🌊 Self-Deporting in 3... 2... 1...

The 10 best states per US News are…

US News just released its annual state ranking based on eight factors, ranging from economy to natural environment. According to them, the 10 best to live in are Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Florida, Vermont, South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Washington. Quite a diverse list although we can’t help but think…. Canada was robbed.

–Max and Max

KEY STORY

Deportation Payments

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a plan to pay illegal immigrants $1,000 to self-deport

• DHS estimates that the total cost to arrest, detain, and deport an individual is over $17,000

• The deportation process is also lengthy, sometimes taking years and repeated court appearances before a deportation. Without a major change, it appears to be impossible for Trump to hit his deportation goals

• On Monday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the government would cover commercial flights and provide illegal immigrants a $1,000 stipend to self-deport, which she said would cut costs by 70%

Dig Deeper

• The Trump Administration has made self-deportation a centerpiece of its deportation agenda

• DHS repurposed the Biden-era CBP One (now CBP Home) app used for asylum appointments to a platform for illegal immigrants to record their status and intent to self-deport to avoid fines

• While self-deportation methods are viewed as less expensive than carrying out arrests, the Trump Administration has requested that Congress increase Homeland Security’s budget by two-thirds from $65B to $107B for next year to fund the deportation campaign

KEY STORY

Israel’s Gaza Takeover

Israel approved plans to “capture” Gaza indefinitely and expand its military operation in the territory

• Israel is now conducting military operations in or has evacuated 70% of Gaza, where 59 hostages remain

• On Monday, Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan that includes “conquering the [Gaza] strip and holding the territory,” taking control of aid distribution, and calling up thousands of reservists

• Aid groups warned that the moves would worsen the humanitarian situation, while others speculated it’s a negotiating trip ahead of a visit by Trump

Dig Deeper

• One Israeli official said there is a “window of opportunity” for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement when President Trump visits the country next week, signalling that the plan could be a negotiating tactic

• He added, “If there is no hostage deal, Operation ‘Gideon Chariots’ will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

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KEY STORY

Romania’s Controversial Vote

Right-wing populist politician George Simion decisively won the first round of Romania’s presidential election

• Romania’s presidential election drew international attention after last year’s vote was nullified amid allegations of Russian interference in populist leader Călin Georgescu’s win

• In the rerun of the cancelled election, Simion decisively won the first round with 41% of the vote, almost double Georgescu’s share in November

• Simion will face the centrist mayor of Romania’s capital, Bucharest, in the run-off on May 18. He’s indicated that if he wins, he will appoint Georgescu to a powerful position within his government

Dig Deeper

• Simion’s victory was celebrated by populist and anti-EU politicians across Europe, including French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen, who said, “Romania has just given [EU leader] Mrs. von der Leyen a very nice boomerang,” referencing the EU’s support of nullifying the November election

• Simion has aligned himself with populist leaders in Europe and abroad, calling for a “Melonization” of Romania, a reference to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and describing his party as “a Trumpist party which will…make Romania…a strong ally of the United States”

KEY STORY

OpenAI Remains Non-Profit

OpenAI announced that it would not proceed with plans to restructure into a for-profit company

• OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit in 2015 and created a for-profit subsidiary in 2019 to raise funding. It has since been valued at $300B, although part of that capital was invested with the understanding that OpenAI would become a for-profit

• Amid a year-long legal battle with Elon Musk and criticism from former employees, OpenAI announced Monday that it would remain under the control of the nonprofit board

• Despite that, OpenAI will transform a portion of its business into a Public Benefit Corporation, which isn’t solely for-profit can still pay out returns to investors

Dig Deeper 

• The decision to remain under nonprofit control could complicate the situation with investors, who bought a stake in the company’s for-profit subsidiary with the agreement that the subsidiary would take control from the nonprofit

• Japanese investment fund Softbank, for example, recently invested $30B in OpenAI with the agreement that it would become a for-profit by year-end. CEO Sam Altman said Monday that the changes would enable OpenAI to keep Softbank’s $30B

RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office

💲 The Trump Administration started collecting student loans from borrowers who have defaulted on their debts, including by confiscating wages, tax refunds, and government benefits

🎬 President Trump announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside of the US, citing his desire to save a “dying” Hollywood

🏈 After meeting with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, President Trump is reportedly considering an order to clamp down on NIL payments to college athletes, per the WSJ

💊 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she declined President Trump’s offer to deploy US troops to Mexico to combat drug trafficking

⚖ Jury selection for the trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs began on Monday

What does Roca Nation think?

🧠 Yesterday’s Question: What was a sign of wealth when you were growing up? (E.g., having a trampoline)

🧐 Today’s Question: Do you feel bad for the jocks who were on top of the world in high school and then fell off?

Replay to this email with your thoughts!

POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour

🏀 Popovich Out: Legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced he would step away from his role after coaching the team since 1996

🐸 Croc Shock: A tourist in the Philippines was bitten by a crocodile after climbing into a zoo’s enclosure to take pictures with it, reportedly because he believed it was fake

🚂 End of the Line: One of the UK’s most prolific train fare dodgers was reportedly stopped for not having a train ticket on his way to his court appearance for having nearly $40,000 in unpaid fines

🍭 Candy Catastrophe: A second grader in Kentucky accidentally ordered over 70,000 lollipops on Amazon after playing on his mom’s phone

🚙 Delco Pooper Detained: A Pennsylvania woman known online as the “Delco pooper” was arrested after admitting to defecating on another driver’s car hood during a road rage incident

ROCA WRAP
The Rock Returns

San Francisco, California

President Trump proposed reopening Alcatraz, an iconic island prison-turned-tourist destination, in this city.

Before it was closed in 1963, Alcatraz, known as “The Rock,” housed some of the most infamous 20th-century gangsters, including Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. The prison, located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, was among the most secure penitentiaries, as its island location, frigid waters, and strong currents made escape difficult. No escapes were ever officially recorded.

In 1963, the prison was shuttered when it became too costly to operate, since all prison supplies had to be brought to the island by boat. According to the US Bureau of Prisons, Alcatraz was roughly three times more expensive to run than any other federal prison. 

In 1972, it was converted into a tourist site. It is now operated by the National Parks Service as a museum and one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions, with 1.2M+ visitors each year. 

On Monday, President Trump announced his intent to “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” He wrote on Truth Social, “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away.” 

He added, “Today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ.”

Speaking to reporters after making his announcement, Trump said that he had the idea to reopen Alcatraz because “it's a symbol of law and order.” 

It’s unclear if the plan is realistic, given the cost of modernizing it and its role in San Francisco’s tourist economy. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.), who represents San Francisco, said, “[Alcatraz] is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one.”

However, the new director of the Bureau of Prisons took a different tone: “I have ordered an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps. USP Alcatraz has a rich history. We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law, order, and justice.”

EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts

Thank to all of you for the great Connecticut food recs. Alas, we will not be visiting New Haven until next week — we’re tackling Connecticut in two parts — so the pizza tour will have to wait until then. We ate Nick’s Pizza in Stamford last night (couldn’t sit down until 9 PM or so), but who knows what tonight may hold.

Have a great day!

–Max and Max