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President Donald Trump's success in unseating a Republican congressman from Kentucky who had bucked him demonstrated his dominance in steering the GOP where he wants the party to go.

Yetpolls showthe president has been leading Republicans into politically perilous territory with the broader electorate, and his demands of absolute loyalty could put GOP lawmakers in a bind as the midterm election approaches with many of the president’s policies proving unpopular.

"This doesn’t play well with swing voters. Most want an independent voice in Congress," retiring Nebraska GOP Congressman Don Bacon told USA TODAY of Trump’s involvement inknocking out Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie."One can have a totally loyal minority or a majority. I prefer a majority."

Trump's sway with his MAGA base, which has made him such a force in GOP primaries,isn't translating to other key voting groupsand hisapproval ratings have suffered, threating to drag down other Republicans even as he pushes them to get behind him.

Trump's Republican targets fall

Trump targeted Massie for defeat after the lawmakervoted againstthe president’s signature tax cut legislation last year andpushed to releasethe government’s files on Jeffrey Epstein. Trump-backed candidate EdGallrein defeated Massieby 10 percentage points in themost expensivecongressional primary in U.S. history.

The president was deeply involved in the contest,repeatedly slammingMassie in social media posts and public comments leading up the May 19 primary election. Trump touted his primary endorsement record the next day,telling reporters"we won everything."

Massie’s ouster is the latest example of Trump’s long history of purging the party of those he clashes with, such as former Rep. Liz Cheney and former first-term Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Trump’s closest allies,resigned this yearafter splitting with him over the Epstein files.

Trump has been active in GOP primaries during the 2026 campaign cycle, helpingunseat five Republican state senatorsin Indiana who opposed him on redistricting andU.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, who voted to impeach him. And he is seeking to knock off Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, accusing him of not being supportive enough andendorsing Cornyn's primary opponent, Ken Paxton, who is more aligned with the MAGA base.

Some senators disgruntled about Trump's primary involvement

Trump's efforts have upset some Republicans.

"There are a lot of folks in our conference who are disappointed," Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, said after Trump’s endorsement of Paxton.

GOP Senate leadership backed Cornyn, arguing he has a better chance of winning the general election.

The president downplayed GOP concerns about Paxton, telling reporters May 20 that Republican senators will be "alright with it" because "they want to win" and "I know how to win." But the Paxton endorsement is adding tocriticism within his own partythat Trump is hurting his chances of maintaining a GOP congressional majority by his actions in the primaries.

"It weakens the GOP in the long run" and for November, Bacon said.

The pressure Trump is exerting on Republican lawmakers to fall in line puts them in a difficult position when his policies are unpopular, said Bacon, adding, "That’s how we become the minority."

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Mark Bednar, a Republican strategist and former House leadership aide, said Trump’s push to enforce party unity could help the GOP as the election approaches, arguing the "muscle" Trump applied to the primaries will help "build a cohesive coalition."

Bednar said that Republicans need to speak with "one voice" heading into the election.

"An important step to getting to that point is kind of clearing the static and the cobwebs of internal disagreement," he said, arguing Republicans who clash with Trump are a distraction.

GOP primary winners need more votes in November

Republicans face a difficult election cycle. They control Congress and the White House, and the party in power typically is at a disadvantage in the midterms. Trump’s low polling numbers also could be a drag on the party.

Massiesuggested in his concession speechthat the president is not focused on the right issues, highlighting his push to build a White House ballroom.

"While gas is almost $5 and diesel's almost $6 they're talking about this big ballroom they're going to build and it looks like the Roman Empire, architecture from the Roman Empire," Massie said. "I see a few analogies there. And people are just trying to make ends meet."

The president’s approval rating has been dropping amid the Iran war, with just 40% of the overall electorate happy with his job performance, according to theReal Clear Politics polling average. Recentsurveysshow a majority of voters disapprove of his handling of the economy, cost of living and Iran.

The war has driven up gas prices, which are now at $4.55 for a gallon regular nationwide on average,according to AAA.

Republicans still strongly back Trump, with 83% approving of his job performance in a recent New York Times/Siena poll. But 91% of Democrats and 70% of independents disapprove of the president,according to the survey.

Former Michigan GOP Congressman Fred Upton, who voted to impeach Trump and later endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, told USA TODAY in a text message that GOP candidates in swing districts "for sure are very wary of the 2-edged sword with gas prices headed above $5 and the belief particularly among independents that the country is headed in the wrong direction."

Yet lawmakers who try and distance themselves from Trump are likely to face his wrath, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

"They’re stuck. There’s nothing they can say, nothing. Whatever Trump says is law," Sabato said.

