Democrats melted down Tuesday over the second indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, blasting the charges as politically motivated and claiming they reflect a weaponized Department of Justice.
&#8220;Different Trump defense lawyer running the DOJ, same old story. Weaponized justice. Vindictive prosecutions. Catering to an audience of one. Perverting the rule of law, one enemy at a time,&#8221; Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) <a href="https://x.com/SenAdamSchiff/status/2049254370101858394?s=20">bemoaned on social media. </a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Different Trump defense lawyer running the DOJ, same old story.
Weaponized justice. Vindictive prosecutions. Catering to an audience of one.
Perverting the rule of law, one enemy at a time. <a href="https://t.co/9APAlbbuqj">pic.twitter.com/9APAlbbuqj</a>
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenAdamSchiff/status/2049254370101858394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) questioned the quality of the FBI investigation, calling it a <a href="https://x.com/tedlieu/status/2049243658054971565?s=20">&#8220;loser case.&#8221;</a>
&#8220;Did agents print out the seashells picture and look at it upside down? Send it for DNA testing? [Acting Attorney General Todd] Blanche is bringing this loser case again to kiss trump’s (sic) ass,&#8221; he wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is an asinine statement by <a href="https://twitter.com/DAGToddBlanche?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DAGToddBlanche</a>, that there was “a lot of work by law enforcement over the past year.”
Did agents print out the seashells picture and look at it upside down? Send it for DNA testing?
Blanche is bringing this loser case again to kiss trump’s ass. <a href="https://t.co/PQQxNUToJb">https://t.co/PQQxNUToJb</a>
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/2049235697316327479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker escalated the criticism, slamming President Donald Trump as an &#8220;authoritarian&#8221; and accusing his administration of stripping Americans of their rights.
&#8220;The president, on the other hand, is literally using the Department of Justice to take people to prison. He is indicting people and prosecuting people for no reason other than they are his opponents. So there&#8217;s a big difference in what each side is doing here,&#8221; Pritzker said in an interview with NBC.
&#8220;It may take us a couple of years, in fact, to go after people like Kash Patel, like Kristi Noem, like Tom Homan, like Greg Bovino, but we are coming after them,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Today on Meet the Press Now, JB Pritzker calls President Trump an &#8220;authoritarian, and if we are not pushing back every single day, then we&#8217;re doing it wrong.&#8221;
A few seconds later, Pritzker threatens Trump admin officials: &#8220;It may take us a couple of years, in fact, to go after… <a href="https://t.co/UxrRHq1L6R">pic.twitter.com/UxrRHq1L6R</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/2049241692373450788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
Mark Elias, a prominent Democratic attorney, warned the case signals a lasting shift at the Justice Department.
“We’re not talking about indicting a ham sandwich. We’re literally talking about indicting someone over seashells on the beach. Who knows what’s going to happen? Who knows who they’ll go after next?” Elias said on MSNOW.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 NOW: Leftist cheating election lawyer Marc Elias WARNS of possible DOJ RETRIBUTION if Democrats take power again
Elias is known for MASS SUING Republican laws that safeguard elections — and is also targeting Florida
VOTE AGAINST THEM IN NOVEMBER! <a href="https://t.co/tTyzPQrsFu">pic.twitter.com/tTyzPQrsFu</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2049253000321855991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
The outrage comes after a federal grand jury <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nced.227449/gov.uscourts.nced.227449.1.0_2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">returned a two-count felony indictment and arrest warrant</a> against Comey, accusing him of making threats to kill or harm President Trump and transmitting those threats across state lines using social media.
The controversy centers on a provocative Instagram post shared by the former FBI chief last year. Comey’s photo showed seashells arranged to form the numbers “86” and “47&#8243; on a North Carolina beach. In the restaurant world, “86” generally means to take out or eliminate, and “47” was a presumptive reference to Trump, the 47th president of the United States.
In a <a href="https://jamescomey.substack.com/p/seashells?r=16z5v&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;triedRedirect=true">video posted to his Substack</a>, Comey denied any wrongdoing.
“Well, they’re back. This time, about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina Beach a year ago, and this won’t be the end of it, but nothing has changed with me. I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go,” Comey said.
&nbsp;

