ACTUAL NEWS: Tuesday, April 1st 2025 Recap
- Olga Nesterova
- Apr 1
- 11 min read
Updated: Apr 2
QUICK HITS
Senator Cory Booker Sets Record with 25-Hour Speech Against Trump Policies
Democratic Senator Cory Booker delivered a historic 25-hour floor speech, breaking the record for the longest speech in Senate history. Beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Booker criticized President Donald Trump’s efforts to weaken democratic institutions and cut large portions of the federal government, a campaign backed by Trump’s key adviser, billionaire Elon Musk.
During the speech, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer interrupted to inform Booker of his record-breaking achievement, saying, “Do you know how proud America is of you?” Booker responded with humor, noting it was the first time he could tell Schumer “no” when asked to yield for a question.
Booker’s speech stands as a symbolic Democratic resistance to Trump’s policies and underscores concerns over the administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government.
Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund and newly appointed special envoy on international economic and investment cooperation, is expected to visit Washington this week for discussions with the Trump administration, according to a Reuters' source familiar with the plan.
Dmitriev will meet with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, though details of their agenda remain unclear.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not specify whether the talks would focus on economic cooperation, sanctions, or broader U.S.-Russia relations.
German FM Baerbock: The US-Ukraine minerals agreement must be compatible with European law.
According to FM, Brussels had previously agreed with Kyiv that any new rare earths agreement must comply with EU law as Ukraine moves toward membership in the bloc.
Slovak PM Robert Fico on his call with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen about Trump’s tariffs: She said I’m a complete idiot.
"She scolded me terribly: ‘Robert, what have you done? Why did you negotiate with Trump? Are you normal?’ She berated me for half an hour, saying I’m a total idiot."
Finnish President Stubb shared some insights into his talks with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago:
"The discussions I had with President Trump in Florida are basically two very simple messages:
Number one, he is probably the only person in the world who can mediate the peace between Ukraine and Russia. Why? Because Putin respects and, in many ways, fears Donald Trump.
Secondly, the point I had was that we need a ceasefire and we need a date for the ceasefire. And that date should be the twentieth of April. If president Putin, who's the only one not accepting the ceasefire, because Americans want it, the Europeans want it, the Ukrainians want it, if he doesn't oblige by the ceasefire, then we should go for a colossal set of sanctions coming from the United States and Europe."
Russian FM Lavrov and Chinese FM Wang Yi signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen relations
ICYMI: Business leaders met with Xi in China a few days ago
TODAY IN HISTORY
1918: The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force was formed.
1924: Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch; he ultimately served only nine months, during which time he wrote much of Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”).
1945: U.S. troops landed on the Japanese island of Okinawa during World War II.
1954: The United States Air Force Academy was created by an act of Congress and was later built in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1976: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne formed Apple Computer Inc., which became one of the world's leading tech companies.
1979: Following overwhelming support in a national referendum, Ruhollah Khomeini declared Iran an Islamic republic; it marked the end of the Iranian Revolution.
1984: American singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye, whose notable works include the concept album What's Going On (1971), was shot and killed by his father in Los Angeles.
1999: Created this day in 1999 by carving a vast region from Canada's Northwest Territories, the Canadian territory of Nunavut stretches across much of the Canadian Arctic and encompasses the traditional lands of the Inuit.
2001: The midair collision of a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet that was tailing it over the South China Sea resulted in the death of the Chinese pilot and the landing of the damaged American plane on Hainan Island, where its crew was detained for 11 days.
2001: The Netherlands became the first country to grant equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.
2004: Google launched Gmail, and five years later the number of people using the e-mail service surpassed one billion.
Today: April Fools' Day, celebrated with joking relationships and practical jokes, may have grown out of the medieval Feast of Fools, which was held on January 1.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
NYT: Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate for a pivotal seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, overcame $25 million in spending from Elon Musk to defeat her conservative opponent, The Associated Press reported.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday that Scott Steele has been appointed acting director of its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), following the departure of top vaccine scientist Peter Marks.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration took a significant step toward leasing new land for a North Dakota coal mine, which plans to operate through 2045.
The law firm of former Vice President Kamala Harris's husband, Doug Emhoff, reached an agreement with the Trump administration to provide $100 million in free legal services and end diversity-based hiring, effectively blocking a move by the Republican president to curtail its business.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced a proposal allowing new parents to cast their ballots by proxy, overriding Republican leadership's efforts to block the change.
