{"id":952,"date":"2025-03-29T00:53:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T00:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/29\/live-updates-trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-judges-order-blocking-alien-enemies-act-deportations-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2025-03-29T00:53:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T00:53:06","slug":"live-updates-trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-judges-order-blocking-alien-enemies-act-deportations-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/29\/live-updates-trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-judges-order-blocking-alien-enemies-act-deportations-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Trump administration asks Supreme Court to overturn judge’s order blocking Alien Enemies Act deportations – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Federal judge blocks firing of Voice of America staff<\/h2>\n
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Lindsey Pipia<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Zo\u00eb Richards<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A federal judge today temporarily blocked the Trump administration\u00a0from efforts to fire Voice of America staff.<\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge James Paul Oetken granted a temporary restraining order after a group of journalists and labor groups asked the court to return the U.S. Global Media Agency, which oversees outlets including Voice of America<\/a> and its employees, contractors and grantees, to its status before Trump signed an order this month to dismantle <\/a>the federal agency.<\/p>\n

The plaintiffs said in a court filing that roughly 1,300 VOA journalists and other employees “had to stop working immediately” because they were placed on administrative leave after Trump’s order.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ecuadorian president announces plans to meet with Trump this weekend<\/h2>\n
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Daniel Noboa, the president of Ecuador, announced today that he will meet with Trump this weekend in Florida.<\/p>\n

Noboa said in an interview with Ecuador\u2019s Radio Centro said that he will head to the U.S. this evening to \u201cpersonally speak\u201d with Trump about \u201ctopics related to migration in benefit to [Ecuador\u2019s] migrants\u201d and a \u201cfair trade deal on both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Noboa\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n

Noboa\u2019s government yesterday announced a two-day trip to Miami and Fort Lauderdale for this weekend to \u201cperform official activities.\u201d Trump is scheduled to be at Mar-a-Lago this weekend.<\/p>\n

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Noboa, who is seeking re-election, recently hired the lobbying firm Mercury for $165,000, according to U.S. Justice Department records<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The contract is to \u201cbolster the political-diplomatic strategies and initiatives pertaining to migration, trade, and security with the U.S. administration\u201d and the specifics include arranging high-level meetings with the White House and other administration officials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Tulsi Gabbard revokes access to classified info for Trump’s political foes<\/h2>\n
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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on social media tonight that she had revoked security clearances from several of Trump’s political foes.<\/p>\n

“Per @POTUS<\/a> directive, I have revoked former President Joe Biden\u2019s security clearance, and revoked clearances and access to classified information for Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Fiona Hill, and Alexander Vindman,” Gabbard wrote on X.<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump previously announced that he would \u201cimmediately\u201d terminate Biden’s access to intelligence information<\/a> and had issued a memo last week<\/a> that said it was \u201cno longer in the national interest\u201d for Harris, Clinton, Cheney and Kinzinger to have to access to classified information.<\/p>\n

Cheney and Kinzinger were the two Republican members of the House Jan.6 Committee. Vindman and Hill gave testimony<\/a> during Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, with Vindman detailing Trump’s 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During his first months in office, Trump has pulled numerous security clearances<\/a>, including for dozens of former national security officials who signed a letter more than four years ago suggesting\u00a0that Russia might have promoted allegations about Hunter Biden as part of a broader 2020 election interference effort.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Judge orders reinstatement of fired CFPB employees<\/h2>\n
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A federal judge tonight issued a sweeping order affecting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.<\/p>\n

Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered the reinstatement of all employees fired since Feb. 10 and the reinstatement of\u00a0office space to ensure statutory functions can be completed.<\/p>\n

The judge also ordered the rescinding of any contract cancellations with vendors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Judge says he is ‘inclined’ to temporarily block Trump’s order targeting WilmerHale law firm<\/h2>\n
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A federal judge today said he was \u201cinclined\u201d to grant a temporary restraining order that would block Trump’s executive order against the law firm WilmerHale.<\/p>\n

Judge Richard Leon said the executive order, which suspends the security clearances of employees at the firm, was \u201cavowedly based on retaliation for core protected activity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The firm previously employed Robert Mueller, a special counsel who led the Russia investigation after the 2016 presidential election.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president could have done this a different way, couldn\u2019t he?\u201d Leon asked Justice Department attorney Richard Lawson.<\/p>\n

No ruling was issued by the judge.<\/p>\n

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WilmerHale chose influential conservative attorney Paul Clemente to represent the firm. Clemente detailed the immediate harm facing the firm, including two meetings with government agencies that were canceled today, and security clearances that are beginning to be revoked.<\/p>\n

