Weekend News Recap
Keeping you up to date on pressing news from April 17 – 21.
Welcome back to Ghost Reader – a publication to help you stay informed when you don’t have the time, access or energy to keep pace with today’s news cycle.
Here's what you can look forward to this edition:
High-Impact Events: News of Pope Francis’ passing and Trump administration remarks on potentially abandoning peace talks related to the war in Ukraine.
Federal Government Operations: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s second Signal chat, the reclassification of certain federal workers, and potential implications of a government data “black hole.”
Executive Orders & Legislative Impacts: Legal updates regarding the deportation of Venezuelan migrants.
Human Experience & Rights: Changes to human rights reporting by the State Department, as well as updates on how federal health agency cuts might impact testing and early intervention for newborns.
Good for the Soul: A reminder that small actions can make a big difference, with a special focus on what that might look like in honor of Earth Day tomorrow.
Let’s get into it.
High-Impact Events
In memory of Pope Francis
Pope Francis – the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and bishop of Rome – died Monday morning at the age of 88. He leaves behind a legacy as the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and a pope who embodied a level of humility, empathy, and mercy many in the Catholic Church say they hadn’t seen in other popes.
What should I know?
Some history: On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope in one of the fastest – and most unexpected – papal conclaves following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Upon election, he became the first pope to take the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi, who was famous for his ministry to the poor.
What Pope Francis stood for: As the first pope of the Catholic, Jesuit order, Francis was focused on education, a commitment to social justice, and cura personalis, or, “care for the whole person.” He embodied this through a willingness to hear and elevate different viewpoints on traditionally controversial topics in the Catholic church. It was also seen in his focus on the environment, uplifting the poor, and speaking out on humanitarian crises. While not perfect, below are a few examples of the type of pope Francis was.
He more fully acknowledged and aimed to uplift women in the church, including appointing the first woman to a senior managerial position in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State office in 2019.
He tried to navigate and begin addressing the child sex abuse scandals that plague the Catholic church. While the issue is far from resolved, he demoted and expelled certain clergy members accused of sexual abuse. He also eliminated a decree that allowed church officials to classify sex abuse allegations as “pontifical secrets” (the most secretive of church doings) to better enable and empower clergy to report sex abuse claims to law enforcement.
In 2015, he released an encyclical arguing climate change was undeniable and disproportionately impacting developing countries. In the document, he described climate change as “a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political, and for the distribution of goods.”
He lived a more modest lifestyle than previous popes, including taking public transportation and living in a “less extravagant” residence. He was deemed the “world’s parish priest” for how he aimed to prioritize the voices of humans regardless of their identities or where they came from.
He frequently traveled to developing countries and spent time with individuals facing harsh circumstances across the world, provided homilies and writings on the need to embrace and walk with migrants, and repeatedly dedicated his messages to call for the end of conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Another important aspect of his legacy: While Pope Francis was a “first” in many regards, he also used his influence to appoint cardinals from a more diverse array of countries beyond those in Europe such as Morocco, Indonesia, Guatemala, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He brought new voices and perspectives into Catholic leadership while also inspiring many laypeople who were disenchanted with the Catholic church to find hope in its direction once again.
What happens now: A traditional nine days of mourning began today, with the election of a new Pope to begin 2 – 3 weeks from now. The election process – known as conclave – begins with discussions on what challenges the Catholic church faces. Then, the electorate typically asks for spiritual guidance before the election, with about half the cardinals voting by secret ballot. The process continues until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. The public is informed through smoke signals created by burning the ballots – white smoke means the cardinals elected a new Pope, while black smoke means another round of voting must occur.
What a “cardinal” is: An advisor to the Pope - they are appointed by the Pope, assist in Church government, and responsible for electing a new Pope during conclave. Cardinals often hold important positions in the Church, such as leading archdiocese or heading departments.
A caveat on predictions: While the College of Cardinals’ Report – a website aimed to provide more information on potential successors – identified 22 individuals most likely to be elected, attempts to predict popes are notoriously unsuccessful. For example, Pope Francis wasn’t even on the ballot in 2013 because many considered him too old.
Catch me up on the Russia / Ukraine peace talks
Last Friday, both President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will abandon efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless there are signs of progress.
What should I know?
The background: During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within his first 24 hours in office. He later modified that claim, suggesting a deal by April or May would be possible. Since then, the Trump administration has engaged in several rounds of talks with Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and a combination of the three. Several weeks ago, representatives from both Ukraine and Russia joined the U.S. in Saudi Arabia, resulting in a *stated* partial ceasefire. Attacks continued despite that, though, including a recent Russian missile attack in northeastern Ukraine that killed 35 people.
