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Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Concerns about transparency swirl around Nashua performing arts center
Thursday's decision arises from one of more than a dozen lawsuits resident Laurie A. Ortolano has filed against Nashua in the past five years under the RTK law. It clarifies that a 2008 change to the law didn't narrow the scope of entities bound by it. Legislators added language specifying that government-owned nonprofit corporations are public bodies subject to the RTK law, but that doesn't mean all for-profit corporations are exempt, the court ruled. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up To determine whether an entity constitutes a public body under the RTK law, judges still must conduct a 'government function' test, just as they were required to do before the 2008 change to the law. The lower court failed to do that in this case. Advertisement In response to Thursday's decision, Ortolano said it seems fairly clear that NPAC Corp. is using public money to perform a government function, especially considering how involved city officials have been in the entity's financing and administration. Advertisement Ortolano said officials had long reassured the public that the performing arts center would be operated transparently, but then they established the for-profit entity. 'All of the records went dark, and you could not really track accountability of the money any longer,' she said. Ortolano's lawsuit alleges the city owns a nonprofit entity that owns the for-profit corporation, but city attorney Steven A. Bolton disputed that. Nashua doesn't own any of the entities in question, he said. (That said, the city's Board of Alderman approves mayoral appointees to lead the nonprofits.) Bolton said he was pleased that the Supreme Court agreed with the trial court's decision to dismiss the city as a defendant in this case, and he expressed confidence that the money raised for this project was spent appropriately on construction, furnishings, and perhaps initial operating costs. Attorneys for the remaining defendant, NPAC Corp., didn't respond Thursday to requests for comment. The corporation maintains it is a private entity exempt from the RTK law, even though its members are listed on Gregory V. Sullivan, an attorney who practices in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and who serves as president of the New England First Amendment Coalition, said he suspects the superior court will conclude that NPAC Corp. is subject to the RTK law. He commended Ortolano as 'a right-to-know warrior' and criticized leaders who resist transparency. 'The city of Nashua has historically, in my opinion, not been cooperative with requests to disclose the public's records as opposed to other cities and towns in New Hampshire,' he said. 'We the people are the government, own the government, and they're our records.' Advertisement This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Steven Porter can be reached at
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New Hampshire governor rejects hearing for Pamela Smart, sentenced to life for husband's 1990 death
Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up On Wednesday, Smart wrote to Ayotte and the governor's Executive Council asking for a hearing on commuting her sentence. But Ayotte, a Republican elected in November, said she has reviewed the case and decided it is not deserving of a hearing before the five-member panel. Advertisement 'People who commit violent crimes must be held accountable to the law,' said Ayotte, a former state attorney general. 'I take very seriously the action of granting a pardon hearing and believe this process should only be used in exceptional circumstances.' In her letter, Smart said she has spent the last 35 years 'becoming a person who can and will be a contributing member of society.' Calling herself 'what rehabilitation looks like,' she noted that she has taken responsibility for her husband's death. Advertisement 'I have apologized to Gregg's family and my own for the life taken and for my life denied to my parents and family for all these long years,' she wrote. Smart's trial was a media circus and one of America's first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school staff member and a student. The student, William Flynn, testified that Smart told him she needed her husband killed because she feared she would lose everything if they divorced. Flynn and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors and all have since been released. The case inspired Joyce Maynard's 1992 book 'To Die For' and the 1995 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Morning Report — Trump's tariffs snag in the courts
Editor's note: The Hill's Morning Report is our daily newsletter that dives deep into Washington's agenda. To subscribe, click here or fill out the box below. Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here In today's issue: President Trump's signature trade policy is hitting a series of hurdles in the courts, as multiple panels this week sought to block their implementation. First came the U.S. Court of International Trade, which on Wednesday declared the levies illegal. