Overview of NPR's Up First
This episode covers three major political stories: primary election results across several states that could shape November’s midterms, the Justice Department’s decision to abandon a controversial “anti-weaponization” compensation fund, and President Trump’s selection of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. The common thread is how these moves reflect the current power struggles inside the GOP, the courts, and the Trump administration.
Primary Election Results and Midterm Landscape
NPR political reporter Stephen Fowler breaks down several primaries that offer an early read on the 2026 midterm battlefield.
Iowa
- Democrats nominated Josh Turek for U.S. Senate.
- Turek is a state representative and Paralympian.
- He won comfortably over a more progressive challenger, with voters choosing a more moderate profile for a seat in a state that voted for Trump.
- Republicans selected Zach Lahn for governor, despite Trump backing another candidate.
- The loss is a setback for Trump and a sign that even in red states, his endorsement does not guarantee victory.
- The governor’s race is now seen as a true toss-up for November.
- Rob Sand became the Democratic nominee for governor after running unopposed.
Montana
- Democrats are trying to take advantage of Trump’s declining popularity in a red state.
- Several competitive races are emerging, including a House race and a Senate contest with independent Seth Bodnar outperforming Trump-backed and Democratic competitors in fundraising.
California
- Because California uses a top-two primary, the exact general-election matchups are still unfolding as votes are counted.
- In the governor’s race, the main contenders near the top include:
- Tom Steyer
- Xavier Becerra
- Steve Hilton
- Democrats could end up taking both top spots, which would leave Republicans without a marquee gubernatorial candidate to help down-ballot races.
Other races to watch
- Some older California Democratic incumbents are facing younger challengers calling for generational change.
- In California’s redistricting fallout, Republicans Ken Calvert and Young Kim were drawn into the same November race.
- In South Dakota’s GOP governor primary, an outsider led the field heading into a runoff, ahead of the incumbent governor and other top officials.
DOJ Drops the Anti-Weaponization Fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that the Justice Department is scrapping Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
What Blanche said
- He told lawmakers the department is “not moving forward with the fund” and later said, “Not moving forward ever.”
- That announcement came after a court had already put the fund on hold temporarily.
What remains in place
- The settlement that created the fund also protects Trump, his family, and his companies from IRS investigations tied to past tax issues.
- Blanche said that part of the agreement still stands.
Political reaction
- Democrats say the whole arrangement looks like a slush fund and want it blocked by law.
- Republicans have been uneasy too, especially because of the possibility that people involved in the Jan. 6 attack could receive payouts.
- The controversy has also complicated Republican efforts to move forward with immigration enforcement funding.
Trump Appoints Bill Pulte Acting DNI
President Trump named Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.
Who Pulte is
- Pulte’s background is in housing and finance, not intelligence.
- He has no meaningful intelligence experience listed in his background.
- Because he is serving in an acting role, he does not need Senate confirmation.
Why the appointment is controversial
- The law creating the DNI position calls for extensive national security experience.
- Even some Republicans were openly skeptical.
- Sen. John Cornyn said he saw “no evidence of any qualifications” for the job.
- Trump’s social media post praising Pulte was vague, saying he had deep experience handling sensitive matters.
Why Trump may like him
- Pulte has used his role at the housing agency to pursue people Trump views as enemies, including:
- Letitia James
- Adam Schiff
- Lisa Cook
- The episode suggests Trump values that willingness to target political opponents, even though the intelligence post is a very different responsibility.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s endorsement is not bulletproof, even in red states like Iowa.
- Democrats are hoping to build around more moderate, electable candidates in competitive states.
- The Justice Department’s cancellation of the anti-weaponization fund removes one fight, but Trump’s IRS protection deal remains in force.
- Trump’s selection of Bill Pulte underscores a broader pattern: loyalty and willingness to go after opponents may matter more than experience in this administration.
What to Watch Next
- Final vote counts and runoff outcomes in California and South Dakota
- Whether the Iowa governor’s race becomes a major November battleground
- Any follow-up congressional or legal action on the DOJ settlement
- How long Pulte serves as acting DNI, and whether the appointment triggers more Republican pushback