Israeli response: Following the weekend’s attack on Israel by Iran, Israel’s cabinet was meeting to debate whether and how to respond. President Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in a new Israeli attack on Iran. Israeli Defense Forces along with U.S. military assets shot down most of the more than 300 drones and missiles the Iranians as well as Hezbollah forces in Lebanon fired at Israel. No substantial damage or injuries resulted from the Iranian attack which was in retaliation for Israel attacking Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Trump criminal trial: After spending the night at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, Donald Trump went to court on Centre Street in Manhattan today for the first day of jury selection in his hush money trial. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought criminal charges against Trump, the first time a former president of the United States has faced a criminal trial. Trump is charged with 34 felonies stemming from his $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels that was designed to keep negative stories about him from getting out before the 2016 presidential election.
Bridge collapse: The FBI and U.S. Coast Guard are leading a criminal investigation into the accident that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The FBI released a statement this morning confirming that an investigation is underway. Investigators are reported to be concentrating on whether the crew of the vessel Dali that hit a bridge support covered up a problem with the ship that would have led to a delay in the ship sailing from Baltimore’s port had the problem been reported.
Tax deadline: Today is tax day, the day across the U.S. when federal and most state income tax returns need to be filed. Taxpayers can apply for automatic six-month extensions but need to pay taxes that would be due in order to avoid being hit with penalties and interest. Donald Trump once again this year said he will refuse to make his tax returns public. The Congressional House Ways and Means Committee in 2022 made public six years of Trump’s tax returns, showing he paid as little as zero taxes or ended up paying at a 4% federal tax rate. Â
Tesla layoffs: The news agency Reuters reported this morning that Tesla will lay off 10% of its workforce according to an internal memorandum. Tesla had more than 140,000 employees as of the end of last year. The memo was signed by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk. He said that it’s extremely important for Tesla to look at every aspect of the company to find cost reductions and ways to increase productivity. In January, a Delaware court judge canceled Musk’s pay package totaling $56 billion, saying it was unfair to Tesla’s stockholders.
Masters: Golfer Scottie Scheffler won the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, yesterday. It was Scheffler’s second Master’s win in three years. Tiger Woods finished in last place. Scheffler’s prize for winning was $3.6 million. The tournament ran for four days with the final round yesterday.
