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This morning, President Donald J. Trump joined CNBC’s Squawk Box for an exclusive interview, delivering candid, wide-ranging remarks on some of the most pressing issues facing the country. Click here to watch the full interview Here’s what you missed: President Trump highlighted America’s powerful negotiating position with Iran: “What I think is that we’re going to end up with a great deal. I think they have no choice… We’re in a very strong negotiating position to do what other Presidents should’ve done during a 47-year period — we’ve had 47 years with these bloodthirsty people.” (Watch) President Trump outlined the benefits of a responsible agreement for the Iranian people: “Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal. They can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again. They have incredible people, but they seem to be bloodthirsty. They’re led by some very, very unfortunately tough people — and I don’t mean tough in a good way… They have to use reason and they have to use common sense, and they can get themselves into a great position to make themselves into a great country — but a legitimate country, not a country based on death and horror.” (Watch) President Trump stressed the U.S. remains prepared to take decisive action if negotiations fail: “I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with — but we’re ready to go.” (Watch) President Trump criticized Radical Left Democrats for undermining America’s interests: “I watch this Low IQ guy, Hakeem Jeffries— he’s a totally Low IQ person — and he’s always ranting and raving, ‘Oh, this war is so terrible.’ They shouldn’t be saying that when we’re in the midst of a negotiation because it does hurt us somewhat. It gives the other side some hope, and I don’t want them to have hope.” (Watch) President Trump warned of the catastrophic consequences of failing to confront the Iranian threat: “Do you want to see a bad stock market? Try blowing up the Middle East, and then Europe, and then they come for us. We’re not going to let that happen.”  (Watch) President Trump reaffirmed American strength and independence: “NATO said to me, ‘No, we’ll send somebody as soon as it’s over’… We don’t need them. We’ll never need them. Actually, they’ll need us — they need us desperately because they’re a paper tiger.” (Watch) President Trump voiced strong support for his nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh: “I want Kevin. I think Kevin’s great. He’s central casting in a true sense. I think he’s going to do a great job.” (Watch) President Trump discussed his views on interest rates: “I’ve been in favor of interest rates rate rises to stop inflation. I think it sort of is effective. But there’s one thing and nobody ever talks about it but me, unfortunately… We should have the lowest interest rate in the world.” (Watch) President Trump addressed challenges facing the airline industry: “Spirit is in trouble and I’d love somebody to buy Spirit. It’s 14,000 jobs… But with American, it’s doing fine, and United is doing very well… I don’t like having them merge.” (Watch) President Trump criticized the impact of NIL policies and court decisions on college sports: “Look what happened with NIL — they destroyed college sports, the courts… They had such a great system. It was a scholarship system. You get free college if you’re a good athlete, you get this, you get that, and it took care of every sport — fencing, not only football. Now, it’s all football, and the football is bringing down colleges because they’re losing [money]… The court system — a person that never had anything to do with sports, very liberal leaning, Democrat, liberal — she decided that the sports system that was in place for 150 years is no good… And because of that, college sports is a disaster right now.” (Watch) Click here to watch the full interview. Official Press Release: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/04/president-trump-addresses-key-issues-facing-the-nation-in-exclusive-cnbc-interview/

Press Release On April 14, 2026, State Police of Latham arrested Alexie A. Santos, 36, of Menands, NY, on a warrant for Grand Larceny 2nd, a class “C” felony. During a previous larceny investigation from Curaleaf in Coeymans, investigators discovered an additional larceny. Santos, who was reportedly employed by the business, allegedly stole more than $50,000 worth of Cannabis from the facility between March 11, 2026, and March 13, 2026. On April 13, 2026, an arrest warrant was issued for Santos as a result of this investigation. Santos was arrested during a traffic stop in Menands, NY. He was then transported to SP Latham for processing. Santos was arraigned at the Coeymans Town Court, where he was remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility without bail. Please reference the link to a press release related to the previously reported theft from Curaleaf: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/police-arrest-schenectady-man-following-coeymans-larceny-investigation

Program Now Reimburses Volunteer Firefighters for Completing Five Additional Training Courses More Than 4,000 Volunteer Firefighters Have Successfully Completed Training Through the Stipend Program Since 2023 Governor Hochul’s Continued Investments Make New York Safer and More Affordable Video of the Governor’s Announcement Available Here Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York’s Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program is expanding to offset costs for five additional training courses available to volunteer firefighters. New York State created the program to strengthen the volunteer fire service and address recruitment and retention challenges by offsetting the costs of required training that individuals need to become a firefighter. This expansion will help reduce obstacles preventing volunteer firefighters from advancing their careers. Since 2023, more than 4,000 volunteer firefighters have successfully completed training through the program. “Since taking office, I’ve been laser-focused on making New York safer and more affordable. By expanding the Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program, we’re doing both – cutting costs for those who serve while enhancing their lifesaving skills,” Governor Hochul said. “This program makes critical training more accessible, allowing our volunteers to grow in their careers without sacrificing their ability to provide for their families. I’m proud to invest in our volunteer firefighters who put their lives on the line to keep New Yorkers safe.” The new stipend-eligible courses and course equivalencies are: Firefighter Survival: Self