The Full Belmonte, 3/31/2024
Pope Francis celebrates Easter Mass at the Vatican.
“Pope Francis called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in his traditional Easter message delivered following renewed concerns over the health of the 87-year-old pontiff. Tens of thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the most important day in the Christian calendar.
Crews are working to remove the first portion of Baltimore bridge wreckage — the starting point in a complicated and extensive cleanup process. Reopening the Port of Baltimore could take weeks, officials said.
AT&T launched an investigation into the source of a data leak that includes personal information of 73 million current and former customers. The company said the data was ‘released on the dark web’ about two weeks ago.
In another world, Ukraine would be voting today. But with Russian forces still inside the country and millions of Ukrainians displaced from their homes, fighting on the frontlines or living overseas, there is no election in sight.
At least seven children between the ages of 12 and 17 were wounded in a shooting in downtown Indianapolis, where a large group was gathered, police said.
MONDAY
On this day 24 years ago, Google announced its new Mentalplex Technology — a proprietary system that reads your mind when you want to search for something. It was the first of many April Fools' Day pranks pulled off by the search giant. Other notable corporate hoaxes include Taco Bell purchasing the Liberty Bell and renaming it the "Taco Liberty Bell" and Burger King introducing the Left-Handed Whopper. Bottom line: don't believe everything that arrives in your inbox.
TUESDAY
Presidential primary season continues with voters in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin heading to the polls.
THURSDAY
The clock runs out for Donald Trump to post a reduced $175 million bond as he appeals the civil fraud judgment against him in New York. Trump — along with his adult sons and his company — was fined more than $464 million, including interest, after Judge Arthur Engoron found the former president and his co-defendants fraudulently inflated the value of his assets. An appeals court lowered that amount in March.
And did you know that April 4 is International Carrot Day? Neither did we!
FRIDAY
We cap the week with the employment report for March. The US economy has seen 38 consecutive months of job growth through February (the fifth-longest period of employment expansion on record), and the nation’s unemployment rate has been below 4% for 25 straight months — the longest stretch in more than 50 years.” [CNN]
Netanyahu critics mobilize
Anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv yesterday. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images
“Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated last night in front of the military's headquarters in Tel Aviv, in the biggest protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the terrorist attack of Oct. 7, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.
During the demonstration, a group of roughly 20 hostage families called on Netanyahu to resign. They say that for his own political reasons, he isn't pushing hard enough for a deal with Hamas.
Why it matters: The protests, which many political observers thought would happen months ago, could signal a turning point for the Israeli public.
The big picture: Netanyahu and his government faced only limited protests at home over the past five months, compared to mass demonstrations before the war.
The vast majority of Israelis have felt political demonstrations weren't appropriate while hundreds of thousands of Israeli soldiers, many of them reservists, were deployed.
Saturday's eruption was driven by three key groups:
Families of hostages in Gaza.
The anti-Netanyahu protest movement, which was very active before the war and now is resurfacing.
Many Israelis are angry at Netanyahu over attempts to bypass an Israeli Supreme Court ruling Thursday that ultra-orthodox men can no longer be exempt from military service.
Behind the scenes: Netanyahu has rejected requests by the director of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, and other Israeli negotiators to give them more leeway so they can get a hostage deal with the Hamas captors.
Several members of the Israeli war cabinet pushed Netanyahu to show more flexibility. He accused them of being soft and not knowing how to negotiate with Hamas.
Reality check: Although domestic political pressure on Netanyahu is growing, he isn't going anywhere, and his government isn't under imminent threat of collapsing.” [Axios]
THE LATEST NEWS
Middle East
In Israel. Amit Elkayam for The New York Times
“Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet is divided about whether ultra-Orthodox Jews should be required to join the Israeli Army.” [New York Times]
“Negotiations on a cease-fire in the war in Gaza are expected to resume today in Cairo, according to an Egyptian state-owned TV channel.” [New York Times]
“Airdrops play a prominent role in efforts to deliver food and supplies to Gaza. A Times photographer observed one aboard a Jordanian Air Force plane. See the images.” [New York Times]
“U.S.-led airstrikes against the Houthi militia and inflation have raised concerns about a new humanitarian crisis in Yemen.” [New York Times]
More International News
At a recruitment center in Kyiv, Ukraine. Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times
“Ukrainian brigades are running their own marketing campaigns outside the official mobilization system to attract recruits.” [New York Times]
“The death in Spain of a Russian defector has raised fears that Russia’s European spy networks continue to operate despite attempts to dismantle them.” [New York Times]
“The police in Peru raided President Dina Boluarte’s home and the presidential palace in search of Rolex watches as part of an ‘unlawful enrichment’ investigation.” v
“Protests by farmers in Europe have emboldened a far right that thrives on grievances.” [New York Times]
“See images from Reuters of Christians around the world celebrating Holy Week.” [New York Times]
National Archives hands more Biden emails to House GOP amid impeachment probe: Report
“The National Archives has sent the House Oversight Committee nearly 6,000 pages of emails as part of Republican’s investigation into President Biden. The pair of letters addressed to Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and obtained by Axios, is dated March 26 and is responding to a request from last September about “certain Presidential and Vice Presidential records from [the] Obama Administration.”
Read the full story here at The Hill
Other Big Stories
“A woman in Texas who was falsely charged with murder after using an abortion pill has filed a lawsuit against the local prosecutor’s office and its leaders.” [New York Times]
“Thousands gathered on Long Island for the funeral of a New York City police officer who was shot to death in the line of duty. His killing has become a political flashpoint.” [New York Times]
“Lives Lived: Robert Moskowitz was a painter who was inspired by the New York City skyline. His work took on new meaning after 9/11. Moskowitz died at 88.” [New York Times]
“Chance Perdomo, an actor known for his roles in the series “Gen V” and “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” died on Friday at 27.” [New York Times]