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… Sen. Tim Scott, who heads up the Republican senatorial campaign committee, on Fox: “The fact of the matter is that all of the cylinders are kicking. It is good news. Gas prices continue to come down, which means your groceries will come down a little bit as well. We’ve got a lot of good signs in the economy.”

… Gas market analyst Patrick DeHaan: “LOL WHAT? EVERY SINGLE STATE IS HIGHER. Gas prices in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin are now at their highest levels since summer 2022, and are approaching new all-time records. Since March 1, Americans have spent $21.7 billion more on filling their tanks with gas. That includes today’s addition to that figure- $509 million.”

… House GOP Whip Tom Emmer on Fox: Q - “There are so many negative headlines on news apps about Republicans. What are you gonna do going into the midterms about these negative headlines? Emmer: It’s about getting our message to people. The American people are much smarter than these corrupt left-wing journalists are.”

… WH Economic advisor Kevin Hassett on Fox Business: “In the end, people vote their wallets. I don’t really trust surveys. Host: But you gotta look at the numbers. I mean, you got an average of regular of $4.35 a gallon. It’s up 7 cents overnight. Diesel is $5.60. That hits voters hard. How long are they gonna stay at that level? Hassett: As soon as we get the strait open, oil is gonna flow like you’ve never seen before.”

… This graphic was up on the screen during Hassett’s interview.

… House Maj. Leader Steve Scalise on CNBC: “We’ve delivered. People will remember that two years ago, we were paying almost $6 a gallon for gas. Right now it’s in the $3s. Host: When were we paying $6? Scalise: Two and a half years ago. Host: That wasn’t the average price. We are actually above where we were then. Two years ago the average was $3.65.”

… Market analyst Charlie Bilello: “Gas prices in the US have moved up to $4.30 per gallon, their highest level since July 2022. The 44% spike over the last 9 weeks ($2.98/gallon to $4.30/gallon) is the biggest we’ve seen in the past 30 years.”

… Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) was asked why gas prices are spiking: “It has to do with the greed of the oil companies. We buy zero oil from Iran. 90% of their oil they sell to China. They’re just gouging us.”

… Trump was asked about gas prices today: Q - “The average price of a gallon of gas is now $4.30 — Trump: And you know what? We’re not going to have a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran. The gas will go down. There’s so much of it sitting all over the oceans of the world.”

… Kobeissi Letter: “March PCE inflation, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, rises to 3.5%, the highest since August 2023. Core PCE inflation rises to 3.2%, the highest since Nov 2023. In the first month of the Iran War, US inflation hit a 3-year high.”

… Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) to Meidas: Q - “Do you think that Trump has delivered on his promise to lower prices? Newhouse: He’s working on it. Q: If he was in school, what grade would you give him? Newhouse: At least a satisfactory or an ‘E’ for effort.”

… Trump was asked about the midterms on Newsmax: "Everyone says if I was on the ballot, we'd win in a landslide. I have some of the best poll numbers I've ever had."

… Tucker Carlson ripped Trump on his podcast: “You have failed. You have not done a good job running this country. You don’t even care to try. You’d rather run the world or the empire. You don’t want to improve Baltimore. You don’t care about Gary, IN. Rural America makes you sick. Normal leaders would ask themselves, ‘Why are people mad? What are they dissatisfied with? How can I help them? They’re clearly in pain.’”

… A new WaPo/ABC poll after WHCD incident has 28% of Americans approving of the ballroom project despite intense lobbying efforts by Trump and congressional Republicans to justify the ballroom for enhanced security reasons.

… Janet Mills dropped out of the Democratic primary in the US Senate race in Maine, setting up a showdown between Graham Platner and Sen. Susan Collins. Mills cited a lack of money coming in, but it seemed pretty obvious that her heart just wasn’t in the race and is ready to retire after a lifetime in politics.

… Mills also had a much more difficult time than Platner establishing herself as significantly different in many ways than Collins. Collins to Semafor when asked about Mills: “The governor and I both come from old Maine families. We’ve known each other for a very long time and we always had a cordial relationship.”

… Graham Platner after the announcement: “Governor Mills has dedicated her career to this beautiful state. We’re all eternally grateful for her service to the state of Maine as governor and her lifelong career.”

… NOTUS: “One of Democrats’ best pick-up opportunities in the Senate next year might be in deep red Alaska, where former Rep. Mary Peltola is trying to unseat two-term Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. Democrats are targeting Sullivan over his support for Trump’s tariffs and his war in Iran, hoping to put the state in play amid a challenging political environment for Republicans nationwide.”

… “Rising prices, particularly of health care, utilities and gas, are fueling voter frustration and significantly threatening GOP congressional majorities in Nov. Even Republicans concede that the AK race has become more than simply something to monitor. One Senate Republican said that while Sullivan is optimistic, he’s become ‘clearly concerned’ with the reelection fight given the worsening environment for Republicans nationally.”

… “The fact that he faces Peltola, who is widely considered the best possible recruit Democrats could have won in the state, is focusing more attention on the contest.”

… NOTUS: “Just about everyone is mad at Mike Johnson this week. The majority of the House Republican Conference, GOP senators, the WH and even members of his own leadership team are fighting with the embattled House speaker and believe Johnson has lost control of his members. They are also confused by his strategy, as he has repeatedly fumbled attempts to get must-pass legislation through the chamber.”

… Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX): “Right now, it’s a shit show.”

… Another GOP asked to described Johnson’s handling of this week: “Fucked.”

… Another senior Republican: “This is what happens when you have leadership who can’t organize a one-car parade.”

… Trump posted about the James Comey seashell indictment: “’86’ is a mob term for ‘kill him.’ They say 86 him! 86 47 means ‘kill President Trump.’ James Comey, who is a Dirty Cop, one of the worst, knows this full well! EIGHT MILES OUT, SIX FEET DOWN! Didn’t he also lie to the FBI about this??? I think so!”

… Trump was asked if he really believed Comey was threatening his life with the seashell post: “Well if anybody knows anything about crime, they know ‘86’ is a mob term for ‘kill ‘em.’ You ever see the movies?”

… There is not one single mob move that used that term in the context of committing a violent crime. Not one. Google it.

… Trump ranted on Truth Social for John Thune to abolish the filibuster: “How much abuse can the Republican Senate take from the Radical Left Lunatics in the form of Democrat Senators, before they BLOW UP (TERMINATE!) THE FILIBUSTER, and approve things at a record clip, including The Save Act, that would be unthinkable without the Filibuster Termination??? The Dems will do it on the first hour of their first day. DO NOT BE STUPID!!!”

… He was asked the reason for his post in the Oval Office: “We could pass laws and acts and things that we never even dreamt of passing . And you know what else? We wouldn’t lose for 50 years.”

… WaPo: “Iran and the US are locked in a faceoff over the future of negotiations, with Trump and the leadership in Tehran each confident they can outlast the other amid mounting costs to the global economy from the blockage of a crucial shipping waterway. Both sides believe time is on their side as the Strait of Hormuz is closed to shipping traffic, trapping oil, fertilizer and petroleum products inside the Persian Gulf and driving up energy prices worldwide.”

… “Oil prices surged to their highest level since 2022, reaching $126 per barrel after Trump said Wed that he was prepared to keep up a blockade on Iranian ports until leaders in Tehran ‘cry uncle,’ adding that he was unwilling to strike any bargain that did not restrict Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s leadership, meanwhile, has discovered a powerful new weapon - its ability to grind shipping traffic to a halt using nothing more than drones and mines, low-cost tools that impose high-cost peril on ships that dare to traverse the strait without permission.”

… “Tehran has offered to negotiate over opening the shipping passage first, postponing nuclear talks, an idea Trump says he has ruled out.”

… Axios: “CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a ‘short and powerful’ wave of strikes on Iran - likely including infrastructure targets - in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock. The hope would be that Iran would then return to the negotiating table showing more flexibility on the nuclear issue.”

… “Another plan expected to be shared with Trump is focused on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping. Such an operation could include ground forces. Another option that has been discussed in the past and might come up in the briefing is a special forces operation to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.”

… Middle East analyst Danny Citrinowitz: “There Is No Quick Military Fix to the Iran Problem. US is probably looking for a decisive military move that will compel Iran to capitulate. It is not going to work. What 40 days of sustained strikes failed to achieve will not suddenly be accomplished through attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, high-profile assassinations, or even strikes on civilian infrastructure.”

… The assumption that a short, sharp operation could ‘send a message’ to Tehran rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of the regime. Iran is not likely to back down under pressure. More plausibly, it will respond in ways that increase the cost, not just for its adversaries, but for the global economy. Disruptions in the Gulf, attacks through proxies, and broader regional instability are not side effects; they are central components of Iran’s playbook.”

