Politics: 5 stories from this week

April 4, 2026

Here are some stories you might have missed this week, curated by Times editors and personalized for you.

A red piece of farm equipment in a brown field. A green water tower with the name Castlewood is in the background.

Ben Brewer for The New York Times

In South Dakota, Neighbors Feel Sorry for Kristi Noem’s Husband

In the tiny town of Castlewood, S.D., where everyone knows the Noems, the prevailing sense was that people can’t help but feel bad for Bryon Noem after a tabloid photo leak.

By Shawn McCreesh

Doug Mills/The New York Times

Pam Bondi Wanted a Graceful Exit. But Trump Wanted Her Gone.

Pam Bondi had a feeling her days as attorney general were numbered. But she didn’t expect President Trump to drop the curtain quite so soon.

By Glenn Thrush and Tyler Pager

The pope, wearing an ornate robe, is surrounded by men in religious garments in front of a heavily decorated background.

Vincenzo Livieri/Reuters

Hegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees.

In sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s calls for Christian prayers for the war effort, Pope Leo XIV says military domination is “entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

By Motoko Rich

Doug Mills/The New York Times

What to Know About the ‘Massive’ Military Bunker Beneath Trump’s Ballroom

President Trump has been talking about the emergency facility beneath what was once the East Wing, details of which are usually kept secret, as he tries to justify his renovation.

By Luke Broadwater

President Trump stands in a doorway on Air Force One while speaking to reporters gathered in the foreground.

Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

Rival Nations Seize On Choke Points to Counter Trump

From Iran to China, President Trump’s global aggression has encouraged other countries to search for new ways to pressure the U.S. economy.

By Ana Swanson

In South Dakota, Neighbors Feel Sorry for Kristi Noem’s Husband

Pam Bondi Wanted a Graceful Exit. But Trump Wanted Her Gone.

Hegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees.

What to Know About the ‘Massive’ Military Bunker Beneath Trump’s Ballroom

Rival Nations Seize On Choke Points to Counter Trump

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