Former FBI Director James Comey

Dems Melt Down Over Comey Indictment

Crime

Donald Trump

Executive

Indictment

James Comey

Politics

The Trump administration has dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, which will pave the way for Trump’s nominee Kevin Warsh to be confirmed as Powell’s successor.
The investigation centered on the cost of renovations at the Washington, D.C., offices of the Federal Reserve, and whether Powell lied to Congress about it. The project was expected to cost about $1.9 billion, but the number ended up closer to $2.5 billion, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-12/why-the-federal-reserve-s-renovation-costs-2-5-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a>.
“This morning the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve has been asked to scrutinize the building costs overruns – in the billions of dollars – that have been borne by taxpayers,” Jeanine Pirro, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a statement posted to X on Friday morning.
She added that the inspector general is being asked to provide a report “in short order” to ensure that it will answering “the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas.”
“Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so,” she continued.
Critics of the investigation said that it risked the independence of the Federal Reserve—as Trump has been a staunch critic of Powell over interest rates. The president has repeatedly demanded the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates much more aggressively.
The decision to end the probe could satisfy an ultimatum from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a Trump critic, to move Warsh’s nomination out of the Senate Banking Committee.
“You have extraordinary credentials. They’re impeccable,” Tillis said at a committee hearing with Warsh earlier this week, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/business/5841124-tillis-doj-powell-probe-kevin-warsh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>.
Tillis bluntly stated over X that Warsh “is a great nominee to be Chairman of the Federal Reserve, and I look forward to supporting him out of committee once the DOJ drops their bogus investigation into Chairman Powell that threatens the independence of the Fed.”

President Trump Visits Federal Reserve

The Move That Just Cleared A Key Hurdle For Trump’s Plan To Change What You Pay

Federal Reserve

Jeanine Pirro

Jerome Powell

Kevin Warsh

Trump Administration

U.S. Senate

President Donald Trump commented on the federal charges facing the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) early Friday morning, arguing that the leftist group&#8217;s potential fraud &#8220;is another Democrat Hoax&#8221; that places the 2020 election results into doubt.
Trump made the comment in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116457972455781406">post</a> on Truth Social, marking the first time he has publicly addressed the allegations against the SPLC, which was charged earlier this week with multiple counts of wire fraud over its scheme to pay the leaders of multiple white supremacist groups in exchange for information.
&#8220;The Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the greatest political scams in American History, has been charged with FRAUD. This is another Democrat Hoax, along with Act Blue, and many others,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;If it is true, the 2020 Presidential Election should be permanently wiped from the books and be of no further force or effect! Thank you for your attention to this matter.&#8221;
The SPLC, which started in the 1970s as an organization to push back against racism and segregation in the South, has been paying leaders of extremist groups for decades, according to an indictment unsealed by the Justice Department on Tuesday. The indictment states that the SPLC secretly used donor cash to pay so-called informants affiliated with racist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, over $3 million between 2014 and 2023.
The SPLC is closely aligned with Democratic Party goals and talking points and has a political action fund that almost exclusively <a href="https://www.splcactionfund.org/endorsements/">endorses</a> Democrats in state and local elections in the South.
Between 2015 and 2023, the SPLC <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lefty-anti-hate-group-paid-white-supremacist-to-plan-infamous-charlottesville-rally-indictment">paid</a> a member of a white supremacist group that planned the &#8220;Unite the Right&#8221; rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, according to the indictment. The rally, which turned deadly when a man drove his car through a crowd of counter protesters, became the main reason behind former President Joe Biden&#8217;s 2020 election campaign. Biden pointed to the rally in his campaign announcement video, pinning blame on Trump and saying, “In that moment, I knew the threat to this nation was unlike any I had ever seen in my lifetime.”
The SPLC has also engaged in a campaign to label mainstream conservatives as &#8220;extremists&#8221; and has used its influence to pressure social media companies and the federal government to censor conservative voices. The SPLC was used as a resource by the FBI to identify extremists before FBI Director Kash Patel cut the bureau’s ties with the leftist organization last year.
In his post on Friday morning, Trump also called out Democratic Party fundraising platform ActBlue, which is under scrutiny over accusations that it allowed foreign contributions in American elections. Trump maintains that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 presidential election, which Biden won by over 70 electoral votes amid major controversy over mail-in ballots and ballot harvesting methods.