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras followed suit, blocking the bulk of the April 2nd 'Liberation Day' tariffs. A federal appeals court lifted the first of two rulings blocking Trump's tariffs on Thursday, handing him a temporary win after a lower court rejected the administration's legal defense hours earlier. ▪ The Hill: These tariffs weren't affected by the court rulings. ▪ The New York Times: Companies welcomed the court decision striking down Trump's tariffs. Then a stay of that ruling left no one breathing easy. ▪ CNN: Trump's tariffs are under threat, but ports aren't seeing a big rebound yet. That's bad news for prices. During a briefing Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt derided the court rulings as 'judicial overreach' and said they were part of 'a troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process.' The back-and-forth tariff policies, which have changed rapidly this year, have created uncertainty for businesses that import and export products, for stock markets across the world, and for consumers, who could see price increases in the coming weeks and months. For businesses, the ruling opens up the possibility that businesses will be able to apply for refunds from the government, trade and legal experts told The Hill. As the legal cases play out, the White House's top economic advisers asserted that even if they lose the case, they will find another way to impose tariffs. 'We just do some other things,' White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Bloomberg TV. He and other administration advisers outlined several legal authorities the president could use, but most of them take time and have limits. In Congress, Republican lawmakers breathed a sigh of relief when the trade court ruling came down, writes The Hill's Alexander Bolton, putting the brakes on the president's trade war. But the legal battles over Trump's trade agenda are just beginning, with Republicans uncertain how Trump is going to respond to adverse rulings that strike at the core of his economic and foreign policy agenda. Senate Republicans are mulling legislation to require congressional approval for Trump's reciprocal tariffs, but they have been content to let the courts take the lead in reining in Trump's aggressive approach to foreign trading partners. For now, they are mostly hoping Trump takes a potential political win — as outlined by The Hill's Niall Stanage in The Memo. Brian Darling, a GOP strategist and former Senate aide, said GOP lawmakers are 'quietly applauding the decision' by two courts Wednesday and Thursday to halt Trump's tariffs 'because it saves them from having to deal with the tariff issue, which has proven to be unpopular.' 🚨 The Wall Street Journal: Federal authorities are probing recent efforts to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles during calls to senators, governors and business executives. FBI officials don't believe a foreign nation is involved. Blake Burman's Smart Take is off today and will return next week. 3 THINGS TO KNOW TODAY ▪ A new World Meteorological Organization report spells the end of the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in the next two years. ▪ Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Trump on Thursday when they met at the president's request that monetary policy decisions would be 'based solely on careful, objective and non-political analysis.' Trump wants lower interest rates. ▪ Join The Hill's June 4 half-day summit, 'Invest in America,' at 8 a.m. EDT featuring titans from Washington and Wall Street. Participants share insights about economic developments, tariffs, artificial intelligence, crypto, taxes and more. RSVP HERE. LEADING THE DAY © Associated Press | Jose Luis Magana Billionaire Elon Musk wraps up his assignment with the Trump administration today with an incomplete record on federal cost-cutting and a mountain of criticism about his Edward Scissorhands methods, if not his intended mission. He's expected to join the president this afternoon for an Oval Office press availability to mark the end of his 130-day tenure as a 'special government' adviser. After months by Trump's side in the White House and at Mar-a-Lago, Musk has eased back into his CEO sphere and maintained his presence on X, his social media platform, while also being interviewed by the mainstream press, including CBS. He's knocked Republicans in Congress for crafting 'big, beautiful' spending and tax legislation that he says is awash in red ink. And he's differed with the president over tariffs. Musk, in an interview on 'CBS Sunday Morning,' set to air this weekend, said he has some 'differences of opinion' with the administration but is 'stuck in a bind' when it comes to publicly sharing those views. Musk entered national politics for the first time because of Trump, saying he felt called to step away from his business empire to help prevent the U.S. from going bankrupt. He promoted the idea of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the incoming president, who embraced the concept and put his high-profile benefactor in charge to catch the spears. Musk and his team single-handedly shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), hollowed out the Education Department, fired tens of thousands of civil servants, vacuumed up federal databases and ran roughshod over Senate-confirmed Cabinet members, some of whom were infuriated when they were left to pick up DOGE-detonated pieces. Bloomberg News: Musk exits DOGE leaving threadbare agencies and strained workers. The actions of Musk's team remain contested in federal courtrooms, and one analysis by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service said DOGE's claims of $160 billion in federal savings cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year. The Hill: Top DOGE officials are leaving as Musk departs. Trump previously praised Musk as 'brilliant,' a 'super genius' and 'a patriot.' Musk also proved to be a super supporter, contributing $288 million to help Trump and other GOP candidates get elected last year. In that effort, he became the nation's largest and most prominent donor. More recently, Musk acknowledged the reputational hit he and his