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April 28 Midday Brief
In Britain
Keir Starmer is facing sharp criticism from Labour MPs over the Mandelson vetting row, with some debating whether to refer him to the privileges committee. The dispute centers on whether he misled MPs last week about pressure on the Foreign Office. Ministers and officials are still sticking to their accounts, because apparently the story needed one more round of parliamentary misery.
In the Middle East
Trump used the royal visit to praise U.S.-U.K. ties, saying Americans have had no closer friends than the British as he welcomed the royals ahead of the king’s speech to Congress. Separately, CNN reported that he has told advisers he is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and delay talks on Iran’s nuclear program. A White House spokesperson said Trump’s red lines on Iran have been made very clear.
Qatar also weighed in, saying it will not be used as a political punching bag and calling for a comprehensive deal to help secure the Gulf. Doha said it welcomed European partners taking the lead in the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
In tech and security
Hundreds of Google employees have signed a petition urging Sundar Pichai to reject any deal that would let the company’s AI systems be used in classified Pentagon operations. Their warning is simple, if the safeguards are weak, the company could be helping enable unmonitored harm.
In immigration policy
The Trump administration has issued new DHS guidance that could let an immigrant’s public political views count against them in decisions on residency or citizenship. Critics say the policy is too broad and could turn political speech into a liability in the immigration process.
In U.S. crime
An Atlantic County corrections officer has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct. Prosecutors said Christopher Piccioni smuggled nicotine, narcotics and cell phones into the Atlantic County Justice Facility for an inmate over several months, and was paid thousands per package. The inmate and his girlfriend have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
In Minneapolis, federal agents raided businesses on Tuesday as part of an investigation into welfare fraud. Authorities say it is another operation tied to the same broader inquiry.
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