On that point, he brought up an issue related to two attorneys at WilmerHale who are also reservists in the military: they were told to report for duty next week but are unsure if they will now be able to due to potential clearance issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is designed to chill law firms,\u201d Clemente said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of them are standing tall, and some are making deals,\u201d he said of other firms facing similar executive orders.<\/p>\n

The judge was incredulous when discussing a section of the executive order that bans WilmerHale employees from entering federal buildings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat possible threat do they pose from having access to government buildings?” he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a government building,\u201d the judge noted, referring to the E. Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse in Washington, D.C.The courtroom gallery was at capacity, filled mostly with partners and associates of the law firm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Judge blocks Trump order targeting law firm Jenner & Block, calls it unconstitutional<\/h2>\n
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In a rare Friday night hearing, Judge John Bates blocked the Trump administration from enforcing the president’s executive order targeting Jenner & Block, the former law firm of MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann who was once a prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.<\/p>\n

In granting the temporary restraining order, the judge said the executive order violates the First, Fifth and Sixth amendments of the Constitution.<\/p>\n

Trump has targeted other law firms with executive orders, with mixed results.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump commutes sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson <\/h2>\n
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Trump\u00a0commuted the criminal sentence<\/a> of\u00a0Ozy Media\u00a0founder\u00a0Carlos Watson<\/a>\u00a0today, just hours before Watson was due to begin serving a 116-month prison term for a multi-million-dollar scheme that included falsely claiming the start-up had deals with\u00a0Google\u00a0and\u00a0Oprah Winfrey, a senior\u00a0White House\u00a0official said.<\/p>\n

Watson had expected to surrender this afternoon to the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, California, before he received word of Trump granting him executive clemency, according to a source familiar with the situation.<\/p>\n

Trump also commuted the sentence of one year of probation imposed on Ozy Media for the defunct news and entertainment company\u2019s conviction in the same case.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s actions remove the criminal penalty imposed on Watson and Ozy.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Rep. Victoria Spartz concedes tariffs aren’t ‘sustainable’ at raucous town hall<\/h2>\n
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Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., conceded that tariffs are not “a sustainable solution” when asked about Trump’s current policies regarding foreign imports.<\/a><\/p>\n

While Spartz defended the tariffs Trump has placed on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and Europe, the congresswoman said that judging their effectiveness will depend on \u201cthe end result.”<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wants to make sure that we protect we bring American job back to us,\u201d Spartz said before adding. \u201cAs a long-term solution it is not a sustainable solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spartz made the remark in response to a question about whether the tariffs could double as an “indirect tax on Americans,” which she said depends on how they’re implemented.<\/p>\n

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“As a CPA and economist, I will tell you it depends,” she said. “Every policy, it depends on the end result you’re trying to achieve.”<\/p>\n

While attendees in the first several rows of the town hall idly listened to Spartz as she defended Trump\u2019s tariffs and his broader agenda, those in the back of the room could be heard jeering and booing the congresswoman as she spoke.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Musk says his companies are ‘suffering’ because of his work with the government<\/h2>\n
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Billionaire Elon Musk said that his companies are suffering from his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s actually disadvantageous for me to be in the government, not advantageous. If I wasn\u2019t in the government, I could lobby and I could push for things that are advantageous to my companies, and probably get it, probably receive it,” Musk said in a taped one-on-one interview with Fox News\u2019 Bret Baier<\/a> that aired tonight. “My companies are suffering because I\u2019m in the government.”<\/p>\n

Musk\u2019s Tesla has faced a wave of attacks<\/a> and his net worth has taken a significant hit<\/a> amid stock sell-off in shares of the automobile company. Still, he remains the richest person in the world by more than $100 billion, according to Forbes<\/a>\u2019 real time list of billionaires.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Justice Sonia Sotomayor defends \u2018fearlessly independent\u2019 judiciary amid Trump attacks<\/h2>\n
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Reporting from Washington<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor today stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and fealty to the rule of law amid harsh rhetoric from the Trump administration against judges who have impeded its policies.<\/p>\n

