SCOTUS Allows Trump to Use Wartime Law for Deportations
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled 5-4 to allow the Trump administration to continue using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for deportations. However, it mandated that deportees receive adequate notice and opportunity to challenge their removal in court.
The court's decision vacated Washington, D.C. Judge James Boasberg's earlier temporary restraining order, ruling that challenges must be filed in Texas where the migrants are detained, not in Washington, D.C.
The Trump administration had already deported 238 Venezuelan men to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center before Judge Boasberg's written order was issued. However, he had verbally ordered any planes to be turned around.
Republican narrative
The Supreme Court's ruling upholds presidential authority to secure borders and protect national security. The administration carefully vetted the deportees as verified gang members, and Monday's ruling allows the president to use necessary tools to combat criminal organizations threatening American safety.
Democratic narrative
The administration's rushed deportations denied basic due process rights and may have mistakenly targeted innocent individuals. The government's actions represent an abuse of a wartime law never intended for immigration enforcement during peacetime.
Nerd narrative
There's a 16% chance that a federal judge will be impeached by Republican Representatives in a partisan vote before Jan. 3, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
EU Readies Tariff Countermeasures, US Offers 'Zero-For-Zero' Industrial Goods Deal
Documents seen by multiple media outlets show the European Commission (EC) has proposed implementing 25% counter-tariffs on various U.S. goods, including diamonds, eggs, dental floss, sausages, and poultry, with some measures reportedly taking effect May 16 and others on Dec. 1.
The U.S. applied a 20% general tariff on EU imports earlier this month. Exclusions from the EU's counter-tariff list include bourbon, wine, and dairy products. Trump had previously threatened a 200% counter-tariff on EU alcoholic drinks.
The EU-U.S. trade relationship represents nearly 30% of global trade in goods and services and 43% of global gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2023. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU was $235.6 billion in 2024, up 12.9% from the year prior.
Pro-Europe narrative
Trump’s tariffs aren’t about fairness—they’re about fear. Data shows that Europe and the U.S. are economic equals, yet these blanket levies punish allies and harm both regions. Europe must defend its interests and respond strategically. Europe stands for open, rules-based trade and is ready to rebuild relations with Washington whenever it is ready. Until then, stubborn and unqualified protectionism will only harm all parties.
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump’s tariffs are bold, but necessary. For decades, the U.S. has accepted massive trade deficits while allies like the EU built barriers. Now, Washington is leveling the playing field. These tariffs are working by bringing nations to the table and billions into the U.S. economy. It’s time America stopped being the world’s punching bag and started defending its interests. Despite short-term pain, Trump is setting the country up for a new golden era.
Nerd narrative
There is a 5% chance that the U.S. and the EU (or one of its member states) will cut diplomatic ties before 2051, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: Global Executions Hits 9-Year High, Led by Middle East
Global executions reached 1,518 in 2024, marking a 32% increase from 2023 and the highest recorded figure since 2015, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounting for 91% of all known executions worldwide, according to a new report from Amnesty International.
Of known executions, Iran led the surge, executing at least 972 people in 2024, followed by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which quadrupled its number of reported executions, with at least 345 and 63, respectively.Â
Per the report, China remains "the world’s lead executioner" in 2024, but official figures could not be ascertained as they remain state secrets. Similar restrictions prevented Amnesty International from providing concrete data for Vietnam and North Korea.
Narrative A
The death penalty remains a necessary tool for maintaining public order and punishing the most serious crimes, especially those of such severity that no other form of punishment is suitable. It's an act of simple justice that prevents recidivism, closes the cycle of violence, and allows society to move on.
Narrative B
Capital punishment is a barbaric practice with no place in today's world. Not only is it the ultimate denial of a person's inalienable human rights, but it also fails to deter crime and disproportionately impacts disadvantaged groups while being increasingly weaponized in tyrannical states against political dissidents and minorities.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that capital punishment will be legal in at least 41.2% of U.S. states by 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: Musk Appealed to Trump to Reverse Sweeping Tariffs
Elon Musk spent the weekend unsuccessfully appealing to U.S. President Donald Trump to reverse his recent sweeping tariffs, according to a report in the Washington Post on Monday.
Signs that Musk—a key adviser to Trump in his latest administration—disagrees with the policy first emerged early on Saturday, when he publicly criticized Peter Navarro, a Trump trade adviser who is widely seen as the architect of tariff plans, in remarks on social media.
In response to a video clip of Navarro posted on the X platform, Musk said: "A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing."
Republican narrative
Though unpleasant in the short term, these tariffs will ultimately return investment and jobs to America, making the country wealthier than it has ever been.
Democratic narrative
These tariffs are creating a huge amount of uncertainty for investors, causing them to pull back from spending, and will do great harm to America's reputation as a trading partner, possibly taking years to rehabilitate. Hopefully cooler heads prevail and a change of policy is on the horizon.
Nerd narrative
There is a 10% chance that the US Congress will pass a bill implementing Trump's tariff policies in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Court Allows DOGE to Access Federal Personal Data
A federal appeals court ruled on Monday to lift restrictions on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal data at the Department of the Treasury, Department of Education, and the Office of Personnel Management.
The ruling overturns U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman's March 24 preliminary injunction, which had halted DOGE's access due to privacy concerns, with the appeals court setting an expedited schedule for oral arguments on May 5.
