A Federal Judge Just Drew a Line

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Politics

A Federal Judge Just Drew a Line

What's going on: If you’ve seen a courtroom drama, you’re probably familiar with that tense moment when a judge threatens to hold someone in “contempt” — a punishment that can come with fines or imprisonment. Now, a federal judge has issued that same warning to the Trump administration for defying his order to halt deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. Judge James Boasberg gave the government until April 23 to either explain how it’ll remedy the situation — which could involve the US taking custody of the migrants — or name who disobeyed his order. If the administration doesn’t, Boasberg said officials could face criminal contempt charges. The White House, for its part, said it will appeal Boasberg’s order, calling it a “judicial power grab.”

What it means: The judge’s threat is one of the most serious clashes between the executive and judicial branches in recent history. It comes as the administration seriously considers deporting US citizens who commit violent crimes and jailing them in El Salvador. But holding an administration in contempt is rare — and the Trump team has tools at its disposal to turn down the temperature. Criminal contempt charges typically come from the DOJ, which answers to the Oval Office. Plus, a president technically has the power to make contempt charges vanish with a pardon. So… what are the options to keep the administration in check? Some legal experts suggest a special prosecutor could be appointed. Boasberg, meanwhile, warns letting leaders like Trump ignore court orders would make “a solemn mockery” of the US Constitution.

Related: Yes, the Trump Admin Is Still Working on a “Gold Card” System for Rich Immigrants (USA Today)

US News

Trump's Latest Moves Could Affect Your Medicine Cabinet

What's going on: President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week aimed at lowering the cost of some prescription drugs — but some say it could be at odds with another one of his plans. The EO, in part, directs the FDA to help states import drugs from Canada, and requires federal health clinics to provide insulin and EpiPens at a discount. It also targets the Medicare drug negotiation program (created by the Biden administration) so that prescription pills like blood pressure treatments can be cheaper. Sounds good, right? The thing is Trump is also considering tariffs on generic drugs that are manufactured abroad — something that could lead to shortages or price hikes.

What it means: When it comes to the EO, experts say Americans may not feel the benefits until 2027. And some of his proposals, including those related to Medicare drug pricing, would require congressional approval. As for the Trump team’s consideration of tariffs, a final decision isn’t expected for another month or two. While lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have sounded the alarm on America’s over-reliance on China for medication, any disruption could push prices even further up. It’s not all bad. Depending on what the administration decides, experts say it could take months to feel the effects since most pharmacies stock up months in advance. 

Related: Fed Chair Issues His Starkest Warning Yet on Tariffs' Impact to the Economy (CNN)

Science

In This Nugget, the Chicken Came Before the Egg

What's going on: Scientists are one step closer to growing a fast food favorite in a laboratory: chicken nuggets. Weighing in at 11 grams, the nugget created by a group of Japanese researchers is the largest piece of meat that’s been grown in a lab. Sure, it might not have been on your menu, but the small feat marks an exciting chapter for the industry, which has struggled to scale up to a full-on entrée. Unlike animals, lab-grown meat doesn’t have blood vessels, making it hard for oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells in the center to help it grow. But thanks to hollow fibers that are already being used in things like water filters and dialysis machines, scientists were able to mimic blood vessels and grow the nugget. Chew on that.

What it means: The advancement comes as American companies have been racing to become the first in the US to sell meat that doesn’t come from a slaughterhouse. Now, researchers say this nugget could lead to growing even bigger pieces of chicken like breasts and thighs. So how long until this reaches grocery store shelves? The team’s lead researcher estimates about five to 10 years. While this innovation isn’t landing in kitchens anytime soon, the team behind it has a larger vision. For them, this breakthrough could lead to growing human organs, testing new drugs, and even building robots that move like muscles.

Related: This Type of Chicken Is Creating a Headache for Movie Theaters (The Hollywood Reporter)

Settle This

Science may have settled whether it’s better to sleep with your socks on or off. Which seems to be better for sleep?

Extra Credit

Listen

Let’s be honest: We could easily go the rest of the year — OK, our lives — without another celebrity launching a podcast. However, we’re willing to make an exception for the one and only Amy Poehler, whose pod, aptly named Good Hang With Amy Poehler, is exactly what it sounds like. Each week, the comedy legend sits down with famous friends and guests ranging from the iconic Tina Fey (obviously, their convo went viral) to Abbott Elementary's Quinta Brunson (she chatted about the perils of being short) to, most recently, Agatha All Along’s Kathryn Hahn (aka “Mother Hahn”). Basically, it’s like eavesdropping on the funniest group chat in Hollywood.

Game Time

Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.