Trump administration live updates: Kristi Noem faces House grilling on DHS killings; Texas Senate GOP primary goes to runoff

In her second Hill appearance this week, the homeland security secretary was again asked about her response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

What to know today...

NOEM TO TESTIFY AGAIN:Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing questions this morning at a House Judiciary Committee hearing about the aggressive — and sometimes fatal — actions of her immigration agents, and what Democrats say is exorbitant spending at the department on advertising and travel. Noem's appearance comes a day after sheweathered tough questionsfrom the Senate Judiciary Committee about her leadership.TEXAS SENATE:The Republican Senate primary in Texas is heading toa May 26 runoffbetween four-term Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, while state Rep. James Talarico won the Democratic primary over Rep. Jasmine Crockett, NBC News projected. PresidentDonald Trumphas yet to endorse a candidate in the Senate GOP primary race.KEY PRIMARY RESULTS:Texas state Rep. Steve Tothdefeated Rep. Dan Crenshawin the state Republican primary, while Rep. Tony Gonzales waspulled into a runoffin the state against pro-gun activist Brandon Herrera, NBC News projects. Meanwhile, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatleywon their primariesin North Carolina and will face off in the fall.

Steve Cohen and Kristi Noem clash on deportations for the 'worst of the worst'

Noem criticized Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., after he challenged her to tell him "about the 'worst of the worst,'" referring to the people whom her department said it is prioritizing for deportation. Critics of DHS have argued that immigration enforcement operations had broadened far wider than focusing on the "worst of the worst."

"I think you've offended the families behind me today," Noem said, referring to families in the room whose loved ones were killed by overdoses or by people who were in the country illegally.

Cohen said he did not intend to offend them, adding it was "wrong for you to suggest it." Challenged by Noem, Cohen said he had been referring to how migrants were "less likely" to commit crimes than people born in the U.S.

Cohen also argued during his questioning that DHS was actually focused on increasing its deportation statistics rather than on the "worst of the worst."

Stark partisan division in questioning of Kristi Noem

The topics committee members on each side of the aisle are raising have fallen sharply along partisan lines since the start of this hearing.

So far, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have focused the bulk of their questioning time on slamming sanctuary cities and defending Noem against claims against her from Democrats.

Meanwhile, Democrats for the most part have focused on asking Noem about the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and the sometimes aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in enforcement operations around the country.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., for example, played videos of federal agents detaining a man in his underwear in sub-freezing temperatures and agents smashing in car windows and dragging drivers from their cars.

She repeatedly asked questions about whether officers were trained to engage in such conduct, asking Noem, "Do you train agents not to do that? Or are they trained to do that?"

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., on the other hand, told Noem, "I want to establish the insanity of what sanctuary jurisdictions are doing and why it matters," before citing the thousands of ICE detainers that he said have been declined by local jails and police departments.

Colorado governor suggests he's weighing clemency for Tina Peters

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis suggested in a post on social media today that he's weighing granting clemency for Tina Peters, the former county clerk and 2020 election denier whose cause has been championed by Trump.

Polis, a Democrat who's previously said he believes the nine-year prison sentence Peters received was "harsh," posted a lengthy message on X comparing her case to a former state senator named Sonya Jaquez Lewis who'd been sentenced to probation after getting convicted on a similar charge.

"As someone who has known Sonya as a friend for many years, on a personal level I was glad to hear she isn’t going to prison which is a hard place for anyone, no less a retired 68-year old pharmacist. But it is not lost on me that she was convicted of the exact same felony charge as Tina Peters — attempting to influence a public official — and yet Tina Peters, as a non-violent first time offender got a nine year sentence," Polis wrote.

"Justice in Colorado and America needs to be applied evenly," he said, adding that's "the context I am using as I consider cases like this that have sentencing disparities."

Trump has repeatedly called for Peters, who was convicted last year in connection with a voting system’s security breach, to be freed from jail, and has called Polis a "scumbag" who should "rot in hell" for not having released her. Trump issued a pardon for Peters in December, but the move was symbolic since she was convicted on state charges.

An attorney for Peters, Peter Ticktin, told NBC News in a statement, "We are hoping that Governor Polis commutes Tina Peters’ sentence this week." "There is no reason to keep Tina Peters in prison," he said.

Nancy Mace motions for committee to subpoena Pam Bondi in Epstein investigation

Mace made a motion during the fraud hearing related to the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The GOP congresswoman made a motion to issue a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi to appear before the panel for a deposition regarding the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein investigation and compliance with the law requiring the release of all documents.

Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said the committee would address her motion at the end of the hearing.

Nancy Mace and Tim Walz get into heated exchange

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., opened her line of questioning by asking Walz if he learned anything since the last hearing in which he faced her questions.

