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ECONOMY

Day of Duties

President Trump is expected to announce sweeping new tariffs today (not yesterday… just to show he ain’t foolin’).

The details of #47’s plans are unclear, but reports suggest the White House may go one of two directions:

1. Levy a flat 20% tariff on virtually all imports

2. Impose country-specific “reciprocal tariffs,” which would match any tariffs other countries have placed on the U.S.

Trump is calling it “Liberation Day,” saying his plan will break America free from unfair trade relationships, bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and raise government revenue to offset proposed cuts to income taxes. Critics say tariffs will make everything more expensive for American consumers, risking high inflation and a recession. 

Investors aren’t loving the uncertainty. On Monday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed out their worst quarters since 2022.

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Verse to consider when your bank statement sends you spiraling… “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food… yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The LORD my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!” 
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (CSB) (read full passage)

U.S. NEWS

(Mini) Election Day

The Cheese State brought in the big bucks in the race for the bench.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election turned into a $90+ million slugfest, making it the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. Billionaires George Soros and Elon Musk funneled millions into opposing campaigns––Soros for liberal Susan Crawford and Musk for conservative Brad Schimel. Crawford came out on top, claiming a 10-year seat that could determine statewide rulings on abortion, voting laws, unions, and redistricting in the crucial swing state.

Meanwhile, Sunshine State voters headed to the polls yesterday for special elections to fill two congressional seats vacated by former Republican representatives Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz (now National Security Advisor). Despite Democrats out-fundraising the GOP, Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine won the seats.

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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Believers must balance engaging in politics (which can be important and impactful) with a calm, unshakable confidence in God (whose plans are not dependent on who wins). 

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 3:20 (CSB) (read full passage)

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WORLD NEWS

Le Pen(alty)

One of France’s top party leaders is saying “adieu” to her next presidential bid. 

Marine Le Pen, the longtime leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, has been barred from running for an elected office for five years after being convicted of embezzling $3.4M of E.U. funds between 2004 and 2016. She also faces two years of house arrest.

Le Pen, who led the National Rally to prominence and was the front-runner in early polls for the 2027 presidential election, called Monday’s ruling a “political decision” and promised to appeal, but a re-trial and ruling are unlikely to be completed before the next election. 

Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s political protégé and current National Rally president, said the country should be “outraged” by the sentence. Bardella is expected to take Le Pen’s place on the 2027 ballot. 

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Christians should always root for justice and fairness, whether it’s a presidential contender or a random person on trial. Our job is to try to please Jesus, who will judge everyone fairly and win in the end. 

“Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.” 
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 (CSB) (read full passage)

President Trump says he’s “not joking” about pursuing a third term, but that he’s “focused on the current” term for now. The Constitution’s 22nd Amendment states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Amending the Amendment is possible but highly unlikely; Trump also alluded to other “methods” for keeping his Pennsylvania Ave. address.
 

The Yankees’ “torpedo” bats are causing a Major League stir after the team hit 13 homers in two games. The bats shift the thickest part of the barrel closer to each player’s sweet spot (see picture) as determined by the team’s analytics department. Each bat is custom-made, and MLB confirmed they are allowed. A few other teams are also tinkering with torpedoes.
 

The NCAA Final Fours are set. All four 1-seeds (Florida, Duke, Houston, and Auburn) will vie for this weekend’s men’s championship, while 1-seeds South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA, and 2-seed UConn are eyeing the women’s trophy. Women’s fans are still feeling (some of) the Caitlin Clark Effect; viewership is down 22% from last season but still up 43% from 2023.
 

Imagine talking for 25 hours and 4 minutes straight… That’s how long Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke on the Senate floor Monday and Tuesday, breaking a 68-year-old record for the longest speech in Congress. The senator’s drawn-out discourse (not technically a filibuster since Booker wasn’t trying to delay legislative action) protested recent Trump admin policies, calling on Americans to “stand against” the administration’s agenda.
 

Bots are getting booed out of box offices. Joined in the Oval Office by Kid Rock, President Trump signed an executive order targeting live entertainment ticket scalping on Monday. The order was prompted by long-standing bipartisan concerns that scalpers and bots purchase huge ticket blocks and resell them at exorbitant markups. Ticketmaster thanked the White House, supporting “any meaningful resale reforms.”

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

The top 100 April Fools’ hoaxes of all time…

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Courtney Davis | Administrative Assistant (currently in ketosis)