Trump Hints At Major 2020 Move If SPLC Found Guilty Of Fraud

2020 Election

Democratic Party

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

The U.S. Department of the Treasury <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0470">announced</a> Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will revise Form 990 to increase transparency and curb misconduct within tax-exempt organizations. The move specifically targets fiscal sponsorship arrangements, government grants, and contracts—mechanisms critics argue have been exploited by &#8220;dark money&#8221; networks to operate without public scrutiny.
“We are ending the days of hiding fraud, abuse, and extremist activity behind complicated nonprofit arrangements,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He warned that directors and officers of organizations misusing charitable structures would face increased &#8220;scrutiny, accountability, and liability under the law.&#8221;
The announcement comes amid intensifying investigations into prominent liberal networks like Tides and Arabella Advisors. The Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/democrats/same-game-different-name-radioactive-arabella-advisors-announces-rebrand-to-sunflower-services-as-prominent-donors-flee/">reported</a> in November 2025 that Arabella had rebranded its fiscal sponsorship arm as Sunflower Services “amid a series of high-profile investigations into its finances and billionaire Bill Gates&#8217;s decision to end a longstanding partnership with the organization.”
The Treasury’s focus on fiscal sponsorships—where a 501(c)(3) acts as an &#8220;umbrella&#8221; for projects without their own tax-exempt status—directly addresses concerns raised by the House Oversight Committee. Last month, Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said the Committee was “continuing to investigate reports the Sixteen Thirty Fund, Arabella Advisors (now operating as Sunflower Services), and others have worked to circumvent federal campaign finance disclosure requirements.”
Comer said his <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-continues-to-investigate-dark-money-groups-efforts-to-evade-campaign-finance-laws/#:~:text=Comer%20Continues%20to%20Investigate%20Dark,Release%20Published%3A%20Mar%2020%2C%202026">letter</a> was “part of the House Oversight Committee’s larger effort to investigate powerful, dark money groups skirting campaign finance disclosure laws enforced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) while obscuring the distinction between activities of legitimate journalists from campaign operatives. Online influencers invited to join the Chorus program reportedly receive up to $8,000 per month to amplify Democratic messaging online but must sign contracts enforcing strict secrecy and imposing limitations on the types of political content they can produce.”
The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) filed a formal <a href="https://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NVF-IRS-Complaint.pdf">IRS complaint</a> in November 2025 alleging that the New Venture Fund (NVF), an Arabella-managed entity, engaged in improper &#8220;excess benefit transactions.&#8221; AAF wrote, “We have reason to believe that NVF has solicited hundreds of millions of dollars in donations from the public, a substantial portion of which have been diverted to NVF’s founder and other senior officers through an administrative services agreement with Arabella Advisors LLC (‘Arabella Advisors’), which was controlled by those same individuals. If so, NVF has engaged in improper excess benefit transactions by paying Arabella Advisors more than $200 million since 2006.”
The Treasury&#8217;s new reporting requirements aim to track where public money actually goes. NGO Monitor <a href="https://ngo-monitor.org/funder/tides-network/">reported</a> in March 2025, “Since 1976, Tides has ‘scaled more than 1400 social ventures, fueled social change in 120+ countries, and mobilized over $3 billion for impact.’ A number of these social ventures demonize Israel, promote antisemitic rhetoric, and lead BDS campaigns.”
“If an organization receives public funds,” said Acting IRS Chief Counsel Ken Kies, “it should be prepared to show who controls the money and where it goes.”

Scott Bessent

Treasury Department Announces IRS Overhaul To Target ‘Shadow’ Leftist Nonprofit Networks

Dark Money

Department of the Treasury

Money In Politics

Tax-exempt organizations

The Trump administration on Thursday <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-places-fda-approved-marijuana-products-and-products-containing-marijuana">moved to reclassify</a> state-licensed medical marijuana, easing research restrictions on the substance and marking the most significant shift in federal drug policy in decades.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1437441/dl">signed an order</a> reclassifying FDA-approved products containing marijuana as a Schedule III drug, placing them alongside prescription medications. The administration also announced an “expedited” hearing on June 29 to consider the formal reclassification of cannabis.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;Today is another promise made, promise kept day&#8230; The Acting Attorney General this morning signed an order that moves into Schedule III medical marijuana products that are FDA approved or that are state licensed. This is a giant move forward to implement your promise.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ewTDXJpEyX">pic.twitter.com/ewTDXJpEyX</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2047402410784473227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
“These actions will enable more targeted, rigorous research into marijuana&#8217;s safety and efficacy, expanding patients&#8217; access to treatments and empowering doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions,” <a href="https://x.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/2047291538653241488?s=20">Blanche said</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Under the decisive leadership of <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, this Department of Justice is delivering on his promise to improve American healthcare. This includes:
• Immediately rescheduling FDA-approved marijuana and state-licensed marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule IIl
• Ordering a new,… <a href="https://t.co/DUtqKQgavl">pic.twitter.com/DUtqKQgavl</a>
— Acting AG Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/2047291538653241488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Since 1970, marijuana has remained in Schedule I—the most restrictive category—alongside substances like heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
Scheduling of a drug is &#8220;based upon the substance&#8217;s medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or dependence liability,&#8221; according to the <a href="https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/csa">Drug Enforcement Administration</a> (DEA).
<a href="https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling">Under the Controlled Substances Act</a>, Schedule III drugs are defined as substances with a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.” The DEA considers Schedule I drugs to have &#8220;no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
The Trump administration&#8217;s move does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, but allows cannabis companies to deduct standard expenses like rent and payroll for the first time, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/trump-administration-reclassifies-cannabis.html">CNBC reported</a>.
“Today’s order is reflective of the Department of Justice’s continued dedication to common-sense policies and the prioritization of the safety and well-being of all Americans,” Blanche said.
In December 2025, Trump first signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/">executive order</a> directing federal agencies to increase medical marijuana and CBD research.
Over the weekend, Trump voiced frustration with the pace of the rescheduling process while signing another directive easing restrictions on psychedelics alongside podcast host Joe Rogan.
“You’re going to get the rescheduling done, right? Please? Will you get the rescheduling done, please?” Trump <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xrI-_qo64E">said to White House staff in the Oval Office</a>. “Joe, they’re slow-walking me on rescheduling, okay? You’re going to get it done.”
Two dozen states, along with Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana use, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-marijuana-rescheduling-justice-department-trump-cannabis-1d6722d3aae122b1a91f8e4b6c690268">according to the Associated Press.</a> About 40 states have medical marijuana programs, and eight others permit low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical purposes. Only Idaho and Kansas maintain a full ban on marijuana.
In November 2024, voters in Nebraska approved a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. Ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana failed in Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Obama Admin. Unveils New Policy Easing Medical Marijuana Prosecutions

