Desi Weekly News Digest 

NATIONAL

Trump and Musk Have a Public Spat: After Musk criticized the House Budget Bill (termed the “Big Beautiful Bill”) Trump and Musk took to their respective social media hangouts to exchange barbs as Americans held their breath to assess the potential damage to the nation from the clash of the titans. Tesla share prices took a hit. CNN

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Economic Growth Slows Amid Trade War Concerns: The ebbing labor market momentum reported by the Labor Department on Friday was underscored by sharp downward revisions that showed 95,000 fewer jobs were added in March and April than previously estimated over the two-month period. REUTERS

DESI NEWS

India eyes retaliation as US rejects WTO notice: The US has rejected India’s May 9 notice at the World Trade Organization that proposed retaliatory action against Washington imposing steep import tariffs on steel and aluminium. The Indian notice was against the US’s February 10 decision to impose 25% levies on all imports of steel and aluminium effective from March 12. Now, the matter has been aggravated further as the Trump administration on May 30 doubled tariffs on the metals to 50% effective from June 4. HINDUSTAN TIMES

IMMIGRATION

Travel Bans Are Back: President Trump signed a sweeping travel ban on 12 countries, largely in the Middle East and Africa, and introduced more-limited travel restrictions on seven others, reintroducing a controversial immigration policy that came to define the early days of his first term.The ban will completely bar travel to the U.S. by citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen WSJ (paywall)

ICE Raids Spark Protests in Los Angeles: As immigration crackdowns continue across Southern California and the nation, dozens were taken into custody as several raids took place in Los Angeles County on Friday. The raids prompted mass protests in downtown LA as people expressed their frustration with ICE. REUTERS

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to U.S. to Face Charges:  Kilmar Abrego Garcia, previously deported to El Salvador in error, has been brought back to the U.S to comply with Court rulings. The Justice Department has now charged him with human smuggling charges and detained him in a Tennessee prison. The case has drawn attention to the administration's deportation procedures and legal processes. NPR

CORRUPTION ALERT

Corruption Charges Against NY Mayor Eric Adams Dropped: In a highly contentious move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. This decision led to the resignation of several federal prosecutors, who alleged that the dismissal was politically motivated and intended to secure Adams' cooperation on federal immigration enforcement. POLITICO

CONSUMER SAFETY

Corruption Charges Against NY Mayor Eric Adams Dropped: In a highly contentious move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. This decision led to the resignation of several federal prosecutors, who alleged that the dismissal was politically motivated and intended to secure Adams' cooperation on federal immigration enforcement. NBC

GOOD NEWS FOR PROGRESSIVES

Supreme Court allows DOGE to access Social Security data:  The conservative-majority court, with its three liberal justices objecting, granted an emergency application filed by the Trump administration asking the justices to lift an injunction issued by a federal judge in Maryland WHYY

 TAKE ACTION

• On June 14, 2025, nationwide "No Kings Day" protests are planned to coincide with President Trump's military parade and birthday celebration. Join an event near you if you can. 

  
  

• Join us as we make an all out push to get Democrats out to vote in the Virginia elections this year. Write to us at tsbmarcomm@gmail.com with the subject line “Virginia Task Force.”

To take immediate action, check out https://www.mobilize.us/events/rally/ for events in your area.