– Trump signs an executive order directing his administration to create a list of “sanctuary cities” that fail to comply with federal immigration laws and threatens to cut off federal funding if they continue to defy them. The administration will take action against state and local regulations that favor illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens.
– Trump signs an executive order calling for stronger policing by providing better legal protections for officers accused of misconduct, better training, higher salaries, expanded prison capacity, tougher penalties for crimes against officers, and providing military and national security resources. Local leaders who the administration says are obstructing policing or implementing discriminatory diversity policies could face legal action.
– Trump signs an executive order directing his administration to reinstate strict English language requirements for truck drivers. Drivers who do not speak English well enough would be suspended and irregularities with commercial driver’s licenses would be investigated.
– The White House says Trump will veto a Senate resolution to block his tariffs.
– Border Czar Homan says illegal immigrants must register and carry documentation starting today; failure to do so will be considered criminals. The Trump administration will aggressively pursue migrants with departure orders, imposing fines of up to $998 per day.
– The Trump administration is launching a racial discrimination investigation at the Harvard Law Review after reports of discriminatory practices in membership and article selection.
– The Trump administration is accusing the University of Pennsylvania of giving women unequal opportunities by allowing a transgender swimmer to compete on the women’s team and access team facilities. The Department of Education is demanding that the university fix the violations within 10 days or face prosecution.
– Trump is establishing the FEMA Review Council to evaluate the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Trump previously said he was considering disbanding FEMA after criticizing its response to Hurricane Helene. The council includes Secretaries Hegseth and Noem.
– White House press secretary Leavitt tells Fox that the Trump administration will not hesitate to arrest judges, including federal judges and even a Supreme Court justice, if law enforcement is obstructed. Leavitt emphasizes that anyone who obstructs federal law enforcement is at risk of prosecution.
– Leavitt says that since January 20, Trump has signed more than 140 executive orders, as well as numerous memorandums and proclamations and other directions for and about government action.
– Trump is suspending the entire leadership of the Justice Department responsible for enforcing voter discrimination laws. Tamar Hagler, the head of the department, and five top officials are being transferred to the complaints division. Pending cases are being dropped without explanation.
– Trump administration officials are placing dozens of posters of arrested illegal immigrants along the White House driveway. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announces that the administration will publish a list of cities and states that Trump has identified as obstructing immigration enforcement.
– Pastor William Barber is arrested during a protest in the Capitol Rotunda against the proposed Republican federal budget, which extends tax cuts and cuts social and environmental programs. Barber emphasizes the importance of strong testimony even in the absence of change.
– The 365 funds being cut by the Trump administration include a project for 900 survivors of violent crime, drug abuse initiatives in New Jersey, a program in Texas to support police in dealing with people with mental health issues and child abuse investigations. Hate crimes initiatives and a program for victims of crime with disabilities are also being cut.
– ICE is targeting unaccompanied minors across the U.S. with the goal of deporting them or prosecuting their sponsors, according to a recent ICE document obtained by the National Immigration Project. The actions are presented as “policing to ensure the safety of the children.”
– Trump criticizes low approval ratings in polls and accuses pollsters and news organizations of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” He calls for an investigation into John McLaughlin, a Fox pollster who has typically favored him but has not recently.
Fallout
– The UK and the European Union are planning a joint declaration for free trade to defy Trump’s tariff agenda and deepen their cooperation in areas such as defence, energy and support for Ukraine. They hope to further repair the post-Brexit relationship and start new negotiations at a summit on 19 May.
– Illinois Governor JB Pritzker gives a speech in New Hampshire in which he criticizes both Trump and the reticent attitude of some Democrats. He calls for more action against the Republicans. Although he has not officially announced himself as a presidential candidate, his speech is seen as a signal of possible ambitions in the 2028 elections.
– Two of the 365 funds that were cut by the Trump administration are having their funding restored after a backlash, including the National Center for Crime Victims in Maryland, which runs a national helpline for victims.