The issues still at hand: Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t want the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to grant Ukraine membership. He does want Ukraine to cede territory and limit the size of its army. Ukraine refuses to make those concessions and is focused on gaining NATO entry and security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe.
Where things stand now: Last week’s talks in Paris were the first high-level, in-person discussions on ending the war that involved European powers. Discussions will continue in London this week, giving Ukraine time to review and agree to a peace framework presented by the U.S. last week. President Trump also said he expects to sign a minerals deal with Ukraine this week, after a February attempt fell apart following an Oval Office clash between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy.
Federal Government Operations
Tell me about the second Signal chat involving secret military attack plans
Sunday, news broke that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared detailed information about March 15 strikes on the Houthi rebel group in Yemen in a separate Signal group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Reports say the information was essentially the same as the original Signal chat The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was mistakenly added to.
If you need a refresh, check out the March 24 edition of Ghost Reader.
What should I know?
About the group chat: Hegseth created it using a private phone instead of his government-issued device. The chat is said to have included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional networks. The group was named “Defense | Team Huddle” and created prior to Hegseth’s confirmation in January.
Some important points: Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, is a former Fox News producer and not a Defense Department employee. His brother and personal lawyer are employed in the Pentagon but do not work in roles that would require knowledge about a military strike on the Houthis in Yemen.
The first Signal chat is being investigated … kind of: Earlier this month, the Pentagon’s acting inspector general announced he would review Hegseth’s Yemen strike disclosures on the Signal chat that included top Trump officials. The objective is to determine the extent to which Hegseth and other personnel complied with DoD policies and procedures in using a commercial messaging app for official business.
The response: Monday, both Hegseth and President Trump downplayed the reports, claiming they’re fake news and a “waste of time.”
What happens next: It’s unclear how this will be considered in context of the previously reported Signal chat. Regardless, between this, several top DoD officials placed on leave last week for “leaks,” and former Pentagon officials speaking out against Hegseth’s performance, the agency continues to be in the spotlight.
Let’s talk about the reclassification of some federal workers
Friday, the Trump administration announced it’s implementing a new rule that will make it easier to remove federal employees. Previously known as “Schedule F,” the new rule would strip civil service protections from about 50,000 people.
What should I know?
The details: The new rule falls under the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and is called “Schedule Policy / Career.” It will allow some to be classified as “at will” employees; whereas many civil servants in nonpartisan roles have historically held job protections that shielded them from the political whims of whoever is in office.
The rationale: Trump officials say they need greater flexibility to fire civil servants who are underperforming, engaging in misconduct, or undermining Trump’s agenda.
There’s some history: Toward the end of his first term, Trump signed an executive order establishing a “Schedule F” category for federal employees. Former President Biden rescinded that EO when he took office. Since resuming office, Trump reinstated the rule and renamed it to the above via another executive order.
The response: Critics say the executive order is broad and could put more civil servants in jeopardy of losing their jobs than it suggests. Labor groups, in particular, have pushed back, filing a lawsuit against the administration in February alleging it overstepped its authority in reversing Biden-era regulations to protect civil servants.
A federal data “black hole” is emerging
Many ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) efforts to reduce the federal workforce and spending also directly and indirectly impacted data collection and dissemination. As a result, the federal government is losing its capacity to measure how American society functions, making it harder for elected officials and others to gauge the nature and scale of challenges, what interventions might be appropriate, and the effectiveness of solutions.
What should I know?
Why data matters: It guides policy, intervention, and decision-making at all levels of government. It also informs the judgements and actions of stakeholders like business leaders, school administrators, and medical providers nationwide.
What’s happening: In some cases, datasets now sit dormant or orphaned, with full offices eliminated and/or employees that oversaw the data no longer employed. In other cases, data was erased or lost due to executive orders calling for the elimination of certain words related to diversity, equity, and inclusion topics; or as a result of cuts and freezes to aid programs. Here are some examples.
After laying off a 17-person team in charge of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (housed in the Department of Health and Human Services), there are concerns data that tracked trends in substance abuse and mental health disorders for five decades will be lost.
Also in HHS, the Administration for Children and Families is weeks behind on its annual update of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (the nationwide database of child welfare cases) after layoffs eliminated the team that compiles the information.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to stop requiring oil refineries, power plants, and other industrial facilities to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions. This will make it difficult to know if previous or current policies aimed to slow climate change and reduce disaster are effective.
Cuts at the National Weather Service are causing the reduction of weather balloon launches that gather real-time data on everything from temperature to humidity to atmospheric pressure and help with improving forecasting.
