The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to stop its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This decision comes after pressure from senators and aims to avoid delaying the confirmation of Powell’s successor, President Trump’s nominee Kevin Warsh.
Key Facts
The DOJ is preparing to drop the criminal probe into Jerome Powell related to alleged cost overruns on the Fed's building renovation.
Senators, including Republican Thom Tillis, were informed about the plan to end the probe and refer the issue to the Fed's internal watchdog.
Powell’s term ends soon, but he will stay in position until Warsh is confirmed.
The investigation was led by D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who opposed ending the probe and appealed a judge’s ruling limiting her subpoenas.
Senator Tillis criticized the investigation for potentially delaying Warsh’s confirmation and urged the DOJ to stop pursuing it.
Powell previously said the investigation was an attempt to pressure the Fed to lower interest rates.
The DOJ has not confirmed officially if it will drop its appeal of the judge’s decision.
The federal inspector general of the Fed had already audited the renovation project before.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez disagree on how to handle property tax reform. Perez says DeSantis has promised to abolish property taxes for over a year but has not provided a clear plan, while DeSantis wants the issue to be decided by voters in November 2026.
Key Facts
House Speaker Daniel Perez is frustrated that Governor DeSantis has not presented a property tax reform plan despite promises.
The Florida House proposed a bill to phase out non-school property taxes on primary homes over 10 years starting in 2027.
The Florida Senate did not support the House’s proposal and plans to develop its own version.
Governor DeSantis supports eliminating property taxes but has not backed the House bill.
A special legislative session starting April 28 does not include property tax reform on its agenda.
DeSantis said the property tax reform should be put to a voter ballot in November 2026.
Perez believes Florida voters should have the chance to vote on abolishing property taxes sooner.
Polls show most Florida midterm voters support phasing out property taxes.
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The U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard are searching for six crew members of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, the Mariana, which capsized after losing an engine during Super Typhoon Sinlaku near the Northern Mariana Islands. Search efforts involve elite rescue teams, underwater drones, and international partners, but so far only one crew member’s body has been found.
Key Facts
The Mariana is a 145-foot U.S.-registered cargo ship that lost its starboard engine during a powerful typhoon on April 15, 2026.
The ship capsized about 100 miles north-northwest of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force pararescuemen are conducting the rescue mission, including diving operations and underwater drone searches.
One crew member’s body was recovered on April 21; five crew members remain missing.
Search crews have covered over 100,000 square nautical miles and continued for more than 71 hours as of April 24.
The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating with Japanese Coast Guard and New Zealand Air Force in the search.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku had winds of up to 150 miles per hour and caused significant damage on Saipan and Tinian.
The Coast Guard's search and rescue coordinator expressed support for the families and emphasized continued efforts using all available resources.
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Representative Anna Paulina Luna asked President Donald Trump to pardon a U.S. Army soldier named Gannon Ken Van Dyke. Van Dyke is accused of making over $400,000 by betting on the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Key Facts
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is a Republican from Florida.
She made the call for a pardon on Thursday.
The soldier involved is Gannon Ken Van Dyke.
Van Dyke is a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
He is accused of earning more than $400,000 by placing bets related to Maduro’s capture.
Nicolás Maduro is the former president of Venezuela.
Van Dyke was involved in planning related to the situation with Maduro.
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A U.S. Army special forces soldier named Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke is under investigation. Officials say he may have made bets on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro being removed from power before such information was public.
Key Facts
Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke is a U.S. special forces soldier.
He is being investigated for allegedly betting on Maduro’s removal from office.
The bets reportedly happened before the public knew about a raid related to Maduro.
Nicolás Maduro is the president of Venezuela.
The investigation relates to possible misuse of inside information.
News about this investigation was reported by CBS News.
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Keir Starmer faced public criticism after a top civil servant, Olly Robbins, was fired for not telling the prime minister about security concerns over Peter Mandelson’s nomination as ambassador. Robbins defended his actions in a parliamentary committee, and some politicians questioned the prime minister's decision to dismiss him.
Key Facts
Olly Robbins was fired by the prime minister for not informing him about Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting.
Robbins told the foreign affairs committee that the vetting was borderline but leaning against Mandelson.
The government allows briefing outside security vetting only in "wholly exceptional circumstances."
Some cabinet ministers questioned the prime minister’s judgment over the firing.
Former minister Ann Widdecombe referenced similar past events where politicians clashed with senior civil servants.
Widdecombe explained that attacking skilled civil servants often backfires and leads to scrutiny of those who sack them.
The article mentions past political disputes involving ministers and civil servants, showing a pattern of conflict.
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Tom Steyer’s chances of winning the California governor race have improved recently, partly because former candidate Eric Swalwell left the race after sexual assault allegations. California uses a jungle primary where all candidates run together, and the top two move to the general election.
Key Facts
Tom Steyer’s odds to win are currently 41%, up from 36% but down from a peak of 68% in mid-April.
Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race after multiple sexual assault allegations surfaced against him; he denies the claims.
California’s governor race includes candidates from both parties competing in a single primary, with the top two advancing to the final election.
Other leading candidates include Democrats Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, Xavier Becerra, and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
A recent poll showed Steyer at 14% support before Swalwell quit the race.
Steyer is spending more on ads than other candidates and promotes taxing billionaires and polluters.
Betty Yee suspended her campaign due to lack of fundraising support.
California has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger (2003-2011) and usually votes strongly Democratic.
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President Donald Trump is experiencing the negative effects of a conspiracy theory for the first time in his career. His past support of conspiracy theories is now impacting him personally.
Key Facts
President Trump has supported conspiracy theories in the past.
He is now facing consequences related to such theories.
This situation marks a new experience for him, being on the losing side of a conspiracy theory.
The article does not provide details of the specific conspiracy theory or consequences.
The focus is on the personal impact on President Trump.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the U.S. military action against Iran during a Pentagon briefing. He acknowledged the Pope’s criticism but emphasized that the U.S. military understands its mission and authority.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the U.S. Defense Secretary.
The U.S. military conducted an operation against Iran.
President Donald Trump is involved in a disagreement with Pope Leo XIV.
Hegseth responded to the Pope’s criticism on Friday.
Hegseth said the U.S. knows its mission and the authority it has for military actions.
He made these remarks during a Pentagon press briefing.
The Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a difficult week as he tries to pass three important bills before Congress recesses. Republicans are divided, with some opposing President Donald Trump’s approach, making it harder to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security, extend surveillance laws, and pass the farm bill.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson, House Speaker and Republican from Louisiana, must push three major bills next week.
Bills include extending Section 702 of FISA (a surveillance law), the farm bill, and a budget plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
Some House Republicans do not trust a two-step budget process and want a stronger funding package in one vote.
The Department of Homeland Security is running low on money to pay its workers.
Some conservatives want stricter requirements for surveillance warrants before extending FISA.
There is disagreement about adding unrelated issues, like Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), to the FISA bill.
If an extension for FISA is not passed soon, a short-term fix might be needed to avoid the law expiring.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise said a recent meeting helped clear many issues, but some conservatives still have concerns.
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An 81-year-old man in California is critically injured after being hit by an electric motorcycle ridden by a 14-year-old boy. The boy’s mother is now facing legal charges because she was previously warned about her son riding the electric bike underage.
Key Facts
The accident happened in California.
The victim is an 81-year-old man who is in serious condition.
The driver of the electric motorcycle was 14 years old.
The boy is not legally allowed to ride the e-motorcycle due to his age.
The mother was warned before about her son riding the electric bike.
She is now being charged because she did not stop her son from riding.
The electric motorcycle involved is also called an e-bike.
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The Trump administration and congressional Republicans tried to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a key U.S. law protecting wildlife. A planned vote on a bill to make these changes official was canceled after some Republicans raised concerns, especially those from tourism-heavy areas in Florida worried about the impact on local wildlife and economy.
Key Facts
The Trump administration has worked to reduce protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Republicans in the House canceled a vote on a bill meant to cement these changes.
Some Republican lawmakers from Florida, reliant on tourism, opposed the bill.
The bill would have made it harder to list species as endangered and would require economic and security reviews.
Environmental groups said the bill prioritizes politics over science and would harm species recovery.
A recent exemption for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico was controversial and legally questionable.
Florida's economy depends heavily on ecosystems that host many endangered animals.
Lawmakers and local stakeholders fear the bill could hurt Florida’s environment and economy.
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A new online tool called GTFOICE.org has been launched to help communities learn about and protest new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers before they open. The tool sends alerts about planned ICE facilities and offers resources to organize opposition and legal help.
Key Facts
GTFOICE.org was created by Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff during President Trump’s first term.
The tool helps people find out early about planned ICE detention centers and supports them in protesting these expansions.
DHS is expanding ICE detention facilities as part of a $45 billion plan, often converting warehouses into immigrant detention centers.
Many communities have opposed the expansion due to secrecy, concerns about poor conditions, and potential impact on local resources.
The tool also connects users with legal guidance and organizing help, including the option to help from a distance.
Protests have already led to canceled facility plans in some towns like Merrimack, New Hampshire, and Ashland, Virginia.
Critics note that in some places, communities learned about ICE facility plans too late to prevent purchases of properties.
DHS highlighted crime victims in response to protests, but the issue remains controversial.
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England and Wales reported a record number of stalking cases last year, mostly linked to domestic abuse. The CPS is working on a plan to help young people recognize stalking behavior, including education about boundaries and use of technology in stalking.
Key Facts
In England and Wales, the CPS charged 7,168 stalking offenses last year, the highest number recorded.
Over 80% of these stalking cases were connected to domestic abuse, meaning victims mostly knew the stalkers.
