The Bulletin
World in Brief
Welcome to the Bulletin,
- Donald Trump New York trial: The second week of former President Donald Trump's hush money trial concluded on Friday after testimony from three witnesses was presented to the jury. Here are five bombshells from the court this week.
- NATO aircraft activated: Aircraft from Poland's air force and other NATO allies were scrambled overnight on Friday night following Russian attacks on Ukraine. Get the latest.
- Khymani James campus ban: One of the leading figures in the ongoing "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University has been barred from campus. Footage emerged this week of James saying "Zionists don't deserve to live." Find out more about Khymani James.
- Texas border shooting: A U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot at by someone at the U.S.-Mexico border near San Elizario on Thursday, according to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Get the latest.
- Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt march: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to drown out a pro-Israel march on Thursday near Columbia University in New York. Here's what we know.
- Barrett may disappoint Trump: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett may disappoint Donald Trump in his presidential immunity case, according to legal experts.
- Willis faces protest at event: Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis has been threatened with protest over a cocktail event she is scheduled to attend. Find out more.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, propagandists dubbed the "Iron Doll of Putin TV" due to her slavish devotion to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is panicking over the United States delivering long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Trump Refusing To Go After David Pecker Raises Questions
Speculation has risen as to why Donald Trump has not risked violating his gag order to attack former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker following his damning testimony in the hush money trial.
Why it matters: Pecker testified about his concerns with the legality of a "catch and kill" payment of $180,000 to silence a story about Trump's alleged affair with Karen McDougal before the 2016 election. Prosecutors claim Trump, Pecker, and Cohen conspired to hide damaging information, influencing the election. Despite a gag order, Trump has attacked other witnesses but stayed silent on Pecker, likely due to Pecker's media influence, as former FBI agent Asha Rangappa suggests on X. "My guess is that from Trump's vantage point, Pecker has a lot of power, because he can create stories (including negative and even fake ones) about HIM!" Rangappa posted.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Fears David Pecker's 'Power': Attorney
Donald Trump Hush Money Trial Updates: Trump Calls Pecker's Testimony 'Amazing'
Donald Trump Knew Karen McDougal's Story Would Get Out
TL/DR: The former National Enquirer publisher testified how he helped Trump's 2016 campaign by suppressing negative stories.
What happens now? Pecker returns to the stand today to face cross-examination from Trump's attorneys. Meanwhile, Judge Juan Merchan has yet to issue a ruling on Trump's alleged violation of the gag order. The next hearing will be Thursday, May 2. Trump faces $1,000 per violation, the maximum under state law, or up to 30 days in jail if he is found in contempt of violating the gag order.
Deeper reading Donald Trump Refusing To Go After David Pecker Raises Questions
Could Ukraine's Strikes on Russian Oil Derail Biden's Reelection?
Washington's apparent concerns to Kyiv not to continue strikes on Russian oil infrastructure shows unease that attacks hampering Moscow's military machine may have repercussions on President Joe Biden's campaign trail.
Why it matters: Recent Ukrainian attacks, the one in the border oblast of Smolensk, could affect global oil prices and indirectly impact the U.S. economy, with rising gas prices affecting voter sentiment. It was the latest sign that Ukraine was continuing apace its attacks against Russian energy infrastructure over recent months, for which Kyiv often does not claim direct responsibility. The Biden administration is concerned about the impact of rising oil prices on inflation and the cost of living, and any action by Ukraine on Russian energy infrastructure could exacerbate these issues.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Ukraine Hits Multiple Russian Refineries Overnight Despite US Warnings
Russian Oil Exports Crippled by Ukraine Attacks on Refineries
Ukraine Strikes at Heart of Russia With Massive Drone Attack
TL/DR: Strikes on Russian oil facilities blamed on Kyiv have stoked concerns about energy prices and inflation in the U.S.
What happens now? Houthi strikes in Yemen, which impact Red Sea shipments, have escalated as Iran joins the conflict, affecting global oil supply. James Hill, CEO of MCF Energy, told Newsweek that the Biden administration emphasizes the need to maintain well-supplied energy markets to support Ukraine and manage inflation.
Deeper reading Could Ukraine's Strikes on Russian Oil Derail Biden's Reelection?
Chinese Firms Flout US Sanctions for Lucrative Russia Deals
The ExpoElectronica conference is a prime annual opportunity for Russia's most advanced tech companies to make deals with the country's decision-makers, including those in the powerful security and military sectors.