Lackluster U.S. jobs data and a weak manufacturing report highlight growing concerns among Federal Reserve officials that employment could decline, even as the risk of tariff-driven inflation limits their ability to take action.
DOGE is moving forward with dismantling USAID, directing the dismissal of thousands of local workers and American diplomats and civil servants overseas, according to two former top USAID officials and a source familiar with the situation.
March saw the lowest number of migrants ever recorded illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. government on Tuesday.
President Trump is set to unveil the details of his global tariff plan tomorrow, which he has dubbed “Liberation Day.” Advisors have yet to decide whether the White House will raise or lower tariffs.
At the core of Trump’s tariff strategy is a risky bet: that Americans will accept higher prices if it helps bring back manufacturing.
The administration also released a list of foreign trade barriers that could affect the planned tariffs.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both closed higher on Tuesday, following a volatile trading day dominated by investor anxiety over the impending tariff announcements from the Trump administration.
Pharmaceutical companies are lobbying President Trump to phase in tariffs on imported drugs to reduce the immediate financial impact and allow time to shift manufacturing, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The Fed is consulting with businesses to assess the inflationary effects of Trump’s trade policies.
DOGE has gained access to a system that processes salaries for about 276,000 federal employees, raising concerns among officials about the security of this sensitive data.
The Trump administration announced it is reviewing approximately $9 billion in federal grants and contracts with Harvard University, alleging that the institution has failed to address antisemitism adequately.
The government has placed staff at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the largest source of federal funding for museums and libraries, on administrative leave.
The Pentagon has eliminated lower fitness standards for women in combat units, a move that could hinder recruitment efforts for women in high-risk military roles.
The government has granted itself the authority to deport Venezuelan migrants suspected of being involved in gangs based on tattoos or streetwear.
The U.S. has spent approximately $40 million to house fewer than 400 migrants at Guantánamo Bay.
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that President Trump’s administration cannot swiftly terminate thousands of probationary federal workers in 19 states and Washington, D.C., narrowing an earlier nationwide injunction.
A U.S. immigration error led to the wrongful deportation of a Salvadoran man during three high-profile deportation flights to El Salvador last month, despite a court ruling prohibiting his removal.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, in New York last year.
The Trump administration began mass layoffs of 10,000 health agency staffers on Tuesday, with security guards barring entry to some employees just hours after they received dismissal notices.
Nearly 2,000 scientists have signed an open letter accusing the Trump administration of conducting a “wholesale assault on U.S. science.”
Democrats on the U.S. House Oversight Committee opened an investigation into Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s handling of the federal response to bird flu, according to a letter released by the committee.
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on April 10 regarding the reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services, Chairman Bill Cassidy announced.
A coalition of Democratic-led states has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s cancellation of $11 billion in federal grants allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Transportation Department has sent new buyout offers to thousands of employees, offering pay and benefits through Sept. 30 in exchange for voluntary departures. Employees must decide by April 7.
The offer excludes critical positions such as FAA air traffic controllers and railroad safety inspectors.
The Departments of Agriculture and Energy are offering a second round of financial incentives to employees to leave their jobs this month.
Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell urged the Federal Aviation Administration to address critical concerns before deciding whether to extend a program that allows Boeing to perform FAA-delegated tasks like inspections and repairs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to release a proposal on biofuel blending mandates covering two years, rather than the previously expected three-year mandate.
President Trump urged his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate to vote against a measure rebuking his tariff policy, linking it to the fentanyl emergency he declared involving Canada. "Republicans in the Senate MUST vote to keep the National Emergency in place," Trump wrote in a post on his private social media platform.
GLOBAL
A bipartisan coalition of 50 U.S. senators—25 Republicans and 25 Democrats—introduced a sanctions bill on Tuesday targeting Russia if it refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for peace with Ukraine.
A senior Russian diplomat stated that Moscow cannot accept U.S. proposals to end the war in Ukraine in their current form, suggesting that U.S.-Russia peace talks have stalled.
Senior Trump administration officials acknowledge that securing a Ukraine peace deal in the coming months is unlikely and are developing new strategies to pressure both Kyiv and Moscow, according to two U.S. officials.
Over 50% of Ukrainians are critical of President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, fearing they could lead to an unjust or unfair resolution to Russia’s war, a Ukrainian pollster reported.
