Kristi Noem, during a Senate hearing, incorrectly defined habeas corpus, claiming it allows the president to remove people from the country and suspend their rights. Senator Hassan corrected her, explaining its true meaning as a protection against unlawful detention. Noem’s unfazed response and subsequent insistence on the president’s authority to suspend it suggests a calculated performance rather than genuine ignorance. This aligns with the MAGA archetype of the “bimbo”—a woman who prioritizes loyalty and aggressive defense of the party line over intellect, deflecting criticism with feigned stupidity. This calculated performance effectively shields her from accountability for her actions.
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Sens. Kelly and Ossoff reintroduced the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, mandating that members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents either place their stock portfolios in blind trusts or divest holdings. This bipartisan effort enjoys overwhelming public support, with 86% of Americans favoring a ban. The bill aims to prevent the use of insider information for personal financial gain and restore public trust in Congress. Several senators cosponsored the bill, highlighting the widespread concern over the ethical implications of Congressional stock trading.
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Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, heir to the Belgian throne, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University. A recent Trump administration decision revoking Harvard’s ability to enroll international students threatens her continued studies. The Belgian royal palace is currently assessing the situation and its potential impact on the Princess’s education. The administration’s action, deemed illegal by Harvard, affects thousands of international students and could force them to leave the United States.
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The U.S. military is reportedly considering withdrawing approximately 4,500 troops from South Korea and repositioning them within the Indo-Pacific region, potentially to Guam. This plan, currently under review and not yet presented to President Trump, is part of a broader discussion regarding the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and its role in countering growing regional threats, particularly from China. While some officials advocate for this shift to enhance regional deterrence, others express concerns that reducing the USFK presence would diminish the ability to respond to conflicts. The final decision is expected to be integrated into the 2025 National Defense Strategy.
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President Trump announced a 50% tariff on all EU imports to the US, effective June 1, 2025, citing stalled trade talks and accusing the EU of unfair trade practices. This announcement caused significant stock market declines across Europe and the US. The EU had recently submitted a new trade proposal including tariff cuts and cooperation initiatives, but this was apparently insufficient to prevent the tariff imposition. The move represents a major escalation of trade tensions between the US and the EU, with the potential for considerable economic repercussions.
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President Trump threatened Apple with at least a 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the U.S. unless they are manufactured domestically, not in India or elsewhere. This directly opposes Apple’s plan to shift iPhone production to India to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China. Trump’s statement caused Apple’s shares to drop and disrupts Apple’s goal of sourcing most of its U.S. iPhone supply from India by the end of next year. Despite this, Trump claims Apple will increase US production.
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President Trump, angered by Reps. Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie’s votes against his bill, believes they should face primary challenges. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed this, characterizing their actions as grandstanding and questioning their priorities. Massie, a fiscal conservative, opposed the bill due to insufficient spending cuts, a position shared by Davidson. Trump’s public criticism of Massie predates this incident, highlighting a longstanding tension between the two.
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Approximately 100 protesters demonstrated outside a Trump golf course against a secretive dinner for investors in Trump’s cryptocurrency, $TRUMP. Access to the dinner, costing attendees an average of $1.78 million, was granted via a competition to purchase the most $TRUMP tokens; 80% of the meme coin’s supply is controlled by the Trump Organization. Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley, condemned the event as a blatant conflict of interest, highlighting the participation of numerous anonymous foreign investors and the lack of White House transparency regarding the guest list. The White House dismissed concerns, claiming the event was personal and not profiting the presidency.
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Radosław Sikorski’s recent Le Monde column argues that a Trumpist shift in US foreign policy necessitates a self-reliant European defense strategy. This is due to a perceived waning US interest in European affairs, as evidenced by statements from American leaders prioritizing domestic concerns. The column asserts the EU’s capacity to handle its own defense independently. Sikorski’s perspective highlights a growing concern that the US may withdraw support from European security issues, including those in Ukraine.
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ProPublica’s investigation reveals that over a dozen Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, strategically divested themselves of substantial stock holdings shortly before President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs negatively impacted the market. These preemptive sales, totaling millions of dollars, occurred within days of the market downturn, with some officials repurchasing shares at reduced prices afterward. Examples include a State Department official’s $50,000 sale and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s sale of shares in nearly 36 companies. This pattern raises concerns about potential insider trading.
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John Q. Hosedrinker