THE RUSSIA HOUSE:  If Donald Trump stops a war with his post on Truth Social, he would be the first in the history of social media to hook up with a dictator over the internet. In the meantime, he pouted on his account that, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing.” 

  Russia’s attacks continued today, causing more fatalities. Missiles and drones hitting Kyiv yesterday killed nine people and wounded 90.

  Today, a senior Russian general was killed by a remotely-detonated car bomb 20 miles east of Moscow. The shrapnel-loaded bomb went off as Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik walked by.

  Trump seems to be astounded that Vladimir Putin is not jumping at his Ukraine peace deal that would award Russia all the territory it’s already taken. Asked what Putin is being asked to give up in the proposal, Trump said not “taking the whole country” is a “pretty big concession.”

  Trump is also angry with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky for not agreeing to a deal in which his country loses 20 percent of its territory. Zelensky said he will not cede his Ukraine’s claim to Crimea, which Russia took in 2014. Trump countered on Truth Social that, “It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!”

  Trump promised repeatedly during his campaign that he could settle the war in a day and now he’s backing off. “This isn’t my war,” he said yesterday while sitting next to the Prime minister of Norway in the Oval Office “It’s Biden’s war.”

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: 

— The President is also furious that even the pollsters at Fox News show low approval for him just under 100 days into his presidency … 44 percent approval and 55 percent disapproval. From the economy to inflation, tariffs and taxes, the only thing on which he scored above 50 percent was border security. 

  Trump ranted on Truth Social; “Rupert Murdoch has told me for years that he is going to get rid of his FoxNews, Trump Hating, Fake Pollster, but he has never done so. This “pollster” has gotten me, and MAGA, wrong for years. Also, and while he’s at it, he should start making changes at the China Loving Wall Street Journal. It sucks!!!”

— Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff left his job yesterday, a sure sign of instability in the Pentagon. The departure of Joe Kasper had been predicted for a couple of weeks amidst reports of friction between him and other senior advisers.

  The Washington Post reports that, “Defense officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to be candid about the situation, have described Hegseth, 44, as paranoid and increasingly isolated.”

— In a breakdown of the traditional separation between the White House and Department of Justice, President Trump yesterday told the DOJ to investigate ActBlue, the central fundraising organization of the Democratic Party.

  Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate allegations “regarding the unlawful use of online fundraising platforms to make ‘straw’ or ‘dummy’ contributions or foreign contributions to political candidates and committees.” 

  Previous congressional investigations into the same allegations found nothing.

— In a setback to President Trump’s efforts to eradicate diversity, equity programs, three federal judges issued separate orders yesterday pausing his hold on federal funds to schools with diversity and equity initiatives.

— The Department of Transportation replaced two lawyers who questioned the administration’s legal strategy in suing to end New York City’s congestion toll pricing for Manhattan. In an April 11^thletter the three lawyers on the case warned Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that the legal rationale to end the tolling plan was “exceedingly likely” to fail.

— A federal judge in Baltimore has ordered the  Trump administration to bring back a second immigrant from El Salvador who she said was deported despite an order to process the asylum application made by the 20-year-old man and thousands of others. 

— Donald Trump is not shy about cashing in on the presidency. The Washington Post reports that, “Buyers have poured tens of millions of dollars into President Donald Trump’s meme coin since his team advertised Wednesday that top purchasers could join Trump for an ‘intimate private dinner’ next month.”

  The biggest buyer acquired 2 million coins worth about $24 million, the Post reports.

ECON 101: Americans worried about the economy are beginning to cut back on stuff they don’t need like snacks, soda, and fast food, The NY Times reports.

The paper says that companies like PepsiCo, for instance, which makes Pepsi and Gatorade as well as  the junk foods Doritos and Cheetos, has cut its profit projections . Sales at the Chipotle restaurant chain have fallen for the first time since 2020. And evidently people are buying less laundry detergent.

 THE SPIN RACK:  The measles outbreak that started in West Texas has grown to about 800 cases, more twice the number of infections in all of 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About a third of cases are in children under five. — Former New York Congressman George Santos, who fictionalized his life to be elected and was found guilty of fraud and identity theft, is to be sentenced today in federal court. Prosecutors are asking for 87 months in.prison. — Existing home sales dropped nearly 6 percent in March, continuing a downturn caused in part by high mortgage interest rates. — Federal prosecutors filed notice that they want the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

BELOW THE FOLD:  A woman from Derbyshire, England won the Britain’s Best Loaf contest with a Lemon & Earl Grey brioche which the contest said achieve its “unique flavour profile featuring Earl Grey tea and limoncello-soaked candied lemon peel, combined with lemon curd and juice for a zesty, aromatic finish.” 

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