Today, I’m away from my family, and on days like this, it’s especially tough being in a different state from both my own family and my wife’s. No Mother’s Day brunch for me this year — but the silver lining is that I have more time to bring you today’s news.
To everyone who’s stood with me over the past 72 hours as the MAGA attacks have ramped up: thank you. Your support and your subscriptions mean more than I can say. I’m truly grateful.
Now, let’s get to the news:
President Trump is expected to accept a high-end private jet from Qatar, which will serve as Air Force One during his presidency. The plan is for the jet to be handed over to the Trump Presidential Library by January 2029.
This could be the most valuable gift ever received from a foreign country. The Department of Justice has determined that it’s legal and does not constitute bribery or violate the Emoluments Clause. According to ABC News sources, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s chief White House lawyer, David Warrington, agreed the gift is allowed under the condition that the jet is transferred to the Trump library before his term ends.
In his first Sunday address as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV delivered a heartfelt plea for peace, urging an end to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to an estimated 100,000 attendees, he echoed his predecessor Pope Francis by declaring, "Never again war!"
Since taking office in January, Donald Trump has attended only 12 President’s Daily Briefings (PDBs), a significant decline from the twice-weekly average during his first term and that of his predecessor, Joe Biden. In the initial months of his second term, Trump received just two in-person intelligence updates per month, transitioning to a weekly schedule in April.
Kip’s Toyland, a beloved Los Angeles toy store that's been around for nearly 80 years, is now facing serious challenges due to new 145% tariffs on most Chinese imports. Since around 80% of U.S. toys come from China, owner Don Kipper says suppliers are warning of sharp price hikes and urging bulk orders before the tariffs take effect.
In a development not seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, West Coast port officials reported Friday that no cargo vessels had departed from China bound for the two major ports in Southern California—Los Angeles and Long Beach—over the previous 12 hours, according to CNN. Based on port authorities, this sudden drop to zero shipments marks a jarring disruption in U.S.-China trade that could have lasting economic consequences.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jim Banks praised the Justice Department’s investigation into possible price manipulation by major egg producers and urged a deeper probe. In a letter to DOJ official Gail Slater, they raised concerns that recent surges in egg prices may be due to anti-competitive practices rather than just avian flu outbreaks.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is starting to prepare for a potential reelection campaign in 2026, seeking a sixth term in the Senate. She first won her seat in 1996, and CNN reports she’s now laying the foundation for another run.
Trump announced that a "total reset" is being discussed in ongoing tariff negotiations between the U.S. and China, adding that "GREAT PROGRESS" is being made.
A recently brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan has been destabilized by overnight clashes along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region. Despite an agreement to halt all military actions on land, air, and sea, both nations accused each other of violations shortly after the truce was established. Reports from residents indicated intense shelling and drone sightings, leading to civilian panic, particularly in areas like Poonch in Indian-controlled Kashmir and Neelum Valley in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
Donald Trump has dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, just days after her office released a report raising concerns about the use of copyrighted materials in training artificial intelligence models. The report questioned the necessity and impact of extensive data use in AI development, highlighting potential issues with mass data collection
The Trump administration has dismissed three Democratic commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, effectively stalling the agency’s operations as the White House moves to dismantle it.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish PhD student at Tufts, spoke out after a judge ordered her release following her arrest by federal agents. She praised the U.S. as “the greatest democracy in the world” and expressed trust in the American justice system.
See you in the evening.
— Aaron
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