companies, particularly Tesla, experienced amid public criticism of his actions with DOGE. He said during a recent Bloomberg News interview conducted virtually that he's 'done enough' political spending for the near future. WHERE AND WHEN ZOOM IN © Associated Press | Shuji Kajiyama 2028: As many in the Democratic Party call for a fresh bench, young sensibilities and unifying ideas ahead of the next presidential campaign, a familiar figure keeps coming up in conversation: Rahm Emanuel. The former campaign and White House adviser, former Illinois congressman and ex-Chicago mayor and most recently, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, has an insider's résumé and a colorful reputation. Time magazine in 2009 hailed Emanuel, a surprising choice to be former President Obama's West Wing chief of staff, as 'a hard-cussing, old-school-campaign knife fighter and pragmatic congressional arm twister who plays to win.' Emanuel, 65, is making news media rounds to argue that the Democratic brand is 'toxic' (while showcasing his own brand). He says the party has to unite to defeat Trumpism and insists the party's direction should be to the center, not to the left. In 2010, when Emanuel ended two years by Obama's side, the president praised his aide's candor, opinions and 'passionate desire to move this country forward and lift up the lives of the middle class and people who are struggling to get there.' Former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) told The Hill's Amie Parnes, 'As well known as he is, people don't really know him.' Don't count Emanuel out, he added. 'What fascinates me about him is that for him it's all about winning,' Israel continues. 'And he knows how to win the most challenging of battles.' Immigration politics: The administration created a target list of sanctuary cities and counties in 30 states, threatening to pull funding from jurisdictions that don't cooperate with immigration enforcement. 2026: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), 85, on Thursday attracted a primary challenger, former 'Jeopardy!' contestant Harry Jarin, 35, who said the incumbent, elected to Congress in 1981, represents a 'bygone era of politics that isn't working.' Hoyer has not said if he will seek reelection. New York City: The June 24 Democratic primary for mayor divides party factions and voters. The Nation, opposed to mayoral candidate Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is challenging Mayor Eric Adams (D), today endorsed Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member from Queens, and Brad Lander, the city's comptroller for the office, while 'urging New Yorkers to rank Mamdani as their first choice and Lander as their second.' COURTS: The Supreme Court on Thursday in an 8-0 ruling narrowed the scope of environmental review under one of the nation's bedrock environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). International students: A federal judge in Boston gave Harvard a temporary victory on Thursday in a legal battle with the Trump administration over whether it can enroll international students. The enrollment at Harvard of international students has grown steadily over the past 19 years and now exceeds 27 percent. ▪ The Hill: International students say they're in chaos as Trump broadens the administration's attacks on visas. ▪ The Hill: Texas is set to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms as the American Civil Liberties Union vowed to sue. ELSEWHERE © Associated Press | Ronen Zvulun GAZA: The White House is optimistic that a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas could be finalized soon, Axios reports, as a new proposal from Trump envoy Steve Witkoff could help bridge the remaining gaps. 'If each side moves just a bit, we could have a deal within days,' one U.S. source said. Trump has made clear he wants to end the war — which has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and more than 1,600 Israelis. But talks were stalled for weeks, and Israel is undertaking a massive ground operation to occupy Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told families of hostages that Israel accepts Witkoff's new Gaza truce proposal. Hamas officials gave the Israeli-approved draft a cool response, but said they wanted to study the proposal more closely before giving a formal answer. ▪ The New York Times: A new aid site in Gaza brings more scenes of chaos. The United Nations says food being distributed by a new Israeli-backed system is 'less than a drop in the ocean.' UKRAINE: Russia said it has yet to receive a response from Ukraine over its proposal to hold another round of ceasefire talks in Istanbul next week, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged the two sides not to 'close the door' to dialogue. Moscow said earlier this week it wanted to hold new talks with Ukraine to present a memorandum that would outline what it referred to as the key elements for 'overcoming the root causes' of the war. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi. said on X on Thursday that Russia's hesitancy to share its plan suggests that it was 'likely filled with unrealistic ultimatums.' ▪ CNN: Ukraine scrambles to set up a 'drone wall' as it braces for a Russian summer offensive. ▪ NPR: What does Trump's changing rhetoric on Russian President Vladimir Putin suggest about his relationship with the Russian leader? An interview with William Taylor, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. ▪ BBC: How the West is helping Russia to fund its war on Ukraine. ▪ The Washington Post: Russia once struggled to field its own long-range drones, until Iran sold it the technology to do it. Now hundreds of the devices hit Ukraine every night. ▪ Axios: Gulf leaders all argued against a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities during Trump's recent visit and encouraged him to continue pushing for a new nuclear deal. OPINION ■ President Trump isn't a tariff king, by The Wall Street Journal editorial board. ■ Goodbye, Elon: A rich man takes his toys, then up and leaves, by Aron Solomon, opinion contributor, The Hill. THE CLOSER © Associated Press | Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore And finally … 👏👏👏 Congratulations to this week's Morning Report Quiz winners! Here's who aced our puzzle tackling perceptions of youth, the elderly, experience and officials who influence world events. 