Trump to address Libertarian National Convention this month

U.S. issues new sanctions against Russia’s weapons program

Biden remains silent on nationwide campus protests

DOJ to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous drug

White House: Protesters taking over Columbia Univ. building “unacceptable”

U.S. urges Hamas to accept “generous” Israeli cease-fire offer

Trump held in contempt of court, fined for violating gag order

Donald Trump has been held in contempt of court and fined in his New York criminal trial. Judge Juan Merchan concluded that the former president repeatedly violated a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York criminal trial. The judge rebuked Trump, holding him in contempt of court and fining him nine-thousand dollars — one thousand dollars each for nine violations. The former president had insisted he was exercising his free speech rights with his comments and social media posts.

Biden offers condolences after officers killed in Charlotte

President Biden is mourning the loss of law enforcement officers gunned down in Charlotte, North Carolina. After getting briefed on the mass shooting, the president spoke to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to express his condolences and support for the community. The White House also said that senior White House officials are in contact with federal, state, and local officials.

Trump and DeSantis make peace during private meeting

Former President Trump has met privately with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The Trump-DeSantis rivalry during the GOP presidential primary featured name calling and insults. But the two men are trying to patch things up, and it started with a three-hour meeting over the weekend. According to people familiar with the discussion, the former president and Florida governor are working on plans for joint fundraising efforts in the general election.

U.S. Intelligence: Putin did not directly order Navalny’s death

The United States doesn’t believe Russia’s Vladimir Putin ordered the death of an opposition leader.  U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Putin likely did not directly order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny earlier this year. The intelligence community has found no evidence that Putin was aware of the timing of Navalny’s death or issued the order. However, U-S officials believe the Russian president was ultimately responsible for the death of Navalny, who serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges that he called politically motivated.

Supreme Court to hear Trump’s immunity case

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in former President Trump’s immunity case. Justices will be determining whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a federal case charging him with 2020 election interference. His lawyers say former presidents are entitled to absolute immunity — an argument that was flatly rejected by the judge overseeing the federal case. If the high court rules against Trump and in favor of the government, the case would be returned to federal court and the setting of a trial date.

Biden grants clemency to 16 people with nonviolent drug convictions

President Biden has granted clemency to 16 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Using his clemency power, the president pardoned 11 people and commuted the sentences of 5 others. In a statement, Mr. Biden said “many of these individuals received disproportionately longer” drug-related sentences than they would have under current law. He said the pardon recipients “have demonstrated their commitment to improving their lives” and the commutation recipients “have shown that they are deserving of forgiveness.”

U.S. tweaks rules on airline fees and passenger refunds

The Biden administration is out with new rules on airline fees and refunds. New rules announced by the Transportation Department will spell out exactly when consumers are owed a refund for a delayed flight. That used to be up to the airlines. Under a separate rule, airlines will be required to disclose the price of baggage fees and ticket-change fees when travelers are first shown the trip’s fare. Passengers also must be told that they aren’t required to pay extra for a seat.

Biden campaigns on abortion issue in Florida

President Biden took his abortion-rights message to Florida. At a campaign event in Tampa, the president blasted the state’s upcoming six-week abortion ban and similar restrictions nationwide. He said Donald Trump was responsible. Democrats hope to make Florida competitive in the presidential election, but the state has become more reliably Republican in the last decade.

White House blasts “sham” process in Russia’s detention of U.S. reporter

The United States is unhappy with Russia’s latest rejection of an appeal from an imprisoned journalist. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain jailed on espionage charges until at least late June. This, after a Moscow court rejected his appeal that sought to end his pretrial detention. Reaction from White House national security spokesman John Kirby called it a “sham process” and said Gershkovich “is a reporter; he’s not a spy, he’s not a criminal.” Gershkovich was detained more than a year ago.

Biden criticized for response to pro-Palestinian campus protests

Biden administration issues privacy rule protecting abortion

The Biden administration has issued a privacy rule protecting abortion. The new rule bans the disclosure of protected health information related to reproductive health. It is aimed at protecting women living in states where abortion is illegal who travel out of state to have the procedure done. The rule also protects healthcare providers, insurers, or other entities which perform or pay for abortions.

Historic criminal trial of Donald Trump begins in New York

Opening arguments and testimony began today [MON] in Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial. A prosecutor opened the historic trial by saying Trump tried to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said actions taken to conceal payments to Stormy Daniels amounted to “election fraud, pure and simple.” But defense attorney Todd Blanche argued that Trump “is innocent” and that trying to influence an election “is called democracy,” not a crime. The trial could last up to two months.

Biden announces $7 billion in solar panel grant money

President Biden used Earth Day to announce new federal money for residential solar projects. The president touted 7-billion dollars in federal grants to help low-and middle-income households get rooftop solar panels. The grant money is part of the 27-billion dollar “green bank” created as part of the 2022 climate law. That bank has faced Republican opposition and concerns over accountability for how the money gets used.

Biden campaign tries to blunt RFK Jr’s White House bid

Joe Biden’s campaign team is concerned about Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s independent presidential campaign. More than six months before the election, President Biden appeared with more than a dozen members of the Kennedy family last week to receive their endorsement. It was hardly a surprise that many in the prominent Democratic family announced their support for the president. But the event indicated how seriously the Biden campaign views the potential threat of RFK Jr’s campaign. On the same day his family embraced Joe Biden, Kennedy Jr secured a place on the ballot in the battleground state of Michigan.

White House has no comment on reported Israeli strike on Iran

The Biden administration is not commenting on the reported Israeli retaliatory strike against Iran.  The White House press secretary opened her daily briefing on Friday by announcing that she would not discuss any developments in the Middle East. She and her counterparts at the National Security Council refused to comment on reported Israeli drone strikes on a major air base in Iran. Earlier, Secretary of State Blinken declined to confirm the reported attack, only saying that the U-S “has not been involved in any offensive operations.”

Biden receives endorsement from Kennedy political family

President Biden has won endorsements from more than a dozen members of the Kennedy political family. At a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Kerry Kennedy, a daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, made it official. The endorsement is notable because of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s independent presidential campaign. Highlighting the Kennedy family’s support is an indication of how seriously the Biden campaign views the the threat of RFK Jr siphoning off Democratic voters.

U.S. imposes new rounds of sanctions on Iran

The United States has issued new sanctions against Iran after its attack on Israel. In a move to punish Iran for its unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend, the Biden administration has imposed a new round of sanctions. They target 16 individuals and two entities involved in Iran’s drone production. In a White House statement, the president said he had directed the Treasury Department “to continue to impose sanctions that further degrade Iran’s military industries.” He also repeated that “the United States is committed to Israel’s security.”

Senate dismisses Mayorkas impeachment charges without trial

The Senate has dismissed all impeachment charges against President Biden’s Homeland Security secretary. The Republican-led House impeached Alejandro Mayorkas, charging him with refusing to comply with immigration law and for “breach of trust” for saying the border was secure. But Democrats who control the Senate argued that the articles were unconstitutional and ended the impeachment process without a trial. The top GOP senator said “history will not judge this moment well,” while the White House said the Senate rightly voted down, what it called, “this baseless impeachment.”