On Politics

Tue Apr 1 2025

Rebecca Morin | Newsletter Writer

@RebeccaMorin_

How's it going? It's Rebecca Morin here. Are you concerned about the new tariffs going into place this week? Send me your thoughts!

Two key special elections held Tuesday

The 2024 presidential election may be over. But voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday in special elections in several states that will be the first test on how voters and Americans are feeling about President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Trump, and his billionaire ally Elon Musk , have played a heavy role in Wisconsin's Supreme Court special election, backing conservative judge Brad Schimel over liberal circuit court judge Susan Crawford. Musk and political groups he's tied to have poured $20 million into the race that will determine how the court will lean. What to know about Wisconsin's election.

•	What's on the line in the Wisconsin state Supreme Court race?
•	What polls say on the race between Schimel and Crawford

Down in Florida, there are also two big races on the ballot: A special election to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz, who resigned in November when Trump nominated him to be attorney general, and who will be the replacement for Mike Waltz , who left Congress to become Trump's national security adviser. While both seats are in conservative strongholds, Democrats are hoping to exceed expectations and use that as a referendum on how voter's feel about the job Trump is doing. What to know about the Florida elections.

An early morning voter heads into St. David's by the Sea in Cocoa Beach, Florida to vote.

MALCOLM DENEMARK, FLORIDA TODAY/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A politics pit stop

•	Centuries-old magnolia tree set to be removed from White House
•	Judge blocks DHS from halting immigration program for Venezuelans
•	Trump travel ban indefinitely postponed
•	Hegseth's brother serves key Pentagon role, wife attends meetings
•	Trump administration reviews Harvard grants over alleged antisemitism

More mass layoffs of federal workers

A new round of cuts began Tuesday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at the Food and Drug Administration – the first steps in Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's plan to cut 10,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services. Internal agencies focused on older adults, people with disabilities, tackling HIV and improving minority health have been closed at the department. Between layoffs and people who have accepted early retirement offers, the total Health and Human Services workforce is expected to drop from 82,000 to 62,000 people. That's not the only department seeing changes. The U.S. Transportation Department sent thousands of employees a new buyout offer to leave government service in exchange for pay and benefits through Sept. 30. The layoffs and buyouts are part of Trump's and Elon Musk's plan to reduce the federal government. Follow today's updates.

•	USDA offers staff buyouts, according to email, as Trump slashes workforce

Booker's marathon speech

It's been more than 16 hours and counting. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has been holding a marathon speech on the Senate floor in protest of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Booker began his speech at 7 p.m. on Monday and said he will go "for as long as I'm physically able to go." Booker's speech isn't considered a filibuster, as he is not attempting to stall or block legislation, but the Senate floor will remain open so long as he is speaking. Why Booker is protesting Trump.

•	Democrats are expected on Wednesday to also force GOP lawmakers to vote on a rebuke of Trump's tariffs on Canada. That vote would happen on the same day that the president is scheduled to hold a 4 p.m. EDT Rose Garden announcement on what his tariffs on foreign goods will look like.
•	How to watch Booker's marathon speech.
•	U.S. imports surged to record heights as consumers stocked up ahead of tariffs