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5️⃣ FIRST AMERICAN POPE: VATICAN MAKES HISTORIC CHOICE
When white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney today, it signaled more than just a new pontiff – it marked a historic shift in the Catholic Church's 2,000-year European tradition.
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, is now Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy. His dual US-Peruvian citizenship helped overcome the Vatican's longstanding reluctance to select an American pope due to concerns about US geopolitical influence.
"This is a big, big news that he's an American," noted Zev during our discussion. "The conclave has spoken, he'll be around for a while, and he's the first American pope in 2000 years."
While considered a centrist who's slightly more conservative on LGBTQ issues than Pope Francis, Prevost is expected to continue his predecessor's progressive agenda on environment, migration, and social justice. His selection after just two days of conclave is notably quick – a sign of decisive agreement among cardinals.
MAGA figures like Laura Loomer immediately attacked the new pope, calling him "a total Marxist" – suggesting his papacy may become another front in America's culture wars.
The First American Pope
After centuries of European dominance and worries about American hegemony, the Vatican conclave has signaled a historic shift toward the global south with a dual-citizen pontiff.
4️⃣ TRUMP REPLACES CONTROVERSIAL DC PROSECUTOR ED MARTIN
After 15 tumultuous weeks, Trump's loyalist US Attorney Ed Martin has been removed before Senate confirmation, following sustained criticism of his targeting Trump's perceived enemies.
Martin, who had no prior experience as a prosecutor, sparked controversy by firing or demoting career prosecutors, particularly those who worked on Capitol riot cases. He dismissed approximately 1,600 pending January 6 cases and Democrats accused him of violating legal ethics by attempting to freeze Biden climate grant funds against career prosecutors' recommendations.
"He was just basically a hired gun going after Trump's political opponents," Zev observed. "It's good that he's gone. He was also one of the big organizers of January the 6th, which places him right in the middle of a crime."
Trump told reporters he hopes to place Martin elsewhere in his administration, with a new nominee for DC's top prosecutor to be announced "within two days." This removal coincided with Trump's controversial appointment of Casey Means – who never completed medical school or residency – as Surgeon General.
3️⃣ KEY WITNESS IN DIDDY TRIAL MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS
Federal prosecutors revealed they cannot locate "Victim 3" – a crucial witness expected to testify about coerced explicit acts in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial.
As jury selection continues, prosecutors disclosed they're struggling to reach both the witness and her lawyer, who is reportedly dealing with undisclosed "personal issues." The prosecution warned the court that Victim 3 "does not live locally" and "may not show up, even if we try to enforce the subpoena."
"Where is victim number three and what does it mean for this big trial?" Dean asked, highlighting the potential impact on the case. Online speculation ranges from witness intimidation to payoffs, with social media users suggesting she either "got paid to disappear" or worse.
The mysterious disappearance threatens to weaken the government's case against the disgraced music mogul, whose trial has parallels to the Jeffrey Epstein case in its allegations of honeypotting, drugs, and exploitation of young people at lavish parties.
2️⃣ BIDEN BLASTS TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYS IN TV APPEARANCE
Former President Joe Biden delivered a forceful critique of his successor during an appearance on ABC's "The View" with Dr. Jill Biden, calling Trump's first 100 days in office "the worst any president's ever had."
Biden defended his own legacy while dismissing claims of cognitive decline that led to his withdrawal from the presidential race. "They are wrong," Biden stated. "There is nothing to sustain that." Dr. Biden added that reports claiming she insulated her husband were "very hurtful, especially from some of our so-called friends."
The former president revealed he speaks frequently with Kamala Harris, saying "she's got a difficult decision to make about what she's going to do," while noticeably sidestepping questions about his current relationship with Barack Obama.
"I think it's both," Dean said when asked if this was a reputation reclamation tour or democracy defense. "He's also trying to insert some common sense and some calm into the conversation around the damage that Donald Trump is doing."
1️⃣ TRUMP'S UK "TRADE DEAL" NOTHING MORE THAN A CONCEPT
Despite Trump's grandiose announcement of a "historic" and "comprehensive" trade agreement with the United Kingdom, experts quickly dismissed it as little more than a minimal tariff adjustment and photo opportunity.
The "deal" – which Trump admitted is merely a "concept of a plan" to be put on paper "in the next few weeks" – removes his 25% tariffs on British steel and aluminum and allows 100,000 UK-made vehicles tariff-free. It includes vague technological cooperation promises and a commitment from a British airline to purchase $10 billion in Boeing aircraft.
"This is not a trade deal. This is the opposite of a trade deal," Dean emphasized. "It's comprehensive in name only." Economist Justin Wolfers pointed out the limited significance, noting the UK is only America's 11th largest trading partner, representing just 3% of US trade.
Missing from the announcement: comprehensive services access, investment protections, digital trade frameworks, labor standards, environmental protections, and actual treaty text. Even UK officials were reportedly surprised by Trump's characterization of the preliminary discussions as a completed agreement.
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