If I want to view reality, I come here! If I want to be a retarded toad, I read the fake stream media.
I choose reality until the day I die!
Thank you Q, it’d be nice if you dropped in every once in a while. Regardless you woke up many Red Blooded Patriots! We will never forget your contribution!
Listen Up! – Iranian Prince in Exile Reza Pahlavi Delivers a Brutal Message to Western Media. 1/2
April 24, 2026 | Sundance |
Two years after the Russia-Ukraine war began,people kept wondering why I continued to ask why no western media were boots on the groundin Ukraine delivering news of the conflict.I called it “world war reddit” for a reason. That question loomed even bigger given the relentless on-the-ground reporting over the U.S-Iran conflict.
Why were/are international journalists almost immediately embeddedin Iran to cover the details of the conflict,yet that same approach never took place in Ukraine.
For Ukraine there wasno daily reportson the fighting;no frontline reportswith journalists in helmets and flak jackets;no live interviews or reports of the back-and-forth battlesbetween Russia and Ukraine;no ‘coming to you live from Kiev‘ tonight, nothing.
However, as soon as military conflict breaks out in Iran – all the familiar war/conflict reporting surfaced again.
But I see the Ukraine war reported on Telegram, some say.True, but really?
What you “see” is through a social media prismthat is structurally controlled by Western intelligence operations.
World War Reddit!
For additional context, when the U.S. went to war in Iraq/Afghanistan, how did it impact your daily life? That’s analogous the same impact within Russia that I experienced in 2024 (3 months) and 2025 (1 month).All recognizable impact is sanctions related.
One of the reasonsI traveled from Western Russia to Poland -specifically driving across Ukraine- was to see for myself. I shared that story before.
The reality of the Ukraine conflict, World War Reddit,is entirely against the interests of those who are constructing the false impression of it.
In reality the Eastern Donbas region is very pro-Russian and when the Russian Federation took over towns and geography, driving back the Ukraine military, Russian troops were factually greeted as liberators. Now, there is a slow-grinding stalemate, and the losses on the Ukraine side are well beyond what has been reported by government officials.
I provide this context of reality -vs- media presentationbecause Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi is strongly calling attention to the bias and willful blindness of European media. WATCH:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/04/24/listen-up-iranian-prince-in-exile-reza-pahlavi-delivers-a-brutal-message-to-western-media/
A Message to the Europe: With or Without You, We Fight
4:24
https://youtu.be/m_S_1Q5bxB4
2/2
• “I want to speak directly to the people of Europe. In the past two weeks I have had two major press conferences — one in Stockholm, one in Berlin.Between them 150 journalists attended. We spent more than two hours together.”
•Not a single one of those 150 journalists asked about the 40,000 Iranians slaughteredon the streets of my country on January 8th and 9th!
Not a single one of the 150 journalistsasked me about the 19 political prisoners executed in the last two weeks.
•When I told them 20 more are currently sentenced to death, nothing. Not a single one of the 150 journalists asked me about them. When I stood next to a mother and next to a father who lost their sons on January 8th and 9th, and asked them to hear their stories,not a single one of the 150 journalists asked them a question.
• […]It is clear to me that my 40,000 brave, innocent compatriots who were slaughteredin thefight for liberty are of little interest to these journalists. They seem moreinterested in criticizing Americaand asking why the United States and Israel killed the dictator that has slaughtered our people for 47 YEARS —than criticizing the regime doing the slaughtering.(interesting cosmic timing the 47th President of the US, with the 47th year of the takeover of Iran.)
• They seemmore interested asking questions about Iran’s pastand historythan about what is happening in Iran today; or about the democratic future Iranians are seeking.One member of parliament even told me they didn’t think Iranians are ready for democracy. To that member of Parliament, to those journalists, I remind you:Iranians aren’t just “ready” for democracy. 40,000 people just gave their lives for it, and I won’t let that be in vain.”
•So know this, whether or not Europe stands with us;whether or not yourjournalists do their jobs; whether or not your politicians demonstrate their courage to act,
I will fight for my people and my country.
Even if we have to do this alone – we will fight until Iran is free”!