"That if I didn’t speak up, two of my people would be dead, congresswoman," Walz said.

Mace responded, "Governor Walz, what is a woman? Have you learned that lesson? Do you know what a woman is?"

Walz said, " I’m the governor of Minnesota, congressman. I’m not here to be your prop for your obsession."

Mace then spent several minutes testing Walz about funding for autism in Minnesota in 2017 and 2024. Walz said he didn’t know about the levels in 2017 because he wasn’t governor then, and for 2024, he didn’t have the numbers in front of him.

Mace also kept asking Walz if he is governor of Minnesota.

Jerry Nadler accuses DHS agents of entering his office and using 'deceptive' law enforcement tactics

During his questioning time, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., recalled an incident last year when DHS agents entered his office under what he said were "false pretenses."

"My own office was the victim of your agent's deceptive tactics last year when DHS agents entered my office under false pretenses, claiming that my staff was caught harboring rioters when video clearly showed this was not the case," Nadler told Noem.

"A statement issued by DHS claimed the agents were doing a, quote, 'security check,' yet the video that has been released shows them handcuffing a staffer, demanding access to non-public areas of my office without a warrant, denying that they even needed a warrant when challenged by a member of my staff, and never once asking about the safety and security of my staff," the New York congressman added.

Nadler brought up the incident in the context of asking whether Noem would hold immigration agents accountable for their actions, including fatal and aggressive encounters with detainees and others.

The New York news outlet the Gothamist first reported the incident in Nadler's office.

GOP lawmaker yells at Minnesota AG Keith Ellison over lack of prosecutions in state

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said in his line of questioning that Ellison has the authority to lead Minnesota's effort to response to fraud in his state within the health care realm.

"Are you leading that effort for the state of Minnesota? You're addressing it. Are you leading it? Are you leading the effort?" Higgins said, raising his voice.

Ellison responded, "We are leading the effort to prosecute Medicaid fraud in Minnesota."

Higgins began yelling at Ellison: “I'm not talking about Medicaid fraud! Don't hide behind that! You have the authority to prosecute anything, clearly, that the governor asked you to. And this thing is big. I'm giving you an opportunity, sir. Are you leading the criminal investigative effort into this massive fraud across the board in the healthcare spectrum, in the state of Minnesota, or not?"

"We are following the law," Ellison said.

Ellison has made clear that his office as attorney general has limited jurisdiction over criminal matters.

"The only kind of criminal case we can prosecute on our own is Medicaid fraud; any other criminal case must be specifically referred to us by county attorneys or the governor," Ellison said in his opening statement.

Kristi Noem accuses Jamie Raskin of 'potshots' and 'lies'

Noem accused Raskin of sharing lies in his opening statement.

Noem said she does her job because "somebody has to do the right thing and tell the stories of these families."

She continued, saying someone had to "make sure that we don't sit around here and make political potshots on falsehoods and lies like I just heard from the ranking member, that instead we do the right thing to defend these families and remember their children," she said.

Raskin had slammed Noem for her handling of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the treatment of people arrested by immigration enforcement. He also criticized her for DHS' use of a luxury jet.

Jamie Raskin accuses Kristi Noem of a 'cover-up' in Minneapolis shooting deaths

During his opening remarks, Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, accused Noem of engaging in a "cover-up" with the federal investigations of the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year.

"There have been three homicides in Minneapolis in 2026," Raskin told Noem, "Your agents committed two of them."

Raskin added, "rather than work with state and local authorities to solve these homicides, you barred Minnesota's investigators from the crime scenes. You're denying them access to all the evidence that you have about the deaths of their citizens. It smells like a cover up, and it makes me wonder who the real domestic terrorists are."

In January, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that federal investigators had cut them out of the investigation into Renee Good's death.

Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks today in front of photos of Renee Good. Heather Diehl / Getty Images

Later in his opening remarks, Raskin accused DHS officials who serve under Noem of lying in court, saying, "in dozens of cases, federal judges have found that your officials lied to them in court."

Raskin pointed to public statements from federal judges rebuking DHS officials in immigration cases in Minnesota and elsewhere.

The Maryland congressman also slammed Noem for seeking to purchase a $70 million luxury jet for DHS, which Noem has said will be renovated to allow for deportation flights. He also blasted the homeland security secretary for spending millions of dollars of the department's money to fund commercials that featured herself.

Jim Jordan says lawmakers will push anti-sanctuary jurisdiction policies

Chair Jim Jordan, the Republican who leads the House Judiciary Committee, said during his opening remarks that lawmakers would push forward legislation to counter sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement.