The implications: A lack of data threatens the ability for policymakers to make evidence-based decisions, and subsequently, for the public to hold them accountable for results. Even if data is resurrected, there could also be a significant gap in information that will make it harder to identify and understand trends that impact human lives down the road.
Executive Orders & Legislative Impacts
The most recent Supreme Court ruling on mass deportations
In a 7-2 ruling late Friday night, the Supreme Court temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan men in detention in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act.
What should I know?
About the ruling: The court also wrote in clear language, “the government should not remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.”
The background: The ruling followed a Friday evening appeal from lawyers representing the men in question. In the appeal, the lawyers argued the men were in “imminent and ongoing jeopardy of being removed from the U.S. without notice and opportunity to be heard” and said it was in direct opposition to the court’s previous ruling that all individuals must receive notice and a hearing before being deported.
Who dissented: Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, with Alito calling the late night ruling “legally questionable.”
… and a recent proposal from El Salvador regarding migrants
Sunday, President Nayib Bukele proposed sending migrants currently held in El Salvador back to the U.S. in exchange for release of El Salvadoran prisoners held in Venezuela.
What should I know?
The details: In a social media post directed at President Maduro of Venezuela, Bukele said, “I want to propose a humanitarian agreement that includes the repatriation of 100 percent of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release and surrender of an identical number (252) of the thousands of political prisoners you hold.” He also said that as part of the swap, he would require Maduro to release nearly 50 detained citizens of other nationalities, including Americans.
Some background: According to the Venezuelan watchdog group, Foro Penal, as of last month, at least 68 foreign passport holders were wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela. They are said to be detained alongside about 900 Venezuelan political prisoners.
… and where things stand with Abrego Garcia
After prior attempts were denied by Salvadoran officials, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen was able to meet with Abrego Garcia – a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month – Thursday afternoon.
What should I know?
About the meeting: It lasted about 30 minutes and was the first communication Abrego Garcia had with anyone outside of the prison since being taken. Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen he’s no longer at the terrorism confinement center and was transferred to a different detention center in Santa Ana with better conditions about a week ago. He said the experience is traumatic but he’s OK, and mentioned how thoughts of his family give him strength to persevere.
A debunk of any “fake news” you might see: Images of the meeting were first shared by President Bukele, who posted a photo with the caption, “sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvavor!” Van Hollen denied any alcoholic beverages were consumed and said the image was a setup in that Bukele’s aides brought two glasses that looked like margaritas to the table. They also tried to stage the two men sitting by a pool for the meeting.
How Bukele and the White House later responded: Bukele said Abrego Garcia will “remain in El Salvador’s custody now that he’s been confirmed healthy.” The White House framed the senator’s advocacy as a direct conflict with the president’s agenda, with Trump saying Friday morning that Van Hollen “looked like a fool.”
Human Experience & Rights
How the State Department is redefining “human rights”
The State Department recently announced changes to an annual international human rights audit to remove anything that isn’t “legally required.”
What should I know?
What the audit is: Released each year in the spring, the “Human Rights Reports” inform congressional decisions on foreign aid allocations and security assistance. The reports are also highly anticipated by foreign leaders and diplomats, as they provide insights to how each country is perceived globally when it comes to human rights.
Some history: During the first Trump administration, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo complained about what he called “a proliferation of human rights” and aimed to reduce the reports. He formed a group called the “Commission on Unalienable Rights” that focused on Revolution-era and post-World War II notions of rights, de-emphasizing humanitarian issues and putting more emphasis on things like religious freedom and the right to private property. Now, it seems like the reports are headed in that direction again, with State Department employees directed to “streamline” them to align with U.S. policy and recent executive orders.
What the changes entail: Below are examples of information about each country that will no longer be included in the reports.
Critiques of abuses such as harsh prison conditions, government corruption, or restrictions on participation in the political process
Information about countries forcibly returning a refugee or asylum-seeker to a home country where they may face torture or persecution
Reports of violence and discrimination against individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, as well as violence or threats targeting people with disabilities
Serious restrictions to internet freedom
All references to diversity, equity, and inclusion topics
When to expect the next reports: The 2024 reports were completed in January before President Trump took office, but were re-edited by the new administration. The State Department said the revised versions won’t be released until May.
How critics are responding: Human rights advocates say the changes symbolize the U.S. retreating from its position as the world’s human rights watchdog, and that it will result in less accountability worldwide.
Some irony: In 2013, then-Senator Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of these reports, saying they shed light on “foreign governments’ failures to respect citizens’ fundamental rights … from sexual exploitation of women and children to the denial of political rights to minorities.” As Secretary of State, Rubio is now responsible for the reports. The violations he once cited as valuable – shedding light on sexual exploitation of women and children and the denial of political rights to minorities – are now deleted from the reports.
