Good morning, and welcome to today’s news roundup where we delve into some pressing issues surrounding the Trump administration.
One worrying proposal from President Trump has surfaced, involving the potential detention of U.S. citizens involved in criminal activities and their subsequent transfer to prisons in El Salvador.
Legal experts have raised alarms over this development, hinting that the White House may be preparing to advance such a plan, despite widespread belief that jailing Americans abroad is unconstitutional.
In discussions both public and private, Trump has indicated his willingness to lock up Americans overseas if a legal avenue is identified, a sentiment he expressed as early as February when he claimed he would do it ‘in a heartbeat.’
During a recent meeting with the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, he referred to U.S. citizens as ‘home growns are next,’ suggesting that El Salvador should expand its prison capacity to accommodate Americans.
This plan has drawn scrutiny, particularly since both Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have asserted that only violent criminals would be affected by such measures.
Notably, David Bier from the libertarian CATO Institute cautioned that the administration might proceed with this action without providing adequate clarity, even in the face of objections from courts and judges.
In a related legal matter, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a ruling indicating that the Trump administration showed ‘willful disregard’ for a court order and is likely in criminal contempt.
The judge pointed out that the government failed to comply with his directives last month, specifically related to two planes that were carrying Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador.
On March 15, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, aiming to expedite the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua without judicial hearings.
On that same day, dozens of men were loaded onto two planes, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to file a lawsuit after becoming aware of the situation.
During an emergency hearing that evening, Judge Boasberg issued orders to return the planes, highlighting the government’s failure to comply with the judicial process.
Boasberg also provided the government with two options moving forward: reassert custody of the men it deported so they can contest their deportations or, if they choose not to, provide the judge with the names of the officials who disobeyed his order.
In an unusual move, Boasberg expressed his intent to compel these officials to testify and hinted at appointing a lawyer for criminal prosecution for contempt if necessary.
In response to the ruling, the Justice Department characterized it as a ‘judicial power grab’ and announced plans to appeal the decision.
On another front, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a significant decline of nearly 700 points yesterday, reflecting growing concerns over the state of the economy.
Despite this downturn, consumer spendings seem to be robust, buoyed by a surge in retail sales as people rushed to make purchases ahead of President Trump’s impending steep tariffs.
NPR’s Scott Horsley reported that the pre-tariff buying spree may lead to diminished spending in the following months, as consumers may have front-loaded their purchases.
In anticipation of incoming tariffs, Gene Seroka, head of the Port of Los Angeles, has predicted at least a 10% drop in incoming cargo during the latter half of the year.
Before these tariffs were introduced, the U.S. was happily witnessing some progress on pricing stability, with core inflation recorded at its lowest point in four years last month.
Amidst these unfolding events, it’s vital to emphasize some personal well-being practices.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, engaging with poetry offers an opportunity for emotional processing, whether it be feelings of sadness, anger, or joy.
If you find connecting with this expressive art challenging, here are some suggestions from poets shared with NPR’s Life Kit:
1. Approach poetry with an open mind, devoid of the pressure associated with school assessments or grades.
2. Allow yourself to focus on your emotional response to the poem rather than deciphering its precise meaning.
3. Given that poetry is an oral art, consider reading it aloud in varied tones to enhance your engagement with the text.
4. When a poem lacks visual descriptions, encourage your imagination to visualize the content vividly or illustrate your thoughts with doodles as you read.
Exploring poetry not only fosters personal insight but serves as a reminder of the beauty of language and self-reflection.
In lighter news, a heroic dog named Buford in Arizona has gained recognition for helping to rescue a 2-year-old boy who wandered nearly 7 miles from home and spent a night alone in the desert.
Additionally, ESPN has announced an exciting partnership with the Savannah Bananas to broadcast ten of their games later this year, aiming to showcase the team’s entertaining on-field antics to a national audience. The Savannah Bananas have garnered a global following for their unique baseball format, known as Banana Ball.
Lastly, a significant warning has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration and the maker of Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, about several hundred units of the drug being available on the market outside of the company’s authorized supply chain.
Stay tuned for more updates on these evolving stories.
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/g-s1-60847/up-first-newsletter-el-salvador-home-growns-trump-tariffs-criminal-contempt
