Pope Francis Dies at 88
Pope Francis passed away on Monday at age 88, just one day after greeting Easter worshipers in St. Peter's Square and meeting briefly with U.S. Vice President Vance. The Vatican announced his death at approximately 7:30 A.M. Rome time at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.
Francis, who led 1.4 billion Catholics for 12 years, was considered one of the most progressive pontiffs in Catholic Church history. He reshaped the faith to make it more inclusive, often clashing with traditionalists as he reached out to marginalized groups. His progressive stance included allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, softening the ban on giving communion to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, and advocating for a greater role for women in Church leadership.
The Argentine-born pontiff spoke out forcefully against economic inequality, climate change, and for the rights of migrants and the poor. He affirmed that transgender people could be baptized and supported same-sex unions while maintaining traditional Catholic positions on issues like abortion.
His funeral drew 250,000 people to the Vatican, including numerous heads of state and royalty such as the Trumps, the Bidens, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump Administration Updates
- The IRS commissioner is being replaced after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained he was installed without his knowledge and at Elon Musk's behest. The replacement commissioner will be the fourth to occupy the position since the inauguration on January 20.
- District federal judges ruled against the White House on four major policy initiatives involving voter ID, withholding funding to sanctuary cities, deportation, and cutting funding for K-12 schools with DEI programs.
- Tesla reported a 71% drop in profit Q1 2025, with Elon Musk announcing he'll reduce his government work to focus more on Tesla starting in May. “I think I'll continue to spend a day or two per week on government matters for as long as the President would like me to do so and as long as it would be useful,” Musk said.
Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
- The U.S. presented Ukraine with a “final offer” peace framework that would recognize Crimea as part of Russia and acknowledge Russian control of Ukrainian territories taken by Russia since the war began. Read more about the plan here.
- President Zelensky stated he wouldn't accept any deal recognizing Russian control of Crimea.
- On Thursday, Russia killed at least 12 and injured 70 in its strongest aerial bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in months (70 missiles and 145 drones), drawing a rare rebuke from President Trump. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” he wrote on social media.
- “We are ready to reach a deal,” Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov then said during a CBS Face the Nation interview.
- After Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met on Friday for his fourth meeting with Putin, President Trump said the two sides were “very close to a deal” and followed it with a one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the pope’s funeral this weekend.
Business & Economy
- The White House signaled cooling trade tensions with China, indicating that tariffs on China will come down soon. “The President and the administration are setting the stage for a deal with China,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “Everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen, and the ball is moving in the right direction.”
- President Trump declared he would not seek to fire the head of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell. He had criticized Powell for his refusal to lower interest rates further.
- The administration has confirmed meetings with nearly three dozen countries to negotiate trade deals, and reportedly has “18 proposals on paper.”
- The EU fined Apple and Meta a combined $800 million for breach of EU tech regulations. The move risks escalating tensions with the Trump administration as officials pursue trade talks.
Legal Developments
- Nadine Menendez, wife of Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, has been convicted on 15 federal corruption charges related to accepting bribes on behalf of her husband. The verdict revolved around the couple’s scheme to sell out his political post for gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz, and other bribes from the Egyptian and Qatari governments. Her husband was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the scheme in January.
- New Mexico Judge Jose Cano resigned after suspected Tren de Aragua gang member Ortega-Lopez was captured at his house.
- According to court documents, Ortega-Lopez met Cano’s wife shortly after scaling a barbed-wire fence to break into the U.S. and accepted her offer to stay in a “casita” on their property.
- Prosecutors also say Cano’s daughter shared her guns with the visitor and allowed him to shoot them for fun.
- FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County judge Hannah Dugan on charges that she deliberately interfered with immigration enforcement. She was charged with two counts of obstruction and released from detention after making an initial appearance in federal court.
- According to the criminal complaint, when federal agents arrived at her courtroom to apprehend a defendant who was in the country illegally, Dugan intercepted them in the hallway and directed them to speak with the chief judge.
- She then reportedly led the defendant through a side exit and out the back of the courthouse. Despite his temporary escape, authorities captured the man following a short pursuit.
- The arrest of the judge has divided public opinion, with critics arguing it represents judicial overreach and supporters maintaining that even judges must respect federal law enforcement operations.
International News
- World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has stepped down at age 87, and now faces scrutiny as the organization launches an investigation into his financial and ethical conduct. The probe follows whistleblower allegations claiming Schwab inappropriately blended personal affairs with organizational resources and operated without adequate oversight during his tenure atop the influential global forum. For some, Schwab is a figurehead for dystopia, with a hall of fame of quotes such as these:
- Israel's military acknowledged “professional failures” in a deadly attack that killed 15 medics in Gaza last month, and announced the dismissal of a commander.
- As the U.S. government faces pressure to engage Iran militarily over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran and the U.S. have concluded a new round of talks, and are reportedly meeting again to continue diplomatic efforts. “There is no reason for much optimism, and there is no reason for much pessimism either,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iran state media. That was helpful, thanks.
Science & Technology
- Engineers found evidence of hydraulic systems in Egypt's 4,500-year-old Step Pyramid of Djoser, the earliest of the pyramids. The discovery potentially moves up the timeline for major hydraulic technology by millennia.
- Humanoid robots competed alongside humans in a Beijing half-marathon, with the fastest robot finishing in 2:40:42 compared to the human winner's time of 1:02:36. The robot champion had to stop three times for a battery change. Folks, at least for now you’ve still got a chance.