The CPS is creating a policy to help children and young people understand what stalking is and when behavior crosses the line.
Young people often use digital tools, which can make stalking harder to see and understand.
Victims and offenders sometimes do not realize when stalking is happening or when behavior becomes criminal.
One victim described being stalked by her ex-partner through emails, social media, and hacking, which caused her severe distress.
The stalker in this case was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Technology like social media, GPS trackers, and apps is increasingly used by offenders to stalk victims.
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Some U.S. universities are creating new academic centers focused on antisemitism, often responding to concerns about anti-Israel and antisemitic attitudes on campus. These centers vary in their leadership and activities, and some Jewish scholars worry that these new initiatives may overshadow established experts and focus more on ideology than scholarship.
Key Facts
A group at the University of Washington started a center to address antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on campus.
The center is led by faculty from fields like public health, law, and business rather than Jewish studies scholars.
The center is not an official university department but uses some university resources.
It has held two events with strong pro-Israel speakers and started a newsletter.
Some Jewish history experts at the university feel this center sidelines their scholarly work.
The University of Washington says the group is a self-organized faculty effort and does not officially endorse their views.
Many new antisemitism centers at U.S. universities have appeared amidst the war in Gaza and political interest in allegations of antisemitism.
Some experts worry that these centers promote ideological viewpoints and could limit academic debate and critical scholarship.
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Two California lawmakers introduced a bill to make social media companies more accountable for child sexual abuse material on their platforms. The bill would require companies to audit their sites for child safety risks, report results to the state attorney general, and act faster to remove harmful content, with new legal consequences if they fail.
Key Facts
The bill is called AB 1946 and was introduced by Assembly members Maggy Krell and Buffy Wicks.
It aims to allow lawsuits against social media companies in California for failing to detect or remove child sexual abuse material.
Companies would need to perform safety audits twice a year and share results with the attorney general.
The bill would shorten the time to remove harmful content from 30 days to 48 hours in many cases.
New child sexual abuse material detected must be reviewed by human moderators.
Penalties would fund a support fund for survivors of abuse.
Current federal law protects social media sites from liability for user posts but does not protect them from sex trafficking liability.
Recent court cases in California and New Mexico found Meta and YouTube liable for harm to children caused by their platforms.
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The article argues that Congress should stop focusing on impeachment or the 25th Amendment to address concerns about President Donald Trump’s health. Instead, it suggests that Congress should pass a law giving a key group of lawmakers full and immediate access to the president’s medical records.
Key Facts
The article talks about concerns regarding President Trump’s health.
It says impeachment and the 25th Amendment are not practical solutions in this case.
The 25th Amendment is a part of the Constitution that deals with removing a president if they cannot do their job.
The proposal is for Congress to create a law for quick and complete access to the president’s medical records.
This access would be given to the "Gang of Eight," a group of top lawmakers who handle sensitive information.
The purpose is to monitor the president’s fitness for office more transparently.
This proposal aims to address health concerns without removing the president from office.
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In Texas, prosecutors used rap lyrics as evidence to help sentence James Broadnax to death. This approach is common in many U.S. court cases, especially involving Black defendants, where rap lyrics are treated like personal confessions rather than artistic expression.
Key Facts
James Broadnax, a Black man, was sentenced to death partly based on rap lyrics found in his notebook.
The lyrics were used to suggest gang ties and involvement in shootings during his trial.
Rap lyrics have been introduced in court for hundreds of cases in over 40 states in the past 50 years.
Judges often allow rap lyrics as evidence while excluding other kinds of creative writing.
Experts say using rap lyrics as proof ignores their artistic value and reinforces racial stereotypes.
Broadnax’s lawyers argue that this practice biased the nearly all-white jury against him.
Prosecutors tend to use lyrics mentioning violent acts as evidence of motive or confession, depending on when they were written.
A documentary called “As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial” discusses how rap lyrics are used in legal cases.
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A 32-year-old man named John Ashby was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 14 years, for attacking a Sikh woman. He admitted to crimes including rape, robbery, strangulation, and assault motivated by religion.
Key Facts
John Ashby is 32 years old.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with at least 14 years to serve.
Ashby admitted to rape, robbery, intentional strangulation, and religiously motivated assault.
The victim was a Sikh woman.
The crimes were considered religiously aggravated, meaning they were motivated by hatred toward her religion.
The sentencing took place at Birmingham Crown Court.
Ashby changed his pleas after an incident in court involving a member of the public.
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President Donald Trump said he does not feel pressured to end the war with Iran, despite rising gas prices in the United States. He warned that Americans should expect to pay more for gasoline for some time.
Key Facts
President Trump stated there is no urgency to end the war with Iran.
The ongoing conflict has caused gas prices in the U.S. to increase.
Trump acknowledged the economic impact on Americans due to higher fuel costs.
He advised that higher prices may continue for a while.
The statement reflects the president’s current position on foreign conflict and its economic effects.
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