00x Final Filter – News Analysis from an Americanist Perspective

We Are Still in Peace Treaty Limbo in Iran

pgnewser June 12, 2026

President Trump has promised another peace deal is close to completion with Iran. He assures us the deal offers no nuclear armed options for Iran, who, so far, has not officially agreed to the deal. The President claims a deal should be done by the end of the weekend.

This week saw massive military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran, as well as between Israel and Iran. The President had promised to invade Kharg Island in response to Iran shooting down a U.S. helicopter, but changed his mind at the last second, claiming a deal had been made.

Iran says no final decision made on deal that Trump hopes could be signed soon– japantoday.com
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EXCERPT:

President Donald Trump on Thursday said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had ‌not reached a final decision on an agreement.

The deal, if confirmed, would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to end the three-month-old war, which has killed thousands and sent global energy prices sharply higher.

Iranian media reported Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying that large parts of the text under negotiation have been finalized but ‌Iran would not compromise on its red lines.

Kenyans Killed Protesting U.S. Ebola Quarantine Centers

pgnewser June 11, 2026

The U.S.’s plans to build Ebola quarantine centers in Kenya is meeting with protests from Kenyans. The centers are intended to treat American citizens in Africa exposed to the Ebola virus. Protests at one center led to three protestors being killed.

Three Dead as Protests Erupt in Kenya Over US-Backed Ebola Quarantine Center– legalinsurrection.com
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EXCERPT:

I recently reported that the Trump administration plans to send U.S. citizens exposed to the Ebola virus to Kenya rather than bring them home for observation and treatment as the outbreak of this hemorrhagic disease continues in the Africa.

I noted that President Donald Trump’s team had taken the lessons of the deadly 2014 outbreak to heart, when an infected patient spread the disease to his nurses while being treated at a Texas hospital.

Reports from Kenya indicate that the quarantine center is now being targeted for demonstrations and at least three people have been killed in the subsequent unrest.

At least one person has been killed after Kenyan police opened fire as hundreds of demonstrators protested a quarantine centre for US citizens exposed to Ebola, which the United States government is racing to build in the central town of Nanyuki.

On Tuesday, the NGO Vocal Africa posted on X that one person had died after being shot in the head by Kenyan police who earlier used water cannon, tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The proposed 50-bed unit at an air force base in Nanyuki has angered many Kenyans, who accuse the US of offloading the health risk of caring for those exposed to the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

Last week, hundreds took to the streets in Nanyuki amid growing frustration among residents as Kenyan and US authorities publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the plan despite court orders. At the time, the demonstration also turned violent, with at least two people killed and one wounded.

Police in Kenya have fired tear gas to break up a protest in the central town of Nanyuki against the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre for US citizens. Last week, two people died after being shot as police dispersed similar protests. https://t.co/cavnnDd7NT pic.twitter.com/Eo2qQbrBFl

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) June 9, 2026

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Gasflation Kills Fed Cut Hope

pgnewser June 10, 2026

Inflation hit a 3-year high primarily due to rising gas prices, which are primarily driven by the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. The Federal Reserve has already revealed there will be no rate cuts at least until 2027.

No Fed Rate Cuts Anytime Soon | American Enterprise Institute– www.aei.org
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EXCERPT:

Donald Trump has made no secret of his hope for early interest rate cuts from Kevin Warsh, the Federal Reserve’s new head. This sets Mr. Trump up for deep disappointment. It is not only that Mr. Warsh does not have the necessary votes on the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) to cut rates. It is also that Trump’s war of choice in Iran, coupled with his reckless budget and import tariff policies, offer strong arguments against the appropriateness of an interest rate cut at this juncture.

Start with the fact that there are twelve voting members on the FOMC, of whom Mr. Warsh has only one vote. At its last meeting, many FOMC voting members wanted to remove the “easing bias” language in the Fed’s last interest rate decision. Since then, a majority of FOMC participants have indicated that the Fed may need to raise interest rates later this year if inflation does not cool down to the Fed’s 2 percent inflation target. This makes it highly unlikely that, even if he wanted to do Trump’s bidding, Mr. Warsh will be able to convince his fellow FOMC members to cut interest rates until there is clear evidence that inflation is coming down.

