
Alito says he spoke with Trump about former law clerk before Supreme Court filing in "hush money" case
CBSN
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said Wednesday that he had talked with Donald Trump about a job for one of his former law clerks in the president-elect's administration a day before Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay the sentencing in his New York "hush money" case.
Alito said in a statement that the clerk, William Levi, had asked him to take a call from the president-elect "regarding his qualifications to serve in a government position." The conservative justice also said that he and Trump "did not discuss any other matter that is pending or might in the future come before the Supreme Court or any past Supreme Court decisions involving the President-elect."
"We did not discuss the emergency application he filed today, and indeed, I was not even aware at the time of our conversation that such an application would be filed," Alito said.

Washington — The Department of Education warned state education commissioners Thursday that federal financial assistance for their K-12 schools may be at risk unless they confirm they're complying with "antidiscrimination obligations," including getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Trump's tariffs target Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Australian territory inhabited by penguins
With his announcement of widespread new tariffs on Wednesday, President Trump spared very few places on the globe from his effort to upend global trade — even the remote Heard Island and McDonald Islands, a sub-Antarctic Australian territory inhabited by penguins, but no people.

Researchers are predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2025, likely producing stronger and more frequent storms than a typical year but at the same time with less intensity expected than last season. The annual prediction is closely watched in Florida and other coastal states at risk when hurricane season officially starts June 1.