Exclusive: The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary  —  The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.  —  This comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to find himself mired in controversy.

The Fire Jerome Powell Market Rout  —  Investors render a verdict on tariffs and politicizing the Fed.  —  Click for Sound  —  If the White House wanted a test of how firing Jerome Powell would go over in the markets, it succeeded on Monday.  U.S. stocks and the dollar plunged while yields …

Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Threats to Cut Funding  —  Harvard's lawsuit comes after the administration sought to force the university to comply with a list of demands by cutting billions in federal funding the school receives.  —  Harvard, the world's wealthiest university …

New images could change cancer diagnostics, but ICE detained the Harvard scientist who analyzes them  —  Without scientist Kseniia Petrova's expertise, no one can fully unlock the data's potential, putting crucial advancements in early cancer detection at risk.

Mahmoud Khalil's Son Arrives After ICE Refuses to Let Him Attend Birth  —  Mr. Khalil, a permanent resident detained in Louisiana, had requested a monitored furlough for the birth.  His request was denied in less than an hour.  —  The Department of Homeland Security denied Mahmoud Khalil permission …

Stop!  In the Name of Trump!  —  A sudden-stop crisis comes to America  —  Yesterday Bloomberg posted an article titled “Markets Are Discovering the Real Trump Trade Is ‘Sell America’.”  That's about right.  Look at the value of the dollar on international markets, shown at the top of this post.

Mississippi Governor Declares April 2025 as Confederate Heritage Month  — Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email  —  Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has declared April 2025 as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi, keeping alive a 32-year-old tradition that began in 1993.

Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection, Education Department says  —  The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers,officials said Monday.

Dow Headed for Worst April Since 1932 as Investors Send ‘No Confidence’ Signal  —  Few think administration's negotiations with trade partners will yield results soon enough to ease the strain  —  Created with Highcharts 9.0.1Performance since April 2 'Liberation Day'Sources: Dow Jones Market Data …

Trump DOJ: Providing Basic Sewer Services to Black People Is Actually “Illegal DEI”  —  Hookworm, a parasite that lives in the small intestine, was thought to be eradicated in most of the United States decades ago.  People generally contract the illness by walking on soil contaminated by human feces …

Hundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism  —  WASHINGTON — A survey of more than 500 political scientists finds that the vast majority think the United States is moving swiftly from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism.

4/22/25 ☀️ AM:  —  Trump administration readies ‘X date’ for debt limit … Most estimates for the date when the federal government will reach its borrowing limit — known as the “X date” — peg it at some point this summer or early fall.  But Treasury is expected to give …

Justice Dept. agrees to let DOGE access sensitive immigration case data  —  About a half-dozen DOGE “advisors” won approval from the the Justice Department to access the ECAS system, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post.  —  Representatives for the U.S. DOGE Service …

Six Men Are Charged After Woman Was Dragged From Idaho Town Hall  —  The plainclothes guards were involved in the forcible removal of a woman from a meeting hosted by local Republicans in Coeur d'Alene, prosecutors said.  —  Six men who prosecutors said took part in forcibly removing a woman …

E.P.A. Set to Cancel Grants Aimed at Protecting Children From Toxic Chemicals  —  The cancellations, set to apply to pending and active grants, also affect research into “forever chemicals” contaminating the food supply.  —  The Trump administration is set to cancel tens of millions of dollars …

Newly Minted DOJ Employee Michael Caputo Keeps Posting ‘Antifa’ Death Fantasies Online  —  The week before last, veteran GOP operative Michael Caputo was hired by one of President Trump's most controversial nominees to advise him ahead of what is expected to be a tough confirmation fight.

Trump blasts Supreme Court while arguing trials for migrants ‘not possible’  —  President Trump on Monday complained of being “stymied at every turn” by the courts, arguing the administration can't hold trials for migrants it plans to deport amid accusations they are gang members.

With Latest Missteps, Veneer of Discipline in 2nd Trump Term Falls Away  —  The mistakes, miscommunications and flip-flops are piling up after an early run defined by a flood of major policy changes that were rolled out at breakneck speed.  —  When President Trump assessed his team's performance …

The ACLU Is Suing the Government to Get Access to DOGE Records  —  The ACLU claims the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration have violated the Freedom of Information Act.  —  The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on Monday …

Kristi Noem's Bag, With Security Badge and $3,000, Is Stolen  —  The homeland security secretary was dining at a Washington, D.C., restaurant.  She also lost her passport and keys.  —  A handbag belonging to the homeland security secretary Kristi Noem containing her passport …

Al Gore compares Trump administration to Nazi Germany  —  The former vice president said the administration was “insisting on trying to create their own preferred version of reality.”  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Former Vice President Al Gore on Monday compared President Donald Trump's administration …

The Government's Chemical Disaster Tracking Tool Just Went Dark  —  Keep reading for FREE.  This is not a paywall.  —  Just sign up below for a free subscription to The Lever to get access to this story and much more.  —  SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE  —  Already have an account?  Sign in

With CDC injury prevention team gutted, ‘we will not know what is killing us’  —  Before they were fired, staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were about to launch a new data system to improve how the U.S. tracks concussions.  —  They were planning to release updated guidance …

Bluesky Is Rolling Out Official Verification  —  Bluesky's new verification process launches today.  It mixes the old-school, Twitter-style blue check bestowed by the platform with a more decentralized option for trusted organizations.  —  Starting today, Bluesky is rolling out a new verification system …