Trump Takes Major Step On Marijuana

Drug Enforcement Agency

Drugs

Marijuana

Todd Blanche

Trump Adminstration

President Trump declared on Tuesday that Kevin Warsh might have to sit next to him in the White House.
The president said on CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk Box&#8221; that if the $2.5 billion renovations at the Federal Reserve are not wrapped up by the time former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh is confirmed as the new chair, he might not have a place to work.
Anchor Joe Kernan <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/04/21/president-trump-i-would-be-disappointed-if-kevin-warsh-doesnt-cut-rates-right-away.html">pushed back</a> on the president, saying, “I don’t know if Warsh will want to sit next to you after what happened to Jay Powell.”
Trump responded, “Maybe I’d like him next to me. Maybe it’s not a bad idea — Jerome Powell. I call him &#8216;too late.&#8217; He’s always too late,” the president said, referring to his infamous nickname for the current Fed Chair, Jerome “Too Late” Powell.
Trump revealed he would be “disappointed” if Warsh did not cut interest rates. “We should always have the lowest interest rate in the world,” he said. “When I was a young guy growing up, we always had the lowest interest rate worldwide.”
During Trump’s first term, the federal funds rate was at a near-zero range, beginning at 0.50%-0.75% and ultimately falling to 0.00%-0.25% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates peaked at 2.25-2.50% in the second year of his term, which is about half as high as the peak during the Biden administration.
Trump says his new Fed chair is straight out of “central casting” and that “he’s going to do a great job.” While the president seems confident Warsh will lower interest rates, other economists regard Warsh as a hawk. “Warsh’s long-running hawkish views should help to counteract concerns that he might morph into a full-blown Trump stooge,” <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-01-30-2026/card/would-warsh-be-a-hawk-or-dove-as-fed-chair--aCblKxbKeE8i0ZN2jla9">said</a> Deputy Chief Economist at Capital Economics Stephen Brown.
Warsh is set to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, which is considering his nomination. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Banking Committee, says he’ll block not just Warsh, but any nominee until the Department of Justice probe into Jerome Powell is resolved. Trump’s DOJ is currently investigating the Federal Reserve’s <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/building-project-faqs.htm">$2.5</a> billion renovations, which were approved by Powell.
When asked point-blank if he would turn over the investigation to the Senate Banking Committee in order to get Kevin Warsh approved for Fed Chair, Trump stood firm on letting the Department of Justice complete the investigation.

Day Five Of The Spring Meetings Of The International Monetary Fund And World Bank

Trump Says New Fed Chair’s Office Might Be In the White House

President Donald Trump continued his ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV this week, posing a pair of pointed questions about the Vatican’s opposition to the war in Iran in what marks another sharp rhetorical blow.
In a Monday <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/20/us-news/trump-reveals-his-2-burning-iran-questions-for-pope-leo-after-pontiffs-ongoing-opposition-to-war/">interview</a> with the New York Post, Trump challenged the pope directly: “Why does the pope think it is fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and to kill 42,000 unarmed protesters?” — though the pope has not publicly expressed support for Iran obtaining nuclear weapons or committing violence against protesters. Trump framed the conflict as a necessary step to prevent long-term catastrophe, adding, “You can’t allow them to have a nuclear weapon because they will use it and millions of people will be dead, including Italians and Catholics around the world.”
The comments are the latest flashpoint in a weeks-long back-and-forth that has steadily intensified as the Iran conflict has unfolded. Pope Leo has repeatedly condemned the operation, calling for restraint and urging an end to what he described as the “madness of war.” 
During a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/catholic-bishops-echo-pope-blast-trump-for-war-against-iran">Palm Sunday Mass</a>, the pope warned against leaders who pursue armed conflict with “arrogance,” adding that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” While he did not name Trump, the remarks were widely interpreted as a direct rebuke of the U.S.-led campaign.
Trump has rejected that framing, arguing that the administration’s actions are rooted in deterrence rather than escalation. He has publicly dismissed the pontiff’s position as naïve and “<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-accuses-pope-leo-being-terrible-foreign-policy-over-pontiffs-anti-war-comments">terrible for foreign policy</a>,” maintaining that allowing Iran to continue its nuclear program would invite far greater destruction. 
“This is one of the most important wars,” Trump said, reiterating his view that crippling Iran’s military and enrichment capabilities is essential to preventing a wider conflict.
The broader context of the spat reflects two fundamentally different frameworks for approaching the conflict: The Vatican has emphasized humanitarian concerns, the risk of escalation, and the moral cost of war, consistently calling for de-escalation and dialogue. Trump, by contrast, has framed the conflict in terms of necessity and prevention, arguing that failing to act decisively now would lead to far greater loss of life later.
Some actions by the Trump administration have also drawn attention for their religious framing.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a prayer at the Pentagon on March 25 invoking the name of Jesus Christ in support of Operation Epic Fury, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/26/hegseth-prayer-violence-pentagon">asking</a> that U.S. forces deliver “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.” 
Then earlier this month, Trump posted — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-slammed-for-outrageous-post-depicting-himself-as-jesus-christ">and later deleted</a> — an image to Truth Social that depicted him as Jesus Christ. The president later said he believed the image portrayed him as a doctor, but the episode has only added more layers of complexity to an already fraught relationship with the head of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican has not yet responded to Trump’s latest remarks, but, much to the chagrin of ​​Republican Catholics, there is little indication the temperature will drop anytime soon.

