WTF Just Happened This Week

Curated by Matt Kiser, WTF Just Happened Today

5.19.26/ Today in One Sentence
Trump’s Justice Department expanded his IRS settlement to include a provision ending all pending tax audits of him, his family, and his businesses ¶ the Senate voted to advance a war powers resolution that would require Trump to end military action against Iran without congressional authorization ¶ Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’ Republican Senate runoff ¶ JD Vance defended Trump’s 3,700-plus stock trades in the first three months of 2026 ¶ Affordable Care Act enrollment could fall by nearly 5 million people this year after pandemic-era subsidies expired ¶ Trump called the White House ballroom project “a gift” funded by him and private donors ¶ and 55% of Republicans want the party’s next nominee for president to follow Trump’s lead, but 37% want the party to move in a different direction.

Today's Top Story
Trump’s Justice Department expanded his IRS settlement to include a provision ending all pending tax audits of him, his family, and his businesses. The one-page addendum was signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche one day after the Trump administration agreed to create a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The fund was part of a deal for Trump to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against his own government over leaked tax records. The addendum says the IRS is “FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED” from pursuing “examinations” of Trump, “related or affiliated individuals,” and related trusts and businesses. Meanwhile, Blanche and JD Vance separately declined to rule out payments to Jan. 6 defendants, with Vance saying “anybody can apply” and Blanche adding: “My feelings don’t matter.” (Washington Post / Politico / NBC News / New York Times / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / CNBC)

5.20.26/Today in One Sentence
Federal Reserve officials warned that it might need to raise interest rates in inflation remains above its 2% target ¶ Trump claimed the U.S. was in the “final stages” of negotiations with Iran “or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty,” while also insisting, “I’m in no hurry” ¶ Senate Republicans removed the $1 billion Secret Service provision tied to Trump’s White House ballroom from an immigration enforcement bill after the Senate parliamentarian ruled it was outside the bill’s budget rules ¶ police officers who came under attack by Jan. 6 rioters sued to block Trump’s $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” ¶ Republicans backed by Trump won or led primaries in Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky ¶ and the Trump administration plans to move ahead with Trump’s 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery without congressional approval, instead relying on a 101-year-old authorization for a different, unbuilt project at the same site.

Today's Top Story
Federal Reserve officials warned that it might need to raise interest rates in inflation remains above its 2% target. U.S. inflation rose to 3.8% in April – the highest level in nearly three years – driven largely by energy prices increasing due to the Iran war. Since last year, energy prices are up nearly 18%. Trump, meanwhile, said incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh can “do what he wants to do” after repeatedly pressuring Jerome Powell to lower interest rates. Futures markets now put 60% odds on at least one hike by year-end. (New York Times / Reuters / Axios /Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)

5.21.26/Today in One Sentence
The Democratic National Committee released its 192-page draft autopsy of the 2024 election after refusing for months to make it public, saying it wanted to avoid “a distraction” ¶ Senate Republicans abandoned plans to pass Trump’s $70 billion bill to fund ICE and the Border Patrol after the Justice Department tried to attach his $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund ¶ Trump eased EPA limits on greenhouse gases used in refrigerants ¶ Trump postponed his planned AI and cybersecurity executive order hours before a White House signing ceremony ¶ Trump-appointed Commission of Fine Arts approved his 250-foot triumphal arch ¶ and 54% of non-MAGA Republicans approve of the job Trump is doing as president.

Today's Top Story
The Democratic National Committee released its 192-page draft autopsy of the 2024 election after refusing for months to make it public, saying it wanted to avoid “a distraction.” DNC Chair Ken Martin, however, conceded that that decision “ended up creating an even bigger distraction,” saying he was “not proud of this product.” While Martin said the report was released “for full transparency,” the document disavow the report on every page with a disclaimer saying the DNC could not “independently verify the claims presented.” The report blamed Biden’s White House for failing to “position or prepare” Harris to run, faulted Harris for not making an “affirmative case” why voters should support her, and said Democrats wrongly assumed Trump’s weaknesses were “baked in.” It also said Trump’s “Kamala is for they/them” ad was “very effective” and left Harris “boxed” in, while arguing that she “wrote off rural America” and relied too heavily on urban and suburban margins. The document also largely overlooked Biden’s age, Gaza, Israel, the party’s late switch to Harris after Biden quit without a nominating process. DNC annotations in the report flagged errors, missing sourcing, and conclusions with “no evidence provided.” (New York Times / NBC News / ABC News / Washington Post / Axios / Politico / Wall Street Journal / CBS News / Associated Press / CNN / The Guardian)

• Takeaways from the DNC autopsy: New York Times / CNN / Associated Press
• Read the DNC’s 2024 autopsy
• poll/ 53% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they’re dissatisfied with the Democratic Party, while 45% are satisfied. (New York Times)