I don’t know if this guy is the right one to lead the charge to bring a more politically democratic outcome for the people in Iran, but what he is saying about the willful blindness of western media is absolutely correct.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/04/24/listen-up-iranian-prince-in-exile-reza-pahlavi-delivers-a-brutal-message-to-western-media/
>>24537100. What matters is someone telling the truth. He may not end up being their leader, but he’s exposing the lie of media.
I’m so tired of hearing all the foreign neighbors talking in their language, that was impossible to buy or rent homes here even 10 years ago, because of the cost.Who funded them?. These homes wouldn’t be affordable for many. But the majority are foreigners now that are not required to speak English.
The earliest Board member didn’t put a limit on rental of these homes. Because he wanted to rent to others, and he bought a couple of the homes when it opened.
>>24536769 @realDonaldTrump Not passing the SAVE AMERICA ACT will lead to the the worst results for a political party in the HISTORY of the United States Senate. An Unrecoverable Death Wish!!! Likewise, the FILIBUSTER - TERMINATE IT NOW!!!PN
Trump should give all the opportunity to Republican leaders a pardon, as it’s obvious they are being blackmailed by the Democrats for agreeing to betray the USA. He should pardon them and force them to leave after this term. The dems have too much dirt on the Republicans. It’s time to force the Senate and House to reveal their betrayal against America. Once they tell Trump how much the Democrats corruption for the last 5-6 years, he’ll have a way to arrest them.
The Republicans will have to vow they will never run for office for the rest of the lives, both houses should get better to follow the law. Exorcise the damed House and Senate, otherwise America cannot survive.
If they do not tell the truth, the reps are agreeing to destroy America.
Trump says Iran sent improved offer after he canceled Pakistan trip
1 hour ago. KEK
President Donald Trump said he canceled the planned trip by US negotiators to Pakistanbecause there was “no reason” to have people travel for 16 or 17 hours when Iran’s position was not good enough, but said Tehran sent an improved paper shortly after the cancellation.
“There’s no reason to wait two days, have people traveling for 16, 17 hours. We’re not doing it that way,”
Trump told reporters before leaving Palm Beach International Airport.“When they want, they can call me. We have all the cards. We won everything.”
Asked what had changed since he said the United States was dealing with whoever was in charge in Iran, Trump said:“Nothing. It’s just that they gave us a paper that should have been better.”
“Interestingly, immediately when I canceled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better,” he added.
Trump saidWashington would deal with Iran by phone rather than send negotiators to Pakistan, and that there was no reason for US officials to travel toPakistan to meet people “nobody ever heard of before.”
He said the United States had “won everything”and repeated that Iran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump said the core issue remained Iran’s nuclear program.
“That whole deal is not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” he said.
Asked whether Iran had offered anything in return for a 20-year suspension of enriched uranium,Trump said: “They offered a lot, but not enough.”
Trump also said there was “tremendous infighting” in Iran and suggested rival factions might be competing over leadership, adding: “In many cases, I think they’re fighting not to be the leader.”(yeah because the leaders end up dead)
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202604258472
This is funny because all the articles from Iran foreign news always sound like Iran is always winning, when it’s just an argument fest between all the factions. They say they have control of the America Devil.
These people lie more than any country on earth. The news never reports what’s going on with the country.
The big problem is no one wants to be a leader, they’ll end up dead asap
What a sick and aged country. They basically destroyed the real history of the country.
3 hours ago
Netanyahu expected in Washington for talks with Trump and Aoun, report says. (Uh oh, Bibi uses the press to shame Trump)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuis expected to travel to Washington in about two and a half weeks for a meeting with President Donald Trump and LebanesePresident Joseph Aoun, i24NEWS reported.
The report points to a possible next step in US efforts to push Israel-Lebanon diplomacyafter Trump said last week that he would invite Netanyahu and Aoun to Washingtonfor what he described as the first meaningful talks between the two sides in decades.
(I suspect Bibi is fibbing, he hasn’t had enough attention for weeks now. Why would Trump be involved? Sounds weird.)
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604194357
Everything from Iran is twisted, they do not know, no one believes them
BREAKING NEWS
43 minutes ago
Araghchi to return to Islamabad before Russia trip - IRNA
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to return to Islamabad after his visit to Oman and before traveling to Russia, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.news agency IRNA reported.