Jordan slammed the spread of sanctuary policies, saying, "that may be the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

He also spent much of his opening remarks slamming the Biden administration and former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. He hammered Mayorkas for his 2021 comments that the "border is secure," a remark that has been repeatedly brought up by Republicans in the years since. Jordan argued that under the Trump administration, "the border is now secure."

Tim Walz says he wants Congress' help to address fraud in Minnesota

Walz, a Democrat, repeatedly said during a hearing about fraud in his state that he wants lawmakers to help address the issue.

"So look, I’m with you. I want your help on fraud. Why would I not want money to go to the programs I care deeply about — feeding people, clothing people, housing people," Walz said.

Walz continued, "But what ICE did disrupted everything that we were doing."

The governor argued that those efforts disrupted the work by Minnesota's federal partners and forced law enforcement to re-earn the public's trust.

Hearing featuring Kristi Noem begins

The House Judiciary Committee hearing featuring Noem's testimony has kicked off.

Noem appeared before the committee's counterpart in the Senate yesterday, where she faced questions about immigration enforcement controversies.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies at a House hearing today. Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Former MLB star Mark Teixeira wins GOP House primary in Texas

Former Major League Baseball star Mark Teixeira, who played for the Texas Rangers, the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees, won yesterday's GOP primary election in Texas' 21st Congressional District, a safely Republican district west of Austin.

This morning, Teixeira was leading the GOP primary field with 61% of the vote, well over the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff in Texas. The MLB star is expected to win November's general election, given that the district is heavily Republican. The race is rated "Solid Republican," by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

The incumbent congressman in Texas' 21st District, GOP Rep. Chip Roy, is running for attorney general rather than competing for re-election in his district.

Kristi Noem to testify before House lawmakers today

Noem will head back to Capitol Hill this morning, where she's set to testify before lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee.

Noem testified yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she faced tough questions from Democrats and some Republicans over her handling of immigration enforcement in the aftermath of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Several Republicans used the hearing to criticize Democrats for not funding the department over immigration enforcement concerns, pushing the department into a shutdown.

Noem is likely going to face similar questions from representatives today.

Jasmine Crockett congratulates James Talarico on winning Texas Senate Democratic primary

Rep. Jasmine Crockett congratulated state Rep. James Talarico in a phone call on becoming the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate race in Texas, the congresswoman said in a statement.

"Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person," she said. "This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track."

Crockett called on the party to unite behind Talarico heading into what is expected to be a top race to watch this fall.

"With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win," she said. "I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot."

Democrats appear poised to flip Arkansas state House seat

Democrats appear poised to flip an Arkansas state House seat, according to unofficial state election results for the special election.

Democrat Alex Holladay has garnered about 57% of the vote, while Republican Bo Renshaw secured about 43% of the vote, according to the unofficial results. The seat opened when state Rep. Carlton Wing, a Republican, resigned.

NBC News has reached out to Holladay's and Renshaw's campaigns for comment.

In recent months, Democrats have flipped state and local seats in places including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Georgia.

Kristi Noem dodges questions about calling Renee Good, Alex Pretti ‘domestic terrorists’

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified at a Senate hearing over her handling of the deadly Minneapolis immigration operation. NBC News’ Julia Ainsley details some heated moments from the hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

North Carolina’s ‘most powerful’ state senator trails GOP challenger by two votes

North Carolina state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, who delivered a Republican-led redistricting effort, is down by two votes in his re-election campaign, according to unofficial state election results.

Berger faced Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, whom Trump called to offer a job so he wouldn’t challenge Berger in the 26th Senate District.

Former Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, said on NBC News NOW that Berger, the “most powerful” state senator, is an example for top legislators who lose touch with their districts.

“It’s probably an example even going back to a Mitch McConnell or some previous speakers when you spend too much time in the State Capitol gaining power, sometimes people back home go, ‘You forgot us back home here in Rockingham County,’” McCrory said.

Primary takeaways: Voters itching for change are eager to put their stamp on Washington

Yesterday’s primaries across three states saw incumbents wobble, general election matchups form and runoffs extend intraparty fights.

They also highlighted broader lessons about the state of national politics, from Trump’s enduring power over the GOP to the disagreements over ideology, generation and strategy that continue to divide Democrats.

In Texas, where the Republican Senate primary is heading to a May 26 runoff between four-term Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, the question of whether Trump will finally take a side is swirling over the race after other races demonstrated his power.

Meanwhile, state Rep. James Talarico won the Democratic primary over Rep. Jasmine Crockett, NBC News projected early this morning. And a night of close calls and losses for House incumbents in both parties was full of nail-biting signs for other establishment figures preparing to go before voters later this year.