Congress' seemingly endless cascade of scandals reached a partial climax on Monday with two embattled House members announcing plans to leave Congress voluntarily rather than face possible expulsion.
Why it matters: That may not be the end of it, with another pair of lawmakers still facing serious scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee and the threat of removal.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas.) said he would seek to leave Congress early Tuesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Why it matters: Gonzales was facing a push for his expulsion — along with bipartisan calls for him to step down — after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who died by suicide.
The White House is urging Congress to pass a clean extension of the nation's warrantless spy authority in a new statement of administration policy first obtained by Axios.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said Monday he will resign from Congress following allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape by four women.
What they're saying: "Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties," he said in a statement.
President Trump followed a Holy Week of profanity-laced threats with attacks on Pope Leo XIV and posting an AI self-portrait as a Jesus-like figure — risking alienating Catholic swing voters who backed him in 2024.
Why it matters:Catholics are America's largest swing religious vote, and Trump's support among them was already sliding before his latest attacks on their pontiff.
Some conservatives say President Trump is flirting with betraying his biggest campaign promise on mass deportations — and the voters who put him there.
Why it matters: The White House is backing away from mass deportation rhetoric ahead of the midterms, infuriating the once-fringe immigration hardliners who considered Trump their last shot at reversing decades of mass migration.
The House Ethics Committee has begun a probe into Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) over allegations of sexual misconduct, it announced Monday in a statement.
Why it matters: Swalwell suspended his California gubernatorial campaign on Sunday after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
Christians, including some prominent Trump administration allies, have expressed discomfort over President Trump's Sunday evening post that appeared to depict him as a Jesus-like figure.
The big picture: Trump has repeatedly risked aggravating the Christian voter base that helped put him back into the White House, as some faith leaders — including the first American pontiff — have staunchly rebuked some of the president's rhetoric and policies.
A federal judge on Monday tossed a defamation lawsuit filed by President Trump against the Wall Street Journal over a story describinga "bawdy" birthday letter bearing the president's name that was reportedly given to Jeffrey Epstein.
Why it matters: The ruling maintains the very high bar for proving defamation of public figures in U.S. courts.
Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators will continue talks with the U.S. and Iran in the coming days in an effort to bridge the remaining gaps and reach a deal to end the war, according to a regional source and a U.S. official.
Why it matters: All parties still believe a deal is possible. The mediators hope that narrowing the gaps could enable another round of negotiations before the ceasefire expires on April 21.
The Democratic National Committee sees the South as the country's next political center of gravity, the DNC chair tells Axios in an exclusive interview.
Why it matters: The Democratic Party is increasing spending and organizing in red states like Louisiana.
Oil prices jumped over 7% to well over $100 per barrel when markets opened Sunday evening and remained high into Monday.
Why it matters: The latest surge shows that traders don't see last week's U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal reviving large-scale tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz — and it undoes a large amount of the price drop that followed the pause in hostilities.
President Trump lashed out against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling him "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" and accusing him of "catering to the Radical Left."
The big picture: Trump's comments escalate already high tensions between the president and the first U.S.-born pope, who has increasingly spoken out on Trump administration immigration policies and the Iran war.
Hungarian voters have ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, delivering a stunning rebuke to one of the Western world's most entrenched populist leaders.
Why it matters: The political earthquake in Hungary, where Vice President Vance was dispatched to campaign for Orbán in the final days of the election, will ripple far beyond Budapest.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced Sunday he is suspending his campaign for governor amid allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual misconduct, which he denies.
Why it matters: Swalwell was one of the Democratic frontrunners in the race. His exit is a colossal shakeup of what has already been one of the most volatile gubernatorial races in recent memory.
