The Bulletin
World in Brief
Welcome to the Bulletin,
- Habba doubtful of Trump acquittal: Alina Habba has indicated that she doubts Donald Trump will be acquitted in his hush money case. Here's why.
- Russia spooks US with space nukes pivot: Russia has vetoed a draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council banning nuclear weapons in space, spooking the United States. Learn more.
- Ham recall in eight states: A New Jersey-based food and beverage company is recalling thousands of pounds of German-made prosciutto ham shipped to eight states. See which states are affected.
- Mike Johnson on Greene: House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he does not think about Marjorie Taylor Greene "at all" amid her ongoing effort to oust him. Here are his full remarks.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Ukraine has already used fresh long-range missiles secretly provided by the U.S. in Russian-controlled Crimea, according to a U.S. official.
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Why the Supreme Court Can't Solve All of Trump's Legal Problems
The Supreme Court is poised to make one of the biggest decisions on presidential power, but a victory for former President Donald Trump won't solve all of his legal problems.
Why it matters: Trump, who is the first former president to be indicted, is facing charges in four criminal cases. Trump v. United States stems from his federal election interference case. He also faces a federal case related to the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago and a separate election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia. Since Trump's alleged conduct isn't tied to presidential duties, the trial will proceed regardless of the Supreme Court's decision on immunity. However, a ruling in Trump's favor could affect the Fulton County case, where the scope of presidential duties is more complex.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Supreme Court Deals Blow to Effort to Kick Donald Trump Off Ballot
Jack Smith 'Hypothetical' Could Turn Trump Immunity Claim Against SCOTUS
Donald Trump Rages About 'Immunity' Ahead of Supreme Court Hearing
TL/DR: The Supreme Court could side with Trump and hand him a major legal win, but his trial in Manhattan could continue to be an issue.
What happens now? Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Trump v. United States, which argues that Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for conduct that occurred while he was in the White House. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker will return to the stand to deliver further testimony about his agreement with Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
Deeper reading Why the Supreme Court Can't Solve All of Donald Trump's Legal Problems
Over 100 Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested at USC, University of Texas
At least 127 people were arrested on Wednesday during pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles and the University of Texas (UT) at Austin.
Why it matters: Students demonstrating against the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza have established several protest camps at universities across the United States. A protest encampment was formed at Columbia University on April 17. On Wednesday, students at USC and UT attempted to set up tent-based protest encampments at their respective institutions, following the example set at Columbia and other universities. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott denounced the protests. "Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled," he said.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Hamas Slams US Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian College Protests
Republican Blames China for Pro-Palestinian College Protests
Mike Johnson Booed by Columbia Pro-Palestinian Protesters
TL/DR: Police moved in on both campuses after students began constructing camps in university grounds to protest against the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza.
What happens now? USC announced that the campus remains closed until further notice. However, “Students, faculty, staff, and people with business on campus may enter with proper identification." Meanwhile, Israel has been constructing tent-based encampments in southern Gaza ahead of a possible assault on Rafah, the last city in the territory under Hamas control where over a million people are believed to be sheltering.
Deeper reading Over 100 Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested at USC, University of Texas
Giuliani, Meadows, 16 More Trump Allies Indicted in Arizona Election Probe
Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows are reportedly among the 18 allies of former President Donald Trump who on Wednesday were indicted by an Arizona grand jury, accused in efforts to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election results, according to newly released court documents. According to a statement from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office, the charges include fraud, forgery and conspiracy.
Why it matters: Arizona, where President Joe Biden defeated Trump by more than 10,000 votes, was among seven states where Republicans are accused of acting as fake electors, allegedly signing documents falsely claiming Trump had won. In addition to Arizona, prosecutors have also handed down charges in Nevada, Georgia, and Michigan. More than a dozen high-profile Republicans are accused of acting as "fake electors" while asserting without evidence that Trump had defeated Biden in Arizona.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Jr. Text Detailed in Arizona Indictment
Arizona Republicans Rage at Fake Elector Indictments: 'Blatant Abuse'
Key Takeaways From Report on Trump Team's Alleged Fake Electors Plot
TL/DR: Eighteen of the former president's allies were indicted in Arizona, accused in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state.
What happens now? Trump was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator. While 11 were named in the indictment on Wednesday, seven additional names were redacted from records released by Mayes. Mayes said in a statement Wednesday night that several defendants are still being served with the charges.
Deeper reading Giuliani, Meadows, 16 More Trump Allies Indicted in Arizona Election Probe
How Latino Voters Will Decide the 2024 Election
Latino voters are likely to play a "decisive role" in the 2024 presidential election, according to Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, vice president of the Latino Vote Initiative being run by UnidosUS, which claims to be America's "largest Latino civil rights organization."
Why it matters: Martínez-de-Castro emphasized the heightened influence of Latino voters due to their concentration in battleground states and states containing a lot of Electoral College votes. Some recent polling has suggested Hispanic voters are moving away from the Democratic Party, and while Martínez-de-Castro agreed there has been some "erosion" in Latino support for the party but argued some media reports have overstated it.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Leads Joe Biden Among Hispanic Voters in 'Surprising' Poll
Joe Biden Issues Desperate Plea to Latino Voters
Latinos Turn on Biden Over 'Alarming' Border Bill
TL/DR: Latino voters are "geographically concentrated" in key states, meaning they will play a "decisive role" in the 2024 presidential election, according to an expert.
What happens now? With over 80% of Latino registered voters participating in presidential elections, Martínez-de-Castro says addressing the growing registration gap of 13 million requires increased investment and effective outreach from nonpartisan organizations amidst limited funding.
Deeper reading How Latino Voters Will Decide the 2024 Election
Population Map Reveals States Growing, Shrinking the Quickest
A map of the U.S. population shows which states are growing and shrinking the quickest. The data, which draws on statistics from the State Data Center, a U.S. Census Bureau partner, tracks numbers per state since four years ago. While some states gained many more people in this period, others did not. So why?
Why it matters: These numbers are calculated from April 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic started. Demography expert Dudley Poston, an emeritus professor of sociology at Texas A&M University, said that Texas saw the largest increase between 2022 and 2023, over 470,000. The next state to grow the most was Florida, by 370,000, followed by North Carolina and Georgia with gains of around 100,000. The states that lost the most population were New York, down around 100,000, and California, which lost 75,000. Poston noted that Texas and Florida attract people due to low taxes, lower cost of housing, better job opportunities, and warm weather.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Reveals the Fastest-Growing Cities in the US
Map Shows New California High-Speed Rail Routes
Map Shows States Where Homeowners Are Desperately Trying to Sell Houses
TL/DR: In 2023, the U.S. gained a total of 1.6 million people, with an overall growth of 0.5 percent, according to the census. This was largely due to immigration.
What happens now? States like New York and California could face challenges from population decline, impacting political representation and economic stability.
Deeper reading Population Map Reveals States Growing, Shrinking the Quickest
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.
