Liberal Reporting for 2026-05-19
Today’s news coverage from liberal media sources. Today's edition includes 80 articles from 16 sites. We chose these from 615 articles found on 18 sites.
Today's featured sites are:
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories, The Intercept, Mother Jones, MS NOW, Vox, The Guardian, NYT > Top Stories, PBS NewsHour - The Latest, NPR Topics: Home Page Top Stories, Democracy Now! Audio, News, Politics, Opinion, Commentary, and Analysis, World & Nation, ProPublica, The Atlantic, Truthout, National.
A must-win California House seat is giving Dems heartburn
The seat now held by Rep. Darrell Issa has become critical to Democratic hopes for retaking the House.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
DOJ rolls out nearly $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization fund’ as part of Trump’s IRS settlement
The move comes after Trump, his sons and family business sued the IRS for $10 billion for failing to properly oversee a contractor who leaked the tax returns of the president.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
Who’s Spending in Your Congressional Election? We Tracked the Front Groups Fueling the 2026 Midterms.
Murky political spending groups tout innocuous causes like “jobs,” “democracy,” and “electing women.” Here’s a guide to who’s really behind them. The post Who’s Spending in Your Congressional Election...
The Intercept
May 18, 2026 - theintercept.com
Alito Said Racism Was Over. Southern States Are Now Rushing to Revive Jim Crow.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) is the first Black member of Congress elected from South Carolina since Reconstruction, and the only Black Democrat ever elected from the state. He has been elected seventeen...
Mother Jones
May 18, 2026 - motherjones.com
How do you follow Eleanor Holmes Norton? These Democrats want to be a different kind of delegate.
They won’t get a vote, but five would-be successors say they are ready to wield power in other ways.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
Poll: Trump’s endorsement could hurt battleground Republicans
Being supported by Trump or some special interest groups may inspire more backlash for a candidate than support, new results show.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
Millions are going hungry, and Trump’s tax cuts are to blame
Thanks to the GOP’s cuts to SNAP, the number of people in the U.S. receiving food assistance through the program fell by more than 3.5 million. The post Millions are going hungry, and Trump’s tax cuts...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Republicans and Democrats are in dealmaking mode as time runs out for legislative action
Lawmakers say they’re ready to put partisan bickering aside and move some bipartisan bills before midterm campaigning gets into full swing.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
Trump Cuts to Weather Data May Make Forecasts Less Reliable, Experts Warn
This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. As the United States prepares for hurricane season and a summer of record-breaking...
Mother Jones
May 18, 2026 - motherjones.com
Data centers could actually be good for your hometown
An aerial view of a 33 megawatt data center (C) with closed-loop cooling system on April 14, 2026 in Vernon, California. | Getty Images The only good data center is a canceled data center. Or so a ...
Vox
May 18, 2026 - vox.com
Trump’s repeated dismissal of the MAGA base is catching up to him
In today’s edition of The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe: Joe’s view of Trump’s retreat, a new CBS-YouGov poll, and more. The post Trump’s repeated dismissal of the MAGA base is catching up to him appear...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Treasury extends Russian oil sanctions waiver for another month
A second extension of the waiver indicates that oil market pressures from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have not eased.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
“Rush Hour 4” and More Katie Miller: Welcome to the Mediautocracy.
When President Donald Trump visited Beijing last week for a high-stakes summit to discuss the war in Iran, Taiwan, and other complex geopolitical issues involving the world’s two biggest superpowers, ...