The key reason that most FOMC participants think that an interest rate hike might be warranted later this year is that inflation is currently running at 3.8 percent, or at roughly double the Fed’s inflation target. At the same time, unemployment, at 4.3 percent, remains close to its historically low level. One important factor driving inflation higher has been the spike in gasoline prices from less than $3 a gallon at the start of the Iran war to their current level of around $4.25 a gallon. Other factors have been the hike in import tariffs to their highest level in the past one hundred years and Trump’s large unfunded tax cuts in his One Big Beautiful Bill Act. According to the Congressional Budget Office, those tax cuts will keep the budget deficit at over 6 percent of GDP as far as the eye can see. They will also soon raise the public debt level, in relation to the size of the economy, to its highest level since the end of the Second World War.

Inflation rises to a 3-year high on spiking gas prices, squeezing Americans financially– abcnews.com
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EXCERPT:

WASHINGTON — Spiking gas prices pushed inflation to its highest level in three years last month, a headache for the Federal Reserve and a potential political challenge for the Trump administration as midterm elections near.

Consumer prices rose 4.2% in May from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Wednesday, up from 3.8% in April and the third straight increase. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.5% last month, after big gains of 0.6% in April and 0.9% in March.

Rising inflation has soured many Americans on the economy, as the cost of gas, groceries, and other necessities hammer many Americans financially.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.9% in March from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in April. On a monthly basis, core prices increased a modest 0.2%.

Kashmir Protestors Killed by Security Forces

pgnewser June 9, 2026

Pakistan’s security forces opened fire on protestors in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The protesters represented the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), who had been outlawed by the Pakistani government. The government accused the organization of intentionally causing upheaval.

Over 30 Dead, 200 Injured As Security Forces Open Fire On Protesters In PoK– www.ndtv.com
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EXCERPT:

Over 30 people have been killed and around 200 others have been injured in clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) after authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)– a prominent civil society alliance that has spearheaded protests over economic and political grievances in the region.

The JAAC was outlawed last week by authorities, citing concerns over public order and security. Clashes broke out in the city of Rawalakot on Sunday after tensions flared over the death of a trader, who was allegedly shot during a confrontation with law enforcers on Friday night.

Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan, the top civilian official in Rawalakot, told news agency Reuters JAAC supporters had gathered outside a hospital mortuary where the trader’s body was taken after his death in firing by police.

🔴#BREAKING | Over 30 Dead, 200 Injured As Security Forces Open Fire On Protesters In PoK

NDTV’s @AdityaRajKaul joins @radhika1705 with more details pic.twitter.com/ZS6qNh4teX

— NDTV (@ndtv) June 9, 2026

Democrats Pass Ukraine War Funding Bill in House

pgnewser June 5, 2026

The U.S. House has passed a funding bill for the Ukraine War in the amount of $18 billion. The bill passed 226-195 with the help of 18 Republicans who crossed party lines to help the Democrats pass the funding bill.

ED. NOTE: This news source is an international progressive state agit prop operation. Take note on how similar this anti-American agit prop agent’s narrative is nearly exactly the same as the Democratic Party’s narrative. This is further evidence to at least suggest collusion between the Democratic Party and America’s foreign enemies.

US House Passes Sweeping Ukraine Support Bill After Months Of Gridlock – Radio Free Europe
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EXCERPT:

In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation and a rebuke to the administration’s approach toward Ukraine, the US House of Representatives approved a sweeping Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions package, with 18 Republicans joining Democrats to pass legislation that Republican leadership had sought to keep off the floor.

The Ukraine Support Act passed 226-195 after supporters overcame months of resistance through a discharge petition — one of the most difficult procedural mechanisms available in Congress.

The vote marks the first comprehensive Ukraine-support legislation to pass the House during the 119th Congress and underscores growing unease among some Republicans over the administration’s handling of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Trump’s Europe Retreat Appears to be Reversing

pgnewser June 5, 2026

After President Trump had signaled the U.S. might scale back its military presence in Europe, he is now signaling both continued troop rotations AND increases in nuclear weapons deployment.

US discussing additional deployments of nukes in Europe – FT – World

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EXCERPT:

LONDON, June 2. /TASS/. The United States is considering deploying additional nuclear weapons in European countries to reassure their allies in the reliability of its security guarantees, the Financial Times reported, citing sources.

According to them, Washington has signaled readiness to deploy its dual-capable aircraft (DCA) in additional European NATO countries. The talks may not lead to any changes in nuclear-sharing agreements, as the administration of US President Donald Trump intends to show commitment to providing a nuclear umbrella to its NATO allies amid widespread concern in Europe over US moves to remove military assistance from the continent, the British newspaper said.

Trump Chooses Fannie Mac Man to Replace Gabbard

pgnewser June 4, 2026

“I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence. William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago.” – President Donald Trump

Trump names new director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard– www.theblaze.com
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EXCERPT:

President Donald Trump has announced who will replace Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.

