Tensions Overseas and Tensions at Home - “The Sunday Political Brunch” - May 17, 2026

With the ongoing war in Iran in a tenuous ceasefire, there were also international tensions with China. That aside, there are more political battles at home as the midterm elections get closer. Let’s “brunch” on all that and more this week:

“Iran War Update” – It’s not what most people want to hear. This past week, President Donald Trump said the fragile U.S. ceasefire with Iran is on “life support.” Trump said of the latest peace proposal from Iran, “I would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it.” Various sources indicate the U.S. wants Iran to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to surrender any enriched uranium it has. But Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, “The American side still insists on its one-sided views and unreasonable demands.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the military conflict could resume, but has given no timeline.

“Trump vs. Congress on Iran” - In a fascinating development Thursday, the U.S. House failed in a vote to invoke the War Powers Act, to be included in Iran war decision making. The vote was 212-yes, to 212-no. A tie! Only one Democrat voted no, while three Republicans, including Trump nemesis Rep. Thomas Massie (R) Kentucky, voted yes. Trump is backing an opponent to Massie in Tuesday’s Kentucky primary. Team Trump is spending millions to boot Massie.

“Inflation Report Out” – The latest monthly inflation report for April shows inflation rising by 3.8 percent, the highest increase in three years. Higher gas and grocery prices, driven by the war with Iran, are the main culprits. According to AAA, the national average gas price is above $4.50 per gallon. That’s a 44 percent increase from one year ago. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D) New York, posted a statement saying, "The average gas price is now $4.55 per gallon.” He added, "Is this what the golden age in America looks like?"

“Federal Gas Tax Cut?” – President Trump is proposing suspension of the federal tax on gasoline, which is currently 18.4 cents per gallon. He has not suggested how long the suspension might last, but he will need Congressional approval. Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune (R) South Dakota, has historically been opposed to halting the gas tax, but in this case, is open-minded. Thune said, “You know, I’ve got some colleagues out there who think it’s a good idea. So, we’ll hear them out.’' A Trump foe, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut said, “Trump’s war of choice with Iran is driving up gas prices across the country — and Americans shouldn’t have to bear the additional economic burden of Trump’s reckless decision making.” Blumenthal’s bill in the Senate would suspend the gas tax until October 1st. I predict it will pass with bipartisan support in a very competitive midterm election year.

“Trump to China” – President Trump met in China this past week with President Xi Jinping. There was progress to report on some economic deals, including China's plan to buy more than 200 Boeing aircraft. The U.S. would continue buying precious mineral elements from China. The Dow Jones surged over the 50,000 mark on the news. On the other hand, tensions over Taiwan remain. In a statement, President Xi said, “If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy." Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a stern warning to China over Taiwan, saying if China tried to take its neighbor by force, it would be “a terrible mistake.” Trump invited Xi to the White House in the Fall. The meeting ended on a charming note, with the Chinese military band playing the Village People classic, “YMCA,” for Trump. It is his favorite song to close out events!

“New Federal Reserve” – The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh to be the next Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve. Warsh will replace Jerome Powell, who often clashed with President Trump, by not cutting interest rates more often as Trump wanted. However, Powell will remain a board member until his term ends in January of 2028. In his Congressional confirmation hearing, Warsh insisted he would not be a Trump puppet on interest rate cuts, saying, “The president never once asked me to commit to any particular interest rate decision, period. Nor would I ever agree to do so if he had.” He added, “I will be an independent actor if confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve.”

“Resigned Congresswoman to Run?” – In late April, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) Florida, resigned her seat in Congress, as the House Ethics Committee was set to vote on expelling her. She is also facing federal criminal charges, accused of funneling millions of COVID relief dollars into her family’s health care businesses and into her campaign war chest. Well, now comes the word that she is going to run for reelection to her old seat. That’s because Gov. Ron DeSantis and the legislature redrew the state’s Congressional district lines so that Republicans might gain four more seats in the U.S. House.

“It’s a Race About Race” --That has become a racially tinged contest. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) Florida, is White, and may run for Cherfilus-McCormick’s old seat, which is in a predominantly Black district. That has infuriated Cherfilus-McCormick, who is Black, so she may run again saying, “There is a fight in the entire South, to make sure that Black voices are not diluted. And that Black representation is actually being upheld.” The district has had a Black representative for the past 34 years. Even if she wins reelection, sources on Capitol Hill tell me she won’t be sworn in, even if Democrats win control of the House.

“Alabama Redistricting” – Alabama is the latest state to jump on the Congressional redistricting bandwagon. The legislature passed, and Gov. Kay Ivey quickly signed into law a new map that dilutes a predominantly Black district. Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas have all redone maps to help Republicans, and South Carolina may be next. California and Virginia redid their maps to potentially help Democrats. More states are thinking about it ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The U.S. Supreme Court has largely upheld these mid-decade efforts. Normally, Congressional maps were redrawn every 10 years, following the nation’s census in years ending in zero. In my opinion, this is creating an uneven, chaotic system that may ultimately determine which party controls the U.S. House. Many people on the losing side will feel disenfranchised. The U.S. Supreme Court has already rejected the appeal of Virginia Democrats to review their latest map.

“Fired FEMA Chief Rehired” – As the old saying goes, “What’s old, is new again!” Nowhere was that truer this week than at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It was just a year ago that President Trump fired Acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton. Hamilton had wanted to keep FEMA in existence, while Trump did not. Well, this past week, Trump re-nominated Hamilton to lead the disaster response agency once again. With the U.S. hurricane season opening on June 1st, it’s probably wise to keep the embattled agency around while reforming and restructuring it. FEMA falls under the domain of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Former FEMA Chief of Staff in the Obama and Biden White Houses, Michael Coen, said, “Now is the opportunity to stabilize FEMA.”

“Trump Library Lawsuit” – As I predicted, a lawsuit has been filed to overturn a deal to locate President Trump’s eventual presidential library in Downtown Miami. Miami Dade College donated 2.6 acres of prime property to the Trump Library Foundation. The land is valued at $67 million, but the billionaire president essentially got it for free. Adding fuel to the dispute was Trump's consideration of additions to the property beyond a presidential museum. He told reporters in March, “This concept could be an office, but it’s most likely going to be a hotel with a beautiful building underneath.” But the lawsuit calls the deal improper, saying the land “is no longer available to serve MDC’s student community and Downtown Miami. Instead, the land will house a Trump hotel that brings riches to the President.” Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) Florida helped orchestrate the deal and is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is a South Florida-based political writer and analyst who has covered news and politics nationwide for the past 49 years. He is a multiple award winner, including two prestigious Edward R. Murrow Awards. Most recently, he served as the Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations, covering West Virginia and its five neighboring states, as well as the Washington, DC media market. Curtis is a former Congressional Fellow who worked in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Over the years, he has been a contributing writer and analyst at Patch.com and other outlets, including GoLocalProv.com. His commentary and analysis can be heard every Friday at 1:45 p.m. ET on the 22-station West Virginia Metro News Radio Network. www.WVMetroNews.com.

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