Donald Trump and Pope Leo

Trump Has Some Questions For Pope Leo

Catholics

Iran

Iran war

Pope Leo

Religion

President Donald Trump on Friday evening hinted at what’s to come when the War Department releases files relating to UFOs and phenomena of unknown origin.
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Trump said: “As you remember, I recently directed the Secretary of War — how good is Pete Hegseth doing, by the way — to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena.”
The president then remarked on how excited the crowd became, saying, “I figured this was a good crowd because I know you people are really into that. I don’t know if I am.”
“So, I’m pleased to report today — I thought I’d save it for this crowd because you’re a little out there — that this process is well underway and we’ve found many very interesting documents, I must say,” Trump continued. “And the first releases will begin very, very soon.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: I recently directed <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena. I am pleased to report this process is well underway. We&#8217;ve found many very interesting documents — and the first releases will begin very, very soon. 👽 <a href="https://t.co/kmRTUOefWX">pic.twitter.com/kmRTUOefWX</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2045272284806496558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The hype train for the release of documents and media related to what the United States government knows about UFOs and advanced technology has been gaining steam for months.
Trumps’s executive order on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-release-of-any-and-all-info-on-aliens-and-ufos">February 19</a> directed the War Department and other agencies to “begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
In the wake of the president’s order, several congresspeople who have been involved with UFO disclosure efforts applied pressure to the administration to follow through.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), for example, sent <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/UAP-Request-Letter-FINAL.pdf">a letter</a> to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth requesting the disclosure of 46 known videos believed to be in possession of the U.S. government. She gave an April 14 deadline, but the date came and went without the videos being released.
All of this comes in the wake of several blockbuster congressional hearings since 2023 featuring seemingly credible witnesses to UFOs and alleged non-human tech — and even living organisms.
In March, the federal government <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/18/us-news/white-house-registers-aliens-gov-domain-name/">registered</a> alien.gov and aliens.gov — likely in preparation for the publication of files.
The Trump administration appears poised to make some kind of release. While it&#8217;s impossible to know with any certainty what documents, photographs, and footage may be published and if they will impact the public&#8217;s perception of the topic in any significant way, the momentum is certainly on the side of transparency and disclosure.