Gabbard announced her resignation as DNI last month after serving in the office for a year and a half. She cited her husband’s “extremely rare form of bone cancer” diagnosis as the main reason.

‘Bill is a great guy who recognizes that the bureaucracy of the intel community must respond to the elected leadership.’

Now, Trump has appointed William Pulte to take her place as acting director.

Pulte was the head of Pulte Homes, the third-largest homebuilder in the U.S., with billions in revenue, before he was picked by Trump to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

U.S. Claims Somalia Sovereign Over Somaliland

pgnewser June 4, 2026

President Trump has decided to not recognize the sovereignty of the state of Somaliland. The administration went further in a report from the State Department claiming the U.S. recognizes Somalia as having sovereignty over Somaliland. The report also claims the U.S. is open to cooperating with Somaliland on security issues.

US reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty, explores Somaliland cooperation – Somalia Today

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EXCERPT

The United States has reaffirmed its recognition of Somalia’s sovereignty while outlining possible areas for expanded cooperation with Somaliland in security, diplomacy and trade, according to a State Department report submitted to Congress.

The two-page report says Washington recognises “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the region of Somaliland”.

It also says the United States maintains a “positive, constructive relationship” with Somaliland and continues to explore “additional opportunities for engagement” with authorities in Hargeisa.

The report does not signal a move towards recognising Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has sought international recognition for more than three decades.

Somalia rejects Somaliland’s claim to statehood and says the territory remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The document, titled Potential Areas for Improved United States Engagement with Somaliland, was prepared under the 2026 State Department appropriations law.

SCOTUS Judge Swatted

pgnewser May 29, 2026

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barret was swatted, according to a report by the Fairfax County Police in Virgina. Police say they responded to a call around 9pm on Wednesday May 27. Fortunately for Barrett, the protocol in this situation for local police is to contact the security assigned to protect Barrett. They quickly affirmed the call was a hoax.

The caller claimed they heard “two or three gunshots” outside Barret’s home, along with people yelling outside. As for who was behind the swatting, no leads were given. The list of suspects is long, however, as Barrett has proven to be a disappointment to conservatives, and the progressives have always opposed her.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice’s Home Targeted In Terrifying Swatting Incident– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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EXCERPT:

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Virginia home was targeted Wednesday night in what authorities believe was an apparent “swatting” incident, the latest in a growing series of threats and hoaxes aimed at high-profile public officials.

According to Fairfax County Police, officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. after receiving a report of possible gunshots and an argument taking place at Barrett’s residence. Dispatch audio obtained by multiple outlets indicated the caller claimed to hear “two or three gunshots” along with people yelling outside the home.

But when local police coordinated with Supreme Court Police officers assigned to protect Barrett’s residence, they quickly determined the report was false.

“Officers immediately coordinated with Supreme Court Police personnel assigned to the residence and quickly determined that the report was fictitious,” a Fairfax County Police spokesperson said.

Authorities confirmed that no additional emergency resources were deployed once the call was determined to be a hoax. Barrett and her family were reportedly unharmed, and the justice appeared on the Supreme Court bench Thursday morning as scheduled, making no public mention of the incident.

Police responded to a call for the sound of gunshots at the home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett last night, but quickly realized it was a swatting call and cleared after meeting with her security detail. This is partial police audio, redacted pursuant to media… pic.twitter.com/fKKSTAVR6F

— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) May 28, 2026

Critical Fails in AI Industry Exposed

pgnewser May 27, 2026

Two major AI security flaws have been revealed; corporations aren’t building safeguards into their AIs and there is a security vulnerability in the code itself.

A survey of 1,200 top-level executives has revealed that over 1/3 of organizations deploying AI have no deactivation plan should they go rogue.
A security code vulnerability has been revealed in the open-source framework Starlette that allows hackers to take over servers and capture sensitive data from the servers.

The Great AI Agent Suicide Pact Proves Governance Is Dead-The Industry’s Favorite New Way to Self-Destruct – HPCwire– hpcwire.com
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EXCERPT:

A massive survey of 1,200 C-suite executives has revealed a governance gap so wide you could fly a fleet of malfunctioning drones through it. According to the latest JumpCloud research, while nearly every major enterprise has deployed AI agents into critical workflows, over a third of these organizations have no way to immediately deactivate them if they go rogue.

