Manhattan DA Clashes with Jim Jordan

The battle for Donald Trump’s future is getting more complex.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg made the first move by indicting Trump.

In response, Jim Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena for Mark Pomerantz—a former prosecutor who led the DA’s investigation of Trump. Pomerantz, who left the DA’s office in 2022, recommended against indicting Trump after a detailed investigation.

Now, Bragg is suing Jordan in an attempt to block the subpoena.

“Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the District Attorney’s investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump,” the lawsuit states.

Jordan fired back on Twitter. “First, they indict a president for no crime. Then they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.”

Biden Backs Down, Ends Covid Emergency Status

The Biden administration planned to wait till May to end the Covid national emergency status, but House Republicans pushed back with bills outlining a quicker plan.

The President criticized the bills, calling them, “a grave disservice to the American people.”

Biden then told Chuck Schumer that he will not veto the bills.

One line in the legislation, “…is hereby terminated,” ends an official status of national emergency that began in March of 2020 and kicked off a wave of economic and social turmoil in the US.

Government to Cut Water Supply in Southwest

The federal government presented two options Tuesday to save the Colorado River from falling to disastrously low levels. The proposals involve potentially huge cuts in water supply across the Southwest, particularly California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.

This is the first time the government has laid out aggressive plans for reducing water supplies to the states. The Colorado River supplies drinking water to 40 million Americans and irrigates 5.5 million agricultural acres.

The first option would cut water supplies across the board based on traditional water rights “seniority”. This would help California more, and force harsh reductions on Arizona and Nevada – both battleground states for the 2024 election.

A second, more controversial option, would cut water supplies proportionally to all the states. This would help Arizona considerably but hurt California.

Any change in water supply allocation is expected to result in legal challenges, and much will depend on water levels in Lakes Mead and Powell when this winter’s massive snowpack melts.

➤ The son of George Soros, a billionaire tycoon known for funding soft-on-crime prosecutors (including Alvin Bragg), has been hanging out at the White House more than most. Official records show Alexander Soros has become a "de-facto ambassador" of sorts, making at least 14 recorded visits to the White House. (More)

➤ The House Judiciary Committee is holding a “field hearing” in Manhattan, just three blocks from DA Bragg’s office, and NY Democrats are not happy. (More)

➤ Another state-level Democratic legislator has flipped to the Republicans. It happened in Louisiana this time, and it strengthens the recently-acquired supermajority gained by the GOP when another Dem flipped red. (Read more)

➤ Trump is leading GOP primary polling by a large margin. He’s currently at 56%, followed by DeSantis with 23%. (See it)

➤ Drug use and violent crime is shutting down a Whole Foods location in San Francisco, at least for now. The store opened less than a year ago. (More)

➤ Wrexham AFC, a Welsh soccer team owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mcelhenney, got a Hollywood-style victory Monday on its quest for promotion. (Read more)

➤ Rob Gronkowski is only 33, but he’s having too much fun in retirement to come back to the NFL. (More)

➤ The details are out for the NFL’s new Sunday Ticket package on YouTube TV. The 2023 season will cost you $249 if you buy it before June 6th. (More)

Market Report   4-11-23

➤ Bud Light is getting hammered after its transgender influencer stunt. Bars and distributors across America are reporting cliff-drops in sales. (More)

➤ A Moody’s economist thinks the Fed needs to stop raising interest rates if it doesn’t want to drag down the US economy. (More)

➤ Twitter is not allowing users to like, retweet, or reply to Substack tweets. (More)

➤ SpaceX is counting down the days until it launches a Starship spacecraft. It’s an orbital test of the craft designed to take humans back to the moon and eventually to Mars. (More)

➤ Scientists have identified the final leg of the yearly butterfly migration pattern. (More)

➤ Google Maps is drilling down on its National Park data, making navigation inside the parks easier. (More)

➤ The disgraced founder of Fyre Fest—one of the most epic event failures in history—says he’s bringing the festival back. (More)

➤ Al Jaffe, legendary Mad Magazine cartoonist who created the “fold-in” back cover and “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions” over the course of a remarkable 77-year career, has died at age 102.  (More)

➤ A volcano eruption in Russia is spewing vast clouds of ash across the region. The ash cloud has risen 65,000 feet high and extended more than 300 miles.  (More)

Today’s Trivia

Which country has the most volcanoes?