News On Tap For Friday, May 15, 2026

The Time To Fight Is Now

Today’s “News On Tap” has some highs, some lows, and some weirdness too. We’ve got your update on the Uncivil War over democracy, and how Democrats are punching back. We’ve also got the news on Trump’s failures in China, his failed war in Iran, & the next war he wants in Cuba. Meanwhile, Trump’s CorruptionLand is full, while Republicans are failing on Capitol Hill, and Democrats are winning Polls & Politics. Plus, TV, Movies, & Music news, as well as Sports Entertainment news too. And our friends Karen & Anita of The Tru Blu Politics podcast are here to help us all wrap up the week. Read up, get informed, and we’ll see you here tonight!

First Round - The Uncivil War Over Democracy

Neo-Confederate Halfascism Rising

• Louisiana Senate Approves New Republican-Biased Map, Killing Off State’s Only Majority-Black House District

• South Carolina’s Republican Governor Pulls The Trigger On Redistricting, Calls For A Special Session To Try To Eliminate Majority-Minority Seat

• After Tennessee Republicans Ram Through New Maps, Longtime Democratic Rep Steve Cohen Announces End To His Re-Election Campaign

• Trump Regime’s Plans To Attempt To Force Illegal Voter Restriction Lists On Mail-In Ballots Still Moving Forward

• Not So Fast: Trump’s DOJ Says Trump-Ordered Citizenship Lists For Mail-In Voting Are Likely Unreliable & Unusable

• G. Elliot Morris: No Matter How Hard They Try, Republicans Can’t Gerrymander Trump’s Apocalyptically Bad Approval Ratings

Democrats Stepping Up The Fight

• Democratic House Leader Jeffries Rolls Out Plan For Democrats To Gain 12 Seats With Pre-2028 Redistricting

• Senior House Democrat Rep. Greg Meeks Endorses Leader Jeffries’ New Aggressive Tactics To Create More Democratic Seats By 2028

• Former VP Kamala Harris’ During ‘No Bad Idea Brainstorm’ Livestream Says Dems Must Reform & Add Seats To Scotus, Eliminate Electoral College, & More

• ICYMI: Furious Fmr. Vp Kamala Harris Blasts Trump’s Losing Iran War As ‘Bullsh**!’ In Expletive-Laden Public Speech In Las Vegas

Second Round - Trump's Many Foreign Failures

Trump The Chump’s China Failure

• Trump Leaves China Without Breakthroughs On Iran, Taiwan Or AI

• While Trump Claims ‘Fantastic Trade Deals’ With China, Details Are Non-Existent

• Trump Says He ‘Made ‘No Commitment Either Way’ To Xi On Taiwan

• David Sanger: In China, Trump Was Groveling, Xi Was Resolute. The Difference Spoke Volumes. [Gift Link]

Trump’s Failed War In Iran

• Trump Says He Didn’t Ask Xi To Pressure Iran On Strait Of Hormuz

• Republicans In Congress Refuse To Rein In Trump On Iran For The 10th Time; Democrats Say They’ll Keep Pushing Votes Forward

Trump’s Next War

• Scattered Protests Erupt In Cuba As Fuel Runs Out, Due To U.S. Blockade

• Smells Like Corruption: As Fuel Runs Out, CIA Director Visits Cuba For Rare Meeting With Cuban Officials - & Raul Castro’s Grandson

• Trump Regime Moving To Indict Cuba’s 94-Year-Old Former President, Raúl Castro

• Cuba’s Top Diplomat Outlines Red Lines To Trump Regime, As They Brace For Potential U.S. Invasion

Third Round - Republicans Governing Badly

On Capitol Hill

• Senate Parliamentarian Deals Blows To Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill; Failures Could Cause Whole Bill To Be Subject To Filibuster Rules

• House Republicans Narrowly Block Democratic War Powers Act To End Trump’s War With Iran, In 212-212 Vote

• After Tied War Powers Vote, House Leaders Of Both Parties Plead With Their Absentee Members: “You’ve Got To Come” For Votes

