FT: Lutnick has said 200,000 visas could bring in $1 trillion for Treasury. But only 165 people have paid the $15,000 visa processing fee. @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/30f6...

“This is an Achilles heel for Donald Trump.” Katie Phang says her lawsuit over alleged concealed Epstein files hasn’t triggered the usual MAGA backlash — despite threats she’s faced in the past. Watch the full interview with JT Cestkowski ⬇️

AOC tells PabloReports that the reinstatement of the agent who shot Renee Good is a reminder of why Democrats should not give ICE and CBP a dime. AOC: Every single person that that man encounters is in just as grave danger as she was in.

BREAKING: The House of Representatives reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for another 3 years. The government regularly abuses this law to spy on Americans without a warrant. Despite bipartisan outrage, it now goes to the Senate.

ALERT: It’s been an exciting 1st month for me at Meidas Touch Pleased to announce I’ll also join some of my Capitol press corps colleagues contributing to an exciting start-up @535news.bsky.social Some of the best-of-the-best from top media orgs will dig into fun, deep dives re: policy

It's done: The Florida legislature just passed the new map, which was unveiled by the governor Monday. The map significantly shifts 4 Dem seats toward the GOP; whether the GOP could win them all in a blue-leaning year is a different matter. Democrats will sue, pointing to the state constitution.

WHITESIDES: I want to talk about the Apache helicopter that flew over Kid Rock's property on March 28. An investigation was launched. Did you personally direct termination of that review? HEGSETH: I did WHITESIDES: How does canceling a command-initiated review support a culture of accountability?

GOODLANDER: Do you know what the average cost of a gallon of gas was in this country was on February 28? HEGSETH: If you live in California, it's $8 GOODLANDER: $2.83. Do you know what the cost is today? HEGSETH: Much higher in California GOODLANDER: $4.23. You can't answer this basic question?

Fed Chair Powell warns that rising gas prices are harming the economy: "When gas prices go up, that's disposable income coming out of people's pockets. They're going to spend less on other things. So, there will be a hit to GDP."

Powell's decision to stay on over Trump's strident campaign to oust him as Fed chair is Trump hoist by his own petard. (look up that phrase -- it's even more fitting than you may think of 47!). It's the legal peril Trump put him in to exert improper pressure that makes him now need to stay.

Y’all, the night before they released a ruling destroying a pillar of our democracy they celebrated a monarchy. One cannot fictionalize wilder stuff. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

Our actions today are for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. For years, many have been complicit in protecting the powerful, wealthy, and well-connected who participated in a pedophile Ponzi scheme. @pressley.house.gov is clear: We will get justice. A reckoning is on the way.

Powell: "After my term ends on May 15, I will continue to serve as a governor for a period of time to be determined"

Powell: "My concern is about the series of legal attacks on the Fed, which threaten our ability to conduct monetary policy without considering political factors. These legal actions by the administration are unprecedented and there are ongoing threats of additional ones."

Powell: "Energy hasn't even peaked yet, and we'd want to see the backside of that and progress on tariffs before we even thought about reducing rates"

Fed Chair Powell: "Core PCE prices rose 3.2% over the 12 months ending in March. This relatively high rate largely reflects the impact of tariffs on prices in the goods sector. Near-term measures of inflation expectations have risen this year, likely because of the substantial rise in oil prices."

Powell: "Inflation has moved up and is elevating in part reflecting the recent increase in global energy prices"

awkward -- Cory Mills tries to defend himself during the Hegseth hearing shortly after his fellow Republican Nancy Mace accused him of serial lying and stolen valor

🔥WATCH: “There’s nothing ‘REALISTIC’ about this. WHERE IS THIS GOING? Wish fulfillment is not a strategy.” @repadamsmith (D) takes apart Trump & Hegseth’s deadly, misguided actions that have diminished 🇺🇸 and thrown 🌎 into chaos

Powell: "A good part of the slowing in the pace of job growth over the past year reflects a decline in the growth of the labor force due to lower immigration and labor force participation, though labor demand has clearly softened as well"

Powell: "I have said that I will not leave the board until this investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality, and I stand by that. I'm encouraged by recent developments and I'm watching the remaining steps in this process carefully."

Kind Charles meets Mayor Mamdani And it's tough to see who has the bigger crush on the other 😁

President Trump will do everything he can to consolidate more power.

NO 👇 LIES DETECTED

Scott MacFarlane reports from Capitol Hill as even Trump allies admit the case against James Comey looks like “a stretch.” Meanwhile, lawmakers grill Pete Hegseth over a $25 billion Iran War with no clear plan, and House Oversight sets a new deposition date for Pam Bondi after a contempt push.