Diplomatic & Economic Developments
Argentina’s Foreign Minister has met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for a potential trade deal, even as President Trump prepares to impose sweeping tariffs. Reports are suggesting he will possibly meet with President Trump on Wednesday.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and President Trump discussed regional mediation efforts to restore stability in the Red Sea and mitigate economic disruptions.
China & Taiwan Tensions
China launched military exercises around Taiwan after the island’s president referred to China as a “hostile foreign force.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized China’s military actions, reaffirming U.S. support for Taiwan and regional stability while opposing unilateral changes to the status quo.
Middle East & Defense
Russia warned the United States that any strikes on Iran would have “catastrophic consequences.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced American military presence in the Middle East with additional warplanes amid an ongoing U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen and rising tensions with Iran.
Israeli Channel 14 reported that an “unprecedented strike” is expected, potentially the largest since World War II.
The Israeli military launched an attack on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, killing three people—the second strike in less than a week.
Legal & Human Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court reviewed the legality of a 2019 congressional statute that allows Americans injured or killed in attacks abroad to sue Palestinian authorities for monetary damages.
Military & Disasters
In Lithuania, three of four missing U.S. Army soldiers were found dead after their vehicle crashed into a swamp and sank. The search for the fourth soldier continues.
More than 2,000 people are now confirmed dead following Myanmar’s earthquake. Volunteers report that the military has blocked access to one of the hardest-hit areas, a rebel stronghold.
Senate Democrats Question DOJ Official’s Truthfulness on Adams Case
Senate Democrats are questioning whether Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche misled lawmakers during his February confirmation hearing regarding his knowledge of the Justice Department’s dismissal of corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
In a March 31 letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, ten senators—led by Peter Welch (VT) and Chris Coons (DE)—pointed to internal DOJ correspondence that contradicts Blanche’s sworn testimony, where he claimed to be unaware of the case's dismissal. Court documents reveal that former Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon was told by then-acting Deputy AG Emil Bove that he and Blanche were “on the same page” about dropping the charges.
Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he accepted Turkish bribes in exchange for political favors.
Despite the concerns, Senate Democrats lack investigative authority without Republican support, as the GOP controls Congress. Moreover, the Justice Department, where Blanche is second-in-command, is unlikely to act on a referral from Senate Democrats.
The case continues in U.S. District Court, where Judge Dale Ho is considering the DOJ's request to dismiss charges against Adams, arguing they interfere with his ability to help Trump enforce immigration laws.
Captured Russian Soldier Admits to War Crimes, Vows to Fight Again
Nikolay Kartashev, a Russian soldier captured near Kreminna in 2023, has confessed to war crimes in Bucha, including the killing of Ukrainian civilian Valerii Koltunov. Despite facing up to 12 years in a Ukrainian penal colony, Kartashev openly expressed his desire to return to the front if exchanged, stating that Russia should continue its offensive in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk. His confession highlights the brutality of Russian forces in occupied territories and underscores concerns about the potential return of war criminals to the battlefield through prisoner exchanges.
POSTS OF THE DAY
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
Leavitt: President Trump is frustrated with leaders [of Ukraine and Russia]
Leavitt: April 2, 2025, will go down as one of the most important days in modern American history
Tillis: Farmers are one crop away from bankruptcy
Fox: 401K holders should accept their fate, 2025 tariffs on CAN potash is modern day Normandy Beach
Kallas: Russia is destroying Ukraine’s present while denying the country its future
Captured Russian Soldier Admits to War Crimes, Vows to Fight Again
Ontario Premier Ford: President Trump calls tomorrow Liberation Day. I call it Termination Day
In Hungary, anti-government protesters have occupied four bridges, opposing Viktor Orbán’s crackdown on freedom of assembly under the guise of “child protection.”
Though aimed at the Pride march, Orbán’s law threatens banning any kind of protests or rally.
Later, Orban was reportedly seen fleeing Budapest.
ICYMI
A U.S. Senate investigative subcommittee launched a review on Tuesday into Meta Platforms' efforts to gain access to the Chinese market and has requested documents from the company.
OpenAI announced that it has finalized a deal valuing the company at $300 billion—double its valuation from just six months ago.
A toxic algae bloom off the coast of Southern California has led to hundreds of sea lions, dolphins, and seabirds washing ashore, raising environmental concerns.
WORTH READING
TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
Washington, D.C.
A local mom & dad took their kids on a cherry blossom photo shoot at the Tidal Basin yesterday morning… and look who walked right by!
Source and Credit: NBC Washington
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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