“A federal judge ruled Monday that a $100,000 visa fee for U.S.companies seeking highly skilled workers from other countries is illegal. This voids the requirement set by President Donald Trump by a presidential proclamation in September. Judge Leo Sorokin said the policy violated the U.S. Constitution and the federal Administrative Procedure Act and that only Congress has the authority to change federal immigration policy to require the fee. The Trump administration says it will appeal the ruling.” (06/08/26)
“Gas prices have increased 50% since the war began. Food prices have followed. The Consumer Price Index jumped 3.3% this April. Grocery bills jumped 0.7% in April. Such figures have not been seen since the peak of post-pandemic inflation. While it’s hard to ignore these costs, many Americans are not noticing the warning signs that higher prices and shortages for vital medications they rely on may soon be next, especially insulin. Supply chain experts at Stanford Health Care have flagged insulin syringes, generic drugs, and petroleum-based medical supplies as products at risk as oil prices rise and shipping costs climb. One logistics firm warned that consumers could see drug costs affected within four to six weeks of sustained disruption — a window that has already opened.” (06/08/26)
“In a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last August, President Donald Trump noted that Ukraine hadn’t held elections since the Russian invasion, asking whether elections are called off during a war. Before Zelensky could respond, Trump added: ‘Oh, that’s a good thing.’ Five months later, Trump mused apophatically about canceling elections out of disdain for Democrats. Just days after that, in an interview with Reuters, Trump reflected with his typical braggadocio that, given his great success as president, ‘we shouldn’t even have an election’ this November. The sheer number of times Trump brought up canceling elections forced White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to clarify that the president was only joking. But in light of Trump’s repeated affronts to democracy—including January 6th and his sustained lies about the results of the 2020 election—we are forced to take these remarks seriously.” (06/09/26)
“Long-term planning can be admirable. Some contracts — say, for construction — will genuinely take five or more years to finish up. Or when vendors need to make huge upfront investments, a long payoff timeline can entice qualified competition. Locking in five-year tech contracts, however, just allows the solicitation sins of the father to be visited upon their children a decade later: Between now and 2031 (or 2033), needs will change, technology will advance, and the project budgets will rise and fall.” (06/08/26)
“Italian prosecutors put Israel’s fanatical National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir under investigation over the treatment of activists who were part of a Gaza flotilla last month, a judicial source said on Monday. The source, who asked not to be named, confirmed earlier reports by Italian news agencies and said Ben-Gvir was being investigated on suspicion of torture and kidnapping of Italian citizens who were among the activists. If the probe determines charges are warranted, prosecutors could lodge a formal request for trial. … Israel and Ben-Gvir have faced mounting international criticism after the minister, in late May, released a video showing abducted Gaza activists kneeling with their hands bound after Israel kidnapped members of the aid flotilla in international waters.” (06/09/26)