Congressman Seth Mouton just made Pete Hegseth look like the moron he is: Congressman Mouton: Mr. Hegseth, do you call Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz ‘winning?’ Pete Hegesth: I would say the blockade that we hold that doesn’t allow anything to come in or out of Iranian ports... Mouton: “OK...

"This is the single DUMBEST charging decision I have ever seen in my entire law enforcement career or in my even longer career as an attorney." @michael-feinberg.bsky.social on with @nicollewallace.bsky.social for Comey's second indictment

Absolutely! Two can play at this game.

Surprising exactly nobody, the Fed kept rates on hold. More interesting: This is the most divided I've seen a committee vote. They're not divided over the decision (except Miran, but who cares), but over the language, and whether to signal the next step is lower rates.

Fed officials leave interest rates unchanged, but reveal deepening divisions over the outlook for policy with the Iran war increasing uncertainty Get live updates ⤵️

DELUZIO: You said, 'No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.' Is your guidance that you expect our troops in harm's way to kill enemies who are surrendering? HEGSETH: My commanders know exactly what the guidance is with each and every mission

Hegseth: "We live in a dangerous world against a determined enemy that can't have a nuclear weapons, and that requires sacrifice and risk. Tragically, in this case it meant 6 Americans lost their lives and others were wounded. We all know that. That's part of the cost."

“There’s definitely double standards when it comes to Trump and his establishment….”

RYAN: Before the war starter, there was clear intelligence that the base was high on Iran's target list and internal analysis that said the site is indefensible. Yet you sent our soldiers there anyway. True or false? HEGSETH: Are you just gonna play gotcha? RYAN: Six of our soldiers are dead

Listen to this, outstanding reporting by Allan Piper….

GOP Rep. Austin Scott to Hegseth: "I disagree with the firing of General George. I sent you a letter. I look forward to seeing a response. It takes 218 votes to get something across the floor of the House ... we're gonna lose some Republican votes."

Reminder that any political party trying to make it harder to vote is sending a clear message: they can't win on their ideas alone.

💰 Rep Adam Smith (D): “The Pentagon has not yet passed an audit… if we give them a 50-60% increase to $1.5 TRILLION is that money going to be well spent? I think we have every reason to doubt that.”

Restructure the court. Go to 13 seats (to correspond to number of circuits.) Go to term limits. Retroactively if possible. Investigate and if appropriate prosecute/disbar justices who have been on the take. Establish strict enforceable ethical guidelines for the court. Then move on...

At the California gubernatorial debate. What the fuck @cbsnews.com?

BREAKING: Questioned before House about Trump's mental incapacity Hegseth blurts "Autopen"

JACOBS: How do I explain this post to my constituents? *displays a placard with Trump's post depicting himself as Jesus* HEGSETH: I'm not here to explain posts. We have an incredible commander in chief

Dems running for Congress and POTUS must run on Supreme Court reform. A law forcing justices into senior status after 18 years, applicable to the current bench would do the trick. That would force Roberts, Alito, and Thomas into senior status, opening three seats to be filled immediately. 1/

Rep. Khanna: Will you acknowledge that Trump's Iran war imposes an economic cost on the American people? Hegseth: We have an incredible economic team that is managing this.

Enten: "These are the worst numbers I've ever seen for any president on inflation. Trump is 49 points underwater. Biden -- inflation absolutely crushed his presidency -- but at his worst he was only 43 points underwater. Trump is in a worse position on inflation than Jimmy Carter was!"

Jacobs to Hegseth: "On Easter Sunday, Trump threatened to destroy Iran's bridges & power plants, writing, 'Open the fuckin strait you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell.' My office phone has been ringing off the hook with military families concerned about the president's mental fitness."

Keating to Hegseth on the administration's rationale for its deadly boat strikes: "We were given classified information on the second strike. I can't discuss it. But it's the most convoluted bullshit I've ever heard in my life."

Houlahan to Hegseth: "In your opening remarks, you reserved more words and more vitriol to condemn Democrats than you did for Xi and Putin combined. It's pretty telling to me that you decided to use your time for that."

HEGSETH: It's very difficult to change the culture of a department that has been destroyed by the wrong perspectives HOULAHAN: So you think General George destroyed a culture? HEGSETH: We need new leadership HOULAHAN: You have no way of explaining why you fired him

CROW: Is it true that you were also removed from the same investigation last year? The answer is yes HEGSETH: No. Not that I'm aware of. CROW: You're not aware of it? That's interesting