Marco Rubio is stealing a look from Nicolás Maduro. Aboard Air Force One on his way to China with President Donald Trump, the secretary of state is rocking the Nike sweatsuit that was worn by Maduro after he U.S. forces arrested him and extradited him to New York to face criminal charges, according to a picture posted by White House official Steven Cheung.  “Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!” wrote Cheung. Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) said the Supreme Court’s ruling curbing race-based redistricting has reshaped the midterm election landscape, urging Republicans to go on offense and challenge congressional maps in blue states as Democrats hope to ride voter frustration over affordability to the ballot box. In a wide-ranging interview on redistricting, the economy, and midterm strategy, Schmitt described the high court’s decision as part of a “map war” that “opens up a much larger front” for targeting Democratic-led states like California and Illinois. The Republican, and former Missouri Attorney General, has called on the Department of Justice to sue California, arguing the voter-approved maps illegally relied on race to likely gain five blue seats. “I view it as all upside because the Democrats have been doing this forever,” Schmitt said to reporters, including The Daily Wire, noting that no Republicans represent the New England area in Congress.  Schmitt argued that the nationwide push to redraw maps in red states, combined with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, reflects a more aggressive Republican Party. “They understand that their political power is a real risk,” Schmitt said. “Just listen to [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries. I mean, this guy sounds like totally unhinged about how they will approach this.”  Last Friday, the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a state referendum that would likely have allowed Democrats to pick up five blue seats, delivering a devastating setback to Democratic efforts to take back the House of Representatives. In response, some Democrats, including Jeffries, have floated lowering the retirement age to replace the entire Virginia Supreme Court with new nominees aligned with their political goals, according to the New York Times. Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) on Monday shot down the idea.  “I don’t know Hakeem Jeffries, I’m not a member of the House, but just watching him right now, he seems like [a] very desperate man because he thought he was going to be speaker,” Schmitt said. “I don’t know how everything’s going to play out, but this structural bias that they had for a long time over the next four to five years could be completely wiped out, and that’s a good thing.”  On Senate politics, Schmitt predicted Democrats will find an issue to force a government shutdown fight later this year, saying Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “fears the footsteps” of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).  “I actually think this is the most under-reported thing, maybe out there. I think they’re going to shut it down,” Schmitt said. “Despite what many of my appropriator friends want to believe, this is a new world. This is a different era,” Schmitt added. “This isn’t Ted Kennedy working with somebody on some bill; they’re legislative terrorists at this point.” Schmitt also backed a proposal to suspend the federal gas tax amid rising fuel prices, describing the pain at the pump, driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran, as “temporary.”  The national average price for gas stands at $4.504 per gallon, according to AAA. On Tuesday, the inflation rate jumped to the highest level in three years, outpacing wage gains.  A new CNN poll shows 70% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy.  “I don’t like that they’re high now, but I do think they’re temporary,” Schmitt told reporters. “It’s about knocking out the nuclear capability, taking out their missile defense in the Navy, and it’s a limited engagement. I think, you know, that’s a very different thing than trying to build a Madisonian democracy in the sands of the Middle East.” Heading into the midterms, Schmitt said Republicans need to do a better job promoting provisions of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and suggested he plans to campaign for Republican candidates this fall. “The waitress that’s working the double shift — the fact that she doesn’t pay taxes on her tips anymore is a huge deal,” he said. “But I think that we need to be better messengers about it, no doubt about it.”

