Good afternoon! President Trump set a July 4 deadline for the European Union to ratify its trade agreement with the U.S. or face higher auto tariffs. The president met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and asserted the U.S.-Iran cease-fire remains in effect despite a missile exchange with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, the Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs committees released legislative text detailing a $71.7 billion immigration enforcement reconciliation package. In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, narrowing how the Voting Rights Act can be used to draw majority-minority districts and triggering a new wave of mid-decade redistricting.
WHITE HOUSE
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President Trump on Thursday dismissed an exchange of missile fire between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz as a “trifle” and insisted the April cease-fire remained in effect. U.S. Central Command reported that three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transiting the strait were attacked Thursday evening by Iranian missiles, drones, and small boats. This prompted U.S. strikes on Iranian missile launch sites and intelligence facilities. The exchange came as Iranian and U.S. negotiators discussed a one-page proposal to reopen the strait and halt hostilities for 30 days while pursuing a comprehensive agreement, including on Iran’s nuclear program.
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U.S. forces carried out additional airstrikes this morning on empty tankers attempting to break the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Iran fired two ballistic missiles and three drones at the country today, causing three moderate injuries. It was the second Iranian attack on the UAE this week.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Iran “should” respond by today to President Trump’s one-page proposal to end the U.S.-Iran war. The administration sent the proposal to Tehran on Wednesday. Under it, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade of Iranian ports within 30 days. A separate negotiation would follow on Iran’s nuclear program. President Trump on Thursday warned of severe consequences if Iran did not agree and threatened on social media to escalate strikes. Iran, which has effectively shut the strait since the war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February, has given no public indication whether it will accept. Today, they accused the U.S. of violating the April cease-fire.
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President Trump set a July 4 deadline for the European Union (EU) to ratify its trade agreement with the United States, threatening to raise auto tariffs from 15% to 25% if the bloc misses the deadline. The President announced the deadline Thursday after a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following the EU’s failure to finalize the deal during overnight talks. Under the July 2025 trade agreement, the EU agreed to eliminate levies on American industrial goods in exchange for a 15% tariff ceiling on most European products. Talks will continue in the coming weeks.
- President Trump met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday for roughly three hours where they discussed trade, tariffs, security, and critical minerals. Both leaders characterized the meeting as positive, with additional meetings to be scheduled over the coming months. The talks come after Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods last year over the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro, before withdrawing most of them. Brazilian products still face a 10% tariff that is due to expire in July, with new levies possible following a Section 301 investigation by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
CONGRESS
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The Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs committees released legislative text Monday detailing a $71.7 billion reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of President Trump’s term. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would receive $38.2 billion, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would get roughly $26 billion, including $22.6 billion for Border Patrol personnel and $3.45 billion for border security technology. The package also includes $5 billion in flexible funds for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s office, $1.5 billion for the Justice Department, and $1 billion for the Secret Service. The Secret Service allocation would fund “security adjustments and upgrades” to the planned White House ballroom, including “above-ground and below-ground security features”, a project currently the subject of a court fight.
- Both chambers are in recess this week, with lawmakers due back in Washington on May 11.
REDISTRICTING
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais narrowed how the Voting Rights Act can be used to require majority-minority congressional districts, which could lead to significant redistricting shifts in states. This development puts at least five majority-minority House seats currently represented by Democrats at risk: Tennessee’s 9th, Louisiana’s 6th, Alabama’s 2nd, South Carolina’s 6th, and Mississippi’s 2nd. Florida separately enacted a new map on May 4.
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Florida: The map enacted on May 4 widens the possibility that the Congressional party representation would increase the number of Republican-held districts from 20-8 to 24-4, representing a net gain of four seats. A state constitutional challenge is pending before the Florida Supreme Court, which could influence the final composition.
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Tennessee: A map signed into law on May 7 could result in a 9-0 Republican congressional delegation from the current 8-1 split. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit challenging the map, seeking a decision before the August 6 primaries.
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Louisiana: Republican Governor Jeff Landry suspended primaries to allow the creation of redrawn congressional districts; the current 5-1 Republican makeup could shift to 6-0 if the 6th or 2nd Congressional districts are redrawn.
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Alabama: Pending legislation would eliminate Alabama’s 2nd District, currently represented by Rep. Shomari Figures (D), potentially shifting the delegation from 6-1 Republican to 7-0.
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South Carolina: The legislature is considering changes to the 6th District, currently represented by Rep. James Clyburn (D), which could result in Republicans controlling all seven seats. Any effort would need to be completed before the regular session ends on May 14.
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Virginia: The Virginia Supreme Court overturned the April 2026 voter referendum, which allowed redistricting, blocking the Virginia legislature’s map that would have likely shifted the Congressional delegation makeup to ten Democrats and one Republican. The state may seek a U.S. Supreme Court appeal.
