Key Takeaways
- President Trump enacted a "permanent pause" on immigration from "Third World countries" after an attack on National Guard soldiers.
- The immigration crackdown specifically targets Minnesota's Somali community due to alleged widespread fraud in state programs.
- An alleged "second strike" order, reportedly by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, is under scrutiny for potential legal violations.
- Senator Cory Booker recently married Alexis Lewis in a surprise ceremony after a three-month engagement.
Deep Dive
- Ramanola Lockenwall is accused of ambushing two West Virginia National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C.
- The suspect, who drove from Washington state, had ties to the CIA and other government entities in Afghanistan, entering the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome.
- Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam stated Lockenwall may have been radicalized in the U.S., with reports indicating struggles with employment and periods of isolation.
- President Trump announced a permanent pause on immigration from "Third World countries" and a halt to asylum processing, citing the attack as a national security threat.
- The immigration crackdown specifically targets the Somali community in Minnesota, following reports of widespread fraud in state programs and leading to termination of temporary protected status.
- A large-scale COVID-era fraud scheme in Minnesota, totaling over $1 billion, allegedly diverted funds for hungry children to luxury items, with 59 people convicted and dozens charged.
- Reports from The Washington Post and CNN detail an alleged "second strike" order related to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth concerning a strike on a suspected drug-running vessel.
- Sources indicate a surveillance aircraft struck a vessel four times, with the commander allegedly ordering a second strike after survivors were present, reportedly to sink the vessel.
- A former military lawyer and Congressman Seth Moulton suggested killing survivors is illegal, though Secretary Hegseth defended the mission as lawful.
- The Department of Justice issued a legal opinion allowing self-defense strikes against certain cartels and criminal organizations due to imminent threats.
- Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, led by Republicans, are initiating inquiries into the alleged "second strike" order.
- President Trump stated he would not have wanted a second strike and expressed confidence none occurred, while Mark Hemingway of Real Clear Investigations urged caution due to insufficient facts.
- Senator Cory Booker married Alexis Lewis in a surprise ceremony, three months after their engagement.
- The couple met in May 2024; Lewis is a director of investments and a former staffer for LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.
- Booker proposed in Hawaii with Hawaiian musicians playing Mariah Carey's "Dream Lover" after a second date that included dinner and the musical "Suffs."