Friday, April 3rd

The prospect of a ground invasion seems high, a lot of action going into the Passover/Easter weekend – likely more to come.

Headlines

U.S. hit civilian infrastructure in Iran; Israel continues violent advance into Lebanon. The U.S. destroyed the B1 bridge near Tehran, killing eight people. (Al Jazeera). The Associated Press acquired footage of the carpet bombing campaign currently ongoing by the U.S. in Iran, that as the U.S. says it is running out of targets in Iran.

Israel’s ground invasion into Lebanon continued, with strikes killing 7 on Thursday. Israel’s leaders have said that it is using the same tactics it has used for containment and advancement in Gaza. (NBC, Al Jazeera)

The U.S. immigration enforcement continues to evolve, as people deported from the U.S. are now being sent to Uganda. The first plane carrying 12 deportees landed in Uganda and was condemned by activists and lawyers in that country. Other countries in the region have also agreed to accept deportees. It is likely that this deal was made with a cash incentive, as has been the case in nations with similar arrangements, like El Salvador. (Guardian, Al Jazeera)

In I.C.E. custody in the U.S., abuses continue to be rumored and occasionally documented. Democrats in California visited an I.C.E. detention center in Southern California where allegations of rape and sexual assault have been made in the privately-owned facility called Otay Mesa. (Guardian)

At a detention camp in El Paso, Texas, called East Montana, NPR reports that 3,000 detainees are being held in a private prison under substandard conditions. Former detainees have described the conditions there as “horrible” and an inspection found 49 violations including inadequate medical care. Though the facility opened only recently in August of 2025, at least three people detained have died in custody at East Montana.

Quick Hits

• U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired on Wednesday. Sources cite Bondi’s handling of the release of the Epstein files and the failure to prosecute the President’s political enemies as reasons for her departure. Trump’s former attorney, deputy A.G. Todd Blanche, will be acting U.S.A.G. until the Senate confirms someone to that role – sources speculating that the nominee will be former congressman and E.P.A. chief Lee Zeldin. (CNBC, Politico)
• The U.K. is leading talks with 40 countries in an attempt to develop a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. is not party to the discussions. (Al Jazeera)
• The U.S. Senate gave the House of Representatives another opportunity to pass partial funding to D.H.S. for use by T.S.A. but to no avail. The House will not vote on the Senate’s bill. (Axios, Guardian)
• The Centers for Disease Control will temporarily halt testing of over two dozen infectious diseases, including rabies and poxvirus, amid staffing shortages and budget constraints. The New York Times reports that by July, the Center will have at most one rabies expert and no poxvirus expert. (NYT, Guardian)
• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the top army general, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, to be relieved of his post on Thursday. (Politico)
• Trump has signed an executive order mandating a 100% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals, though major corporations will be permitted to negotiate with the U.S. government. Industry leaders classified the move as short-sighted, saying it will increase costs and jeopardize investments. (Al Jazeera)
• Despite a promise by Trump to revive domestic manufacturing, manufacturing jobs are down almost 100,000 jobs since last year. Trump’s approval on the economy is 31%. (Politico)
• Civil rights groups are suing Trump for an executive order he signed that instructs the federal government to come up with a list of eligible citizens who can vote in each state. It also instructs the U.S. Postal Service to only transmit mail-in ballots to people on that list. (Guardian)
• European Parliament member and pro-Palestinian activist Rima Hassan has been detained in France on suspicion of “apology for terrorism”. (Al Jazeera)
• Israel passed a $271 billion budget on Thursday, with $45.8 billion allocated to war efforts and $129.5 million to finance settlements in occupied land. (Al Jazeera)
• US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez. (Guardian)
• The Securities and Exchange Commission will unveil a plan to relax quarterly spending requirements in the coming months. (Politico)
• A major private credit investment firm, Blue Owl Capital, has imposed a cap on withdrawals after investors tried to pull $5.4bn from two key funds. (Guardian)
• The E.P.A. added microplastics to its list of water contaminants it is required to publish every five years under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Environmental experts say the move is largely theater, saying the same administration is significantly undermining real and consequential protections. (NPR)
• The National Capital Planning Commission signed off on Trump’s White House ballroom plans on Thursday. Construction can now continue.
• Politico reports Republican party concern about Trump following his address to the nation on Wednesday night. (Politico)
• The Artemis II rocket, launched by NASA on Wednesday, will return humanity to the moon for the first time since the early 1970s.
• Amazon is now charging suppliers to its online marketplace a 3.5% fee to cover costs associated with the American war in Iran. These costs are expected to be passed on to the consumer. Charge to begin April 17th. (WPRI)

