Pope Francis' Funeral, Pete Hegseth Controversy, and White House Briefing | CBS News 24/7

Mourning Pope Francis

• 🕊️ Pope Francis has passed away following a stroke that led to heart failure, with public viewings beginning tomorrow at St. Peter's Basilica ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
• 🕯️ The Vatican released the first photos of Pope Francis in his coffin, and his death certificate listed the cause as a stroke leading to coma and heart failure.
• 🌍 Mourners from around the globe are gathering in Vatican City, expressing a sense of peace and reflection rather than overwhelming sorrow, celebrating his legacy.
• 📜 The papal conclave to elect the next pope is expected to begin around the week of May 5th, following nine days of official mourning.

Pete Hegseth Controversy and Pentagon Leaks

• 🛡️ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny for allegedly sharing sensitive information about a US attack on Yemen in a Signal chat.
• 🗣️ Hegseth's team denies any classified information was shared, shifting blame to Pentagon leakers, while calls for his resignation grow.
• 🔍 Three senior advisers to Hegseth have been placed on administrative leave as part of an ongoing leak investigation, though they claim no evidence has been provided to them.

White House Briefing and Policy Updates

• 📰 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided an update, addressing trade with China and the Federal Reserve's independence.
• 📈 President Trump expressed confidence in a potential trade deal with China, stating the situation is moving in the right direction, though negotiations have not yet begun.
• 🏦 Leavitt reiterated President Trump's displeasure with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, believing the Fed is acting politically rather than in the best interest of the American economy and advocating for lower interest rates.

Student Loans and International Relations

• 💰 The Education Department will begin collecting payments for student loans in default in two weeks, impacting over 5 million borrowers, potentially leading to wage garnishment and withheld tax refunds.
• ⚖️ Harvard is suing the Trump administration over a freeze of federal funding, alleging violations of the First Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
• 🤝 President Trump discussed trade and Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with potential implications for ongoing trade negotiations and efforts to curb Iran's nuclear weapons development.

Immigration and Legal Battles

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A detained activist's wife accused federal officials of deliberately preventing him from attending the birth of their son, causing emotional suffering.
• ⚖️ House Democrats are seeking daily proof of life for a deported Maryland father, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who they argue was wrongly deported due to an administrative error.
• 🏛️ The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan men, citing insufficient time to contest their deportation.
• 🚨 The Justice Department is using the RICO statute, typically for organized crime, to charge alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Trenagua with various crimes.