… “Worse still, the belief in a ‘limited’ strike is largely an illusion. Given the profound mistrust between the parties, even a narrowly targeted operation risks triggering a disproportionate response. Escalation in such a context is not a possibility, it is a probability. What begins as a ‘controlled’ action could quickly evolve into a wider and far more dangerous conflict.”

… “There is also a harder truth that policymakers are often reluctant to confront: additional military force is unlikely to bring down, or fundamentally alter, Iran’s regime. The search for a simple, forceful solution is misguided. There is no quick military fix to the Iran problem, and pretending otherwise risks making a difficult situation far worse.”

We had a great show yesterday on Uncovered where we spent the first segment with my analysis of the SCOTUS voting rights decision - focused primarily on the short and long-term political implications. I have a much different take than anyone else I have heard on it. Then we covered many more topics. A link to the show is here.

Tomorrow is also the Ask the Editor podcast where I answer 5 of your questions. Please submit a question you have in the comments below. I wasn’t able to film it last Friday because the news was so crazy I had to completely focus all my time on getting the Bulletin done.

… India Today: “Trump’s naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, with attacks on and seizures of vessels linked to Iranian ports, has significantly disrupted Iran’s trade flows, depriving the country of critical supplies and access to global markets. Now, Pakistan appears to have punched a hole in the blockade with a strategic move to open six key overland trade routes.”

… “Islamabad has operationalized these routes to facilitate the movement of goods into Iran, creating an alternative trade corridor at a time when more than 3,000

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Here’s what we’re tracking today:

• Iran’s Ayatollah declares the only place America belongs in the Persian Gulf is “at the bottom of its waters”

• Trump spent the morning posting QAnon memes, renaming the Strait of Hormuz, and demanding Jimmy Kimmel get fired

• PCE inflation hits 3.5% — highest in three years — and Brent crude breaks $120 a barrel

• Hegseth testifies before the Senate, calls Democrats the biggest threat to America

• MAGA Congress members grade Trump on the economy: “A”

• New polls show 68% of Americans oppose Trump’s signature on paper money; White House ballroom gets 28% support

• House votes to reauthorize FISA Section 702

• Trump pulls Casey Means nomination, taps Fox News contributor Nicole Saphier for Surgeon General

• House passes partial DHS funding bill, likely ending the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers. At MeidasTouch, you know we don’t care about access. We don’t care about offending power. We don’t act as stenographers for Trump’s lies. We care about getting you the truth. If you’re already a Meidas+ Substack member, thank you. If not, join us today and support our unapologetic reporting.

Now let’s dive deeper.

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Before anything else, if you’ve been thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, now is the time. Your support is always appreciated.

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I know things feel difficult right now. There’s a lot of instability here at home and around the world. But I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for staying in this fight for democracy.

Thank you for what you do for your families, your communities, this country, and beyond. You are making a difference. You are the reason this country has not fallen under the full authoritarian grasp that’s being pushed.

As we look at everything that’s happened this week, one thing is clearer than ever: accurate, independent media is more important than ever. And what we’re seeing from propaganda outlets is the same tired playbook: propping things up, reshaping narratives, and trying to convince people of something they know just isn’t true.

But here’s the good news: people aren’t buying it.

You see the recycled talking points. The “Trump said this, Trump said that” echo chamber. The attempts to spin events into something they’re not. And yet, people see through it. They know what’s real. They know what they’re experiencing in their daily lives, whether it’s the cost of groceries, rent, healthcare, or just trying to get by.

At the same time, you’ve got officials going out there saying things that are plainly disconnected from reality. Economic warnings are being raised about inflation and job conditions. The gap between what’s being said and what people are actually feeling keeps growing.

And instead of addressing any of that, we get distractions. Spectacles, vanity projects, and messaging that doesn’t speak to the challenges real people are facing.

But here’s what I was thinking about this morning: we’re getting closer to the midterms.

A functioning Congress, an actual check on power, is exactly what this country needs right now. That’s why there’s so much intensity. That’s why you’re seeing efforts to reshape the rules, redraw maps, and control narratives. It’s all connected.

But we’ve got something stronger: people who care about truth, facts, and democracy. Real patriots who are willing to stand up, speak out, and build community.

That’s what this movement is about.

We’re going to keep doing our work here at the MeidasTouch Network every single day. Reporting. Breaking things down. Telling the truth. And we know we’ve got you with us.

So please, share this message. Tell others about MeidasTouch. Keep building those bridges and conversations.

And again, if you’re able, become a paid subscriber.

We’re in this together. And we’re not slowing down.

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Top stories:

• Trump posts a 4 AM AI meme of himself holding an AR-15 with Iran exploding in the background

• The Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act 6-3, paving the way for racist gerrymandering nationwide

• Pete Hegseth has a disastrous hearing before the House Armed Services Committee

• Democrats file contempt charges against Pam Bondi — and within 45 minutes, Republicans suddenly find a date for her testimony

• New horrific details emerge from the Epstein investigation in New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

• Gas prices hit $4.23 per gallon and rising, as Trump war-games the Iran blockade with oil executives

• Trump’s approval craters to 40%, and a new poll shows Americans think the economy was better under Biden

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers. At MeidasTouch, you know we don’t care about access. We don’t care about offending power. We don’t act as stenographers for Trump’s lies. We care about getting you the truth. If you’re already a Meidas+ Substack member, thank you. If not, join us today and support our unapologetic reporting.

Let’s get into it.

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… CNN: “Trump has long pressed for his political adversaries to face charges, including the former FBI director he sees as a key leader in the perceived effort to ‘weaponize’ justice system against him. Last May, Comey posted a photo on social media of shells on a beach writing out the numbers ‘86 47,’ which critics said referred to taking out or killing Trump.”

… “When used as slang, the number 86 can refer to getting rid of or tossing something out. Trump is currently the 47th president. Comey posted the photo of the shells, writing in the caption ‘Cool shell formation on my beach walk.’”

… The indictment: “On or about May 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of NC, the defendant, JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR, did knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States, in that he publicly posted a photograph on the internet social media site Instagram which depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making out ‘86 47’, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”

… That is the actual indictment. I’m not creative enough to make up something that insane.

… Dep. AG Todd Blanche announced the indictment and noted that Comey faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

… FCC Chair Brendan Carr is going after local Disney/ABC network stations in retaliation for Jimmy Kimmel’s criticisms of Trump. CNN: “As the Trump admin pressures ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel, the Trump-aligned FCC is challenging the network’s station licenses, setting up a legal battle with ABC’s parent company Disney.”

… FCC order: “Disney’s ABC is hereby directed to file license renewals for all of their licensed TV stations within 30 days - in other words, by May 28, 2026.”

… “The order will not affect the local stations right away. It is just the start of a protracted legal process, and ABC has broad legal protections. Nevertheless, the FCC order is an extraordinary escalation by the Trump admin. While the FCC asserts that the license review is related to an ongoing probe into Disney’s diversity initiatives, it is being widely viewed as a form of govt retaliation for airing Kimmel’s show and resisting Trump’s pressure.”

… Kimmel responded to Melania’s call for him to be fired for his joke about her being “an expectant widow”: “It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination. And they know that. But I understand that the first lady had a stressful experience over the weekend. And probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house.”

… Kimmel: “I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do. And I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.”

… Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: “The notion that any of us are concerned with so-called ‘criticism’ from these phony Republicans as it relates to anything that’s been said - certainly as it relates to the comment about ‘maximum warfare’ in connection with the redistricting battle Republicans launched - I stand by it. You can continue to criticize me for it. I don’t give a damn about your criticism.”

… Stephen Miller’s wife Katie Miller went on Fox to blame the shooting on Gavin Newsom: “It’s no mistake this man hailed from the state of California and that of Gavin Newsom who is one of the worst offenders of this violent political rhetoric that sparks this man’s imagination.”

… Newsom spokesperson: “What an absurd statement. Political violence is NEVER acceptable. PERIOD. What Cole Allen did was reprehensible and we’re grateful the President was uninjured. This finger pointing from people like Katie who haven’t just tolerated, but amplified, Trump’s dangerous rhetoric is offensive.”

… Newsom: “The President has openly celebrated the deaths of his political opponents, called Democrats and immigrants “vermin,” “demonic” and “evil” “animals” who are “poisoning the blood of our country.” He regularly uses violent language, threatens to arrest and jail his political enemies - while describing the attempt to overthrow our democracy on J6 as a “beautiful thing.” The same folks cheering Trump’s threats don’t get to rewrite the narrative now.”