🧩 Readers who went 4/4: Sol Brotman, Michael McGinnis, Brian Hogan, Lee Harvey, Bob DiMaggio, Roger Langendoerfer, Jack Barshay, Richard E. Baznik, Mark Roeddiger, Luther Berg, Robert Bradley, Sharon Banitt, William D. Moore, Mark R. Williamson, Jenessa Wagner, Tim Burrack, Paul F. Schnabel, Linda L. Field, Gary Kalian, Stan Wasser, Phil Kirstein, Carol B. Webster, Carmine Petracca, Rick Schmidtke, Jess Elger, Sari Wisch, Harry Strulovici, Chuck Schoenenberger, Terry Pflaumer, Clare Millians, Steve James, Larry Mason, Pam Manges, Savannah Petracca and Michael B. Kitz. When the House's youngest current lawmaker, 28-year-old Florida Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D), was born, the Oval Office occupant was Bill Clinton. The Sunshine State governor at the time was Lawton Chiles (a Democrat who died the following year at age 68 while in office). Former President Reagan, then 73 and the oldest president in history, was in the midst of a campaign debate when he famously said he would not 'exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.' In 1967, a series of U.S. events led to the ratification of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution spelling out how a vice president can take over for a president who is unable to perform official duties. Trump will be 79 on June 14. Stay Engaged We want to hear from you! Email: Alexis Simendinger (asimendinger@ and Kristina Karisch (kkarisch@ Follow us on social platform X: (@asimendinger and @kristinakarisch) and suggest this newsletter to friends.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Millennial moms get shockingly small amount of time to themselves a day: survey
Nearly a third of millennial moms (29%) get less than 30 minutes to themselves during an average day, according to new research. A survey of 2,000 millennial moms revealed that a majority of those surveyed rarely have a moment to themselves during the day (65%). One in seven even said they 'always' forget what day it is due to being so busy, leading many to put eating and snacking on the back burner. Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Sun-Maid Farmstand Reserve the survey revealed that in fact, half of moms can't remember the last time they didn't feel rushed through a meal (51%). When they do feel rushed, the car is the No. 1 place that respondents opt for a snack break (51%). A survey found that nearly a third of millennial moms only have about 30 minutes of free time a day. Konstantin Yuganov – Other times of day that moms sneak in a quick snack include when taking care of their kids (39%), cooking (24%) or doing chores (31%). Thirty-seven percent eat something on the go every day, with 44% of these respondents preferring not to, but doing it anyway. Similarly, 31% eat standing up every day, and 39% of these moms prefer not to, but need to. The average millennial mom surveyed eats at least two meals or snacks a day while standing up or on the go, and the same is true for practically all meals for a quarter of respondents (24%). These moms who snack on the go keep them handy in their purse (46%). Others keep them in their car (38%), in their work bag (33%) and even tucked away in their nightstand (19%) for a midnight munch. When asked about some of the more unusual places they've snacked, respondents shared that they've enjoyed a snack in 'the shower,' 'on the treadmill' or while 'sitting in service at church.' The most on-the-go-friendly snacks these moms enjoy include chips (53%), crackers (52%), string cheese (48%), a granola or protein bar (48%) and fresh fruit (45%). And while millennial moms have been long-time lovers of chips (88%) and candy or sweets (86%), some are opting for healthier snacks; 27% said they've grown fond of nuts and trail mix over time, and 34% have said the same about dried fruit. When millennial moms do get a moment to themselves during the day, they savor it (87%) by catching up on their favorite to-dos like scrolling through their phone (58%), eating or drinking something (47%) or listening to a song or two (42%). Acts of solitude like embracing quietness (47%) and closing their eyes to enjoy it (42%) also rank high on how millennial moms like to enjoy their moments to themselves. Start and end your day informed with our newsletters Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Six in 10 wish they could enjoy these blissful moments more often (64%). For many it's as simple as enjoying a good snack: Nearly half shared that they snack more since becoming a parent (46%). But it may be time for an update in their pantry, as 37% haven't discovered a new 'favorite' snack in at least a few months. Typically, 90% of millennial moms eat the same snacks as their child, sometimes without their child even around (57%). Those who eat the same snacks as their child say it's because they stock options at home that work for everyone in the family (54%) and because they're easy to eat on the go (49%). Forty-five percent simply like them just because they're tasty, and another 30% said they enjoyed the same ones as a child.
