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Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Closely watched proceedings: “The judge presiding over the Alien Enemies Act case on Monday denied the government’s request to lift his hold on deportations under the rarely used wartime law despite President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on him and his order. Denying the government’s order to vacate his rulings, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that the Venezuelan nationals the administration wants to deport under the law should most likely be given the opportunity to challenge allegations that they’re members of the Tren de Aragua gang first.”
* Difficult diplomacy: “The United States and Russia began a new set of talks Monday aimed at a partial Ukraine ceasefire — while the two sides disagreed over how well the talks in Saudi Arabia were going and as Kremlin forces launched another night of drone strikes.”
* SCOTUS news: “The Supreme Court’s landmark press freedom ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan is still safe — for now. On Monday, the court declined to review Republican donor Steve Wynn’s petition that asked the justices to overturn the 1964 precedent’s ‘actual malice’ standard, which public figures must meet to bring defamation lawsuits.”
* It appears the ceasefire is no more: “With the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip having collapsed after Israel resumed its bombing campaign, the Israeli military is expanding its activities in the shattered enclave. What comes next could set the stage for a sea change by Israel in Gaza and the broader region.”
* New Mexico’s latest mass shooting: “A 15-year-old boy became the fourth suspect arrested in connection with a shooting that killed three people and injured 15 at an unsanctioned car show at a New Mexico park Friday night. The three others arrested in the shooting in Las Cruces are two 17-year-old boys and Tomas Rivas, 20, Las Cruces police said. All four have been charged with three counts of murder, and additional charges are pending.”
* Texas’ latest mass shooting: “Six people were shot, four of whom were in critical condition, after a shooting at a Houston after-hours nightclub early Sunday, police said.”
* VOA isn’t going down quietly: “Six Voice of America journalists — including its former White House bureau chief — sued members of the Trump administration Friday, accusing officials of unlawfully shuttering a federally funded media outlet that has delivered news coverage to millions across the globe since its founding during World War II.”
* Noted without comment: “The number of Tesla owners trading in their cars surged to a record high in March, compounding the troubles of an automaker that has been embroiled in controversy since CEO Elon Musk became a central figure of President Donald Trump’s administration.”
See you tomorrow.