IIRNA said Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday evening after meeting Pakistani officials and conveying Iran’s positions on the terms of any understanding to fully end the war and establish peace. Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday evening after meeting PakistanIran’s positions on the terms of any understanding to fully end the war and establish peace.
According to IRNA, part of the Iranian delegation that accompanied Araghchi to Islamabad returned to Tehran after the talks for consultations and to receive further instructions on issues related to the war.
The delegation members are expected to rejoin Araghchi in Islamabad on Sunday night.
2 hours ago
Pakistan’s Sharif says Islamabad remains committed to facilitating peace
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had a “warm and constructive” phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. on Saturday evening about the evolving regional situation.
Sharif said he appreciated Iran’s continued engagement, including the high-level delegation to Islamabad led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whom he met earlier in the day.
He added that Pakistan, with the support of friends and partners,remained committed to acting as “an honest and sincere facilitator” and working toward durable peace and lasting regional stability. (He’s working on behalf of China. China wants this over)
2 hours ago
US military action may be needed to reopen Hormuz, Senator Graham says
US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel the planned Witkoff-Kushner trip to Pakistan for further Iran negotiations, saying Tehran had responded to the ceasefire extension with more attacks on international shipping and further provocation.
Graham said Trump had “gone the extra mile” by extending the ceasefire, but argued that the priority now should be establishing firm control over the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation under international law.
“When it comes to achieving that goal, US military engagement may be required in the short term,” Graham wrote on X. “It is more than worth the risk associated with regaining freedom of navigation of the strait.”
He also called for the United States to continue the blockade, open the strait and resume military operations if needed, saying Iran should not be allowed to return to its “old ways.”
2 hours ago
US Treasury chief says IRGC moves money offshore as Iranians cross border for cooking oil
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused IRGC leaders of trying to funnel money into offshore accountswhile ordinary Iranians are being pushed into cross-border trade for basic goods, pointing to a New York Times report on Iranians carrying cooking oil from Turkey into Iran.
“I am amazed that the IRGC has forced the invention of a completely new type of oil trading – in cooking oil,” Bessent wrote on X.
He said the Islamic Republic’s “colossal economic mismanagement” had forced Iranians “to barter to feed their families, and to become dependent on their neighbors,”while IRGC leaders tried to move more money offshore.
The New York Times reported from the Kapikoy crossing on Turkey’s border with Iran thatIranians have been buying bottles of olive, sunflower and corn oil in Turkey to resell inside Iran or use at home, as prices for basic goods surge.
The report said demand for cooking oil at the border had risen in recent days, turning a basic household product into a small cross-border trade amid Iran’s inflation crisis, layoffs, war disruption and internet shutdown.
The newspaper added thatthe Kapikoy crossing has become one of the few durable links between Iranians and the outside world during the war, as air travel was disrupted for much of the past two months and the government-imposed internet blackout continues.
The pressure on households has intensified after Iran removed subsidies on imports of some essential goods in January, a move that pushed up cooking oil prices. The government later offered direct monthly cash payments of about 10 million rials, or around $7, but economists cited in the report said that was unlikely to meaningfully ease the burden.
Bessent said that under President Donald Trump, the United States was committed to supporting “the freedom and dignity of the Iranian people after 47 years of corruption.”
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604194357
Truthfiully Iran has more Conspiracy Theories than we do. KEK
4 hours ago
Iran says it shared framework to permanently end war after Pakistan talks
Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran had sharedits position on a “workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran”during talks in Pakistan, while questioning whether the United States was serious about diplomacy. (Pakistan is working on behalf of China. They want the war to an end more than the US)
In a post on X after leaving Islamabad, Abbas Araghchi described his visit as “very fruitful” and praised Pakistan’s “good offices and brotherly efforts” to restore peace to the region.
“Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,” he added.
Araghchi’s remarks came after meetings in Islamabad with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir, as Pakistan continued efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington.
After leaving Pakistan, Araghchi arrived in Oman’s capital, Muscat.
Donald Trump later said he hadcanceled the planned trip by US negotiators to Pakistan, leaving the next step in the diplomatic track unclear.