– Japanese Economy Minister Akazawa insists that Japan has not changed its position and is demanding the complete removal of US import duties.
– Gov. Kathy Hochul is open to the idea of renaming New York’s Penn Station after Donald Trump, now that his administration has taken control of the station’s $7 billion redevelopment. She says renaming the station isn’t her favorite option, but it would save $1.3 billion that would otherwise be spent on other costs.
– Kamala Harris will criticize Trump and his policies during her keynote address at the Emerge gala, Politico reports. She will honor the organization for its role in advancing women in politics and call for action against Trump’s economic plans and his push to reform the federal government.
– Republican Sen. Dave McCormick has invested about $1 million in Bitcoin, the largest investment by a member of Congress. McCormick sits on the committee that drafts regulations for digital currencies.
– Democratic House Speaker Shri Thanedar introduces seven articles of impeachment against Trump on charges including abuse of power and corruption, but the proposals will fail without support from the Republican majority. Al Green and Ilhan Omar are also preparing impeachment proceedings against Trump and several cabinet members.
– Musk’s popularity has declined, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 33 percent of American adults have a favorable view of Musk, down from 41 percent in December.
– Adam Schleifer is challenging his dismissal from the Merit Systems Protection Board after he was fired as an assistant U.S. attorney last month. Schleifer says he was fired for political reasons.
– Republicans in the House of Representatives unveil their budget amendments, including $46.5 billion for a new border wall, nearly three times what Trump spent on the wall during his first term. It also increases funding for ICE’s deportation program by 400 percent to $14.4 billion through 2029, making it possible to hold more than 100,000 migrants at a time. Immigration courts will get $1.25 billion. Finally, there is a severe restriction on judges’ ability to hold someone in contempt of court. Legal experts say the restriction appears to be specifically aimed at preventing Judge Boasberg from holding Trump in contempt of court.
– The American Bar Association (ABA) is suing the Justice Department for canceling $3.2 million in federal grants, saying it was in retaliation for criticizing the Trump administration. The ABA alleges that the termination of the grants, which are used for legal training for victims of domestic and sexual violence, violates First Amendment rights.
– Two employees of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, Luke Farritor and Adam Ramada, had accounts on secret networks with information about U.S. nuclear weapons, sources told NPR. The Department of Energy denies they had access to these systems, but sources say their presence is visible in the network directories.
– Cliona Ward, an Irish woman who has lived legally in the U.S. for 30 years, is being held by ICE after visiting her ailing father in Ireland. She was detained on a conviction from more than a decade ago that has been expunged under state law, but not federal law.
– Russia proposes a peace plan that contradicts the U.S. proposal: Ukraine must not join NATO, must be demilitarized and denazified. The annexation of Crimea and other regions must be recognized, sanctions must be lifted and frozen Russian assets must be returned. Russia rejects the U.S. proposal to transfer control of the Zaporizhia nuclear plant. It also wants to abolish Ukrainian laws protecting language, culture and church.
– The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee wants to charge asylum seekers $1,000 to apply for asylum.
– New emails show that the staffers who are carrying out the mass layoffs at the CFPB must also lay themselves off.
– Staff cuts at the Defense Department are delaying plans to hire at least 1,000 more civil servants to help prevent sexual assault, suicide and behavioral problems in the military, senior defense officials said.
– Trump says in an interview with The Atlantic that he is experiencing his second term differently because he is now leading both “the country and the world.” The interview came about after a reporter obtained Trump’s number, called him, and despite the fact that the number was unknown to Trump, he answered, engaged in conversation and then agreed to an interview.
– Mark Carney is elected prime minister of Canada, leading the Liberals to a fourth consecutive term. He promises to protect Canada from Trump’s tariffs and seek new trade and defense partnerships.
– A Senate investigation committee estimates that Musk and his companies could avoid at least $2.37 billion in legal liability through his efforts to weaken the federal workforce and influence agencies, and calls on the Trump administration to investigate Musk’s contracts and launch audits to prevent undue influence.