Mother Jones
May 18, 2026 - motherjones.com
Judge allows key evidence in Luigi Mangione’s New York murder trial
Prosecutors will be allowed to use as evidence a weapon and a notebook collected from the backpack of the man accused of killing a healthcare executive in Manhattan in 2024. The post Judge allows key ...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
ICE officer charged over shooting of Venezuelan man in Minnesota
Christian Castro charged with five counts over shooting of Julio César Sosa-Celis in Trump immigration crackdownA Minnesota prosecutor on Monday announced charges against an Immigration and Customs En...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Epstein prison guard testifies before House Oversight Committee
Tova Noel said she believes she was the last person to see Epstein alive at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he was found dead in August 2019. The post Epstein prison guard testifies before...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 5.18.26: Kentucky’s Massie prepares to face primary voters
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. The post Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 5.18.26: Kentucky’s Massie prepares to face primary voters appeared first on MS NOW.
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Hochul’s pro-housing push sees meager pick up in NYC suburbs
The governor is hoping carrots will move the needle on housing growth after failing to get sticks through the state Legislature three years ago.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
ICE Agent Charged in Shooting of a Venezuelan Immigrant in Minnesota
The agent is the second federal officer to face felony charges in Minnesota stemming from Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Over 145,000 US children separated from parents since Trump’s ICE surge, study estimates
About 36% of children whose parents were detained were younger than six, Brookings Institution study foundMore than 145,000 US children have likely experienced a parent being detained by immigration a...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
As Christian nationalists gather in D.C., polling shows broad opposition to far-right vision
Among the problems with the taxpayer-financed “Rededicate 250” gathering: The American mainstream isn’t buying what its organizers are selling. The post As Christian nationalists gather in D.C., polli...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
The Iran war reminds us: we’ll never be energy-independent with fossil fuels | Lloyd Doggett and Michael Shank
Energy security comes from using local, renewable resources to power, heat and cool communities, as Ukraine is doingDonald Trump’s unjustified war on Iran and the resulting global fuel crisis is a con...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Trump Just Gave Himself a $1.8 Billion Slush Fund to Reward His Friends
President Donald Trump dropped his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service on Monday in exchange for a settlement deal to launch a $1.8 billion fund to pay claims made by his friends ...
Mother Jones
May 18, 2026 - motherjones.com
US military attack on Cuba would trigger ‘bloodbath,’ says Cuban president
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said Cuba is aware of the threats of military aggression from the U.S.
Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - politico.com
Abortion Pill Lawsuit Leaves Trump in a Political Bind Ahead of the Midterms
Louisiana wants the Food and Drug Administration to curtail access to the medication. Doing so could cost Republicans at the polls.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Democrats are aiming at Maine for a Senate seat. But will the state give up Susan Collins?
Challenger Graham Platner may have amassed a rare kinetic energy, but the moderate conservative has served the state for almost 30 yearsFor three decades, Susan Collins has styled herself as a moderat...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
‘You can bet on it’: Utah lawmakers form united front in push to ban prediction markets
Utah’s heavily Mormon population is largely opposed to all gambling, even on financial exchange platformsUtah is home to some of the strongest anti-gambling laws in the US, with vehement opposition da...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Minnesota county charges ICE officer in shooting during immigration crackdown
A Minnesota county prosecutor has charged an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man.
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
A third of Americans believe the U.S. will be in a recession next year
A new CBS News-YouGov survey also found 40% of people describe the U.S. economy as “unfair.” The post A third of Americans believe the U.S. will be in a recession next year appeared first on MS NOW.
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Colorado’s secretary of state blasts Gov. Jared Polis for granting Trump ally clemency
“Tina Peters was no political prisoner. She compromised her voting equipment trying to prove Trump’s ‘big lie,’” Jena Griswold said on MS NOW. The post Colorado’s secretary of state blasts Gov. Jared ...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Brookings Institution Report: Over 100,000 Family Separations in Trump Crackdown
The Brookings Institution suggests that federal statistics are an undercount because immigrant parents are not being asked about or not disclosing their American children.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Trump’s Approval Sinks Amid Unpopular War, Darkening G.O.P. Prospects
With the midterms nearing, President Trump’s approval rating has hit a second-term low as voters question his handling of the economy, according to the latest New York Times/Siena poll.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
He’s Been Impeached and Indicted. He Has a Chance in Texas’s Senate Race.
