Trade Deals and Ceasefires
Deals are being struck between countries all around the world. The question now is which ones will last.
Freed
The last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, has been released by Hamas. Edan Alexander was just 19 years old when he was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and he spent 583 days as a hostage before being freed in what Hamas described as a “goodwill gesture” in advance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the region.
A New Pope
A new Pope has been selected, and for the first time in history it is an American. Robert Prevost, originally from Chicago, Illinois, is now Pope Leo XIV, after a conclave of cardinals selected him to succeed Pope Francis as the head of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo’s first address was delivered from historic St. Peter’s Basilica.
Mostly Done
Elon Musk is stepping back—though apparently not fully away—from his leadership role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk said his job at DOGE is “mostly done” and plans to focus most of his time going forward on his private companies. The White House says DOGE will continue to function without Musk’s round-the-clock guidance.
Judge Arrested
A county circuit judge in Milwaukee, WI was arrested and charged with “concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.” The judge, Hannah Dugan, after being alerted to the presence of immigration law enforcement officials outside the courtroom, allegedly escorted a criminal defendant out a non-public jury door in an attempt to help the defendant evade arrest.
Explosion in Iran
The death toll is rising after an intense explosion and subsequent fire at the Shahid Rajaei port in Iran. At least 70 people are reported dead and more than 1,200 injured as a result of the blast, which is believed to have been caused by improper handling of fuel used for Iran’s ballistic missile program. While the Iranian government is notoriously close-lipped about its weapons programs, the consensus among world authorities is that the fuel was sourced from China and being used to restock Iran’s missile supply after it launched attacks on Israel in support of Hamas.
Shooting on Campus
Two people are dead and six injured after a shooting on the campus of Florida State University. The gunman is believed to be a 20-year-old student. Law enforcement officers shot and detained the suspect just a few minutes into the shooting, likely saving lives. While the gunman is hospitalized, his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
A Decade's Burden
On June 19, 2011, my brother Isaac and I scrambled around a small pond in order to secure a view across it for the moment a 22-year-old kid named Rory McIlroy sealed his first win in a major golf tournament.
Deportation Dispute
A legal dispute over deportations of alleged gang members continues to brew, as the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to temporarily pause the deportations while a challenge to the President’s authority to remove the detainees without full due process continues.
Death of a Pope
Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88. Francis’s death comes after more than 12 years at the helm of the church, and a few weeks after being diagnosed with double pneumonia. He made a public appearance on Easter Sunday and also met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and died Monday morning. There will be several days of mourning, after which a new pope will be selected.
Tragedy in the Dominican Republic
More than 200 people have died and many more are injured after the roof of a packed nightclub collapsed during a concert in the Dominican Republic. Victims included several public figures, and authorities said it would be some time before an investigation would be able to determine a cause for the collapse.
Arson at the Governor's Mansion
A 38-year-old suspect is in custody and will be charged with arson and attempted murder after allegedly breaking into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion and lighting it on fire. The mansion sustained significant damage, but nobody was injured, as Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were evacuated in the middle of the night along with their guests.
The Inflation No One Talks About: Higher Education’s Price Tag and Moral Bankruptcy
Inflation hurts hardworking Americans, yet there’s one inflated cost Democrats never seem to scream about—college tuition. Over the past 40 years, tuition prices have skyrocketed at a rate far outpacing general inflation, yet the return on investment has plummeted. Universities charge Mercedes prices for a Yugo education, producing graduates steeped in ideological dogma rather than critical thinking and real-world skills.
A Day in Court
The U.S. Supreme Court, in an unsigned opinion decided by a 5-4 vote, allowed the resumption of deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act. The order, however, was unanimous that those facing deportation are entitled to judicial review, and the majority held that such review is properly considered wherever the accused is held (in this case, Texas).
Nuclear Negotiations
Leaders of the United States and Iran will meet this weekend in a high-stakes discussion about Iran’s nuclear program. The announcement comes immediately following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Greenland Election
Greenlanders made their way to the polls on Tuesday in a national election that would have typically involved little fanfare outside the borders of the giant and frigid island nation. This week’s elections, however, drew a great deal more attention in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sustained interest in Greenland joining the U.S.
Shutdown on Loop
Congress is once again racing the clock to avoid a government shutdown (we told you back in December to bookmark early March for this reality). This time around, GOP leadership in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are pushing for a Continuing Resolution that would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. This approach has the support of President Donald Trump and was passed narrowly by the U.S. House on Tuesday, but is being opposed by most congressional Democrats.
Starship Explosion
An unmanned SpaceX Starship rocket exploded last week shortly after blastoff from Texas. The resulting debris field included parts of Florida and temporarily grounded flights at Orlando International Airport. It is the second mid-air explosion in two months for the Starship program, which touts its mission as including eventual manned travel between points on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and SpaceX are investigating the cause of the incident.
Liberation or Trade War?
U.S. President Donald Trump is announcing another round of tariffs Wednesday. The new tariffs follow previous levies on steel and aluminum, as well as imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, and are now expected to include a 25% tariff on all imported cars…
Convicted and Barred
In a ruling with major legal and political implications, Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement by a French court earlier this week. Le Pen, a leading political opponent of France President Emmanuel Macron, was sentenced to two years of house arrest and two years of a suspended prison sentence, both of which will not be served until an appeal is heard. Perhaps more significantly, Le Pen is immediately barred from seeking public office for five years. The ban is in effect even as an appeal moves forward.