Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 - VA Rep Connolly dies; Trump-Ramaphosa meeting; DOJ investigates Cuomo and more

Today’s Headlines: Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia passed away at 75 from esophageal cancer, just weeks after announcing he would not seek re-election and being named the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Meanwhile, President Trump hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, derailing trade discussions by screening a video alleging a white genocide in South Africa—claims Ramaphosa rejected. This comes as the administration continues to deport refugees from numerous countries while welcoming white Afrikaners. Separately, the DOJ has launched a criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo over his COVID-era decisions as governor, raising suspicions of political motives ahead of his likely NYC mayoral bid against Eric Adams, whose own federal charges were recently dropped. The DOJ also announced it will dismiss police reform consent decrees in Louisville and Minneapolis and rescind earlier findings against the Phoenix Police Department, effectively reversing major civil rights investigations. Finally, a federal judge found the Trump administration in violation of a court order after it deported migrants—most not from South Sudan—to South Sudan, only for the flight to be rerouted to Djibouti, again without legal basis.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

• CNN: Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly dies at 75 after battle with cancer 

• The Guardian: Trump makes baseless claims about white genocide in chaotic meeting with South Africa’s president - live

• The NY Times: Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry Into Andrew Cuomo, Singling Out Another Political Target 

• Axios: Trump's DOJ to halt police reform deals in Louisville, Minneapolis 

• Axios: DOJ to drop civil rights probe into Phoenix police, rescind findings 

• NY Times: Judge Finds Trump Administration Violated Court Order With Deportation Flight to South Sudan 

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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