The Hill
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Morning Report — White House on defense over DOGE cuts; trade court halts tariffs
Editor's note: The Hill's Morning Report is our daily newsletter that dives deep into Washington's agenda. To subscribe, click here or fill out the box below. Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here In today's issue: Elon Musk's criticism of the 'big, beautiful bill' budget winding its way through Congress is throwing a late curveball in the push to advance President Trump's legislative agenda. Trump secured a major win for his sweeping, signature bill when the House passed the measure — which included tax cuts, Medicaid reform and other GOP priorities — by a single vote before the Memorial Day recess. But the legislation faces a challenging path in the Senate. Centrist Republicans warn against deep benefits cuts, while fiscal conservatives are blasting the bill — which would increase the nation's borrowing authority by $4 trillion — as a debt bomb. 'I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the [Department of Government Efficiency] team is doing,' Musk said in a preview of an interview with 'CBS Sunday Morning' that airs later this week. 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion.' Trump on Wednesday punted on a question about Musk's criticism, while noting the bill awaits changes in the Senate. 'We will be negotiating that bill, and I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it,' Trump said. 'That's the way it goes. It's very big, it's the big, beautiful [bill], but the beautiful is because of all the things that we have.' But the comments from Musk, the outgoing champion of the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts, are further roiling debate over the bill's potential deficit impact and emboldening the fiscal hawks. Musk on Wednesday expressed gratitude to Trump in a message marking the end of his special government employee status, the latest sign of his declining involvement in the White House. An administration official confirmed his offboarding process has begun. Musk promised DOGE would save at least $1 trillion in federal spending. DOGE's website claims to have saved taxpayers an estimated $175 billion to date, though critics and fact checkers have cast doubt on the figures. Now, The Hill's Aris Folley reports that GOP leaders are in a tight bind as they try to balance their party's policy and political priorities. And frustrated conservatives are amping up the pressure. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) wrote on X on Saturday that, 'Every DOGE cut targets waste, fraud, and abuse. Congress MUST codify them quickly. What's the holdup?!' 'The Senate version will be more aggressive,' Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on social platform X after Musk's criticism of the megabill, warning that otherwise 'it won't pass.' White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller over the weekend took to X to clarify that the megabill was not the correct vehicle for the DOGE cuts. 'DOGE cuts would have to be done through what is known as a rescissions package or an appropriations bill,' Miller said. 'The Big Beautiful Bill is NOT an annual budget bill and does not fund the departments of government. It does not finance our agencies or federal programs.' Meanwhile, the White House and congressional allies are signaling they want to race forward with a $9.4 billion slate of federal funding cuts spearheaded by DOGE. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is pledging to 'act quickly' on codifying the cuts — headed to Congress next week — which will in part target the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which was largely dismantled by the administration earlier this year. Plans for the roughly $9 billion rescissions package were forecast weeks ago and originally projected to be transmitted from the White House by the end of April. But that was delayed as the House completed the megabill, which increases the debt limit by $4 trillion. 'When the White House sends its rescissions package to the House, we will act quickly by passing legislation to codify the cuts,' Johnson said Wednesday, adding Congress would also use the regular appropriations process to implement Trump's 2026 budget. TARIFFS PAUSE: Trump does not possess unilateral authority to impose tariffs on nearly every country, the three-judge U.S. Court of International Trade unanimously ruled Wednesday. The Justice Department said it will appeal, and The Associated Press explains what is likely to happen next. The court's decision to halt tariffs left financial markets cheering, but the president is expected to find a workaround. Tariffs imposed under a different legal authority called Section 232 — including on imports of autos, steel and aluminum — are unaffected by the ruling. SMART TAKE with NewsNation's BLAKE BURMAN: Did one of California's biggest cities just see bipartisan consensus? The San Francisco Unified School District is postponing plans for its 'grading for equity' initiative amid concerns that the proposal lowers academic standards. The city's mayor and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) both panned the idea. I spoke with San Francisco Voice writer John Trasviña, who brought the story into the national discussion. 