Let that sink in. We are handing the keys to the kingdom to autonomous software entities that can move at machine speed, yet we forgot to install a brake pedal. It’s the digital equivalent of building a self-driving car where the only way to stop it is to wait for it to hit a brick wall. This isn’t just a “glitch”; it is a systemic failure of leadership that treats AI like a magic wand rather than the high-yield explosive it actually is….

A recent MIT report highlights a staggering 95 percent failure rate for generative AI pilots at the enterprise level. When you deploy technology before you understand its logic—or lack thereof—failure isn’t just a possibility; it’s a mathematical certainty. In the rush to look “AI-forward,” companies are bypassing the boring but essential steps of E.E.A.T. (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).

Millions of AI agents imperiled by critical vulnerability in open source package– arstechnica.com
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EXCERPT:

Millions of AI agents and tools around the world have been imperiled by a critical vulnerability that can allow hackers to breach the servers running them and make off with sensitive data and credentials to third-party accounts, a security researcher is warning.

The vulnerability is present in Starlette, an open source framework that its developer says receives 325 million downloads per week. Thousands of other open source projects are also vulnerable because they require Starlette to work. The framework is an implementation of the ASGI (asynchronous server gateway interface), which allows large numbers of requests to be efficiently processed simultaneously. Starlette is the base of FastAPI and other widely used frameworks for building services in Python apps, as well as many others….

“A single character injected into the HTTP Host header bypasses path-based authorization in Starlette, the routing core of FastAPI,” researchers from Secwest wrote. “Through FastAPI, this primitive (now tracked as CVE-2026-48710 and branded BadHost by the discoverers) reaches a large segment of the Python AI tooling ecosystem: vLLM (where the bug was discovered), LiteLLM, Text Generation Inference, most OpenAI-shim proxies, MCP servers, agent harnesses, eval dashboards, and model-management UIs.”

BadHost carries a severity rating of 7 out of 10. Secwest said the classification “materially understates” the threat it poses to people using other apps that depend on Starlette. X41 D-Sec, the security firm that discovered it, described it as having “critical severity.” X41 D-Sec partnered with fellow security firm Nemesis to create an online scanner that can check if a given server is vulnerable.

Mosque Attack Leaves 3 Dead

pgnewser May 26, 2026

Three men were killed by two teen shooters in an apparent anti-Islamist attack on a mosque in San Diego. One gunman later killed the other gunman before killing himself. A suicide note confirms the anti-Islamist motivation behind the attacks, according to the police.

The suspects have ties to actual Nazi and Neo-Nazi communities. They also support triggering a complete race war. No political party can claim them, as they expressed hatred of the whole political system. They were also extremely antisemitic, with supporting the eradication of the state of Israel.

Targeted San Diego Mosque’s Imam Received Award From Terror-Tied Group – PJ Media– pjmedia.com
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EXCERPT:

The mass shooting at a San Diego mosque and educational center is undoubtedly a severe crime. While we condemn murder, we must also, in all honesty, admit that the mosque in question is a hotspot of pro-terrorist and pro-Nazi sentiment.

Many outlets and journalists have noted that two of the 9/11 terrorists attended the Islamic Center of San Diego, so it has been a magnet for jihadis for decades. And much more recently, one of the shooting’s victims celebrated Adolf Hitler’s “Final Solution” for the Jews. The mosque also held an event to honor the terrorists who died after participating in the Oct. 7 atrocities in Israel, and the imam received an award from an organization (CAIR) that is a designated terrorist entity in multiple states.

Friendly fire? One of the three deceased Muslims killed at the terror-linked Islamic Center of San Diego praised Adolph Hitler for killing Jews. Amin Abdullah is being celebrated by the media and Muslims on social media.

The two teens who killed themselves after the shooting… pic.twitter.com/u6ImXzeDIs

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) May 19, 2026

States Move to Prevent More Worship Service Takeovers

pgnewser May 26, 2026

A handful of states have passed or are attempting to pass legislation to protect worship services from political protestors. The move comes after local authorities failed to move decisively when anti-ICE protestors raided a Minneapolis church in the middle of their service to protest the pastor’s connection to ICE.

States Toughen Penalties for Disrupting Religious Services › American Greatness– amgreatness.com
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EXCERPT:

States across the country are beginning to impose tougher criminal penalties on protesters who disrupt church services and other religious gatherings following a high-profile demonstration inside a Minnesota church earlier this year.

At least four states have approved new laws this year aimed at protecting worship services from disruptions, while similar legislation has been introduced in several other states and in Congress.

