Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to face federal charges.  —  Trump Is Charged in Classified Documents Inquiry  —  The seven counts against the former president include conspiracy to obstruct, willful retention of documents and false statements, according to people familiar with the indictment.

Supreme Court Rejects Voting Map That Diluted Black Voters' Power  —  Voting rights advocates had feared the decision would undermine the Voting Rights Act, which instead appeared to emerge unscathed.  —  Reporting from Washington  —  The Supreme Court, in a surprise decision …

DeSantis uses AI-generated images to attack Trump and Fauci in campaign ad  —  Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has become the latest candidate to use artificial intelligence-generated images in his campaign for president, a tool that some allege will be used to spread misinformation.

Saudi crown prince threatened ‘major’ economic pain on U.S. amid oil feud  —  After President Biden vowed to impose ‘consequences’ on Saudi Arabia for slashing oil production last year, Mohammed bin Salman privately threatened to sever ties and retaliate economically, according to a classified U.S. intelligence document.

FBI agent who testified for Republicans was suspended over leaked sensitive information  —  House Democrats are asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate whether Garret O'Boyle, who was presented as an FBI whistleblower by Republicans, lied to Congress.

‘Why the hell are we doing this?’  McCarthy's fractured leadership team faces new abortion tension  —  As the speaker and his majority leader trade barbs over why conservatives have paralyzed the floor, they're confronting a brushfire among House GOP centrists.

George Santos' Lawyer Was Part of the January 6 Mob  —  Joseph Murray and an associate, currently listed as a Santos staffer, were in the crowd that surrounded the Capitol.  —  George Santos, the lying and indicted GOP congressman from Queens, New York, has steadfastly refused …

I Crashed Henry Kissinger's 100th-Birthday Party  —  The elite love him but for some reason won't say why.  —  On Monday evening at the New York Public Library's entrance on 42nd Street, several men were on their knees meticulously installing a red carpet on the stone steps …

The Golf Merger May Be Dead on Arrival  —  The PGA Tour wants to team up with LIV Golf to eliminate competition.  Federal enforcers aren't going to like that.  —  On tuesday morning, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced a planned merger that ended nearly a full year of antitrust litigation between the two rivals.

Joe Biden allegedly paid $5M by Burisma executive as part of a bribery scheme, according to FBI document  —  Biden's son Hunter was a board member of Burisma and also allegedly in on the scheme  —  EXCLUSIVE: President Joe Biden was allegedly paid $5 million by an executive …

CNN Insiders On What Led to Chris Licht's Exit, And What Comes Next: ‘Nowhere Near the Final Battle’  —  Chris Licht's ouster from the top of CNN came as little surprise.  The day before, one anchor at the network told me: “It would not shock me if Chris were to be thrown overboard tomorrow.”

Dallas golfer DeChambeau suggests 9/11 families forgive Saudis  —  Dallas golfer Bryson DeChambeau suggested that the families of 9/11 victims should move forward, “especially in forgiveness,” during a CNN interview this week.  — DeChambeau was reportedly paid more than $125 million …

Newt Gingrich testified before January 6 grand jury  —  Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich testified Thursday before a federal grand jury investigating January 6, 2021, according to a person familiar with the matter.  —  This story is breaking and will be updated.

Pat Robertson, broadcaster who helped make religion central to GOP politics, dies at 93  —  Pat Robertson, a religious broadcaster who turned a tiny Virginia station into the global Christian Broadcasting Network, tried a run for president and helped make religion central to Republican Party politics …

EXCLUSIVE: The Monologue That Got Tucker Carlson Fired  —  On April 24th, Fox News stopped Tucker from exposing Ray Epps, Jen Psaki & AOC in this never-released opening speech … (Here's the lead I'm envisioning.  Sandy Cortes just did an interview with Jen Psaki in which she demands that authorities pull our show off the air. )

Social Conservatism in U.S. Highest in About a Decade  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — More Americans this year (38%) say they are very conservative or conservative on social issues than said so in 2022 (33%) and 2021 (30%).  At the same time, the percentage saying their social views are very liberal …

The Politics of Gender, Pronouns, and Public Education  —  Overview of the Study  —  Political debates about gender identity have become heated in recent years, as some state legislatures have increasingly sought to restrict transgender rights.  Battles over how — or even if …

House Republicans Call It Quits Amid Rampant Dysfunction  —  Plus: Meta is trying to figure out how to regulate sarcasm  —  Good afternoon, Press Pass readers.  Programming note: I'll be joining my colleagues Charlie Sykes, Mona Charen, and Will Saletan on tonight's episode of Thursday Night Bulwark at 8 p.m. ET.

Cuba to Host Secret Chinese Spy Base Focusing on U.S.  —  Beijing will pay Havana several billion dollars for eavesdropping facility  —  WASHINGTON—China and Cuba have reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island …