It’s Trump vs. the Courts, and It Won’t End Well for Trump

But unless Mr. Trump immediately turns an about-face and beats a fast retreat, not only will he plunge the nation deeper into constitutional crisis, which he appears fully willing to do, he will also find himself increasingly hobbled even before his already vanishing political honeymoon is over.

The New York Times (Gift)

Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, And Others Have Security Clearances Revoked By Trump

The memo from the White House at President Trump’s behest read: “I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information: Antony Blinken, Jacob Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, Andrew Weissmann, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Cheney, Kamala Harris, Adam Kinzinger, Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman, Joseph R. Biden Jr., and any other member of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s family.”

This move is atypical for inaugurated Presidents, as it’s standard to allow for former presidents and top security officials to keep their security clearance from their position as a courtesy for their service. 

Black Enterprise

These six Democrats are showing the party how to resist Trump 2.0

Many on the left, myself included, are furious at Democratic Party officials for not aggressively contesting President Donald Trump. The decision by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (New York) last week to acquiesce to a Trump-backed budget bill was the latest in a series of capitulations by congressional Democrats. Even worse is California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has bizarrely decided this is the time for him to start a podcast with softball interviews of pro-Trump conservatives such as Stephen K. Bannon and Charlie Kirk.

The Washington Post (Gift)

‘Use your power’: Hakeem Jeffries at a crossroads as Democrats urgently search for strategy

“He’s gonna have to lead, or Chuck leads. This is his moment, so step up,” said one senior House Democrat who is close to Jeffries and was granted anonymity to speak candidly. “He’s always bowed to Schumer, and I think that’s gonna end.”

CNN

A Piece of Glass Thinner Than a Credit Card Could Solve America’s $25 Billion Energy Problem

New windows can insulate better than most walls, and some can even survive being hit with a two-by-four shot from a cannon

The Wall Street Journal

The Nazis Made A Horrifying Move In 1933. I’m Terrified Trump Is Now Doing The Exact Same Thing.

“Until recently, the question remained theoretical. But it’s not an exaggeration to say that President Trump is running plays straight out of Hitler’s playbook.”

Huffpost

Trump Wants Immigrants on U.S. Soil to Hand Over Social Media Accounts to Apply for Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, which oversees naturalization and immigration, earlier this month proposed requesting social media names from people in the U.S. who apply for asylum, permanent residency, or naturalization, expanding a policy that used to only target people living abroad applying for visas.

The proposal references Trump’s day-one executive order laying the groundwork for a new Muslim travel ban, which also asked federal agencies to identify immigrants in the U.S. who hold “hostile attitudes” toward the government.

The government is collecting comments on the proposed policy until May 5.

The Intercept

There Is a Way for Democrats to Stop Trump and Save America

“If this is a unique, ahistorical challenge to American order and American traditions,” said Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, “you need to respond with exceptional tactics and messaging.” Mr. Murphy has kept up a frenetic pace in the media, narrating the extremity of Mr. Trump’s actions in real time. That heightened awareness mixed with unusual action is a necessary response to extreme circumstances.

The New York Times (Gift)

Women And People Of Color Left Vulnerable As Trump Reverses 1965 Workforce Protections

On his second day in office, President Trump revoked EO 11246 as part of his broader executive order targeting DEI initiatives. The order had mandated federal contractors to identify and address employment barriers, particularly for women and people of color.

Black Enterprise

America Is Watching the Rise of a Dual State

For most people, the courts will continue to operate as usual—until they don’t.

The Atlantic

Exclusive: 20% of Americans support boycott of firms aligning themselves with Trump agenda

One in five Americans plan to turn their backs for good on companies that have shifted their policies to align with Donald Trump’s agenda, according to a new poll for the Guardian.

As high-profile brands including Amazon, Target and Tesla grapple with economic boycotts, research by the Harris Poll indicated the backlash could have a lasting impact.

The Guardian

For decades the Columbia River has benefited both the U.S. and Canada with little worry. Then Trump took office

President Donald Trump’s administration has now stopped negotiations to re-up a decades-old U.S.-Canada treaty that controls the flow of the Columbia River between British Columbia after claiming it could play a role in solving California water shortages.

Independent

Big sponsors cancel support for Pride parades, but LGBTQ+ groups remain determined

The sponsorship shortfalls for nonprofit Pride organizations − which hold events that attract millions of people across America − come amid political DEI backlash. In January, President Donald Trump began issuing executive orders to dismantle DEI programs, prompting companies to end “illegal DEI discrimination” and saying they could be investigated for their initiatives.

USA Today

Expelled South African ambassador returns home and says will wear US sanction as ‘badge of dignity’

The South African ambassador who was expelled from the United States and declared persona non grata by the Trump administration was welcomed home at an airport Sunday by hundreds of supporters who sang songs praising him.

AP News

Istanbul mayor jailed on day of likely presidential nomination

An Istanbul court has formally arrested the city’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, on corruption charges, sending him to pre-trial detention on the day he received his party’s nomination to run for president.

The Guardian

Barcelona finally turned on its crowds of tourists. Now the city faces a major problem

Barcelona, like many of these places, also faces another problem. While mass tourism might be putting a strain on the city, it’s also vital to its existence, providing jobs and income. Tourism is now 14% of the city’s economy and provides 150,000 jobs, said Mateu Hernández, director of the Barcelona Tourism Consortium.

CNN

Wealth and Warfare Empower a Rwanda-Backed Militant Group in Congo

The M23 militia is ruling over a vast stretch of territory in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, threatening the sovereignty of the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

The New York (Gift)

Pope Francis released from hospital after five weeks of treatment

Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on Sunday after surviving a life-threatening bout of pneumonia, but is urged by doctors to greatly reduce his workload for at least two months.

dpa International

Ukraine captures first village in Luhansk in three years

Ukraine’s forces have made small gains across the war’s eastern front in recent weeks, while a Russian offensive has stalled – blamed by experts on a mix of poor weather and troop exhaustion.

The Telegraph

Defying protests, Israeli cabinet votes no confidence in attorney general

The removal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, approved by cabinet last week, was followed by a vote of no confidence against attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, who has frequently clashed with the current government.

The New Arab

Israeli hostage freed after 491 days asks: Where was the United Nations, the Red Cross, the world?

He challenged the U.N.’s most powerful body: “If you stand for humanity prove it” by bringing home the 59 hostages still in Gaza, many of whom are believed to be dead.

AP News

Pakistan kills 16 fighters amid rising Afghanistan border tensions

Pakistan says all fighters killed overnight in North Waziristan while urging Afghan government to secure its borders.

AlJazeera

Amid Soviet Central Asia’s boogie nights, the rhythms of a region’s future 

In the late 1970s, Central Asia could seem to some like just another stagnating Soviet backwater.

News of the day praised economic achievements that weren’t real — just as local communist leaders trumpeted a socialist future few truly believed in.

Yet change was stirring, at least if you had your ear to the ground.

That idea is at the heart of Synthesizing the Silk Roads, an anthology of rare Soviet Central Asian pop from roughly the decade that preceded the end of the USSR.

NPR

Measles was eliminated from Australia. Experts warn US and Asia outbreaks may bring back this ‘heat-seeking missile’

The measles outbreaks in the US and Vietnam are of significant concern because Australia is below the WHO’s recommended 95% vaccination rate target, according to Dr Tim Jones, the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ specific interests group for child and young person’s health. Without it, Jones says, Australia does not have“herd immunity” – that is, when enough people are immune to a disease the infection can’t spread from one person to another in the community.

The Guardian