Trump Slams Fed Chair Powell, Puerto Rico Blackout, Harvard & DHS Conflict

Trump Criticizes Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

• ⚡ President Trump publicly stated that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's termination "cannot come fast enough," calling him "too late and wrong."
• ⚠️ Powell had warned that the Trump administration's tariffs could lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth, a scenario the Fed might face.
• 🏛️ Despite Trump's comments, legal experts indicate the President does not have the unilateral authority to fire the Fed Chair without cause.
• ⚖️ California is suing the Trump administration over its tariff policy, arguing it lacks the authority to unilaterally impose them and that the state could lose billions.

Puerto Rico Power Grid Issues

• 💡 Crews are working to restore power across Puerto Rico following an island-wide blackout.
• 📊 As of this morning, over 40% of customers had electricity restored, with officials estimating 90% restoration within 48 hours.
• 🔌 The governor called the failures "unacceptable," highlighting ongoing infrastructure issues on the island, exacerbated by past events like Hurricane Maria.
• ⚠️ A potential cause being investigated is vegetation on a transmission line, though the grid has faced numerous issues.

Harvard University's Conflict with DHS

• 🚫 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is threatening to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students.
• 📜 This action follows Harvard's refusal to comply with demands, including altering hiring policies and ending DEI programs.
• 💰 DHS has also canceled over $2.7 million in grants to Harvard and is demanding detailed records on international students' alleged illegal and violent activities.
• 🏛️ Harvard maintains it will not surrender its independence or constitutional rights, while critics suggest the funding cuts could significantly deplete its endowment.

Other Key Developments

• ⚖️ A federal judge found the Trump administration in potential criminal contempt for deporting migrants to El Salvador without due process, citing a "willful disregard" for his order.
• ✈️ Despite court orders, filings suggest more deportation flights are being prepared.
• 🇺🇸 The US is engaging in diplomatic talks regarding Ukraine and Iran, with President Trump reportedly blocking a planned Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites to focus on negotiations.
• 🧠 Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked controversy by calling autism "preventable," a claim medical experts dispute due to the multifactorial nature of the condition.
• militarization of the southern border is underway, with the military taking control of federal land to establish a base and assist in apprehensions.
• ⚖️ A re-sentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers, convicted of killing their parents, has been requested to be delayed by the District Attorney's office, pending a parole board review.