'There's really no support for it,' he told me, adding the initiative sparked overwhelming opposition across the political spectrum, 'uniting left, center and right.' One thing from the 2024 campaign that still sits with me today is how education in this country barely rose into the political conversation. That's obviously been blown wide open with the Trump administration's recent focus on Harvard. But the San Francisco story is a reminder that many parents are focused on what's happening on their school boards. Burman hosts 'The Hill' weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation. 3 THINGS TO KNOW TODAY: ▪ The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) canceled a major contract with Moderna to fund the development of a vaccine to combat bird flu while citing the company's use of messenger RNA, vaccine technology that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned. ▪ What to know about coronavirus vaccines for children and pregnant women following the government's Tuesday change in public guidance about who should get shots. ▪ Join The Hill's June 4 half-day summit, 'Invest in America,' at 8 a.m. EDT featuring titans from Washington and Wall Street. Participants share insights about economic developments, tariffs, artificial intelligence, crypto, taxes and more. RSVP HERE. LEADING THE DAY © Associated Press | Alexander Zemlianichenko Russian President Vladimir Putin appears unruffled by Trump's public handwringing and critiques as Russia continues waging a bloody war against Ukraine while dangling a possible pause in the fighting as part of a peace deal. After calling Putin 'crazy' and warning that the Russian president is 'playing with fire,' Trump on Wednesday bemoaned Putin's assaults on Kyiv but gave Russia more time. 'I'm very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now where people were killed in the middle of what you would call a negotiation. I'm very disappointed by that,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. The president has not signaled his next move as weeks of futile negotiating with Putin have dragged on. Trump on Wednesday downplayed the prospect of new U.S. sanctions aimed at Moscow. 'We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not, and if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently,' Trump said. Reuters: Putin's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards. On Wednesday, the Kremlin said the U.S. president was emotional. 'This is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions,' Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Trump's remarks about Putin. PEACE TALKS 2.0? Russia proposed a second round of peace talks with Ukraine next Monday in Istanbul in order to exchange written proposals for a ceasefire and ending the war. Ukrainian officials see the Russian proposal as a way to placate Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team are consulting about whether to accept the Russian proposal. ▪ CBS News: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Zelensky that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory. ▪ The Hill: Trump was ready to slap new sanctions on Russia, Zelensky told reporters on Tuesday while describing his April conversation with the president when the two met in Rome during Pope Francis's funeral. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers suggest it will be up to Trump to get behind proposed tighter U.S. sanctions aimed at Russia. A pending Senate sanctions measure has more than 80 bipartisan cosponsors, but GOP senators are leery of putting that bill on the floor without the president's support, The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports. WHERE AND WHEN ZOOM IN © Associated Press | Charles Krupa CONSERVATIVES VS. HARVARD: Republicans revel in Trump's confrontations with Harvard University, including the government's significant pullback in funding to the campus for research and other support. The clash fulfills a years-long desire to challenge Ivy League liberals while promoting a populist narrative with elites. At least 90 percent of last year's Harvard graduating class said they disapproved of Trump, according to survey results published by the Harvard Crimson. For conservatives, there are still political risks while targeting the university. ▪ The Hill: Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) told CNN on Wednesday that Trump seeks to destroy powerful U.S. institutions, such as Harvard, because they are the nation's 'fabric.' ▪ The New York Times: Seeking to save more than $1.4 billion in National Science Foundation grants routed through universities, 16 states on Wednesday sued the Trump administration. ▪ The New York Times, analysis: The Harvard fight illustrates Trump's worldview: If he attacks, it's your fault. The president makes examples of those who push back against his authority. ▪ Politico: Democrats seek to make gains in the South next year. It could be their last shot. ▪ The Hill: In Alabama, where GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville plans to run for governor, former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, a Republican, said Wednesday he will compete for Tuberville's Senate seat. Mobile, Ala., native Kyle Sweetser says he will run as a Democrat in the race. Chronicling foreign policy: Trump in April fired every member of an advisory committee, which for decades tapped diverse scholars to ensure that America's history — especially classified and covert actions — is documented in an unbiased and thorough publication series called the Foreign Relations of the United States. Lawmakers since 1861 have turned to the historical accounts set out in bound, red volumes. Other nations consult the accounts, publicly available in major libraries and online. Presidential mercy: Trump signed