Sotomayor, speaking to students at Georgetown Law Center in Washington, said it was vital that everyone \u201censure that the courts are fearlessly independent, that we understand that our obligation is to protect the rights given to us under the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than ever, we have to get up and explain and repeat and explain again why judicial independence is critical to everyone\u2019s freedom, because arbitrary power is just that, and it means that anyone is going to be subject to unfairness at someone else\u2019s whim,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Sotomayor did not directly address the aggressive executive actions taken by the Trump administration and angry criticism of judges, including calls for impeachment.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Musk to meet CIA director to discuss ‘government efficiency’<\/h2>\n
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Elon Musk is due to meet CIA Director John Ratcliffe, an agency spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDirector Ratcliffe has invited Elon Musk to meet with him at the Agency to discuss government efficiency,” the spokesperson said in an email.<\/p>\n

The meeting is expected to take place Monday, a U.S. official said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Republican congressman calls Signal chat leak ‘more than a mistake’<\/h2>\n
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Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., said this afternoon that the Trump administration’s use of a Signal chat to discuss imminent military plans was “more than a mistake,” but not enough to cost the jobs of the top U.S. officials involved.<\/p>\n

“It needs to be dealt with very seriously,” Flood told NBC News\u2019 \u201cMeet the Press\u201d moderator Kristen Welker. “The White House together with all of these different agencies have to do everything in their power to make sure this never happens again and restore the confidence of anybody that is concerned about the use of the Signal app to do anything like that.”<\/p>\n

The Nebraska Republican added that despite the incident he remains confident in national security adviser Michael Walz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz created the Signal group chat where a journalist was inadvertently added and Hegseth outlined plans for a U.S. strike on Houthi militants in Yemen.<\/p>\n

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“I\u2019ve worked with Michael Waltz,” Flood said of the former Florida congressman. “I think the defense secretary is off to a good start. In fact, I think the entire Trump administration is off to a good start.” <\/p>\n

“Speaking very bluntly, everybody that I ran into in my district has concerns about the way that was done on Signal, and I think at the end of the day, I\u2019m sure the president is addressing this,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Vances head back to Washington after trip to Greenland<\/h2>\n
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Nnamdi Egwuonwu<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Tara Prindiville<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance have departed Greenland for Washington, spending just hours on the ground in a territory Trump has more aggressively pursued U.S. ownership of in recent months. <\/p>\n

The Vances toured Pituffik Space Base, the Pentagon’s northernmost installation which supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.<\/p>\n

Usha Vance was initially set to embark on a cultural tour of Greenland, including through a visit to a popular dogsled race and several cultural heritage sites. That itinerary was ultimately scaled back in part because of pushback from Danish and Greenlandic leaders.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Inside Trump\u2019s shock decision to pull the plug on Elise Stefanik\u2019s nomination <\/h2>\n
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Garrett Haake<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Melanie Zanona<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Bridget Bowman<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At a White House event\u00a0honoring Women\u2019s History Month<\/a>\u00a0Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump took six minutes out of his speech to personally recognize many of the Republican women who were gathered in the audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But one person in attendance that he did not mention was Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who was, at the time, Trump\u2019s nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The omission, which several GOP lawmakers took notice of at the time, was all the more conspicuous given that Stefanik\u2019s name was included on the list of women in Trump\u2019s prepared remarks, according to a White House official.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s unclear whether Trump purposely chose to skip Stefanik\u2019s name, less than 24 hours later, the president delivered another public blow to the congresswoman. He announced that he was\u00a0withdrawing Stefanik\u2019s nomination<\/a>\u00a0for the ambassadorship, citing concerns over Republicans\u2019 razor-thin House majority and the prospect of a special election to fill her seat.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here. <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump pardoned six people yesterday<\/h2>\n
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+3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Vaughn Hillyard<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Tom Winter<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Eamon Javers, CNBC<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Zo\u00eb Richards<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump pardoned six people yesterday, according to a White House official.<\/p>\n

Among those receiving pardons included three co-founders of BitMEX crypto exchange<\/a>, Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed.<\/p>\n

Trump also confirmed to reporters at the White House today that he pardoned former Nikola founder Trevor Milton<\/a> who had been convicted on three counts tied to fraud<\/a> after a jury said Milton had effectively made up the driving capability of its EV truck.<\/p>\n

Asked why he had pardoned Milton, Trump said: \u201cI don\u2019t know him, they say it was very unfair, and they say the thing that he did wrong was he was one of the first people who supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president.”<\/p>\n

The White House has declined to disclose the names of the two remaining people who Trump pardoned yesterday. <\/p>\n


