Edition · SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2026

Today's five.

Sunday, May 17, 2026. 3 briefs — three national, one local, one state — analyzed from across the spectrum.

POLITICS

Trump rips Cassidy as ‘disloyal disaster’ ahead of high stakes primary

Sen. Bill Cassidy failed to advance out of Louisiana's Republican Senate primary Saturday, ending his reelection bid after years of political fallout from his vote to convict Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming finished in the top two spots, setting up a June 27 runoff. Trump spent Saturday morning attacking Cassidy on Truth Social, calling him a "disloyal disaster" and a "sleazebag." The result marks a clear victory for Trump, who has systematically sought retribution against Republicans who supported his impeachment conviction — of the seven GOP senators who voted to convict, Trump was ultimately acquitted.
POLITICS

This Republican voted to convict Trump. Now he's up for reelection. Can he survive?

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection, lost his Republican primary Saturday to Trump-backed congresswoman Julia Letlow. State treasurer John Fleming, also aligned with Trump, advanced as well, meaning Letlow and Fleming will face each other in a runoff next month before a general election. Cassidy, 68, who chaired the Senate health committee and had sought a third term, was branded a "disloyal disaster" by Trump ahead of the contest. His defeat leaves no more than two of the original seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump still in Congress, underscoring the enduring strength of Trump's grip on the party.
ENERGY · POLITICS · WORLD

Our Best Stuff on the Stalemate in Iran

A ceasefire is holding in Iran amid what analysts are describing as a stalemate, offering a pause for assessment of where the United States stands in the conflict and what long-term consequences may follow. The week also brought significant diplomatic activity elsewhere: President Trump traveled to China for a summit with Xi Jinping, while CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Cuba as that government announced it had exhausted its oil supplies. The Trump administration is separately pursuing regime change in Cuba and seeking to indict former President Raúl Castro. The convergence of these pressure points signals an unusually active period of U.S. foreign policy with outcomes still unresolved on multiple fronts.
Sources: The Dispatch