10 things you need to know today: April 1, 2017
Financial disclosures reveal wealth of top Trump advisers, Senate Intelligence Committee reportedly denies Flynn's immunity request, and more
- 1. Financial disclosures reveal wealth of top Trump advisers
- 2. Senate Intelligence Committee reportedly denies Flynn's immunity request
- 3. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner still benefit from $700 million business empire
- 4. Treasury Department announces new sanctions on North Korea
- 5. McCaskill will not support Gorsuch over his 'stunning lack of humanity'
- 6. Federal judge approves $25 million settlement over Trump University
- 7. 3 arrested in connection to Atlanta highway collapse
- 8. Protesters in Paraguay set legislature on fire after term limit vote
- 9. NCAA men's Final Four tips off Saturday
- 10. Disney reportedly wants Beyoncé to voice Nala in The Lion King remake
1. Financial disclosures reveal wealth of top Trump advisers
That many of President Trump's top advisers are drawn from the ranks of the financial elite is no surprise, but White House disclosures Friday night revealed just how wealthy the president's confidants really are. The combined assets of 27 White House officials topped $2.3 billion when they joined the administration, The Washington Post calculates, with investments and holdings spanning a wide range of business sectors. One of the richest officials is Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, who is alone worth at least $252 million (the key economic adviser's wealth could top $600 million, as government forms allow officials to report ranges of wealth rather than specific figures). Chief strategist Stephen Bannon reported between $13 and $56 million. Trump himself does not have to make another disclosure of his own finances until 2018.
2. Senate Intelligence Committee reportedly denies Flynn's immunity request
The Senate Intelligence Committee on Friday reportedly rejected ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's request for immunity in exchange for testimony on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Flynn's lawyer claimed any "reasonable person" would make that request before being questioned in "such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurance against unfair prosecution," an argument reiterated by President Trump on Friday morning. A senior congressional official told NBC News Flynn's request was deemed "wildly preliminary" and "not on the table." However, CNBC noted immunity could be reconsidered down the road, as the investigation is ongoing.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner still benefit from $700 million business empire
President Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, continue to benefit from their business interests worth as much as $700 million, financial disclosures released Friday reveal. The couple remain beneficiaries of the 267 real estate assets in the Kushner empire even though Kushner has stepped down from managing his family's company amid conflict of interest concerns. Ivanka Trump maintains a stake in the president's controversial Washington, D.C., hotel property, but it is not clear she is earning income from that tie. This information comes from Kushner's disclosure alone; Ivanka's formal role in the White House was just announced, and she has yet to file disclosures of her own.
4. Treasury Department announces new sanctions on North Korea
The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced sanctions against 11 North Korean individuals and one North Korean entity in response to Pyongyang's ongoing nuclear weapons testing and its violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The sanctions target "North Korean nationals working as agents of the regime in Russia, China, Vietnam, and Cuba to provide financial support or [weapons of mass destruction] procurement services for U.N.- or U.S.-designated sanctioned entities," the Treasury Department said in a statement. Separately on Friday, Defense Secretary James Mattis warned North Korea is "going in a very reckless manner" which "has got to be stopped."
5. McCaskill will not support Gorsuch over his 'stunning lack of humanity'
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) announced Friday she will not support President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. Her announcement came a day after leaked audio heard McCaskill, whose state gave Trump a 19-point victory, warning Democratic donors that blocking Gorsuch could be detrimental to Democrats in 2018. The senator argued Gorsuch "has shown a stunning lack of humanity" in his judicial career and "always puts the little guy under the boot of corporations." Republicans need the support of eight Democrats to avoid a filibuster; two Democrats have pledged to back the judge so far.
6. Federal judge approves $25 million settlement over Trump University
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel on Friday ruled in favor of a $25 million settlement between President Trump and customers of his defunct Trump University. The settlement was reached shortly after the election, and Trump did not admit to wrongdoing. But "this never was a university," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "The fraud started with the name of the organization. You can't just go around saying this is the George Stephanopoulos Law Firm/Hospital/University without actually qualifying and registering, so it was really a fraud from beginning to end."
7. 3 arrested in connection to Atlanta highway collapse
Three people have been arrested in connection to the fire which caused a section of I-85 in Atlanta to collapse during rush hour Thursday night. All three are believed to be homeless, and at least one, Basil Eleby, is suspected of intentionally setting the road on fire. Eleby has been charged with first-degree criminal damage to property, while the other two have been charged with criminal trespassing. Authorities have not suggested a motive for the fire, though terrorism is not suspected. No one was injured in the collapse. Investigation is ongoing.
8. Protesters in Paraguay set legislature on fire after term limit vote
Protesters in Paraguay set their legislature building on fire after the country's Senate secretly voted to repeal a constitutional provision that limits the Paraguayan president to a single, five-year term. The vote was supported by President Horacio Cartes, who wants to run for re-election. "A coup has been carried out," said Senator Desiree Masi, whose Progressive Democratic Party opposed the change. "We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us." The fire was set after members of the Paraguayan Congress left the building and was contained by firefighters as riots continued in the capital city of Asuncion and nationwide throughout the night.
9. NCAA men's Final Four tips off Saturday
The NCAA men's basketball Final Four tips off Saturday night at 6:07 p.m. ET when Gonzaga faces off against underdog No. 7 seed South Carolina in Phoenix. "This could be an ugly one. Hide-the-children ugly," writes Fox Sports in its game preview, citing the teams' impressive defenses. Next is the matchup between No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 3 Oregon, which begins Saturday at 8:49 p.m. ET. The winners of these two games will fight for the title in the NCAA final on Monday. All Final Four games are available to stream live on the NCAA website.
10. Disney reportedly wants Beyoncé to voice Nala in The Lion King remake
Director Jon Favreau is eyeing Beyoncé to voice Nala in his upcoming live-action remake of the Disney classic, The Lion King, Variety reported late Thursday. Beyoncé, who is pregnant with twins, is believed to have been approached about the role, but has yet to accept. Favreau and the studio reportedly offered to make any accommodations necessary to get Beyoncé to sign on. The remake's release date has yet to be announced, but Disney reportedly "fast-tracked" the film. Donald Glover is slated to voice Simba, and James Earl Jones will reprise his role as Mufasa.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Bonnie Kristian was a deputy editor and acting editor-in-chief of TheWeek.com. She is a columnist at Christianity Today and author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (forthcoming 2022) and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (2018). Her writing has also appeared at Time Magazine, CNN, USA Today, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The American Conservative, among other outlets.
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 24, 2024
Daily Briefing Trump closes in on nomination with New Hampshire win over Haley, 'Oppenheimer' leads the 2024 Oscar nominations, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 23, 2024
Daily Briefing Haley makes last stand in New Hampshire as Trump extends polling lead, justices side with US over Texas in border fight, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 22, 2024
Daily Briefing DeSantis ends his presidential campaign and endorses Trump, the US and Arab allies push plan to end Gaza war, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 21, 2024
Daily Briefing Palestinian death toll reportedly passes 25,000, top Biden adviser to travel to Egypt and Qatar for hostage talks, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 20, 2024
Daily Briefing Grand jury reportedly convened to investigate Uvalde shooting response, families protest outside Netanyahu's house as pressure mounts for hostage deal, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 19, 2024
Daily Briefing Congress averts a government shutdown, DOJ report cites failures in police response to Texas school shooting, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 18, 2024
Daily Briefing Judge threatens to remove Trump from his defamation trial, medicine for hostages and Palestinians reach Gaza, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 17, 2024
Daily Briefing The US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen a third time, Trump's second sex defamation trial begins, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published