NY: Maduro lawyer argues against US blocking funding for drug trafficking case defense

Source: SFGate

“Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were back in a New York courtroom Thursday as they seek to have their drug trafficking indictments thrown out over a geopolitical dispute over legal fees. The hearing opened with the defense and prosecution arguing over whether Maduro should be allowed to use Venezuelan government funds to pay for his defense. The defense has insisted that the U.S. is violating the deposed leader’s constitutional rights by blocking government money from being used for his legal costs. Maduro lawyer Barry Pollack contended that if Maduro got public defenders, investigating and preparing his case would sap legal resources meant for people who can’t afford their own attorneys, and that doesn’t make sense in ‘a case where you have someone other than the U.S. taxpayer standing ready, willing and able to fund that defense.’ Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued against letting Maduro use Venezuelan government funds.” (03/26/26)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/nicol-s-maduro-heads-back-to-a-us-court-22115789.php

Steve Trinward

EU Parliament backs US trade deal — with strings attached

Source: Politico

“The European Parliament supported two legal proposals Thursday to implement the trade agreement reached last year between the EU and the U.S. by a wide margin, with amendments aimed at ensuring the Trump administration stands by the deal. In a plenary vote, lawmakers backed the measures — to scrap EU duties on U.S. industrial products — with a wide majority. Parliament negotiators will likely meet as soon as April 13 with EU country representatives to start negotiating a final compromise that could then enter into force.” (03/26/26)

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-parliament-backs-us-trade-deal-with-strings-attached

Thomas L. Knapp

The Self-Undoing of Israel: Has Zionism Crossed the Point of No Return?

Source: Antiwar.com
by Ramzy Baroud

“Far from cementing Israel’s regional and global standing, the war has accelerated its isolation. According to a June 2025 Pew Research Center survey, majorities in most of the 24 countries surveyed held unfavorable views of Israel, while confidence in Netanyahu remained low across nearly all regions. This shift is not limited to the Global South. It reflects a broader erosion of Israel’s legitimacy, even among traditional allies. In response, Israeli political discourse has returned – almost instinctively – to the language of existential war. Even when Netanyahu attempts to revive earlier narratives about shaping a ‘new Middle East,’ the rhetoric repeatedly collapses back into warnings of annihilation. This reveals a deeper truth: within Israeli political thinking, the alternative to dominance is not coexistence, but destruction.” (03/26/26)

https://original.antiwar.com/ramzy-baroud/2026/03/25/the-self-undoing-of-israel-has-zionism-crossed-the-point-of-no-return/

Thomas L. Knapp

US Snail Seeks Rate Hike

Source: US News & World Report

“The U.S. Postal Service is seeking a temporary 8% charge on certain popular products, including Priority Mail, to help blunt the impact of rising transportation costs. USPS filed notice on Wednesday with the Postal Regulatory Commission seeking the price increase, which would take effect on April 26 and remain in place until Jan. 17, 2027, pending final approval. … The notice comes as Postmaster General David Steiner has warned Congress that the Postal Service, which has seen letter volumes plummet, will run out of cash within a year unless lawmakers lift a decades-old cap and allow the independent agency to borrow more money.” (03/25/26)

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-03-25/usps-seeks-a-temporary-8-charge-on-priority-mail-and-other-products-to-offset-transportation-costs

Thomas L. Knapp