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'Thumbing their nose': Judges warn of 'serious' crackdown as White House lawyers irritate

A new report in The Wall Street Journal says federal judges are facing "increasing irritation" when dealing with Trump administration lawyers because they're unsure of the accuracy of the information they're getting before making important rulings.The consequences of the government's waning credibility "could be serious—both for the administration, which might see its odds of prevailing on close questions diminish before judges who lack confidence in government representations, and for the judiciary, should lip service to court orders become an acceptable norm," the report said.Correspondent Jess Bravin wrote that the latest test is expected this week during a hearing on whether the White House is openly disregarding U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson's orders to stop dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The paper quoted Judge Jackson saying, “There is reason to believe that officials 'are thumbing their nose at both this Court and the Court of Appeals.'" Also read: 'This is our shot': Dems believe MTG's new job gives 'golden opportunity' to destroy GOPThe Journal piece explained that the appellate court upheld most of Jackson's orders "to preserve the CFPB’s existence while an employee-union’s lawsuit against the layoffs proceeds."Although the government lawyers have claimed they're complying "even with judicial orders they think are egregiously wrong, while pursuing expedited appeals to higher courts," some judges hearing the myriad cases Trump has lined up thanks to his "aggressive assertions of executive power" are dubious, the report said.The piece quotes Charles Cooper, a former assistant attorney general who has represented Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.According to the piece, "Cooper said he didn’t know if there was merit to courts’ complaints about administration conduct, but judges are human.' If a lawyer misleads you, he said, 'you deal with that lawyer in a different way than you have been.'"Read The Wall Street Journal story here.

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Leaked memo reveals UK and the EU plan to defy Trump with own deal

The United Kingdom and the European Union have reached a trade agreement — despite President Donald Trump's tariff agenda. Politico reported on Monday that a leaked draft revealed a “new strategic partnership” between London and Brussels, centered on maintaining "global economic stability and their mutual commitment to free and open trade."Euractiv reports that the parties will agree to a broad “strategic partnership," which includes a "veiled rebuke of Washington."Meanwhile, Trump's administration is still negotiating with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's team. Starmer was in the U.S. to meet with Trump in February, where Trump complained the EU has been "very unfair" to America. ALSO READ: 'We’ve made a mistake': Trump’s trade war sends GOP into frenzyIn the "geopolitical preamble" drafted by the U.K. government, it intends to deepen ties with the EU while pivoting away from the U.S., the Politico report continued.Starmer "has largely rejected suggestions that the UK must choose between closer ties with either the EU or the US, and is seeking new trade arrangements with both," the Euractiv report added.One key point in the U.K.-EU draft discusses "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine, among other issues. It comes amid the Trump administration demanding a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Reuters said on Monday. Russia has indicated it is open to a two-day ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 while they celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over the Nazis during World War II. Ukraine indicated it's willing to call a truce, the Washington Post explained. However, a disagreement remains over the Ukrainian land taken by Russia. Ambassadors with the EU are set to meet on Wednesday to review progress on tariffs. The U.K and EU are set to meet at a May 19th summit to deal with post-Brexit trade relations, Euractiv said.Read the full report here.

Cost of U.S. nuclear forces to rise dramatically, CBO says

The costs to maintain, operate and modernize America's nuclear forces through 2034 are expected to rise to $946 billion, a 25% increase from the estimates released in 2023, said officials with the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

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Israel seems set on destroying system of international law compliance, ICJ hears

Country accused of obstructing UN as court considers its decision to end cooperation with Unrwa Israel appears set on destroying the framework created to ensure compliance with international law in a way that will have profound consequences that reverberate far beyond Palestine, the international court of justice has heard.The warning was made at the start of five days of proceedings in The Hague that may prove critical to Israel’s future within the world body. The UN’s top court will hear from dozens of nations and organisations in order to draw up an advisory opinion on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians more than 50 days into its total blockade on aid entering Gaza. Continue reading...

Man in Puerto Rico dies trying to drive through floodwaters amid heavy rains

Authorities in Puerto Rico says that a man who tried to drive his car through floodwaters was swept away and killed as heavy rains lash the island