The U.S. Department of State and Treasury Department today announced sanctions against Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, leader of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) criminal organization, and five other key lieutenants, offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores's arrest. This action freezes all U.S.-linked assets of those sanctioned and makes it a crime to conduct business with them, following the earlier designation of Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In legislative news, House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that a vote on the rescissions package, which includes $9 billion in cuts for public broadcasting and USAID, "may be tomorrow," needing to pass by Friday night. The House is also expected to vote this afternoon on three cryptocurrency bills, including one to create guardrails for stablecoins, another to set boundaries for federal cryptocurrency regulation, and a third to block the Federal Reserve from creating its own cryptocurrency. Additionally, the bipartisan “Dignidad Act,” supported by 20 House members including Representatives Maria Salazar and Veronica Escobar, aims to grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants who have resided in the U.S. since before July 4, 2021, and have not committed serious crimes. The “Dignidad Act” proposes a seven-year “Dignity Program” requiring background checks, a $5,000 restitution payment, steady employment or schooling, and disqualification from federal benefits. After this period, individuals may enter a five-year “Redemption Program” to pursue full citizenship. The bill also offers 10 years of conditional permanent residency to DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors, while expanding legal immigration by capping visa wait times at 10 years by 2035 and doubling the per-country cap from 7% to 15%. Separately, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved President Donald Trump's judicial nominee, Emil Bove, for the 3rd Circuit. Meanwhile, NBC News reported that a broader operation planned by CENTCOM to hit six sites in Iran repeatedly over several weeks was rejected by President Trump due to concerns about protracted conflict and casualties, following a U.S. intelligence assessment that earlier military strikes destroyed only one of three targeted Iranian nuclear sites. The White House is reportedly building a criminal conspiracy case against Obama and Biden officials concerning the Russiagate investigation, according to an RCI report, based on a 200-page audit that allegedly details how the intelligence community under Obama framed Trump as “beholden” to Russia, potentially implicating former CIA Director John Brennan. In California, discussions are ongoing regarding proposed mid-decade Congressional redistricting, which could impact the composition of the state's congressional map. Matt Rexroad commented that such a proposal would face challenges, including federal Voting Rights Act issues, and noted that new lines could lead to increased engagement of Congressional members in Sacramento. The U.S. Navy’s Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) program has deferred its first procurement from 2035 to 2040 due to budget restrictions, with the 2026 budget seeking $622.8 million for its research and development, as stated by CRS. CNN polling indicates that only 28% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably, marking the lowest in CNN's polling history.
