Louisiana governor prepares to suspend House primaries after court ruling  —  Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told Republican House candidates he plans to suspend the May 16 primary elections so lawmakers can redraw the congressional map.  —  Summary  —  Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) …

Congress expected to end the record 75-day partial government shutdown  —  The House expects to vote to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security by the end of the day.  ICE and border patrol will be funded separately due to Democratic opposition.  —  WASHINGTON — The House is expected …

Janet Mills Bows Out of Maine Senate Race as an Insurgent Democrat Rises  —  Her withdrawal reflects the energy of the party's left and voters' unease with older candidates and paves the way for Graham Platner to challenge Senator Susan Collins in November.  —  Gov. Janet Mills of Maine …

Public rejects Trump's ballroom by wide margin  —  The president's planned 250-foot arch and a Treasury Department plan to put Trump's signature on paper money are also unpopular.  —  Summary  —  Americans reject President Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom by a 2-to-1 margin …

Trump pulls Casey Means nomination for surgeon general for Fox News's Nicole Saphier  —  President Trump on Thursday pulled the controversial nomination of Casey Means for surgeon general, announcing on Truth Social that her replacement would be Fox News contributor and radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier …

Democrats Regret Creating Independent Redistricting Commissions After Supreme Court Ruling  —  A decade ago, the party sought independent redistricting commissions.  Now, in an era of extreme gerrymandering, such efforts could slow Democrats as they try to keep up with Republicans.

U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP  —  Federal debt exceeding the size of the economy is a potent symbol of the gathering fiscal stresses on the U.S.  —  WASHINGTON—The U.S. national debt now exceeds 100% of gross domestic product, crossing a once-unthinkable threshold, on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II.

Trump Family-Backed Drone Firm Signs Weapons Deal With US  —  The US Air Force agreed to buy an undisclosed number of interceptor drones from a company backed by President Donald Trump's sons, according to the firm, deepening the military's ties to defense contractors linked to the first family …

The dumbest week in DOJ history  —  PN is supported by paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  🌊 Subscribe to PN 🌊  —  You'd think we'd be running out of ways to say that the Department of Justice is a careening, catastrophic, out-of-control mess, but every day …

The Logic of NACHO  —  The only available deal is no deal  —  On Wall Street, TACO — Trump Always Chickens Out — has abruptly been replaced as a favorite meme by NACHO — Not a Chance Hormuz Opens.  As a result, oil futures have soared.  —  I never bought into the TACO meme …

The pastor of the nation's largest Methodist church is running for the US Senate in Kansas  —  The pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in the U.S. launched a campaign Thursday for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas, upending the race in a normally Republican state …

U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Landmark Rule to Lower College Costs and Simplify Student Loan Repayment  —  Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) released a final rule that will lower the cost of college and make student loan repayment easier, an important step …

Scoop: Rep. Chuck Edwards under investigation by House Ethics  —  The House Ethics Committee has begun investigating Rep. Chuck Edwards over unspecified allegations against the North Carolina Republican, Axios has learned from three sources familiar with the probe.

Thom Tillis doubles down on his latest Trump personnel ultimatum … Tillis has major leverage as a member of the Judiciary Committee, where Republicans have a one-vote advantage and he can exercise an effective veto.  —  That's exactly what Tillis did in the Senate Banking Committee …

Key inflation gauge jumps to highest level in 3 years as Iran war spikes gas prices  —  A key inflation measure jumped in March as gas prices soared, the latest sign that the Iran war is pushing up the cost of living and delaying any interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Scoop: Commanders to brief Trump on new Iran military options Thursday  —  President Trump is slated to receive a briefing on new plans for potential military action in Iran on Thursday from CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, two sources with knowledge tell Axios.

Jeffrey Epstein's Possible Suicide Note Hidden from Public View … A suicide note purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein in a Manhattan jail has been kept secret for nearly seven years, locked up in a New York courthouse.  —  A cellmate said he discovered the note in July 2019 …

‘Seashells’ case was on back burner until Bondi fired as AG, say sources  —  Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche gave new life to the investigation of James Comey, directing a new office — and new prosecution team — to seek a second indictment.  —  The move to charge former FBI Director James Comey …

Maxwell's former boyfriend testifies in House Epstein probe  —  Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said they left an interview Thursday with Ted Waitt, Ghislaine Maxwell's former boyfriend, largely empty handed after an hourslong grilling as part of the panel's ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation.