Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The least experienced vice president in generations, with no background in diplomacy or international affairs, takes on a heavy lift: “Vice President JD Vance is heading to Islamabad today to lead a U.S. delegation in peace talks with Iran. Vance told reporters this morning he thinks the talks are ‘going to be positive.’”
* Crisis conditions in Lebanon: “The U.N. World Food Programme warned today that a food security crisis is rapidly developing in Lebanon, with more than 80% of markets no longer functioning, forcing the country to increasingly rely on humanitarian convoys.”
* A discouraging economic indicator: “Consumer confidence plunged to a record low this month as fears over rising energy prices, food costs and inflation have mounted as a result of the Iran war, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment poll. The study’s preliminary April results showed an 11% drop in overall consumer sentiment compared to March, extending a decline that began with the start of the Iran conflict.”
* Artemis II: “They’re almost home. The four astronauts aboard Artemis II are hours from the end of their historic mission, the first to fly by the moon in more than 50 years. If all goes as planned, they will splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on Friday evening.”
Recommended
* The right call: “A federal judge in Boston dismissed a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought access to Massachusetts state voter rolls amid the Trump administration’s push for registration lists from nearly every state.”
* On Capitol Hill: “An expected Senate hearing on the nomination of Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair has been delayed, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC on Thursday evening. Warsh had been set to appear before the Senate Banking Committee on April 16. That won’t happen, but the hearing is still expected soon, the person said, requesting anonymity as the details have not been made public by the committee.”
* I’m not sure stern warnings are a substitute for laws and meaningful ethics restrictions: “The day after President Trump announced a sudden pause of strikes against Iran last month, the White House warned staff against improperly leveraging their positions to place well-timed bets in futures markets.”
* He’s apparently serious about the arch: “President Donald Trump’s plans for a new triumphal arch in the capital, unveiled on Friday, include a towering winged figure with a Lady Liberty-like torch and crown, flanked by two eagles and guarded by four lions — all gilded. The 12-page plan released by the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts shows the arch will stand 250 feet tall (76.2 meters) from its base to the tip of the winged figure’s torch, with ‘One Nation Under God’ and ‘Liberty and Justice for All’ inscribed in gold atop either side of the monument.”
Have a safe weekend.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
Latest Post