Today’s Big Story…

President Trump honored Pope Francis, who died yesterday at age 88, calling him "a very good man" who cared deeply for the suffering and the vulnerable. He also ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff until the day of the pope’s burial.

The president wrote on Truth Social: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump also announced he will attend Pope Francis’ funeral, expected to be held in Rome later this month.

The White House shared photos of President Trump and First Lady Melania's 2017 visit with Pope Francis and a recent image of Vice President Vance meeting the pontiff. Pope Francis, who led 1.3 billion Catholics since 2013, died weeks after being treated for double pneumonia. He made a final public appearance on Easter, blessing crowds in St. Peter’s Square.

Another Big Story…

Following rumblings of a second Signal chat controversy, President Trump quelled media rumors and defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid reports he used his personal phone for military ops in Yemen, saying Hegseth is "doing a great job" and adding, "ask the Houthis how he's doing."

Sources claimed that Hegseth shared details of Yemen strikes in a 13-person group chat with his wife and brother. At the Easter Egg Roll at the White House, Hegseth dismissed the report as a smear by "disgruntled former employees" who were recently fired over intel leaks and criticized the mainstream media.

"This is what the media does," Hegseth stated. "They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations."

My Thoughts…

While I disagree with Pope Francis’ politics, he was still the Pope. May he rest in peace, and may Catholics find solace during the transition of the papacy. For the next two weeks, there will be eager anticipation as to who will be voted in as the next to succeed Francis. I pray that the next cardinal to assume the coveted leadership role for a billion Catholics worldwide will have more conservative values and principles.

As for Hegseth, it sounds like the media is going for a big Nothingburger 2.0. It’s good to see Trump has the Defense Secretary’s back amidst all the media mudslinging.

The Administration…

• President Trump and First Lady Melania hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll, with around 40,000 attendees. They appeared on the balcony with the Easter Bunny, followed by a U.S. Marine who sang the National Anthem.

• Additionally, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied an NPR report claiming President Trump plans to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a federal plan to ban nine synthetic food dyes by 2028, citing links to cancer and ADHD. The move targets dyes like Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, and aims to reform the FDA’s GRAS program, which lets companies self-certify additives.

• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse was stolen at a D.C. restaurant. The thief, a masked White man, made off with $3,000 in cash, Noem’s passport, keys, ID, and DHS badge. A spokesperson said the money was meant for family dinners, activities, and Easter gifts.

• Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was formally appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel, presenting his credentials to President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. An emotional Huckabee recalled President Trump personally asking him to take the role.

• The Department of Education will resume collecting defaulted federal student loans on May 5, ending a pandemic pause. Borrowers will receive email notifications with info and support, and wage garnishment notices will follow.

• President Trump endorsed both GOP candidates for Arizona governor—Karrin Taylor Robson and Rep. Andy Biggs—saying he supports them both in a Truth Social post.

• President Trump met with major retailers at the White House —including Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s—to discuss the impact of his tariffs on imported goods.

• The 2026 California governor's race saw a shakeup as Trump ally and Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News contributor and author of Califailure, announced his run to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, vowing to “Make California Golden Again” for working people.

Vice President…

JD Vance, who met Pope Francis hours before his death, posted his condolences on the loss of the pontiff, writing: “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him… I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful.”

The VP and his family also began a four-day visit to India, meeting with leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Finalizing a U.S.-India trade deal is a key focus of the trip.

Congress…

The Resistance…

1. Experts say the next pope—possibly from Africa, Italy, Sri Lanka, or even the U.S.—will likely steer the Catholic Church back toward the ideological center after Pope Francis’ 12-year reign. His progressive stance on LGBTQ issues and curbing of the Latin Mass drew conservative pushback.

2. Radical critics on X baselessly accused VP Vance of having involvement in the pope’s death, despite the pontiff’s long and well-documented struggle with respiratory illness.

3. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s net worth doubled from $7.6 million in early 2019 to around $15 million by the end of 2023, according to financial records. The surge included over $3.5 million earned in his first year of retirement after leaving government in early 2023.

4. Harvard University sued the federal government over threats to cut its taxpayer funding. The move follows mounting pressure from the Trump administration over pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas protests on campus.

5. NBC’s Law & Order sparked backlash this week for an episode that critics say distorted the reality of illegal alien crime, portraying migrants as victims and law enforcement as the perpetrators. Despite claiming to be “ripped from the headlines,” the show aired an episode where an undercover cop posing as a migrant woman is raped and murdered—shifting focus away from real-life crimes involving illegal aliens.

6. Over 507,000 illegal aliens failed to appear for court hearings from FY2022 through December 2024 under President Biden, resulting in in absentia removal orders. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, this marks a 45% increase compared to the combined seven years under Obama and Trump.

7. A Manhattan judge temporarily blocked Mayor Eric Adams from allowing federal immigration officials back onto Rikers Island. The order came after the City Council sued to stop ICE and other federal agents from operating at the jail.

8. Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez was relieved as commander of Fort McCoy after the base failed to display photos of President Trump, VP JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on its chain of command wall.

9. Democrats slammed the Trump administration for using real eggs at the White House Easter Egg Roll, claiming many Americans dyed potatoes instead due to high egg prices.

10. An Easter photo posted on President Biden’s X account has sparked speculation it was photoshopped. The image shows Jill Biden, daughter Ashley, and grandchildren casually dressed on a porch, while Joe Biden appears awkwardly placed in the back in a suit and tie. Social media users widely believe he was edited in after the fact.

In Other News…

1. An alleged vandal with a chainsaw cut down several trees along downtown Los Angeles streets overnight over the weekend. Photos show the fallen trees scattered across multiple locations. See here…

2. NASA’s Perseverance rover spotted a skull-shaped rock, nicknamed “Skull Hill,” while descending Witch Hazel Hill in Mars’ Jezero Crater. Learn more…

3. A homeowner in Ave Maria, Florida, spotted two large alligators on their front porch, captured on a Ring camera and shared on Reddit. One gator stood on its hind legs pressing its snout to the door, while the other explored nearby. See here…

4. Texas politician Bobbie J. Mitchell was stabbed and her husband killed in their home, with their grandson arrested for the attack. Mitchell, 76, a former mayor and Denton County commissioner, was hospitalized in stable condition. Their grandson, Mitchell Blake Reinacher, 23, was charged with murder and aggravated assault.

Your Opinions & Questions…

Joy W.: ”Good morning DML, Denny, and Ryan. Thank you for the your daily report, enjoy reading everything and of course your podcast, I’m playing catch up from a busy week. Miss Mary has been in my Prayers 🙏🏻 God Bless.”

47 Report: Thank you, Joy! We will be returning to our LIVE program today at 10am ET after the Easter weekend, and moving our studio equipment back home to be with Miss Mary. We’ll have much to discuss about what’s been happening in the news!"

DML Podcasts…

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The Lynch Family

47 Report is written by Denny Lynch, Ryan Lynch, and DML, artwork by Ashley Lynch, and input from Mary Lynch; all rights reserved by TeamDML Inc., 2025. Links may lead to sites from which TeamDML Inc. profits.