Palm Sunday, No Kings Part III, & Squirrel Snacks

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Adam Rogers
March 30, 2026

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Pope Leo XIV used his Palm Sunday address to reject claims that God supports war, calling Jesus the “king of peace” and saying faith cannot be used to justify violence. Speaking before tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square, he warned against invoking religion in conflicts as the US-Israeli war with Iran and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue.
He also highlighted the impact on civilians, especially Christians in the Middle East, many of whom are unable to observe Holy Week fully due to ongoing fighting and restrictions. His remarks come as leaders on multiple sides have framed wars in religious terms, from US officials referencing Christianity to Russia’s Orthodox Church describing its campaign in Ukraine as a “holy war.”
The message sets the tone for Holy Week at the Vatican, where Leo is restoring traditional ceremonies while emphasizing peace and reconciliation.

Millions of demonstrators gathered across the US and abroad for a third wave of “No Kings” protests opposing the Trump administration, with more than 3,200 events planned and organizers calling it one of the largest coordinated protest days in recent history.
The protests were fueled by opposition to immigration enforcement policies, the war in Iran, and rising living costs, with St. Paul, Minnesota — site of a deadly January immigration raid — serving as the central rally. Most demonstrations remained peaceful and drew large crowds, though some cities saw clashes with police and a limited number of arrests.
The scale and geographic spread of the protests, including strong turnout in Republican-leaning areas, highlight growing political pressure on the administration. Organizers say the movement will continue, framing it as a broader push against executive power and government overreach.

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced plans to hold a vote on a 60-day funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, rejecting a Senate proposal that would have funded most of the agency but excluded immigration enforcement. The move keeps the shutdown in place, with TSA workers still unpaid and airport disruptions ongoing.
The Senate unanimously approved its bill earlier Friday after weeks of negotiations, separating funding for agencies like TSA from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). House Republicans opposed that approach, demanding full funding for immigration operations, while Democrats continue to insist on restrictions on enforcement practices.
The competing plans leave little path to a quick resolution. The Senate has already left for a two-week recess, and Democrats say the House proposal would be blocked if it reaches the chamber. President Donald Trump has backed the House effort, even as questions remain about his authority to pay TSA workers during the shutdown unilaterally.

US metro population growth dropped from 1.1% to 0.6% last year as Trump's immigration crackdown cut the arrivals many cities rely on to grow, Census data shows. (More)

The Pentagon is drawing up options for a decisive strike on Iran — including ground forces and bombing campaigns — as Trump threatens to escalate if nuclear talks stall. (More)

More than 7 million borrowers enrolled in Biden's student loan repayment plan will be required to switch to a new plan by July, likely facing higher monthly payments after a court struck the program down. (More)

Israeli police blocked Jerusalem's top Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, citing security concerns over Iranian strike threats targeting holy sites. (More)

Two aid sailboats carrying nine people, including a four-year-old, arrived safely in Havana Saturday after going missing for days while delivering humanitarian supplies to Cuba from Mexico. (More)

North Korea says Kim Jong Un watched a test of an upgraded solid-fuel missile engine powerful enough to reach the US, though experts say the claim may be exaggerated. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Friday (S&P -1.67%, Nasdaq -2.15%, Dow -1.73%). The Dow & Nasdaq are both in correction territory, down -10% since their all-time highs. (More)

Eli Lilly agreed to pay up to $2.75 billion for rights to drugs developed by AI startup Insilico Medicine, with $115 million upfront and the rest tied to regulatory and sales milestones. (More)

A federal judge temporarily blocked Nexstar's $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, which would have created the country's largest local TV station owner, citing antitrust concerns raised by DirecTV and eight states. (More)

UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit a 35-foot buzzer-beater to complete a 19-point comeback and beat top-seeded Duke 73-72, sending the Huskies to the Final Four alongside Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois. (More)

Tiger Woods was arrested on a DUI charge in Jupiter Island, Florida, after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled onto its side while he was allegedly speeding and attempting to pass a truck. (More)

James Tolkan, the character actor best known as the stern vice principal in "Back to the Future" and a naval commander in "Top Gun," died Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, at 94. (More)

Astronaut Mike Fincke says doctors still can't explain the sudden mystery illness that left him unable to speak aboard the space station in January and triggered NASA's first-ever medical evacuation. (More)

Bluesky launched an AI assistant called Attie that lets users build custom social media feeds using plain-language prompts, without needing to know how to code. (More)

University of Surrey researchers developed a silicon-carbon nanotube battery anode that stores nearly ten times more energy than conventional batteries, potentially extending electric vehicle range and device battery life. (More)

Shopping malls were designed to manipulate you.

Spanish mountain range is named world’s most beautiful place.

A chunk of the Eiffel Tower goes up for sale on May 21.

Squirrel’s favorite food is almonds.

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