Here’s your morning news rundown—but first, a quick thank you. If you believe in this kind of journalism, please consider subscribing or becoming a supporter.
Now, let’s get into the news.
The Trump administration now claims it has no legal obligation to assist Kilmar Abrego Garcia in returning to the United States, despite his contested deportation. Officials also say the details of the administration’s arrangement with El Salvador—under which U.S. deportees are being held—are classified and will not be made public.
Donald Trump is calling on FCC Chair Brendan Carr to revoke CBS’s broadcast license following a 60 Minutes episode critical of him. “They should lose their license!” Trump wrote, adding that he hopes the Federal Communications Commission will “impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial.”
A person is now in custody in connection with the fire set at Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence in Harrisburg. According to court documents, the suspect—identified as Cody Balmer—scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, and started a fire. Authorities say Balmer had planned to attack Governor Shapiro with a hammer if he encountered him. He will be charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release federal funding that had been frozen for the state of Maine. The funds, allocated through the Department of Agriculture, were withheld after President Trump clashed with Governor Janet Mills over her refusal to enforce his executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in school sports.
The U.S. dollar has fallen to new lows for the year, according to Bloomberg, as market uncertainty deepens amid the ongoing tariff standoff driven by President Trump’s trade war. The prolonged tensions have rattled global investors and continue to weigh heavily on currency markets.
ACLU attorneys have filed a new lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act—this time aiming to block the deportation of detainees to Colorado. The suit argues that several individuals have been wrongly identified as members of Tren de Aragua and are being targeted for summary removal without due process.
The Trump administration is urging a federal appeals court to block an order requiring the Associated Press to be reinstated into the Oval Office press pool rotation—unless the White House can provide a nondiscriminatory reason for excluding them. The order, issued by Trump-appointed Judge Trevor McFadden, officially took effect today.
Five former prosecutors who worked on January 6 cases are joining a group of prominent Trump critics in calling on the D.C. Bar’s disciplinary office to investigate U.S. Attorney Ed Martin. The group—Matt Beckwith, Sean Brennan, Isia Jasiewicz, Brendan Ballou, and Mike Romano—has raised concerns about Martin’s conduct and is formally requesting a review.
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio is warning that President Donald Trump’s tariff war has pushed the U.S. economy dangerously close to a recession—or possibly something even more severe. “Right now, we are at a decision-making point and very close to a recession,” Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “And I’m worried about something worse than a recession if this isn’t handled well.”
According to Billboard, 60% of general admission ticket buyers for Coachella used Buy-Now-Pay-Later services to finance their tickets—highlighting how even festival attendance is increasingly reliant on installment payments.
The FAA announced that the helicopter tour company involved in the recent sightseeing crash that killed six people is shutting down operations effective immediately.
Mississippi has issued a new directive ordering the deletion of race and gender-related databases from state libraries. The move has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups who warn it could limit access to vital academic and historical resources.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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