Joe Simnacher

Trump: “A year ago, our country was an embarrassment. All over the world, they laughed at us. They don't laugh anymore”

Just 20 minutes before Trump announced the Strait of Hormuz was open—Someone dumped 7,990 lots of Brent crude futures. A $760 million bet that oil prices would drop. Orders far larger than anything else in the market at that moment. They made a fortune. But somebody knew the announcement was coming. This is insider trading at the highest level of government.

President Donald Trump is more overtly leaning into some of the spoils of his office in his second term, drawing comparisons to French Queen Marie Antoinette from political opponents. apnews.com/article/trump-…

The herd just got a little taller and a lot cuter. 🦒 Say hello to our newest giraffe calf, born March 23 to mom Chrystal and dad Tebogo. This little girl weighed around 132 pounds and stood about 5 feet 9 inches at birth. She is the perfect mini-me of mom Chrystal.

Trump: “Millions of American small businesses, including corner stores. What is a corner store? I've never heard that term. I know what a corner store is but I've never heard it described. A corner store. Who the hell wrote that?”

In his second administration, President Trump’s family, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and sons Eric and Don Jr., are expanding their business ventures, earning hundreds of millions of dollars and prompting fresh concerns about influence peddling and conflicts of interest. @ElizLanders reports.

There is bread for everyone if it is given to everyone. There is bread for everyone if it is taken, not with a hand that snatches away, but with a hand that gives. In this way, the food was abundant. It was not rationed out of necessity. It was not stolen in strife. It was not wasted by those who gorge themselves in the presence of those who have nothing to eat. #ApostolicJourney #Cameroon vatican.va/content/leo-xi…

Texas needs at least $174 billion to avoid water crisis, state says. That new amount is more than double the amount predicted four years ago. The new forecast comes as supply is already drying up. bit.ly/4ciBypa

Breaking News: Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, said he would resign at the end of May. nyti.ms/3Oz6ZlI

🚨YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP: IRS data show 164 taxpayers with an average unreported foreign account balance of $1.3 billion were identified for examination - but only 12 were audited. They didn't do more audits even after they discovered $39 million of taxes owed among the 12.

President Trump says gas prices across the U.S. are “not very high,” telling reporters on Thursday, “the stock market’s up, everything’s doing really well.”

Europe has about 6 weeks of jet fuel left, the head of the International Energy Agency tells the AP, as he warns of flight cancellations. apnews.com/article/iran-w…

Breaking News: President Trump selected Dr. Erica Schwartz, a vaccine supporter, as CDC director, a shift in messaging before the midterms. nyti.ms/4cxspI6

Trump: "We have a very good relationship with Iran right now" Huh??

Images of food being served to sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli, published by USA Today. Supplies "are going to get really low" and "morale is going to be at an all-time low," one sailor messaged his mother: usatoday.com/story/news/pol…

“The Trump administration has abruptly canceled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities to shelter and care for migrant children who enter the U.S. alone…” miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…

Breaking news: A judge limited President Trump’s planned White House ballroom, saying construction could proceed on an underground portion deemed necessary by the military, not on the 90,000-square-foot addition he has eyed to entertain VIP guests. wapo.st/4tMjxFq

U.S. beef prices are at record highs in part because the country's cattle herd is the smallest since the 1950s. apnews.com/article/beef-c…

A cartoon by Ken Levine.

Iran's Fars News Agency says a supertanker sailed through international waters and the Strait of Hormuz with its tracking system switched on, "without any concealment." cbsn.ws/4mzcHRt