What we're covering
• Push to extend surveillance law: House Republican leaders are still negotiating with their own members to wrangle enough support before holding a vote to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a critical foreign surveillance program for the government. Trump has emphasized its need to protect the military engaged in the Middle East.
• Tax day: More than 53 million Americans took advantage of at least one of the new “big, beautiful bill” tax deductions, the Treasury Department said today. But taxpayers are seeing a smaller refund boost than President Donald Trump and some Republicans had touted.
• Lawmakers step down: Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress yesterday, engulfed in separate scandals resulting in high-profile political free falls. Pressure for accountability had made the environment for the lawmakers to stay in Congress essentially untenable.
Thune says Trump and Pope Leo should stay in their "lanes"
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told CNN’s Manu Raju on Wednesday that President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV should stay in their own “lanes,” when pressed on the president’s attacks on the first American pope.
“I think one of my colleagues said it well; the president and the pope are both outspoken people, but they both have lanes and hopefully they’ll stay in them,” said Thune.
Earlier, GOP Sen. Mike Rounds told reporters the president and the pope each “have a role to play in this world.”
“Sometimes, when we have one of these kinds of situations, it becomes a very unfortunate case where, let me just say, rather than staying in their own lanes, they’re getting out of their own lanes, and that’s not good,” he said. “So, I personally would prefer that if we’re going to have important world leaders having disagreements, sometimes those can be disagreed in private rather than in public.”
Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick says she does not plan to resign amid calls for accountability
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick said in a new statement that she does not plan to resign from Congress even as she faces calls to step down.
“For those asking whether I plan to resign: the answer is no. This is not the time to abandon the district, especially when they too are fighting for their future,” the Florida Democrat said.
The ethics panel found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of violating several campaign finance laws and regulations. The panel will hold a sanctions hearing on April 21, after which House Republicans are expected to file a resolution to expel her.
“The allegations I am addressing are not the same as those facing some of my colleagues. Lumping them together, particularly with cases involving sexual assault and rape, is inaccurate and irresponsible,” she said.
Cherfilus-McCormick is also facing federal criminal charges. She has pleaded not guilty.
Trump has a "right" and "duty" to ask for Justice Department probes, acting AG says
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump’s unorthodox role of publicly calling for criminal investigations into his political foes.
These comments build on Blanche’s statements earlier this week, when he said Americans should be “happy” that Trump is personally involved in politically sensitive Justice Department matters — something most recent presidents from both parties have largely avoided, to maintain DOJ independence.
“If the president comes to you and says, ‘Hey, I think you should look into X, Y and Z, person,’ do you see it as your role to do that?,” Semafor White House reporter Shelby Talcott asked Blanche.
Blanche responded “of course” he would focus on something raised by “the leader of the free world.”
“I know that there’s this, this idea that President Trump has some sort of outsized control because of things that he says, but that’s absolutely his right and his and his duty to do that, and it’s the same thing that every president has and should done,” he said.
He compared Trump asking for specific investigations to members of the public bringing tips to the Justice Department, or FBI agents uncovering new leads to scrutinize.
“Citizens do that all the time. Agents do that all the time. That’s exactly how cases are made,” Blanche said.
In the past year, Trump has repeatedly asked the Justice Department to investigate his perceived political opponents. Some of these opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former national security adviser John Bolton, were eventually indicted. The cases against Comey and James, though, were later dismissed.
“The fact that the president does it publicly, and doesn’t do it in secret, shouldn’t frustrate people,” Blanche said. “He’s telling you exactly what he thinks.”
On Tuesday, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members — the last remaining cases from the January 6, 2021, riot.
Melania Trump returns to Capitol Hill in first public appearance since Epstein call to action
First lady Melania Trump tried to return to her more typical platforms Wednesday after last week’s stunning announcement calling on Congress to hold hearings for Jeffrey Epstein victims.
Days after Trump made a surprise statement seeking to distance herself from the convicted sex offender and advocate for public testimony for his victims, the first lady arrived on Capitol Hill not to follow up on that call to action, but to shine a light on support for children aging out of the foster care system, a topic that’s been part of her “Be Best” platform in her second term.
“Foster youth face a special set of challenges outside the classroom that have a serious impact on their academic performance. These issues include housing instability, educational advocacy, financial barriers, transportation, continuity, access to technology, and other related issues,” Trump said during a roundtable with the House Ways and Means Committee, calling new legislation to close those gaps “a moral imperative.”
Wednesday’s discussion centered around bipartisan bills to reform existing federal programs for foster youth, touted by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
It marked another rare public appearance by the private first lady, who stunned many in the West Wing and upended the news cycle with her remarks reigniting focus on the Epstein saga last Thursday. House Oversight Chair James Comer has committed to hold more hearings on Epstein developments.