off on a pardon for former Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY.), an ex-Marine who served in the FBI before his conviction in November 2014 on charges of tax fraud and other offenses before joining Congress. Grimm won reelection in 2014 despite his indictment, but he pleaded guilty a month later to one count of tax fraud. He resigned from Congress in January 2015 and served eight months in prison. … Trump also commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover, who co-founded the Gangster Disciples and was sentenced to life in prison for murder in the 1970s and handed another life sentence in the 1990s for operating a criminal enterprise. … The president on Wednesday also pardoned former Army Lt. Mark Bashaw, found guilty by a military judge in 2022 of violating lawful orders for refusing to work remotely, reporting to office without submitting a COVID-19 test, and not wearing a face mask indoors. Techies: Vice President Vance told Bitcoin conference attendees in Las Vegas on Wednesday that artificial intelligence (AI) is a 'communist technology' and cryptocurrency is a freedom-promoting counterweight. Then he walked back his description as a slight 'overstatement' while describing a new political divide. 'What I've noticed is that very smart right-wing people in tech tend to be attracted to Bitcoin and crypto, and very smart left-wing people in tech tend to be attracted to AI,' he said. Trump signed an executive order this year creating what the president dubbed a federal Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as well as a Digital Asset Stockpile containing other forms of digital currency. A cryptocurrency enthusiast, Vance owned between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of Bitcoin, according to an August 2024 financial disclosure. … Separately, the Labor Department on Wednesday said it withdrew previous federal guidance discouraging crypto in 401(k) retirement plans. History Watch: Harrison Ruffin Tyler, grandson of John Tyler, the 10th president, died last week at age 96, just three generations distant from 1841, when his father's father led the nation. Harrison Tyler was a preservationist, chemical engineer and longtime Virginia resident who lived in the 21st century and managed to be the grandson of a man born in the 18th century. ELSEWHERE © Associated Press | Ronen Zvulun, Reuters ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israeli forces killed Hamas leader in Gaza Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October. Meanwhile, the United Nations denounced the new Israeli-backed aid operation in southern Gaza, a day after the chaotic launch of the initiative. Israel had instituted a weeks-long aid blockade on the enclave. Thousands of hungry Palestinians flooded a food distribution site, prompting Israeli forces to fire warning shots. Jonathan Whittall, a senior U.N. humanitarian official, said nearly 50 people had reportedly been injured in the chaotic fray, and called the Israeli attempt to seize control of the humanitarian aid for Palestinians part of 'an assault on their human dignity.' ▪ Reuters: Israel on Thursday rejected a report in the New York Times that Netanyahu has been threatening to disrupt talks on a nuclear deal in Iran in favor of a strike. ▪ France24: Israel on Thursday announced it would create 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, accelerating its ongoing expansion into the Palestinian territory. The move comes with the risk of international sanctions. VISA RESTRICTIONS: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new restrictions on visas on Wednesday, targeting foreign nationals who are deemed 'responsible for censorship of protected expression' in the U.S. The Washington Post: Rubio said the State and Homeland Security departments will work to 'aggressively revoke' visas of Chinese students in the U.S., 'including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' OPINION ■ Children in Gaza are starving. Let the U.N. do its job, by Catherine Russell, guest essayist, The New York Times. ■ Trump has let allies and supporters avoid centuries of prison time, by Philip Bump, columnist, The Washington Post. THE CLOSER © Associated Press | Dennis Cook Take Our Morning Report Quiz And finally … It's Thursday, which means it's time for this week's Morning Report Quiz! America's debate about elderly officials inspired a puzzle question: What's age got to do with it? Be sure to email your responses to asimendinger@ and kkarisch@ — please add 'Quiz' to your subject line. Winners who submit correct answers will enjoy some richly deserved newsletter fame on Friday. When the youngest current member of the House, Florida Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D), was born in Orlando, the Oval Office occupant was Bill Clinton. Who was governor of the Sunshine State? In what setting was former President Reagan, then 73 and the oldest president in history, when he famously said he would not 'exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience'? In 1967, a series of U.S. events led to the ratification of a constitutional amendment spelling out how a vice president can take over for a president who is unable to perform his/her official duties. What is that amendment? On June 14, Trump's birthday cake will have at least one candle. How old will the president be? Stay Engaged We want to hear from you! Email: Alexis Simendinger (asimendinger@ and Kristina Karisch (kkarisch@ Follow us on social platform X: (@asimendinger and @kristinakarisch) and suggest this newsletter to friends.