Tell me about potential impacts to newborn testing
Two tests that typically occur for newborns could be eliminated in certain states and/or undergo dramatic changes due to cutbacks at federal health agencies.
What should I know?
About the tests: Hours after birth, most newborns are tested for two things – signs of hearing loss and signs of rare conditions that could affect their overall health. If newborns test positive for either, they qualify for interventions that can help improve health prospects throughout their lifetimes.
Why early screening matters: Children’s lives can be improved dramatically by early screening and response. In the 1970s and 1980s, children weren’t diagnosed with profound hearing loss until they were 2 or 3 years old, which hampered their ability to read or write. Now, since children are screened at birth, early interventions can help children with hearing loss meet more milestones. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 98% of newborns are screened for hearing loss before they leave the hospital, thanks in part to federal funding.
On the topic of hearing: The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI) is partially run out of the CDC. It helps states coordinate newborn hearing screening and respond to infants who fail the hearing tests. It historically falls under the Disability and Health Promotion branch and works with states to analyze data and help communities follow up so babies born deaf or hard of hearing get support as early as possible.
What’s at risk: Without the funding and staffing that support hearing screening programs, some state efforts could collapse. According to a 2024 survey, 18 states said their EHDI programs could be discontinued if federal money disappears. About 37 states said the lack of federal funds would “have a major negative impact.” On that note, the Disability and Health Promotion branch was eliminated on April 1. Now, there is only one person working on the EHDI program and no one to review applications submitted in January for program grants.
On the topic of rare conditions: Babies also undergo a test for rare diseases in the first days of their lives. These tests help with early intervention. State testing has become more uniform in recent years due to the “Recommended Uniform Screening Panel” that recommends what diseases states should include in their testing panel. The Secretary of Health and Human Services decides what diseases to add each year – usually based on recommendations from an advisory committee.
What’s at risk: The Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children that makes those recommendations was disbanded on April 3.
An additional concern about mothers’ well-being: Since 1987, the federal government has conducted a study called PRAMS – Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. It asks women about their experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. It’s the only national data collection system with comprehensive information on birthing mothers’ experiences. All 18 PRAMS staff members were laid off April 1, meaning no one is left to collect, analyze, or share insights from the survey.
What’s happening instead: At least on newborn hearing, a HHS spokesperson said early childhood and newborn screening programs are being consolidated into the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) to “improve efficiency and better address public health needs.”
Good for the Soul
Even if it doesn’t seem like it, small actions make a difference. Let’s check out what this means in practice, with some examples in honor of Earth Day tomorrow (April 22).
What should I know?
A reminder: In a world full of chaos, it’s easy to become overwhelmed – especially when thinking about how to help ease the chaos. Except in rare cases, no one person can solve an entire problem on their own. But many people contributing small things along the way can eventually lead to a larger problem being solved.
An example of what it might look like in practice: Earth Day is tomorrow. While no single person will solve the problem of climate change, small actions by many can help. Let’s look at some examples that might add up over time.
Eating seafood responsibly: Seafood caught in the U.S. and by fish pole or line are more sustainable choices. If you have the ability, ask these questions or do some research the next time you buy fish at the grocery store or market.
Keep your clothes for longer: While keeping up with trends can be fun, it often leads to more clothes in landfills. Data shows only 1 percent of clothing actually gets recycled into new clothing. The process of making textiles also uses a lot of water. To reduce fashion waste, donate old clothes and ask yourself one question before buying a new piece of clothing: “Will I wear this at least 30 times?” If the answer is yes, go ahead and buy; if not, perhaps it’s something to pass on.
Freeze produce you won’t use right away: About 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from wasted food, and roughly half of all food waste occurs during the “consumption stage,” meaning waste from food service and households. If you’re not ready to use fresh fruit and vegetables right away, freeze them – this locks in flavor and nutrients and is better than letting things die in the fridge.
Cut back on plastic by figuring out how much you use and why: As we read earlier, data helps us make decisions. When it comes to plastic, take a few minutes to do a room-by-room audit of your house to see what plastics you have. That way, you’ll have better insight on how to reduce, eliminate, or substitute certain plastic products you frequently buy.
Ask if you can switch to clean energy: In many states, people can call their utility companies and say they want their electricity to come from clean energy. While the utility company stays the same, you may be able to choose the energy supplier. A quick call and question might lead to a simple, yet meaningful change.
So as we begin another week, let’s remember small actions make a difference; and perhaps test one out tomorrow as we celebrate our big, beautiful Earth.
Until Wednesday – let’s keep working to create clarity in the chaos.
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