The Presidential Daily Brief

Russia to Expel 150 Diplomats, Close U.S. Consulate 

The game of tit-for-tat between Russia and a coalition of Western countries has escalated once again with an announcement that the Kremlin will expel scores of diplomats, including 60 Americans, after 27 countries agreed to kick out more than 150 Russian diplomatic personnel. That move was retaliation for the Kremlin’s suspected nerve gas attack on a former double agent living in Britain. Russia will also close its U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, the double agent is still in critical condition, though his daughter, also poisoned, is reportedly improving.

Trump Replaces VA Secretary With White House Doctor

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, the last Obama-era holdover in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, was fired yesterday amid allegations that he misused taxpayer funds. Set to replace him at the second-largest federal department is Dr. Ronny Jackson, a Navy rear admiral and Trump’s personal physician — known for giving a glowing review of the president’s physical and mental health in January, but lacking experience running a large bureaucracy. Shulkin’s dismissal continues a year-long string of shake-ups that’s claimed both Cabinet members and top advisers.

Dozens Die in Venezuela Jail Riot, Fire

Yesterday 68 people were killed when a police station riot sparked a sweeping blaze in Valencia, about 100 miles west of Caracas. Angry families seeking information about relatives gathered outside, but were reportedly fired upon with tear gas. “I don’t know if my son is dead or alive,” one mother said. Wednesday’s disaster was one of the worst in a country where jails are notoriously crowded and riots are routine. A nonprofit that monitors Venezuelan prisons said preliminary information suggests the riot began when an armed detainee shot a guard.

Malala Yousafzai Returns to Pakistan

The human rights activist — shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for advocating for women’s education — is visiting her homeland for the first time since the 2012 attack. After receiving treatment in Birmingham, England, Yousafzai continued her activism abroad, and at 17 years old became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. During her four-day visit, the University of Oxford student will meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, though other details of Yousafzai’s itinerary have been kept secret due to safety concerns.

Tech Stocks Slide Amid Concerns Over Regulation

They’re going down. After their biggest-ever single-day drop on Tuesday, tech stocks slumped again yesterday over continuing fears of increased regulatory scrutiny. Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Tesla all slid at least 1 percent — and as much as 7.7 percent — while Facebook managed to post a 0.5 percent increase after tumbling Tuesday. The social network’s stock has lost 13 percent of its value this year amid the ongoing scandal over user data. Analysts suggest investors are growing wary of the outsize influence tech giants wield over global markets.

North Korea, Playboy and Veterans for Office

Know This: The leaders of North and South Korea have agreed to meet on April 27 — the first time in 11 years. British investigators believe a nerve agent left at Sergei Skripal’s front door was responsible for poisoning the former Russian spy and his daughter. And Playboy has announced it’s quitting Facebook over the ongoing data scandal that’s embroiled the social network.

Read This: As Democrats set their sights on the 2018 election cycle, they’re relying on a new crop of politically active military veterans to attract voters.

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