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

Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and Super PACs are spending, which means it’s election season. This week, Virginia votes on a redistricting plan that would likely boost the number of Democrats the Commonwealth sends to the House, and primaries are popping up like tulips. Stay on top of the latest election news by making sure you’re subscribed to ASP’s Election Hub newsletter, where you’ll get important election dates and reminders, and updates on race-shaping events. 

Tomorrow Virginians will vote on a redistricting measure that could determine which party controls Congress after the midterms. No matter where you live, you can check your registration status, polling place, and what’s on your ballot at ASP’s Election Hub.

I COURT ALLOWS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION

A federal appeals court is allowing construction of the new ballroom and below-ground bunker at the White House to continue while it hears the case. The decision puts an administrative hold on a lower court decision that blocked the above-ground construction. The halt followed a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued that the scope of the renovations requires congressional approval. The order allows construction to continue on a planned below-ground project said to include a new bunker, military infrastructure, and medical facilities. The administration argues that the full project qualifies for a safety and security exception and should be allowed to proceed. Talking to journalists aboard Air Force One in late March, President Trump said, “The military is building a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed,” and that “the ballroom becomes a shed for what’s being built under the military, including from drones and including from any other thing.” The next appeals court hearing is scheduled for June 5.

>> Learn about White House renovations here, and the plans for the bunker here.

I CONGRESS RENEWS SPY LAW FOR 10 MORE DAYS

Congress passed a short-term extension of a controversial surveillance law, FISA Section 702, giving lawmakers 10 more days to reach a longer-term deal before the April 20 deadline. The law allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications from foreign nationals, even when those communications include a U.S. citizen. Critics argue it violates the Fourth Amendment’s requirement to obtain a warrant for searches. Those in favor say it is a necessary security tool to prevent future terrorist attacks. A group of 20 House Republicans refused to support a longer extension of the program. 

>> Understand FISA Section 702 and what reforms lawmakers are calling for here.

 I U.S.-IRAN TENSIONS CAST DOUBT ON PEACE TALKS

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are rising, putting the fragile ceasefire at risk. The increased strife comes after a U.S. Navy destroyer fired on an Iranian cargo ship and is considering towing that ship to Oman. Iran’s armed forces called the move “piracy” and warned retaliation would come soon. Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is at a standstill this morning, with only three vessels crossing the waterway. Around two dozen ships crossed on Saturday after Iran declared the strait open to commercial traffic following the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but that traffic came to a halt after Iran reversed course and said it would exert “strict control” over the strait in response to a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The escalation also calls peace talks planned to take place this week in Pakistan into question.

>> Get more information on the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire here.

I TRUMP ORDERS PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH

President Trump signed an executive order to encourage more research into the psychedelic drug ibogaine. The drug is classified as Schedule I in the U.S., meaning the government considers it to have no accepted medical value and a high risk for abuse. Derived from a plant in Central Africa, ibogaine is used in some countries to treat opioid withdrawal, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans. Because it is illegal in the U.S., Americans have traveled to unregulated clinics, most commonly in Mexico or the Caribbean, to take the drug.

>> Find out how psychedelics play a role in Congress’s plans to help veterans here.

I ICE AGENT CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

An ICE officer in Minnesota has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon tied to actions during enforcement operations earlier this year. The case marks the first time a federal immigration officer has faced charges for alleged on-duty conduct during the crackdown. Prosecutors allege that 35-year-old Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. pointed a handgun at two people who attempted to block the unmarked SUV he was in as it drove along the shoulder of the road during a traffic jam. Both alleged victims say they did not know the driver of the SUV was a federal officer. 

>> Dig deeper into the laws governing charges against federal officers here.

President Trump signed an executive order that would establish new requirements for mail-in voting and change how the post office handles mail-in ballots. Get the details below, and be sure to sign up for ASP’s Election Hub Newsletter to stay on top of the latest election news.

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