Happy Monday, Dip Fam,
From presidential portraits to private audio battles, here’s what’s making headlines today: Trump appointees propose a $250 bill bearing the president’s face, DOJ plans to release Biden memoir recordings, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Trump appointees advance $250 portrait bill. 🏛️
Biden sues DOJ over memoir audio recordings. 📜
Gene editing cuts LDL cholesterol 62%. 🏥
POLITICS
🏛️ Trump Appointees Back $250 Presidential Portrait Bill Despite Legal Barriers
Trump appointees, including U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior advisor Mike Brown, have been developing designs for a $250 bill featuring Trump’s portrait, tying the denomination to America’s 250th birthday.
Federal law bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency, and $250 is not an authorized denomination. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is backing legislation to remove both restrictions.
The exit: The bureau’s former director, who warned the project was unauthorized, resigned abruptly on April 27th. A Trump ally has since taken her position. If enacted, the bill would mark the first time in over 150 years a living president has appeared on U.S. currency.
LAW & POLICY
📜 Biden Sues DOJ to Block Release of Private Memoir Audio Recordings
Former President Biden filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department to block the release of audio recordings from private conversations with his ghostwriter in 2016 and 2017, made during work on his memoir about his late son.
The DOJ obtained the recordings through Special Counsel Robert Hur’s classified materials investigation, which concluded no charges were warranted. Under the Trump administration, the DOJ reversed course and plans to share the materials with Congress and the Heritage Foundation by June 15th.
The tension: Biden’s legal team argues the release violates his privacy and serves no legitimate purpose. The case was assigned to a Trump-appointed judge. Trump has publicly questioned Biden’s integrity in response.
WORLD NEWS
🏥 Gene-Editing Drug Cuts Bad Cholesterol by 62% in Phase 1 Trial
A new experimental drug from Eli Lilly showed early promise against high cholesterol: VERVE-102 reduced LDL by 62% in its highest-dose group during Phase 1 trials, with results holding steady at 18 months. The drug uses base editing to permanently disable the PCSK9 gene in the liver.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and roughly 35% of American adults have high cholesterol, giving the drug broad potential reach if later trials hold up.
The pipeline: The Phase 1 study enrolled 35 participants with no serious adverse effects. Phase 2 testing begins later this year, but wider availability remains years away.
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