Trump Stokes UFO Frenzy With New Promise

Aliens

Outer Space

U.S.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration is investigating the &#8220;troubling&#8221; deaths and disappearances of scientists and researchers who each reportedly had access to classified information at some point in their careers.
&#8220;In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
Her remarks came after Fox News&#8217; Peter Doocy pressed both Leavitt and President Donald Trump about the eerie timeline, given that at least 11 scientists have died or disappeared under strange circumstances. All of these individuals have been tied to military, nuclear, or aerospace research, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/11th-scientist-death-emerges-string-missing-dead-officials-access-us-secrets">according to Fox News</a>.
&#8220;No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them,&#8221; Leavitt emphasized on Friday.
A spokesman for the Department of Energy&#8217;s National Nuclear Security Administration told The Daily Wire on Friday that it is &#8220;aware of reports related to employees of our labs, plants, and sites and is looking into the matter.&#8221;
Trump himself said that he had just left a meeting on the topic as he departed the White House on Thursday for Las Vegas.
“I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half,” Trump said. “Pretty serious stuff … hopefully a coincidence, or whatever you want to call it.”
<div id="attachment_1079913" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-scientists-are-turning-up-dead-or-missing-now-the-white-house-is-stepping-in/us-avery-closea-to-making-iran-deal-as-two-week-ceasefire-nears-end-trump-2" rel="attachment wp-att-1079913"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1079913" class="wp-image-1079913 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2271108623-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2271108623-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2271108623-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2271108623-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2271108623.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>President Donald Trump speaks to the Press before departing from the White House to Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 16, 2026, in Washington DC. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)</div>
Amy Eskridge, for example, was an Alabama researcher who died on June 11, 2022, at the age of 34 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She co-founded the Institute for Exotic Science and worked on &#8220;antigravity&#8221; research. In a 2020 interview with YouTuber Jeremy Rys, she described receiving &#8220;harassment, threats,&#8221; and sabotage of her research. Notably, she suggested at one point that scientists who had breakthroughs in their work would &#8220;disappear&#8221; or stop working.
&#8220;If you stick your neck out in public, at least someone notices if your head gets chopped off,&#8221; Eskridge said in the interview. &#8220;If you stick your neck out in private, they will bury you. They will burn down your house while you’re sleeping in your bed, and it won’t even make the news.&#8221;
Other strange cases include NASA scientist Monica Jacinto Reza, who <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/21/us-news/rocket-scientist-with-professional-ties-to-missing-gen-william-mccasland-disappeared-under-similar-circumstances/">vanished on a hike in June 2025</a>; astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, <a href="https://abc7.com/post/man-charged-killing-caltech-astrophysicist-carl-grillmair-llano-carjacking-own-relative-burglarizing-home/18626990/">who was shot on his front porch in February</a>, Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist Nuno Loureiro, who <a href="https://news.mit.edu/2025/nuno-loureiro-professor-director-plasma-science-and-fusion-center-dies-1216">was shot and killed in his home in December 2025</a>, and Air Force Maj. Gen. William McCasland, who <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/missing-general-scientist-deaths-tied-secret-us-work-prompt-white-house-probe">vanished from his Albuquerque, New Mexico home</a> in March.
NASA researcher Michael Hicks <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/09/us-news/another-mysterious-nasa-death-as-ninth-scientist-linked-to-secret-programs-dies/">passed away in July 2023</a>, while NASA engineer Frank Maiwald <a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/frank-maiwald-obituary?id=55630404">died in July 2024</a>. Two Los Alamos employees went missing and have not been found: Melissa Casias, who <a href="https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/4-missing-persons-with-nuclear-ties-spark-concern-in-new-mexico/">went missing in June 2025</a>, and Anthony Chavez, who <a href="https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/4-missing-persons-with-nuclear-ties-spark-concern-in-new-mexico/">went missing just before Casias</a> in May 2025.
Pharmaceutical scientist Jason Thomas went missing in December 2025 and <a href="https://people.com/body-found-lake-believed-belong-scientist-missing-3-months-11928819">was recently discovered</a> at the bottom of a Massachusetts pond, and Kansas City National Security Campus government contractor Steven Garcia <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/us/news/steven-garcia-missing-contractor-overseeing-us-nuclear-weapons-assets-disappears-list-grows-to-10/articleshow/130275011.cms?from=mdr">disappeared in Albuquerque in 2025</a>, allegedly with only a handgun.
Officials have not established that there is a connection between the deaths, but the public has grown increasingly disturbed by the frequency of the incidents. Four of the mysterious cases involve New Mexico, for example, where the Los Alamos National Laboratory is located.

US âvery closeâ to making Iran deal as two-week ceasefire nears end: Trump

Top Scientists Are Turning Up Dead Or Missing. Now The White House Is Stepping In.

