The Full Belmonte, 4/1/2024
Tens of thousands of protesters flooded Israel’s streets this weekend.
“Why? They’re calling for immediate elections and for the government to urgently negotiate the release of about 100 hostages still held by Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack.
Why it matters: It could become the greatest threat yet to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under growing pressure over Israel’s brutal war in Gaza.”
Read this story at Washington Post
The effort to remove the ruins of Baltimore’s collapsed bridge is underway.
“Yesterday: Demolition crews cut parts of the north side of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last week after it was hit by a cargo ship. The ship’s crew remains on board.
What else to know: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, a Democrat, has been the target of racist attacks after the bridge collapse thrust him into the national spotlight.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Donald Trump attacked President Biden for noting Transgender Day of Visibility.
“Why? The event, which falls on March 31 each year, happened to coincide with Easter Sunday this year. The former president cast the coincidence as an attack on Easter.
In other Trump news: He shared an image Friday of Biden with his hands and feet tied — the latest example of the increasingly violent messaging of his presidential campaign.”
Read this story at Washington Post
A major storm is sweeping the country.
A model simulation of storms today and tomorrow. (WeatherBell)
“This weekend: It brought thunderstorms and mountain snow to California. Part of Highway 1 collapsed and tumbled into the ocean near Big Sur, stranding travelers.
Today and tomorrow: The storm will move through Central and Eastern states, bringing the threat of snowstorms, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Weekend violence
“A suspect has been identified in the Nashville Easter shooting that left at least one person dead and seven others wounded. Police said the shooting was an isolated incident that occurred after an altercation between two men at a brunch. Separately, at least seven children between the ages of 12 and 17 were wounded in a shooting Saturday night in downtown Indianapolis, where a large group was gathered near a mall, police said. All the wounded children were taken to local hospitals and are in stable condition. This was the third weekend in a row that Indianapolis police have responded to a mass shooting, prompting more officers to be present downtown.” [CNN]
Kamala Harris is pushing the envelope as 2024 heats up
“Vice President Kamal Harris is moving into a starring role for the Democrats' reelection campaign. As left-leaning voters question President Joe Biden's progressive record, Harris is taking on more heated topics, more often and more directly than Biden. Harris hosted rapper Fat Joe at the White House to talk about reforming marijuana laws. She visited an abortion clinic. The vice president called for a cease-fire in Gaza at the historic Selma bridge in Alabama. She walked the bloodstained crime scene of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. Here's how she's seeking to persuade a fractious coalition of voters.” [USA Today]
US Vice President Kamala Harris participates in a moment of silence at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School memorial in Parkland, Florida, March 23, 2024.
DREW ANGERER, AFP via Getty Images
Anti-racism protections — for white people
Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photos: Charly Triballeau/AFP, Hulton Archive/Getty Images
“If Donald Trump returns to the White House, close allies want to dramatically change the government's interpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on "anti-white racism" rather than discrimination against people of color.
Why it matters: Trump's Justice Department would push to eliminate or upend programs in government and corporate America that are designed to counter racism that has favored whites, Axios' Alex Thompson reports.
Targets would range from decades-old policies aimed at giving minorities economic opportunities, to more recent programs that began in response to the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd.
The Trump campaign's Steven Cheung told Axios: ‘Joe Biden has continued to push unlawful civil rights abuses ... As President Trump has said, all staff, offices, and initiatives connected to Biden's un-American policy will be immediately terminated.’
Longtime aides and allies preparing for a potential second Trump administration have been laying legal groundwork with a flurry of lawsuits and legal complaints — some of which have been successful.
A central vehicle for the effort has been America First Legal, founded by former Trump aide Stephen Miller, who has called the group conservatives' ‘long-awaited answer to the ACLU.’
America First cited the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in a lawsuit against CBS for what it argued was discrimination against a white, straight man who was a writer for the show "Seal Team" in 2017.
In February, the group filed a civil rights complaint against the NFL over its "Rooney Rule," which requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates for vacant general manager, head coach and coordinator positions.
In 2021, Miller's group successfully sued to block implementation of a $29 billion pandemic-era program for women- and minority-owned restaurants.
Zoom in: Other Trump-aligned groups are preparing for a future Trump Justice Department to implement, or challenge, policies on a broader scale.
The Heritage Foundation's well-funded "Project 2025" envisions a second Trump administration ending what it calls ‘affirmative discrimination.’
Such groups have gained momentum with the Supreme Court's turn to the right — most notably its recent rejection of affirmative action in college admissions.” [Axios]
”U.S. and Israel’s ‘Unprecedented’ Intelligence Sharing Draws Criticism - As deaths mount in Gaza, some lawmakers and human-rights groups are questioning whether American-provided information is contributing to the humanitarian crisis.” [Wall Street Journal]
“Mexico's Oaxaca state: The bodies of eight Chinese nationals have been found on a beach after their boat capsized along a route used by people trying to enter the US.” [BBC News]
“The mayor of Istanbul is expected to win re-election. It would be a rebuke of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party, which campaigned against him.” [New York Times]
Data from 73 million AT&T accounts appears to have been leaked.
“The breach: Data, including Social Security numbers and addresses linked to current and former AT&T accounts, was leaked onto the dark web, the company said Saturday.
If you’re affected: Look out for unusual activity on your accounts. AT&T said it reset the passcodes of 7.6 million current customers.”
Read this story at Washington Post
The men’s NCAA basketball Final Four is set.
“Who’s in? No. 1 seeds Connecticut and Purdue, and Alabama and N.C. State, which upset Duke yesterday for its ninth consecutive win. The Final Four games are Saturday in Arizona.
In the women’s bracket: South Carolina and N.C. State clinched Final Four spots. N.C. State upset Texas yesterday on a court with different-length three-point lines on each side.
Tonight: It’s a national title game rematch with a Final Four spot on the line. Coach Kim Mulkey and LSU face Iowa and leading scorer Caitlin Clark (7:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN).”
Angel Reese (10) shows Iowa Caitlin Clark her ring finger during the final seconds of the women's 2023 NCAA Tournament national championship game.
Zach Boyden-Holmes, USA TODAY NETWORK
Read this story at Washington Post
Harvard removed human skin from the binding of a 19th-century book.
“Its grisly history: In the 1880s, the book was gifted to a doctor, who bound it in skin he acquired as a medical student. Over the years, it inspired hazing rituals at the university.
The latest: The binding was removed over ethical concerns, Harvard said last week. It’s figuring out what to do with the skin, which came from a female psychiatric patient.”
Read this story at Washington Post
In Manhattan. Kena Betancur/Getty Images
“The Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival filled Fifth Avenue with color. See more outfits.” [New York Times]
“Lives Lived: Lorraine Graves was a ballerina who starred as a principal dancer for the groundbreaking Dance Theater of Harlem for nearly two decades. She died at 66.” [New York Times]