Day: April 23, 2026
Pat Fallon launches bid for House Oversight Committee chairman as James Comer’s term limit nears
Rep. Pat Fallon announces his bid for House Oversight Committee chairman, pledging to investigate fraud and foreign funding behind protest movements.
Travis Hunter’s wife Leanna Lenee has a warning for WAGs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft
Travis Hunter’s wife Leanna Lenee says WAGs can’t win on NFL Draft night, sharing a sarcastic TikTok rundown of every no-win situation she faced.
Ships seized by Iranians ‘armed to the teeth’ along Strait of Hormuz have been taken toward port: report
The two container ships seized by Iran this week in the Strait of Hormuz have been moved toward the port of Bandar Abbas along the key waterway, a report said.
Scientists uncover identity of mysterious ‘golden orb’ discovered miles underwater in 2023
NOAA and Smithsonian scientists have identified the mysterious golden orb found two miles deep in the Gulf of Alaska as part of a rare giant deep-sea anemone.
Catching your wife in bed with the neighbor took the fun out of swinging, and how soon is too soon to move on?
From Kim Kardashian’s PDA with Lewis Hamilton to a swinging marriage in crisis, this week’s True Romance column tackles love’s wildest questions.
Common sweetener may trigger fat buildup in ways experts didn’t expect
A new review suggests fructose has unique metabolic effects that drive obesity, fat accumulation and metabolic disease beyond what glucose alone causes.
2 GOP senators side with Democrats to block ICE, CBP funding
The Senate worked overnight to advance the GOP’s budget resolution to fund immigration enforcement to the tune of $70 billion in an effort to end the Democrat-induced shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
From Wednesday afternoon to the early hours of Thursday morning, senators voted on a slew of amendments to advance Republicans’ legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection.
‘Democrats will once again demonstrate to the American people their support for open borders.’
This legislative marathon comes amid the ongoing DHS shutdown that began in mid-February. In March, the Senate approved a funding package to fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP in a 2:00 a.m. voice vote, but it was rejected by the House. The House passed its own 60-day continuing resolution to fund the department in its entirety, but it was not advanced in the Senate.
The Senate budget ultimately advanced mostly along party lines in a 50-48 vote just before 3:30 a.m., with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky voting with Democrats against the immigration funding.
RELATED: Senate approves DHS funding — but there’s a catch
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) lashed out at Republicans for funding “rogue agencies,” claiming they are out of touch with everyday Americans.
“What kind of bubble are they living in?” Schumer asked. “How apart are they with people’s real needs?”
Despite the Democrats’ predictable disapproval of the funding bill, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) remains optimistic that the House will cooperate with the Senate to fund these key agencies. Earlier this month, both Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) agreed on a “two-track approach” that would partially reopen DHS while funding immigration enforcement separately.
“In following this two-track approach, the Republican Congress will fully reopen the Department, make sure all federal workers are paid, and specifically fund immigration enforcement and border security for the next three years so that those law-enforcement activities can continue uninhibited,” a joint statement between Thune and Johnson reads. “In return, Democrats will once again demonstrate to the American people their support for open borders and keeping criminal illegal immigrants in America.”
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17-year-old faces attempted murder charges in connection with mass shooting near University of Iowa
A 17-year-old faces five counts of attempted murder in connection with Sunday’s mass shooting near the University of Iowa, in which five people were wounded — including three students.
Iowa City Police said Damarian M. Jones, 17, of Cedar Rapids, engaged in a fight around 1:45 a.m. in the 100 Block of East College Street in the Downtown Pedestrian Mall reportedly involving as many 40 people.
‘Their lives have been forever changed by this senseless act of violence.’
Police said over the course of the fight, Jones obtained a firearm from another individual. During a break in the fight, police said Jones walked away from the other combatants, drew the weapon, and fired six times into the crowded Pedestrian Mall.
Police said five people were struck by gunfire:
- One victim suffered a life-threatening wound to her head and remains in critical condition.
- One victim was struck in the arm and chest, causing serious injuries requiring surgery.
- One victim was struck in the leg, causing serious injuries requiring multiple surgeries.
- One victim was struck in the side of the stomach, causing bodily injury.
- One victim was struck in both legs, causing bodily injury.
Police said of the five victims struck by gunfire, two remain hospitalized.
“Their lives have been forever changed by this senseless act of violence,” Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said. “We pray for their full recovery and stand ready to support them in any way possible during this difficult time.”
Police said “none of the victims were the target of this shooting, and there is no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with this incident.”
By 3:05 a.m., investigators obtained images of Jones and other persons of interest in connection with the incident.
RELATED: Male, 31, fatally shoots 8 children execution style; 7 were his own kids: Report
Image source: Iowa City Police
Over the course of the investigation, police said they recovered three firearms, numerous firearm accessories, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Police added that investigators received more than 150 tips and served nearly three dozen search warrants.
Jones — who hasn’t been located, police said Wednesday — faces the following charges:
- attempted murder (five counts)
- willful injury assault causing serious injury (three counts)
- willful injury assault causing bodily injury (two counts)
- going armed with intent
Officials confirmed to Iowa’s News Now that Jones is number three in the persons of interest photos sent out earlier this week.
RELATED: Masked men open fire after storming into Chick-fil-A; 1 dead, 6 injured; manhunt under way
Image source: Iowa City Police
Police said they are asking the public for assistance and that those with information are asked to contact the Iowa City Police Department at 319-356-5275. In addition, police said those in the area of the shooting with security cameras are asked to review their recordings and contact police with any potential video or information.
Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about this incident that leads to an arrest, police said. Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted via the P3 Tips app, online at iccrimestoppers.org, or by phone at 319-358-TIPS (8477), police said. All tips and calls are held in strict confidence and anonymity is guaranteed, police said, and individuals providing information are not required to reveal their identity to collect a reward.
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VIRAL resurfaced footage: Newsom throws tantrum after reporter asks him about giving alcohol to his 19-year-old girlfriend
A 2006 video of Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom has resurfaced and is going viral on social media. The footage shows a 38-year-old Newsom, who was at the time the San Francisco mayor, angrily storming off during an interview after being asked about allegations that he provided alcohol to his 19-year-old girlfriend, Brittanie Mountz, at a public event.
BlazeTV hosts Stu Burguiere and Dave Landau called the video comedic gold. On this episode of “Stu and Dave Do America,” they play the clip and tear into it with hilarious, nonstop banter.
In the video, a reporter asks Newsom for comment on a recent attack of Yale students in San Francisco over New Year’s, to which he replies, “It’s a good reminder how important it is to remind our parents to be good stewards of underage drinking.”
The reporter then pivots to a San Francisco Chronicle column by Philip Matier and Andrew Ross raising questions about whether Newsom’s then-19-year-old girlfriend, Brittanie Mountz, had been drinking alcohol.
“It hasn’t been a very easy week for you, and I wonder whether you have any comment on the Matier and Ross story about the drinking?” he inquires.
“Thank you very much. That was a great cheap shot,” Newsom retorts, before storming off. As he walks away, he adds, “Just know, for the record, it’s increasingly impossible to have a conversation with you. … Just know it’s not personal when I walk by you. If you just send some other reporters, it’s going to be a lot easier.”
“Seems like a pretty rational thing for a reporter to ask, actually,” says Stu.
Dave points out that Newsom’s initial response about underage drinking was at least honest. “Gavin Newsom did say it is important to be a good steward when giving alcohol to minors, which is essentially a male flight attendant that gives alcohol to people.”
“A lot of people are saying there are some signs with Gavin Newsom’s mannerisms and behavior in that interview that indicate to some that maybe alcohol is not the only substance he may have been using at that time,” says Stu. “Would you say that’s accurate?”
Dave, who’s been very candid about his past alcohol and drug abuse, says, “As an expert, I would say yes. He is probably on cocaine.”
While the duo note that this is nothing more than “speculation,” as Newsom has never had any drug charges brought against him, they have a strong suspicion that Newsom’s behavior in the video points to “guilt.”
Dave mocks, “He’s like, ‘This is why it’s getting harder to have a conversation. People keep bringing up stuff I did to teenagers. Maybe if you didn’t bring it up, I could sit there and talk to you.”’
To see the resurfaced clip and hear more of Stu and Dave’s hilarious banter, watch the episode above.
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Jon Stewart to Trump: ‘You did a good thing’ on veteran PTSD treatments
Jon Stewart routinely derides President Donald Trump on his Comedy Central infotainment show. This week, however, the cynical liberal found himself reluctantly celebrating the president over a new mental health initiative that could greatly impact afflicted veterans.
Trump signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at accelerating research and removing barriers to psychedelic drugs — including hallucinogenic ibogaine compounds, psilocybin, and LSD — as potential treatments for serious mental illnesses, including PTSD and depression.
‘Credit where credit is due.’
In addition to tasking Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary with reducing product application review times for psychedelic drugs that have received breakthrough therapy designations for treating mental illnesses, Trump ordered the FDA and Drug Enforcement Agency to create a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs.
Per the order, the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA must also work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector “to increase clinical trial participation, data sharing, and real-world evidence generation regarding psychedelic drugs, and shall prioritize drugs that have received a Breakthrough Therapy designation.” Fifty million dollars will also be provided for state-level research into ibogaine.
The White House noted in a fact sheet that over 14 million American adults suffer from a serious mental illness; suicide rates remain alarmingly high; and the suicide rate among veterans is more than double that of the nonveteran adult population.
RELATED: 4 marijuana facts the pro-pot lobby doesn’t want you to know
Jim WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
Afforded an opportunity to speak at the signing ceremony on Saturday, podcaster Joe Rogan revealed that the ball got rolling on the executive order after he “sent President Donald Trump some information” about ibogaine.
Trump confirmed the genesis of the initiative, noting that Rogan “wrote me a little note about this, and I had it checked out. I didn’t just do it. … I went to [HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] and [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz] and went to some of the people that work for you, real pros, and everybody came back with the same answer.”
“Everybody thought it was incredible, and I told Bobby, I said, ‘Bobby, let’s just do it, and get Oz involved,” added Trump.
The president noted at the EO signing that “these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans.”
On the April 20 episode of his show, Jon Stewart alerted his liberal audience that he wanted to “give credit where credit is due. We don’t, obviously, often do this.”
“The president did a solid over the weekend,” said Stewart. “President Trump signed an executive order in front of his fraternity brothers fast-tracking the FDA process for novel psychedelic drug treatments for veterans suffering from all forms of PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, including addiction.”
After playing tape from the EO signing and reflexively attacking the president over his unscripted remarks, Stewart stopped himself and said, “I’m sorry. I’m falling into old habits. It’s good. You did a good thing. I’m nitpicking. I apologize.”
Stewart noted further, “A lot of the people are going to get the help they need.”
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