Democratic Underground: Forums for U.S. Liberals and Democrats

Wholesale inflation jumps 6% in April on annual basis, biggest increase in four years

(CNBC) Wholesale prices in April rose the most in three years, signaling more nettlesome inflation as pipeline costs intensify. The producer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 1.4% for the month, much higher than the 0.5% Dow Jones consensus forecast and the upwardly revised 0.7% March increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. This was the largest monthly gain since March 2022. On an annual basis, the index was up 6%, the biggest increase since December 2022.

Coldwater

Trump says he's not thinking about Americans' finances 'even a little bit' in Iran talks

(NBC News) President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he is not weighing the economic burden of the Iran war on everyday Americans when negotiating a deal with the country’s leadership. Speaking on the White House South Lawn before departing for a diplomatic trip to China, Trump was asked to what extent “Americans’ financial situations” were motivating him to make a deal with Iran. “Not even a little bit,” Trump replied.

BumRushDaShow

'Merry band of looters' at Trump DOJ accused of paying millions to 'disgraced' FBI agents

(Raw Story) The top-ranking Democrat in the House Judiciary Committee published a letter on Tuesday accusing Trump's Department of Justice of forcing the FBI to pay a "merry band of looters" and disgraced agents, including white nationalist allies and a Jan. 6 participant. "It has come to our attention that you have used your office to improperly shower government cash on Donald Trump's political operatives and sycophants," Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) wrote in a letter to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.

BumRushDaShow

Trump Officials Are Reportedly Discussing Whether To Pay Trump a Settlement in IRS Lawsuit

(Mediaite) The Department of Justice is having “internal discussions” about potentially settling President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, The New York Times reported on Tuesday night. In January, the president sued his own administration for $10 billion in damages stemming from a leak of his tax returns that occurred during his first term. His sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who run the Trump Organization, are also suing.

Dulcinea

How the Trump administration has undermined the fight against public corruption

(NPR) In 2024, a federal jury needed just two hours to return a guilty verdict for former Las Vegas councilwoman Michele Fiore for pocketing some $70,000 in donations to build a memorial for police officers killed in the line of duty — and spending it instead on herself, including rent and her daughter's wedding. Then, weeks before Fiore was scheduled to be sentenced in May 2025, President Trump granted her a full, unconditional pardon.

KS Toronado

Wednesday's Condensed News Cartoons

sop

Trump Alludes to Ominous Plans When Asked About ICE At the Polls

(TPM) On Tuesday, Trump finally directly answered a question about sending armed federal law enforcement to the polls in the fall. PBS Newshour’s Liz Landers asked Trump if he planned to send the National Guard or ICE agents to voting locations. 'I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections,' Trump said. 'We have to have honest elections.' The remarks come after he posted on Truth Social over the weekend, ominously foreshadowing the deployment of some sort of 'Election Integrity Army' of his allies for the midterms.

BumRushDaShow

Republican Jen Kiggans faces calls to resign for agreeing with racist 'cotton-picking' remark

(The Guardian) Jen Kiggans, a Republican congresswoman, is facing calls from Democrats to resign for agreeing with a radio host after he said the top US House Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, should get his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia”. Kiggans, who represents a swing district in southeastern Virginia, has said she was agreeing with the host that Jeffries – who is the first Black American to lead a party in Congress – should stay out of the state’s politics. She also said she did not condone the host’s language, which multiple Democrats criticized as racist.

BumRushDaShow

Senator challenges Kash Patel to take test for problem drinking at fiery hearing on Capitol Hill

(The Independent) A Democratic senator challenged Kash Patel to take a test designed to identify problem drinking behavior on Tuesday amid angry exchanges at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The FBI director’s visit to Capitol Hill was similar to many past showdowns between members of Donald Trump’s Cabinet and various congressional committees, with Patel disparaging the credibility of media reports about his personal life and management of the bureau, and slinging insults at his critics.

BumRushDaShow

Trump changes story on reflecting pool contractor

(The Hill) President Trump said Tuesday he does not know the contractor that is renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after previously saying he spoke to a man he knew about it. Restoration of the basin has drawn criticism for the cost of the no-bid contract and the president’s vision, which includes a paint in the color of “American flag blue.” The project, which Trump first mentioned last month, was awarded to a Virginia firm, Atlantic Industrial Coatings. The work is being done to coincide with the nation’s 250th birthday in July.

Expand Featured Stories

Issue Forums

Region Forums

Latest Breaking News

Fourth Circuit upholds Virginia policy barring tax dollars for pastoral degrees

9 min ago - May 13, 2026 RICHMOND, Va. (CN) — The Fourth Circuit sided with Virginia Wednesday, ruling the commonwealth’s decision not to fund vocational religious degrees doesn’t run afoul of the Constitution. The three-judge panel considered a c ... (Courthouse News Service)

Trump tariff challenger gets 6-figure refund after Supreme Court ruling

39 min ago - 05/13/26 9:20 AM ET The wine importer who helped defeat President Trump’s tariffs at the Supreme Court has received a six-figure refund, his lawyers said Wednesday, as companies start getting their money back. The Treasury Department this week b ... (The Hill)

Trump promised to hold 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo. A year later, it's mostly empty.