The president is "insisting that they ford the stream" in backing him unconditionally, he added, but it could turn into "an onrushing river that sweeps them away."

Contributing: Zachary Schermele

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Donald Trump ousts Thomas Massie. Could strategy backfire in midterms?

Three sisters whose bodies were recovered from the ocean off Brighton beach in England have been named

NEED TO KNOW

• Police formally identified the women as Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, one week after their bodies were found at around 5:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 13

• "No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives," the sisters' father, Joseph, said in a tribute

Three womenwhose bodies were recovered from the oceannear the coastal city of Brighton, England, have been named.

On Wednesday, May 20,Sussex Police confirmedthat the women had been formally identified as sisters Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, one week after their bodies were found at around 5:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 13.

Emergency services had been called to the beach near Black Rock parking lot off Madeira Drive in Brighton on the day the bodies were recovered, police said.

“Jane, Christina and Rebecca were sisters, from the Uxbridge area of London. Their next of kin are being supported by specialist officers during this incredibly difficult time,” authorities added in a release.

Police said that the investigation into the siblings' deaths is ongoing, but confirmed that “at this time, there is no evidence to suggest third-party involvement or criminality.”

Authorities added that “specialist detectives are working hard to gather the full facts and circumstances of their deaths.”

“This has included the review of hundreds of hours of CCTV, enquiries at properties and businesses around the beach area to try and trace the women's last movements and extensive engagement with our partners in Brighton and London,” police continued, per the release.

Police are urging anybody who might have information regarding the case to come forward.

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The sisters' father, Joseph, paid tribute to his daughters in a heartbreaking statement shared by Sussex Police.

“Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters — Jane, Christina, and Becky — whose lives ended so tragically far too soon,” he said, adding that “no words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives.”

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Joseph continued, “Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love.”

He said that each of the three women was “unique and precious” in their “own special way.”

“Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort, and your presence made life more meaningful. Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever,” Joseph shared.

Mentioning each of his daughters individually, Joseph then said, “Jane, your strength and loving spirit will never be forgotten. Christina, your kindness and beautiful heart touched so many lives. Becky, your warmth and joyful soul brought happiness wherever you went.”

“You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed. The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal. There are days when the grief feels unbearable, yet I hold tightly to the memories we shared — the laughter, the conversations, the love, and the bond that death can never take away,” he continued.

“Though you are no longer here beside us, your spirits live on in our hearts every day. Love like yours never dies. You will forever remain a part of our lives, our prayers, and our memories,” Joseph concluded. “Rest peacefully, my precious daughters — Jane, Christina, and Becky. You may be gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever remembered.”

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove, said that “the thoughts of everyone at Sussex Police” were with the family following the "devastating" loss.

Hays said, “I know this incident has had a profound impact on the local community in Brighton, and across the country and I'd like to reassure the public we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to understand exactly what led to the tragic events of that Wednesday morning.”

“This investigation will continue in earnest, with Jane, Christina and Rebecca's family at its [center]. I would ask that they are given the privacy to come to terms with this terrible tragedy,” he concluded.

Sussex Police had no further statements to add when contacted by PEOPLE.

Read the original article onPeople

Jason Kidd’s run with the Dallas Mavericks is over.

The Mavericks announced on Tuesday night that they have mutually parted ways with their head coach after five seasons.

Kidd has spent the past five seasons with the Mavericks. He took over ahead of the 2021-22 campaign after longtime head coach Rick Carlisle left for the Indiana Pacers. Kidd oversaw the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals in 2024 alongside star Luka Dončić, but the team has struggled ever since the shocking deal that sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

In total, Kidd compiled a 205-205 record with the Mavericks, which marked his third head coaching job in the league. Kidd, a Hall of Famer who played for the Mavericks himself and was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the team in the 1994 NBA Draft, previously held short stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, too.

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Kidd, who signed a contract extension last summer, had four years and more than $40 million left on his deal with the Mavericks.

“Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals,” team president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “We are thankful for Jason’s leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. In my short time here, I’ve developed an enormous amount of respect for what he has built. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family.”

The Mavericks have not been to the playoff since the Dončić trade went down, and are coming off a 26-56 record last season — which marked their worst season since the 2017-18 campaign. The Mavericks selected Duke star Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick last summer, and have the No. 9 overall pick in the draft next month. Flagg and whoever the Mavericks select will get to join star guard Kyrie Irving on the court next season, too. Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL.