The fate of Ken Paxton, the conservative Texas firebrand, could decide whether Republicans keep control of the Senate.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Trump’s Taiwan Gambit is Already a Gift to China
President Trump’s open willingness to hold up a $14 billion Taiwan arms package is a win for Beijing. Now China could be weighing how to keep the weapons on ice for as long as it can.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Trump Warns Iran the ‘Clock Is Ticking’ as Tensions Surge Again in Middle East
The president has sought to force Iran to accept his terms on its nuclear program or else face renewed war. An emboldened Iran has rebuffed Trump’s demands.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Mamdani’s First City-Owned Grocery Store Is Planned for the South Bronx
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that the store would open in the Hunts Point neighborhood next year. Some merchants are pushing back.
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Trump dismisses $10bn suit against IRS and creates $1.7bn ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
Democrats criticize deal as a slush fund that ‘funnels taxpayer dollars’ to Trump’s political alliesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump moved to dismiss a $10bn lawsuit again...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Iran makes new proposal for deal to end war, regional officials say
Tehran is said to have made or reiterated some concessions but source in mediator Pakistan appears pessimisticMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran has made a new proposal for a deal to definitively e...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
‘The party has sailed its ship’: ex-Republican runs as Democrat for Georgia governor’s seat
After being excommunicated from the GOP, Geoff Duncan is trying for a comeback on the Democratic ticketIn the Georgia governor’s race, Geoff Duncan’s candidacy tests American politics as much as it te...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Trump cuts to weather data could make forecasts less reliable, warn experts
Use of AI is a valuable tool for weather prediction but only when it’s trained with ample data, experts sayAs the US prepares for hurricane season and a summer of record-breaking heat, experts fear th...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Alex Murdaugh retrial ruling offers twist in tangled tale of murder in US south
Can a new trial bring justice in the case of the disgraced South Carolina lawyer whose conviction for killing his wife and son has been vacated after court clerk’s misconduct?Alex Murdaugh was not in ...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
The Guardian view on India’s Iran shock: Asia’s neoliberal era starts to fracture | Editorial
Narendra Modi’s austerity appeals reveal how war, energy insecurity and dollar pressures expose the fragility of globalisationThe Indian prime minister’s call for sacrifice last week marks a fundament...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Xi prepares to welcome Putin to China four days after hosting Trump
Chinese state media say Beijing emerging as ‘focal point of global diplomacy’ with Russian leader arriving on TuesdayXi Jinping and Vladimir Putin exchanged “congratulatory letters” on Sunday ahead of...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Why the Supreme Court's voting rights ruling could play a big role at the local level
The Supreme Court's recent ruling threatens the power of racial-minority voters in Voting Rights Act cases about not just Congress, but also at least 17 state and local governments, NPR finds.
NPR Topics: Home Page Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - npr.org
In Georgia primary, Republicans dominate spending and Democrats drive record turnout
Tuesday's primary in Georgia features contentious Republican contests for governor and U.S. Senate while Democrats hope an enthusiasm advantage is enough to flip two state supreme court seats.
NPR Topics: Home Page Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - npr.org
Redistricting debate shifts to South Carolina as Republicans target Rep. Clyburn's seat
The Southern redistricting efforts come after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minority districts.
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
Trump moves to dismiss $10 billion suit over leak of tax returns after reports of a resolution
The creation of a fund to pay allies of the president who believe they were wrongly investigated and prosecuted reflects Trump's long-running claims that the Biden administration Justice Department wa...
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
Trump Tried to Build Australia’s Tallest Tower. It Didn’t Happen.
Donald Trump has had an amazing run of success as an international businessman since becoming president for a second time. He’s made billions in crypto, traded stocks successfully, and unveiled new lo...