Last week’s announcement was driven by her monthslong fixation on press coverage and internet speculation about her ties to Epstein, two people familiar with the matter told CNN, and underscored her independence more broadly.
How the GOP is focusing on tax cuts this Tax Day
Republicans have highlighted the economic relief spurred by increased tax refunds from President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” signed into law last year.
Speaker Johnson defends not calling for GOP Rep. Mills’ expulsion, citing due process
Speaker Mike Johnson spelled out on Wednesday why he isn’t calling for GOP Rep. Cory Mills’ expulsion, even as he’s publicly backed a push to expel a Democratic member.
Both Reps. Mills and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, are facing growing calls for their removal from Congress. Mills has faced allegations related to sexual misconduct and campaign finance infractions, while Cherfilus-McCormick has been accused of abusing federal disaster relief.
Speaking to reporters, Johnson argued Mills should not yet face expulsion since the House Ethics committee is still investigating him. By contrast, the panel’s investigation into Cherfilus-McCormick, whose expulsion he supports, has concluded.
“There’s a due process investigation that is going on for that individual member,” Johnson said of Mills. “It’s about halfway through the process. For Representative Cherfilus-McCormick … we allowed the due process to play out. I think you have to do the same for Mr. Mills.”
He went on to say Mills “has denied the allegations. He has no current criminal indictment or certainly no conviction of any kind in any state. He says there’s a lot of myths out there, and he’s bringing forward the facts. He’s allowed and owed that due process.”
“If we go down the road of members of Congress being expelled because of allegations, that’s quite a Pandora’s box,” Johnson added.
The ethics panel found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of violating severeal campaign finance laws and regulations. The panel will hold a sanctions hearing on April 21, after which House Republicans are expected to file a resolution to expel her.
Cherfilus-McCormick is also facing federal criminal charges. She has pleaded not guilty. Mills has also denied wrongdoing.
House GOP leaders delay procedural vote on surveillance law extension amid negotiations
House Republican leaders acknowledged Wednesday they’re still negotiating with their own members to wrangle enough support before they hold a key procedural vote on a bill that would reauthorize a critical foreign surveillance program for the government.
Leadership already postponed a Wednesday afternoon vote to advance the measure, which would extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise acknowledged on Wednesday afternoon that vote could slip even further into Thursday.
“On FISA, that rule likely comes later, you know, maybe tomorrow,” Scalise said Wednesday, referring to the procedural vote.
The hold up comes as several hardline conservatives have vowed they would not vote to advance the measure unless it contained changes, like further warrant protections for Americans who could get swept up in the government’s foreign data collections.
House leaders have set up a room - what’s known as a sensitive compartmented information facility - near the House chamber where members can question administration officials about 702.
The speaker argued that Congress’ reforms to FISA over the years should assuage members’ longstanding concerns and skepticism toward the program.
“I think once they understand the facts, they’ll understand the 56 reforms we did to FISA in 2024 have worked. We haven’t had the abuses we had pre-reform era,” the speaker told reporters.
Acting attorney general says DOJ would support hearing with Epstein survivors
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said today that the Justice Department would support a public hearing in Congress hosting survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse.
“We have no issues with that, and of course, that’s what we want,” Blanche said at an event hosted by Semafor.
The idea of a public hearing with testimony from survivors was floated last week by First Lady Melania Trump, in a public statement where she distanced herself from Epstein.
Blanche said the Justice Department has always encouraged Epstein’s victims to come forward, and he touted the Trump administrations’ efforts to crack down on sex trafficking more broadly.
He demurred when asked about the work of US Attorney Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, who was tapped last year to investigate Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats. Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi gave Clayton that assignment after Trump publicly directed her in a social media post to scrutinize those Democrats.
“I don’t know of any ongoing investigations,” Blanche said.
Leavitt raises questions about what Democrats knew about Swalwell
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday called sexual misconduct allegations against former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell “despicable and disgusting.”
And she raised questions about what his Democratic colleagues may have known about his alleged behavior before he resigned from Congress.
“I think it’s also quite plausible,” Leavitt said at the White House press briefing, “that there were many other Democrats in this town on Capitol Hill who knew about his perhaps illegal behavior, certainly his disgusting and inappropriate behavior, and why were they silent for so long?”
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, one of Swalwell’s closest friends in Congress, told reporters on Tuesday that the California Democrat led a “double life” and that while he heard “rumors” about Swalwell being “flirty,” he denied knowing anything about sexual assault or harassment.