Supporters of the measures say the laws are needed as churches and synagogues remain on heightened alert following years of violence and politically charged confrontations targeting religious institutions. They say existing trespassing laws are insufficient to deter increasingly aggressive protests.

“People should go to church to be able to sit in peace, worship as they please, without having to worry about people coming in and harassing them,” Mark Harris said after co-sponsoring legislation in Idaho. “I think the thing that happened in Minnesota was kind of a shock to some of us, that churches would be used as a place to berate people.”

Another Democrat Arrested for Being a CCP Spy

pgnewser May 12, 2026

The former Mayor of Arcadia, California has pled guilty to being a Chinese Communist Spy, Eileen Wang pled guilty to charges she cooperated with the Chinese Communist Party through a website called “US News Center.”

California Mayor Admits to Working with Chinese Government in Federal Plea Deal › American Greatness– amgreatness.com
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EXCERPT:

Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, has admitted in a federal plea agreement to working on behalf of the Chinese government as part of a propaganda operation targeting audiences in the United States.

The plea agreement, unsealed Monday, states that Wang acknowledged cooperating with the People’s Republic of China between 2020 and 2022 through a website known as “US News Center,” which presented itself as a news outlet serving Chinese Americans.

According to court documents, Wang worked alongside her former fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to publish content directed by Chinese government officials. Prosecutors said the pair posted articles designed to promote Chinese government narratives and then reported engagement metrics back to their handlers, including screenshots showing readership numbers.

Purge the Courts, VA Progressives Say

pgnewser May 12, 2026

Virginia Democrats Eye Court Purge After Redistricting Defeat– www.standingforfreedom.com
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EXCERPT:

The great gerrymandering race of 2026 is still well underway with California, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida all gearing up with new maps this year. Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi could also have new congressional maps by November after the Supreme Court’s ruling against racial gerrymandering.But national news was made last week when the Supreme Court of Virginia issued a 4-3 ruling striking down Democrats’ 10-1 congressional redistricting referendum that passed on April 21. The majority opinion was written by Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, whose term expires in January 2027 – a fact that made the ruling politically consequential, given that Virginia’s General Assembly elects state Supreme Court justices.

The ruling said what many independent legal experts had been claiming this entire time: The Democrats rushed the constitutional process and set up a voting referendum with improper procedures. Not only that, the language of the referendum was purposefully misleading. And after spending more than $70 million to campaign on this new map in Virginia, the Supreme Court of Virginia has already struck it down.

Since the ruling, Virginia Democrats have filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices to halt the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision and revive the redistricting measure before the 2026 midterms.

After Court Kills VA Redistricting Map, Progressives Look to Kill Court

pgnewser May 11, 2026

Progressives in Virginia are already strategizing how to overcome their state’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down their new redistricting map. The map would have given the progressives 4 more U.S. House seats.

Now, they are looking to force retirement by lowering the retirement age of the court so they can replace the new retirees with progressive lawyers.

Virginia Supreme Court overturns Democrats’ redistricting measure – ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
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EXCERPT:

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday overturned the state’s redistricting ballot measure, delivering a major setback to Democrats who hoped the new map would allow them to flip up to four congressional seats.

In a 4-3 ruling, the Virginia Supreme Court said the Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when referring the measure to the ballot. Virginia voters approved the ballot measure in an election last month.

The state’s Supreme Court said Virginia will need to use its congressional map from 2021 instead.

The decision is a win for Republicans, who are now currently set to net more seats than Democrats in the ongoing, nationwide mid-decade redistricting scramble.

Virginia plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, lawmakers from Virginia said on Friday in a filing asking the Virginia Supreme Court to delay its ruling.

Labour Almost Dies, Reform Almost Surges, Restore is Born

pgnewser May 11, 2026

The local election in Britin have seen Labour, the current party in power, lose 1,496 local seats, while the conservatives lost 564 seats. The big winners were Reform UK, which gained 1,451 seats, and Restore UK, which won the only 10 seats they were running for by margins more than double the second-place finisher.

UK PM Starmer says no plans to quit despite local elections defeat– www.cnbc.com
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EXCERPT:

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated on Saturday that he plans to remain in office despite his ruling Labour Party suffering among its worst local election losses in decades.

“I’m not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos,” Starmer told the BBC. “I think the right thing to do is to rebuild and show the path forward.”

The anti-immigration Reform U.K. party made sweeping gains in local councils in England, mainly at the expense of Labour, while the pro-independence Plaid Cymru party won the most seats in the Welsh parliament, overturning decades of Labour rule. The Scottish National Party took the most seats in Scotland’s devolved parliament.

