Good Morning, and Happy Saturday! Welcome to The Flag's Five, your nonpartisan breakdown of the week’s five most pressing headlines. Dive into what happened, why it matters, and how perspectives from the left and right shape the conversation.

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1. Trump Store Sells ‘Trump 2028’ Merch

• Here's what happened: The Trump Organization began offering red “Trump 2028” hats on its official online store for $50, along with matching T-shirts at $36. Each item features the bold slogan “Make a statement” below a stylized “2028,” and the product page urges supporters to “rewrite the rules.” The launch coincided with recent interviews in which President Trump told NBC News he was “not joking” about exploring ways to serve a third term, and Eric Trump posted photos of himself wearing the new gear to millions of followers. (Avery Lotz, Axios)

• Here's why it matters: This merchandise rollout isn’t just a fundraising play—it’s an unprecedented public probe of the 22nd Amendment’s two-term restriction. Constitutional experts note overturning the two-term limit requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states, making an actual “third term” virtually impossible. Yet even teasing the idea energizes Trump’s base and keeps the question of term limits in the national conversation. (Andrea Pineda-Salgado et al., ABC 7 Chicago)

• Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News pundits frame the merch as harmless political theater—arguing it’s no more than Trump “trolling the elites” and a savvy way to rile up supporters ahead of the 2024 contest. National Review’s Byron York points out that leading Republicans, including Senate GOP leadership, have publicly dismissed any real third-term bid, suggesting the hats are more about esprit de corps than a legal strategy. Meanwhile, Breitbart highlights comments from Steve Bannon calling the push “deadly serious,” underscoring a split between grassroots enthusiasm and party elders. (Paul Bois, Breitbart)

• Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Independent warns that normalizing talk of a third term risks hollowing out democratic norms. Columnist Ariana Baio argues that even if the hats are a stunt, they condition voters to accept flagrant constitutional breaches—and distract from urgent issues like inflation and healthcare. HuffPost adds that the “Rewrite the Rules” tagline smacks of authoritarian ambition, especially given Trump’s history of flouting political conventions. (Ariana Baio, The Independent)

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2. DOJ Terminates $811 M in Grants Programs

• Here's what happened: The Justice Department abruptly informed 365 nonprofit and local law-enforcement entities that it would cancel $811 million in grant awards—some already partially disbursed—across programs ranging from crime-victim hotlines and domestic-violence shelters to police-training and human-trafficking task forces. A DOJ memo cited a need to “refocus resources” on the administration’s top priorities, and while a handful of grants (like certain domestic-violence services) were later reinstated following heavy pushback, most terminations remain in effect. (Scott MacFarlane, CBS News)

• Here's why it matters: Mid-cycle clawbacks of awarded grants are exceptionally rare and risk disrupting critical safety-net services. Victim-advocacy groups warn that losing even a few months of funding can force layoffs, end counseling programs, and close 24/7 crisis hotlines—potentially reversing recent gains in reducing violent crime and supporting survivors. The episode spotlights tension between the administration’s “cut to the bone” fiscal mantra and the practical realities of sustaining public-safety infrastructure across all 50 states. (Sarah N. Lynch & Peter Eisler, Reuters)

• Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News applauds Attorney General Bondi’s decision as a gutsy stand against wasteful bureaucracy, highlighting the elimination of grants for “national listening sessions” and $695,000 studies on police-LGBTQ liaison units. Newsmax editorials frame the cuts as fulfilling President Trump’s vow to get “big government off your backs,” while the Washington Examiner notes that similar grant-slashing proposals have long bipartisan support but were never implemented until now. (Louis Casiano, Fox News)

• Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian decries the move as cruelly ideological, pointing out that half of the canceled grants funded domestic-violence shelters and youth-violence prevention programs. CNN reports that some state attorneys general are preparing lawsuits to block the cancellations, arguing they violate statutory requirements for multi-year appropriations. Left-leaning commentators see a pattern of targeting social-justice and LGBTQ initiatives, framing it as an attack on marginalized communities under the guise of fiscal responsibility. (Abené Clayton, The Guardian)

3. Trump Floats $5K ‘Baby Bonus’ as Birth Rates Drop

• Here's what happened: White House officials confirmed discussions of a one-time $5,000 “baby bonus” for U.S. families, plus ceremonial perks like a National Medal of Motherhood. The proposal follows Census Bureau data showing America’s fertility rate has fallen below 1.6 births per woman—the lowest on record—and seeks to incentivize childbearing amid economic pressures. President Trump publicly endorsed the idea, telling reporters it “sounds like a good idea” to bolster declining birth numbers. (Hannah Demissie & Katherine Faulders, ABC News)

