Will a MAHA mutiny reshape the farm bill – and the midterm elections?

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the midterm elections, the "Make America Healthy Again" movement that was key toPresident Donald Trump's return to the White House is causing friction within the Republican Party.

The emerging political fracture is already jeopardizing a critical piece of legislation that farmers across the country are awaiting. And it could have larger consequences for the GOP's control of Congress.

The evolving dynamic was on full displayoutside the Supreme Court on April 27, when a group of activists protested a case about shielding pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits. The justices appeared divided over whether Bayer, the manufacturer of the weedkiller Roundup, should be protected from billions of dollars in potential liability. The Trump administration has backed Bayer in court, yielding pushback from notable MAHA figures.

Protestors gather outside the Supreme Court as the Justices hearing arguments in Monsanto Company v. Durnell, on April 27, 2026, in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court will decide whether to block thousands of lawsuits alleging Monsanto failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller could cause cancer.

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Protesters rally outside Supreme Court amid Monsanto weedkiller case

Read more:Supreme Court divided on Roundup cancer lawsuits

As activists rallied on the steps of the court, their debates mirrored ones that Republicans in Congress have been having for weeks on virtually the same issue. Rural lawmakers have been actively pushing to include a pro-pesticide provision in the upcoming farm bill. However, their more MAHA-oriented colleagues want no part of such an effort. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, even introduced an amendment to strip what she calls the "pesticide loophole" from the legislation.

"South Carolina farmers, families, and communities deserve better," sheposted on social media.

Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Chip Roy of Texas are among the other conservatives who are openly at odds with some of their other GOP colleagues. Luna said the farm bill "must be stopped."

"I think big ag needs to be body-checked," said Roy, who stressed the importance of warning labels for potential carcinogens and noted a cancer survivor himself. "That labeling issue is very real."

Several MAHA organizers told USA TODAY they've been discouraged with the state of their movement in a Republican-led Washington. Nora Kemmerer, a health care worker from northern Virginia who was donning a red MAHA hat, wouldn't commit to voting for GOP candidates in November.

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"We'll see what happens," she said. "I don't know how I'm voting as of right now . . . I'm frustrated."

MAHA vs. pesticide companies

It's not the first time an effort to shield pesticide companies from liability has quietly shown up in important legislation this year.

The same contentious provision drew outrage in January,when it nearly derailed a government funding bill. Ultimately, opposition from MAHA activists killed it – until a few months later, when it was included in the farm bill.

Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, the chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, has said new investment in American agriculture is overdue. During a congressional hearing on April 27, he insisted the controversial section of the bill wasn't a "liability shield."

"The language that we have basically addresses what our farmers need," he said, insisting that it struck the right balance between consumer protections and agricultural reforms.

Thompson's comments defending the provision prompted fierce criticism from across the aisle, including from Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts.

"Big companies want this desperately," McGovern said.

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:A MAHA mutiny could reshape the farm bill – and the midterm elections

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 28, 2026

Will a MAHA mutiny reshape the farm bill – and the midterm elections?

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the midterm elections, the "Make America Healthy Again" movement that was key toPresident Donald Trump...

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At least 14 dead and dozens injured after crash between two passenger trains in Indonesia

Rescuers finished removing victims from a damaged commuter train car on Tuesday, confirming the crash outsideIndonesia's capital killed 14 people.

The crash took place on Monday when a long-distance train crashed into the rear car of the stopped commuter train at the Bekasi Timur station outsideJakarta. The car was designated “women only”, a common accommodation to stop harassment.

A total of 84 injured people were taken to hospitals for treatment, Bobby Rasyidin, CEO of state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, said.

The bodies of the victims were taken to a hospital for further identification.

Rescue teams completed the evacuation of all victims from inside the wreckage about midmorning.

“There are no further casualties,” Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, said.

All 240 passengers on the Argo Bromo Anggrek long-distance train were safe, officials said.

An investigation into the crash was underway,Jakartapolice chief Asep Edi Suheri told reporters.

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Mr Rasyidin said another commuter train struck a stalled taxi on a crossing near the station and a rail system disruption was suspected.

"As for the chronology of events,” he added, “we are leaving it to the National Transportation Safety Committee to investigate the cause of tonight's train accident in greater detail.”

Local television footage and videos on social media showed passengers at the station panicking. First responders and residents tried to evacuate passengers from train cars, while dozens of people rushed to the station for news of family members.

The vice president for corporate communications of the railway company issued an apology to customers.

“At this time, all efforts are focused on evacuating passengers and crew, as well as assisting victims at the scene, with safety as the top priority,” Anne Purba said in a statement.

The official said commuter rail service in the area was disrupted.

