"I Don't Know" About The Constitution?

5.5.25

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 had a relaxing weekend.

Trump: “I don’t know” if I agree with the Constitution… ABC News reports, “President Donald Trump, a little more than 100 days after taking the oath of office, questioned whether he had a duty to uphold the Constitution and the Fifth Amendment right to due process as he expressed frustration on judicial pushback to his mass deportation effort. During a wide-ranging interview with NBC News ‘Meet the Press’ moderator Kristen Welker, Trump was asked if he agreed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that citizens and noncitizens alike are entitled to due process. ‘I don't know,’ Trump responded. ‘I'm not a lawyer. I don't know.’ Welker noted that the Fifth Amendment, which states in part that ‘no person’ shall be "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,’ says as much. ‘I don't know,’ Trump repeated.”

Hegseth, still on the job somehow, orders cut to high-ranking officers… Taking out the competition? A suspicious move for an embattled secretary of defense. Politico reports, “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a major restructuring Monday of the way the military is led, including a plan that could cut a significant number of the military’s highest-ranking officers. Hegseth, in a memo and video laying out his moves, said the reductions will entail a 20 percent cut to the ranks of four-star generals and admirals and 10 percent of the military’s more than 800 generals and admirals. The plan also calls for a 20 percent reduction of generals in the National Guard.”

Trump administration says it will give free airline tickets and $1K to unauthorized immigrants who self-deport… To think that the Trump Administration would offer this incentive with no catch would be wishful thinking. CBS News reports, The Trump administration announced Monday it will offer free airline tickets and a $1,000 incentive to some unauthorized immigrants if they sign up for self-deportation and return to their home countries voluntarily. The Department of Homeland Security said it has helped some migrants obtain plane tickets so they can return to their native countries in the next two weeks. A migrant has already returned to Honduras using the self-deportation program to book a flight out of Chicago, the department added. Those interested in participating in the self-deportation initiative are being instructed to use a government smartphone app now known as CBP Home — which the Biden administration previously used to allow certain migrants to enter the U.S. legally — to tell officials they plan to leave the country. Eligible immigrants will receive both travel assistance and the $1,000 stipend, which DHS officials said will be paid after the U.S. government confirms the individual has left the country.”

Trump-voting town to lose National Fire Academy, cut by Trump Administration… NPR reports, “In March, the Trump administration suddenly canceled in-person classes at the National Fire Academy here, which trains the United States' firefighters. Not only is the academy a big part of Emmitsburg's identity, but it also helps drive the local economy. (Mayor Frank) Davis says the administration is reviewing the academy's operations, and he is hopeful it will restore classes. If not, he says, he'll see the administration somewhat differently. ‘It will change my outlook to say that they're not being fair,’ says (Mayor Frank) Davis, who also serves as emergency medical services captain at the local firehouse, known as the Vigilant Hose Company. ‘They're just going in to cut and not caring what they cut.’ Emmitsburg voted overwhelmingly for President Trump in November. NPR interviewed about two dozen people here. Almost all of them voted for Trump, and many said his plans to cut federal spending were a key attraction. Now, they say they are puzzled as to why the administration would cancel national training for firefighters.”

Today’s Furry Friend

Meet feline Mercedes, heard under the car hood during a test drive…

Today’s Buzz

Confusion, angst across Hollywood as Trump proposes tariff on foreign films… NBC News reports, “President Donald Trump’s Sunday night proposal to impose tariffs on movies made outside the U.S. has been met with a mix of confusion and fear by the entertainment industry. And by noon Monday, White House officials clarified that “no final decisions” had been made and that it was ‘exploring all options.’ Trump’s initial proposal, posted to Truth Social, called for tariffs ‘on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,’ citing what he said was the harmful impact of incentives being offered by other countries. ‘WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN,’ Trump wrote. Speaking from the Oval Office just before 2 p.m. Monday, Trump said he would be meeting with industry officials to make sure they were ‘happy’ with his tariffs plan.”

Thank you for reading. Check back on Monday for the next edition of Common Sense.