Key Takeaways
- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is currently under criminal investigation by the Trump administration.
- The Trump administration's EPA plans to discontinue considering health benefits when setting air pollution regulations.
- Senator Mark Kelly has initiated a lawsuit challenging a formal censure regarding his statements critical of the Trump administration.
- Former President Trump expressed regret for not ordering the seizure of voting machines after the 2020 election.
Deep Dive
- Former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Alaska.
- She previously served as Alaska's sole House member.
- Peltola is considered a strong recruit for Democrats in the Republican-leaning state.
- Federal prosecutors in Washington D.C., led by a Trump ally, initiated a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
- The inquiry reportedly concerns the renovation of the Federal Reserve's headquarters and potential false statements to Congress.
- Powell publicly stated the investigation is unprecedented and politically motivated to influence monetary policy.
- Prosecutors from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division informed staff they would not investigate the fatal shooting of Renée Goode.
- Goode was killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
- This decision reportedly deviates from customary practice for high-profile cases.
- Senator Mark Kelly has filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- The lawsuit challenges a formal censure and potential demotion and pension reduction for Kelly's public statements.
- Kelly argues his critical statements of the Trump administration are protected free speech.
- Former President Trump expressed regret for not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines after the 2020 election.
- He questioned the Guard's "sophistication" to carry out such an order.
- Trump's statement followed claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
- The EPA under the Trump administration plans to stop considering lives saved and health benefits when setting air pollutant regulations.
- Benefits such as avoided deaths and asthma attacks for fine particulate matter and ozone will no longer be factored.
- This shift, detailed in internal documents, could lower industry costs but increase air pollution.