The split with Kidd is just the latest in what’s been a big reset for the Mavericks. The organization hired MasaiUjiri, a former Toronto Raptors executive,as their next president earlier this month. Ujiri is taking over for Nico Harrison, who was fired after extreme backlash from fans following the Dončić trade. Ujiri and the Mavericks then hired Mike Schmitz to take over as the team’s general manager.

Ujiri and Schmitz will now start looking for a new head coach to replace Kidd next season. Those three will then be tasked with reviving the franchise.

“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,” Ujiri said. “We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.”

NFL owners approved on Tuesday a maximum of 10 league-run international regular-season games per season, an increase from eight annually, starting as soon as 2027.

"There's a path to 10 (international games) in 2027," executive vice president of club business, international and league events Peter O'Reilly said from the NFL's spring league meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The owners also voted to take away a team's ability to protect two home games from international play. That should make it less complicated to construct the schedule.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the goal is 16 international games, which could lead to at least one such game per team in a given season. The league can play as many as 10 games outside the United States, according to the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.

The 2026 schedule has a record nine international games -- eight run by the league and one in London after an agreement between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars have consecutive games in London, including one as the home team, while EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville is undergoing renovations.

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O'Reilly said that the exception made for nine games this season "shows the momentum and I think the support for the model we have" and he could see a future with 16 international games in one season.

The 2026 slate features games across four continents, including first-time host countries France (Paris) and Australia (Melbourne). Rio de Janeiro is a host city for the first time, while other games will be in London (three), Munich (one), Madrid (one) and Mexico City (one).

O'Reilly said that Asian markets such as Japan could be future sites, but probably not as soon as 2027.

"Our strategy is not one and done," O'Reilly said. "Our goal is to go back to those markets that we're establishing."

A Super Bowl at an international site is not a priority at this time, he said.

--Field Level Media

NEW YORK (AP) — Call him the Trader in Chief.

Recent presidents have stayed away from trading stocks in companies whose fortunes they could lift or scuttle with the stroke of a pen, but Donald Trump smashed that precedent in the first quarter of this year with more than 3,600 buy and sell orders, many of them involving companies whose profitshave been directly impacted by his decisionsas head of the government.

Among the Trump trades in a recent report filed with a federal ethics agency was as much as $6 million inNvidia, whose advanced chipsTrump approved for sale to Chinalast year. His portfolio also scooped up stocks of several U.S. military suppliers impacted by the Iran war, including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman.

“If he were defense secretary, he would be committing a crime,” said Richard Painter, the chief White House ethics adviser in the George W. Bush administration and a big critic of congressional trading, too. “Technically he can do this, but it is a fundamental breach of trust.”

U.S. law bans federal employees from holding financial assets that could be impacted by their policy work, but there is a carveout for the president.

A spokesperson for the Trump family business said the president's portfolio is handled by third parties that have “sole and exclusive” authority to make investment decisions.

“Neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization plays any role in selecting, directing, or approving specific investments,” spokesperson Kimberly Benza said in a statement. “They receive no advance notice of trading activity and provide no input regarding investment decisions or portfolio management."

Ethics officials have pointed out that just the knowledge of what's in his portfolio is problematic because it could impact the president's decisions on everything from health policy to government contracting to war.

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The stock trading report filed with the federal Office of Government Ethics runs more than 100 pages, and shows possibly more than $100 million changing hands over three months as stocks were bought and sold at rapid fire pace — an average of 50 trades every day markets were open.

The report shows more purchases than sales, but the precise ratio is impossible to determine because exact figures for each transaction are not given, just ranges.

Trump hastraditionally had very little invested in the stock marketrelative to his net worth, but that could be changing along with his ballooning wealth, which has included a big cash infusion.

Since he became president again, the Trump Organization has taken in tens of millions inupfront fees from overseas developersthat want to put his name on resorts and hundreds of millions from cryptocurrency sales, mostly anonymous, making it impossible to know if the purchaser were trying to curry favor with the president.

All recent U.S. presidents have dumped their stocks before assuming office, put their money in broadly diversified funds or set up a “blind” trust so they couldn’t even know what they owned.

The blind trust route was taken by George H.W. Bush, then Bill Clinton. George W. Bush, the son, dumped his stocks. Barack Obama was in broadly diversified mutual funds. Joe Biden didn't trade.

In addition to Nvidia, the president's portfolio includes shares inApple, Boeing and Tesla. The CEOs of all four companies accompanied Trump on his visit to China recently.

The portfolio also includes Intel, the chipmaker in which the government tooka 10% stakelast year.

Among many others, the portfolio of the fast-food loving president recently added stock in Shake Shack, Papa John's and Cheesecake Factory.