🌊 RIP, Pope Francis

Pope Francis, 88, died this morning.

Back in 2013, when Pope Francis first emerged from behind the Vatican’s scarlet drapes as pontiff, he was an unlikely pick: He was the first non-European to be elected pope in 1,300 years and the ninth-oldest pope to be elected in 2,000 years. Since then, he’s led the world’s largest organization as a trailblazer, stirring controversy at times. If you’re wondering what’s next and for whom the white smoke will soon billow (sorry, no parlay suggestions), check out our recent We The 66 newsletter deep dive. RIP, Pope Francis.

–Max and Max

KEY STORY

Life in Space?

Astronomers have detected perhaps the strongest evidence yet of possible extraterrestrial life

• K2-18b – a planet 124 light years from Earth – has become a focal point for research on alien life due to its unique conditions: It is covered by an ocean and possesses a hydrogen-rich atmosphere at habitable temperatures

• In a new study, a team led by a Cambridge University astrophysicist reported the detection of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of K2-18b – molecules that, on Earth, are only produced by living organisms

• No known non-biological process can generate DMS and DMDS, suggesting life on the planet. Yet the researchers are yet to find life and are actively trying to determine whether biological processes can account for the presence of these molecules, as they do on Earth

Dig Deeper

• Some astronomers are already saying the findings represent the greatest indicator yet of extraterrestrial life, however, the study’s lead researcher said, “It’s important that we’re deeply skeptical of our own results, because it’s only by testing and testing again that we will be able to reach the point where we’re confident in them”

• He added, “If this is due to life, our baseline assumption is that these oceans could have very high levels of biological activity due to microbial life, similar to what was in Earth’s early oceans”

KEY STORY

SCOTUS Pumps Brakes on Deportations

The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled 7-2 that the Trump Administration could not conduct deportations of migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act until further notice

• On Friday night, the ACLU, a rights group, filed an emergency appeal to SCOTUS alleging that the Trump Administration was preparing to deport a group of migrants from Texas to El Salvador with only a few hours notice

• The ACLU said the deportations would have violated a former SCOTUS demand that migrants be allowed to contest their deportations

• Just hours later, SCOTUS issued a new 7-2 ruling blocking the deportations. Four conservative justices sided with the liberals, while two others (Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito) dissented

Dig Deeper

• The president’s critics celebrated the ruling, while the administration blasted it. Trump’s press secretary said in a statement, “We are confident in the lawfulness of the Administration’s actions and in ultimately prevailing against an onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists who care more about the rights of terrorist aliens than those of the American people”

• Another Homeland Security official said the courts have been “infected with a parasitical ideology that denies reason and common sense”

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KEY STORY

Gang Member or Innocent “Maryland Man”?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has emerged as a flashpoint in Trump’s immigration agenda

• Last month, the US deported Garcia, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant, to El Salvador. In 2019, a US judge blocked Garcia from deportation, citing a risk of harm by gangs if he were repatriated. While the White House said it deported him in error, it has maintained that he is an MS-13 gang member and is dragging its feet in bringing him home

• Garcia’s case has emerged as one of the greatest flashpoints in Trump’s immigration agenda: Many Democrats have said the case exemplifies the administration’s disregard for civil rights and the courts, while many Republicans say that Democrats are defending an MS-13 gang member and that if all alleged gang members get due process, mass deportations will be impossible

Dig Deeper

• The administration says the man is in MS-13, a claim that has been supported by the Maryland police department that arrested him outside of a Home Depot in 2019. Those police officers said that Garcia was wearing specific clothing that was "indicative of the Hispanic gang culture" and of Garcia being “a member in good standing with the MS-13." They also said that informants confirmed his gang allegiance

• Yet Garcia and his lawyers have said that his clothing proves no gang ties, that the allegations are based on hearsay, and that Garcia has not been charged or convicted of any gang-related crimes. Others say that regardless of Garcia’s gang affiliation, he was denied a right to due process and deported in violation of a court order

• On Wednesday, a Democratic senator from Maryland traveled to El Salvador and met with Garcia – a visit Trump called "disgusting.” On Friday night, Trump tweeted a picture showing tattoos on Garcia’s knuckles that he said indicate MS-13 affiliation