1 hr ago - Updated on: May 13, 2026 / 7:17 AM EDT Just eight days after returning to the White House last year, President Trump announced plans to turn the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into a massive detention center to hold 30,000 detainees faci ... (CBS News)

US Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair, replacing Jerome Powell

1 hr ago - Wed 13 May 2026 14.49 EDT The US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as chair of the Federal Reserve, one of the most powerful roles in the federal government that holds enormous sway over the economy. The 54-45 Senate vote on Wednesday was split along part ... (The Guardian)

tRump administration freezes new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies for 6 months

2 hrs ago - WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Trump administration on Wednesday pursued new efforts in a sweeping initiative to root out fraud in federal health programs, including announcing a nationwide six-month freeze on some new Medicare enrollments and warning states ... (AP)

Swiss Considering Rival Air Defences After Washington Delays Patriots Over Iran War

2 hrs ago - May 13, 2026, at 7:01 a.m. ZURICH, May 13 (Reuters) - Switzerland said on Wednesday ⁠it ⁠will look into whether ⁠to buy air-defence systems from other suppliers, after the United States informed it that long-delayed Patriot ... (US News & World Report/Reuters)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission updates processes to meet new demands

3 hrs ago - Posted May 13, 2026 at 6:04am Federal efforts to accelerate nuclear energy development are starting to pay off, government and industry experts say, as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission works through mandated updates to licensing processes and its mi ... (Roll Call)

ICE may be at World Cup matches in U.S.

4 hrs ago - May 13, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT Federal officers and agents who arrest immigrants as part of their work with ICE may be at FIFA World Cup matches when the international tournament gets underway in the U.S. next month, according to two Department of Homelan ... (NBC News)

Court overturns Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions in deaths of wife, son

4 hrs ago - The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh and ordered a new trial for the disbarred lawyer, citing “improper external influences on the jury.” Murdaugh was convicted in 2023 for the murders of h ... (Washington Post)

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asks public to back judicial independence

5 hrs ago - 05/12/2026 11:41 PM EDT DALLAS — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson urged Americans on Tuesday to defend the judicial system against salvos that jeopardize its independence, warning that such threats have the potential to do serious damage to America ... (Politico)

Microsoft Israel chief leaves after inquiry into use of tech to spy on Palestinians

6 hrs ago - Alon Haimovich departs after investigation into use of Microsoft Azure by Israel's Unit 8200 spy agency The head of Microsoft’s Israeli subsidiary is leaving his post following an investigation into the use of the tech company’s Azure platf ... (Middle East Eye)

France confines more than 1,700 people to cruise ship after suspected norovirus death

6 hrs ago - French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew members to a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after an outbreak of suspected norovirus, officials have said. The vessel, Ambition, which is carrying 1,233 passengers, most of them Bri ... (The Guardian)

FAA evaluates risks to flights from Trump's 'triumphal arch': report

6 hrs ago - 10h President Donald Trump’s giant “triumphal arch” is under evaluation by the Federal Aviation Administration for potential risks to flights near one of the country’s busiest airports, according to a new report. The proposed 250- ... (msn/The Independent)

Wes Streeting plans to resign and mount leadership challenge, allies say

7 hrs ago - Allies of Wes Streeting have said he is preparing to stand down as health secretary amid deep frustration with Keir Starmer’s leadership, and could mount a formal challenge for the leadership as early as Thursday. Downing Street insiders had sug ... (The Guardian)

Brad Raffensperger targeted by threat as he runs for governor

7 hrs ago - 05/12/2026 10:50 PM EDT Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia Secretary of State and candidate for governor, was the target of a credible written threat, his campaign said Tuesday. Campaign spokesperson Ryan Mahoney said the threat came in the form of an ... (Politico)

Mortgage rates move to highest level in 5 weeks, but homebuyers shake it off

7 hrs ago - Real Estate Mortgage rates move to highest level in 5 weeks, but homebuyers shake it off Published Wed, May 13 2026 7:00 AM EDT Updated An Hour Ago Diana Olick @DianaOlick @DianaOlickCNBC @in/dianaolick KEY POINTS * The average contract interest rate ... (CNBC)

Wholesale inflation jumps 6% in April on annual basis, biggest increase in four years

7 hrs ago - Published Wed, May 13 2026 8:31 AM EDT Updated 9 Min Ago Wholesale prices in April posted their highest annual increase in more than three years, signaling more nettlesome inflation as pipeline costs intensify. The producer price index rose a season ... (CNBC)

Sponsors were asked to shell out $1 million for Sean Duffy's road trip reality show. Corporations came speeding in

8 hrs ago - Tuesday 12 May 2026 21:41 EDT Corporations were reportedly asked to fork up as much as $1 million to sponsor Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s forthcoming America-themed road trip reality show, according to leaked documents. The top $1 mill ... (The Independent)

United Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract

8 hrs ago - WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2026) — United Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, today voted by 82% to ratify a new contract. The agreement provides a 31% average wage increase for the nearly 30,000 Flight Att ... (AFACWA)

Trump Officials Are Reportedly Discussing Whether To Pay Trump a Settlement in IRS Lawsuit

8 hrs ago - May 12th, 2026, 10:34 pm The Department of Justice is having “internal discussions” about potentially settling President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, The New York Times reported on Tuesday night. In Ja ... (MEDIAite)