$305,000 Per Flight??

5.12.25

Happy Monday and welcome back to Common Sense, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. We hope you enjoyed the weekend – and to all moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day.

Trump finally realizes his damage to the economy; backs off astronomical tariffs in deal with China… Politico reports Trump made a deal to undo some of the damage he has done to the U.S. economy by ratcheting up the tariff war on China, which despite its faults – and there are many – remains an important trading partner. The outlet writes, “The deal brokered in Geneva, in which both sides agreed to lower tariff rates by triple-digit percentages, came as anxiety mounted about a potential downturn in the U.S. The manufacturing sector, watching order books dry up, has been shrinking its workforce. Ports are warning of a plunge in shipments. Economists have been calculating significant odds of a recession. Against that backdrop, the U.S. and China agreed to pull back from the brink of a bruising tariff fight that amounted to an all-out trade embargo between the world’s two largest economies, even as Beijing offered no commitment yet to change its trading practices.” OUR TAKE: Trump deserves zero credit for fixing a mess he made.

Trump spends $21 million to send 69 immigration detainees to Guantanamo… CBS News reports, “The Defense Department has spent more than $21 million on flights to Guantanamo Bay amid the Trump administration's migrant deportation efforts, according to data sent to Congress by the Defense Department. There are 69 migrants currently being housed at Guantanamo Bay, according to a Defense official. Forty-three of the migrants are considered low risk and 26 migrants are considered high threat. The $21 million figure was first reported by NBC News. In January, President Trump directed his administration to use the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a holding site for migrants, where he said the highest priority, ‘worst’ offenders would be held as part of his aggressive crackdown on immigration. Since then, limited details about the flights have been available — including the costs.” OUR MATH: That’s $305,000 per detainee. Meanwhile, Republicans want to cut SNAP benefits.

Police in north GA pull over wrong driver, then discover she’s undocumented so they put her in ICE custody… There’s a lot of news about immigration today as Trump continues to undermine due process in this country. ABC News reports, “A 19-year-old college student from Georgia remains in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after a traffic stop led to her detainment, records show. Ximena Arias-Cristobal was arrested on May 5 in Dalton, Georgia, when her dark gray truck was mistaken for a black pickup that made an illegal turn. The Dalton Police Department announced on Monday that a review of dash cam video showed she was not the driver who committed the traffic violation and all charges against her have been dropped. City officials -- including the city administrator, prosecuting attorney and city attorney -- confirmed the stop was in error and notified Arias-Cristobal’s legal team. Despite the dismissal of charges on Monday, the 19-year-old Dalton State College student had been taken into ICE custody following the traffic stop and remained in custody on Monday, triggering concerns about her immigration status. Arias-Cristobal, who is undocumented, has lived in Whitfield County since she was 4 years old, her family told ABC News' Tennessee affiliate WTVC.”

Pope Leo XIV could be critical voice on immigration… NBC reports: “As the first pope from the United States and a dual citizen of America and Peru, Pope Leo XIV — a native of the Windy City — is emerging as a symbol of hope for those seeking a more compassionate approach to immigration, standing in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s divisive policies. Despite their global influence, Leo and Trump represent starkly different visions. As Trump does everything in his power to deliver on his campaign promise of mass deportations, the newly elected pope sent another message to the world when he chose his papal name. By choosing Leo XIV, the pope made a deliberate nod to Pope Leo XIII, a champion of Catholic social teaching and a defender of human dignity during the Industrial Revolution. The choice reflects a commitment to justice and equality, echoing the struggles of workers and immigrants.” OUR TAKE: America needs all the help we can get, and it will take people of all faiths and spiritualities to create change in these times.

Today’s Furry Friend

Capybaras are the cutest… but this little guy had some misfortune. Thankfully there were humans who saw him and helped him out!

Today’s Buzz

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial begins… The Hollywood Reporter writes, “Day one of the second week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan saw a flurry of activity, as the jury was finalized after an accusation of racial bias from the defense team. On Monday, the trial began in earnest with opening statements followed by testimony from two witnesses. Combs — the 55-year-old rapper, producer and fashion mogul whose rags-to-riches-to-near-billionaire status New York fairytale came to an abrupt end last year with his arrest and a five-count indictment — stood up in the court on Monday morning when lead attorney Teny Geragos described him in her opening statements. The second lead defense attorney told the jury that Combs, accused by federal prosecutors of two decades of abuse of women, trafficking of sex workers, and turning his music and fashion empire into a criminal enterprise, is no saint and that he’s by all accounts guilty of domestic abuse; but that’s not what he’s charged with...”

Photo credit: Getty

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