A judge threatened to hold Trump officials in contempt
A judge in Washington said yesterday that he would open a contempt investigation into the Trump administration over its deportation flights of migrants unless it gave the deported men a chance to challenge their removal.
The judge, James Boasberg, said that there was “probable cause” the administration had violated an order he gave last month to keep the migrants in the U.S., instead of sending them to El Salvador.
The move toward a possible inquiry was a remarkable attempt by a judge to hold the White House accountable for its apparent willingness to flout court orders. Read the ruling here.
What’s next: Boasberg said that if the White House did not comply, he would order sworn declarations from officials to find who was responsible. If that effort failed, he said he would require depositions or hold hearings under oath. And if that technique was unsuccessful, Boasberg said he would refer the case to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.
Mission to El Salvador: Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator, traveled to El Salvador, seeking to meet with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who was mistakenly deported from the U.S. and imprisoned.
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel with President Trump this month. Eric Lee/The New York Times |
Trump waved off an Israeli plan to strike Iran
Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as next month but was dissuaded by Trump. Nearly every one of Israel’s strategies for the strike would have required significant U.S. assistance, and Trump wanted to try to negotiate with Iran to limit its nuclear program instead, according to officials who spoke anonymously.
Trump’s decision came after months of internal debate exposed rifts in his cabinet. His aides were split between historically hawkish officials and those who were skeptical that an assault could destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions and avoid a larger war.
What’s next: Iran said that its foreign minister and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would hold a second round of talks in Rome on Saturday.
| More on TrumpTrump said that he would attend tariff talks in Washington with Japan, which holds a special place in the president’s thinking about global trade.China’s gross domestic product grew 1.2 percent in the first quarter, as factories raced to ship exports ahead of the trade restrictions.In a major escalation of its feud with Harvard, The Trump administration is said to be considering revoking the university’s tax exempt status.California sued Trump over his flurry of tariffs, accusing him of causing irreparable harm to the state’s economy.China took over the world’s rare earths industry and now is restricting the U.S. from critical materials.Students and tourists may soon become bargaining chips in the trade war between the U.S. and China. |
Chipmakers are caught in the U.S.-China trade war
The stock price for Nvidia, the American chip giant, tumbled nearly 7 percent yesterday after the company revealed that the U.S. government would restrict sales of some of its chips to China. A congressional committee also opened an investigation into Nvidia, seeking to assess whether the company knowingly helped China develop advanced A.I. technology.
Trump has also threatened tariffs on Taiwan, where most of the world’s advanced semiconductors are made. China similarly views the island’s chip dominance as a problem. But unlike the U.S., China has sought to reduce barriers to import the technology.
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| U.K.: In a blow to trans rights activists, the Supreme Court ruled that trans women do not fall within the legal definition of women. Gaza: Israel warned that the war would soon escalate with “tremendous force” and an extended humanitarian blockade if Hamas didn’t quickly release hostages. Russia: Four journalists were jailed for working with an anticorruption group founded by Aleksei Navalny. Arrest: Russian authorities detained a former governor of the Kursk region and accused him of embezzling millions. Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, declared its own government, stoking fears of a potentially disastrous territorial split. Germany: A palliative care doctor was charged with the murders of 15 patients over three years. Vatican: Pope Francis thanked the hospital staff who helped him with his recovery, but he will not lead major Easter services. Tech: Mark Zuckerberg gave his final testimony. Meta’s former chief operating officer then took the stand to defend the company’s tactics with rivals. Peru: A former first lady sought asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in Lima after she and her husband were sentenced to prison for money laundering. Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s meeting with Trump today will test whether their shared ideology can help Italy, and Europe. Space: Researchers say they found the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life — on a massive planet that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. Canada: An election debate was pushed back for two hours to allow people to watch a hockey game. Media: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has long dealt with authoritarian governments. Now its biggest threat is from the U.S. Business: A Times investigation found that a European wellness company had misled the Ontario government to secure a deal to build a giant spa in Toronto. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Soccer: FIFA is in negotiations to host the prestigious 2026 World Cup draw in Las Vegas. Golf: What’s it like to play Augusta National the day after Rory McIlroy made history? Our reporter found out. Tennis: Harriet Dart apologized after asking the umpire to tell her opponent to wear deodorant at the Rouen Open. |
| MORNING READ |
Who would spend hours a day watching moose trudge through northern Sweden? Lots of people, it turns out. For the next three weeks, moose fans are following “The Great Moose Migration” live on the country’s national broadcaster. “This is reality TV at its finest,” the moderator of a Facebook group said.
| CONVERSATION STARTERS |
| Movie collaboration: Michael B. Jordan has appeared in all five feature films Ryan Coogler has directed. But “Sinners” raises the ante. Lego larceny: Behind the eye-popping price tags on Lego sets lies a dark side: an underground market that fuels brazen thefts. A song you can’t escape: This is how Steve, a French cartoon fish with a catchy theme song, became a TikTok star. Precious things: The author Maurice Sendak was also a passionate art collector. Some of his treasures are up for auction. |
| ARTS AND IDEAS |
The Grand Egyptian Museum is finally open
The world’s most anticipated museum is finally open. The Grand Egyptian Museum, outside Cairo, had been announcing and then canceling plans since 2012, delayed by revolutions, wars, financial crises and a pandemic.
My colleague Stephen Hiltner traveled to the colossal complex and was greeted by one of its many showstoppers: a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II. Other highlights included a mummified crocodile and a display of figurines left as servants for the dead. Take a look.
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Bake: Lots of lemon zest and Greek yogurt ensures this cheesecake is light and tangy.