• Easy Layup: On Solid Bipartisan Vote Of 400-15, House Passes First Fiscal 2027 Appropriations Bill - On Military Construction & Veterans Affairs

Health Care Wars

• SCOTUS Keeps Mifepristone Available Nationwide On Current Terms, Including Mailing Of The Abortion Drug

• Supreme Court Preserves Access To Widely Used Abortion Pill, While Lawsuit Plays Out

• Veterans Group Sues Trump Regime Over Ban On Abortion Care At V.A. Hospitals

Corruption Land

• Trump Poised To Drop His Lawsuit Against The IRS He Currently Controls, Make “Settlement” By Launching $1.7B ‘Weaponization’ Fund For His Allies

• Trump Admin. Set To Drop Charges Against Indian Billionaire Accused Of Fraud, After He Hires Former Trump Lawyer, Attempts To Bribe Trump Officials

• Newly Disclosed Documents Show Trump Bought Corporations’ Stock, Even As His Administration Boosted Their Business

• Trump’s Border Patrol Chief Quits Abruptly After Report Surfaces That He Hired Foreign Sex Workers Multiple Times

• FBI Director Kash Patel’s New Ethics Mess: Emails Show His Hawaii Trip Included ‘VIP Snorkel’ At Pearl Harbor Memorial

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

Polls & Politics

• New Poll Shows Democrats’ Chances Of Winning North Carolina’s U.S. Senate Seat Are Surging

• California Candidates For Governor Spar In Final Debate Before Primary

• In Largely Cordial Debate, Both Democrats Seeking U.S. Senate Nomination In Iowa Debate Keep Their Fire Trained On Republican Challenger

• Victories You May Have Missed: Democratic Primary Wins In Nebraska Could Allow Clean Energy Advocates To Take Over A Major Utility Board - & Close An Unpopular Coal Power Plant

• Bill Scher: Michigan’s Democratic Senate Primary Needs A Non-Aggression Pact

Gospel Grifters & Holy Hypocrites

• Trump Admin To Host 9-Hour Prayer Festival This Weekend On National Mall In DC

• John Fugelsang: A Simple Prayer For MAGA’s Gospel Grifters, Holy Hypocrites, And Blaspheming Bubbas

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

Media Matters

• California Judge Bans Notorious Kars4kids Commercial From California Airwaves For False Advertising

• Wrong Way, Losers: Paramount Now In Talks With Stephen Miller’s Wife Katie For Podcast Deal As It Eyes Expansion Of Right-Wing Trash No One Wants

TV, Movies, & Music Entertainment

• Stephen Colbert Sets Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, And More Guests For Final Week Of ‘Late Show’

• Colbert Reveals Final Insult From CBS After Brutal Firing: His Staff Is Fired Immediately After Last Show

• James Bond Auditions Officially Begin: Casting Veteran From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Tapped To Find Next 007

• Lady Gaga Releases New Live Album ‘Mayhem Requiem’

Sports Entertainment

• Vegas Golden Knights Blast Past Anaheim Ducks 5-1 In Game 6 Clincher, As They Cruise Into NHL Western Conference Finals

• Montreal Canadiens Beat Buffalo Sabres 6-3, To Take 3-2 Lead In NHL Playoff’s Second Round

• Will Smith Hits 1st Leadoff Homerun As Dodgers Beat Giants 5-2, Regain Sole NL West Lead

• Biggest Surprises And Overreactions From The First Week Of The WNBA Season

Your Bar Regulars Tonight

Our friends Karen from Chicago, & Anita From San Antonio, co-hosts of Tru Blu Politics (and on Patreon too) are back in the bar tonight, to talk about another crazy busy week of news. We’ll recap this weeks news, from Trump’s failed trip to China, to his still failing war with Iran, to the rise of the Neo-Confederacy, and more. Plus, we’ll talk about The Tru Blu Politics daily podcast at Resistance Journal too. Come in this evening, grab a seat & a sip, & join us!

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