Here’s your evening news rundown—but first, a quick thank you. I can only do this with your support. I have no corporate backers. Just you. I promise to get back to doing more paid subscriber lives soon, and plan on doing my next one on Sunday!
Now, let’s get into the news.
A group of 12 states is taking legal action against Donald Trump in the U.S. Court of International Trade, aiming to stop his sweeping tariffs. The states argue that he unlawfully raised taxes on Americans and overstepped constitutional limits. The states involved are Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced that the state will review and potentially divest from investments in companies linked to El Salvador. This decision comes in response to El Salvador's continued detention of Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident who was deported without due process, despite a U.S. Supreme Court order for his return.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego García—a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador—was forced into hiding with her children after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) publicly shared a court document revealing their home address. The unredacted protective order, posted on DHS's official social media account, exposed their location to millions, prompting safety concerns amid a politically charged environment.
Trump just announced that the top 220 holders of his $TRUMP meme coin will be invited to a dinner with him on May 22. Since he and his inner circle control the coin, it’s essentially an incentive for people to drive up its value in hopes of scoring a seat at the table.
According to a leaked document, the Trump administration is cutting funding for a suicide prevention hotline that serves LGBTQ+ youth. Since 2022, the hotline has handled 1.3 million calls and texts from individuals in crisis.
Michelle Obama explained her decision to skip Trump’s inauguration by saying she was focused on staying true to herself. She said it took everything she had to resist doing what was expected or seen as the ‘right’ thing, and instead chose what felt right for her personally.
Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly had a loud argument at the White House last week, clashing over the IRS in front of President Trump and other officials.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate, has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, concluding a political career spanning over 40 years. Durbin, 80, first entered Congress in 1982 and has served five Senate terms since succeeding Paul Simon in 1996.
Senators Adam Schiff and Cory Booker, along with Representative Jamie Raskin, are pressing the Justice Department for answers after reports surfaced that it tried to stop former pardon attorney Liz Oyer from testifying at an oversight hearing this month. They called the move a “thuggish act,” saying it ramps up the administration’s pattern of targeting career DOJ officials and appears to be a clear attempt to intimidate and silence former employees.
Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the college accreditation system, aiming to increase federal oversight of which schools can access student loan and grant funding. The order directs the Education Secretary to hold accreditors accountable—potentially denying, suspending, or terminating them for poor performance or civil rights violations.
Trump plans to exempt automakers from certain U.S. tariffs, according to the Financial Times.
Defense Secretary Hegseth has reportedly ordered a makeup studio to be set up at the Pentagon, according to CBS.
Trump’s approval rating among Hispanic Americans has dropped to 27%, with 72% expressing disapproval, according to Pew Research.
According to Pew Research, 40% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 59% disapprove.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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