KEY STORY

Iran-US Nuclear Talks Progress

The US held another round of apparently productive nuclear talks with Iran

• Earlier this month, US and Iranian officials began talks on curbing Iran’s nuclear program. A second round of talks was held this weekend, after which Iran said technical teams would talk in the coming days about potential specific curbs to nuclear production

• The talks came days after the New York Times reported that Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as early as next month before President Trump objected

• Trump reportedly did so after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard – supported by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and VP JD Vance, among others – warned that an Israeli strike risked drawing the US into war with Iran

Dig Deeper 

• Israeli PM Netanyahu has voiced skepticism about a deal and said it could only work if monitors “go in, blow up the facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision with American execution”

• An official from Oman, which is playing a mediating role, said the country would facilitate the next round of talks

• “This phase aims to reach a permanent and binding agreement that guarantees Iran’s full renunciation of nuclear weapons, the complete lifting of sanctions and the safeguarding of its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” Oman’s Foreign Ministry said

RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office

🇺🇦 Ukraine accused Russia of violating a unilateral 30-hour Easter ceasefire that Russia had previously announced

🇻🇦 The Pope granted an audience to Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, on Easter morning

🇺🇸 A series of resignations has left Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, or senior adviser. Then on Sunday, one of Hegseth’s former top staffers published an essay detailing alleged chaos inside the Pentagon

🇺🇸 The Trump Administration is reportedly proposing significant cuts and restructuring of the State Department, per a draft memo circulating among US diplomats

🧫 The White House backed the Covid lab leak theory, publishing a website page titled “Lab Leak: The True Origins of Covid-19”

What does Roca Nation think?

🧠 Today’s Question: Thoughts on Pope Francis’ passing and his legacy?

Replay to this email with your thoughts!

POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour

🐈 Press Corps Cat: The White House press corps adopted a cat that had wandered onto the White House grounds

🐘 Trunks and Tremors: A herd of elephants at a San Diego zoo huddled together to protect their calves during a 5.2-magnitude earthquake

💻 Digital Etiquette: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that people saying “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT has cost OpenAI “tens of millions of dollars” in electricity costs – money he considers “well spent”

🥚 A Big Tech Easter: For the first time, the annual White House Easter Egg Roll had corporate sponsors, with the proceeds going to the White House Historical Association, a nonprofit

💑 Sinking in Love: A Michigan couple's stone-hunting date took a dramatic turn when the man suddenly sank waist-deep in quicksand near a dredging operation in Lake Michigan

ROCA WRAP
Robot Runners

Beijing, China

This city has hosted the world's first half-marathon for humanoid robots.

Beijing, China's sprawling capital city, has long been a showcase for the country's technological ambitions and innovations. This has become particularly true as China positions itself to challenge the United States in artificial intelligence and robotics, turning the city into a testing ground for cutting-edge developments.

This weekend, Beijing's E-Town – a government-sponsored zone for high-tech manufacturing – became the scene of a groundbreaking event in robotics history.

Dozens of humanoid robots took to the streets early Saturday to compete in the world's first half-marathon for bipedal machines. The field included robots standing between 75 to 180 cms (2.5-5.9 ft) tall and weighing up to 88 kgs (194 lbs). Some of the robots ran autonomously while others were guided remotely by engineers, with machines and humans running on separate tracks.

The event quickly revealed both the progress and limitations of current humanoid technology.

At the starting line, one smaller android fell over before managing to get up by itself to loud cheers from spectators. Another robot, powered by propellers and designed to look like a Transformer, veered across the starting line before crashing into a barrier.

The engineers involved with the project emphasized that the event’s goal was to test performance and reliability in real-world conditions, with completion rather than competition being the primary objective.

As the robotic runners made their way through the course, they demonstrated China's determination to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology, one mechanical step at a time.

EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts

Hope all of you who celebrated had a wonderful Easter. Max F, freshly back from Pakistan, says he felt tremendous joy being back in the US. Max T likewise felt joy stealing Easter eggs from the neighborhood kids at his nephews’ Easter egg hunt. Time to learn about the real world, kids!

Have a great Monday.

–Max and Max