Over the weekend, peace talks with Iran stalled and President Trump threatened a naval blockade of a key waterway; sexual assault allegations threatened California Rep. Eric Swalwell's gubernatorial bid; and the world looked on as Hungary held high-profile elections. Here's more.
Viktor Orbán concedes after defeat
After 16 years as prime minister, Viktor Orbán was defeated in the polls by Tisza party leader Péter Magyar. Magyar ran on a campaign of anti-corruption and also focused on economic issues. Some Hungarian news outlets are predicting Tisza could win as much as two-thirds of the seats in parliament.
Sunday’s election had record turnout, with the highest number of voters in Hungary’s post-Communist history — nearly 78 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.
“I congratulated the victorious party,” Orbán told supporters in Budapest. “We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from the opposition as well.”
European leaders reacted with relief. “Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media. "Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary".
“Hungary has spoken,” said Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, who looked forward to working with Péter Magyar, "toward a strong, secure, and above all united Europe."
Orbán's loss is a blow to the Trump administration, which publicly backed the far-right Fidesz leader. Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest and promised to "help" Orbán win, and during a visit in February Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the autocrat, "Trump is deeply committed to your success."
Iran peace talks fail; Trump says U.S. will blockade the Strait of Hormuz
Peace talks between the U.S. and Iran ended without a resolution over the weekend. Vice President JD Vance led the negotiations, which took place in Pakistan and marked the first time the U.S. had a face-to-face meeting with Iran in nearly 50 years. The discussions failed to produce a deal to completely open the Strait of Hormuz and put an end to the war — which Iranian state media blamed on "excessive demands by America." Vance, meanwhile, said the U.S. was "negotiating in good faith" and that he left Pakistan with "our best and final offer." Points of disagreement remain, though Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told CBS's "Face the Nation," “The talks are not dead. There’s a stalemate."
In response, on Sunday, President Trump declared on Truth Social that the U.S. navy would blockade the Strait of Hormuz. He said it would be a "complete blockade" with no exceptions for allies. He also said he's "instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran" and said they would begin destroying mines laid by Iran.
A naval blockade is considered an act of war, the New York Times notes.
Eric Swalwell accused of sexual asault
Several prominent Democratic lawmakers have pulled their endorsements of California Rep. Eric Swalwell after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct in explosive reports published by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.
One woman who worked for Swalwell for close to two years told the San Francisco Chronicle that the congressman sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent — once in 2019 and again in 2024. The woman, who started working for Swalwell when she was 21, told the Chronicle that the congressman sent her images of his genitals on Snapchat. He later tried to kiss her one night when she drove him home from an event. Another time, he pulled out his genitals and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She told CNN she briefly complied before stopping because she felt uncomfortable.
CNN published allegations from four women, who alleged that Swalwell pursued them when they were "in their twenties and finding their footing professionally." They felt "special" and even "starstruck." They allege the lawmaker sent them increasingly explicit messages, which they responded to "in part because of his position of power."
Swalwell has vehemently denied the accusations. “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” he wrote in a statement to the SF Chronicle. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
The day before the story went live, an attorney for Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter to one of his accusers, claiming she made “false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounter" and threatening to sue her if she didn't retract her allegations.
On Saturday, the Manhattan district attorney's office announced it is opening an investigation, since one of the alleged assaults took place in New York City.
Since the allegations broke, a number of Democratic lawmakers have rescinded their endorsements of Swalwell — who was previously viewed as a frontrunner in California's gubernatorial race. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former speaker Nancy Pelosi have called on him to end his campaign for governor, and California Sen. Adam Schiff and the California Teachers Association have pulled their endorsements.
Some lawmakers have gone a step further and said they would support removing Swalwell from Congress. On Saturday, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican, said she will file a motion to expel him. California Rep. Ro Khanna called for a House ethics investigation and criminal probe into the claims against Swalwell. "Anyone who abuses young girls and staffers should not be in the United States Congress," he said. "And many Democrats have said that not only should he resign, there needs to be an investigation in law enforcement. You cannot do what he did. And I believe the survivors.”
Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat, told NBC's "Meet the Press" that she would vote to expel Swalwell if the measure were to come to the floor. At the same time, some lawmakers are calling to expel Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, who ended his re-election bid after news broke that he had an affair with a subordinate who later died by suicide. A second staffer has since come forward to NBC News, claiming Gonzales sent sexually explicit text messages to her when she was working for him. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican serving Florida, told "Meet the Press" that he would vote to expel both lawmakers, should motions to do so be brought to the floor: “As far as I’m concerned, both gentlemen need to go home.”
