Marco Rubio’s expanded function and April jobs and unemployment report: Morning Rundown

Marco Rubio’s reaches new heights within the Trump administration. The newest jobs report is anticipated to replicate the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Plus, a glance forward on the greatest storylines of the Kentucky Derby.
Right here’s what to know as we speak.
Marco Rubio’s swift rise to a central spot in Trump’s orbit
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s place within the Trump administration expanded once more yesterday when the president introduced he would tackle the function of interim nationwide safety adviser. Rubio’s predecessor, Mike Waltz, will likely be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Trump stated.
Waltz, a former Florida congressman, has been on shaky floor since he inadvertently added a journalist to a non-public Sign chat with different high nationwide safety officers to debate navy strikes in Yemen. Trump had initially nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik for the high-profile U.N. ambassador publish however withdrew her nomination just a few weeks in the past, citing Republicans’ skinny Home majority.
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For Rubio, the brand new function provides to his listing of duties. He’s additionally the appearing administrator for the diminished U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement, in addition to appearing archivist of the Nationwide Archives and Data Administration. Additionally noteworthy: Nobody has been secretary of state and nationwide safety adviser concurrently since Henry Kissinger 50 years in the past.
It’s a outstanding shift in fortunes for Rubio, who sparred sharply with Trump previously and who risked being overshadowed early on in his second White Home time period.
Keep in mind just a few months in the past, when Rubio took his first journey as secretary of state to Latin America? Then, he was caught off guard by drastic modifications to international help and Trump’s public backing for turning the Gaza Strip right into a Center East Riviera. Over the following 10 days, he was additionally blindsided by international coverage pronouncements from high administration officers.
However issues have modified since then as Rubio found out a technique to attenuate such frustrations, adapting a few of his international coverage positions whereas endearing himself to Trump and his allies. He’s consuming at noteworthy eating places, attending high-profile occasions and making it some extent to spend extra time on the White Home and Mar-a-Lago, in keeping with greater than a dozen senior present and international administration officers, congressional officers and others who’re near Rubio or the White Home.
Overseas diplomats, too, have seen the change.
Learn the complete story right here.
Extra politics information:
- Trump’s immigration efforts have damaged norms and bent the legislation — and all of the instances have a definite hallmark: velocity.
- A Trump-appointed federal decide rejected the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans it alleges are members of Tren de Aragua.
- A rising struggle amongst Republicans in regards to the “SALT” tax deduction may complicate negotiations of Trump’s agenda invoice.
- Greater than 20 state-level DOGE organizations have been rolled out, however they’ve thus far taken a far lighter contact than Trump’s federal DOGE launch. Right here’s why.
- Trump’s ballot numbers are at the moment lagging. Come 2026, Republicans hope to rekindle the sort of vitality he brings when he’s on the poll because the social gathering tries to retain its majorities in Congress.
- Outstanding Washington protection lawyer Abbe Lowell and two vocal critics of huge legislation corporations’ offers with Trump are beginning a brand new agency.
Jobs development is probably going slowing
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is about to launch its newest knowledge as we speak, with forecasts predicting 133,000 jobs added in April, decrease than the earlier month’s 228,000. The unemployment fee is anticipated to stay unchanged at 4.2%.
Trump’s main “Liberation Day” tariff announcement precisely a month in the past generated huge uncertainty and despatched shares tumbling within the weeks that adopted, although markets have largely recovered from preliminary losses and main tech corporations like Microsoft have sailed via comparatively unscathed. Nonetheless, a few of the worst impacts have solely not too long ago begun to look.
Tariffs apart, Trump’s different insurance policies — from DOGE staffing cuts to immigration crackdowns — could also be hindering job development.
Contained in the slow-grinding prison case that allow a person languish in jail for 940 days

