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.

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.

Nate Paul, Austin developer at center of Ken Paxton impeachment, arrested in Travis County  —  It is not immediately clear what Paul was charged with, but Travis County officials confirmed he was being held in the jail at the request of the FBI.  Paxton's deputies accused Paul of bribing the now-suspended attorney general in 2020.

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 …

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.

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.

‘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 …

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 …

China to Build Station That Could Spy on U.S. from Cuba, Officials Say  —  The planned facility could amplify Beijing's technological capacity to monitor military operations across the Southeastern states.  —  Reporting from Washington  —  China is planning to build a facility in Cuba …

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.”

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.

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 …

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 …

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. )

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.

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.