“I think those are questions that must be raised of these sitting representatives, including Mr. Gallego, and I hope that the journalists in this room will do their jobs and the journalists on Capitol Hill will do their jobs,” Leavitt said.
Bessent tempers expectations on lower gas prices
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters today that he’s “optimistic” gas prices will go below $4 per gallon by the end of the summer, as war in the Middle East has sent the national average spiking.
Trump administration officials had previously predicted that Americans would see gas prices below $3 per gallon by the summer.
According to gas tracking service GasBuddy, the national average had surged to $4.08 per gallon as of 1:40 p.m. Oil prices remain lower than their recent highs reached last week before President Donald Trump called off his threat of mass devastation in Iran and agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
But with a failure to reach a lasting peace agreement and the clock ticking down to the ceasefire’s expiration, oil prices are now trading higher than where they settled on April 1. That was just before Trump addressed the nation in prime time but did not detail an exit strategy for the war.
Speaking in the White House briefing room, Bessent said he’s met with a number of his Middle East counterparts this week during the 2026 spring meetings of the World Bank Group in Washington, “and they all say that once the straits are open, they can start pumping again within one week.”
“Again, I’m optimistic that sometime between June 20 and September 20, that we can have $3 gas again,” he said.
Was your refund bigger this year due to Trump’s tax cuts? Tell us about it
President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” created several new tax measures that eligible taxpayers could claim this filing season.
They include tax breaks on tips and overtime income, an enhanced deduction for senior citizens, a new deduction for car loan interest and a higher cap on state and local tax deductions.
But taxpayers are seeing a smaller refund boost than Trump and some Republicans had touted. The average refund increased by 11%, or $346, to more than $3,462 through April 3, according to the Internal Revenue Service. That’s far less than the $1,000 spike that the president previously indicated.
Did you file for these new tax breaks? What was your experience in claiming them? What did you do with your refund this year?
Share your story with us. You may be contacted by a CNN reporter for a future story.
How Trump's approval on tax policy compares with his first term
CNN’s Harry Enten takes a look at how President Donald Trump’s approval rating on taxes now stacks up against his first term.
Trump again pushes for FISA reauthorization, says military needs surveillance tool
President Donald Trump again pushed Congress to pass a clean FISA reauthorization, emphasizing that the powerful surveillance tool is needed to protect the military as they remain engaged in the Middle East.
Trump reiterated the need for FISA for intelligence gathering to protect the US military and help prevent terrorist attacks in the United States.
“Our Military Patriots desperately need FISA 702, and it is one of the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield. I have spoken with many in our Military who say FISA is necessary in order to protect our Troops overseas, as well as our people here at home, from the threat of Foreign Terror Attacks,” he said.
Thune warns White House to move past spat with Pope Leo, wants probe of Fed chair dropped
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed surprise that Vice President JD Vance warned Pope Leo to be very careful when he speaks about matters of theology.
“When he talks about matters of theology? Isn’t that his job?” Thune responded to reporters.
And he suggested the Trump administration drop its ongoing disagreement with the pontiff, which could offend Catholic Republicans and other GOP voters.
“I’d stay focused,” he said, “on economic issues – the pocketbook issues that I think most Americans care about and let the church be the church.”
Thune also said he has communicated to the administration his desire that the Department of Justice drop its probe of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell so that a new chair can be confirmed by the Senate. That is a demand of GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is holding up the confirmation of Powell’s successor, Kevin Warsh.
“At some point they’re going to have to deal with the committee and they’re going to have to deal with Tillis. And I think it’s in everybody’s best interest to wrap up the investigation,” Thune said. “A new man’s nominated, very qualified, we’re excited, obviously, to get the opportunity to confirm him.”
Thune said “most” GOP senators don’t believe the upcoming budget reconciliation bill that will fund parts of the Department of Homeland Security needs to be offset with spending cuts elsewhere because the funding is advance appropriations and appropriations bills are not regularly offset.
The price tag of the bill is expected to be $65 to $75 billion, Thune said Tuesday.
Speaker Johnson: "I don’t want to engage in a theological debate with the pope"
House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in on the Trump administration’s feud with the Vatican.
“I’m not one to criticize clerics and religious leaders. We defend free speech, and we certainly defend the right the free exercise of religion,” the Republican leader said.
Vice President JD Vance, at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, said that the pope should be “careful” in talking about matters of theology and President Donald Trump has continued his broadsides against Pope Leo.
Johnson mentioned the Just War theory, a Catholic teaching that a conflict can be morally justifiable under strict criteria, and argued that Trump and Vance’s comments reflect an “understanding” of the high stakes in the war with Iran.