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Leaked Signal chat messages referenced sensitive intelligence provided by Israel<\/h2>\n
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Dan De Luce<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Courtney Kube<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Tom Winter<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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National security adviser Michael Walz referenced sensitive intelligence provided by Israel in the leaked Signal group chat used by senior Trump administration officials<\/a> to discuss plans to launch airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, according to\u00a0three sources\u00a0with knowledge of the matter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Israel provided the U.S. officials sensitive intelligence on a Houthi militant that was targeted in the U.S. airstrike, the sources said.<\/p>\n

In the group chat, after the initial U.S. air raids were launched on March 15,\u00a0Waltz texted that a \u201ctop missile guy\u201d had been successfully targeted as he had been spotted entering a building with his girlfriend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first target\u2014their top missile guy\u2014we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend\u2019s building and it is now collapsed,\u201d Waltz wrote in the text.<\/p>\n

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The Trump administration has maintained that no intelligence sources or methods or other classified information were disclosed in the leaked group chat. But the revelation that Israel supplied intelligence about an intended target that was referred to in the chat raised new questions about whether the Signal text chain potentially put at risk sensitive intelligence from an ally on a commercially available app.<\/p>\n

The impetus for the military strikes on the Houthis came in part from new Israeli intelligence that had emerged in recent months, which was passed on to the Biden administration,\u00a0according to a military official\u00a0and two sources with knowledge of the matter.<\/p>\n

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Israel supplying the intelligence related to the Houthi militant who was targeted in an air strike.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Vance says Denmark has \u2018not done a good job\u2019 at keeping Greenland secure as Trump pushes for U.S. ownership<\/h2>\n
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+2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Alexander Smith<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Rebecca Shabad<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Molly Hunter<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Vice President JD Vance<\/a> sharply criticized Denmark and other European allies during his visit to Greenland<\/a> today, as the Trump administration continues to push U.S. ownership of the semi-autonomous territory.<\/p>\n

Speaking to service members at Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. Space Force base on the northwestern coast of Greenland, Vance argued that Greenlanders would be better off being under the protection of the U.S. than Denmark.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur message to Denmark is very simple \u2014 you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,\u201d Vance said. \u201cYou have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Days after President Donald Trump said that the U.S. \u201cwould\u00a0go as far as we have to\u201d to take ownership of territory, Vance made a pitch to the people of Greenland: \u201cI think that you\u2019d be a lot better coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark\u2019s security umbrella.\u201d <\/p>\n

Read the full story here. <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Vances tour Greenland space base<\/h2>\n
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Matthew Nighswander<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Vice President JD Vance, right, and second lady Usha Vance leave headquarters at Pituffik Space Base today. The base, the Department of Defense\u2019s northernmost installation, supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.<\/p>\n

\"Vice<\/picture>
Jim Watson \/ Pool via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Judge extends order barring administration from using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations<\/h2>\n
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Judge James Boasberg has extended his temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport\u00a0alleged Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua gang from the U.S. through April 12. Boasberg will hear arguments on a preliminary injunction in this case on April 8.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just this morning, the government asked the Supreme Court to vacate Boasberg\u2019s order. It’s also asking for an immediate administrative stay of the order while it out in court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Musk to travel to Wisconsin ahead of critical court election <\/h2>\n
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Ben Kamisar<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Faith Wardwell<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tech billionaire and White House adviser Elon Musk will head to Wisconsin days before the pivotal state Supreme Court election there, a race he\u2019s sunk millions of dollars into on behalf of the conservative candidate, becoming a central figure in the race<\/a> himself.<\/p>\n

Musk made the announcement early Friday on his social media platform X. Initially, he posted that he would \u201cpersonally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote.\u201d But he deleted that post midday, replacing it with\u00a0a similar message that<\/a> declared the $1 million winners would instead be \u201cspokesmen\u201d for his petition to oppose \u201cactivist judges.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the full story.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump on pulling Stefanik’s nomination to be U.N. ambassador: ‘I didn’t want to take a chance’<\/h2>\n
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In the Oval Office, Trump addressed his decision yesterday to ask Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to remain in Congress after he had nominated her to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.<\/p>\n

“She’s very popular in her district, and I didn’t want to take a chance,” the president told reporters. <\/p>\n

He added, \u201cWe cannot take a chance. We have a slim margin. We don\u2019t want to take any chances. We don\u2019t want to experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Stefanik had left the House, Republicans’ already razor-thin majority would have been at risk if a Democrat won a special election to serve the rest of Stefanik’s term.<\/p>\n