Mother Jones
May 18, 2026 - motherjones.com
Democracy Now! 2026-05-18 Monday
Headlines for May 18, 2026; As WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency, Did USAID Cuts Worsen the Crisis?; Trump’s Christian Nationalist Agenda & Taxpayer-Funded D.C. Prayer Rally: Bisho...
Democracy Now! Audio
May 18, 2026 - democracynow.org
The 5 most unhinged revelations from Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI
A jury ruled against Elon Musk in his lawsuit against OpenAI on Monday. | Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images Friendship breakups are never easy, but few are as messy and expensive as the collapse of Elon ...
Vox
May 18, 2026 - vox.com
An HIV-free generation is closer than you think
No baby should be born with HIV in 2026. So how come many still are? | Gideon Mendel/Getty Images Ismail Harerimana grew up in Uganda not knowing why he was always sick. His childhood in the 1990s...
Vox
May 18, 2026 - vox.com
Where Are the Tariff Refunds for American Consumers?
The Trump Administration has started repaying more than a hundred and fifty billion dollars to companies that paid its import duties. So far, most of their customers are still waiting to see much bene...
News, Politics, Opinion, Commentary, and Analysis
May 18, 2026 - newyorker.com
Trump Has Done More Than Misjudge Iran
The war has revealed the true puniness of Trump’s power
NYT > Top Stories
May 18, 2026 - nytimes.com
Prediction market Kalshi to give $2m to problem gambling group as it fights ‘gambling’ label
Kalshi announces two-year investment to National Council on Problem Gambling ‘focused on trader health and safety’The prediction market Kalshi, which maintains it is not a gambling platform, has annou...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
The return of Westworld is perfect timing for the flattery-oriented age of AI
Now that real life has caught up with science fiction, the imminent danger isn’t malfunctioning cowboys, it’s the robots convincing us that we’re great and everything is totally fineAll the best scien...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Canada’s sports minister hopes World Cup can lead to trade agreement with US and Mexico
North America will host this summer’s tournamentEuropean fans encouraged to visit Canada for World CupCanada’s sports minister, Adam van Koeverden, has expressed confidence that hosting the World Cup ...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Starbucks Korea CEO resigns over ad evoking massacre of pro-democracy protesters
‘Tank Day’ event causes outrage with ‘malicious mockery’ of deadly crackdown during dictatorship eraThe chief executive of Starbucks in South Korea has been fired after the company ran a promotional e...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Pressure on Mexico after two ex-officials surrender to US over alleged cartel ties
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum denies any links between her Morena party and organized crimePressure is mounting on Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, after two former top officials from the ...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
For sale: one cute baby gibbon – mother probably killed by poachers
Rising demand for exotic pets is pushing many gibbon species to extinction, with their strong family bonds making them especially vulnerable to the brutal tradeIt is a cool morning in Thailand’s hilly...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Fjord review - Cristian Mungiu at sea with strange child abuse drama starring Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan
Cannes film festival: The Palme laureate here makes a misstep with an odd, disquieting film that leaves too many issues unresolvedRomanian director and Palme laureate Cristian Mungiu – the winner here...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Smallie by Eden McKenzie-Goddard review – the stories behind the Windrush scandal
In this warm and tender debut, the family of Barbados-born Lucinda must try to document her decades in Britain after the Home Office threatens her with deportationThere is a particular kind of British...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
A milky protest and a UFO in London: photos of the day – Monday
The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...
The Guardian
May 18, 2026 - theguardian.com
Georgia GOP scrambles to pick candidate to face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff
Trump has not endorsed a candidate, which could lead to a runoff on June 16.
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
Supreme Court rejects appeals from drug manufacturers over Medicare price negotiations with government
The negotiation program was created as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which capped years of debate over whether the federal government should be allowed to haggle directly with manufacturer...
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
Israeli navy intercept flotilla boats trying to breach the blockade of Gaza
Organizers say the boats were intercepted 250 nautical miles from Gaza's shores.
