Although Donald Trump complains that his criminal trial keeps him off the campaign trail, he spent Wednesday — the day when court isn’t scheduled — playing golf and not campaigning, CNN reports.
Net Neutrality Restored
“The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to restore ‘net neutrality’ rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and Verizon from favoring some sites and apps over others,” the AP reports.
“The move effectively reinstates a net neutrality order the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration. In 2017, under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC repealed those rules.”
Bill Could Lead to Prosecution of Librarians in Alabama
“Lawmakers in Alabama passed legislation that could lead to the prosecution of librarians under the state’s obscenity law for providing minors with ‘harmful’ materials,” The Hill reports.
Yet Another Day All About Trump
Dan Balz: “Throughout his life, whether as a flamboyant developer, a reality TV star or a politician who became president, Trump has always found ways to keep the bright lights focused squarely on himself. Good stories or bad stories, it never really mattered. What was always important was to dominate, to be the center of attention, to win the ratings war, to cloud out everyone else.”
“Rarely has there been a day that underscored that aspect of his being as much as Thursday. Both the justices on the Supreme Court and the jurors in the Manhattan courtroom were confronted with the alleged misdeeds of the former president. Nothing about either matter cast Trump positively. And yet it is not knowable today whether these proceedings will help or hurt his chances of being elected president again in November.”
Americans Split on How Trump Is Being Treated
A new CNN poll finds most of the country was divided over whether Donald Trump is being treated more harshly (34%) or more leniently (34%) than other criminal defendants.
Judge Blocks Confusing Montana Voter Registration Law
“A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Montana law that appeared to require people to cancel any previous voter registrations before signing up to vote in the state, or risk facing felony charges,” the AP reports.
U.S. Army Begins Building Pier Off Gaza
“Army engineers on Thursday began construction of a floating pier and causeway for humanitarian aid off the coast of Gaza, which, when completed, could help relief workers deliver as many as two million meals a day for the enclave’s residents,” the New York Times reports.
Haitian Prime Minister Resigns
“Haiti’s new transitional presidential council was sworn in Thursday, opening the way for the creation of a caretaker government that aims to restore order in a Caribbean nation besieged by deadly gang violence,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
U.S. to Announce $6 Billion in Weapons for Ukraine
“The U.S. is putting the finishing touches on one of its largest Ukraine military aid packages to date, preparing to ink contracts for as much as $6 billion worth of weapons and equipment for Kyiv’s forces,” Politico reports.
“The package, which could be finalized and announced as soon as Friday, will dip into the $61 billion in Ukraine funding signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday. It would include Patriot air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, drones, counter-drone weapons, and air-to-air missiles to be fitted on fighter planes.”
USC Cancels Commencement Ceremony
“The University of Southern California canceled its main stage graduation ceremony Thursday as college officials across the U.S. worried that ongoing campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war could disrupt May commencement ceremonies,” the AP reports.
New York Times: “It was the continuation of controversy on the Los Angeles campus that began in early April, when the university selected a Muslim valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, a biomedical engineering major from Chino Hills, Calif.”
“Following complaints from several Jewish organizations that Ms. Tabassum, who is of South Asian descent, had posted a social media link to a pro-Palestinian organization, the university informed her that she would not be delivering the valedictorian speech, which is a tradition.”
Justice Department Won’t Give Republicans Biden Audio
“The Department of Justice doubled down on its decision to not release the audio files of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur to House Republicans, stating that Republicans have not established a legitimate legislative purpose for demanding these recordings,” CNN reports.
Quote of the Day
“Even though we haven’t spoken, I still consider him a friend.”
— Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, quoted by the New York Times, as he testified against Donald Trump at his criminal trial.
McConnell Blamed Trump for No Action on Border Security
“The White House is seizing on remarks by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell that former President Donald Trump was resistant to accepting any bipartisan compromise to toughen border security laws,” NBC News reports.
Said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates: “This week Senator McConnell explicitly said why the toughest, fairest bipartisan border legislation in modern American history is stalled: ‘Our nominee for president did not seem to want us to do anything at all.'”
Bob Casey and David McCormick Agree to Three Debates
“Sen Bob Casey’s campaign announced on Thursday he intends to participate in three debates with GOP opponent David McCormick this fall, one in Philadelphia, one in Pittsburgh, and one in Harrisburg, ahead of the Nov. 5 general election,” the Pennsylvania Capital Star reports.
“The Capital-Star reached out to the McCormick campaign for comment shortly following the announcement from Casey’s campaign. The McCormick campaign responded with a link to a post on social media from McCormick that read, ‘Glad to hear it. See you there.'”
David Pecker and Others Around Trump Feared His Wrath
“A recurring theme in the testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, has been how people around Donald Trump lived in fear of his wrath,” the New York Times reports.
“At least three times while testifying in Mr. Trump’s criminal trial on Thursday, Mr. Pecker described Michael Cohen, the former president’s fixer and lawyer, as warning him that ‘the boss’ — Mr. Trump — would be angry if Mr. Pecker did not follow through with whatever had been asked of him in that moment.”
“Notably, Mr. Pecker kept his eyes locked on exhibits and prosecutors while discussing Mr. Trump’s temper, not once glancing over at the former president in the courtroom.”
The Dream of Fed Rate Cuts Is Slipping Away
Wall Street Journal: “Thursday’s report on economic activity delivered the latest in a series of rude awakenings to investors and Federal Reserve policymakers who have held their breath in anticipation that lower inflation would allow interest-rate cuts to begin in earnest this summer.”
“Instead, Commerce Department data showed that, for the third straight month, inflation was proving stickier than expected after an immaculate cooling in the second half of last year.”
Fractured U.S. Response to Bird Flu Has Echoes of Covid
“Federal agencies with competing interests are slowing the country’s ability to track and control an outbreak of highly virulent bird flu that for the first time is infecting cows in the United States,” the Washington Post reports.
“The response has echoes of the early days of 2020, when the coronavirus began its deadly march around the world. Today, some officials and experts express frustration that more livestock herds aren’t being tested for avian flu, and that when tests and epidemiological studies are conducted, results aren’t shared fast enough or with enough detail.”
Trump Snatches Final Shred of William Barr’s Dignity
Jonathan Chait: “Having apparently learned that former attorney general William Barr has endorsed his candidacy, after having previously described him as childlike and unfit for office, Donald Trump accepted Barr’s submission with characteristic grace. For Trump, this meant a social-media post ridiculing Barr.”
“If the insult is too wry for you, allow me to translate: Trump is calling Barr fat. And, of course, Barr is rather hefty. So, too, is Trump. But one of the rules of bullying is that the bully does not need to follow the same standards as his targets.”
“It may seem bizarre that Trump feels compelled to gratuitously insult a man who has just endorsed him. But it is fully consistent with the method Trump uses to dominate his subordinates. Barr wished to escape his relationship with Trump with at least some tiny scrap of dignity. For Trump, it is important not to allow this to occur.”
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