Trump’s decision on Thursday came less than a week before two special elections are set to take place in Florida to fill the seats of former Reps. Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz. Gaetz was selected to be Trump’s nominee for attorney general before he withdrew from consideration, and Waltz now serves as Trump’s national security adviser.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump says his administration made a deal with another major law firm for free legal work<\/h2>\n
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Trump said the elite law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has reached an agreement with his administration to commit at least $100 million in pro bono legal services to jointly supported causes such as support for veterans and other public servants, including members of the military.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Skadden has agreed to provide pro bono legal services, \u201cmerit-based\u201d hiring, promotion and retention, and to fund at least five legal fellows, Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was essentially a settlement,\u201d Trump said of the agreement. \u201cWe appreciate Skadden coming to the table.\u201d He added that his administration will soon issue more details.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The announcement follows a decision by another law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton, to commit $40 million in free legal work for causes the president supports, prompting Trump to rescind an\u00a0executive order that targeted the firm<\/a> (one of several that Trump has signed targeting private law firms and lawyers.) <\/p>\n

Shortly after the Paul Weiss development, a Skadden\u00a0associate, Rachel Cohen, sent an email to her firm<\/a> saying that she would resign unless the company agreed to take several steps to challenge the Trump administration. She told<\/a> NBC News that she believes \u201ca coup\u201d is happening in America.<\/p>\n

“The big law firms are not going to save us, but we are a brick in a wall, and we\u2019re pretty close to the bottom,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Wyoming Republican announces she will cease in-person town halls, citing ‘Democrat threats of violence’<\/h2>\n
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Kate Santaliz<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Sydney Carruth<\/span>Sydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Kate Santaliz<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Sydney Carruth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., announced she will stop holding in-person town halls in her home state of Wyoming for the short-term future due to \u201cDemocrat threats of violence,\u201d according to a statement from her office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hageman had several in-person events scheduled over the next few weeks that will now take place virtually instead. The first was a town hall originally set to be held in Laramie County at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight. A town hall scheduled for tomorrow evening in Goshen County has also been moved online.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The announcement comes on the heels of a contentious town hall last week<\/a>, during which Hageman was booed and heckled by her constituents in deep red Laramie County as they expressed their discontent with the Trump administration\u2019s policies, including its sweeping cuts to the federal government and its services through the Department of Government Efficiency.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that I am willing to engage with citizens on any topic, in any place. But I draw the line when organized protestors intentionally create confrontation and chaos, escalating tensions to a point where violence seems inevitable,” Hageman said in a statement, echoing baseless claims from Trump and Republican leaders that disgruntled constituents at GOP town halls are being paid by Democrats to show up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hageman was one of the only congressional conservatives that continued to hold town halls despite House GOP leadership urging their members against speaking to their constituents in-person after the town halls caused a series of negative headlines.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Judge says she will not hear all three ‘Big Law’ cases against the Trump administration<\/h2>\n
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After being assigned all three cases where “Big Law” firms are suing the Trump administration over his executive orders, Judge Beryl Howell this afternoon has released a paperless order explaining why she believes the three cases are in fact not closely enough related, and therefore she will\u00a0not\u00a0be hearing all three.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe legal issues involved in all three cases appear to be substantially similar, making the instinct to keep and decide the cases together understandable and even tempting for preservation of judicial resources by allowing a single judge to become familiar with applicable legal principles in these cases,\u201d Howell wrote. But, she wrote, \u201cThe cases involve different issues of fact and arise from different events.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStrict adherence to the process of random case assignment is crucial to ensure \u201cfair and equal distribution of cases to all judges, avoid public perception or appearance of favoritism in assignments, and reduce opportunities for judge-shopping,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Howell will continue with the Perkins Coie case, while Judge John Bates will now be hearing the Jenner & Block case and Judge Richard Leon the WilmerHale case.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump pardons Nikola founder Trevor Milton in securities fraud case <\/h2>\n
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President\u00a0Donald Trump<\/a>\u00a0pardoned\u00a0Nikola Corp.<\/a>\u00a0founder\u00a0Trevor Milton<\/a>\u00a0for his October 2022 conviction of federal crimes related to defrauding\u00a0investors<\/a>\u00a0with false claims about the success of the electric and hydrogen-powered\u00a0truck maker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Milton, 42, was sentenced in December 2023 to four years in\u00a0prison<\/a>, but he has been free since then pending an appeal of the former CEO\u2019s criminal conviction on\u00a0securities<\/a>\u00a0and wire\u00a0fraud<\/a>\u00a0charges in\u00a0U.S. District Court in Manhattan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The pardon came two weeks after federal prosecutors urged District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos to order Milton to pay\u00a0restitution<\/a>\u00a0of $680 million to Nikola shareholders, and another $15.2 million to Peter Hicks, a victim of his wire fraud.<\/p>\n

