Good evening, I’m Albert and welcome to another edition of Notes On News. I have compiled a collection of some of the stories I have been following on Threads and Bluesky and have detailed them below.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing growing pressure to resign as calls for his removal intensify. Last week, Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed federal prosecutors to drop charges against Adams related to campaign finance violations and alleged corruption, citing concerns that a trial would hinder Adams' ability to manage the city's migrant crisis and his re-election campaign.
This decision has sparked controversy, with several prosecutors resigning and alleging political motivations behind the move. The top prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, in her resignation letter, claimed Adams' lawyers essentially offered a quid pro quo, supporting President Trump's immigration goals in exchange for the charges being dropped. The charges were dismissed "without prejudice," meaning they can be refiled in the future if new evidence or circumstances arise. This has led many, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, to suggest that the Trump Justice Department is keeping Adams on a "short leash" and could refile charges if they are dissatisfied with him.
And by the way, what did Bove do before serving as Deputy Attorney General? He was part of Trump’s team of lawyers in his criminal trial last year in New York. Trump gave him a nice promotion.
In a stunning development on Tuesday, Brazil’s prosecutor-general formally charged former President Jair Bolsonaro with attempting a coup to retain power after his 2022 election defeat.
The charges allege that Bolsonaro knew of and approved a plan to poison his successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician with populist views, was a vocal ally of former President Donald Trump and maintained a close relationship with the U.S. during Trump’s tenure.
His presidency was marked by controversial policies on environmental issues, the pandemic, and economic reforms. Bolsonaro has previously been involved in a failed coup attempt, inciting unrest among his supporters in an effort to overturn the election results.
In a fiery three-page resignation letter to acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, top federal prosecutor Denise Cheung accused Martin and senior Justice Department officials of pressuring her to freeze the assets of an EPA contractor, despite what Cheung says was a lack of “sufficient evidence.”
She says she was told to resign after refusing to freeze the assets without further investigation.
A NATO official reported that Russia’s military suffered 530,000 casualties in 2024, making up nearly two-thirds of the total Russian troops killed or wounded in Ukraine since 2022. Nearly three years after the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion, Russia’s total casualty count has reached 837,000.
The Department of Defense is reviewing lists of civilian probationary employees for potential termination, which could begin as early as this week, multiple U.S. officials told CNN.
The review also includes exemption requests for certain personnel based on national security needs. The move comes amid reports that Elon Musk’s DOGE has been involved in meetings at the Pentagon as part of their continued push to shrink the size of the federal government.
RIP: Rick Buckler, drummer for the legendary rock band The Jam, has died at 69 after a brief illness. His former bandmates confirmed his passing in Woking, UK, on X. His death comes just two weeks after he canceled a spoken word tour due to ongoing health issues.
KFC is relocating its headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas, as reported by CNBC. The move comes as part of a broader strategy by KFC's parent company, Yum! Brands, to consolidate operations and expand its presence in a growing business hub. The relocation marks a significant shift for the iconic fast-food chain, which has long been associated with its Kentucky roots.
A measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has surged to at least 58 cases, marking the worst outbreak in over 30 years, according to health officials. Of the 58 cases, 45 are in Gaines County, with additional cases in Terry County (9), Yoakum County (2), Lynn County (1), and Lubbock County (1). The outbreak has largely affected Mennonite communities in the area, where vaccination rates are lower. Health officials are concerned as measles had been largely controlled in the region for decades due to high vaccination coverage.
Officials in the area suspect there are 200-300 cases, but many suspected cases have not been tested.
The outbreak comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic, has taken over the Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump.
And finally tonight,
The Vatican says Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs and remains hospitalized. The 88-year-old Pontiff was hospitalized earlier this week and has a history of respiratory issues.
That’s the news roundup for tonight. I’ll be back soon with more news and notes.