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604194357
The problem they have is the Clerics has threatened anyone that makes peace with the US. Thats why some of leaders that were going to leaders that were working with US, step down because their lives were threatened.
If the only thing Iran does, is take the Clerics out of hierarchy, probably the only way to get peace.
4 hours ago
Trump says Iran’s leadership is gripped by infighting and confusion
US President Donald Trump said he had canceled the planned trip of his representatives to Islamabad for talks with Iran, sayingtoo much time would have been wasted on travel and saying there was deep infighting and confusion within Iran’s leadership.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also said the United States held the upper hand and suggestedTehran could still initiate contact if it wanted talks, writing: “If they want to talk, all they have to do is call.”
(that would be interesting if they did call. Very few countries have had that invitation, but it’s vital)
5 hours ago
Trump says he canceled US negotiators’ Pakistan trip for Iran talks
Donald Trump canceled a planned trip by US negotiators to Pakistan for talks on Iran, Fox News reported.
The report adds fresh uncertainty to diplomacy that had already appeared in doubt after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday following meetings with Pakistani officials, before any US-Iran session was confirmed.
Iran had also said Araghchi had no plan to meet US officials in Pakistan.
5 hours ago
Exiled prince’s office says security review under way after Berlin incident
Kamran Khansari-Nia, head of exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi’s office, said in a video posted on the office’s X account that the prince’s security team was independently reviewing all aspects of the Berlin incident and reassessing protection protocols for public events.
He said that during foreign trips, especially in European countries, responsibility for security lies with the police of the host country, and that in this case protection had been the responsibility of German and Berlin police.
=Khansari-Nia also said the liquid used in the incident caused no physical harm and that Prince Reza Pahlavi was in full health==.
The incident took place on Thursday after Pahlavi’s meetings with German lawmakers and a press conference in Berlin, when he was splashed with red liquid as he left the federal press conference building.
(If he ever got in to rule Iran. He will be dead in short order. It makes no sense because he was a teenager when the family ran. He’s not even qualified to rule the troubled country. I= guess the NWO will run the country! But that really won’t work!)
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202604252731
Rapid Response 47
@RapidResponse47
.
@POTUS on Jerome Powell: "What I want to look at is, how can a building that I could have done for $25 million cost $4 billion? That’s a big thing, and he was in charge — so we’ll get to the bottom of it."
2:54 PM · Apr 25, 2026
97K
(Trump gets perturbed when something doesn’t make sense)
https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2048113479001723295?s=20
2026 Kentucky Derby draw results: Presumed favorite Renegade gets dreaded No. 1 spot
(So there’s cheating in all sports)
Dan Wolken Sat, Apr 25, 2026 at 2:59
The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is on May 2.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Prominent owner Mike Repole has had plenty of bad luck in the Kentucky Derby.
He got another dose of it Saturday when his colt Renegade drew the dreaded No. 1 starting gate for the 152nd running of next weekend’s race — a post position that hasn’t produced a Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986.
Despite the starting position, Renegade opens as the betting favorite to win at 4-1.
Repole, the beverage magnate of Vitaminwater and Bodyarmor fame who is now also running the United Football League, is 0-for-8 at the Derby and has had the favorite scratch twice on the eve of the race due to last-minute physical problems.
Drawing inside would appear to be one more gut punch; however, with Renegade’s come-from-behind running style, jockey Irad Ortiz will have little choice but to take him to the back of the field to avoid the crush of traffic that typically occurs on the first turn as riders try to get their horses in position.
Renegade moved to the front of the Derby contenders last month with an impressive win in the Arkansas Derby for Repole and co-owners Robert and Lawana Low, blowing past the field on the far turn to hit the wire four lengths in front. Renegade will give trainer Todd Pletcher, who has started a record 65 horses in the Derby, a chance at his third winner.
Other contenders had better luck in Saturday’s post position draw.
Further Ado, who blew away the Blue Grass Stakes field by 11½ lengths, will come out of the No. 18 post position under 54-year old jockey John Velazquez, who has won this race three times. Further Ado is owned by Spendthrift Farm, which expected to be here instead with Ted Noffey, last year’s 2-year-old champion who was forced off the Derby trail this spring due to injury.