Why it matters: This year's event highlighted China's expanding presence in the Russian economy, especially in technology. Three Chinese companies exhibiting at the event, including IMAXChip Technology, Izzition E-Technology, and Sinno Electronics, have already been sanctioned by the U.S. for helping Russians evade international trade restrictions. China is Russia's largest trade partner, with business between the neighbors expanding to a record high of around $240 billion in 2023.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Chinese Exports to Russia Plummet for First Time Since War Began
Congress Passes Ukraine Bill With Support for Taiwan—China's Response
The Grim Implication of Speaker Mike Johnson's Ukraine Pivot
TL/DR: Earlier this month, for the 2024 installment, Russia's tech leaders—represented by 369 companies—were almost outnumbered by 348 Chinese counterparts.
What happens now? The U.S. may increase sanctions on China due to its support for Russia. "If the U.S. says it's going to target Chinese banks, no bank in the world is going to want to do business with Russia. That would be really worrisome to China's banks,” Bonnie Glaser, the managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told Newsweek.
Deeper reading Chinese Firms Flout US Sanctions for Lucrative Russia Deals
Trump Campaign Accused of Spamming People With Unsolicited Emails
Former President Donald Trump's campaign has been accused of spamming people with unsolicited campaign emails through third parties ahead of the 2024 election, including individuals from foreign countries who cannot vote.
Why it matters: Sources told Newsweek about receiving "annoying" emails advancing Trump's campaign, with one claiming they could not unsubscribe from them. There was no suggestion the emails violated electoral rules, with email lists often sold or rented to federal candidate campaigns and PACs for solicitation purposes. However, one company sending the emails may be breaching its terms of service by allegedly not allowing a user to unsubscribe.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Fundraiser Charges Couples $1.6 Million
Donald Trump Fundraiser May Have Broken the Law
Donald Trump's Billionaire Donors Revealed
TL/DR: Through a third-party blog, individuals receive unsolicited campaign emails to reelect the former president.
What happens now? Politics expert Mark Shanahan described Trump's campaign as "ramshackle," noting its reliance on email campaigning due to his legal battles restricting his campaign activities inside the courtroom. At the same time, Biden enjoys the freedom to engage with voters nationwide.
Deeper reading Donald Trump Campaign Accused of Spamming People With Unsolicited Emails
Tucker Carlson's Tough Year Since Fox News Firing
It has been a year since Tucker Carlson's dismissal from Fox News and a full 12 months since he embarked on a decidedly unpredictable ride that has seen him plant roots in nontraditional media.
Why it matters: Carlson said he found out he was leaving the network just 10 minutes before it was announced, causing a lot of talk. This happened soon after Fox News paid $787.5 million to settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, who accused the network of spreading false claims of election fraud during the 2020 election. Ratings plunged from more than 3 million to an audience of as low as 1.3 million after Carlson left Fox. He later rebranded himself with Tucker on Twitter and scored an interview with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president's first with an American journalist since his country embarked on its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The interview had lukewarm reviews from viewers and Putin.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Tucker Carlson Recalls Working for Harvey Weinstein—'He Was a Pig'
Candace Owens Accused of Spouting Soviet Propaganda With WW2 Comment
Tucker Carlson to Blame for 'Demonization of Ukraine': Mitch McConnell
TL/DR: The TV personality was pushed into unchartered waters last year following his shock ousting from Fox News.
What happens now? This week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Carlson for influencing Republican resistance to Ukraine aid, suggesting cracks in conservative unity and Carlson's fading influence. This may be seen as the right-wing's golden boy losing his luster. What it may truly represent is the fact that conservatives are no longer in lockstep on issues that would have united them in the past.
Deeper reading Tucker Carlson's Tough Year Since Fox News Firing
I Helped Thousands of Migrants at the U.S. Border
On a hot September afternoon in 2023, my cousin called me with urgent instructions: "Load up your truck with water and bring your bag of tricks," she said. "There are hundreds out here."
My "bag of tricks" was my first-aid kit. And the "hundreds" were migrants who'd crossed a well-known gap in the border fence, hoping to claim asylum in the United States. I live near Jacumba, a high desert outpost on the Mexican border, about 70 miles east of San Diego.
In recent months, we'd heard about migrants paying smugglers to drop them at this spot. I'd even seen one of the camps myself after I encountered a panicked Turkish woman on the road. She'd lost track of her teenage son and daughter after being sent to the hospital, most likely suffering from dehydration or just sheer exhaustion.