… Katie Miller then talked about the viral photo of her being evacuated from the WHCD with Stephen grabbing her breast from behind: “What everyone sees is my husband copping a feel, but he wasn’t going to put his hands on my stomach, that’s where are baby is. He just moved his hands upward. Q - They were saying he was using you as a shield. Miller: He was behind me, protecting me, and our baby.”

… A contentious hearing today in the House with Trump’s EPA administrator Lee Zeldin attempting to justify dismantling clean air and water regulatory enforcement, draconian budget cuts, and massive polluting corporations getting free reign after making huge contributions to Trump’s campaign.

… NPR: “From the outset, Zeldin has pursued a deregulatory agenda at the EPA with zeal, even inviting companies to email his agency so they can be exempted from air pollution standards. Under his watch, the agency has moved to roll back drinking water standards for PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ and weakened protections against air pollutants, such as mercury, arsenic, ethylene oxide and more.”

… “EPA greenlighted pesticides and insecticides, with known health risks; proposed that a safe level of exposure of the human carcinogen, formaldehyde, exists; and elected not to regulate endocrine-disrupting chemicals, known as phthalates, in consumer products. It cancelled millions of dollars in research grants on the health effects of chemicals and pollutants.”

… “The broad efforts to undo protections has touched ‘pretty much everything we eat, breathe, drink and use in our homes,’ says Betsy Southerland, an environmental scientist with the Environmental Protection Network, a volunteer organization of former EPA employees.

… One of the main issues is companies getting an executive order from Trump exempting them from lawsuits for endangering public health. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this favorable treatment is Bayer. AOC caught Zeldin in a lie when he claimed he never met with Bayer officials to discuss the new policy before it was implemented.

… She asked Zeldin if he ever met with Bayer about their legal issues on glyphosate: “No, I never did.” AOC then presented visitor logs from the EPA and emails from Zeldin’s senior advisor which showed that Zeldin met with the Bayer CEO to discussion upcoming “legal/judicial issues.” Zeldin then began stuttering and stammering and shuffling paper before responding: “My meeting was very brief.”

… The email stated that Bayer was specifically seeking to discuss with Zeldin the Supreme Court case on glyphosate lawsuits, and also wanted an update on EPA’s regulatory review of the pesticide. AOC: “Do you understand the conflict of interest that is before the American people right now?”

• Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH): “You pushed a massive spending bill, most of it going to tax cuts for the super wealthy, you’ve cut healthcare by nearly $1 trillion, and now you’re gonna cut the EPA by 50%. Would you have supported this as a member of Congress? Zeldin: I hear from Americans across the country happy to get more back in their tax return. Landsman: You don’t talk to folks. That really isn’t true. Nobody is saying ‘thank you’ for cutting their healthcare.”

• Landsman: “With healthcare cuts and more pollution, people are worried about their health. Do you agree that’s a concern? Zeldin: Actually, the feedback I get is that people are happy. Landsman: Where is this ‘feedback’ coming from? People run up to you saying, ‘Thank you so much for cutting the EPA, for cutting our healthcare’?”

• Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ): “Do you have any issue with the fact that during the 2024 campaign, Trump asked the oil and gas industry for $1 billion in exchange for supporting these rollbacks that the EPA is doing now? Zeldin: How about the Biden EPA’s conflicts of interest? Menendez: You’re a part of the Trump admin!”

• Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA): “How do we get rid of PFAS in municipal water supplies with 90% fewer dollars? Zeldin: Earmarks are a decision for you to make. Auchincloss: So wait - your EPA plan for clean water is to hope that members of Congress do it? Hope is not a strategy.”

… And it is not just Democrats who are fuming at the Trump admin policies destroying the environment while endangering public health. RFK Jr’s MAHA disciples also spoke out today about what they feel is a series of betrayals after they agreed to vote for Trump after RFK Jr endorsed him:

• MAHA activist Kelly Ryerson on Fox: “This is an enormous political misstep - what the admin did. A real slap in the face to MAHA. This is a very important issue to MAHA. Truthfully, it might cost the midterms for the Republican Party. Host: 77% of Republicans say they are very worried about this issue.”

• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL): “On behalf of all the Mom’s and Dad’s that aren’t in office, I will NOT be bullied into supporting a ‘farm’ bill that is providing protections and immunity to corporations that are responsible for giving children and adults cancer. This is literally above party affiliation.”

• Alex Clark, host of Turning Point USA’s MAHA podcast: “The last conversation Charlie Kirk and I had on his show was about how problematic pesticide liability shields are and how atrocious it is for Republicans to back them. All of MAHA and conservative women are watching you fight for big ag INSTEAD of the health of American children and farmers and the ability to sue if we get harmed. You need to support Luna’s amendment for sections 10205-10207 be stripped from the Farm Bill.”

… Republicans continued their push to have taxpayers pay for Trump’s ballroom, which he originally claimed in February 2025 would be paid for entirely out of his own pocket. Then he changed it to donor money. Now he wants us to pay.

• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says they are going introduce legislation that’s going to authorize $400 million on building the ballroom: “We pay for it by offsetting it with customs fees. The sooner we get the ballroom built, the better it is for the country.”

• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO): “I’m working on legislation to ensure we are getting the ballroom funded. There’s obviously a national security element to that, and it needs to be done.”

• Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV): “You would think this town would be tired of Trump being right all the time. This president has always had the ability to see around corners and make decisions that are best for the country or his business. We need to have that ballroom built. God bless the president for doing it.”

• Marge Greene: “One day in the future, parents will tell their children that it was because of Trump’s war on Iran that caused farms to fail because farmers couldn’t afford fertilizers and the cost of farming was too high. And instead of world peace Lindsey Graham pounded his fist and said ‘drop the nukes and give Trump $400 million to build the ballroom!’”

• Meidas reporter Pablo Manriquez to AOC: “Now Republicans are saying taxpayers are going to be on the hook for this ballroom? AOC: Hell no. They demolished the East Wing without any sort of process, which is deeply shocking. The idea that they’re going to build this palace on the taxpayer’s dime - after they said that whatever billionaire they had a sweetheart deal with was going to foot the bill - is not acceptable.”

• Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI): “They are always looking for new ways to kiss the ring. We all knew this was where it was headed. The grift never stops.”

• Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT): “We want to pay for bridges and roads. We want to keep Americans safe. What do they want to do? They want to kiss the president’s ass over and over again.”

• Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ): “There’s an affordability crisis out there. Nobody gives a shit about the ballroom except for the president.”

… NYT: “Breaking News: Gas prices in the US have hit their highest level in 4 years. Tuesday’s jump was the biggest increase in more than a month, as negotiators deadlocked over reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”

… NYT: “Trump’s approval ratings are down. Gas prices are up. Congressional Republicans are heading to the exits in record numbers. And Democratic enthusiasm is cresting. With a little more than 6 months until the midterm elections, anxious Republicans are confronting a foreboding political climate that party leaders fear could lead to a wipeout in the fall if it does not improve.”

… Politico: “The House is now favored to fall into Democratic hands while control of the Senate is increasingly up for grabs as Democratic candidates up and down the ballot build substantial war chests. In private, Republican political strategists are grimly trading synonyms to describe the darkening environment: sour, ugly, bad, bleak.”

… Newt Gingrich: “If the election were in May, Republicans would lose. The war, the sense of affordability and gasoline - some of that has to be cleared up in order to win. If it doesn’t change, I’ll start tearing my hair out.”

This is a big one so you still have a ways to go to get through all the drama today. I never promised you a rose garden. Reminder that there is no Bulletin tomorrow because I do my weekly podcast Uncovered where I do a deep dive into the top stories right now. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

Thank you to everyone who subscribes to help support my work and the other contributors with Meidas.

… Ryan Grim with DropSite News: “Kid Rock flew to Fort Belvoir this morning on his private jet and took a little joy ride on 2 Apache helicopters with Pete Hegseth, according to multiple Army sources, and backed up by flight data. Apaches typically have 2 pilots, but they went up with one so the boys could each ride shotgun, I'm told.

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… Trump, members of his admin, Republican members of Congress, as well as right-wing TV hosts, podcasters and influencers went on a full-court propaganda blitz today to use the latest incident to justify not only construction of the ballroom, but even a demand to have taxpayers now foot the bill.

… Trump went on 60 Minutes to make has case for the ballroom while blaming Democrats:

• Q - “Is there something you as president can do about political violence? Trump: I do think the hate speech of the Democrats is very dangerous.”

• He was asked about falling down: “I started walking with them and they said ‘please go down on the floor’. So I went down. We were asked to go down by the agents.”

… They reached down when he fell, grabbed him, and pulled him back up.

