12:30 Report

Today is the 60-day deadline for the Iran war, right?

by Cate Martel - 05/01/26 12:40 PM ET

Link copied

by Cate Martel - 05/01/26 12:40 PM ET

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

- - - ✈️ Plus: The record-long DHS shutdown ends!

{beacon}

Happy Friday and happy May! Sunsets in the Washington area will happen at 8 p.m. or later now through late August. *Do a little happy dance* Oh, and “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is now in theaters!

In today’s issue:

- Iran war’s 60-day limit reached

- White House finds loophole around Iran deadline

- Record DHS shutdown ends

- Possible Epstein suicide note

First direct flight to Venezuela in 7 years

- Trump expands retirement benefits

- Queen Camilla’s thoughtful Winnie the Pooh gift

Programming note: The Hill’s 12:30 Report will not publish next Monday-Wednesday. We will be back on Thursday, May 7, with everything that you missed! 🌴 If you see any headlines or stories you think I should include next week, please drop me a line!

📅 IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Today is the 60-day deadline for the Iran war, right?

Today marks 60 days since Congress was officially notified of the military operation in Iran.

Why the 60-day mark is meaningful: The War Powers Act allows the president to deploy U.S. forces into a conflict for up to 60 days without congressional approval. Once that 60-day limit passes, the White House technically needs authorization to continue its operation.

But the White House doesn’t see it this way: The White House argues the military operation is already over because of the temporary truce that began on April 7. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is now echoing that claim, arguing the truce “means the 60-day clock pauses or stops.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is also using that reasoning: Johnson told NBC News on Thursday that the U.S. is “not at war” with Iran.

In Johnson’s words: “I don’t think we have an active, kinetic military bombing, firing or anything like that. Right now, we are trying to broker a peace. I would be very reluctant to get in front of the administration in the midst of these very sensitive negotiations, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.”

However, not all Republicans are on board with this: Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Rand Paul (Ky.) voted with Democrats on Thursday to force the Trump administration to remove troops from Iran. That vote still failed, though.

For what it’s worth, Trump says he already won: “We’ve already won, but I want to win by a bigger margin,” Trump told Newsmax about the war in Iran.

💬 Follow today’s live blog

➤ DO AMERICANS THINK THE IRAN WAR WAS A MISTAKE?:

Yes, a majority of Americans think it was a mistake to attack Iran. Only 36 percent of Americans think the U.S.’s military action in Iran was the “right decision,” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey.

The pollsters noted these numbers are similar to the public approval of the wars in Iraq and Vietnam.

➤ NEW TRUMP TARIFFS ON EU VEHICLES:

President Trump just announced he is increasing tariffs on the European Union. Beginning next week, tariffs on cars and trucks coming into the U.S. from the E.U. will increase to 25 percent.

Why?: Trump accused the EU of not complying with its trade deal with the U.S.

 🚦ON CAPITOL HILL

✅Check, ✅check, ✅check — now, off to their constituents:

Congress has finished its work. President Trump signed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill after the House finally agreed to pass it, ending the record-setting shutdown.

The U.S.’s warrantless spy powers have been reauthorized for 45 days, punting last night’s midnight deadline.

And the House passed the farm bill after a week of GOP infighting. (It still has a long way to go in the Senate, but let’s not ruin this string of good news.)

The controversy on the way out of town: The House and Senate have now both left for recess. TMZ’s new DC coverage caused quite the stir over Congress leaving town. One House Republican snapped at TMZ over its depiction of recess. 🎥 Watch the argument here. And this TMZ post has D.C. folks spun up.

^ Keep in mind that lawmakers have offices in their home districts and split their time between Washington and home to meet with and help constituents.

 ✍️ OTHER NEWS:

Getting traction — did Jeffrey Epstein leave a suicide note?:

The New York Times reports that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein may have left a suicide note in his jail cell. An inmate says he found the note, but it has now been locked in a courthouse for nearly seven years.

Keep in mind: A Justice Department spokesperson says the agency has not seen the note. And neither has