‘Don’t Look At Me’

Good afternoon. Here’s what you need to know.

THE LATEST

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resigned today, citing her husband’s battle with bone cancer. Four Cabinet members — all of whom are women — have departed in the last three months.

Trump is defending the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, posting on Truth Social that he “gave up a lot of money in allowing [the fund] to go forward.” The president previously said he was not involved in its creation.

U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services announced a bombshell new policy today that people on nonimmigrant visas — like students, temporary workers and tourists — who want to apply for green cards must return to their home countries to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.

The restriction would eliminate one of the most utilized legal paths toward permanent U.S. residence, including for those who have already legally lived and worked in the country.

• The federal government already stopped processing applications from nationals of 19 countries last December.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Spotted at Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s swearing-in: Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas, who administered the oath of office, and Brett Kavanaugh. The court is still considering whether Trump was allowed to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook last August.

• During the ceremony, Trump told Warsh to be “totally independent … don’t look at me, don’t look at anybody.”
  

Trump won’t attend his son’s wedding due to “circumstances pertaining to Government.” The traditional Truth Social well-wishes were still sent: “Congratulations to Don and Bettina!”

THE HILL

House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer launched an investigation into possible insider trading on Kalshi and Polymarket.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has not explained his continued weekslong absence, but still signed two congressional “gift travel” disclosures as he’s been out, affirming that his chief of staff was authorized to take trips paid for by special interest groups.

Senate Democrats are demanding changes to the farm bill for their support, including giving states additional time to take on more SNAP costs.

THE COURTS

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate who was arrested by ICE agents last March, will appeal his deportation case to the Supreme Court after a federal appeals court declined to review it.

A federal judge tossed an indictment charging Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported last year, with human smuggling on the grounds that the DOJ’s prosecution was vindictive.

Federal prosecutor Sheri Mecklenburg — who presented a DOJ case against anti-ICE activists in Chicago that a grand jury tanked yesterday — had been temporarily reassigned to work for Senate Judiciary Democrats. She has now been summarily dismissed.

LET THE RECORD SHOW