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Now, let’s get into the news.
Pope Francis, the first non-European pope in almost 1,300 years, has passed away at the age of 88, according to the Vatican. His death, announced just a day after he made a public appearance, came as a surprise to many, despite his less active presence during Sunday's event.
The death of Pope Francis has marked the beginning of a mourning period in the Vatican and the start of the centuries-old process of selecting a new pope. The "Papal Interregnum" has begun, with cardinals determining the timeline for the funeral and conclave, a process steeped in tradition but updated for modern times.
Pope Francis' body will be placed in a coffin at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) on Monday, as announced by the Vatican. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, will oversee the certification of the pope's death and the placement of his body in the coffin.
The day before his passing, Pope Francis met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the last world leader he saw. Their brief, unannounced meeting took place at the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where the pope had lived since 2013.
Former President Joe Biden expressed his sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, calling him "the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love." In his statement, Biden remembered the pope as one of the most significant leaders of our time, adding that he was honored to have known him.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death, sharing a brief message on social media: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"
Four House Democrats are traveling to El Salvador to visit the infamous CECOT prison and highlight the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant wrongfully deported. Reps. Robert Garcia, Maxwell Frost, Maxine Dexter, and Yassamin Ansari will meet with U.S. Embassy officials and receive briefings, advocating for Abrego Garcia’s release but with no plans to meet him directly.
The Pentagon is in "total chaos," with Pete Hegseth unlikely to stay in his role, according to the department's former top spokesperson. The spokesperson described a scene of dysfunction, backstabbing, and constant missteps at the highest levels, stating, "The building is in disarray under Hegseth's leadership."
The White House has stated that Trump continues to support Hegseth.
Senate Democrats, including Leader Schumer, Sen. Warner, Sen. Slotkin, Sen. Murphy, Sen. Warren, Sen. Kelly, and Sen. Duckworth, are calling for Pete Hegseth to resign. They have expressed their concerns and urged for his departure.
The U.S. is exploring options to end the Ukraine war, which may include recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and preventing Kyiv from joining NATO.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly criticized leakers and the media after reports revealed he used a second Signal group chat to discuss classified military plans. Speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll with his family, Hegseth denounced the media for spreading lies, using anonymous sources and disgruntled former employees to damage reputations.
Two German teenagers flew to Hawaii, but immigration officials found it suspicious that they hadn't pre-booked a hotel, suspecting they might be attempting to work illegally. As a result, the girls were arrested and deported.
The US dollar reached a three-year low this morning.
See you in the evening (maybe).
— Aaron
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