President Donald Trump’s high-stakes trip to China this week comes as the ongoing conflict with Iran threatens to complicate already fragile relations between Washington and Beijing.  While trade is expected to dominate talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. officials are also pressing China to use its leverage over Tehran as the situation escalates. China remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil, giving Beijing significant influence at a time when Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz are impacting global energy markets. Attacks on commercial vessels in the area have raised concerns of broader disruptions. Following Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s trip to China last week to meet his Chinese counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hopes Beijing will privately pressure Iran to stop threatening shipping routes.  “I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told, and that is that what you are doing in the straits is causing you to be globally isolated,” Rubio said. “You’re the bad guy in this, you guys should not be blowing up ships, you should not be putting mines, you should not be trying to hold hostage the global economy.”   Rubio argued that China’s export-driven economy would ultimately suffer if Iran continues disrupting global trade routes and energy flows.  Despite those concerns, the Trump administration, which had long anticipated this meeting, is walking a fine line to keep the Iran conflict from derailing broader negotiations with Beijing. Trump sought to downplay the issue shortly before departing for China on Tuesday, telling reporters he expects to discuss “a lot of things” with Xi but does not believe Iran will be a major topic of conversation. Trump added that he has Iran “very much under control.” Still, administration officials have made clear that they do not want the Iran conflict to overshadow the broader relationship with Beijing. “We don’t want this to be something that derails the broader relationship or the agreements that might come out of our meeting in Beijing,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said last week, according to the Associated Press. Despite the effort, tensions over Iran have continued to escalate.  Last week, the State and Treasury Departments announced new sanctions targeting Chinese and Iranian entities accused of supporting Tehran’s military and weapons programs, including firms tied to satellite imagery used in strikes against U.S. forces during Operation Epic Fury. The sanctions targeted companies connected to Iran’s procurement networks for drones and ballistic missile components, with U.S. officials warning the administration is determined to prevent Tehran from rebuilding military capabilities damaged during recent American and Israeli strikes. Beijing condemned the move as “illegal unilateral pressure” and activated a blocking statute that bars Chinese entities from complying with certain foreign sanctions. During Araghchi’s trip to Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi defended Iran’s right to maintain a civilian nuclear energy program. The Trump administration believes Iran has for years sought to pursue a nuclear weapon under the camouflage of a civilian nuclear program. The economic stakes for Beijing are significant. Roughly 45% to 50% of China’s crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and more than half of China’s crude oil and nearly one-third of its liquefied natural gas imports came from the Middle East in 2025, according to Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. Official Chinese government data shows approximately 42% of China’s crude imports come from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts estimate that another 12% comes from Iran, despite Beijing officially reporting no Iranian imports since 2022, as much of the oil travels through Iran’s sanctioned “dark fleet,” which uses disguised shipping methods and falsified tracking data to evade U.S. sanctions. Reports that China was considering selling surface-to-air missiles to Iran also raised alarm in Washington because the systems could potentially threaten U.S. helicopters and aircraft operating over Iranian territory. Beijing denied the reports and warned it would respond to additional U.S. penalties. The United States has increasingly targeted those networks as part of a broader effort to economically isolate Tehran both through sanctions and the blockade. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reportedly threatened secondary sanctions on Chinese banks tied to Iranian accounts. Despite those pressures, analysts say China still has substantial short-term energy reserves that could help cushion disruptions in Gulf shipping routes. According to geospatial analytics firm Kayrros, China currently has roughly 1.39 billion barrels of oil in storage — enough to cover around 120 days of net crude imports at current levels. Still, experts warn that those reserves are not a long-term solution if the conflict intensifies or the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. Smaller Chinese “teapot refineries,” many of which rely heavily on discounted Iranian crude, could face pressure first because of thin profit margins and dependence on cheap imports. The conflict has also complicated China’s broader relationships throughout the Middle East. After the United States and Israel launched strikes during Operation Epic Fury, Iran responded with rocket and drone attacks targeting multiple countries, including Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — many of the same countries Beijing relies on for trade and energy imports. In Kuwait, officials recently accused an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps team of attacking Bubiyan Island, where China is helping fund the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project. Kuwaiti officials said the armed group clashed with security personnel before being apprehended, leaving one Kuwaiti servicemember injured. Kuwait condemned the incident as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and warned that it reserved the right to self-defense. That has left China attempting to balance ties with both Tehran and its regional rivals while avoiding becoming too publicly involved in ceasefire negotiations. Analysts say Beijing has deliberately kept a relatively low diplomatic profile in order to avoid blame if negotiations collapse. Trump’s meetings in Beijing are now expected to test whether China is willing to use its economic leverage over Tehran, or whether the war with Iran is becoming another major flashpoint in the growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

