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Happy Friday and welcome to May! In today’s edition, Kristen Welker explores how the conflict in Iran is entering an uncertain new phase. Plus, Jane C. Timm wraps up three new developments on the redistricting front.
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— Adam Wollner
The White House tries to sidestep Congress on the Iran war as political pressures mount
Analysis by Kristen Welker
If it’s Friday, the sprawling consequences of the war in Iran are coming to a head.
Legally, the War Powers Resolution gives the president the ability to conduct military action for 60 days, but requires congressional approval after that — or for him to request an additional 30-day extension to wind down any operations.
That deadline is today. But the White House is making a new argument in a letter to Congress, declaring that the “hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” even as the U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s ports continues.
The move comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a similar argument during a Senate hearing yesterday that the ongoing ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran “pauses or stops” that 60-day clock. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also repeatedly deflected NBC News’ questions about the 60-day deadline, arguing that “we are not at war.”
“I would be very reluctant to get in front of the administration in the midst of these very sensitive negotiations,” he said yesterday.
One small crack did emerge this week for Republicans, however, as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine — who faces a tough re-election campaign this fall — voted with Democrats in an unsuccessful attempt aimed at ending the military operations against Iran until Congress approved.
It all comes amid a flurry of news that both sides are weighing what comes next. NBC News reported this week that Trump was set to be briefed on his options on the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran is digging out munitions to prepare for a potential new round of hostilities.
Asked about his military options in Iran, President Donald Trump told reporters today, “I mean, do we want to go and just blast the hell out of ‘em and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal? Those are the options.”
On top of geopolitical consequences, the White House is also confronting the political realities domestically.
The average price of gas hit a new wartime high nationally today at $4.39 per gallon, even as the stock market is coming off a strong month.
And polling continues to underscore Americans’ frustration with the war. A new Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released today finds that 61% of adults believe the war has been a mistake, while 36% believe it was the right decision. Those numbers are consistent with a spate of recent public polling, including from NBC News, that show the public with negative feelings about the war.
We’ll discuss all this and more on this Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” where I’ll be joined by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who introduced that unsuccessful vote this week to halt the war, and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
➡️ Related: U.S. asks for help with opening Strait of Hormuz while Trump attacks allies, by Abigail Williams
For subscribers: Redistricting, a resilient Democrat and a messy GOP primary collide in key race for House control
By Henry J. Gomez
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, has beaten all comers on the way to becoming the longest-serving woman in congressional history. Now, she is running for a 23rd term in a 9th District that was redrawn to stretch into even redder territory than before, and many believe the new boundaries make her more vulnerable than ever.
➡️ More for subscribers: How Janet Mills’ Maine Senate bid fell apart, by Bridget Bowman and Sahil Kapur
Alabama governor calls special session to prepare for potential new map after Supreme Court ruling
By Jane C. Timm
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called legislators into a special session to prepare for the possibility that the state could implement a new congressional map this year in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling.
Alabama’s primaries are currently slated for May 19 under a court-ordered map that includes two districts with heavy Black populations. But the Supreme Court’s decision signaled that Alabama might now be allowed to use a previous map with just one of those districts in place, which would likely result in an additional seat for Republicans.
Ivey said she would ask lawmakers to set up a special primary election in districts that would be affected by any forthcoming court action.
“By calling the Legislature into a special session, I am ensuring Alabama is prepared should the courts act quickly enough to allow Alabama’s previously drawn congressional and state Senate maps to be used during this election cycle,” Ivey said in a statement.
South Carolina: Meanwhile, Gov. Henry McMaster suggested his state could also take action on the redistricting front this year.
“The U.S. Supreme Court upheld South Carolina’s current congressional map in 2024. In light of the Court’s most recent decision on the Voting Rights Act, it would be appropriate for the General Assembly to ensure that South Carolina’s congressional map still complies with all requirements of federal law and the U.S. Constitution,” he said in a statement.
The South Carolina Legislature is currently in session and the state’s primary is scheduled for June 9. The state currently has one Democratic member of Congress, Rep. Jim Clyburn, who represents the majority-minority 6th District.
Georgia: But Gov. Brian Kemp said that he doesn’t plan to delay his state’s primary on May 19 in order to enact a new map.
“Voting is already underway for the 2026 elections,” Kemp told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But he added that the Supreme Court’s ruling “requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle.”
Republicans currently represent nine of the state’s 14 congressional districts.
🗞️ Today’s other top stories
- 💰 2028 watch: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker may be a billionaire, but should he run for president, he would not fully bankroll the bid, NBC News has learned. Read more →
- 🗳️ Back at it: Former President Joe Biden backed former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms‘ campaign for Georgia governor, his first endorsement since leaving office. Read more →
- 🛣️ On the trail: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., plans to campaign for Iowa Senate candidate Zach Wahls this month, adding firepower to a raging battle between progressive outsider candidates and the Democratic Party establishment. Read more →
- ⁉️ Conspiracy corner: Conspiracy theories have been central to Trump’s political rise. But as Allan Smith writes, Trump is now increasingly the subject of conspiracy theories on both the left and the right, with many of his onetime supporters viewing him with growing skepticism. Read more →
- 🏇 Derby day: For all the horse racing fans out there, check out Steve Kornacki’s guide to the biggest storylines and best bets for this weekend’s Kentucky Derby.
That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner.
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