Karoline Leavitt

Nuclear

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has terminated the legal status of three Iranian nationals tied to Masoumeh Ebtekar, the spokeswoman for the militants behind the Iran Hostage Crisis, placing them in ICE custody and initiating their removal from the United States.
“I terminated their lawful permanent resident status and today, Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending their removal from our country,” Rubio said.
Rubio added that the decision reflects a broader principle: “America can never become home for anti-American terrorists or their families — and under the Trump administration, it never will.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
‼️ NEW DETAILS: 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has TERMINATED the legal status of three Iranians tied to regime figure known as “Screaming Mary.”
They are now in ICE custody and facing deportation.
“I terminated their lawful permanent resident status and today, Seyed Eissa… <a href="https://t.co/7XnEgjbyQ0">https://t.co/7XnEgjbyQ0</a> <a href="https://t.co/xU3udiFLJ8">pic.twitter.com/xU3udiFLJ8</a>
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) <a href="https://twitter.com/MOSSADil/status/2042982578995478677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
The individuals are directly connected to Masoumeh Ebtekar, known to many Americans as “Screaming Mary,” who served as the English-language spokeswoman for the militants who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
That crisis saw 52 Americans held hostage for 444 days, a defining moment in U.S.-Iran relations that continues to shape policy decades later.
Chosen for her fluent English and familiarity with the United States, she became the public face of the hostage-takers, appearing repeatedly on American television to defend the operation and relay the group’s demands. She has never expressed regret for her role, and frequently used her appearances to justify the takeover.
After the crisis, she transitioned from revolutionary activist to establishment figure, eventually rising to serve as a vice president of Iran, specifically Vice President for Women and Family Affairs from 2017 to 2021.
Despite that history, her son Hashemi had been living in Southern California, working as a lecturing psychology professor while residing in Los Angeles County with his wife, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/06/us-news/son-of-irans-twisted-pr-chief-found-living-life-of-luxury-in-la-and-hes-teaching-superrich-california-kids/">New York Post</a>. Reports and photographs placed him at upscale locations in the area, fueling criticism that relatives of senior regime figures were benefiting from life in the United States.
Public pressure had been building for months. Petitions and protests called for federal authorities to review the immigration status of Hashemi and others connected to Iran’s ruling apparatus, arguing that allowing such individuals to remain in the country undermines U.S. credibility on human rights and national security.
In its statement, the State Department <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/04/secretary-rubio-terminates-green-cards-of-foreign-nationals-tied-to-infamous-iranian-regime-propagandist/">indicated</a> that the individuals originally received visas during the Obama administration before later obtaining green cards through the Diversity Visa Program.
Later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters, “Her family should never have been allowed to benefit from the extraordinary privilege of living in our country. America can never become home for anti-American terrorists or their families.”
The move comes amid a broader push by the administration to target individuals in the U.S. with ties to Tehran’s ruling apparatus. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/daily-wire-asks-leavitt-about-iranian-officials-family-living-lavishly-in-the-u-s?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Daily+Wire+Asks+Leavitt+About+Iranian+Official’s+Family+Living+Lavishly+In+The+U.S.">The Daily Wire</a> the effort is a “top priority,” particularly in cases involving fraud or national security concerns.
“I understand one of the individual’s visas was revoked by Secretary Rubio, and they were deported by ICE because they had a fraudulent asylum claim,” Leavitt said, referring to a separate case involving relatives of the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. “Anyone who is here illegally or fraudulently is subject to our nation’s immigration laws and will be removed from our country.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1076379" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-870x576.jpg 870w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-768x509.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-2048x1357.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/iranian_official_fam_members_LA-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
That case involved Soleimani’s niece and grandniece, who were also taken into custody after reportedly living openly in the United States while expressing support for the regime, part of what officials describe as a pattern now under increased scrutiny.
The administration has already deported dozens of Iranian nationals over the past year, with hundreds more potentially facing removal as enforcement ramps up.
The message from the administration is that drawing a harder line not just against Iran’s government, but against those connected to it, is going to continue and we could see similar moves going forward.
For all the latest Iran news, follow <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+U.S.%2C+Iran+Face-To-Face+As+Trump+Warns+Negotiating+Window+Could+Close+Fast">The Daily Wire’s live blog</a>.

1179b268-3139-11e9-b26a-04579b7820b3.jpg

Anti-American ‘Screaming Mary’ Terrorist Family Faces New Reality: U.S. Isn’t Their Playground

Global Politics

Marco Rubio

State Department

World

President Donald Trump blasted his former allies Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones on Thursday, calling the podcasters &#8220;nut jobs and troublemakers&#8221; over their comments on Trump&#8217;s recent actions.
Trump published a nearly 500-word post on Truth Social blasting his former supporters for their attacks on the administration, which have gained the attention of legacy media outlets and leftists.
&#8220;I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs. They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!&#8221; Trump wrote.
All four of the commentators have become increasingly critical of the president over his decision to launch &#8220;Operation Epic Fury&#8221; and attack Iran. Earlier this week, Carlson urged U.S. military members to refuse Trump&#8217;s orders and claimed that Trump was considering using a weapon of mass destruction &#8220;on the population of Iran.&#8221; Kelly said on Wednesday that Trump was &#8220;bamboozled&#8221; by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and blasted the president as &#8220;too weak&#8221; and &#8220;too gullible&#8221; to push back on Netanyahu&#8217;s argument to attack Iran.
On Sunday, Owens called the Trump administration &#8220;satanic&#8221; and said, &#8220;satanic Zionists occupy the White House and Congress.&#8221; She also called for &#8220;Mad King Trump&#8221; to be removed from office. Jones has similarly called for Trump to be removed from office through the 25th Amendment.
&#8220;Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did!&#8221; Trump said of the four podcasters. &#8220;They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some &#8216;free&#8217; and cheap publicity. Now they think they get some &#8216;clicks&#8217; because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody’s talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA — Or I wouldn’t have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE.&#8221;
Trump added that Carlson has &#8220;never been the same&#8221; since he was fired from Fox News and suggested that he &#8220;see a good psychiatrist.&#8221; He also ripped Owens over her claims that French President Emmanuel Macron&#8217;s wife is a man, adding that he hopes Macron&#8217;s wife wins her lawsuit against Owens.
&#8220;Actually, to me, the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it’s not even close!&#8221; Trump added.
Trump then ripped Jones over his &#8220;horrendous&#8221; Sandy Hook conspiracy theory, which led to a court ordering Jones to pay $1.5 billion in damages to the families of the mass shooting victims.
&#8220;These so-called &#8216;pundits&#8217; are LOSERS, and they always will be! Now Fake News CNN, The Failing New York Times, and all of the other Radical Left &#8216;News&#8217; Organizations, are &#8216;hailing&#8217; them, and giving them &#8216;positive&#8217; press for the first time in their lives,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;They’re not &#8216;MAGA,&#8217; they’re losers, just trying to latch on to MAGA.&#8221;
&#8220;As President, I could get them on my side anytime I want to, but when they call, I don’t return their calls because I’m too busy on World and Country Affairs and, after a few times, they go &#8216;nasty,&#8217; just like Marjorie &#8216;Traitor&#8217; Brown, but I no longer care about that stuff, I only care about doing right for our Country,&#8221; he added. &#8220;MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. MAGA is about MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and these people have no idea how to do that, BUT I DO, because THE UNITED STATES IS NOW THE “HOTTEST” COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!&#8221;