R.I. Stories

Providence College has effectively dissolved its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion after it was merged into the Ministry Office. The college has parted with the former leader of the D.E.I. initiative at the school, and reassigned the remaining staff. (Globe)

401 Gives, the fundraising push for Rhode Island nonprofits organized by United Way of RI, hit a new record of giving, raising over $5 million.

Rhode Island becomes the first state to overturn a ban on kratom, a psychoactive plant, after enacting the ban in 2017. Most states do not regulate kratom, but Rhode Island will now require a license for businesses to sell the plant that has self-reported use in relieving pain, opioid withdrawal and anxiety.

R.I. unemployment numbers rose 0.1% since last month, despite adding 400 jobs.

Two R.I. bars have been named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging they overserved a customer who later was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. (GoLocal)

Steve Ahlquist has an article out about a new Brown University club, TRANSformation, which seeks to speak out about the global and domestic rescission of rights for transgender people. More here.

R.I. state police arrested a 64-year-old Warwick woman accused of causing a wrong-way crash on Route 37 Wednesday night. (WPRI)

Reddit user FrostyDog92 gave us our first look at the Providence Train Station expansion, which adds seating and restroom capacity, and modernizes access to the train platform.

R.I. Politics

Providence City Council passed a rent stabilization ordinance on Thursday night by a 9-6 vote. The ordinance now goes to the mayor, who has said he will veto the measure. The council then must reach a 10-vote threshold in order to override the veto. The ordinance establishes a five-member Residential Rent Regulation Board to oversee the implementation of a 4% cap on rent increases (with exceptions), resolve disputes, and ensure the policy is enforced fairly.

R.I. Elections

Businessman and former GOP gubernatorial candidate, Ken Block, has announced he is once again running for governor of Rhode Island. Block will run as an independent against the winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries.

James Diossa announced he is seeking reelection to continue working as the State Treasurer. Diossa was formerly the Mayor of Central Falls.

Editorial and Expert Opinion

Ahmed Moor writes for the Guardian that American aggression against Iran is accelerating the global transition away from the dollar. The U.S. dollar’s circulation gives the nation influence and authority over commerce conducted using that currency. Alternatives, like the Chinese Yuan, are gaining traction. In the Persian Gulf, where the Iranians are collecting $2 million per ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, tolls are being collected only in Yuan.

Mark Kersten writes for Al Jazeera about the need for Lebanon to join the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.). Lebanon almost joined the court in 2023-24 but decided against the move. Now, facing Israeli aggression and imperialism, Kersten writes that participation in the I.C.C. can help Lebanon make the case internationally for support in its defense.

Jeet Heer writes for the Nation in response to Trump’s address to the nation on Wednesday evening. Heer’s assessment is that Trump’s erratic claims and lies without a unifying vision are plainly weak even to his supporters. This appears to be borne out in polling, where Trump has just a 39.7% approval rating.

Sports

Celtics beat the Miami Heat in a high-scoring game Wednesday, 147-129 the final score. Celtics had 53 in the first quarter. Next game tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00.

Bruins lost to the Florida Panthers last night, final score 2-1. Still in the wildcard spot comfortably. Next game tomorrow at 5:00 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Red Sox 1-5 to start the season after being swept by the Houston Astros. First game of a three game series against San Diego set to start today at 2:10.

The New England Revolution will play R.I. F.C. in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket on Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m.