• Q - “In his manifesto, he wrote that ‘I’m no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.’ What’s your reaction? Trump: I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you’re horrible people. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody. Host: Oh, you think he was referring to you? Trump: I’m not a pedophile. Excuse me. You read that crap from a sick person. I was totally exonerated. You should be ashamed of yourself, reading that. You’re a disgrace.”

… The media propaganda tour continued for members of the admin and congress:

• Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox: “You have some of the most prominent figures in the House and Senate on the Democrat side effectively calling for war. It incites violence. The ballroom will be a solution for this. It will be on the most secure compound in the world.”

… Johnson is claiming that Hakeem Jeffries’ quote about the midterms was an alleged call for violence. This is what Jeffries said when asked why he went all-in to back VA redistricting: “Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”

• Johnson: “The ballroom will be a solution for this. It’ll have 7-inch thick glass, so it’ll be a very safe environment to do events like that. We need a place like that and the president keeps pointing it out.”

• Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) on Fox: “Democrats want Trump and Republicans murdered all across this country. Capitalists murdered.”

• Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) on Newsmax: “Let’s be clear about this. This is all borne out of rhetoric from the left, the Democrat Party in particular, that calls Trump a threat to democracy, they call him and the people around him things like Nazis. People react to those kind of things. You see one side in a hot war.”

• Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) on Fox: Q - “Do you have a top level recommendation you would suggest to improve security for events like this? Fallon: Certainly, the White House ballroom.”

• Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH) on Fox: “We gotta build that ballroom as soon as possible.”

• Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): “This week I will introduce and seek unanimous consent for legislation providing express approval for construction of a Presidential ballroom. It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our President, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations.”

• Sheehy: “Unfortunately, it seems, too many people believe trying to kill our President and members of our government is acceptable. A President of any party should be able to host events in a secure area without attendees worrying about their safety. This is common sense. Let’s get it done.”

• Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL): “I don’t want to hear another word from the FAKE NEWS claiming that Trump doesn’t need a WH Ballroom AGAIN. My ‘Build the Ballroom Act’ will put these activist judges in their place and ensure this project gets done in a timely manner. Build Away.”

• Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): “I'm dropping a bill tomorrow. Let's build the Ballroom.”

• Karoline Leavitt: “It’s why the ballroom project is not just a fun project for President Trump, like you will read in the media, it is actually critical for our national security. Nobody in recent years has faced more violence than Trump.”

• Leavitt: “When you have mentally disturbed individuals across the country who are listening to this crazed rhetoric it inspires them to do crazy things, and it’s not just the media, the entire Democrat Party has made their pitch to voters across the country that Trump poses an existential threat to democracy.”

• Leavitt: “The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend.”

… Sen. Lindsey Graham said they are going introduce legislation that’s going to authorize $400 million to be spent on building the ballroom: “We pay for it by offsetting it with customs fees. The sooner we get the ballroom built, the better it is for the country.”

… Meidas reporter Pablo Manriquez asked Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) if he would support Rep. Chip Roy’s push to have taxpayers funds pay for the ballroom: “There will be a mixture of private and public funds from what I’m hearing. Q - Would you vote for public funds to be used? Johnson: Sure.”

… Democratic strategist Mike Nellis: “Remember kids, you can’t criticize the president for covering up the Epstein files or taking corrupt foreign deals while the economy implodes, but it’s okay to call Democrats cultists and domestic terrorists. That’s the official position of this WH.”

… Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) had a different bizarre take on CNN: “We had essentially the whole chain of command in one place. People say, ‘That’s a lot of vulnerability,’ but it’s also a flex, saying, ‘Iran, there’s really nothing you can do about it. Shed tears, whatever, but you can’t influence things in the US.’”

… Meanwhile, it appears initial reports from the Trump admin and media that the gunman fired the shot that hit the bulletproof vest of a Secret Service agent may not have been accurate. Todd Blanche today: Q - “Have you been able to determine whether the gunman fired shots? If so, how many shots he fired and who exactly? Whose bullet hit the agent? Blanche: We’re still looking at that.”

… Two days before the event, Jimmy Kimmel held a parody of the dinner an annual event honoring journalism and funding scholarships. He made this joke, which led to Melania Trump making a rare social media post today. Kimmel: “Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

… Melania: “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

… “A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?”

… There has also been a renewed push to have either Kash Patel or Secret Service Director Sean Curran fired, with this being the final straw for both of them. Real Clear Politics: “Calls for heads to roll at the Secret Service after another assassination attempt on Trump’s life. There were serious errors when it came to establishing an appropriate perimeter around an event with so many cabinet members and dignitaries.”

… Chief of Staff Susie Wiles oversees the Secret Service and has let Curran remain in his job despite numerous failures on his watch. Source: “They’re about to fire Kash, and he had nothing to do with this when Susie oversees the Secret Service, and it’s failure after failure after failure, and she gets no blame. This should’ve been the most secure perimeter in the world. And the fact that the guy made it through the mags underscores the epic failure of the Secret Service in protecting the president.”

… “Other sources say that Wiles never wanted Curran as USSS director, but Don Jr. and Eric Trump pulled for him. If anything goes wrong, ‘It’s on the boys’ for choosing him, Wiles has remarked to other top admin officials after Trump decided to appoint him.”

… Fox host Lawrence Jones was openly hostile to Patel on his show: “They did a great job on the ground, but they remain reactive. The proactive approach is still under great scrutiny. The president is averaging an assassination attempt once a year! Who’s gonna do the investigating of the procedures? Secret Service can’t investigate themselves because there’s still people in leadership at there that were responsible for Butler. How does that happen? It was a failure!”

… Patel then tried to shift the blame to new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin: “Right, I can’t speak to Butler and I agree it was a total failure, absolutely. But I have full confidence in Markwayne Mullin. He oversees the Secret Service. I’ve talked to him repeatedly over the weekend and I’ve asked, I’ve spoken with him and said whatever you need from the FBI, whatever we can assist him. This FBI stands ready to improve that process under Markwayne’s leadership.”

… Q - “What have you learned about the shooter that you want our audience to understand? Patel: “First and foremost, I want to remind your audience of President Trump’s leadership, literally courage under fire. He’s assembled the greatest law enforcement team I’ve ever seen.”

… Spoken like a man who is worried he’s about to be fired.

… Axios: “A senior Ukrainian diplomatic source said that if the vessel PANORAMITIS, which is allegedly carrying wheat stolen from occupied Ukrainian territories, enters the Israeli port of Haifa and unloads its cargo, it will lead to a crisis in relations between Ukraine and Israel.

… Ukrainian source: “We are tracking this new vessel and won’t let this slide. If it’s permitted to dock and unload, there will be fallout, specifically for our bilateral ties. If this ship and its cargo isn’t rejected, we reserve the right to deploy a full suite of diplomatic and legal responses. ⁠⁠Frankly, this feels like a slap in the face given the strategic goodwill Ukraine has extended - from designating the IRGC as terrorists to criminalizing antisemitism. Profiting from stolen cargo should be beneath Israel’s dignity.”

… WSJ’s Yaroslav Trofimov: “Israel has enough problems and the last thing it needs is to create a new enemy just because someone wants to make a quick buck from Russian war crimes. If enabling the looting of Ukraine becomes Netanyahu’s official policy, it will have consequences beyond Ukraine.”

… Adam Kinzinger: “If Israel is buying stolen Ukrainian grain, we have to wonder whose side Israel and Netanyahu are on? They can’t be the ally of democracy and freedom while empowering Russia. Period.”

… Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): “Israel should not be in the business of cashing in on Russian war crimes. If Netanyahu’s govt chooses to legitimize this kind of behavior, the repercussions will extend far beyond Ukraine. An ally should act like an ally.”

We saw again this week how the coordinated right-wing propaganda machine operates in the wake of a big event to flood the zone. Hopefully we are much more equipped than we were in the past to deal with and combat the narrative. It is still not easy to deal with it when they are all on the same page.

I just don’t think the American people are going to buy the bs this time on this ballroom justification. The Iran War is being felt on prices with no end in sight. Trump’s obsession with his ballroom only turns non-MAGA people off. The corruption and greed is off the charts. The next batch of approval polls will give us the first read on that.

If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin recapping the weekend, you can find that here.

… German Chancellor Merz on the Iran War: “It is quite obvious that the Americans have absolutely no coherent strategy whatsoever. And the fundamental problem with these kinds of conflicts is always the same: it is not enough to simply get yourself in—you must also figure out how to get yourself out. We witnessed that reality quite painfully in Afghanistan over the course of 20 long years. We saw the exact same thing happen in Iraq.”

… “So this entire situation, as I have mentioned previously, is at the very least ill-considered. I do not see, at this present moment, what strategic exit the Americans are choosing—especially since the Iranians are either negotiating very skillfully, or just as effectively, refusing to negotiate at all. Making the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave empty-handed—there is a sense that a whole nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.”

