Good Friday evening. In this edition: Housing bill set to become law without President Trump's signature.
Plus, Iran war, UFC plot and Platner.
Housing Bill & SAVE Act
The bipartisan housing bill is set to become law at midnight despite President Trump's refusal to sign it over the Senate's failure to pass the SAVE America Act, his strict voter ID bill.
"I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT," the president posted on social media.
The housing bill, called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aims to increase housing supply and lower costs, including by limiting corporations' ability to purchase single-family homes.
It was overwhelmingly approved by both chambers of Congress last month, with the Senate passing it 85–5 and the House approving it 358–32.
The White House and congressional Republicans hailed the measure as a major legislative achievement that would help address Americans' affordability concerns ahead of the midterms. But President Trump abruptly canceled the signing ceremony on Capitol Hill late last month as he sought to pressure the Senate to approve his voting bill.
He called the housing bill a "big yawn" and of "minor importance" compared with the SAVE Act, which would require voter ID, proof of citizenship to register to vote, and ban most mail-in voting, among other provisions.
When the housing measure was formally sent to the White House, it triggered a 10-day period in which the president could sign it, veto it or take no action, after which it would automatically become law.
It will become the first law enacted without a presidential signature since an Iran sanctions bill that President Obamadeclined to sign in 2016.
President Trump has urged Senate Republicans to pass the SAVE Act for months, but they don't have the 60 votes needed to get it through the chamber, nor the votes to eliminate the legislative filibuster — a point GOP leaders have repeatedly conveyed to him.
The president, however, has continued to push the issue, arguing that Democrats would eliminate the legislative filibuster if they regained control of the Senate.
"The Dumocrats will TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, if and when they ever get the chance to do so, in their very first hour," he wrote. "And I will no longer be able to call them Dumocrats again! The title of DUMB will revert to the Republicans who allowed this horrible calamity to happen to our Party, and our Nation, itself!"
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who sympathizes with the president's position on the SAVE Act, said he had urged President Trump to sign the housing bill, but that Republicans would still celebrate the measure becoming law without his signature.
"It will become law,"he told reporters last month. "I hope he does sign it. If he doesn't, it's still law. We'll still celebrate it. But he's trying to make a point, and I think he's doing it very effectively."
President Trumpsaid the U.S. and Iran will resume talks but reiterated that the ceasefire between the two countries is no longer in effect. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" he wrote on Truth Social. The conflict reignited this week after Iran attacked commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliatory Iranian attacks on U.S. military bases in neighboring Gulf states. Iranian officials privately acknowledged to the White House that it was a mistake to target commercial ships and blamed the attacks on an "errant" sect of hardliners trying to undermine negotiations, U.S. officials told reporters during an off-camera briefing Friday. The Trump administration said it has demanded that Iran issue a statement acknowledging the strait is open and committing to stop attacking commercial ships.
Eight menhave been indicted for their alleged roles in a plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House last month, the Justice Department announced. Prosecutors allege the men planned to use explosive drones to create a diversion before using snipers to target attendees fleeing the June 14 event. According to the Justice Department, the defendants amassed firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones and communications equipment after the alleged plot began in May. The indictment charges conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property and to murder federal government officials. Authorities learned of the alleged plot four days before the event. Seven suspects were arrested shortly afterward, and the eighth was arrested this week by the FBI in West Virginia.
Graham Platnerofficially withdrew from the Maine Senate race, clearing the way for Democrats to select a new nominee days before the deadline. "I write to formally withdraw my candidacy for United States Senate," he said in a letter to the Maine secretary of state's office. Mr. Platner announced Wednesday night that he would step down as the Democratic nominee following a sexual assault allegation but had not submitted the required paperwork, prompting concerns among Democrats that he might reverse his decision. Under state law, Democrats have until July 27 to replace him on the ballot. The Maine Democratic Party plans to hold a nominating convention, and numerous candidates have already entered the race.
For your radar…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) and Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford (D) speak Saturday at a state Democratic Party field office opening in Las Vegas. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN at 1pm ET.
