Judge Threatens Trump Admin With Criminal Contempt Over Deportation Flights
Plus: Arsonist may face hate crimes charges in Pennsylvania governor mansion fire; Mo News talks with Fox's Dana Perino
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Good afternoon,
A couple months back, one of our eagle-eyed Mo News members noticed new gold trimmings on the fireplace in the Oval Office. At the time, I was stunned by the perceptiveness (still am 👏 ).
Now, the gold accents are pretty hard to miss: gold carvings on the fireplace, gold vases and urns, gold picture frames, and gold coasters engraved with Trump’s name.
To help achieve Trump’s vision, he called his “gold guy” — yep, he’s got a guy for that.
The Gold Guy: John Icart is a cabinetmaker from south Florida, who helped Trump with projects at Mar-a-Lago, which is known to be covered wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor in gold.
Trump has long loved gold — his apartment at the top of the Trump Tower in New York City is decked in the color and foreign dignitaries have given him gold-themed gifts.
Does everyone else have Beyoncé’s rendition of “Hey Goldmember” from Austin Powers 3 stuck in their head now, too? It’s solid gold, baby 🎵
Sari
Producer
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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Trump Admin In Hot Seat For Deportation Flight, As President Makes Offer To Migrants Who “Self-Deport”
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said Wednesday that there is “probable cause” to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for defying his March order blocking deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X that the administration will appeal the ruling.
Rewind: On March 15, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime authority from the 1700s, to target and deport members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang that he argues is invading the U.S.
The government sent several planeloads of alleged gang members to El Salvador immediately after invoking the act, including 137 people under the statute.
That same day, Judge Boasberg imposed a temporary restraining order barring deportations — including directing the administration to turn the planes around — but they still arrived in El Salvador.
Today, the judge wrote that “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt.”
The Justice Department has argued that Boasberg overstepped his authority by inserting himself into questions of foreign policy.
TRUMP VS. THE COURTS
Judge Boasberg’s March order was partially overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this month, but they also added that their ruling does not “excuse the Government’s violation” and that all alleged gang members deserve due process moving forward. They left the fate of the men already deported without due process up in the air.
This marks the latest development in an ongoing legal battle between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary over who has the ultimate power in this case.
After Trump publicly criticized Judge Boasberg and called for his impeachment, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement defending judicial independence.
TONE CHANGE
Another immigration headline we are monitoring. President Trump, in an interview with Fox Noticias, proposed a potential path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the U.S. and have employer support. The proposal marks a shift from his “mass deportation” campaign rhetoric and from White House statements that any undocumented migrant in the U.S. has broken the law and should not be allowed to stay.
Trump called the plan a self-deportation program: “We’re going to give them a stipend, some money, and a plane ticket. And then we're gonna work with them, if they're good, if we want them back in.”
The plan could benefit industries like farming and hospitality, which rely heavily on undocumented labor.
Have questions about Trump’s immigration agenda? Tonight at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT), Mo News Premium members are invited to our exclusive workshop: Understanding U.S. Immigration with Dr. Austin C. Kocher.
Not a member yet? Join Mo News today and be part of the conversation! We are currently offering 20% off with the code: GOODNEWS.
🚨 ONE THING WE’RE FOLLOWING
Suspect Says He Set Fire To Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Home Over Plight Of Palestinians
Cory Balmer, the man who admitted he set fire to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence following a Passover Seder, told 911 operators after the Sunday attack that he targeted the Pennsylvania Democrat because of Shapiro’s views on the Israel/Gaza war and “for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” a search warrant written by police said.
Noteworthy: As governor, Shapiro has no role shaping U.S. foreign policy, but happens to be Jewish.
Dauphin County DA Fran Chardo hasn’t yet decided whether to charge Balmer with “ethnic intimidation,” Pennsylvania’s hate crime statute. The eight charges Balmer faces include attempted murder, aggravated arson, and terrorism — which already carry more than 100 years in prison if found guilty.
