The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing Uber for allegedly deceptive subscription practices related to its Uber One service. The FTC claims Uber enrolled users without consent and made cancellations excessively difficult, requiring numerous steps. Uber denies these allegations, stating that cancellations are now easily performed within the app. This lawsuit marks the FTC’s first against a major US tech company since the start of President Trump’s second term. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of tech companies’ billing and consumer protection practices.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forwarded sensitive operational details regarding U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, received via secure channels from Gen. Michael Kurilla, to at least two unsecured Signal group chats. This action, occurring within minutes of receiving the information, contradicts prior warnings to Hegseth about using unsecure communication systems. While Hegseth and the Pentagon deny the information was classified, the incident raises concerns about his handling of sensitive military data and has prompted calls for his resignation from some Republicans. Despite these calls, President Trump continues to support Hegseth.
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A recent FinCEN report details how the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels launder billions of dollars through U.S. casinos and other financial institutions, primarily using proceeds from fentanyl trafficking. Nearly 1,300 suspicious activity reports were filed in 2024, with a significant portion involving depository institutions and money services businesses. The cartels utilize various methods, including wire transfers, cash smuggling, and complex international trade schemes involving Chinese businesses to obscure the origins of their illicit funds. These schemes often leverage front companies, money mules, and U.S.-based intermediaries to facilitate the laundering process.
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Walgreens will pay up to $350 million to settle a Department of Justice lawsuit alleging the company illegally filled millions of opioid and other controlled substance prescriptions between 2012 and 2023. The settlement includes a minimum payment of $300 million, with an additional $50 million contingent on a company sale or merger before 2032. The government accused Walgreens of ignoring red flags indicating invalid prescriptions and pressuring pharmacists to fill them rapidly, ultimately billing federal healthcare programs. Walgreens denies liability but will also implement improved compliance measures with the DEA and HHS.
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The US Commerce Department has proposed tariffs ranging up to 3,521% on solar panels imported from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, following an investigation into alleged Chinese subsidies and dumping. These countervailing and anti-dumping duties vary widely by company and country, with Cambodia facing the highest rates due to lack of cooperation. Companies like Jinko Solar (Malaysia) received lower duties, while Trina Solar (Thailand) faces a 375% tariff. The International Trade Commission will issue a final decision on these tariffs in June.
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A Manhattan jury found Nadine Menendez guilty on all 15 counts, including bribery and obstruction of justice, concluding a three-week trial. The verdict stems from a five-year bribery scheme in which prosecutors allege she and her husband, former Senator Bob Menendez, accepted bribes including cash, gold bars, and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors. The prosecution argued that Nadine Menendez actively participated in the scheme, while the defense contended that some of the received items were gifts, not bribes. Nadine Menendez’s sentencing is scheduled for June 12th, coinciding with her husband’s prison sentence commencement.
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Following the death of Pope Francis, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene controversially declared that “Evil is being defeated by the hand of God,” a statement interpreted by many as a celebration of the pontiff’s passing. This contrasted sharply with the mourning statements issued by President Trump and Vice President Vance. Greene’s comment sparked immediate backlash and criticism on social media, highlighting the starkly different reactions to the Pope’s death. The late Pope, while holding traditional views on some issues, had also been criticized by conservatives for other stances.
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is creating a comprehensive data platform by consolidating private medical records from various federal and commercial sources for Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s autism research initiative. This platform will provide external researchers with unprecedented access to broad, linked datasets, including medication, lab, genomic, and wearable device data. Data security and confidentiality are prioritized through robust protections preventing data downloads. The initiative aims to accelerate autism research and potentially offer insights into other chronic diseases via real-time health monitoring.
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The Department of Education will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5th, impacting roughly 5.3 million borrowers. This includes wage garnishment after a 30-day notice and offsets from government payments. The move ends pandemic-era leniency and has drawn criticism for potentially exacerbating financial hardship for many borrowers. While loan rehabilitation offers a path to avoid wage garnishment, the department emphasizes responsible repayment to improve both individual and national economic health.
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Nineteen-year-old Charlotte Pohl and eighteen-year-old Maria Lepere, German nationals traveling under ESTA, were detained, strip-searched, and deported from Honolulu for lacking pre-booked accommodations for their entire trip. Despite ESTA approval, CBP officers denied them entry based on their flexible travel plans. The teens’ overnight detention and subsequent deportation have drawn criticism, highlighting concerns about the treatment of foreign tourists at U.S. borders and prompting the German Foreign Office to reiterate that ESTA authorization does not guarantee entry. This incident underscores the importance of meticulous travel planning for international visitors.
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John Q. Hosedrinker