May 16, 2026 - SCOTUS Denies VA Map Request

Two statements made during President Trump's trip to China - widely criticized as gaffes - were actually reasonable diplomatic moves aimed at the right audiences.

The first came when a reporter asked whether Americans' economic pain was motivating Trump to cut a deal with Iran. Trump replied, "not even a little bit." The comment triggered outrage on social media and talk shows, with critics accusing him of indifference to the public. The economic pain is real - April inflation hit 3.8%, gas prices are elevated, and polls show 70% of Americans disapprove of Trump's economic handling. But Trump wasn't speaking to Americans. He was speaking to Iran. With Trump en route to Beijing to ask Xi Jinping to help squeeze Iran on its nuclear program, admitting economic vulnerability would have handed Tehran a strategic advantage - signaling that Washington was eager for an exit. It's the same logic behind Trump's early-war social media threats toward Iran, which critics called unhinged but were similarly directed at Tehran, not domestic audiences.

The second moment came on the flight home, when Trump was asked about Taiwan. Xi had explicitly asked Trump at the summit whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacked - a question that alone reveals how seriously Beijing takes the issue. Trump declined to answer directly, saying, "I don't talk about those things." Critics called it a dodge. A betrayal. It wasn't. That is the longstanding U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity - the only answer that keeps China guessing.

The broader point: Trump needed Xi's cooperation on Iran, and openly pledging to arm Taiwan immediately after the summit would have torpedoed that goal. On both counts, Trump said precisely what the moment required - just not for the audience doing the complaining.

There are plenty of other things to criticize Trump for saying. You can start with him calling David Sanger of the New York Times treasonous.

## 

The Supreme Court declined to revive Virginia’s new Democrat-favored congressional map for 2026, leaving intact a state court ruling that struck down the constitutional amendment authorizing the redistricting plan.

SCOTUSblog

President Donald Trump cast doubt on approving a delayed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling a reluctance to escalate tensions with Beijing over the self-governing island.

Axios

Cuba’s top diplomat, Lianys Torres Rivera, warned that Havana is preparing to defend itself against a potential U.S. invasion while insisting the country’s sovereignty and communist system are nonnegotiable amid stalled talks with the Trump administration.

The Hill

Colorado Governor Jared Polis granted clemency to former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, cutting her nine-year sentence for election system tampering in half and ordering her release on parole by June 1, sparking fierce backlash from Colorado election officials.

Denver7

The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers. Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft.

That’s why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear.

Try Incogni here and get 55% off your annual subscription with code SMERCONISH.

US officials suspect Iranian hackers breached unprotected fuel tank monitoring systems at gas stations across multiple states, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure despite no reported physical damage or fuel disruptions.

CNN

Columnist Douglas Murray accuses The New York Times and columnist Nicholas Kristof of spreading a false and inflammatory story about alleged abuse by Israeli prison guards, arguing the report fuels antisemitism and distracts from documented sexual violence committed by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.

New York Post

President Donald Trump said he would accept a 20-year suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment program if Tehran provides a “real” guarantee, signaling a shift from his previous insistence on a permanent end to enrichment amid stalled US-Iran negotiations and ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Times of Israel

Stephen Colbert revealed his guest lineup for the final week of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ahead of its May 21 finale, featuring appearances by Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, and performances by David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen as CBS prepares to end the show after a decade on air.

USA Today

John Travolta broke down in tears at the Cannes Film Festival after being unexpectedly awarded an honorary Palme d’Or ahead of the premiere of his deeply personal directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” calling the honor “beyond the Oscar.”

Variety

A roundup of five standout commencement speeches distills practical life advice—from focusing on finding personal purpose to embracing curiosity, kindness, and even failure as essential guides for a meaningful life.

The Washington Post