Iran has 4 Months Left, Washington Post Claims

pgnewser May 11, 2026

A Washington Post report claiming one CIA analysis gave Iran 4 months to withstand the blockade on its country. A senior intelligence official called those claims false. The unnamed official also claimed the blockade “is inflicting real, compounding damage, severing trade, crushing revenue, and aceleating systemic economic collapse.”

CIA report claims Iran can outlast US port blockade for 4 more months– www.news24.com
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EXCERPT:

Efforts to end the war between the US and Iran appeared to stall as the two sides traded fire in the Gulf on Friday, while a US intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months.

A CIA assessment indicated that Iran would not ‌suffer severe economic pressure from a US blockade of Iranian ports for about another four months, according to a US official familiar with the matter, suggesting that US leverage over Tehran remains limited as the two sides seek to end a conflict that has been unpopular with US voters.

The Washington Post first reported the assessment.

A senior intelligence official called the “claims” about the CIA analysis “false”, saying the blockade “is inflicting real, compounding damage – severing trade, crushing revenue, and accelerating systemic economic collapse”.

Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, and the United Arab Emirates came under renewed attack on Friday.

Virginia’s Gerrymander Champion Raided by FBI

pgnewser May 7, 2026

The woman behind the Virginia special election to effectively eliminate 4 GOP U.S. House seats is now under FBI investigation. Virginia’s State Senator L. Louise Lucas saw her offices raided, along with other businesses connected to her.

So far, only anonymous sources are cited as claiming this is connected to a corruption investigation directly linked to her. She is considered the main driver of the Virginia gerrymander election plan that is currently under legal scrutiny.

FBI Raids Office of Lawmaker Who Led Virginia Redistricting – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com
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EXCERPT:

Louise Lucas’ office was swarmed on Wednesday by a heavily armed FBI squad using an armored vehicle.Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch/AP

On Wednesday, FBI agents reportedly raided the office and business of state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, the Virginia legislator and prominent leader of the state’s recent redistricting effort that won Democrats four more likely seats in the House of Representatives.

The senator’s office and cannabis dispensary, located on the same block, were swarmed by armed agents, decked out in camouflage tactical gear, with an armored vehicle on the scene, as they handcuffed and detained several men who were inside the dispensary. Agents carried out several boxes from the senator’s office. And, of course, MAGA’s favorite network, Fox News, was there to break the story.

Local ABC affiliate WSET cited undisclosed sources in claiming that the raid was part of an ongoing bribery and corruption investigation against Lucas initiated under the Biden administration, but several Virginia legislators have expressed skepticism about the political motivations behind the raid.

“I am deeply concerned by today’s FBI raid,” said state legislator Don Scott, the speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates, in a statement. “Given the politicization of this administration—an FBI led by Kash Patel and a Justice Department run by President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney—I think people should take this with a grain of salt and allow the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions.”

Scott added, “At this point, we simply do not know what this ultimately means. Right now, there is far more theatrics and speculation than actual information available to the public.”

Rubio Claims “Operation Epic Fury” is over

pgnewser May 6, 2026

Operation Epic Fury against Iran ‘is over,’ Rubio says– www.latimes.com
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EXCERPT:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military campaign that launched the war with Iran, Operation Epic Fury, “is over,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, telling reporters that a new defensive phase had begun to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

The declaration of an end to offensive operations comes as President Trump continues to threaten a new round of strikes against the Islamic Republic, which persists in disrupting commercial shipping traffic through the vital waterway.

But Rubio, who is also the national security advisor, suggested the Trump administration is reluctant to return to full-scale war.

Spirit Airlines Loses its Spirit

pgnewser May 5, 2026

Spirit Airlines had a 34-year run that came to an end this month after the company declared bankruptcy. They shut down all operations and are now in the process of selling off their assets, including their planes.

Major airline crashes into bankruptcy after 34 years – selling its planes | World | News– www.express.co.uk
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EXCERPT:

A major airline is set to sell its planes after it crashed into bankruptcy after 34 years in business. As well as cancelling all flights, it has been confirmed the company will also sell its spare engines and parts.

Spirit Airlines confirmed on Saturday (May 2) that it will shut down after failing to secure a $500 million (£368 million) rescue deal from the Donald Trump administration. The low-cost airline was emerging from a previous bankruptcy filing, but the recent surge in jet fuel costs, as a result of the ongoing war in Iran, reportedly pushed it over the brink.

Spirit had planned to exit bankruptcy by the summer after striking a deal with creditors to shed billions in debt. However, its financial position has been weakened due to the increase in fuel costs.