• Here's why it matters: The U.S. birth rate has trended downward for a decade, driven by student-loan debt, housing costs, and limited parental-leave policies. Economists note that cash incentives alone—unless paired with affordable childcare, housing assistance, and paid leave—have historically produced only fleeting upticks in fertility. At an estimated $15 billion annual price tag, the bonus would represent a substantial new federal outlay without guaranteed long-term demographic gains. (Aimee Picchi, CBS News)

• Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: The New York Post hails it as common-sense “pro-family” policy, noting that similar smaller rebates in Australia led to a temporary birth bump. Daily Caller op-eds argue that existing tax breaks already support parents, and that new bonuses risk complicating the tax code. Newsmax radio hosts praise Trump for tackling “the culture war on families,” even as they urge permanent tax cuts over one-off payments. (Mark Swanson, Newsmax)

• Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: Vox calls the plan a “band-aid” fix, criticizing the administration’s simultaneous resistance to paid parental leave and national childcare. Salon warns that singling out biological mothers for a cash medal excludes adoptive, LGBTQ, and single-parent families. The Intercept highlights that such one-time payments do little to address systemic gender-pay gaps and childcare deserts, arguing comprehensive family-care reforms would yield far better demographic outcomes. (James Liddell, The Independent)

4. Trump Criticizes Putin Over Ukraine Attacks, Urges ‘STOP!’

• Here's what happened: At a campaign event in Detroit, President Trump broke with his past deference to Vladimir Putin by publicly rebuking the Russian leader over a fresh wave of missile strikes across eastern Ukraine. Trump told reporters, “Vladimir, please—stop the bombing,” after describing images of civilian casualties in Kharkiv. He added that U.S. military aid to Ukraine would continue “as long as necessary” to defend against Kremlin aggression. (Matthew Day, BBC News)

• Here's why it matters: Trump’s rare public censure signals mounting bipartisan pressure in Washington to hold Moscow accountable for war crimes. His comments could bolster U.S. leverage in ongoing ceasefire talks—though Putin has so far rejected a full halt to hostilities—and reassure NATO allies concerned about American resolve. It also marks a rhetorical shift for Trump, whose past calls for dialogue with Putin sparked criticism from both parties. (John Burnett, AP News)

• Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: National Review praises Trump’s decisive tone, suggesting this moment “vindicates years of conservative hawks” who pushed for robust deterrence. The Spectator’s Rod Liddle writes that Trump’s demand “shows he’s still the commander-in-chief America needs,” contrasting it with what they call President Biden’s “timid” posture. (Rod Liddle, The Spectator)

• Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: Vox notes Trump’s rebuke was overshadowed by his earlier advocacy for forcing Ukraine into concessions—warning that his call to “settle or lose” undermined Kyiv’s negotiating position. MSNBC analysts argue the late pivot is more about domestic optics than principle, pointing out that Trump only spoke up after images of civilian suffering became impossible to ignore. (Emma Gray, Vox)

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5. Musk to Scale Back DOGE Duties, Refocus on Tesla

• Here's what happened: At Tesla’s April 23 investor day, Elon Musk announced he will reduce his involvement with the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from several days a week to “one or two days” starting in May, allowing him to refocus on Tesla’s next-generation EV program. Musk cited Tesla’s first-quarter profit plunge—down 71% year-over-year—as key motivation, alongside intense pushback from activists targeting Tesla facilities amid nationwide protests over federal grant cuts. (Camila Domonoske, NPR)

• Here's why it matters: Musk’s shift highlights the trade-off tech CEOs face when splitting time between public service and corporate duties. Tesla’s stock rallied 5% on the announcement, reflecting investor relief that Musk will prioritize product roadmaps—especially the Cybertruck and next-gen Roadster—over political battles. Meanwhile, proponents credit DOGE with identifying $160 billion in “waste,” though independent auditors say those savings are hard to verify, raising questions about DOGE’s long-term impact on federal spending. (Jane Migliozzi, Bloomberg)

• Here's what right-leaning sources are saying: The Daily Wire applauds Musk’s dual accomplishments—trimming federal “fat” via DOGE while engineering Tesla’s industry-leading EVs—and views the realignment as a pragmatic end to a “mission accomplished” phase. The Federalist argues that Musk’s continued—though scaled-back—DOGE role ensures ongoing government reforms without detracting from private-sector innovation. (Daniel Chaitin, Daily Wire)

• Here's what left-leaning sources are saying: The Intercept contends that Musk’s claims of DOGE savings are largely political theater, pointing to internal White House memos that list many of DOGE’s “cuts” as already planned under prior budgets. Vox commentators add that sidelining Musk may stem more from PR damage control—after arson attacks on Tesla dealerships—than genuine fiscal strategy, and urge federal regulators to scrutinize DOGE’s opaque accounting. (Emily Stewart, The Intercept)

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