The Latest: Trump scores another win against Republican rival with Rep. Thomas Massie’s primary loss

President Donald Trumpscored another win Tuesday against a Republican rival, dislodging Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and knocking out one of his most outspoken critics on Capitol Hill. Massie has been a particularly difficult thorn in Trump’s side, pushing for the release of the Epstein files, opposing the war with Iran and voting against Trump’s signature tax legislation last year.

Republicans are unhappier with Trump’s handling of the economy than they were a few months ago, but they’re largely continuing to stand behind him as the war with Iran continues, a new AP-NORC poll finds. About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to the poll. That’s down from about 8 in 10 in February, before the war began.

Here’s the latest:

Trump regains some overall strength on immigration: AP-NORC poll

The issue of immigration may be reemerging as an asset for Trump, a new AP-NORC poll suggests.

Immigration was one of Trump’s strengths early on, with about half of U.S. adults saying they liked his approach, but approval of his handling of the issue dipped after months of aggressive immigration enforcement.

Now, just under half of U.S. adults, 45%, approve of how he is handling that issue.

Immigration remains one of Trump’s stronger issues among Republicans. About 8 in 10 — 83% — approve of his handling of the issue, which is slightly higher than the share that says he’s doing a good job as president.

Poll: Many Republicans are unhappy about the economy, but they’re still with Trump

Republicans are unhappier with President Trump’s economic approach than they were a few months ago, but they’re largely continuing to stand behind him.

About 6 in 10 Republicans — 63% — approve of how Trump is handling the economy in a new AP-NORC poll. That’s down from 79% in February, before the Iran war began.

About one-third of U.S. adults overall approve of how he is handling the economy.

That erosion isn’t translating to his overall job approval — roughly 7 in 10 Republicans approve of how he’s handling the presidency, similar to earlier this year. The findings highlight Trump’s continued strength within the Republican Party, even as economic frustration grows.

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For Vance and Rubio, the road to 2028 takes a turn through the White House briefing room

The earliest signals of a presidential race normally involve such subtle and behind-the-scenes positioning from candidates that it’s been dubbed in political circles as the “shadow primary.”

But the early Republican race to succeed Trump in just over two years’ time seems to be already playing out in one of the most public forums possible: the White House press briefing room.

Vice President JD Vance, who is seen as one of the GOP’s strongest potential candidates for president in 2028, stepped up to the lectern on Tuesday, holding the spotlight for 54 minutes as he took questions from reporters.

It was five minutes longer than the turn taken two weeks ago by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the person currently seen as Vance’s possible chief rival — or running mate — in 2028.

Vance and Rubio were tapped to fill in as temporary replacements for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave. The chance to parry questions before news cameras was a high-profile opportunity to try to make a case that they should be elected commander-in-chief.

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US government agrees to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement

The U.S. government will permanently drop tax claims against Trump, according to a settlement document made public Tuesday, in an extraordinary use of executive power that could effectively help shield the president from further examination of his finances and legal conduct.

As part of the settlement deal meant to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns, the U.S. is “forever barred and precluded” from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump organization’s current tax examinations, according to a one-page document posted to the Justice Department’s website.

The government is also barred from looking into Trump’s family, affiliates and others, according to the document, which is signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. That document is a separate addendum from the original settlement announced Monday, and was quietly added to the Justice Department website on Tuesday.

The White House referred Associated Press inquiries to the Justice Department, and the U.S. Treasury did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment.

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Georgia Republicans dig in for runoffs for Senate and governor as campaigns go into overtime

Georgia Republicans will keep duking it out among themselves as they head toward a runoff to pick their candidates for governor and U.S. Senate in the battleground state after Tuesday’s primary failed to produce outright victors.

The Senate runoff will feature former college football coach Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins, while Rep. Buddy Carter was knocked out of the race. The winner will go up against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the most closely watched campaigns in the November midterm elections.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson advanced to the runoff in the Republican primary for governor, extending their bruising and expensive campaign battle. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.

With about a month to go until the June 16 runoff, Republicans will spend more time and money competing among themselves before they turn their attention to their Democratic opponents in key races.

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Former political rivals head to rematch in Alabama governor’s race and runoffs for US Senate seat

Alabama will get a rematch between two high-profile nominees for governor, while candidates of both major parties will head to runoff elections next month for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, easily won their respective primaries for governor on Tuesday, setting up their second head-to-head contest after Tuberville unseated Jones six years ago.

Jones was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election in 2017, but his time in office was short-lived in the heavily Republican state. He is hoping voters’ frustrations with their Republican-dominated government, including on issues like healthcare and the rising cost of living, will propel him to another rare Democratic victory in the Deep South.

Tuberville’s decision to enter the governor’s race ignited a fierce battle among Republicans for an open Senate seat that is all but certain to stay red.

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Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries: Massie’s loss leaves no doubt about Trump’s power over the GOP

Trump scored another win Tuesday against a Republican rival, dislodging Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and knocking out one of his most outspoken critics on Capitol Hill.

Massie has been a particularly difficult thorn in Trump’s side. He pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, opposed the war with Iran and voted against Trump’s signature tax legislation last year. He lost to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein following the most expensive U.S. House primary in history.

While Trump has racked up several wins this primary season, this one perhaps sends an even more forceful message to the president’s Republican critics. Massie was entrenched in his deep-red Kentucky district before his feud with Trump exploded, cutting short a congressional career that began in 2012.

Still, Massie will remain in Congress until his term ends in January, and without a Republican primary on the horizon, he now has a freer hand than ever to antagonize Trump.

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