The GPR Digest- April 7, 2025
Georgie Sine Die, Myanmar's military, tariffs, and more!
GEORGIA
Georgia Sine Die unfolds at the capitol
Friday, April 4th marked the 4th and last day of Georgia’s legislative session for the year—the deadline for bills to pass or fail in the legislature. Lawmakers debated a variety of issues such as whether to ban school speed cameras, change election laws, and prohibit diversity promotion in schools. Pending measures also include Georgia’s $37.7 billion state budget, school vouchers for foster children, and the criminalization of cockfighting.
In the end, the legislative ended on an early exit, adjourned at 9:15 P.M. The nearly $38 billion budget was passed, and the chambers’ remaining bills are open to Governor Kemp, who may choose whether to sign or veto them. Passed were bills on child tax credit, hurricane aid, and controversial bills on transgender rights and school cellphones. Dead bills include the Clarence Thomas Statue, bills on library crimes, sports betting, and more. Follow this link for a comprehensive list.
NATIONAL
US Attorney General seeking death penalty in Luigi Mangione case
On Tuesday, April 1, March Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced she would be directing acting U.S Attorney Matthew Podolsky to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, should he be convicted on capital murder charges. In her statement, Bondi described Mangione’s alleged murder as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” and that the decision to pursue capital punishment was to “stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Luigi Mangione is currently facing a mix of 20 murder, weapons, stalking, and forgery charges in New York, Pennsylvania, and federal courts following his alleged stalking and murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. The murder captured national attention when many online cast him as a romantic, noble figure, while also kicking off a debate about vigilantism versus terrorism and scaring healthcare executives into online operations.
The Attorney General’s directive also responds to an executive order calling for the return, expansion, and hastening of the death penalty at the federal level, which was brought back into the spotlight after President Biden commuted 37 of 40 federal death row inmates at the end of his term.
INTERNATIONAL
Myanmar military announces ceasefire
In the wake of a previous earthquake, which killed at least 2,886 individuals, the military of Myanmar (the Tatmadaw) announced a temporary ceasefire in hopes of speeding up reconstruction and relief efforts. The ceasefire was unilaterally supported by rebel groups, such as the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, who are currently fighting against the military. It will be in effect from April 2 to April 22.
Myanmar has been consumed by intrastate violence since 2021, when the Tatmadaw seized power in a coup. Since that year, ethnic militias and resistance forces have fought to regain power. Nonetheless, the Tatmadaw have been criticized for their crackdown on pro-democracy individuals and innocents, making this announcement a rare cry for help and peace.
Marine Le Pen receives 5-year ban from office following embezzlement conviction
On Monday, Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s right-wing National Front (RN) party, was found guilty on embezzlement charges alongside two dozen of her co-partisans. A judge found that they had misused €2.9 million ($3.2 million) in European Parliament funds to pay assistants for work on RN party affairs. As a consequence, Le Pen will be barred from running for political office for the next five years, placed on house arrest with an electronic tag, and required to pay a €100k ($110k) fine, as well as a €1 million ($1.1 million) fine for the party.
Far-right European leaders, including Hungary’s Viktor Orban and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders, in addition to the Kremlin, condemned her conviction as a purely political attack, stating that “more and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms.” Le Pen intends to appeal the judge’s decision, but if the ruling stands, 29-year old Jordan Bardella would be next in line to run in 2027 for the RN.
Trump tariffs go into full effect- stocks and US dollar plummet
On Thursday, April 3, stocks plummeted as Trump’s aggressive tariff plan went into action. President Trump announced a 10% tariff on all countries, with even higher rates for certain trading partners including China, Japan, and Europe. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite indexes dropped by more than 3%, and the US Dollar dropped more than 2% against the Euro. Major stocks including Nike, Apple, and Amazon were among stocks that plummeted Thursday morning. This day marked the greatest losses since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020.
A popular tariff exemption called the “De Minimus” trade exemption would have allowed shipments valued under $800 per person to enter the US tariff-free. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday that eliminated this loophole.
The long-term economic effects of these tariffs remains to be seen, but as of now, the global economy is in a state of shock and panic. World leaders have reacted with dismay, and some countries, including China, have promised retaliation. However, fears of worsening trade tensions may prevent further escalation.
CULTURE
Mary Kate Cornett plans legal attack against Pat McAfee for false rumours
Mary Kate Cornett, a freshman at the University of Mississippi, is planning a lawsuit against ESPN and The Pat McAfee Show after McAfee indirectly addressed an unverified rumor on his show, referring to as an “alleged “ménage à trois” between a sorority student and football player at Ole Miss. He later made jokes about the rumor on the X platform.
After the mention, Cornett began receiving harassment from unknown sources identifying her as the center of the rumor. She was forced to switch to online courses and move from her regular dorm, and her family was swatted and harassed. Her legal team is pursuing defamation, doxxing, and emotional distress charges against McAfee, who she holds responsible for the incidents.
Contributors: Sophia Nguyen, Marin Arvin, Jackson Bost