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
Pope Leo XIV to launch his first encylical, a document on artificial intelligence, with Anthropic's co-founder
The presence of Anthropic's Christopher Olah at the Vatican is significant, and suggests that the U.S. pope's position on AI will become a new flashpoint with the Trump administration.
PBS NewsHour - The Latest
May 18, 2026 - pbs.org
Trump DOJ creates $1.7-billion fund for victims of legal 'weaponization,' prompting outrage
Experts said Trump creating a fund for his political allies, to settle a lawsuit he had personally brought against his own government, was unprecedented and concerning.
World & Nation
May 18, 2026 - latimes.com
Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Oklahoma Regulators Say They Can’t Help.
The post Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Oklahoma Regulators Say They Can’t Help. appeared first on ProPublica.
ProPublica
May 18, 2026 - propublica.org
A Different Kind of Fading President
Joe Biden became quieter, while Donald Trump grows even louder.
The Atlantic
May 18, 2026 - theatlantic.com
Trump Bought Stock in Drugmaker Whom It Then Boosted Through Policy
The president made trades in Eli Lilly early this year while making decisions benefiting the drugmaker’s GLP-1 business.
Truthout
May 18, 2026 - truthout.org
Absence of the Word “Black” in Black Maternal Health Bills Concerns Advocates
Advocates worry that the changes attempt to avoid anti-DEI attacks at the expense of making legislation less effective.
Truthout
May 18, 2026 - truthout.org
The paradox at the heart of American meat consumption
Key takeaways Many people live with an uncomfortable contradiction: They like animals and don’t want to see them harmed, yet they also enjoy eating meat, milk, and eggs. Psychology researchers c...
Vox
May 18, 2026 - vox.com
You have more time than you think. Here are 5 science-backed ways to find it
If there’s one thing Americans can agree on — beyond the fact we hate data centers and love Dolly Parton — it’s that we’re busier than ever, and it’s all too much. We don’t have time to socialize, we ...
Vox
May 18, 2026 - vox.com
Jury tosses Elon Musk’s lawsuit accusing OpenAI of violating nonprofit promise
The nine-person jury found that Musk waited too long to file his lawsuit and missed the deadline for the statute of limitations. The post Jury tosses Elon Musk’s lawsuit accusing OpenAI of violating n...
MS NOW
May 18, 2026 - ms.now
Can Hakeem Jeffries Lead a Democratic Takeover of the House?
An unprecedented gerrymandering effort led by Donald Trump—and internal divisions among Democrats—has made the Minority Leader’s path to victory harder than ever.
News, Politics, Opinion, Commentary, and Analysis
May 18, 2026 - newyorker.com
Some items from Mangione’s backpack won’t be allowed in state trial, judge rules
A phone, passport, weapon magazine and computer chip are not admissible in Luigi Mangione’s trial on state murder charges, a judge ruled.
National
May 18, 2026 - washingtonpost.com
Instead of proms and parties, she spent senior year fighting an ICE warehouse
Cali Overs spent her senior year lobbying local, state and federal officials after Homeland Security bought a warehouse near her Arizona high school.
National
May 18, 2026 - washingtonpost.com
Trump Begins Branding America’s 250th Anniversary as a Christian Celebration
Donald Trump’s MAGA-style celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence ramped up Sunday with a federally funded prayer service that organizers said would “rededicate America as One Na...
Mother Jones
May 17, 2026 - motherjones.com
GOP Push for $1 Billion to Fund Trump’s Ballroom Hits Roadblock
A GOP bill aiming to use $1 billion of taxpayer money to finance required security for President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom was denied in a Saturday night ruling on technical grounds. Senate ...
Mother Jones
May 17, 2026 - motherjones.com
Sen. Bill Cassidy’s Losing Legacy: He Gave America RFK Jr.
Sen. Bill Cassidy may remember coming in third place, but the American people will be left with his legacy of playing a role in degrading the nation’s health care system. On Saturday, Cassidy won onl...