The airline ceased operations at around 3am on Saturday when none of its planes were in the air and crew members were away from their bases. However, some passengers still arrived at the airport in the morning after not receiving messages about the cancellations.

Dying GameStop Grabs for eBay

pgnewser May 5, 2026

As GameStop continues to struggle to stay afloat, it looks to make a $56 billion bid to buy eBay. The problem is they cannot show how they could pay for it.

GameStop offers $56 billion for eBay, struggles to explain how it’ll pay for it– arstechnica.com
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EXCERPT:

GameStop wants to slash eBay marketing budget

Morgan Stanley similarly doubted the potential cost savings. “On the expense side, we also think the potential opportunities would likely be minimal as physical and digital business require different cost bases, as do 3P marketplaces vs. 1P wholesalers. To add another challenge, GameStop has already undergone a series of large cost cuts,” the research note said.

Morgan Stanley analysts expressed skepticism about “how a deal would be financed given the material valuation gap.” If completed, they said it could end up as the largest leveraged buyout ever, “surpassing the recently announced $55 billion Electronic Arts transaction.”

GameStop said that eBay spent $2.4 billion on sales and marketing in fiscal 2025 but added only 1 million net active buyers, increasing the total from 134 million to 135 million. GameStop said it would cut $1.2 billion from eBay’s sales and marketing budget, arguing that the current spending “is not producing more users on a marketplace with near-universal brand recognition.”

GameStop proposed cutting another $300 million from eBay’s product development expenses and $500 million from general and administrative functions. The combined company will consolidate its finance, HR, real estate, legal, IT, and professional services after the merger to save money, GameStop said.

GameStop touted its own financial performance under Cohen, saying that it “moved from a $381 million net loss in fiscal 2021 to $418 million of net income in fiscal 2025.” eBay meanwhile said in its press release today that its “board and leadership team are executing a focused strategy to drive sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value.”

eBay last week reported Q1 2026 revenue of $3.1 billion, up 19 percent year over year. eBay’s GAAP net income was $512 million, up 2 percent.

GameStop, which is on a different fiscal schedule, reported net sales of $1.1 billion in Q4 2026. That was down from $1.28 billion in the prior year’s fourth quarter. GameStop’s Q4 net income also fell year over year, from $131.3 million to $127.9 million.

America’s Europe Troop Cuts Begin

pgnewser May 5, 2026

President Donald Trump announced a 5,000 troop cut in Germany, adding more is to come. He said, “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.”

Trump Announces Deeper U.S. Troop Cuts in Germany as Tensions With Allies Grow › American Greatness– amgreatness.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

President Donald Trump said the United States will reduce its military presence in Germany beyond an already announced withdrawal, indicating a broader shift in U.S. defense posture in Europe.

Speaking to reporters Saturday evening, Trump said the planned reduction of roughly 5,000 troops is only the beginning. “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he said.

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that thousands of U.S. personnel will be pulled from bases in Germany over the next year. The move revisits a policy first pursued during Trump’s earlier term, when his administration proposed withdrawing about 9,500 troops before the plan was halted by Joe Biden after he took office.

The United States currently maintains about 36,000 troops in Germany and approximately 80,000 across Europe, making it one of the largest overseas deployments of American forces.

The decision comes amid rising friction between Washington and European allies over defense commitments and strategy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly criticized the White House’s handling of the Iran conflict, saying the United States had been “humiliated,” a remark that drew attention in Washington.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. bears an unfair share of the financial burden for Europe’s defense, particularly in Germany, while also pointing to Berlin’s economic ties with countries such as Russia and China.

Alberta Wants to Leave Canada

pgnewser May 5, 2026

Leaders of the separatist movement of Canada’s western province Alberta claim to have enough signatures to trigger a vote on separation from Canada.

Alberta separatist group says it has enough signatures to trigger referendum vote on leaving Canada– www.washingtontimes.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

Alberta separatists said Monday they have formally submitted almost 302,000 signatures to try to trigger a referendum on the province leaving Canada.

The group needed 178,000 signatures to force the province to consider such a vote.

The question of separation could go on a provincewide ballot as early as October, as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she would move forward if enough names are gathered and verified. Smith has said she personally does not support the oil-rich province leaving Canada.

A yes vote would not trigger independence automatically. Negotiations with the federal government would have to take place and Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said some Indigenous groups who are already using the courts to prevent an independence referendum would use venues including the courts to stop independence from happening.

