We have some huge news coming out of Romania right now. Romania’s central election authority made a pivotal decision today, blocking far-right, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu from participating in the May presidential election re-run. Georgescu, a controversial figure backed by individuals like tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been at the center of Romania’s escalating political tensions. Following today’s ruling, Musk took to his Twitter account to denounce the decision as “crazy,” echoing broader discontent among far-right figures.

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This move, which far-right party leaders decried as undemocratic, underscores the high stakes of Romania’s political landscape. Georgescu’s exclusion will still likely be contested in the Romanian constitutional court, but it is unclear whether or not it will be successful.

If you recall, back in 2024, just two days before the second round of voting in the country’s presidential election, Romania’s highest court took the extraordinary step of annulling the election, citing claims of Russian interference in favor of Călin Georgescu. Russia has denied the allegations. Following the decision to annul the election, far-right figures around the world called out the court, including Donald Trump, who condemned the decision as an attack on free speech.

Today’s rejection of Georgescu is part of a trend sweeping across Europe, where far-right parties are facing setbacks despite their rising popularity in polls. Just last month, Germany’s far-right AFD party, which placed second in regional elections, was effectively shut out of the government after other parties formed a coalition to block them from power. Despite their electoral gains, AfD remains politically isolated, as mainstream parties refuse to collaborate with a movement widely criticized for its extremist ties.

These setbacks reveal a growing challenge for far-right movements in Europe: while their anti-immigration, nationalist rhetoric is resonating with certain voter bases, the broader political establishment—both domestically and within the European Union—is mobilizing against them, making it difficult for them to translate electoral success into actual governance.

Here is some other news you missed today:

  • Elon Musk is demanding an investigation into New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
  • According to NBC, Trump now reportedly wants Ukrainian President Zelensky to cede territory to Russia, hold elections, and potentially resign in exchange for U.S. aid.
  • Meanwhile, Russia's military has taken back three additional settlements in the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.
  • Donald Trump, despite his earlier bold statements, did not rule out a recession when asked this morning, acknowledging a "period of transition" due to significant economic changes.
  • Israel announced it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza, a week after halting all goods shipments.
  • The Department of Homeland Security has started conducting polygraph tests on employees to identify potential media leakers, while Tom Homan and Kristi Noem attribute lower-than-expected ICE arrest numbers to recent leaks.
  • The Department of Agriculture has disbanded two key food safety advisory committees, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, sparking concerns over weakened oversight of the food supply.

    • See you for our Q&A this evening!

    — Aaron

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