These are the top stories for today, Wednesday, May 20th.
Headlines
Trump-Backed Challenger Defeats Thomas Massie
Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s Republican primary, continuing a May political payback tour that has now taken down five Indiana state senators, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, and now eight-term Congressman Massie — one of the president’s most persistent intra-party critics. Find out More
Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the May 26 Republican Senate primary runoff, dealing a massive blow to Cornyn, who has served in the Senate for more than two decades. Find out More
The U.S. government will permanently drop tax claims against President Trump, according to a settlement document made public Tuesday, in an extraordinary use of executive power that could effectively shield the president from further examination of his finances and legal conduct. The one-page addendum, signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, declares the IRS "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED" from pursuing "claims" or "examinations" of Trump, his family, trusts, companies, and affiliates based on tax returns filed before the settlement date. Read More
Politics
Rep. Andy Barr, also endorsed by Trump, won Kentucky’s Senate primary to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell in Kentucky. Read More
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic Party nomination for Governor in Georgia. On the Republican side, Trump-endorsed Lt. Governor Burt Jones and billionaire businessman Rick Jackson advanced to a runoff. Read More
If the Democratic Party wins control of Congress in 2026, a major agenda item will be cracking down on the use of AI in political ads. Find out More
U.S. News
A woman died after falling into an uncovered manhole in front of 653 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, according to the NYPD. No arrests have been made, and the city’s Department of Transportation launched an immediate investigation into why the manhole was left unprotected on one of the city’s busiest blocks. Source
Police say the teenagers who carried out a mass shooting at a San Diego mosque were radicalized on the internet and left behind an online trail that exposed their motives. Find out More
A JP Morgan executive sued a former employee for defamation after he filed a lawsuit accusing the female executive of making him her sex slave. Source
Business
orries around reaccelerating inflation pushed the 10-year Treasury to 4.657%, the 20-year to 5.189%, and the 30-year to 5.171% — the latter two at their highest levels in nearly two decades, threatening to raise the cost of borrowing for mortgages, auto loans, and credit card debt across the economy. See Details
The S&P 500 fell 0.67% Tuesday to 7,353.61, posting its third straight losing session, while the Dow shed 322 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.84%; futures were little changed on Wednesday evening ahead of Nvidia’s earnings after the close — the single most anticipated market event of the quarter. See Details
NVIDIA reports fiscal Q1 FY2027 results after the close on Wednesday, with analysts expecting earnings per share of $1.78 — up 120% year-over-year — on revenue of $79.2 billion, up roughly 80%; options markets are pricing an 8 to 10 percent move on the print, making it the most-watched earnings event of the spring. The key metric to watch is Q2 forward guidance. Read More
Market Report
| Symbol | Last Close | % Change | |
| Dow Jones | DJIA | $49,298.25 | 0.73% |
| S&P 500 | SPX | $7,403.05 | -0.07% |
| Nasdaq Composite | IXIC | $26,090.73 | -0.51% |
| Alphabet Inc. | GOOG | $393.11 | -0.05% |
| Tesla, Inc. | TSLA | $409.99 | -2.90% |
| Apple Inc. | AAPL | $297.84 | -0.80% |
| Microsoft Corp. | MSFT | $423.54 | 0.38% |
World News
Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Putin at their Beijing summit that further conflict with Iran was "inadvisable" and that a ceasefire was necessary, saying, "A comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency, resuming hostilities is even more inadvisable and maintaining negotiations is particularly important." Source
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz faces a deepening crisis as widespread protests and blockades leave the political capital under siege, less than six months after he took office, with demonstrators demanding economic relief amid rising fuel prices and social inequality. Find out More
Entertainment
The legendary Cher turns 80 on May 20, with tributes pouring in from across the entertainment world for one of pop music’s most enduring figures, who has scored hits across six decades and won an Academy Award for "Moonstruck" in 1988. Read More
"South Park" Season 29 is set to premiere in September, Paramount+ announced Wednesday, with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone promising a season that tackles AI, the Iran war, and the midterm elections among its signature satirical targets. Find out More
Sports
Jalen Brunson scored 38 points and led the Knicks on a 44-11 run in the final 7:40 of the fourth quarter and overtime, lifting New York to a 115-104 win over Cleveland after the Cavaliers led by as many as 22; the Cavs shot just 22% in the final stretch as Cleveland committed eight turnovers in the last 13 minutes. Game 2 is Thursday night. Source
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been named grand marshal for the Indianapolis 500, the NFL confirmed that Nashville will host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030, and Minneapolis will serve as the site of the 2028 NFL Draft — all announced Wednesday. Find out More
The Washington Nationals’ Jacob Wood recorded three hits, including an inside-the-park grand slam, as the Nationals came from behind to defeat the New York Mets 9-6. Source
Off the Wall
An Ohio family sent a Slinky down a record-breaking 53 stairs, shattering the previous Guinness World Record and capping what sources confirm was an extremely satisfying afternoon. The record-setting event was documented on video and immediately went viral. Source
