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April 28, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,537 words for you today - 8-minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Iran Offers Strait Reopening In Exchange For Peace
Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its blockade and ends the war, officials say.
Takeaways:
Tehran wants blockade lifted first, delaying nuclear talks to a later stage.
Strait carries about 20% of global oil, making it central leverage in the conflict.
Trump unlikely to accept, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The offer was relayed via Pakistan as mediation efforts stall despite an active ceasefire. Washington continues its blockade to choke Iran’s oil revenue.
Oil prices remain elevated near $108 per barrel, reflecting ongoing supply disruption and global economic strain.
Iran’s proposal underscores its leverage over energy flows, but core disputes remain unresolved as diplomacy stalls. Read More
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2. DOJ Presses To Drop Ballroom Lawsuit
The Justice Department urged preservationists to drop their lawsuit over Trump’s $400M White House ballroom after the dinner shooting.
Takeaways:
DOJ cites security risks, calling the Washington Hilton unsafe for presidential events.
Preservationists given a deadline to dismiss lawsuit or face court action.
Project would replace the former East Wing with a 999-person ballroom.
Officials argue a new ballroom would reduce exposure to threats and improve long-term presidential security.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed suit in December, is reviewing the request with legal counsel.
The dispute sets up a legal and political clash over security versus historic preservation. Read More
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3. Georgia Wildfire Surges Past 31 Square Miles
The photo provided by the Office of Gov. Brian Kemp shows smoke produced Friday from a wildfire in Brantley County, Ga.
A fast-growing wildfire in Georgia has expanded beyond 31 square miles with evacuations possible as winds intensify.
Takeaways:
Highway 82 Fire only 7% contained after doubling in size overnight.
At least 87 homes destroyed, with more at risk amid shifting winds.
Second blaze nearby spans 46 square miles and is just 10% contained.
Officials warn worsening conditions as wind gusts threaten to accelerate the fire’s spread. Residents have been urged to evacuate immediately if ordered after close calls.
The fire, sparked by a foil balloon hitting power lines, highlights how quickly small incidents can escalate.
Emergency crews face a volatile fight as containment lags and weather conditions deteriorate. Read More
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The Free Tech Newsletter That Readers NEVER Skip
Your uncle forwards you sketchy tech articles. Your coworker won't stop talking about AI taking everyone's jobs. And you're stuck Googling the same five questions every week.
The Current is a daily tech newsletter written by Kim Komando that helps you stay up to date on AI, tech, and trends in about 5 minutes a day.
Each morning she breaks down what’s happening in tech so you can quickly understand what matters without digging through a bunch of different questionable sources.
In each issue you’ll find things like:
Important AI updates
Useful tech tips
How to avoid the latest scams
It’s a simple read designed to help you eliminate the hours you probably spend Googling the same 5 tech questions
Quick Headlines
Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
Prosecutors say Hisham Abugharbieh, charged with killing two University of South Florida doctoral students in Tampa, asked ChatGPT about disposing of a body and altering a car VIN days before their April 16 disappearance, as one victim’s remains were found and another body awaits identification. Read More
Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman head to court in Oakland over claims the company abandoned its nonprofit mission after Musk’s $38 million backing, with a jury set to hear a case that could reshape control of a firm now valued at $852 billion. Read More
China halted Meta’s planned acquisition of Singapore-based AI startup Manus over security concerns about technology transfer, forcing all parties to withdraw as tensions rise ahead of a Trump Xi meeting and intensifying the global AI rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Read More
A Russian drone attack wounded 14 people including two children in Odesa while Ukrainian drones killed two civilians in Russia-held Kherson, as Kyiv reports nearly 1,900 Russian drones launched in a week and continues expanding defense and counterstrike capabilities. Read More
A proposed 5% one-time tax on Californians worth over $1 billion has qualified for the November ballot after organizers secured more than 1.5 million signatures, with supporters saying it could raise $100 billion for healthcare and education while opponents warn it may drive wealthy residents out of the state. Read More
Intellia Therapeutics says its CRISPR-based gene-editing treatment for hereditary angioedema succeeded in a Phase 3 trial, reducing attacks by 87% and leaving 62% of patients symptom-free at six months, with the company preparing FDA submission and a potential 2027 U.S. launch if approved. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump Calls For Unity After Violent Incident At Washington Hotel
AP Photo/Tom Brenner
President Donald Trump called for bipartisan unity and national healing after a security breach at a Washington hotel, following what he described as a third assassination attempt in under two years.