Because of the pardon, Ramos could not order restitution of any kind.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here. <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Vice President Vance and second lady Usha Vance arrive in Greenland <\/h2>\n
\n

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance have arrived in Greenland at Pituffik Space Base where they were greeted by military personnel. <\/p>\n

\"Vice<\/picture>
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance arrive in Greenland today.<\/span>Jim Watson \/ Pool via AFP – Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Vice<\/picture>
The Vances eat with soldiers at the base.<\/span>Jim Watson \/ Pool via AFP – Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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WilmerHale, Robert Mueller’s former law firm, sues Trump administration over executive order<\/h2>\n
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Gary Grumbach<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Isabella Ramirez<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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WilmerHale is the latest law firm to sue the Trump administration over e<\/a>xecutive <\/a>o<\/a>rder<\/a>s<\/a> targeting their work with the federal government by suspending their security clearances and reviewing their contracts.<\/p>\n

The firm filed the complaint today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging that \u201cthe President\u2019s sweeping attack on WilmerHale (and other firms) is unprecedented and unconstitutional.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe First Amendment protects the rights of WilmerHale, its employees, and its clients to speak freely, petition the courts and other government institutions, and associate with the counsel of their choice without facing retaliation and discrimination by federal officials,\u201d WilmerHale wrote.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s executive order, which is titled \u201cAddressing Risks from WilmerHale\u201d and was issued yesterday, said his administration is going after \u201cBig Law\u201d firms that \u201cengage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n

The order cited WilmerHale\u2019s previous ties to Robert Mueller, the former special counsel who oversaw the Trump-Russia investigation, who worked for the firm. It said the firm \u201chas abandoned the profession\u2019s highest ideals and abused its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States.”<\/p>\n

Jenner & Block also filed a lawsuit<\/a> this morning over a similar executive order<\/a> targeting that law firm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump calls on House to immediately vote on legislative ‘fix’ to D.C. funding<\/h2>\n
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Trump called on the House this morning to immediately consider Senate-passed legislation<\/a> that would “fix” language in the recently passed government spending measure<\/a> that addresses funding for Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

“Washington, D.C., must become CLEAN and SAFE again! We need our Great Police back on the street, with no excuses from the Mayor, or anyone else. The House should take up the D.C. funding \u201cfix\u201d that the Senate has passed, and get it done IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote. <\/p>\n

\n

“We need to clean up our once beautiful Capital City, and make it beautiful again. We will be TOUGH ON CRIME, like never before. I will work with the Mayor on this and, if it does not happen, will have no choice but to do it myself. Washington, D.C., will be better, safer, and more beautiful than ever before!” he continued. <\/p>\n

The Senate passed the bill earlier this month and if the House doesn’t pass it, the government spending measure would limit how D.C. can spend tax dollars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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China\u2019s Xi calls on top executives to help \u2018uphold global order\u2019 as trade tensions with U.S. rise<\/h2>\n
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BEIJING \u2014 Chinese President\u00a0Xi Jinping<\/a>\u00a0on Friday met with global executives and made a case for investing in the country, as Beijing focuses on reaching out to businesses amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S.<\/p>\n

He said that multinational companies had a big responsibility to \u201cuphold global order\u201d and that they needed to work hand in hand with\u00a0China<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read the full story.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump calls conversation with Canadian prime minister ‘productive’<\/h2>\n
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Garrett Haake<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Alexandra Marquez<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump had his first phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this morning, calling it “productive” in a post on Truth Social.<\/p>\n

“It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things, and will be meeting immediately after Canada\u2019s upcoming Election to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors, that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada,” the president wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau atop Canada\u2019s Liberal Party, has been in his post for just two weeks and has been an outspoken critic of the president\u2019s tariff posture toward Canada.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, Carney blasted Trump’s decision to impos<\/a>e<\/a> 25% tariffs<\/a> on automobile imports into the United States.<\/p>\n

\n

“The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over,” Carney said.<\/p>\n

“Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight, is to protect and to build. We will fight the U.S. tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impacts in the United States,” the prime minister also said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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DOJ asks Supreme Court to intervene in Alien Enemies Act case<\/h2>\n
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The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to intervene in the Alien Enemies Act case and vacate a judge’s ruling barring deportations under the rarely used wartime power.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis case presents fundamental questions about who decides how to conduct sensitive national-security-related operations in this country \u2014 the President, through Article II, or the Judiciary, through TROs. The Constitution supplies a clear answer: the President,\u201d Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote. \u201cThe republic cannot afford a different choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also asks the high court for an administrative stay of U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg’s temporary restraining order halting the flights while it considers the appeal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, a federal appeals court denied the government\u2019s request to pause Boasberg\u2019s order.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The high court asked the plaintiffs in the case to respond to the filing by Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Federal judge to consider releasing immigration activist who took refuge in churches <\/h2>\n
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The Associated Press<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DENVER \u2014 A federal judge in Denver is set to hear arguments today over whether an\u00a0immigration and labor activist<\/a>\u00a0who took refuge in Colorado churches to avoid deportation during the first Trump administration should be freed from detention.<\/p>\n

Jeanette Vizguerra<\/a>\u00a0was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 17 and is being held at its immigration detention facility in suburban Denver.<\/p>\n

Read the full story.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump administration rejects Putin\u2019s proposal that the U.N. should govern Ukraine<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Law firm Jenner & Block sues Trump administration<\/h2>\n
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+2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gary Grumbach<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Ryan J. Reilly<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Rebecca Shabad<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jenner & Block, the former law firm of former Robert Mueller team prosecutor and current MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling Trump\u2019s executive order targeting the firm<\/a> \u201can unconstitutional abuse of power against lawyers, their clients, and the legal system.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Order threatens not only Jenner, but also its clients and the legal system itself. Our Constitution, top to bottom, forbids attempts by the government to punish citizens and lawyers based on the clients they represent, the positions they advocate, the opinions they voice, and the people with whom they associate,\u201d the lawsuit states.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Trump has targeted several law firms that have employed people he believes have targeted him in past years, including Mueller\u2019s former firm WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese orders send a clear message to the legal profession: Cease certain representations adverse to the government and renounce the Administration\u2019s critics\u2014or suffer the consequences,” attorneys for Jenner & Block wrote in the lawsuit.\u00a0“The orders also attempt to pressure businesses and individuals to question or even abandon their associations with their chosen counsel, and to chill bringing legal challenges at all.”<\/p>\n

The firm wants a judge to block the enforcement of Trump\u2019s executive order, and deem it unconstitutional.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hillary Clinton denounces early Trump administration moves as ‘dumb’<\/h2>\n
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blasted the policies imposed so far by the Trump administration in a New York Times opinion piece<\/a> published in the wake of a report in The Atlantic this week that senior officials discussed attack plans in a Signal group chat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Clinton denounced the administration’s efforts to fire federal workers and dismantle key agencies dedicated to international humanitarian aid and diplomacy, writing, “If there\u2019s a grand strategy at work here, I don\u2019t know what it is.”<\/p>\n

\u201cToday they are not reinventing government; they\u2019re wrecking it. All of this is both dumb and dangerous,\u201d Clinton wrote, calling them \u201cdumb\u201d multiple times<\/p>\n

Clinton’s name has been invoked this week by Trump administration officials who have sought to compare the Signal scandal<\/a> to the revelation in 2015 that she used a private email server to communicate sometimes classified information while serving as secretary of state.<\/p>\n

\n

Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters that none of the information shared in the Signal chat, which included weapons used and timing of strikes in Yemen, was classified \u2014 something that participants in the chat have also maintained<\/a>, despite skepticism<\/a> from Democrats and former national security officials.<\/p>\n

“If you want to talk about classified information, talk about what was at Hillary Clinton\u2019s home,” Bondi said yesterday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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More than 200 Tesla protests planned this weekend after series of violent incidents <\/h2>\n
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Tesla has become a lightning rod for violent attacks and vandalism in the months since CEO Elon Musk joined the Trump administration. Now,\u00a0<\/strong>people who disagree with Musk\u2019s role in politics are hoping to channel their emotions into something peaceful: a day of mass nonviolent protests at Tesla locations nationwide.<\/p>\n

More than 200 protests are scheduled to take place tomorrow during what organizers are calling a global day of action, part of a campaign called \u201cTesla Takedown.\u201d The organizers are hoping to damage Musk\u2019s political standing by hurting the sales and stock price of the electric carmaker, the foundation of Musk\u2019s wealth. They\u2019ve\u00a0set a goal<\/a>\u00a0of 500 demonstrations worldwide, although it\u2019s unclear if they\u2019ll meet that.<\/p>\n