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• Trump has gone nearly silent on social media, his last post being a response to a random account about renaming ICE

• MAGA Republicans are wall-to-wall on TV demanding Trump be gifted a golden ballroom

• Melania attacks Jimmy Kimmel; her friend Paolo Zampolli posts a bizarre AI birthday tribute

• Germany’s chancellor says the U.S. has no strategy in Iran and is being humiliated on the world stage

• Iran’s foreign minister meets with Putin; Iran and Russia declare themselves strategic partners

• MeidasTouch host and legal analyst Katie Phang files federal suit against the DOJ over Epstein files

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers. At MeidasTouch, you know we don’t care about access. We don’t care about offending power. We don’t act as stenographers for Trump’s lies. We care about getting you the truth. If you’re already a Meidas+ Substack member, thank you. If not, join us today and support our unapologetic reporting.

Let’s dive in.

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There are two sides of the economic house: Monetary and fiscal. Right now, all eyes are on the monetary side as we cross-examine a new potential Federal Reserve chairman. We’re all pretty familiar with the backdrop. Donald Trump wants rates in the basement. We have massive structural deficits that cost the government a trillion dollars a year to service. The government has sent trillions into the financial system on both sides of the house and it needs to be managed. And we’re not allowed to have nice things. We’re going to talk about a Warsh era at the Fed and show just how complex, interconnected and massive the problem is and how his worldview just doesn’t square with reality.

Given all the attention to the monetary side of the house, you might be inclined to think that’s where the action is. And that’s the problem. Ultimately, it’s our fiscal house that’s totally out of order.

Just to eliminate any doubt, Kevin Warsh is going to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Assuming the administration drops the absurd criminal referral against Jerome Powell, Warsh takes the chair. Much of the focus in his confirmation hearing centered on two things: the direction of interest rates and Fed independence. Given Trump’s bellicose stance on rates the two issues are at the moment inextricably linked. There’s also a question about Warsh’s wealth and ties to Jeffrey Epstein but that’s for another day.

Warsh is in this position for a reason. Right now, there’s not much daylight between him and Trump though I’m confident that there’s an enormous intellectual gap. Trump knows one thing - lower interest rates means more lending and refinancing. As a real estate guy, that’s pretty much all he cares about. Having served as the youngest Fed governor under Bernanke in the Bush years, Warsh on the other hand has a real pedigree along with an elite education and estimable career in finance. And because he has such an established presence, we have access to his prior writings and therefore his worldview.

Read more

… AP: “Video showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering. The gunman was tackled to the ground and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital.”

… CBS reporter Jennifer Jacobs: “The shooting happened on the level above the ballroom where the dinner was. I don’t think people hearing about this - or even those of us in the room - realized how far from the president, VP and other guests this incident was. It was on another floor, up some stairs and several sets of security away.”

… Reese Gorman with NOTUS: “I was talking with a GOP lawmaker at the WHCD last night right after the shooting who was appalled at the lack of security entering the Washington Hilton. There were 0 magnetometer or security checkpoints prior to entering the Washington Hilton. All you needed to do to get in was flash a ticket or a screenshot of an email, there was no actual inspection of what you showed anyone.”

… “In my case they didn’t even check my phone or ticket they let me through because I was with someone who had already flashed their ticket. You didn’t reach your first and only security checkpoint until you went down the escalator and were right outside the ballroom. No ID’s were checked. There’s significantly more security at some Trump rallies I’ve been to. And this dinner had the President, VP and Speaker in attendance.”

… Karoline Leavitt on Fox right before the event started: “This speech tonight will be classic Donald J. Trump. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room, so everyone should tune in.”

… Minutes after the shooting, Dep. WH Chief of Staff and former Trump golf caddie Dan Scavino got up and tried to lead attendees in a “USA! USA!” chant by screaming it out several times. Not one person joined him and he walked out.

… Trump then held a press conference at the event:

• “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone.”

• “This is not a particularly secure building. And I didn’t want to say this, but this is why we have to have all the attributes of what we have planned at the WH. It’s a much larger room and much more secure, it’s got bulletproof glass. That’s why we need the ballroom.

• “I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I’m, I think I handle it as well - as well as it can be handled. To be honest with you, I’m not a basket case.”

• “We’re not going to cancel things because we can’t do that. We wanted to stay tonight, I will tell you, I, I fought like hell to stay, but it was protocol—they said, please, sir.”

• He said he wants the event to be rescheduled because he has a great speech ready: “I was all set to really rip it. I’ll have to save it. I don’t know if I can ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight. I think I’m going to be probably very nice. I’ll be very boring the next time, but we’re going to have a great event.”

… Kash Patel then praised Trump: “Mr. President, you inspire them 24/7, 365 You give them the resources that they need and you know, they know that you have their back, and that is a changing dynamic in this country and that’s why you saw a brave Secret Service agents respond immediately, swiftly, subdue and take down the suspect and safeguard the lives of thousands of individuals at that hotel.”

… Monica Crowley, Chief of Protocol at the WH: “Once again, you witnessed the Hand of God tonight.”

… Franklin Graham posted: “After three assassination attempts, some people say that President Trump is one lucky man. I don’t think luck has anything to do with it - I believe it is the hand of God. What do you think?”

… I think Franklin Graham is a nepo-baby charlatan who weaponizes the Bible to advance his political agenda.

… Immediately after the incident, MAGA supporters received their marching orders and blasted out coordinated propaganda posts on X trying to use it as justification for Trump’s ballroom monstrosity.

… Which also includes Sen. John Fetterman these days: “We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the US govt. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the WH ballroom for events exactly like these.”

… Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) took it a step further and said taxpayers should pay for it: “Any consideration of DHS reconciliation instructions this week and beyond should provide for construction of a secure ballroom on WH grounds.”

… Dep. AG Todd Blanche then sent a letter to the National Trust for Historic Preservation demanding they dismiss their lawsuit against the ballroom: “You lawsuit puts the lives of the president, his family, and his staff at grave risk. I hope yesterday’s narrow miss will help you finally realize the folly of your lawsuit.”

… Former MAGA influencer and Elon Musk baby-mama Ashley St. Claire: “All of MAGA is paid and they coordinate their messaging in lockstep via groupchats. All of these people came to the conclusion that after what they saw at the WHCD, their first thought was ‘Trump needs his ballroom’? One of the main groupchats in which they coordinate this messaging is literally called ‘Fight, Fight, Fight!’ after the ‘attempt’ on Trump’s life in Butler”

… Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) received quite a bit of ridicule after she suggested that actor Ben Stiller may be involved or complicit when he made this 3-word post: “Got it done.” Mace responded: Got what done?” Her reply was hit with this Community Note: “He was rooting for the Knicks to win their game against the Atlanta Hawks. And they did.”

… Journalist David Shuster: “Last night, CNN, TMZ, CBS and others reported the dinner gunman was ‘confirmed dead.’ In fact, he was alive and had not been shot. (Just shot at). At a dinner honoring WH reporting, the rush to be first instead of being accurate was on full display. Speaks volumes.”

… Daily Mail on the shooter: “On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: ‘A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.’ Allen earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the CA Institute of Tech and later a M.S. in Computer Science from a CA State Univ. During his time at Caltech, Allen listed his involvement in the Caltech Christian Fellowship.”

… CA-based elections analyst Rob Pyers on shooter: “Registered as a No Party Preference voter in LA County. FEC records show a single $25 contribution via ActBlue to the Kamala Harris presidential campaign.”

… From the shooter’s manifesto, which he sent to his family minutes before the incident:

• “I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes. (Well, to be completely honest, I was no longer willing a long time ago, but this is the first real opportunity I’ve had to do something about it.)”

• “Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest. In order to minimize casualties I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls)”

• “I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.”

• “Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed without trial. I’m not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this admin. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.”

… Seems a bit odd that he would exclude Patel from his hit list. Wonder what the reason is for that?

… CBS: “Allen’s brother had notified New London PD (CT) of the alleged manifesto he had sent to his family members prior to the incident. Family members told investigators Allen would regularly go to the shooting range to train with his firearms. The official said Allen was part of a group called ‘The Wide Awakes’ and attended a ‘No Kings’ protest in CA.”

… Trump then posted Sunday morning: “What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE. This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the WH!”

… Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) was on CNN. Dana Bash: “You and your fellow Democrats have used some heated rhetoric against the president. Do you think twice about that when something like that happens? Raskin: What rhetoric do you have in mind? Bash: That he’s terrible for this country and so on and so forth.”

