News From Around the Web
#10 DNC Panel Votes to Void David Hogg’s Election to Democratic Vice Chair - Victor Nava for New York Post, Bad Hombre, Stephen L. Miller, Eric Daugherty, and Sarah Fields on X
The Democratic National Committee’s credentials panel voted Monday to void activist David Hogg’s election to vice chair of the party. Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., was elected vice chair in February but has drawn criticism from some Democrats over his plans to spend $20 million to take down long-serving Democratic House lawmakers in primaries. “[It’s] impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote,” Hogg said in a statement after the vote, according to Politico. “The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort,” he added...
#9 Trump Administration Welcomes 59 White South Africans as Refugees - AP News, Tammy Bruce, Department of State, Mike Davis, Geiger Capital, and Andy Ngo on X
The Trump administration on Monday welcomed a group of 59 white South Africans as refugees, saying they face discrimination and violence at home, which the country’s government strongly denies. The decision to admit the Afrikaners also has raised questions from refugee advocates about why they were admitted when the Trump administration has suspended efforts to resettle people fleeing war and persecution who have gone through years of vetting. Many in the group from South Africa — including toddlers and other small children, even one walking barefoot in pajamas — held small American flags as two officials welcomed them to the United States in an airport hangar outside Washington. The South Africans were then leaving on other flights to various U.S. destinations...
#8 Episcopal Church Refuses to Resettle White Afrikaners, Citing Moral Opposition - Jack Jenkins for NPR, Miranda Divine, Andy Ngo, Gavin M. Wax, Phezukwabo, and Andrew K on X
In a striking move that ends a nearly four-decades-old relationship between the federal government and the Episcopal Church, the denomination announced on Monday that it is terminating its partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by President Trump's administration. In a letter sent to members of the church, the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe — the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church — said that two weeks ago, the government "informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees."
#7 Former Trump Lawyer Todd Blanche Named Acting Librarian of Congress - Amanda Castro for Newsweek, CBS News, The Washington Times, Library Journal, Karen Green, and Conservative News Daily on X
Todd Blanche, who represented Donald Trump during his 2024 criminal trial, has been appointed acting Librarian of Congress following Carla Hayden's recent firing. This change comes amid ongoing conservative criticism of Hayden's leadership. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and defense attorney, now steps into the role after serving as Deputy Attorney General. Blanche replaces Carla Hayden, who was dismissed last week. Hayden, nominated by President Obama in 2015, faced backlash for promoting a "woke" agenda. In Trump's New York hush money trial, Blanche was instrumental in Trump's defense. The appointment signals a shift in leadership at the Library of Congress...#6 Medicaid Recipients Could Face Work Requirements Under GOP Bill - Aimee Picchi for CBS News, KFF, Hillbilly, Loren Adler, and Washington Journal on X
A massive change could soon be in the works for the 71 million Americans on Medicaid, with House Republicans unveiling new legislation on Sunday that would require many enrollees in the government health care program to prove they are either working, volunteering, or in school to receive coverage. The proposal is part of an effort by House Republicans to find $880 billion in savings over the next decade to help pay for President Trump's tax bill, which will extend his 2017 tax cuts while introducing some new reductions, like eliminating taxes on tips...
#5 US Slashes ‘De Minimis’ Tariff, China Lifts Boeing Ban Amid Trade War Thaw - Yahoo Finance, Doctor Fate, Airways Magazine, Reuters Business, and Seth Golden on X
A White House executive order Monday slashed the "de minimis" tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%, with a $100 flat fee starting May 14. It served as the latest in a broad thawing of trade-war tensions between the US and China, after the two powers paused most tariffs for 90 days and sent markets into euphoria. Both nations pledged to cut their broad, ballooning tariffs after weekend talks. US tariffs dropped to 30% from 145%, while China’s moved to 10% from 125%, per a joint statement. "The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday. "And what had occurred with these very high tariffs ... was the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade."#4 Alberta Government Freezes Industrial Carbon Price, Citing Impact of U.S. Tariffs - Jack Farrell for The Canadian Press, Danielle Smith, Marc Nixon, Rebecca Schultz, CTV Edmonton, and Bloomberg on X
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is freezing its industrial carbon price effective immediately at $95 per tonne of emissions. Smith told reporters Monday the move is critical to keep industry competitive and defend jobs as Canada navigates a tariff fight with the United States. "With the change in government south of the border, it is essential that we have a reasonable carbon pricing system, not one that will price our industries out of global markets," she said. "We are providing certainty, stability, and economic relief to the businesses that contribute so much to all of Canada. And we are supporting the energy producers whose expertise and innovation are quite literally shaping the world's energy future."
#3 US Budget Surplus Rises 23% to $258 Billion in April, Customs Revenue Surges - Reuters, Larry Schweikart, Market Heretic, LWS Financial Research, and Judicial Corruption is Everywhere on X
The U.S. government posted a $258 billion budget surplus for April, up 23% from a year earlier, reflecting strong tax receipts in the final month of the tax season and surging collections of import duties, the Treasury Department said on Monday.Treasury reported that net customs duties in April totaled $16 billion, about a $9 billion increase from the year-earlier period. The increase occurred during a month in which President Donald Trump boosted tariffs on Chinese goods to as much as 145% while slapping at least 10% on imports on goods from other countries...
#2 First Witnesses in Sean “Diddy” Combs Sex Trafficking Trial Share Graphic Testimony - Mark Prussin and Alice Gainer for CBS News, Al Jazeera English, Carmine Sabia, Rolling Stone, and Lisa Evers on X
Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is on trial in Manhattan federal court for allegedly sexually assaulting, trafficking, and otherwise exploiting women over multiple decades prior to his September arrest. Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion (two counts), and transportation for purposes of prostitution (two counts). The criminal trial will highlight claims made by four women, including Combs' ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, and three who will testify anonymously. Combs, 55, is being held without bail and could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. He rejected a plea deal offered in the final pre-trial hearing. The trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks...#1 Trump Signs Order Aiming to Slash U.S. Drug Prices to Match Those Abroad - Joseph Gedeon and Léonie Chao-Fong for The Guardian, Bo Loudon, Maze, Chicago1Ray, The Vigilant Fox, Nick Sortor, and Lauren Lee on X
The White House is unveiling an aggressive drug pricing strategy targeting pharmaceutical companies, promising to dramatically cut prescription drug costs for American consumers. Donald Trump condemned the current pricing system as a “redistribution” that has allowed drugmakers to exploit US patients and signed an executive order that he says will lead to matching lower drug prices abroad. “We are subsidizing others’ healthcare, where they paid a small fraction of what we pay,” the president said in a press conference on Monday, flanked by health and human services secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and centers for Medicare and Medicaid services administrator Mehmet Oz. “Even though the United States is home to only 4% of the world’s population, pharmaceutical companies make more than two-thirds of their profits in America,” Trump said. “That’s not a good thing.”
And Now for Something Special 
Art Posting