Bellwether Digest – April 20, 2026

pgnewser April 21, 2026

By STAFF

This digest covers political, world, cultural, market, and sci-tech news from April 18-20, 2026.

This digest contains the Global Outlook, Headlines Missed, and People Advance Digests.

TOP NEWS TAGS

GLOBAL OUTLOOK

TRANSGENDER CARE FOR KIDS, SAYS DISTRICT JUDGE – United States District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai has ruled that the HHS’s declaration that gender-affirming care for children is unsafe and ineffective is unconstitutional. The judge sided with the 22 progressive-led states, which argued the federal government did not have the legal authority to make such a determination.
META’S DOWNSIZING CONTINUEs – The parent company of Facebook, Meta, has announced plans to lay off nearly 10% of its total workforce, 8,000 positions, starting in early May 2026. These layoffs may not be the only layoffs, as more might be announced after May of this year.
TRUMP DOWN BIGLY – President Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to 37% according to an NBC News poll. This is the lowest rating the poll has recorded during the President’s second term. His disapproval rating has hit 62%, with 50% now strongly disapproving.

HEADLINES MISSED

FISA COURT QUASHES SPY TOOL, TRUMP DISSENTS – The Trump administration is fighting a FISA court ruling that prevents the government from specifically searching for individuals online who have merely contacted a foreigner. The administration is challenging the FISA court as the court’s existence comes up for renewal this April 30. The GOP-led House extended the program by unanimous consent vote during a late-night session.
AI IS BECOMING A UTILITY – More and more Americans have begun making AI subscription services a part of their essential household budget. Since 2024, paid AI subscriptions have increased by 38%. The paid AI subscription service market is expected to exponentially expand over the next two years.
RIOT BOTS AND THE CCP – China hopes to soon deploy robots to control future rioters. The People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) is already testing the possibility in preparation for a potential mass riot event.

PEOPLE ADVANCE

CHARLIE KIRK HONORED WITH 1A PROTECTING LAWS – Kansas joins a growing list of states which passed laws honoring the late assassinated American activist Charlie Kirk. The laws have one thing in common, they both protect rights enumerated in the 1^st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. These rights are the right to religious liberty and the right to freedom of speech.
WOKE HEALTH PANEL NO MORE – RFK Jr. is vowing to replace the “woke” panel currently in charge of choosing what preventative care gets covered by Obamacare. Kennedy plans on replacing the current allegedly “woke” members of the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force, saying “We’re now bringing new members on who have a clear mission.”
DIRT-POWERED BATTERIES – Researchers from Northwestern University have invented a fuel cell that is powered by microbes found in soil. Northwestern alumnus Bill Yen, who led the work, said of their proof-of-concept, “We need to find alternatives that can provide low amounts of energy to power a decentralized network of devices… we looked to soil microbial fuel cells, which use special microbes to break down soil and use that low amount of energy to power sensors. As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes to break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever.”

STORIES WE’RE WATCHING

ON OUR RADAR

Trump Announces Plan to End DHS Pay Freeze with Emergency Declaration

pgnewser March 27, 2026

In a move that is sure to be immediately challenged in a progressive court, President Trump has announced a plan to end the DHS pay freeze without using congress. He declared, “They are refusing to fund Immigration Enforcement unless the Republicans agree to their Open Border Policies, which will never, ever happen again….

Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do! Therefore, I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports.”

Blurb:

Trump Ends DHS Payment Freeze Without Congress, Issues Immediate Orders to New DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin – westernjournal.com

In an announcement on Truth Social Thursday evening, President Donald Trump announced that he would be ordering new Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin to pay Transportation Security Agency officials who have been working without salary during the DHS shutdown.

It was unclear from the statement how he planned to find the funds, but said the move would be through executive order.

The Associated Press noted that the administration had considered using the declaration of a national emergency to move funding through, although the wire service noted it “would be politically fraught and almost certain to face legal challenges.”

Top Stories

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TOP BRIEFS

1. U.S. AI Firms to go through Government Safety Screen – mindfulintelligence.news

3. Rubio Claims “Operation Epic Fury” is over – bellwetherintel.com

4. China Gatekeeping U.S. Military from China Defense Industry Threats – scitechwire.com

5. CCP terrorizes Dissenters on American Soil – extinctwire.com

6. Omar Thumbs State Inquiry – americanistpress.com

7. Sickle Cell Cure Might Soon be on the Way – scitechwire.com

8. Trump Gives Teen Fighting Chance Against Cancer – thebethlehem.com

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GameStop wants to slash eBay marketing budget