… Todd Blanche on CBS: Q - “The alleged shooter had multiple weapons. In DC, open carry is not permitted. You just said he traveled from CA across the country by train. How did he do that? Blanche: This isn’t about in my mind changing the law, or making the laws more restrictive around firearms. Host: I’m asking about crossing state lines with firearms. Blanche: I don’t think that’s something we should be focused on.”

… Mehdi Hasan: “They want to use the alleged assassination attempt to build a ballroom (!) and crack down on the left but not touch gun laws, oh no, never that.”

… Peter Doocy on Fox: “We should expect in the coming days to hear about major security improvements - that could include Trump having to wear a bullet-proof vest when he is out in public.”

… When the announcement was made that the dinner was canceled, that started a run on people grabbling bottles of wine and champagne off the tables. Some for takeout later, others decided not to wait.

We make the entire Weekend Bulletin available to everyone who are also able to participate in the comments section below. About the first third of the daily Bulletins during the week are available to free subscribers. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

… While multiple corporate media outlets reported that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were heading to Pakistan to meet with the Iranian delegation led by their foreign minister, readers of this Bulletin on Friday knew that the whole thing was another typical Trump admin Friday afternoon charade to manipulate the markets.

… I documented in the Friday Bulletin how multiple Iranian officials repeatedly denied that they would attend any meeting with the US and were calling BS on US media reporting this - specifically singling out Axios and CNN for laundering Trump admin propaganda on phantom peace talks. I also documented how the price of oil dropped right after those false reports on Friday.

… But Trump continued to lie about it: “You probably heard that we canceled the trip. We have all the cards. We’re not going to spend 15 hours in airplanes all the time, going back and forth, to be given a document that was not good enough. So, we’ll deal by telephone, and they can call us any time they want. If they want, they can call me. We have all the cards. We won everything.”

… Trump then said he was not going to try to send Vance, Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan again since Iran keeps rejecting him: “We’re not going to be traveling 15, 16 hours to have a meeting with people that nobody ever heard of. Too much travel. Takes too long. Too expensive. I’m a very cost-conscious person.”

… He said this on the tarmac in Palm Beach as he flew on AF1 there for a dinner at Mar-a-Lago for his crypto investors before flying back to the WHCA dinner in DC the next day.

… Middle East analysts Danny Citrinowitz: “The assumption that a naval blockade will compel Iran’s current leadership to abandon its nuclear program, missile arsenal, and regional proxy network is as flawed as the belief that the Iranian regime can be toppled from the air, or that eliminating Khamenei would lead to meaningful regime change.”

… NBC: “US military bases and other equipment in the Persian Gulf region suffered extensive damage from Iranian strikes that is far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billions of dollars to repair. The Iranian regime swiftly retaliated after the Trump admin attacked, hitting dozens of targets across US military bases in 7 Middle East countries. Those attacks struck warehouses, command headquarters, aircraft hangars, satellite comms infrastructure, runways, high-end radar systems and dozens of aircraft.”

… “In the initial days of the war, an Iranian F-5 fighter jet bombed the US base Camp Buehring in Kuwait, despite the base having air defenses, a rare breach that marked the first time an enemy fixed-wing aircraft has struck an American military base in years. The US bases that came under attack are home to thousands of American troops, and in some cases their families.”

… NYT: “All 4 Black Republicans in the House are leaving Congress next year: 3 are seeking statewide office, and one is retiring because redistricting in his state effectively boxed him out of his seat. The exodus is a reflection of the striking and persistent lack of diversity in the GOP ranks of Congress.”

… There is no Black Republican House candidate favored to win a House seat anywhere in the US during the midterms, which would leave the House with no Black Republican representatives in 2027.

… DCCC spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre: “Republicans won’t have any Black members in the next Congress because Republicans have no interest in actually representing Black voters.”

… NYT: “During President Trump’s first month in office, his admin upended much of the flagship global HIV program that had saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Zambia. The Zambian govt went into emergency mode, desperate to ensure that people with the virus could continue to receive lifesaving medications. Crucial aspects of the program had to be scrapped - interventions that had helped stop the spread of the virus and protected the most vulnerable people.”

… “Today, a pared-down system is operating on reduced US support, and Zambia may lose that help entirely in the next few days. The Trump admin has set an April 30 deadline for the Zambian govt to accept a new health funding agreement that is tied to giving the US expanded access to the country’s mineral resources. If Zambia doesn’t sign, officials warn that Washington could cut off all of its HIV aid, a situation health officials here say would be disastrous.”

… Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): “I have been clear from the start: the US Attorney’s Office criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell was a serious threat to the Fed’s independence, and it needed to end before I could support Kevin Warsh’s confirmation. I take DOJ at its word: the investigation is closed, and any appeal of Judge Boasberg’s ruling will be with respect to legal principles and not for the purpose of reissuing subpoenas.”

… Only a criminal referral from the IG would cause a reopening of the investigation.
With these assurances, I look forward to supporting Kevin Warsh’s confirmation. He is an outstanding nominee, and it is time for the Fed Reserve to move beyond this distraction and return its full attention to its mission.”

… Trump continued to claim on Fox today that Democrats cheated in the VA redistricting referendum: "I happen to think there was a lot of cheating going on in Virginia. We were leading all day long - the Republicans. All of the sudden there was a ballot drop."

… The Salt Lake Tribune: “Celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary plans to build a massive hyperscale data center project in Box Elder County. The board that oversees the state’s Military Installation Development Authority, or MIDA, approved a series of resolutions to move the multibillion-dollar project forward, agreeing to move fast and charge far lower taxes than usual to help O’Leary ‘lure the hyperscalers’ to UT.”

… O’Leary posted on Facebook: “Luckily, in Utah, I found 3 senators and Gov. Cox, pro-business, pro-data centers, but the ball’s back in their court now. We’ve announced that we need every incentive we can get out of that state because we have to raise billions to build this power, and then the data centers that come afterwards.”

… “MIDA usually imposes a 6% energy use tax on its developments. But to stay competitive with others trying to land deals with the same companies, board members were asked to approve a sharply reduced rate for the project’s data centers. The board agreed to set it at 0.5%.”

… “Its first phase is expected to require about 3 gigawatts of power - nearly matching UT’s average statewide electricity use of roughly 4 gigawatts. At full buildout the campus would reach 9 gigawatts, more than double the state’s current total energy consumption.”

… WaPo: “The top holders of Trump’s meme coin were rewarded Sat with a lavish conference at Mar-a-Lago, where they received Trump-branded swag, listened to industry evangelists and scored facetime with the president. Trump’s crypto has flagged in popularity, and its top buyer has sued the Trump family’s other crypto business.”

… “The top 297 investors joined 18 ‘global superstars,’ including boxer Mike Tyson, motivational speaker Tony Robbins and prominent crypto executives and investors. Guests received a Trump-branded fragrance, a commemorative poster and a ‘Fight Fight Fight Red Beauty Watch,’ which typically retails for $499, promoters say. The top 29 VIPs received a ‘very, very special’ talk about the history of Mar-a-Lago.”

… Trump drained the Reflecting Pool and had workers painting the ground underneath it blue so it would look more like a swimming pool.

… Trump made a post where he claimed it was a mess when Obama was president. It received the following fact-check Community Note: “These images are identical, note the clouds and floating birds are the exact same, except the left image has been altered to make the water appear dirtier than in the original image. The original image was also taken in 2004, when George W. Bush was president.”

Rather than simply report the facts, corporate media rushed to manufacture a narrative—one about unity, about rallying behind Donald Trump, about how “presidential” he suddenly was in this moment, how he behaved so “heroically.”

And to the extent they were reporting facts, they were getting those wrong too.

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We saw early false reports that the alleged shooter—now identified as Cole Allen—was dead. That wasn’t true. But accuracy wasn’t the priority. The priority was framing. And the frame was clear: soften Trump, humanize Trump, elevate Trump.

Let’s be honest about something.

The corporate media loves this guy.

For all the performative outrage about Trump’s attacks on the press, there is a deeply dysfunctional, almost collusive relationship at play. It’s not something you can even cleanly diagnose. It’s part access journalism, part profit motive, part addiction to the chaos he creates. Follow the money. Follow the access. The result is the same.

And we’re not playing that game.

While others were spinning narratives, we focused on the facts. And the facts show something very different from what’s being pushed.

This alleged shooter got nowhere near the actual event space. Yes, it happened on the same premises, but we’re talking about someone who may have briefly breached an outer perimeter, if that, and was quickly neutralized. There was no meaningful threat to the people inside the venue.

But that didn’t stop the spin.

Almost immediately, Trump starts talking about why “we need the golden ballroom.” Within hours, a chorus of MAGA influencers are pushing the exact same line. Then Republican members of Congress jump in, suggesting taxpayers should fund it through a DHS supplemental.

