This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

Happy Monday. It’s May. Or, at least, that’s what the calendar says. Across much of the country, the weather hasn’t quite caught up. Maybe Punxsutawney Phil got this one right? ❄️

Indiana and Ohio have primaries this week. Check your voter registration status and polling place with ASP’s Election Hub.

I TRUMP: WAR POWERS TIMELINE “PAUSED”

The Trump administration says the 60-day war powers timeline doesn’t apply right now. Officials argue that a ceasefire and lack of active fighting in Iran since April 7 means the timeline has been “paused.” May 1 marked 60 days since hostilities began, a point that should trigger the president's obligation to withdraw U.S. forces or obtain congressional approval under the War Powers Act. The War Powers Resolution, passed by Congress in 1973, is meant to check the president’s authority as commander-in-chief. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying U.S. forces and to end military action after 60 days unless Congress approves it, with an additional 30 days to withdraw troops safely. 

>> Reps. Jim Himes (D-CT) and John Garamendi (D-CA) from the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees discuss Congress’s role in the conflict here and here. 

I SENATORS (KIND OF) BANNED FROM PREDICTION MARKETS

The Senate banned its members and staff from trading on prediction markets, passing a rule effective immediately. Because it’s a Senate rule, not a law, violations wouldn’t carry criminal or civil penalties but could lead to disciplinary action within the chamber. The move follows action by prediction market platform Kalshi, which fined and banned a Senate candidate and two House candidates for betting on their own races. It also comes after a U.S. Army Special Forces member was charged with using classified information to place bets on Polymarket tied to a mission he was involved in to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says that he plans to expand the ban to presidential administration officials. Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA) is pursuing a similar effort in the House.

>> Dig deeper into Ethics Committees, the tool Congress uses to police itself, here.

 I TRUMP PUTS NEW SANCTIONS ON CUBA

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to expand Cuban sanctions to “agents, officials, or material supporters of the Cuban government.” It also seeks to curtail Cuba’s access to the global banking system and authorizes the U.S. government to penalize foreign financial institutions that have “conducted or facilitated any significant transaction or transactions” for or on behalf of anyone with ties to Cuba’s government. The White House says the executive order is “countering Cuba’s malign influence.” The Cuban government and its officials have faced sanctions for decades, and this latest expansion focuses on foreign financial markets and institutions that could do business with the government or other sanctioned individuals in Cuba. The sanctions also come amid a diplomatic push to pressure Cuba to address the country’s humanitarian crisis, which has grown since the U.S. cut off oil shipments to Cuba from Venezuela and Mexico in January. 

>> Get the latest update on the state of U.S.-Cuba relations here. 

I CONGRESS TO USE RECONCILIATION FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT FUNDS

Lawmakers are working towards a May 15 deadline to advance legislation funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Both agencies continued operating during the DHS shutdown due to prior funding. Congress ended the shutdown last week, but did not include new funding for immigration enforcement. Republicans are planning to use reconciliation, which allows funding bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority instead of 60 votes. The bill is unlikely to include restrictions sought by Democrats following a recent shooting involving federal agents in Minnesota.

>> Find out more about the end of the DHS shutdown here.

I POWELL TO STAY ON AT THE FED

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will remain at the central bank after his term as chair ends. Powell said he plans to stay on the Board of Governors after President Donald Trump’s nominee, Kevin Warsh, takes over. Powell’s term as chair ends May 15, while his term on the board runs through January 31, 2028. He cited various legal threats facing the Fed in his decision. The last Fed chair to remain after the end of their term was in 1948. 

>> Understand how the Federal Reserve works here.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued new birth control guidance pushing clinics toward “natural family planning” methods instead of birth control pills or IUDs. 

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