WHAT HAPPENED
Shapiro and his family were sleeping inside the governor’s mansion when it was set on fire, having just celebrating the first night of Passover. The family was safely evacuated.
According to police, Balmer followed a typical “terrorist attack cycle” by wrapping his cellphone in foil to block signals. Investigators found four phones, a laptop, and an external hard drive in his parents’ home.
On the morning of the attack, he broke into the home with a hammer, before igniting multiple fires using Molotov cocktails. He told investigators that he planned to beat Shapiro with the hammer if he saw him.
MORE ON THE CASE
After fleeing the scene, Balmer turned himself into police in Harrisburg. He told 911 operators that Shapiro “needs to stop having my friends killed” and “our people have been put through too much by that monster,’” according to the warrant.
Days before the attack, relatives of the 38-year-old contacted police and mental health agencies for help, reporting that Balmer was chewing on batteries and acting erratically. They were reportedly told he did not meet the criteria for involuntary commitment.
🚨 ONE CONVERSATION WE LOVED
Fox News’ Dana Perino On The Media And Life As White House Press Secretary
One of Dana Perino’s rules as White House press secretary for former President George W. Bush was that she had to read articles with negative coverage twice.
“The first read, [you’re] mad. The second read, it’s like, hm, they’ve got a point.” She writes about that and more in her new book, “I Wish Someone Had Told Me...”
In an interview with Mo News, Perino recalled moments of imposter syndrome, long days at the White House, and building confidence during her time as press secretary. She said she made it her priority to be so well-researched that she would never be surprised by a single question. Perino also discusses her dual role as an advocate for the president as well as the press.
We also discuss Trump’s second term, which she described as faster-paced with a clearer direction — particularly on immigration — but warned the administration may be moving too quickly on some matters.
🎧 Check out the full conversation on the “Mo News: The Interview” podcast, available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube. 🎧
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Tempers flare as few Republicans hold in-person town halls (CNN)
📌 A dozen House Republicans fire warning shot to Mike Johnson (AXIOS)
📌 Family says Venezuelan migrant in Lewisville sent to El Salvador mega prison over autism awareness tattoo (NBC)
📌 Trump DOJ sues Maine over refusing to comply with ban on transgender athletes in high school sports (USA TODAY)
📌 2 service members killed near US-Mexico border in vehicle accident (ABC)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 UK Supreme Court says legal definition of ‘woman’ excludes trans women, in landmark ruling (CNN)
📌 U.S. pastor Josh Sullivan rescued in shootout after abduction at gunpoint in South Africa, authorities say (CBS)
📌 Iraq sandstorm leaves many with breathing problems (BBC)
📌 Israeli defense minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon for indefinite future (AP)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg initially offered FTC $450M in failed bid to settle antitrust case (NY POST)
📌 The Midwest's data center boom is heating up (AXIOS)
📌 Thousands of Spotify users report problems with the music streaming app (AP)
📌 Mind the roads. People are rushing to buy cars ahead of tariffs 🚗 (NPR)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 Records released into deaths of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa: a “rodent-breeding ground,” police say of their home (YAHOO)
📌 Funny business. Comedian Nate Bargatze set to host 2025 Emmys (VARIETY)
📌 Sarah Sherman apologizes to Aimee Lou-Wood on “mean and unfunny” SNL impersonation with flowers (PEOPLE)
📌 Blake Lively makes TIME's 100 most influential people list amid Justin Baldoni legal battle: 'She's a risk taker' (PEOPLE)
📌 Dodger Stadium and Universal Studios Lot among venues selected for 2028 Olympics in LA (ABC 7)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
Wallace (left) and Wallace as a human (right)
In case you missed it from the internet… There’s a new viral ChatGPT trend, and it’s putting the “man” in man’s best friend.
Pet lovers asked AI to turn their pets into humans. Here’s Mo New Producer Lauren’s dog, Wallace. What do you think?