Experts say the process requires "two custom fireworks", smoke test rehearsals and Vatican firefighters on standby.
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MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News
Featured News
Political News Compilation - Weekend Updates - May 3 & 4, 2025
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Trump brands his opponents as ‘communists,’ a label loaded with the baggage of American history
By LAURIE KELLMANUpdated 8:15 AM CDT, May 3, 2025
For years, President Donald Trump blamed “communists” for his legal and political troubles. Now, the second Trump administration is deploying that same historically loaded label to cast his opponents — from judges to educators — as threats to American identity, culture and values.
Why? Trump himself explained the strategy last year when he described how he planned to defeat his Democratic opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, in the White House election.
“All we have to do is define our opponent as being a communist or a socialist or somebody who is going to destroy our country,” he told reporters at his New Jersey golf club in August.
Trump did just that — branding Harris “comrade Kamala” — and he won in November. With the assent of more than 77 million Americans who cast ballots — 49.9% of the vote — Trump is carrying that strategy into his second term.
What he’s talking about is not actually ‘communism’
In 2025, communism wields big influence in countries such as China, Vietnam, North Korea and Cuba. But not the United States. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
White House brings conspiracy theorists, former Trump officials and a family friend to its 'influencer briefings'
A review of attendees to the first three influencer briefings shows an overwhelmingly right-leaning guest list.
www.nbcnews.com
Justice Department will switch its focus on voting and prioritize Trump's elections order, memo says
A new mission statement for the Justice Department unit that upholds voting rights shows it's being redirected toward prioritizing President Donald Trump's executive order on elections.
apnews.com
Mexico's president says she rejected Trump's plan to send US troops across the border
Mexico's president has said that U.S. President Donald Trump proposed sending American troops into Mexico to help her administration fight drug trafficking but that she rejected it
abcnews.go.com
Former Vice President Pence will receive the Profile in Courage Award for his actions on Jan. 6
Former Vice President Mike Pence will receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his refusal to go along with President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election.
apnews.com
Australia's Albanese claims election victory, riding anti-Trump wave
Supporters at Labor’s election party in Sydney cheered and hugged each other as Albanese claimed victory and said his party would form a majority government.
www.usatoday.com
'My sacrifice': Canadians boycott US products as Trump feeds 'Buy Canada' surge
Canadians are foregoing their favorite American products in anger at President Donald Trump. The boycott could impact the U.S. economy.
www.usatoday.com
Analysis: Trump is trying to chill the investigative journalism that holds him to account | CNN Business
On World Press Freedom Day, there’s a bleak backdrop as Trump and his aides are actively trying to impede reporting and intimidate news outlets.
www.cnn.com
James Carville says Democrats can't afford to lie like 'Republicans do' because they would lose credibility
Democratic political strategist James Carville expressed frustration with the state of his party, arguing that Democrats are not able to get away with lying, unlike Republicans.
www.foxnews.com
Trump blamed Biden for a down market. 2 days later, stocks are soaring.
Donald Trump might want to take back blaming Joe Biden for the stock market. Wall Street is doing quite well again.
news.yahoo.com
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave
President Donald Trump has posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope.
apnews.com
Trump claims grocery and gas prices are falling. Experts say that's misleading
"Prices are still going up," one expert said.
abcnews.go.com
Waltz ouster adds to tumult in Trump's national security team but consolidates power in fewer hands
President Donald Trump’s removal of national security adviser Mike Waltz brings further disruption to his national security team.
apnews.com
Israel’s Gaza blockade sparks outrage as dozens die of ‘forced starvation’
Aid trucks carrying food are waiting to enter Gaza as Israel’s blockade and bombardment kill dozens of Palestinians.
www.aljazeera.com
Germany hits back at Rubio's defense of far-right AfD party
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the German intelligence agency designation of the far-right AfD party “tyranny in disguise,” after the agency classified AfD a “proven right-wing extremist organization.”
www.nbcnews.com
For America's European allies, Trump's first 100 days a time of reckoning, backlash
It was the sacrifice of U.S. and European Allied soldiers during World War II that formed the bedrock of an alliance that has lasted for over 80 years.
www.cbsnews.com
Trump's social media post targeting Harvard's tax-exempt status could create problems for the IRS
Tax and legal experts say the appearance of Trump directing the IRS to take action could work in Harvard’s favor if a legal battle ensues.
www.nbcnews.com
Analysis: A map of the ethical minefield Elon Musk’s business interests create for the US government | CNN Politics
Elon Musk sits at the center of a galaxy of companies and pursuits, all of which he appears to be maintaining while also taking point on President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government.
www.cnn.com
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Colombia's wind farms bring promise and pain for indigenous group
The South American country is turning to wind power, but some local people are unhappy.