Accidents are common on Indonesia’s aging railroad network. In January 2024, two trains collided inWest Javaprovince, killing at least four people,

In October 2013, a passenger train slammed into a minibus at an unguarded crossing inWest Java, killing 13 people.

A train from Jakarta, in 2010 ploughed into the rear of a train that was sitting at a station in Central Java province, killing 36.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 28, 2026

At least 14 dead and dozens injured after crash between two passenger trains in Indonesia

Rescuers finished removing victims from a damaged commuter train car on Tuesday, confirming the crash outsideIndonesia's capital ki...

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‘It ruined me’: Victims of ‘monster’ rapist who deliberately infected partners with HIV speak out

“All I can say is it ruined me. In that moment my life as I knew it was gone.”

Those were the words ofone victimas he described how a “dalliance” withAdam Hallhad left him facing homophobic abuse at work after he contractedHIV,forcing him to “rewrite” his life.

Hall was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years on Thursday after he was found guilty of deliberately infecting a string of sexual partners withHIVand raping some of his victims.

The 43-year-old, of Donvale Road, Washington, Tyne and Wear, was convicted in March of seven counts of causinggrievous bodily harmand five counts of rape following a three-and-a-half-month trial at the same court.

The men and boys he preyed upon were aged from their late 20s down to just 15 years old. The court heard how he would meet them in bars in theNewcastlearea or on the dating appGrindr, and had failed to disclose his HIV positive status to them.

His victims did not know he had passed on the virus until they were tested, and described the life-shattering consequences of Hall’s actions as they gave victim impact statements to the court.

One, who was aged just 15 when he was infected with HIV, described how he found out he had contracted the virus in a phone call from health professionals moments after he stepped off a school bus.

“I had just got off the school bus and was walking home, and my phone started ringing,” he said. “When I picked it up, it was the sexual health nurse. She explained my results had come back and I was HIV positive.

“Everything shattered, everything went numb. I was mortified, not only at the situation but at myself. You know, like how has this happened to me?

“I felt like I was sinking; it was really devastating. I was angry. I could not comprehend why someone could do this, to harm somebody. I just felt like I had my life stripped away.”

Another said he had been left a “broken man” by the way Hall had treated him. He described how he had been “vulnerable” after recently ending a relationship when he met the 43-year-old.

“The first time Hall raped me, I blamed myself,” he said, adding the diagnosis of HIV had felt like a “death sentence”. “The first medication I took made my hair fall out. I switched medications, but the side effects continued.”

He said day-to-day living with the virus was “exhausting”. “Hall left me a broken man, just a shell of who I was; he stripped me down for his own gain,” he continued. “I am a broken man. He changed me as a person, who I was to my core, and he did it all for his own gain.”

Another said he felt “so relieved” when Hall was convicted in March. “I just broke down there and then. I had been believed. It was so important that the jury believed me.

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“It felt like a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt so relieved.”

Others described the homophobic abuse and stigma they had been subject to since their diagnosis.

“When I was first diagnosed with HIV, I just couldn’t believe it. It was the last thing I ever expected, and I assumed it would never happen to me,” one said.

“All I can say is it ruined me. In that moment, my life as I knew it was gone.”

He added “everything started to change” for him after telling the management at his work of his diagnosis.

“I faced so much stigma at work, including homophobic comments,” he explained. “People I’d known for years calling me names, they all treated me differently because of the HIV.”

Health officials are now urging people across the country who have had sex with Adam Hall to get themselves checked for HIV.

Detectives say Hall travelled to see men he met on the dating app Grindr across the North East, including County Durham and Middlesbrough, as well as North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester and London.

Newcastle director of public health Professor Alice Wiseman urged people who have had sex with Hall to access confidential health services in their area.

She said: “The sooner that anyone is diagnosed, the better the treatment is. We want to eliminate HIV in the long term; the way to do that is for those who are infected to receive treatment as soon as possible.

“The earlier you are diagnosed, the sooner you can have anti-retroviral therapy, and if you are consistent with your treatment, you can reduce your viral load so you are no longer infectious to those around you.”

Daniel Fluskey, director of policy, National AIDS Trust, said: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Hall’s sentencing, first and foremost the people who are victims of Adam Hall’s crimes who have had deeply traumatic experiences.

“The intention of transmitting HIV to any other person is completely condemned, and this kind of prosecution is extremely rare.

“It is important to recognise that HIV has changed considerably over recent years – the vast majority of people living with HIV are on medication, cannot pass the virus on, and expect a normal life expectancy.

“As this case is discussed, we hope it helps improve the understanding of HIV and does not reinforce fear, stigma or discrimination. HIV is now a manageable condition and no one should fear taking an HIV test and accessing treatment.”

