Friday, April 25th, 2025 - Kyiv attacks; Trumpcoin dinners & ‘28 merch; EU tech fines; EO updates; DeSantis scandal; Pope’s funeral

Today’s Headlines: Ukrainian President Zelensky has rejected a U.S. proposal to end the war that would require Ukraine to give up Russian-occupied territory and promise never to join NATO. In response, Russia launched its deadliest attack on Kyiv in nearly a year. Meanwhile, the EU fined Apple and Meta a combined €700 million under a law cracking down on tech monopolies. Both companies are appealing, calling the penalties unfair to American firms. Trump also rolled out two executive orders: one targeting the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, and another aiming to roll back equity-focused school discipline policies. But courts blocked three separate Trump initiatives yesterday, including efforts to defund DEI programs in public schools and add proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. He’s also launched a Trumpcoin investor leaderboard, the top 220 investors will be invited to dinner at his Virginia golf club, with a VIP reception for the top 25. And because nothing is ever enough, he’s also started selling TRUMP 2028 merch, raising eyebrows about a potential third term. In Florida, a Miami Herald investigation found that $10 million in Medicaid settlement money was funneled to a charity run by Casey DeSantis, then routed to political groups tied to the governor’s team. And finally, over 100,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican tomorrow, including Trump, Zelensky, Macron, and Prince William. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: In rare rebuke of Putin, Trump urges Russia to ‘STOP!’ after deadly attack on Kyiv NY Times: EU Fines Apple and Meta Total of $800 Million in First Use of Digital Competition Law NY Times: Trump Offers a Private Dinner to Top 220 Investors in His Memecoin CNBC: Trump 2028 apparel fuels third White House term questions  NY Times: Trump Directs Justice Dept. to Investigate ActBlue, Democrats’ Cash Engine  Whitehouse.gov: Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies Ap News: Judges blocks Trump push to cut funding to public schools over diversity programs AP News: Judge halts parts of Trump’s overhaul of US elections, including proof-of-citizenship requirement AP News: Judge rules the Trump administration violated a 2019 settlement in deporting a man to El Salvador Miami Herald: The $10M steered to Hope Florida by the state was Medicaid money, document shows  CNN: Everything we know about the funeral of Pope Francis  Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices