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Monday, April 6, 2026
12 minutes ago
Corruption
Crime

Dem State Can’t Audit $1.3 Billion in Childcare Funds Due to Missing Records.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Washington State auditors revealed that over $1.3 billion in childcare subsidies from 2021 to 2024 are unauditable due to missing records and poor tracking systems.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Washington State Auditor’s Office, the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), and state officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The audit covered spending from 2021 through 2024 in Washington State.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Determining fraud requires criminal evidence and can only be done by enforcement agencies in conjunction with the judicial system.” — Washington State Auditor’s Office

🎯IMPACT: Washington taxpayers are left with unanswered questions about the allocation of over $1.3 billion, with concerns about fraud and oversight failures mounting.

IN FULL

Government auditors in Democrat-dominated Washington State say that more than $1.3 billion in spending through the state’s childcare subsidy system cannot be verified. The audit, covering 2021 through 2024, revealed that the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) failed to maintain the necessary records to track federal childcare funds at the provider level, leaving a slew of expenditures and other payments unaccounted for.

Concerningly, the financial review found in 2024 that $416 million was unauditable, with $356 million in 2023, $268.5 million in 2022, and $293 million in 2021. The State Auditor’s Office (SAO) described the situation as “serious and troubling,” noting that it had to “disclaim” the entire program due to the lack of documentation.

Notably, another audit in 2025 uncovered $37 million in questionable payments within a single year, linked to missing attendance records, overbilling, and insufficient documentation. DCYF admitted to $2 million in overpayments, while auditors noted it was “impossible” to trace payments for four consecutive years. Internal reviews revealed that 67 percent of audits identified overpayments, raising concerns about the system’s ability to prevent errors before funds are distributed.

Critics argue that the program operates on a “pay first, verify later” model, with no reliable way to confirm whether services were actually provided. However, the state auditor notes that the agency is unable to investigate and determine whether fraud occurred or what portion of the $1.3 billion in unverified spending is the result of criminal activity.

“Determining fraud requires criminal evidence and can only be done by enforcement agencies in conjunction with the judicial system,” the state auditor contends, adding, “We are a reporting agency, not an enforcement agency. The responsibility for correcting problems uncovered by audits lies with the leaders and managers of the agency, as well as with federal entities who distribute the funds.”

Image via Seattle City Council.

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51 minutes ago
Culture
UK

Starmer Urged to Ban Kanye West From Britain So He Can’t Headline Festival.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Jewish groups and Members of Parliament (MPs) in Britain have urged the Wireless Festival to cancel Kanye West’s headline booking.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kanye West, known as Ye; Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer; the Campaign Against Antisemitism; the Board of Deputies of British Jews; festival sponsors Pepsi, Diageo, and PayPal.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wireless Festival, July 10-12 in Finsbury Park, north London, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.” – Prime Minister Starmer

🎯IMPACT: Festival sponsors, including Pepsi, Diageo, and PayPal, have withdrawn their support, and calls have increased from Members of Parliament and Jewish organizations to deny entry to West.

IN FULL

Several Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, have joined various Jewish organizations to criticize Wireless Festival, an annual hip-hop festival in London, for scheduling rapper Kanye West. “It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism,” Starmer said.

West’s previous antisemitic actions include releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and selling a T-shirt with a Nazi swastika on the front. West has also described himself as a “Nazi” and posted on social media about going “death con 3 on Jewish people.” Consequently, the British government faces mounting pressure from MPs and Jewish organizations, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, to bar West from entering the country.

Since it was announced that West would be headlining Wireless Festival in July, several sponsors have pulled out, including beverage giants Pepsi and Diageo. Furthermore, PayPal announced that its branding will no longer appear on promotional material for the festival. It is expected to attract 50,000 attendees per day and remains under pressure to disinvite West.

The rapper has previously apologized for his remarks and behavior, attributing them to bipolar disorder. In January, he took out a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, stating, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” and expressing regret for his actions.

Image by Peter Hutchins.

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1 hour ago
Bonkers Britain
Culture
Religion

Art Exhibition Portrays Christian Saint as Asian Transgender.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Saint Sebastian has been depicted as an Asian transgender man in a new art exhibit at London’s National Gallery.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Singaporean artist Ming Wong, The National Gallery in London, transgender models, and Christians.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The exhibit is currently displayed at the National Gallery as part of the institution’s Modern and Contemporary Programme.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There isn’t a better time to reimagine the stories that these characters and creatures inhabiting these worlds can tell one another, and their exchanges that cross centuries and civilizations beyond the frames.” – Ming Wong

🎯IMPACT: The exhibit has sparked criticism and backlash from Christians, social media users, and the British tax-paying public.

IN FULL

A new art exhibit at London’s National Gallery portrays Saint Sebastian, an early Christian martyr, as an Asian transgender. Created by Singaporean artist Ming Wong, the exhibit uses transgender models to portray the saint in a series of videos. “There isn’t a better time to reimagine the stories that these characters and creatures inhabiting these worlds can tell one another, and their exchanges that cross centuries and civilizations beyond the frames,” Wong argues.

Supposedly inspired by St. Sebastian’s martyrdom, in which he was shot to death with arrows by Roman soldiers while bound to a tree or pillar, the exhibit depicts transgender models listening to a seashell, dancing, and performing martial arts. The exhibit also includes audio of a Latin translation of British art historian Kenneth Clark’s final monologue from Civilisation, a seminal 13-part series released in 1969 by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The series provides a history of Western culture and is highly regarded by conservatives.

St. Sebastian was martyred after he was found converting Roman officials to Christianity and providing aid to imprisoned Christians in the third century. The saint was executed on the orders of Roman Emperor Diocletian, who led the infamous Great Persecution of the early Christians, and is a symbol of enduring Christian faith and male beauty.

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2 hours ago
Economy
War

Top Moody’s Economist Warns Prices Will Stay High Even After the Iran War Ends.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s, believes high price levels are likely to persist even after hostilities with Iran end.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s, investors, and the U.S. economy.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments made in March and April 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t think we’re going back to the pre-war prices for the foreseeable future. Certainly won’t be this year, won’t even be next year. Might not be ever.” – Mark Zandi

🎯IMPACT: The prediction suggests long-term elevated prices, with the possibility of a recession later this year.

IN FULL

Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s, says he believes high price levels are likely to persist even after hostilities with Iran end. In addition, Zandi has warned that the stock market is becoming increasingly detached from the American economy, which he thinks could be causing many to underestimate the odds of a recession.

“I don’t think we’re going back to the pre-war prices for the foreseeable future. Certainly won’t be this year, won’t even be next year,” the Moody’s chief economist said in a recent economic briefing, adding, “Might not be ever.”

In February, Zandi stated that he believes “there are times when I feel markets are overdone and increasingly disconnected from the economy,” suggesting we may be in such a moment.

In late March, economic turbulence and price volatility led Zandi to conclude that a recession is “more than likely by the second half of the year.” These concerns are underpinned by the recent and significant downward revision of jobs shed by the economy in February. While the initial government report indicated 92,000 jobs were lost in February, the most recent revision—issued late last week—shows that 133,000 jobs were actually lost that month.

“Investors are simply investing on the faith that [stock and commodity] prices will rise quickly in the future because they have in the recent past,” Zandi contends. “Markets risk moving in a big way, causality is reversed, and falling asset prices threaten an already vulnerable economy. This is one of those times.”

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3 hours ago
News
Politics

Trump Endorses Steve Hilton for Governor of California.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has endorsed Steve Hilton, once an advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, in the California governor’s race.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Steve Hilton, rival Republican primary candidate Chad Bianco, and Governor Gavin Newsom (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early Monday morning on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Steve can turn [California] around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The endorsement will likely strengthen Hilton’s standing among Republican primary voters, to Bianco’s detriment.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has endorsed Steve Hilton, once an advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, in the California governor’s race. The endorsement was issued early Monday morning and will likely hurt rival Republican candidate Chad Bianco‘s campaign.

“I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years. He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell. Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World. Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!” he continued, adding: “Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.”

GOP leaders had hoped a contentious and fragmented Democrat primary would allow two Republicans to advance to the runoff. Trump’s backing of Hilton may galvanize anti-Trump Democrats in the Golden State, but also make it much less likely that Bianco will advance.

Bianco, Sheriff-Coroner of Riverside County, is a Republican-in-name-only (RINO) who vowed in 2025 that his deputies “are not and will not engage in any type of immigration enforcement,” knelt to Black Lives Matter (BLM) in 2020, and was accused of faking that he had foiled an assassination plot against Trump in 2024.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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3 hours ago
Lawfare

Supreme Court Opens Door For Dismissal of J6 Committee Contempt Charges Against Bannon.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court has paved the way for the Trump administration to potentially dismiss the criminal contempt case against WarRoom host and former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen K. Bannon, the Trump administration, and the Supreme Court.

📍WHEN & WHERE: April 6, 2026; Washington, D.C.

🎯IMPACT: The high court ordered Bannon’s case remanded back to a district court judge, effectively overruling an appeals court ruling that had upheld his conviction.

IN FULL

The Supreme Court has paved the way for the Trump administration to potentially dismiss the criminal contempt case against WarRoom host and former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon. In February, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a request with the Supreme Court to dismiss the criminal contempt indictment and conviction for defying congressional subpoenas issued by the Democrat-led January 6 Committee in 2021.

On Monday morning, the high court ordered Bannon’s case remanded back to a district court judge, effectively overruling an appeals court ruling that had upheld his conviction. The Trump administration, having taken over the case from the previous administration, indicated its intention to dismiss the case, citing “the interests of justice.”

Bannon was convicted in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress. He served a four-month prison sentence in 2024 and was fined $6,500 after refusing to comply with subpoenas seeking documents and testimony. However, President Donald J. Trump had invoked executive privilege, and as the former White House Chief Strategist, Bannon advised that he could not lawfully comply with the subpoena.

Attorneys for Bannon have consistently emphasized that he believed he was unable to comply with the subpoenas due to Trump’s invocation of executive privilege. They contend that the former Biden government’s prosecutors failed to demonstrate that Bannon acted unlawfully.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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4 hours ago
War

REPORT: U.S. and Iran Considering 45-Day Ceasefire Proposal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A draft proposal for a 45-day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has been received by Iran and the United States.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, and mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was sent late Sunday night, as per Mideast officials.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!” — President Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The proposal seeks to create a window for extensive talks aimed at a permanent ceasefire.

IN FULL

Iran and the United States have been sent a draft proposal for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to two Middle Eastern officials. The plan is being led by mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey.

The officials, who asked not to be named, gave details of the confidential talks to The Associated Press. They hope the 45-day pause will give both sides enough time to hold serious negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent peace deal. The document was delivered late Sunday night to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. Neither Iran nor the United States has yet responded to the proposal.

It remains unclear whether the terms will be accepted. Iran is demanding financial compensation and guarantees against future attacks, while President Donald J. Trump has demanded that Iran make concessions such as dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

He has also repeatedly threatened to strike Iranian infrastructure if the regime does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning over the weekend: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!”

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19 hours ago
News

Details of the Daring SEAL Team 6 Rescue from Iran Emerge.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. forces rescued a Weapons Systems Officer after his F15-E was downed by Iranian forces.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos, the Weapons Systems Officer, and Iranian forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The officer was rescued after evading capture for over 24 hours in Iran.

🎯IMPACT: The rescue operation involved hundreds of special operations troops and military personnel.