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 27, 2026

‘It ruined me’: Victims of ‘monster’ rapist who deliberately infected partners with HIV speak out

“All I can say is it ruined me. In that moment my life as I knew it was gone.” Those were the words ofone victimas he described ho...

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Jokic fined $50,000, Randle fined $35,000 for Nuggets-Wolves incident

NEW YORK (AP) — Denver's Nikola Jokic was fined $50,000 and Minnesota's Julius Randle was fined $35,000 for their roles inan altercationnear the end of Game 4 of the teams' playoff series, the NBA announced Sunday.

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Both will be eligible to play when the series resumes Monday with Game 5 in Denver.

The incident was evidently sparked when Minnesota'sJaden McDanielstook an uncontested layup with 2.1 seconds left and the Timberwolves already leading by 14 — a play the Nuggets took exception to, given how the game had been decided.

Jokic, the NBA said, “initiated the incident by confronting and shoving” McDaniels in reaction to that play. Randle, the league said, “escalated the incident by forcefully inserting himself into the scrum and shoving Nuggets guard-forward Bruce Brown.”

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Jokic and Randle were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.

“He scored when we’d stopped playing,” Jokic said. “You guys saw what happened.”

The teams are meeting in the postseason for the third time in the last four years. Minnesota leads the series 3-1, but will be without guard Donte DiVincenzo for the rest of the season because of a torn Achilles and will be without fellow guard Anthony Edwards indefinitely because of a knee injury. DiVincenzo and Edwards bothgot hurt on Saturday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 27, 2026

Jokic fined $50,000, Randle fined $35,000 for Nuggets-Wolves incident

NEW YORK (AP) — Denver's Nikola Jokic was fined $50,000 and Minnesota's Julius Randle was fined $35,000 for their roles inan al...

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Human remains found in search for missing Florida doctoral student

Man faces murder charges in case of USF doctoral students as police still search for 1 of them 02:38

Human remains have been found in the waterways of Tampa Bay, where authorities have been searching for the body of missing University of Florida doctoral student Nahida Bristy, Florida deputies announced late Sunday as new court documents allege thesuspect in the killingof Bristy andanother studentappeared to ask ChatGPT how to dispose of a body.

The remains were found in Pinellas County and have not yet been identified. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the remains were found "in the area of Interstate 275 and 4th Street North," which is at the St. Petersburg side of the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Bristy, 27, who is presumed dead, went missing last week along with 27-year-old Zamil Limon, whose remains were found Friday on a bridge near Tampa. Limon's roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, was arrested Saturday and is charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder with a weapon. He is being held without bond.

Court documents unveiled Sunday reveal Abugharbieh allegedly asked ChatGPT questions about how to dispose of a body in the days leading up to the disappearance of Brsity and Limon.

According to the documents, the suspect asked ChatGPT on April 13 what would happen if someone was "put in a black garbage bag and thrown in dumpster." The AI chatbot responded that it sounds dangerous, prompting Abugharbieh to allegedly ask, "How would they find out."

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Limon's body "was located within numerous black utility trash bags in advanced stages of decomposition" on the Howard Frankland Bridge, which spans part of Tampa Bay, according to the court documents. The documents also say prosecutors believe Bristy was "disposed of in a similar way."

On April 15, the day before the doctoral students went missing, Abugharbie allegedly asked ChatGPT, "Can a VIN number on a car be changed?" and, "Can you keep a gun at home with out a license," the documents said.

Then, just after midnight on April 17, the documents say Abugharbie asked if cars are "checked at the Hillsborough River state park," a state park located just to the northeast of Tampa. That same night, the suspect's phone pinged at the location on the bridge where Limon's remains were discovered — to the west of Tampa — the court documents allege.

An autopsy by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office found that Limon's body had sustained numerous lacerations and stab wounds. The manner of death was ruled a homicide due to "multiple sharp force injuries," according to the court documents.

Abugharbie also had numerous lacerations on his body, including his left and right legs, the court documents state.

The court documents say detectives used an "enhancement agent" at the apartment Limon and Abugharbie shared and found "significant" blood patterns from the entry foyer, through the kitchen, into the hallway and in the suspect's bedroom. The blood in the bedroom was found in "two distinct patterns on the floor which appeared to have a relatively human-sized shape," the court documents state.

Abugharbie is being represented by a public defender. CBS News reached out for comment on Saturday after his arraignment, but has not heard back. He is due back in court on Tuesday.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 27, 2026

Human remains found in search for missing Florida doctoral student

Man faces murder charges in case of USF doctoral students as police still search for 1 of them 02:38 Human remains have been foun...

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