Donald Trump/Tucker Carlson/Megyn Kelly/Candace Owens

Trump Goes Nuclear On Tucker, Megyn, And Candace

Alex Jones

Candace Owens

Megyn Kelly

Tucker Carlson

President Donald Trump said Monday that a &#8220;sick person&#8221; leaked information about the downed U.S. fighter jet to media outlets and threatened jail time for reporters if they don&#8217;t reveal the leaker&#8217;s identity.
Trump said the U.S. mission to rescue one of the American airmen who went down in Iran was placed &#8220;at great risk&#8221; because of the leak and the ensuing media reports. The Iranian regime placed a bounty on the missing U.S. F-15 fighter weapons systems officer, who was forced to hide in a mountain crevice for nearly two days as armed Iranians searched for the American.
&#8220;We&#8217;re looking very hard to find that leaker,&#8221; Trump told reporters in the White House briefing room, adding, &#8220;Whoever it was, we think we&#8217;ll be able to find it out because we&#8217;re going to go to the media company that released it and we&#8217;re going to say, &#8216;National security, give it up or go to jail.'&#8221;
&#8220;Some things you can&#8217;t do because when they did that, all of a sudden, the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot that was somewhere on their land that was fighting for his life,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And it also made it much more difficult for the pilots and for the people going in to search for him.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Trump vows to hunt down leaker who put rescue mission &#8216;at great risk&#8217; <a href="https://t.co/RyJ7Smlgv2">pic.twitter.com/RyJ7Smlgv2</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/2041207946856804392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump did not say to which outlet the administration believes the leaker sent the sensitive information. CBS News, The New York Times and CNN were among the first outlets to report that one of the two U.S. pilots was rescued while a search and rescue operation had begun for the missing pilot. CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-fighter-jet-f15e-downed-over-iran/">cited</a> &#8220;two U.S. officials&#8221; in its report on the missing airman. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/04/world/iran-war-trump-news/what-us-military-pilots-are-trained-to-do-when-they-are-shot-down?smid=url-share">cited</a> &#8220;U.S. and Israeli&#8221; officials, and CNN cited three &#8220;U.S. sources&#8221; in its initial <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/03/world/live-news/iran-war-us-trump-oil?post-id=cmnj11n1j00053b6uvve7kv9x">report</a> on the missing pilot.
Journalists who publish sensitive or even classified information are protected in many states and in Washington, D.C., under shield laws, provided they obtained the material without coercion and did not ask anyone to break the law. However, there are no federal protections for publishing classified information.
The Trump administration has sought to crack down on leakers within the federal government and prevent reporters from publishing classified information. The Justice Department was recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-judge-blocks-doj-from-searching-washington-post-reporters-devices-in-classified-docs-probe">blocked</a> by a federal judge from searching the devices of a Washington Post reporter as federal investigators looked into a government contractor who was accused of leaking classified government materials.
The second airman, who was badly injured, was rescued early on Sunday as U.S. forces carried out a dangerous mission inside Iran. Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+COVERAGE%3A+Trump+Speaks+To+Americans+After+Daring+Rescue+Behind+Enemy+Lines">described</a> the rescue mission as a “massive operation” that involved 155 aircraft, including bombers, fighter jets, refueling tankers, and rescue units. After confirming the weapons systems officer&#8217;s location, U.S. troops engaged with enemy forces and extracted the airman.

Furious Trump Threatens Jail For Reporters, Targets ‘Sick Leaker’ Who Risked Rescue

Leak

U.S. Military

Menu