Taxpayer-funded golden ballrooms. That’s where this went.

And Trump somehow ties it to Iran—saying this won’t distract him from “winning the war.” What does this have to do with any of that?

Nothing.

But the media plays along anyway.

All day, across networks, you hear the same tone: “Trump brought people together.” “Trump showed restraint.” “Trump could have attacked the media, but chose unity.”

It’s not reporting. It’s image rehabilitation.

And in the process, they’re inflating what actually happened—suggesting Trump and his inner circle were under serious threat, when that is simply not supported by the facts.

Let me be very clear.

At the MeidasTouch Network, we condemn political violence in all forms. That’s not a debate. That’s a baseline.

But we are not going to be gaslit into ignoring reality.

We are not going to pretend this incident erases the daily damage being done to this country. We are not going to pause, hesitate, or soften our reporting because the media suddenly decided this is a “unity moment.”

It’s not.

As Ron Filipkowski put it, the idea that we should stop accurately pointing out how Trump is harming this country because of something a random individual did is profoundly un-American. That’s exactly right.

Accountability doesn’t stop because it’s politically convenient.

Meanwhile, we’re in the middle of a catastrophic situation with Iran, facing massive economic consequences and global instability. Trump is treating social media posts like strategy. And now, apparently, we’re supposed to believe this moment somehow changes the equation?

It doesn’t.

And it won’t.

Trump’s approval ratings remain historically low—worse than Nixon at the point of resignation. But if you watched corporate media today, you’d think we were witnessing a political renaissance.

We’re not.

What we’re witnessing is a media ecosystem that prioritizes drama, access, and narrative over truth.

They won’t say what needs to be said.

So we will.

If you’re looking for a network that will perform sympathy, soften reality, and play along with this nonsense—you’re in the wrong place.

But if you want real reporting, if you want the truth without the spin, then stand with us.

Subscribe to the MeidasTouch Network.

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Here’s what we’re following:

• The WHCD shooting incident and what we actually know

• The coordinated MAGA ballroom propaganda blitz

• Trump’s morning post demanding his golden ballroom

• Cole Allen: who is the suspect?

• Footage shows the Secret Service protected Vance before Trump, and all the nation’s top officials were in the room at the same time

• Todd Blanche and the media’s usual attempts to silence criticism of Trump

• Trump’s fake Iran meeting and continued market manipulation

• Farm bankruptcies, starving troops, Epstein, and more

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers. At MeidasTouch, we don’t chase access and we don’t cozy up to power. While others are dressing up and pretending everything is normal at ritzy parties in DC with the Trump administration this weekend, we’re focused on telling the truth—plain and simple. We’re not here to protect Trump or play along with his allies. We’re here to hold them accountable. If you’re already a Meidas+ Substack member, thank you. If not, join us today and support independent, unapologetic reporting.

Let’s dive in.

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I’ve got my coffee with me this morning, and as always, I really look forward to this time with you, just slowing things down a bit, talking directly, and cutting through all the noise together.

The news today is focused on the incident last night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The facts are still developing, but what we saw almost immediately afterward tells you a lot. Within minutes, Trump and his team rushed out to politicize it, pushing narratives, talking about the need for his “golden ballroom,” and trying to turn the situation into a talking point about the unlawful war in Iran.

Let’s just call that what it is. It certainly seems like Trump and MAGA are going to try to use this incident to boost their poll numbers and repeat this narrative over and over again. But the American people aren’t buying it. They already aren’t buying it. People see this for what it is. And more broadly, people see what’s happening right now.

They see weakness. They see desperation. They see a war spiraling with no clear end. They see the Strait of Hormuz still controlled by Iran. They see gas prices up, oil at record highs, groceries unaffordable, housing and rent out of reach, and healthcare being ripped away. Americans are sick and tired of a regime of lies, chaos, and constant manipulation.

Take a second with me here as I finish my coffee to just think about how all of that connects.

At the MeidasTouch Network, we’re not just repeating narratives or playing along with the same old talking points. We’re calling it out in real time. Even this morning, I’ve been reporting on YouTube, breaking this down, comparing it to Butler, talking about the lack of transparency, the missing medical records, and how these patterns keep repeating.

Everything becomes spin. Everything becomes propaganda. And we’re not going to let that slide.

They’re not winning with these tactics, but instead, they’re being exposed. And people see it.

I’ll tell you this too… While all of this was happening, I wasn’t at the Correspondents’ Dinner. I wasn’t even in D.C. I stayed right here in California. I took my baby girl to see Disney on Ice yesterday, came home, grabbed a cup of coffee, and got right back to reporting for all of you.

That’s where I want to be. Right here. Doing the work. Talking directly with you.

So if you’re here, if you’re reading this, if you’re watching the reports, thank you. It really does mean everything. This community is the reason we’ve been able to grow and push back the way we have.

And if you support what we’re doing, do me a favor: hit subscribe, share the content, and help us keep building this.

I’m going to finish this coffee and dive back into the reporting.

Talk soon.

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There’s quite a tug of war going on in the world of economics right now. There’s what we can all see happening and feel — the economic strain — and then there’s what we’re being told and how the markets are behaving. There’s also some funky data coming out of government surveys right now, so if you’re feeling a bit befuddled, you are not alone.

Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (Hank) recently sat for an interview with Bloomberg and offered some fairly stunning remarks that the market and mainstream media appear to have looked past. It’s an odd thing considering Paulson’s front row seat and participation in the Global Financial Crisis. Paulson spent 32 years at Goldman Sachs, rising from the Chicago office all the way to Chairman and CEO. Took home an estimated $480 million over his career there, sold over $600 million in Goldman stock when he left for government. To put it plainly, the man knows money. And he certainly knows what a crisis looks like.

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• Trump cancels a trip to Islamabad for talks with Iran that Iran already said were never happening

• Trump sparks a new international crisis involving the Falklands

• New photos from USS Abraham Lincoln contradict Pentagon denials regarding troubling food shortages for troops

• Dozens of U.S. planes are dumping equipment across the Middle East nonstop

• D.C. hangs Australian flags to welcome King Charles. Only the best people…

• Trump greeted by video of his Epstein ties on the side of a building near the correspondents’ dinner

• Trump is focused on renovating pools now

• A leaked Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, along with other disturbing plans

• MeidasTouch’s Adam Mockler’s take on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner absolutely nails it

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers. At MeidasTouch, we don’t chase access and we don’t cozy up to power. While others are dressing up and pretending everything is normal at ritzy parties in DC with the Trump administration this weekend, we’re focused on telling the truth—plain and simple. We’re not here to protect Trump or play along with his allies. We’re here to hold them accountable. If you’re already a Meidas+ Substack member, thank you. If not, join us today and support independent, unapologetic reporting.

Subscribe now

Let’s get into it.

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… The Intercept: “FBI Director Kash Patel was twice arrested in incidents involving alcohol, once for public intoxication and once for public urination after leaving a bar, he admitted in a 2005 letter about disclosures on his Florida Bar application. The letter obtained by The Intercept was part of Patel’s personnel file at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, where he once worked.”

… Conflicting reports on whether Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will be meeting with an Iranian delegation in Pakistan. Once again, the reports come on Friday afternoon with oil prices dropping sharply on the claim by the Trump admin. However, Iran officials and their state media deny that a meeting will take place.

… Axios’s Barak Ravid: “Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to depart in the coming days for Pakistan to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to continue the negotiations on a deal to end the war, according to two senior American officials.”

… Iran state media Fars: “The Axios news outlet, citing anonymous American sources, claimed that two senior Trump advisors, Witkoff and Kushner, will hold talks with Araghchi in Islamabad. This is while the CNN network had previously reported that Araghchi only holds talks with intermediary parties and no meeting between Iranians and Americans is expected. In recent days, Western media have repeatedly published false and biased news in an attempt to influence the course of decisions made by Iranian officials.”

… Karoline Leavitt: “I can confirm Witkoff and Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks, direct talks intermediated by the Pakistanis who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process with reps from the Iranian delegation. The Iranians reached out and asked for this in person conversation, so the president is dispatching Steve and Jared to hear what he has to say.”

… Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi: “Embarking on timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority.”

… Al-Jazeera reporter Ali Hashem: “No Iran-US talks to take place during FM Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Pakistan, only bilateral engagement, I was told by a senior Iranian source. The FM will visit Muscat and Moscow too to discuss developments. My understanding is that the continuous media hype (leaks and rumors) from the Pakistani side is complicating the situation, and could lead to changing the venue of the talks.”

… IRGC-backed outlet Tasnim says Iran’s Foreign Minister will not hold direct talks with US envoys Witkoff and Kushner in Pakistan this weekend.

