Sources & More

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Israel targets US lawmakers with information campaign, shots heard at US embassy (NYT, Reuters, CNN)

Israel conducted a targeted social media campaign last year that directly targeted US officials and lawmakers to influence support over the war in Gaza. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs in Israel allocated $2 million to create hundreds of fake accounts on platforms such as X to pose as Americans and post pro-Israel information to the masses. In other news, a Syrian gunman opened fire in the US Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday, wounding a security officer and sustaining injuries himself.  

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Boeing to try launching astronauts into space (AP, NBC)

After years of setbacks and spacecraft flaws, Boeing officially conducted their first ever successful launch of astronauts aboard their Starliner craft on Wednesday. Two test pilots were rocketed out of Cape Canaveral and are expected to reach the International Space Station on Thursday. Boeing is hopeful that this successful venture will put them up to par with SpaceX for future manned missions to space. 

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Senate blocks bill protecting contraception (CNN, NBC)

Senate Republicans voted to block the Right to Contraception Bill introduced by Democrats that would guarantee nationwide access to contraception. The vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to defeat a previous filibuster and move the bill forward, with Republicans stating it was an unnecessary measure since the use of birth control is protected under Supreme Court precedent. 

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Trump’s election subversion case paused until Fani Willis ruling (CNN)

The Georgia Court of Appeals has indefinitely paused the election subversion conspiracy case against Donald Trump. In an order filed Wednesday, the court stated that the case will be put on hold until a panel of judges rules on whether DA Fani Willis should be disqualified.   

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LAX considered “the drug smuggling gateway of the world” (ABC)

Some law enforcement officials are claiming that LAX may be “the drug smuggling gateway of the world.” These claims have arisen from a four-year investigation that unearthed a drug ring which routinely brought large quantities of drugs to Florida on flights from the L.A. airport.   

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Amanda Knox reconvicted of slander (AP)

Amanda Knox was reconvicted of slander for accusing an innocent man of the 2007 murder of her roommate when the two were exchange students in Italy. Knox was found guilty of slander in Italian courts five times previously before Wednesday’s conviction.   

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WHO announces first human death from bird flu A (Reuters)

The WHO announced the first human death from bird flu A(H5N2). The deceased was a 59-year-old who lived in Mexico and died April 24th after developing a fever, shortness of breath, and nausea.