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Summary

Liberal judge Susan Crawford defeated Elon Musk-backed conservative Brad Schimel in Wisconsin’s supreme court race, preserving a 4-3 liberal majority.

The high-stakes contest, which drew over $80 million—$20 million from Musk and affiliates—became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.

Democrats framed the election as a referendum on Musk and Trump, fueling turnout and grassroots support.

The liberal court majority will influence key rulings on abortion, labor rights, and congressional redistricting. Milwaukee saw historic turnout, with multiple polling sites running out of ballots during the evening rush.

Summary

Sen. Cory Booker broke the all-time Senate filibuster record Tuesday with a 25-hour, 4-minute speech opposing proposed Social Security cuts by Elon Musk.

Booker criticized the broader Trump agenda and warned of threats to democracy.

Sen. Ted Cruz said he was thinking about triggering the alarm on the Senate floor to block the New Jersey Democrat from surpassing his marathon speech mark, then joked on X and posted a Homer Simpson meme.

Booker began speaking Monday at 7 p.m. and remained standing throughout, aided by Democratic colleagues who questioned him to allow brief breaks.

Summary

The Trump administration abruptly fired at least 10 principal investigators at the NIH Tuesday, including Dr. Richard Youle, a top Parkinson’s researcher and Breakthrough Prize winner.

The cuts, part of a broader purge by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., are tied to a government slashing plan eliminating 1,200 NIH jobs.

Affected labs span key research in neurology, aging, HIV, and child brain disorders.

NIH leaders and scientists expressed confusion and alarm, warning the firings could severely disrupt clinical trials and critical research.

Senators Bernie Sanders and Bill Cassidy requested Kennedy testify before Congress April 10.

Summary

Sen. Cory Booker spoke for 25 hours and 4 minutes on the Senate floor, breaking the 1957 record held by Strom Thurmond, to protest the Trump administration’s policies.

Starting at 7 p.m. Monday, Booker criticized Trump's actions on immigration, education, healthcare, and democracy.

Over a dozen Senate Democrats joined to support him. Unlike a filibuster, Booker’s speech wasn't tied to a specific bill.

His emotionally charged address drew over 115,000 livestream viewers and contrasted starkly with Thurmond’s segregationist stand decades ago.

Summary

Gov. Tate Reeves signed a tax overhaul bill into law that phases out Mississippi’s income tax over 14 years, aiming to make the state more economically competitive.

Due to typos, the bill nullifies intended economic growth triggers, potentially accelerating tax elimination.

It also cuts the grocery tax from 7% to 5%, raises the gas tax by 9 cents, and changes public employee retirement benefits.

Critics warn of a $2.6B annual revenue loss, risking vital services in the nation’s poorest state. Officials remain divided on the bill’s long-term impact.

Summary

Jeremy Lewin, a senior Doge appointee overseeing the shutdown of USAID, faces allegations of misogyny, racism, and violent behavior, according to a Rolling Stone investigation based on interviews with 10 acquaintances.

Claims include threatening a girl with a knife, physically assaulting a student, and making racist remarks, including support for the Great Replacement Theory.

Lewin signed USAID’s closure notice and previously worked with legal scholar Laurence Tribe.

The Trump administration and DOGE have not responded. The report follows previous scandals involving controversial Musk-backed hires.

Summary

Elon Musk sparked alarm among law enforcement by publicly revealing details of a planned Social Security fraud arrest during a livestream supporting a Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate.

Musk claimed knowledge of a suspect accused of stealing 400,000 Social Security numbers, raising concerns from federal officials over breaching investigative confidentiality.

Musk's comments echoed unverified claims of undocumented immigrants defrauding benefits and voting.

DOJ declined to comment, while insiders worry Musk’s disclosures jeopardize sensitive operations.

Summary

The EU and UK fined major carmakers nearly €600 million for operating a recycling cartel exposed by Mercedes-Benz, which avoided penalties for whistleblowing.

The European Commission fined 15 manufacturers and their association €458 million for fixing costs and limiting advertising of car recycling from 2002 to 2017.

Volkswagen received the largest fine at €127 million. The UK imposed an additional £77.7 million in fines.

Authorities say the cartel suppressed eco-friendly competition and misled consumers. All companies admitted guilt in exchange for reduced fines.

Summary

Republicans are now openly admitting that Donald Trump’s new tariffs, set for April 2 or “Liberation Day,” will hurt American consumers.

Senator Tim Sheehy acknowledged "short-term pain" for Montana, comparing it to home remodeling, while Senators Tuberville and Lankford used similar metaphors about temporary discomfort.

Meanwhile, Trump told NBC he "couldn't care less" if car prices rise, contradicting his campaign claims that foreign countries would bear tariff costs.

The tariffs, which include 25% hikes on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on Chinese goods, will impact everyday items like groceries, cars, and construction materials, affecting nearly every U.S. sector.

Summary

Elon Musk is finalizing the shutdown of USAID, firing over 10,000 foreign national staff and hundreds of U.S. diplomats and civil servants by September.

Congress was notified that USAID’s overseas offices will close, with some functions absorbed by the State Department.

The move follows Trump and Musk’s claims—without evidence—that USAID is corrupt.

The closure halts over 5,000 aid programs and disrupts services in 60+ countries, affecting recipients in Ukraine, Jordan, Gaza, and elsewhere who depend on U.S. humanitarian support.

Summary

NYU canceled a March 19 talk by Dr. Joanne Liu, former head of Doctors Without Borders, citing concerns her slides on Gaza casualties and USAID funding cuts appeared “antisemitic” and “anti-governmental.”

Liu, who flew to New York for the event, said she was “stunned” by the last-minute cancellation.

NYU Langone stated she violated guest speaker guidelines but was compensated.

Liu argued the decision reflects a “climate of fear” in U.S. academia, referencing threats to federal funding like those faced by Columbia University after pro-Palestinian campus protests.

Summary

Democratic leaders in 23 states and Washington, DC, sued the Trump administration over its abrupt rollback of $12 billion in public health funding.

The lawsuit seeks to halt the cuts, which include $11.4 billion from the CDC and $1 billion from behavioral health programs, arguing the funds were lawfully allocated by Congress for long-term health infrastructure.

Critics warn the move will disrupt pandemic preparedness and addiction services. HHS defends the cuts as aligned with Trump's new health priorities.