Plus: Beware of a record allergy season

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Good afternoon,

Here in New York City, the warmer weather is lovely (it’s 50 degrees today, we’ll take it)! On the downside, it’s already meant itchy eyes and nose for me 🤧. The one thing I can count on with cold NYC weather is a break from allergies, but that doesn’t seem to be lasting very long anymore. A new analysis bears that out — it found that most major U.S. cities are experiencing longer allergy seasons.

Why? Climate change. The freeze-free season — when minimum temperatures stay above 32°F and allergens literally blossom — lengthened by an average of 20 days between 1970 and 2024 in nearly 90% of cities analyzed by Climate Central, a research and communications group.
Where seasons changed the most: Reno, NV; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Toledo, OH.

We’re all in this together!

Lauren
Producer

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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Mayors Defend Sanctuary City Policies As Trump Touts Immigration Crackdown

The House Oversight Committee questioned Democratic mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City about their “sanctuary city” policies that restrict cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement.

These policies typically limit the handover of undocumented migrants for minor offenses.

It comes as border security was a central theme of President Donald Trump’s Congressional address last night. He touted near record-low border crossings — dropping by more than 90% — and criticized former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. Trump did not acknowledge that deportations have essentially stayed the same between the two administrations.

MAYORS DON’T BACK DOWN
All the mayors questioned at the House Oversight Committee today lambasted the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, noting that crime in their cities has dropped in recent years under Democratic leadership. This follows a surge in violent crime during COVID lockdowns and shortly after.

“This federal administration is making hard-working, tax-paying, God-fearing people afraid to live their lives,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said.
Mayor Brandon Johnson argued that Chicago’s immigration policies enhance safety.
- “The cooperation of all people, regardless of their immigration status, is essential to achieving the city’s goals of reducing crime and pursuing justice for victims,” he said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams — who has aligned himself with some of Trump’s immigration stances — has called the migrant surge in New York the worst humanitarian crisis in the city's history and noted that, under local law, he is required to provide housing for them.
- But he warned that fears of deportation and ICE raids would lead residents to avoid seeking treatment for medical emergencies or calling law enforcement when a crime occurs.

The hearing addressed migrant surges in recent years that have strained city resources, drawing criticism not only from Republicans but also from some local leaders who previously supported sanctuary protections.

HEATED EXCHANGE
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) grilled Denver Mayor Michael Johnston (D) on why Abraham Gonzalez, an alleged gang member who had been in custody for about a year on separate charges, was not released into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Jordan also pressed Johnston on whether ICE was properly notified about Gonzalez’s release from county jail, during which he assaulted an officer in the parking lot. Johnston replied that six ICE agents were present, showing that they were given enough time.

On Monday, ICE stated that Gonzalez was released from custody due to Colorado’s sanctuary policies. "Sanctuary policies endanger communities and law enforcement," ICE said.
Johnston added that Denver works with ICE on release logistics for hundreds of cases, and that this was the first such incident of violence that he is aware of.
- He defended Denver’s immigration policies, arguing they do not shield undocumented people from law enforcement, but instead ensure the city can "provide services" to those who need them.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told four Democratic mayors that she would criminally refer them to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for upholding sanctuary city policies.

What it boils down to: Critics argue sanctuary policies threaten public safety, while supporters say they build trust between law enforcement and migrant communities.

*NYTimes analysis of deportations in the US over the past year.*

TRUMP’S BORDER CRACKDOWN
Vice President JD Vance, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, are visiting border city Eagle Pass, TX, today to highlight the administration’s crackdown on border crossings and drug trafficking.

February U.S. Border Patrol arrests dropped sharply to 8,300 migrants — down from 141,000 in February 2024 and about 29,000 last month.
While crossings are down, deportations have remained steady — a sticking point for Trump. He told Congress Tuesday night that he wants more funding to achieve his goal of mass deportations.

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🚨 ONE THING WE’RE TRACKING

Dems Protest Trump’s Congressional Address, Face Limited Options To Block His Policies

With no control over any branch of the federal government, Democrats have few ways to challenge President Donald Trump’s agenda. But during his Congressional address Tuesday night, they attempted to resist in a myriad of ways — from wearing pink, to holding signs, some walking out, and one even getting thrown out of the chamber after disrupting.

Before the speech, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Democrats not to become the story — looks like it didn’t work.

Their disorganized response underscores the party’s difficulties in countering Trump, as frustration mounts within its base. Aside from these few moments for optics, Democrats seem to be following political strategist James Carville’s advice to “roll over and play dead.”

ACTS OF RESISTANCE
In one of the most viral moments of the night, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) held a sign that read “This is not normal” as President Trump walked into the House chamber. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) quickly ripped the sign from her hands and tossed it away. (See video above.)

Mo News was able to speak with Stansbury after Trump’s address. She said she was surprised by Gooden’s actions, as he was friendly to her prior to the event. Her message: “Dude, grow up.”
- As for Trump, she said, “He’s fired thousands of Americans, and he has completely reoriented American foreign affairs to cozy up to Putin and to turn our backs on all of our democratic allies. That is not normal.”

Minutes into Trump’s address, Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was escorted out of the House Chamber for heckling the president. After Trump touted his election win in all seven battleground states, Green yelled that Trump has “no mandate.”

During Trump’s first term, Green introduced articles of impeachment and said last month he plans to do so again.

Green’s disruption wasn’t the first time an opposition lawmaker has interrupted a president’s address to Congress.

Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) repeatedly interjected during former President Biden’s State of the Union speeches.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted “You lie!” at former President Barack Obama during a 2009 speech to Congress, when the president said the Affordable Care Act wouldn’t cover undocumented immigrants.

Mo News spoke with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the Capitol today, where he expressed concern about decorum in Congress after last night’s events.

SO, WHAT CAN DEMS ACTUALLY DO?
We also spoke with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about how Democrats plan to challenge the Trump administration, despite not controlling any branch of the federal government.

Bottom line: Beyond litigation in the courts, he has hopes of being able to work with a couple Republicans in the House, given the very narrow 218-214 GOP majority.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Divided Supreme Court reinstates order requiring Trump administration to release frozen foreign aid (AP)

📌 Sylvester Turner, Democratic congressman and former Houston mayor, dies at 70 (CNN)

📌 DC Black Lives Matter Plaza to get new look, replace street mural as part of 'evolution' (FOX)

📌 Trump to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs (PBS)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 U.S. and Israel reject plan agreed by Arab states proposing alternative to Trump's Gaza 'Riviera' (NBC)

📌 U.S. stops sharing intelligence with Ukraine (CBC)

📌 Trump issues final warning to Hamas (NY POST) US holding secret talks with terror group (AXIOS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 Trump grants automakers one-month exemption from tariffs (CNBC)

📌 Apple unveils new MacBook Air models with $100 price cut despite tariffs (VERGE)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 LeBron James first with 50K points in regular season, playoffs (ESPN)

📌 Common tries, fails to protect Jennifer Hudson while sitting courtside at Knicks game (SI)

📌 Harvey Weinstein addresses Adrien Brody's Oscars speech about his kids 'accepting' actor into life with Georgina Chapman (EW)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… Seniors at six high schools in Altadena, CA got a surprise message from actor Steve Carell on Tuesday: their prom tickets are paid for, thanks to the nonprofit Alice’s Kids.

Carell appeared on screen at school assemblies for about 800 students, many of whom lost their homes in the Eaton Fire. The video echoed his famous "Scott’s Tots" episode from "The Office," when his character Michael Scott promised to pay for a class of students' college tuitions, but reneged. This time, his promise was real!