“I don’t want to engage in a theological debate with the Pope. I certainly respect the pope. I would just say that these are matters that people of good faith and good sense can debate and think through. And I think that’s what that reflects,” he said.
Trump's DOJ adds new terrorism charge for accused DC pipe bomber
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has added news charges of terrorism and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction in the case against the accused DC pipe bomber.
Prosecutors say the Virginia man, Brian Cole, placed two explosive devices near the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on January 5, 2021 — the evening before a mob overtook the US Capitol.
Cole was previously charged with transporting and attempting to use explosives. The new indictment, issued Thursday, adds the two additional charges, including attempting an act of terrorism while armed.
Attorneys for Cole have continued to try to have the case tossed, including by arguing their client is protected under Trump’s mass presidential pardon of those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. The Justice Department said in a court filing that Cole’s actions are not covered by those pardons.
Cole’s attorneys have also argued that Cole is autistic and has other mental health issues that require he keep to a rigid routine and that he can present in obsessive behavior.
Prosecutors have already butted heads with Cole’s attorneys, including over a recent filing Justice Department attorneys say was used by media figures to promote conspiracy theories that Cole is a patsy, meant to cover up the real criminal.
No trial date has been set in the case.
Bessent and Loeffler will highlight tax policies at White House press briefing today
It’s Tax Day today and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a briefing today at 1:00 p.m. with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, according to a White House official.
The Cabinet members are expected to highlight new tax policies in the GOP law that passed Congress last summer.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump brought a DoorDash delivery woman to the White House, who touted McDonald’s bags and the benefits of “no tax on tips.”
Later this week, Trump has two campaign stops planned in Nevada and Arizona. The attempts to focus on a positive economic message ahead of the midterms has been severely complicated by the war with Iran, as Trump has repeatedly dismissed rising costs as a temporary pain.
Speaker Johnson vows to restore "respect of the institution" after House resignations
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday said leadership will continue to “police” sexual misconduct from House members toward congressional staff “as aggressively as we can” in light of two House members’ recent resignations over allegations of such behavior.
“We will bring exact punishment upon those who violate that sacred obligation they have to be a good steward and a boss over their staffs, and to not use that position for that kind of terrible activity.”
“I don’t know what else to say about it, other than it’s detestable,” he added.
Johnson also vowed to restore the “respect of the institution” following the scandals surrounding ex-Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales.
He also reiterated his view that it would be “appropriate” for Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to be expelled from Congress after the House Ethics Committee found her guilty of violating campaign finance law.
Conservative holdouts say they'll vote against FISA reauthorization unless warrants addressed
As the House prepares to vote on a rule for a FISA reauthorization bill as soon today, key House conservatives are vowing they’ll tank the procedural vote over objections they have over the surveillance of American citizens and reforms they want to make.
Both Reps. Chip Roy and Andy Biggs were clear that they need additional conversations and assurances from the administration that they have yet to get even as leadership is trying to push members into getting behind the bill as it is or risk a potential national security threat.
“The pitch is to keep 702 and that we should all be frightened if we don’t keep 702. But nobody is asking that you abolish 702. We are perfectly content if you are looking at foreign persons without a warrant,” Biggs said.
Biggs accused the administration of not including him in any of the discussions.
“I need to be talking to somebody at the White House but they don’t really want me there. I guess I know too much about how this works,” he added.
Roy was more optimistic a deal could still be cut.
“I don’t want to get ahead of things, but we’ve had good conversations with the White House about their openness for reforms. It’s a matter of building a coalition to get it done,” he said.
Newsom is under pressure to intervene in California governor’s race amid Swalwell scandal
The scrambled race for California governor left in the wake of Eric Swalwell’s sexual misconduct allegations isn’t officially Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mess. But it’s one that many top Democrats want him to consider trying to clean up.
Since CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle broke their stories about Swalwell on Friday night, Newsom has been in a marathon of calls and meetings about the governor’s race, according to a dozen leading Democrats, several of whom have spoken with him.
Four people familiar with Newsom’s thinking tell CNN he’s still trying to make sense of where the race actually stands now, eager for new polling data and trying to sort out whether the Swalwell collapse intensifies the chances of California Democrats’ red-alert scenario: Two Republicans advancing in the nonpartisan June 2 primary and locking Democrats out of the governorship entirely.
“He’s watching it closely and he’s going to do everything he can to prevent a lockout,” is as far as one person who has spoken to Newsom would go.
Remember: As the term-limited governor gears up to run for president, his successor will be in a position to burnish his record or reverse it, back him up or approve investigations and disclosures that could be problems for a future White House campaign.