IN FULL

U.S. forces have successfully rescued a Weapons Systems Officer, an Air Force colonel, after his F15-E was shot down by Iranian forces. The officer had ejected from the aircraft and evaded capture for more than 24 hours.

Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos led the rescue operation, which involved hundreds of special operations troops and other military personnel operating in enemy territory, according to current and former U.S. officials.

After ejecting, the officer hid in a mountain crevice, managing to evade Iranian forces by hiking up a 7,000-foot ridge-line, a senior U.S. military official reported. Initially, his location was unknown to U.S. forces, but the C.I.A. eventually located his hiding place, passing on the information to the Pentagon.

The mission faced a significant challenge when two MC-130 aircraft suffered mechanical failures, risking commandos being stranded. Commanders made the high-risk decision to send additional aircraft into Iran to extract the team in waves.

The operation was perilous, with the U.S. troops destroying disabled aircraft to prevent sensitive equipment from falling into enemy hands. The Pentagon has yet to comment on the operation.

To secure the area, U.S. aircraft dropped bombs and opened fire on Iranian convoys approaching the airman’s location. U.S. commandos also fired their weapons to deter Iranian forces from the rescue site, though they did not engage in a direct firefight.

The operation underscores the extensive coordination and effort required in such high-stakes rescues, reflecting the commitment of U.S. forces to recover their personnel from hostile environments.

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April 5, 2026
News

Trump Trolls Iran and Warns: ‘Open the F*ckin’ Strait… Praise be to Allah.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump announced a plan to target power plants and bridges in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Truth Social, targeting actions in Iran on Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The statement signals potential military actions and heightened tensions with Iran.

IN FULL

President Trump made a significant announcement on Truth Social, declaring that the United States would take action against Iran by targeting its power plants and bridges. This declaration comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations.

In his post, Trump labeled the upcoming Tuesday as “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day,” indicating a coordinated effort against Iranian infrastructure. The statement was both a warning and a call to action.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The president’s message was direct and forceful, urging Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. He warned of severe consequences if his demands were not met, using strong language to emphasize his point.

The post concluded with a unique sign-off, blending a stark warning with a religious reference, which is characteristic of Trump’s unconventional communication style.

This announcement has raised concerns about possible military escalation and its implications for international relations and global energy markets.

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April 4, 2026
Media

Lobbying Firm With Democrat Donor Ties is Client of ‘Non-Partisan’ POLITICO.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: POLITICO has been utilizing the services of Invariant, a lobbying firm led by Democrat mega-donor Heather Podesta, who has contributed over $250,000 to Democrat candidates and committees this year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: POLITICO, Heather Podesta, Invariant, and Evan Hollander, a veteran Democrat operative now serving as POLITICO’s senior vice president of communications.

📍WHEN & WHERE: POLITICO admitted that Invariant was a client in its Influence newsletter in February.

🎯IMPACT: Invariant’s ties to POLITICO raise questions about its claims of objectivity.

IN FULL

POLITICO, self-described as the “leading destination for non-partisan news and unbiased policy coverage,” is paying for services from Invariant, founded by Democrat mega-donor Heather Podesta.

Heather Podesta has donated more than $250,000 to the Democrat Party this year, including the legal maximum of $44,500 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. She is the former wife of Tony Podesta, founder of The Podesta Group, a lobbying firm with close ties to the Democrat Party, and founding president of People For The American Way, a progressive advocacy group.

In 2021, Huawei, the Chinese tech multinational, reportedly hired Tony Podesta to foster relations between the company and the Biden government. Tony’s brother, John Podesta, worked as White House Chief of Staff under former President Bill Clinton and held numerous climate and energy positions under former President Joe Biden.

Invariant claims it is a “bipartisan public affairs, lobbying, and business advisory firm”. It is unclear which services POLITICO receives from Invariant. The firm’s services range from public relations to lobbying and legislative strategy. The firm brought in over $47 million from lobbying clients in 2025, according to public records.

Image by Marco Verch.

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