Rescue: This course teaches firefighters how to rescue themselves if they become trapped or compromised during a fire incident. Stipend Amount: $250 Firefighter Assist and Search Team, and Rapid Intervention Crew: These courses are designed to train firefighters in the critical skills needed to rescue fellow firefighters who are trapped or in distress during an incident.Stipend Amount: $350 Fire and Emergency Services Instructor 1, Fire Officer II, and Firefighter 2: These courses are advanced leadership and instructor development programs. They aim to enhance the leadership capabilities of fire department members and improve their effectiveness in incident command roles, ultimately contributing to the safety of firefighters. Stipend Amount: $500 These five courses build on the catalog of trainings that are already stipend-eligible: Basic Wildland Fire Suppression ($250) Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations ($750), Fire Officer 1 ($1,000) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus/Interior Firefighting Operations ($1,250). Since the inception of the stipend program, completion of the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations, and Interior Firefighting Operations courses have increased by 20 percent and completion of the Fire Officer I course has risen 35 percent. New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O’Leary said, “New York’s volunteer firefighters are critical parts of the fabric of communities statewide and they put their lives on the line every time they answer a call to protect those communities. As New York continues to face challenges with volunteer recruitment, the stipend program has resulted in marked increases in class completions, which has brought additional firefighters to departments across the state. Thanks to the leadership and support of Governor Hochul, this stipend program expansion will continue to help volunteer departments recruit and retain members, keeping themselves and their communities safe.” New York State Fire Administrator James Cable said, “The Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend has contributed to an increase in the number of firefighters completing eligible training courses. The fire training courses included in this expansion of the program focus on firefighter safety and survival skills along with leadership and instructor development, all key areas promoting effectiveness and safety both during training and on the fireground.” New York State County Fire Coordinators Association President Bill Streicher said, “Now more than ever, it is vital that we support our volunteer fire organizations to boost recruitment and retention within the fire service across New York State. These stipends serve to promote and strengthen the fire service across our state while providing a small stipend to firefighters who participate in these classes, to better prepare themselves to serve their communities.” New York State Association of Fire Chiefs CEO Bruce Heberer said, “Proper training keeps our firefighters and our communities safer and at a time when our volunteer agencies are strained, and every dollar counts. The Volunteer training stipends are a vital resource of income to the members of our fire services so that they can focus on their training, instead worrying about how they are going to make ends meet if the training causes them to miss work, allowing them to continue serve their department and take care of their home life!” Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York President Joseph Badala said, “Investments in our fire districts are investments in our communities as better services make our state safer for everyone. We thank Governor Hochul for her efforts to provide departments with the resources they need to do their work safely and strategically.” Additionally, a local fire training stipend may be authorized for the completion of any state Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) training course or equivalent, as determined by OFPC, up to $500. Courses must have been completed on or after August 31, 2023, and applicants must be a member in good standing as determined by their department. Stipend applications must be submitted to OFPC-Stipend@dhses.ny.gov. Additional information on the stipend program can be found on the DHSES website. Approximately nine million New Yorkers, nearly half of the state’s population, are served by volunteer firefighters. Yet in recent years, more than 75 percent of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of individuals willing to volunteer and serve. This shortage is further compounded by the increased operational responsibilities beyond fire protection, including vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills and weather-related rescue operations. At the same time, calls for service have increased 29 percent from 1997 to 2020. In addition to the Volunteer Training Stipend, Governor Hochul has sought to strengthen and stabilize the state’s volunteer fire service by supporting the capital needs of volunteer fire departments through the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant Program. Through the first round of V-FIRE funding in October 2024, the state provided $25 million to 88 entities to support the construction of new, or renovation of existing fire stations, classrooms, meeting spaces or training centers; installation of exhaust and decontamination systems; and/or the purchase of equipment such as firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), PPE washers and dryers and firefighter rehabilitation equipment. About the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control The Office of Fire Prevention and Control delivers a wide breadth of services to firefighters, emergency responders, state and local government agencies, public and private colleges, and the citizens of New York. The office advances public safety through firefighter training, education, fire prevention, investigative, special operations and technical rescue programs. The delivery of these essential services enables the office to make significant contributions to the safety of all of New York State. About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to and recover from terrorism, natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on X, or visit dhses.ny.gov. Get real time emergency and weather alert texts delivered directly to your phone. Text your county or borough of residence to 333111 to enroll now. Learn more about emergency alerts at dhses.ny.gov/emergency-alerts. Sources: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/supporting-first-responders-governor-hochul-announces-expansion-new-yorks-volunteer