A Mississippi man spent two and a half years in a county jail ready for a trial that might by no means come, even after the police who accused him had been arrested within the case. Reporter Jon Schuppe, who has lined the Mississippi Capitol Police extensively lately, shared his expertise placing collectively this story:
“It is a story I by no means anticipated to jot down. In early 2023, whereas investigating a string of shootings by the Mississippi Capitol Police, I wrote to Sinatra Jordan, who was in jail on prices alleging he shot at cops throughout a chase via downtown Jackson that ended together with his good friend shot within the head. He advised me in a letter and in telephone calls that he by no means had a gun. But it surely was his phrase in opposition to the officers’. I wrote a narrative in regards to the case and moved on.
“Jordan saved calling me, although. Months, then years, handed, and he remained in jail with none progress in his case, or any clue when he would possibly get a day in courtroom. I started to see his ordeal as an emblem of our deeply flawed prison justice system. Regardless of the constitutional proper to a speedy trial, individuals throughout Mississippi, and in different elements of the nation, spend years in jail with out being deemed harmless or responsible. Two years after we first spoke, I made a decision to return to Jordan’s story.
“Round that point, the case took a unprecedented flip. A grand jury indicted the 2 officers, charging them with aggravated assault for allegedly capturing Jordan’s good friend and firing at Jordan. That led prosecutors to drop the capturing prices in opposition to Jordan, who pleaded responsible to a different offense and was launched after 940 days behind bars. When he lastly walked out of jail, I used to be there to greet him. And together with his assist I obtained copies of proof which confirmed investigators by no means discovered proof that he shot on the officers. Now the officers — who had been launched on bail — are ready for a trial.”
Learn the complete story right here.
Steve Kornacki’s information to the Kentucky Derby

The 151st Kentucky Derby has a tricky act to comply with after final yr’s three-way photograph end. However tomorrow’s race appears to have some pleasure of its personal. NBC Information and MSNBC’s numbers guru (and horse racing fanatic) Steve Kornacki appears on the large storylines heading into the race:
⭐ The favourite: His title is Journalism and he towers above the sphere in a minimum of one notable metric: velocity figures. However his success in two key Kentucky Derby prep races had been in opposition to tiny fields — simply 4 rivals in every race. How will he carry out in opposition to 19 foes?
🔁 Bob Baffert is again: The perfect-known coach in horse racing will make his return to Churchill Downs after a three-year ban, and he has the backing of a few of the sport’s most bold and deep-pocketed house owners. However his crop of horses is right down to only one: Citizen Bull, who likes to be in entrance however could possibly be compromised if a sizzling tempo develops. Baffert’s different entry, Rodriguez, was scratched late yesterday.
🏇 The perfect storyline: Lonnie Briley was by no means speculated to be right here. The folksy 72-year-old Louisianan has been coaching horses since 1991 and has had success, however principally with low cost horses working for small prizes in racing’s backwaters. Till now. His horse, Coal Battle, has lengthy odds on this race, however even Briley’s rival trainers will in all probability be smiling if he can pull off this one.
See the complete Kentucky Derby information.
Diddy on trial: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial begins Monday. Join to obtain a publication with unique reporting and evaluation all through the trial.
Learn All About It
- The rollout of up to date Covid vaccines this fall could also be in jeopardy after a rule change by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in how vaccines are examined.
- Sean “Diddy” Combs confirmed at a listening to that he rejected a plea deal in his intercourse trafficking case, paving the way in which for his trial to start subsequent week.
- Singer Jill Sobule, recognized for the 1995 track “I Kissed a Woman,” died in a Minnesota home fireplace Thursday morning, her representatives stated. She was 66.
- The coach of a highschool lacrosse group in New York the place a minimum of 11 gamers are accused of hazing youthful members denied the group’s workers knew something in regards to the alleged incident earlier than it occurred.
Workers Decide: Pope Francis’ trustworthy followers

Sam Gregg for NBC Information
I’m so delighted to publish these spectacular pictures taken by photographer Sam Gregg of the trustworthy congregants who attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican Metropolis final weekend. Sam is a local of Naples and has spent a few years documenting themes of faith and loss of life in Italy. When the information of Pope Francis’ loss of life was introduced, I knew I had collaborate with him ultimately.
Sam predominantly works in movie, which offered these of us who work in a fast-paced digital information atmosphere with a dilemma, given the time constraints of growing and printing the work. However with this story, I wished to take the time to deal with the on a regular basis individuals who traveled to see their chief be laid to relaxation and inform their story via their very own phrases. The top result’s a wonderful gallery of wealthy, colourful portraits from a particular occasion that meant a lot to so many. — Max Butterworth, deputy director of images
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