DOGE seeks access to sensitive information including Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, income, citizenship status, and student loan data for millions of Americans.
Democratic narrative
Elon Musk's DOGE has gained sweeping access to Americans' sensitive data while bypassing established security protocols. This creates dangerous vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries could exploit — particularly as DOGE simultaneously dismantles critical cybersecurity teams and installs inexperienced personnel. The reckless handling of private information threatens national security during an already heightened period of cyber threats.
Republican narrative
Musk's DOGE team seeks access to sensitive IRS data not to violate privacy but to expose rampant waste and fraud — like millions of deceased Americans still marked "alive" for Social Security payments. As Musk argues, he has neither the incentive nor the desire to misuse personal information, only to fix the inefficiencies that are bankrupting America while facing intense scrutiny himself.
Nerd narrative
There is a 55% chance that Elon Musk will cease to be an advisor to Donald Trump and face public criticism from Donald Trump before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK's First Womb Transplant Baby Born in Medical Milestone
Grace Davidson, a 36-year-old NHS dietitian from North London, gave birth to baby Amy Isabel on Feb. 27 at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital — the first successful birth following a womb transplant in the U.K.
The child has been named after Grace's sister, Amy Purdie, 42, who donated her womb to Grace during an eight-hour surgery in February 2023.
Grace was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, a rare condition affecting one in 5,000 women, which meant she had no functioning uterus but maintained healthy ovaries capable of producing eggs.
Narrative A
The breakthrough represents a revolutionary advancement in reproductive medicine, offering hope to thousands of women born without functioning wombs. The procedure's success rate is promising, with U.S. data showing 74% of transplanted wombs remaining viable after one year, and 83% of those resulting in live births. The procedure is an alternative to surrogacy and adoption and should be made more widely available.
Narrative B
The procedure is fraught with ethical, legal, and medical challenges. The complex surgery requires three major operations, long-term immunosuppression medication, and careful consideration of risks to both mother and child, while questions remain about public funding and equitable access. These issues necessitate careful consideration before integrating womb transplantation into standard reproductive treatments.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the first successful entirely artificial extracorporeal human pregnancy will conclude by October 2043, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Says US, Iran to Hold Direct Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would hold direct high-level talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, starting this Saturday in Oman.
While Trump referred to the upcoming meeting as "direct talks," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contradicted this claim, stating on social media that they would be "indirect high-level talks" mediated by Oman.
U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the U.S. delegation, marking the first significant diplomatic engagement between the two countries since Trump took office.
Narrative A
The diplomatic path represents the best chance to prevent a military confrontation, as Iran's nuclear program has accelerated to dangerous levels since Trump's withdrawal from the previous deal. Tehran is now capable of producing enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon in just weeks, making a new agreement urgent and necessary.
Narrative B
The United States should be apprehensive of using diplomacy with Iran, which has proved time and time again that it doesn't negotiate in good faith. Iran has foolishly believed that it could target U.S. forces and Israel with impunity in recent years, which cannot continue. The possibility of reaching a deal with Iran's Ayatollah regime should be met with skepticism.
Pro-Iran narrative
Iran cannot trust American commitments after the United States unilaterally abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal despite Iran's full compliance. Any new negotiations must include verifiable safeguards against future violations and complete sanctions relief, not threats and maximum pressure tactics.
Report: 40.9% of 2024 Global Electricity was 'Clean'
According to a report published Tuesday by global energy think tank Ember, clean power sources, including renewables and nuclear, generated 40.9% of global electricity in 2024. This marks the first time clean energy has exceeded 40% of production since the 1940s.
Solar power remained the fastest-growing electricity source for the 20th consecutive year, contributing 6.9% of global electricity, while wind power reached 8.1%, and hydropower maintained its position as the largest renewable source at 14% of global electricity production.
China dominated clean energy growth in 2024, accounting for more than half of the global increase in solar generation. The PRC's clean generation met 81% of its domestic demand increase. However, coal still provided 58% of the country's electricity.
Narrative A
With current trajectories sufficient to meet annual demand increases of 4.1% through 2030, clean power growth is unstoppable. This is the latest indicator that it will outpace rising electricity demand and a permanent decline in fossil fuel generation is beginning.
Narrative B
The transition to clean energy faces significant challenges as fossil fuel use continues to rise. With coal still accounting for 34% of global electricity generation, the transition to clean energy has not yet reduced absolute fossil fuel consumption.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that fossil fuels will make up less than 50% of global primary energy consumption by May 2051, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Dominican Republic Nightclub Roof Collapse Kills At Least 58
At least 58 people died and more than 160 were injured after the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, collapsed during a merengue concert early Tuesday morning.
Among the deceased was Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of former MLB player Nelson Cruz. Though former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel was pulled from the rubble, local media reported that he was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The collapse occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time during the performance, which was attended by an estimated 300 people. Video footage showed ceiling fixtures falling before the entire roof structure gave way.
Narrative A
The emergency response has been swift and comprehensive, with rescue teams working tirelessly to save lives and authorities maintaining hope for finding more survivors in the rubble. This highlights the Dominican Republic's ability to handle major disasters effectively.
Narrative B
The tragedy raises serious questions about building safety standards and enforcement in the Dominican Republic, particularly given that this popular venue regularly hosts large crowds yet is apparently vulnerable to catastrophic structural failure.