James Tallarico in a race that could also get ugly.

The Republican has been using insulting nicknames for Tallarico, who in return calls Paxton the most corrupt politician in the country, pointing to the attorney general's numerous legal problems.

After GOP-led redistricting put them both in the same minority-heavy Houston district, longtime Congressman Al Green lost his primary runoff to rising Democrat Christian Menefee.

Green feuded with Trump and was forced to leave a state of the union for protesting.

But Green also made wealthy opponents by calling for regulation of cryptocurrency.

They funded ads against him.

A new Unidos U.S. poll shows Trump losing ground with Latinos. it suggests many are again favoring Democrats in House races, although they are deeply frustrated with both parties and may not show to vote.

Alabama Republicans are appealing to the Supreme Court to revive a congressional map that could hand them another House seat.

A lower court ruled the plan unfairly weakens Black voting power.

Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen is threatening to stop allowing some international flights to land in sanctuary cities after protests outside a New Jersey immigration detention center.

Bolin says cities resisting enforcement should face consequences.

Critics warn the move could spark widespread flight cancellations and nationwide travel disruptions.

More than 200 immigration judges have been fired or pushed out under the Trump administration.

Some former judges say they were removed without explanation even during hearings.

Former immigration judge Mimi Sankov says the way judges were dismissed is shaking confidence and slowing the process in a badly overburdened system.

I think people are very concerned about the manner in which judges were fired because it speaks to a broader concern about the institution and how much we can really trust the outcomes of that institution.

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

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.