Featured Stories

Trump, Venting About Lawyer in His Criminal Trial, Seeks More Aggression

(New York Times) ]Donald J. Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial had barely begun when he started to turn his anger toward his lead lawyer, Todd Blanche. Although Mr. Blanche has been Mr. Trump’s favorite lawyer for some time, behind closed doors and in phone calls, the former president has complained repeatedly about him in recent weeks, according to four people familiar with the situation. He has griped that Mr. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and veteran litigator, has not been following his instructions closely, and has been insufficiently aggressive. Mr. Trump wants him to attack witnesses, attack what the former president sees as a hostile jury pool, and attack the judge, Juan M. Merchan.

Trump says 'Biden, I am sure, will be prosecuted' in explosive Time Magazine interview

(Raw Story) Former President Donald Trump came as close as he ever has to outright saying he would try to get President Joe Biden thrown in prison if he wins another term in office, in an interview released on Tuesday by TIME Magazine. During the interview, Trump gave seemingly contradictory answers when asked about jailing Biden, although he did say he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate him. "I wouldn’t want to hurt Biden," Trump said initially. "I have too much respect for the office." The former president then shifted gears and vowed Biden would face charges if the Supreme Court didn't grant his demands for total immunity to break the law as president. "If they said that a President doesn’t get immunity, then Biden, I am sure, will be prosecuted for all of his crimes," Trump explained.

Biden implores journalists to 'rise up to the seriousness of the moment'. They should listen.

(Presswatchers) After making a little fun of himself and the media – and roasting Donald Trump – President Biden closed his speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday with “genuine thanks to the free press” for reporting “truth over lies,” which he called “my definition of patriotism and heroism.” He said that “you, the free press, play a critical role in making sure the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision.” And then he asked the people in the room to do a better job of it.

Tuesday TOONs

J&J, Bristol Myers lose challenges to US drug price negotiation program

(Reuters) A U.S. judge on Monday rejected a challenge by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY.N) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) to a law requiring them to negotiate the prices of their blockbuster blood clot prevention drugs with the U.S government's Medicare health insurance program or pay heavy penalties. U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi in Trenton, New Jersey, became the fourth federal judge to uphold the program, one of Democratic President Joe Biden's signature initiatives, against drug industry challenges, rejecting their argument that it was an illegal taking of their property.

A quieter border eases pressure on Biden, with a hand from Mexico

(Washington Post) Illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border are down more than 40 percent since December and have remained relatively stable through the first four months of 2024, bringing a modest reprieve for President Biden on an issue regarded as a liability to his reelection campaign. Crossings often increase sharply during early spring but that did not happen for the first time since Biden took office.

Images show US military building floating pier off Gaza. Pentagon says it will cost $320 million

(CNN) The United States Central Command has released images of a floating pier being built by the US military off the coast of Gaza, which once complete is intended to help deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the devastated strip’s starving population. Construction of the temporary pier began at sea last week and the images show crew from several military vessels building the platform. Separately, a satellite image from Planet Labs shows the pier under construction.

The WA GOP put it in writing that they're not into democracy

(Seattle Times) “We are devolving into a democracy, because congressmen and senators are elected by the same pool,” was how one GOP delegate put it to the convention. “We do not want to be a democracy.” We don’t? Then they kicked it up a notch. They passed a resolution calling on people to please stop using the word “democracy.” “We encourage Republicans to substitute the words ‘republic’ and ‘republicanism’ where previously they have used the word ‘democracy,’ ” the resolution says. “Every time the word ‘democracy’ is used favorably it serves to promote the principles of the Democratic Party, the principles of which we ardently oppose.”

Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix sends cease and desist letter to prevent Donald Trump fundraiser during race

(Yahoo Sports) The Miami Grand Prix is looking to prevent a fundraiser being held for former President Donald Trump at Sunday’s race. Race organizers sent a cease and desist letter to Steven Witkoff, a prominent fundraiser for the GOP nominee. Per the Washington Post, Trump is planning to attend the race, and Witkoff’s golf club had advertised a trip to the race in a suite that would have been an event for Trump.

Stress-Testing Trump's Claims That the World Was Calmer on His Watch

(Wall Streeet Journal) During Trump’s four years in the White House, there was no conflict on par with the Israel-Hamas war or Russia’s war in Ukraine. But Iran, or Iran-backed proxies, did launch attacks on U.S. personnel in the Middle East and against countries across the region while Trump was president, and he was usually hesitant to respond, wary of further attacks. Russia also took aggressive actions against the U.S. and its allies around the world, and the U.S. and North Korea came close to the brink of conflict while Trump was in office. Some contend that Trump-era policies regarding Afghanistan, Russia and the Middle East paved the way for some of President Biden’s overseas challenges.