Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Thursday Briefing: A judge’s pushback against Trump

Plus, a look at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Morning Briefing: Europe Edition

April 17, 2025

Good morning. We're covering a judge's bid to hold Trump accountable for deportations, and chipmakers caught in the trade war.

Plus, a look at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Judge James E. Boasberg wearing a judge's robe in a courtroom and looking serious.
Judge James Boasberg. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

A judge threatened to hold Trump officials in contempt

A judge in Washington said yesterday that he would open a contempt investigation into the Trump administration over its deportation flights of migrants unless it gave the deported men a chance to challenge their removal.

The judge, James Boasberg, said that there was "probable cause" the administration had violated an order he gave last month to keep the migrants in the U.S., instead of sending them to El Salvador.

The move toward a possible inquiry was a remarkable attempt by a judge to hold the White House accountable for its apparent willingness to flout court orders. Read the ruling here.

What's next: Boasberg said that if the White House did not comply, he would order sworn declarations from officials to find who was responsible. If that effort failed, he said he would require depositions or hold hearings under oath. And if that technique was unsuccessful, Boasberg said he would refer the case to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.

Mission to El Salvador: Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator, traveled to El Salvador, seeking to meet with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who was mistakenly deported from the U.S. and imprisoned.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel sitting and speaking with President Trump.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel with President Trump this month. Eric Lee/The New York Times

Trump waved off an Israeli plan to strike Iran

Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as next month but was dissuaded by Trump. Nearly every one of Israel's strategies for the strike would have required significant U.S. assistance, and Trump wanted to try to negotiate with Iran to limit its nuclear program instead, according to officials who spoke anonymously.

Trump's decision came after months of internal debate exposed rifts in his cabinet. His aides were split between historically hawkish officials and those who were skeptical that an assault could destroy Iran's nuclear ambitions and avoid a larger war.

What's next: Iran said that its foreign minister and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would hold a second round of talks in Rome on Saturday.

More on Trump

Three people wearing red lanyards walk on a sidewalk with a large gray building with a red TSMC logo on it.
Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest chip manufacturer. Ann Wang/Reuters

Chipmakers are caught in the U.S.-China trade war

The stock price for Nvidia, the American chip giant, tumbled nearly 7 percent yesterday after the company revealed that the U.S. government would restrict sales of some of its chips to China. A congressional committee also opened an investigation into Nvidia, seeking to assess whether the company knowingly helped China develop advanced A.I. technology.

Trump has also threatened tariffs on Taiwan, where most of the world's advanced semiconductors are made. China similarly views the island's chip dominance as a problem. But unlike the U.S., China has sought to reduce barriers to import the technology.

MORE TOP NEWS

People gathered together near a sign that reads: "The Supreme Court."
Outside the Supreme Court in London yesterday.  Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters

SPORTS NEWS

  • Soccer: FIFA is in negotiations to host the prestigious 2026 World Cup draw in Las Vegas.
  • Golf: What's it like to play Augusta National the day after Rory McIlroy made history? Our reporter found out.
  • Tennis: Harriet Dart apologized after asking the umpire to tell her opponent to wear deodorant at the Rouen Open.

MORNING READ

Moose crossing a river with a forest of trees in the background.
SVT, via Associated Press

Who would spend hours a day watching moose trudge through northern Sweden? Lots of people, it turns out. For the next three weeks, moose fans are following "The Great Moose Migration" live on the country's national broadcaster. "This is reality TV at its finest," the moderator of a Facebook group said.

Lives lived: Richard Armitage, who served as the No. 2 official at the State Department during the 9/11 attacks and the start of America's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, died at 79.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Ryan Coogler, top, with Michael B. Jordan on a marble staircase. Coogler stands holding the railing, wearing glasses and a suit with a white shirt. The Jordan sits on the steps, wearing a pinstripe suit and light-colored boots. The background features a wall sconce.
Michael B. Jordan, seated, with Ryan Coogler. Dana Scruggs for The New York Times

ARTS AND IDEAS

A slide show of visitors looking at Egyptian artifacts.
Stephen Hiltner for The New York Times

The Grand Egyptian Museum is finally open

The world's most anticipated museum is finally open. The Grand Egyptian Museum, outside Cairo, had been announcing and then canceling plans since 2012, delayed by revolutions, wars, financial crises and a pandemic.

My colleague Stephen Hiltner traveled to the colossal complex and was greeted by one of its many showstoppers: a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II. Other highlights included a mummified crocodile and a display of figurines left as servants for the dead. Take a look.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Lemon Yogurt Cheesecake.
Mark Weinberg for The New York Times

Bake: Lots of lemon zest and Greek yogurt ensures this cheesecake is light and tangy.

Watch: In "Towards Zero," Agatha Christie gets steamy.

Read: "I Seek a Kind Person" tells the story of seven children who escaped wartime Austria, thanks to a British newspaper.

Consider: Having a family history of cancer can be frightening. Here's what to do about it.

Travel: The actress Olivia Munn shares her favorite places in Tokyo.

Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here.

That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Justin

Reach Justin and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

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