Takeaways
Trump frames repeated threats as evidence of increasing political violence in the U.S.
A suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was arrested after attempting to breach security
Trump says the presidency is a “dangerous profession” and warns “no country is immune”
He links targeting of leaders to their political impact and visibility
The incident adds to a pattern of heightened security concerns around U.S. political figures
The confrontation unfolded Saturday night near a White House Correspondents’ Association event, when a man armed with guns and knives allegedly tried to breach a secured perimeter. Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen of California, while investigations into motive remain ongoing.
Trump appeared unusually restrained in remarks following the incident, telling reporters that political violence has become a global and domestic escalation trend. “It’s always shocking when something like this happens,” he said, adding that such threats “never change.”
The president tied the moment to broader reflections on leadership and risk, suggesting that high-profile figures become targets precisely because of their influence. He referenced Abraham Lincoln, saying, “The people that make the biggest impact, they’re the ones that they go after.”
Security experts note that recent years have seen a rise in politically motivated threats against public officials, though outcomes vary widely by case. The White House has not released further details on the suspect’s intentions.
Trump’s call for unity contrasts with a political environment defined by deep polarization and repeated security incidents, raising questions about whether such appeals can hold.
The rhetoric of unity returns after violence, but the underlying political and security tensions remain unresolved. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Melania Trump Presses ABC Over Kimmel Joke
Getty Images
Melania Trump calls on ABC to take action against Jimmy Kimmel after a “widow” joke tied to a White House gala in Washington, D.C.
Takeaways:
Melania labels Kimmel’s comment “hateful and violent”, urging immediate accountability.
Joke aired days before a White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting incident.
ABC has not publicly responded as backlash intensifies online.
Kimmel joked about Melania Trump as an “expectant widow” during a pre-event monologue, which resurfaced after Saturday’s attack near the gala.
The gunman was detained at the scene, with officials saying the target may have been Trump administration figures.
The dispute highlights rising tension between political comedy and national security concerns. Read More
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6. Microsoft Reduces OpenAI Revenue Share Deal
Microsoft ends its revenue-sharing payments to OpenAI, marking a major shift in their AI partnership as both companies reposition for independence.
Takeaways:
Microsoft will no longer pay OpenAI a cut of revenue, signaling reduced financial dependence.
OpenAI will still share revenue with Microsoft through 2030 under revised terms.
Both firms are expanding beyond each other, adding Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Anthropic as AI partners.
The move reflects OpenAI’s shift toward a more independent, IPO-ready structure after evolving from a nonprofit to a commercial AI leader.
Microsoft continues to position Azure as the primary launch platform for OpenAI tools but now balances that with its own Copilot development strategy.
The deal marks a turning point in one of tech’s most influential AI alliances as competition across cloud and model providers intensifies. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
Georges Bouton and Jules-Albert de Dion causing a stir and setting a record in 1887. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
On This Day — April 28
First Motoring Competition, 1887 – Marquis de Dion “wins” Europe’s first motoring competition in a steam-powered vehicle built with Georges Bouton, though he is the only participant in the test organized by Le Vélocipède.
Automobile Transmission Patent, 1908 – Leonard Dyer patents an early automobile transmission, contributing to the evolution of modern car mechanics and drivetrains.
First Night Flight, 1910 – Claude Grahame-White completes the first recorded night flight in England, advancing aviation capabilities and pilot training.
Life Hack of the day
🥒🍉 Eat Hydrating Foods
Want an easy way to stay hydrated throughout the day? Include hydrating foods like cucumber and watermelon in your meals or snacks. These foods are naturally high in water content, which helps support your overall fluid intake. It’s a simple and refreshing way to boost hydration beyond just drinking water.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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