A new poll shows Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading a hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential primary to succeed President Donald Trump. The survey, conducted by AtlasIntel between May 4-7 among 2,069 American adults, found Rubio with 45.4% support, followed by Vice President JD Vance at 29.6%.  The rest of the field trailed significantly.   Marco Rubio: 45.4% JD Vance: 29.6%  Ron DeSantis: 11.2%  None of the above 10.3% Vivek Ramaswamy: 1.4 The AtlasIntel poll is the first to show Rubio ahead, while broader polling still favors Vance. RealClearPolitics, a media company that aggregates national polling, shows the vice president holding a 20-point advantage over other potential candidates. Rubio and Vance are widely seen as the most serious contenders to succeed Trump and shape the future of the MAGA movement. Trump addressed the elephant in the room at the White House on Monday, polling a crowd on whether they would prefer Vance or Rubio to run for president in 2028.  “I don’t know. Who’s it going to be? Is it going to be JD? Is there going to be somebody else? I don’t know,” Trump told a group of law enforcement officials. The kingmaker of GOP politics then asked the crowd who they thought should succeed him.  “Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio? All right. Sounds like a good ticket,” Trump joked. Applause from those in attendance appeared stronger for Vance, but Trump said he was not yet making any endorsements. “By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team. But these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance. But you know … I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate,” Trump said.  Rubio said last year that he would support Vance if the vice president decided to run for president.  “If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio told Vanity Fair in an interview.  On the Democratic side, the field appears more divided and open-ended, with a democratic socialist leading the pack.   Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 26% Pete Buttigieg: 22.4%  Gavin Newsom: 21.2%  Kamala Harris: 12.9%  Andy Beshear: 4.1%  Cory Booker: 3.9%  None Of The Above: 3.1% Josh Shapiro: 2.4% Gretchen Whitmer: 1.1% Last Friday, AOC did not rule out a presidential run.  “They assume that my ambition is a title or a seat, and my ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a conversation with Democratic strategist David Axelrod. “Presidents come and go … elected officials come and go, but single-payer healthcare is forever.” AOC asked about a potential presidential run “My ambition is to change this country.” pic.twitter.com/Pd770HL9JC — Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) May 11, 2026

FBI Director Kash Patel clashed with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on Tuesday over accusations that the federal law enforcement chief has a drinking problem.  At a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Van Hollen bombarded Patel with questions about his alleged drinking habits and whether he abused government funds for personal travel.  “Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, including reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home, are extremely alarming,” Van Hollen said. The Democrat appeared to be referencing allegations published by The Atlantic, which Patel called a “malicious and defamatory hit piece.” Patel has also filed a $250 million lawsuit against the publication, as previously reported by The Daily Wire. The story portrayed an absent FBI chief struggling with substance abuse, which is said to be affecting key investigations, including the murder of Charlie Kirk. “So, there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you?” Van Hollen asked Patel. “Nope, it’s a total force. I don’t even know where you get this stuff, but it doesn’t make it credible, because you say so,” Patel fired back.   “I’m not saying it,” Van Hollen said, citing news reports.  “You are literally saying it,” Patel responded. “The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you… the only individual in this room that has been drinking on taxpayers’ dime during the day is you,” Patel said, referencing Van Hollen’s infamous photo-op with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member.  .@FBIDirectorKash COOKS @ChrisVanHollen: “The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you… the only individual in this room that has been drinking on taxpayer dime during the day is YOU.” pic.twitter.com/UPtB9jL7pv — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 12, 2026 Van Hollen rejected Patel’s “blow up,” saying the FBI chief made “provably false statements.” The heated confrontation escalated further, with both men challenging each other to take sobriety tests. “Are you willing to take the test … it’s called the audit test that members of our active duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem?” the Democratic senator asked. “I’ll take any tests you’re willing to take,” Patel fired back. “I will take it. Director Patel, I’ll take it,” Van Hollen said. “You’re ready to take it?” “Let’s go, side-by-side,” Patel shot back. FBI Director Kash Patel blows up at Senator Van Hollen as Van Hollen asks him about allegations in reporting from The Atlantic: The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador and the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang banging rapist was you. pic.twitter.com/vGxnqzP66M — Acyn (@Acyn) May 12, 2026