… Seyed Mohammad Marandi with Tehran Univ: “The Iranian FM will not hold any negotiations with the Trump regime in Islamabad and will merely convey Iran’s considerations and views regarding the end of the war to the Pakistani side. This meeting is a response to General Asim Munir’s trip to Tehran, and I have been informed that no negotiations with any Americans are planned during this visit.”

… Sen. Lindsey Graham used the war to beg for money on Fox’s Sean Hannity show to fundraise against a right-wing primary challenger critical of his war position and ties to Israel: “The blockade is working. It's going to be global. Back here at home, I hope people understand we will be in an election soon. I need your help. I’ve been with Trump at every step. We’re going to get this war right. Please help me.”

… NYT: “Since the Iran war began, the US has burned through around 1,100 of its long-range stealth cruise missiles built for a war with China, close to the total number remaining in the US stockpile. The military has fired off more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 10 times the number it currently buys each year. The Pentagon used more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, at more than $4 million a pop, and over 1,000 Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-based missiles, leaving inventories worrisomely low.”

… “The Iran war has significantly drained much of the US military’s global supply of munitions, and forced the Pentagon to rush bombs, missiles and other hardware to the Middle East from commands in Asia and Europe. The drawdowns have left these regional commands less ready to confront potential adversaries like Russia and China, and it has forced the US to find ways to scale up production to address the depletions.”

… Middle East expert Danny Citrinowitz: “Iran has effectively evolved into a military-dominated dictatorship under the control of the IRGC. Mojtaba Khamenei was supported by the IRGC as calculated decision by the Guards, based on the understanding that he would be more susceptible to their influence and direction.”

… “One only needs to look at the circle surrounding him to understand where real power lies. Figures such as Mohsen Rezaei, Hossein Taeb, Yahya Rahim Safavi, and Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr are all deeply tied to the IRGC and represent its institutional interests. Their presence signals that the Guards have positioned themselves to remain the decisive force behind the scenes.”

… “Whether Mojtaba himself is fully aware of this dynamic or not is almost secondary. In practice, key decisions are increasingly shaped, if not outright determined, by the IRGC. In that sense, we may be witnessing the emergence of what could be described as ‘Islamic Republic 3.0’, a system where clerical authority remains as a facade, but real power is firmly consolidated in the hands of a military-security elite.”

… New Fox poll has devastating numbers for Trump:

• Has sound judgment: Yes-42%, No-57%

• Has the right temperament to be president: Yes-40%, No-60%

• Has sound mental fitness: Yes-45%, No-55%

• He cares about people like me: Yes-37%, No-63%

… Megyn Kelly: “The American public feels like they gave Trump a year and a half, he’s done nothing other than make things worse, and they’re pissed. They don’t like the tariffs, they don’t like the war, they don’t like what’s happening in their bank accounts. They’re starting to think the Democrats might be the better option on the economy.”

… NBC: “Federal authorities arrested and charged a US special forces soldier who is accused of using classified information about the raid that removed Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from office to make prediction market bets. The soldier was identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke in a news release announcing the indictment.”

… Van Dyke bet a total of approximately $33,034 on the Maduro operation on the prediction market platform Polymarket. He ultimately made more than $409,000 as a result of the bets placed on the US operation, an unsealed indictment alleges. Authorities said he ‘participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro.’”

… Van Dyke was charged with “unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.”

… Trump was asked about it: Q - “There was a special forces soldier involved in the capture of Maduro who was arrested on suspicion of insider trading. Are you concerned that federal employees are betting on these reduction markets and potentially getting rich? Trump: Well, I don't know about it. Was he betting that they would get him or wouldn't get him? Reporter: It sounds like he was betting on his removal from office. Trump: That’s like Pete Rose betting on his own team. If he bet against his team, that would be no good.”

… Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL): “I think this guy should be pardoned. If the DOJ isn’t prepared to go after every member of Congress who’s profiting off insider trading, then this feels like selective enforcement, not justice. I don’t support what he did, and he should absolutely have to give back every dollar he made. But holding one person accountable while others get a pass undermines the idea of equal justice under the law. Trump should make this decision at his discretion not the DOJ.”

… Meaghan Mobbs, Director Center for Safety & Security: “I do not understand those calling for this man to be pardoned. There must be zero tolerance for this kind of behavior. An elite operator used advance knowledge of a classified operation to line his own pockets. That is a betrayal of trust, a violation of the profession, and a direct threat to the men and women who serve beside him.”

… Newsmax primetime host Greg Kelly blasted Pete Hegseth with this post: “What a DESPICABLE guy Hegseth is. Frustrated that he can’t remove his Real Nemesis, the Army Secretary, He Fires the NAVY Secretary, has him ‘walked out of the building’ by security. But this was NOT an Urgent matter. Could have given the SECNAV a month, maybe 2 weeks notice. You know, The DECENT thing to do. Instead this Insecure FAKE, who Lied and Conned his way thru Life (see Mom) and the Trump admin (see ‘confidential settlement’ ie Blackmail of accuser #1) Blows up Someone Else’s life because he can’t Handle his own. Not CUTE anymore.”

… Trump was melting down today about having to refund tariff money: “People and Companies that have taken advantage of our Country for decades, because of the horrible and ridiculous Supreme Court decision on Tariffs, are now supposed to be given back 159 Billion Dollars. All they had to do was one little half sentence, ‘that the US does not have to pay back monies that were already paid’ - and our Country would be 159 Billion Dollars richer. That’s more than most Countries are worth! Think of it - Just one half sentence, and we would have saved 159 Billion Dollars. Couldn’t they have done that for our Nation?”

… Rep. Dan Goldman and Dep. AG Todd Blanche went at it over the new DOJ indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The indictment alleges that SPLC used donor money to pay informants to infiltrate right-wing hate groups, but claims it was being done to create false flags to instigate violence and racist demonstrations. It has also refueled conspiracies that the J6 insurrection was instigated by infiltrators paid by left-wing groups.

… Goldman posted: “By this logic, the FBI ‘funds’ drug trafficking or terrorism every time they give an informant money to buy drugs or weapons (which happens all the time). This is one of the dumbest cases I have ever seen. Even for this DOJ.”

… Blanche responded: “Hey Dan, remember when you were a federal prosecutor? Man, you really have been captured by the extremists in your own party. At least you’ve gone all in on the asinine talking points.”

… Goldman: “Yes Todd, I remember the many years I was a prosecutor alongside you, when you would have resigned before acting on the blatantly political directives you now dole out routinely. Sadly, it is you that has been captured by a deeply unethical and lawless man. It is sad to see.”

… Trump then weighed in: “The SPLC, 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. If it is true, the 2020 Presidential Election should be permanently wiped from the books and be of no further force or effect!”

… ABC: “DOJ has dropped its criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, ending a standoff that threatened to delay the confirmation of Powell’s successor at the central bank. Senior DOJ officials have contacted senators in recent days, including Sen. Thom Tillis, informing them of the plan to drop the probe and refer the matter regarding alleged cost overruns at the Fed’s DC HQ to the bank’s internal watchdog.”

… Tillis has said he will block Trump’s nominee to replace Powell, Kevin Warsh, until the bogus case against Powell was dropped.

… DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro: “The IG for the Fed Reserve has been asked to scrutinize the building costs overruns – in the billions of dollars – that have been borne by taxpayers. The IG has the authority to hold the Fed Reserve accountable to American taxpayers. I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, 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.”

… Karoline Leavitt was asked about it today as she was leaving the WH on maternity leave to give birth to her second child: “The case is not necessarily dropped, it’s just being moved over to the IG. This has been a priority for the president. The investigation still continues.”

… No reaction yet from Tillis. I’ve been checking and I tagged him with the Leavitt clip.

… Axios: “At least 15 defense officials have abruptly left or been pushed out of their jobs under Trump 2.0. The exits, civilian and uniform, are the results of clashing politics, policies and personalities.”

… One Trump admin official: “There’s a lot of confusion and head-shaking. It feels so much like petty, high-school or middle-school drama.”

… Another official: “You have this pervasive, ‘Oh my gosh, what is the next perceived slight that is going to upset the Mean Girls.’”

Reminder that there is no Bulletin tomorrow because I’m off Saturdays. We are taking a drive to the area where we just bought a house to check out all the different shops and things to do. I will be out with the next Bulletin on Sunday recapping the weekend.

Thank you to everyone who reads, shares and subscribes to my work. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

… Tim Richardson with PEN America calls: “Jacqueline Smith spent months warning Stars and Stripes readers, the public, and Congress about the Pentagon’s efforts to shift editorial decision-making away from the newsroom and into the hands of political appointees. Now Smith has been fired for doing exactly what Congress

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