Trump Found Guilty, NBA Finals, and Puppy Eyes

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Big Stories

Trump Found Guilty in Hush Money Case

Former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York criminal trial, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes.

• The verdict raises significant legal and political questions, especially with the 2024 presidential campaign approaching. Trump's campaign and supporters claim the trial was politically motivated, with Trump vowing to keep fighting and win in November.

• The trial focused on Trump's falsification of business records to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was recorded as legal expenses to hide its true purpose. Trump denied the sexual encounter and claimed the payments were for legal services. The jury deliberated for two days after a month of testimony, including detailed accounts from Daniels and Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who said Trump directed the payment and approved the reimbursement plan.

• Trump's legal team is likely to appeal the verdict, a process that will extend beyond November. Sentencing will occur on July 11. The conviction exposes Trump to potential prison time, though it is unclear if prosecutors will seek that. The charges carry up to four years in prison. Despite the conviction, Trump can still run for president.

IRS Opening Free Online Tax Filing to All States

The Treasury Department announced the permanent expansion of the IRS's Direct File program, a free online tax filing service, for the 2025 tax season

• The program will be available to all 50 states and Washington D.C.

  The move is seen as a benefit for taxpayers who can save money on filing fees traditionally charged by private tax preparation services like TurboTax.

• The pilot program, which ran in a dozen states during the 2024 tax season, proved successful with over 140,000 participants claiming more than $90 million in refunds.

• The program is expected to cover more complex tax scenarios beyond the W-2 based returns it currently handles. Some Democratic lawmakers, like Rep. Brad Sherman, are pushing for more innovation. Rep. Sherman envisions a "self-populating form" where the IRS pre-fills tax returns using the data they already have on file, such as W-2 and 1099 forms. He believes it would save taxpayers time and effort while significantly reducing filing errors.

NRA Can Sue ex-NY Employee

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, allowed the NRA to continue its lawsuit against Maria Vullo, a former New York state financial regulator.

• The NRA alleged Vullo infringed upon its First Amendment rights by pressuring companies to sever business ties with the gun rights group following the tragic 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The NRA says Vullo violated their free speech rights by targeting them for investigation of "murder insurance" policies offered to members.

• The Supreme Court unanimously allowed the NRA's lawsuit to proceed. Justice Sotomayor wrote that the government can't use its power to punish disfavored viewpoints. The decision doesn't necessarily mean the NRA will win, but they can now argue their case in lower courts.

• Vullo argued she investigated the legality of the NRA's insurance policies and denied pressuring companies. She also said her actions were justified and were aimed at protecting consumers from illegal insurance products.

• Unusually, the NRA received legal support from the ACLU and the Biden administration in this case concerning First Amendment rights.

Little Stories

• Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a 124-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Doncic scored 36 points, while Kyrie Irving added another 36. The win advanced the Mavericks to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. They will face the Boston Celtics in game 1 on June 6. (More)

• A rapist nicknamed the "bad breath rapist" was finally arrested in California after 16 years on the run. Tuen Kit Lee was convicted in 2007 of kidnapping and raping a woman in Massachusetts but fled before sentencing. Images circulating on social media of a man believed to be Lee led investigators to his location. (More)

• The Biden administration has permitted Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia, but only near Kharkiv, using U.S.-supplied weapons. The change will help Ukraine defend its second-largest city. The policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia remains unchanged. (More)

• A new report by Swissaid revealed large-scale gold smuggling out of Africa. Over $30 billion worth of gold (435 metric tons) was smuggled in 2022, mainly to the United Arab Emirates. The true scale is likely much larger because once gold is refined its final path becomes untraceable. (More)

• A volcano in Iceland erupted for the fifth time since December. The eruption threatened a nearby town and forced the evacuation of a popular tourist destination. Lava flows cut off some roads but were contained by a defensive barrier. (More)

Extra Credit

Man with suspended license joins court session Zoom while driving.

Wild dogs can make “puppy eyes” too.

U.S. counties with the highest rates of tree cover loss. 

The possible origins of “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe.”