Continue reading...Trump announces plans for 100% tariffs on all foreign movies
President Donald Trump announced plans Sunday to implement a 100% tariff on movies made in other countries that are imported to the United States, decrying other nations for offering financial incentives meant to “draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States.”
"Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat," Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to foreign films as "messaging and propaganda."
"I am authorizing the...
Continue reading..."Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat," Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to foreign films as "messaging and propaganda."
"I am authorizing the...
NIH closes experimentation labs accused of brutally killing thousands of beagles for 40+ years
National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Jay Bhattacharya recently announced on Fox News the agency closed its last in-house beagle laboratory on the NIH campus.
The announcement comes just days after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head
Continue reading...The announcement comes just days after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head
Trump to tap new national security advisor in 6 months; calls Waltz move ‘upgrade’
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he plans to appoint a new national security advisor in about six months, telling reporters the former advisor, Mike Waltz, did not resign, but was instead tapped for an upgraded position as the administration’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump spoke with reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night, where he was asked about several topics, including the trade deals, Mexican cartels and the national security advisor position.
One reporter asked the president about Waltz’s exit as the national security...
Continue reading...Trump spoke with reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night, where he was asked about several topics, including the trade deals, Mexican cartels and the national security advisor position.
One reporter asked the president about Waltz’s exit as the national security...
Trump orders reopening of notorious Alcatraz prison
President Trump says the famous island prison off San Francisco is to be reopened to house "ruthless and violent" offenders.
Continue reading...Trump says he won't seek a third term
"This is not something I'm looking to do," the US president says about speculation he may try to find a way to run again in 2028.
Continue reading...Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariffs
The president blamed foreign-made movies for the American film industry's "very fast death".
Continue reading...When is Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and what is he charged with?
The rap mogul denies sex trafficking and racketeering charges, plus dozens of other lawsuits alleging abuse.
Continue reading...Long-distance romance and closure from husband's death - your memories of Skype
As Microsoft shuts it down, we’ve spoken to people whose lives were impacted by the tools.
Continue reading...Trump says he will impose 100% tariffs on movies produced outside U.S.
President Trump on Sunday announced movies as the latest target for tariffs because the U.S. movie industry "is DYING a very fast death."
In a Truth Social post, the president said he's authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariffs "on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."
It wasn't immediately clear how the tariffs would be applied.
Mr. Trump said the incentives that other countries are offering filmmakers and studios...
Continue reading...In a Truth Social post, the president said he's authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariffs "on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."
It wasn't immediately clear how the tariffs would be applied.
Mr. Trump said the incentives that other countries are offering filmmakers and studios...
Trump says he wants Alcatraz prison to be rebuilt and reopen
President Trump said Sunday he is directing his administration to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the notorious former prison on an island near San Francisco, California.
In a post on his Truth Social site, Mr. Trump wrote that, "For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone...
Continue reading...In a post on his Truth Social site, Mr. Trump wrote that, "For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone...
27 lives per kilometre: How Russia took record losses in Ukraine in 2024
Last year was the deadliest for Russian forces since the start of the full-scale war with at least 45,287 killed.
Continue reading...Netanyahu vows response after Houthi missile hits near Israel's main airport
Footage appeared to show a plume of black smoke rising from an area near the airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
Continue reading...President Trump says he will direct agencies to reopen Alcatraz
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he is ordering the reopening of Alcatraz, a shuttered prison on an island in the San Francisco Bay.
The president said he will be directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to reopen and "enlarge" the prison.
Trump cited violent crime and a need to protect the American public for the move and plans to use the notorious island to "house America’s most ruthless and violent Offender."
"We will no longer...
Continue reading...The president said he will be directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to reopen and "enlarge" the prison.
Trump cited violent crime and a need to protect the American public for the move and plans to use the notorious island to "house America’s most ruthless and violent Offender."
"We will no longer...