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Good morning,

In a tradition that emulates Jesus washing his 12 apostles’ feet at the Last Supper, Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 incarcerated women at a prison in Rome yesterday for Holy Thursday. It comes as Christians around the world celebrate Easter this weekend.

• This was reportedly the first time a pope has washed the feet of ONLY women at the annual ceremony.

• But, it’s not the first time Francis broke with tradition. Unlike his predecessors, who performed the ritual on Catholic men at a Rome basilica, Francis has washed the feet of refugees, people from other faiths, and incarcerated people.

Happy Easter!

Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren

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📉 FORMER CRYPTO BILLIONAIRE GETS 25 YEARS BEHIND BARS

How the mighty have fallen. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) was sentenced to 25 years in prison yesterday for defrauding customers out of billions of dollars. It is less than the 50 years prosecutors were asking for, but more than the roughly 6 years his lawyers sought.

It follows his November conviction of stealing $8 billion from customers of FTX, his cryptocurrency exchange, and a related hedge fund, and then trying to cover it up. The judge also imposed over $11 billion in financial penalties on SBF.

HOW WE GOT HERE
FTX was once valued at more than $30 billion, and shot up SBF’s net worth to over $20 billion. In November 2022, FTX collapsed when leaked balance sheets showed major cash troubles.

• In his 20-minute statement before sentencing, the 32 year old said, “I was responsible for FTX, and its collapse is on me.” He added that it haunts him and that he’s sorry for the people he let down.

• Throwing everything at the wall: SBF’s lawyers argued that his autism, remorse, and charitable work should persuade the judge to be lenient in sentencing.

• But, Judge Lewis Kaplan said SBF lied multiple times when testifying, obstructed justice, and tampered with witnesses.

  • SBF testified that he did not know that his hedge fund, Alameda Research, had spent customer deposits taken from FTX. The judge said that was a lie.

SBF has signaled he plans to appeal the ruling. Regardless, prison consultants say he could shave-off a third of his 25 years sentence with good behavior and other credits.

LARGER PICTURE
SBF faced a maximum possible sentence of 110 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. Federal prosecutors said he orchestrated one of the largest financial frauds in US history. Here’s how SBF matches-up against some of the biggest white-collar criminals. Listen to today’s Mo News Podcast for more on this trial and the verdict.

🇷🇺 RUSSIA TARGETS MORE US CITIZENS — THE WSJ REPORTER’S YEAR IN PRISON

It’s been one year since Evan Gershkovich, 32, was wrongly detained by Russian authorities while reporting for the Wall Street Journal. The US claims the espionage charges against Gershkovich and other Americans detained in Russia are fabricated.

"WRONGFULLY DETAINED”
The US government says two of the Americans held in Russia are wrongfully detained. Paul Whelan, 54, has been held since 2018 on espionage charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020. Gershkovich remains in pretrial detention, after five extensions by Russian courts, and faces up to 20 years in prison.

• Political hostage: Wrongful detention is when someone is held by a foreign government for the purposes of influencing US policy or extracting political or economic concessions. The US government negotiates for their release.

• Others: Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was visiting her ailing mother over the summer when authorities apprehended her over editing a book that criticizes Russia’s war in Ukraine. American teacher Marc Fogel was apprehended in 2021 for carrying medical marijuana and is serving a 14-year prison sentence. Just last month, Ksenia Karelina, a dual US-Russian citizen was detained for previously donating several dollars to a Ukrainian charity.

POLITICS AT PLAY
Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to be targeting Americans for the purposes of getting Russians released.

• The US was previously able to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested and sentenced to nine years in prison for having a vape cartridge with hashish oil in her luggage. She was exchanged in a prisoner swap for the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death.”

• But, the US doesn’t appear to have any more Russians in captivity that the Kremlin wants for swap.

IS THERE ANYONE LEFT TO TRADE? The Kremlin has its eye on Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany and is now serving a life sentence there. The US is said to be in talks with Germany about getting Whelan and Gershkovich out for Krasikov.

Tucker Carlson interviewed Putin in February and brought up Gershkovich. In response, Putin suggested he was open to some type of prisoner swap to secure his release.

🏠 FLORIDA PASSES LAW TARGETING RESIDENTIAL “SQUATTERS”

Squatters’ rights are gone in Florida after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law that will allow property owners to call police and have individuals removed, instead of having to go through a formal eviction process through the court system.

It’s an issue that people across the country have expressed concern over, with many taking to social media to detail what’s happened to them.

In New York, there is a push to change a law which currently says that squatters have rights after living on your property for just 30 days.

NEED TO KNOW (IF YOU’RE TRYING TO STAY)
In many states, including Florida, squatting is considered a civil (not criminal) matter. Now, Florida’s law (HB 621), which will go into effect July 1, a “victim of squatting” can file a form to a sheriff, who will go and “very quickly” “remove the people who are inhabiting your dwelling illegally,” DeSantis said.

• If found guilty, the law makes penalties much harsher. It’s a second-degree felony to unlawfully occupy/trespass a residence and intentionally cause $1,000+ in damages, and first-degree felony to knowingly advertise the sale/rental of a residential property without legal authority.

• In order to be removed, a person must unlawfully enter, stay after being asked to leave, and not be a current or former tenant in a legal dispute.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Maryland requests $60 million for Baltimore bridge collapse recovery (ABC NEWS)

📌 Family of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett speaks out following his death (CBS NEWS)

📌 Trump attends wake for killed NYPD officer as he ramps up rhetoric on crime (NBC NEWS) Trump claims crime rates are soaring. The numbers indicate otherwise (NBC NEWS)

Protesters interrupt start-studded Biden fundraiser with presidents Clinton and Obama (REUTERS)

📌 Secretary Mayorkas’ impeachment trial in the Senate set to take place in April (CNN)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 International court orders Israel to do more to prevent famine in Gaza (AXIOS)

📌 Bus carrying Easter worshippers falls off cliff killing 45 people in South Africa (REUTERS)

📌 Italy races to stop leaning tower from collapsing (CNN)

📌 French parliament backs bill against hair discrimination (BBC)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 Baltimore bridge collapse insurance payout may be the largest in history (CNBC)

📌 This could be the worst year yet for dengue in North & South America (AXIOS)

📌 Punxsutawney Phil and partner Phyllis welcome 2 newborn groundhogs (ABC NEWS)

📌 U.S. Census revamped to better count Middle Eastern and Latino groups (NPR)

📌 Solar eclipse warnings pile up: Watch out for danger in the sky, on the ground on April 8 (USA TODAY)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 'Love Is Blind' becomes #1 show on Netflix with 2.1 billion minutes streamed in 1 week (THE WRAP)

📌 North Korea censored footage of a English gardening show because its host was wearing jeans (BUSINESS INSIDER)

📌 Rebel Wilson hopes to spread a ‘positive message’ by sharing she lost her virginity in her mid-30s (CNN)

📌 Jenna Lyons returning to RHONY for season 15 alongside full cast — but says girlfriend will be kept off camera (PEOPLE)

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🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN WEEKEND

• WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Mosheh: Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV; Jill: 2024 March Madness Sweet 16

• WHAT WE’RE READING: Mosheh: The Anxious Generation ~ Jonathan Haidt; Jill: The Many Lives of Mama Love ~Lara Love Hardin

• WHAT WE’RE EATING: Mosheh: Swoony's in Brooklyn; Jill: Lemon Bars and Easter Chocolate

Editor’s Note: For this week’s edition, Jill asked everyone who follows her on Instagram what THEY’RE watching, reading and eating. A big thanks to everyone who wrote in! She’ll be sharing all the answers today.