Read the full story.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Trump administration pulls Stefanik\u2019s nomination for U.N. <\/h2>\n
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Trump announced that his administration has pulled the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for ambassador to the United Nations. NBC\u2019s Garrett Haake reports for “TODAY” on what\u2019s behind the decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lawmakers demand answers about detention and revocation of status of Tufts University student<\/h2>\n
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Chloe Atkins<\/span><\/span><\/span> and Rebecca Shabad<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A group of Democratic lawmakers in the House and the Senate are demanding answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s acting director, Todd Lyons, about the arrest of Tufts University grad student Rumeysa Ozturk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe write about the disturbing arrest and detention of Rumeysa Ozturk by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week. The rationale for this arrest appears to be this student\u2019s expression of her political views,\u201d they wrote in a letter, which was spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.<\/p>\n

The letter also said, “While the Department of Homeland Security has not publicly specified the alleged activities that led to Ozturk\u2019s arrest, this arrest appears to be one of the latest examples in a string of ICE arrests of university students with valid green cards and visas because of their political views.”<\/p>\n

The lawmakers are calling for Ozturk’s release and for her visa to be restored, absent compelling evidence justifying her detention and the revocation of her status.<\/p>\n

The members of Congress requested that the administration respond to several questions by April 4, including about the reason for Ozturk’s arrest and possible updates to the State Department\u2019s policy governing visa revocations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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As Vance heads for Greenland, Trump\u2019s land grab hopes get Putin thumbs-up<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Musk to travel to Wisconsin to hand out $1M checks to voters in state Supreme Court election<\/h2>\n
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Elon Musk said in a post on X<\/a> overnight that he’s going to hand out million-dollar checks at an event in Wisconsin on Sunday night and only people who voted in the state’s Supreme Court election<\/a> can attend. <\/p>\n

“I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote,” he wrote. “This is super important.” <\/p>\n

Musk has poured money into the Supreme Court race ahead of the election next week. His super PAC has given $100 to Wisconsin voters to sign a petition to oppose \u201cactivist judges\u201d and announced it would also give away $1 million awards to a signatory. <\/p>\n

The race is between two state judges, Susan Crawford, a liberal, and state judge Brad Schimel, a conservative who previously served as Wisconsin’s attorney general. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hegseth, facing scandal at home,\u00a0reaffirms U.S. support for the Philippines against China<\/h2>\n
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Reuters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How will Vance and U.S. delegation to Greenland be received? <\/h2>\n
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Vance, second lady Usha Vance and a delegation are set to arrive in Greenland for a limited national security focused mission and visit with military personnel stationed in Pituffik Space Base. NBC\u2019s Molly Hunter reports for “TODAY.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How milk is getting caught in the middle of Trump\u2019s policy agenda<\/h2>\n
\n

Trump\u2019s moves in Washington are being felt in the milking barns of an upstate New York dairy farm. There, AJ Wormuth said he\u2019s already seeing costs go up from Trump\u2019s tariffs <\/a>while the threat of a wider trade war is driving down the price he gets paid for his cows\u2019 milk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting a double whammy \u2014 we\u2019re getting lower prices and higher costs,\u201d said Wormuth, who has 3,600 dairy cattle at his farm, Half Full Diary.<\/p>\n

While none of Trump\u2019s policies have specifically targeted the milk industry, dairy farmers say they have been caught in the fray on a number of fronts. Their stories illustrate the fast pace of change across the federal government at the beginning of the second Trump administration, as well as the intersection of two policy areas \u2014 immigration and the economy \u2014 where voters are giving Trump markedly different grades so far<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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GOP \u2018anxiety\u2019 persists ahead of Florida special elections in Trump territory<\/h2>\n
\n

Republicans are looking to add two more seats to their House majority after special elections in Florida next week, giving GOP leaders a little more breathing room in a tightly divided legislative chamber. But they might be holding their breath until the polls close Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Voters will cast their ballots next week in Florida\u2019s 1st and 6th Congressional districts, two deep-red seats that Trump won easily in November. While Republicans are still expecting to win both races, they are more competitive thanks to a wave of Democratic money and early votes.<\/p>\n

Republicans are wary that closer-than-expected contests could fuel a narrative that voters are reacting negatively to the Trump presidency and that Democrats have the momentum heading into next year\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n

Trump himself has made it clear that the stakes are high.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Federal judge blocks firing of Voice of America staff Lindsey Pipia and Zo\u00eb Richards A federal judge today temporarily blocked the Trump administration\u00a0from efforts to fire Voice of America staff. U.S. District Judge James Paul Oetken granted a temporary restraining order after a group of journalists and labor groups asked the court to return the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}