After those two, the top-three finishers of the Florida Derby — Commandment, The Puma and Chief Wallabee — also figure to get significant support from bettors. Commandment will start from the No. 6 post, The Puma drew No. 9 while Chief Wallabee ended up in the No. 12 hole.
Chief Wallabee is trained by Bill Mott, who won this race last year with Sovereignty and Country House in 2019. His son, Riley Mott, is making his Derby debut with two starters: Wood Memorial winner Albus and Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt.
“He’s been here before, he’s been around me, and he’s known everything I think about and everything that can happen,” Bill Mott said. “He’s got some experience here, even though this is his first one.”
Bob Baffert has two entries, led by Potente, a $2.4 million purchase as a yearling who finished second in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. Potente drew the No. 14 post position.
Baffert is trying to officially win a record seventh Derby — which he did already in 2021 with Medina Spirit, only to have the victory taken away due to a positive test for betamethasone, which Baffert claimed was used to treat a skin condition but is not allowed in the horse’s system on race day.
That incident led to Churchill Downs banning Baffert from the racetrack for two years, which became a three-year ban as Baffert refused to admit fault. Ultimately, they came to an agreement for Baffert to return last year with Citizen Bull, who finished 15th.
With space for 20 horses in the starting gate, eligibility for the Kentucky Derby is determined by a system where horses have the opportunity to accumulate points in any of 50 pre-determined prep races around the world going back to last fall.
Trainer Steve Asmussen withdrew Chip Honcho on Saturday morning to point for the Preakness, opening up a spot for a second Baffert entry with Litmus Test, who drew the No. 4 post.
Four horses are listed as alternates — Great White, Ocelli, Robusta and Corona de Oro — in case there are scratches before the field is locked in on Friday. That happens regularly during Derby week, including in 2022 when Rich Strike got in at the last moment and became one of the longest shots to ever win the race at 80-1 odds.
Kentucky Derby early odds, from Post 1 to 20
Renegade 4-1
Albus 30-1
Intrepido 50-1
Litmus Test 30-1
Right to Party 30-1
Commandment 6-1
Danon Bourbon 20-1
So Happy 15-1
The Puma 10-1
Wonder Dean 30-1
Incredibolt 20-1
Chief Wallabee 8-1
Silent Tactic 20-1
Potente 20-1
Emerging Market 15-1
Pavlovian 30-1
Six Speed 50-1
Further Ado 6-1
Golden Tempo 30-1
Fulleffort 20-1
https://sports.yahoo.com/horse-racing/breaking-news/article/2026-kentucky-derby-draw-results-presumed-favorite-renegade-gets-dreaded-no-1-spot-184508054.html
FBI PROBES THEFT OF 15 AGRICULTURAL SPRAY DRONES IN NEW JERSEY AS IRAN WAR HEIGHTENSBIOTERROR FEARSHaye KestelooApril 23, 2026
Drone, Incident, Drone Industry, Drones, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Nebraska, New Jersey, Teal, Texas, United States.1/2
Fifteen agricultural spray drones were stolen from a New Jersey location last month in what the FBI is treating as a sophisticated, possibly coordinated theft, according to reporting by national security journalists Jack Murphy and Sean D. Naylor at The High Side. The case is unsolved. Retired FBI agent Steve Lazarus told the outlet the bureau is “freaked out for a good reason,” warning that the machines are “industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision.”
Agricultural drones are built to do one thing at industrial scale: move liquid onto a target along a programmed GPS path. That is exactly the feature set counterterrorism officials have worried about since the post-9/11 era, when the concern was crop-duster aircraft and a single pilot. The 2026 version of the threat model involves a fleet of remotely piloted vehicles that anyone with a Part 137 waiver, or a pirated copy of one, can fly from a parking lot.
Industrial Spray Drones Are Built For Exactly The Wrong Threat Model
Industrial agricultural drones are engineered for a task that maps almost perfectly onto a chemical or biological dispersal mission: haul a large liquid payload across a defined area along a precise GPS flight path, at low altitude, with minimal operator involvement. That is what makes them valuable on a farm and terrifying to the FBI. DJI’s Agras T50, the current flagship in a product line that dominates roughly 80 percent of the U.S. agricultural spray market, carries a 40-liter tank, lifts a 40-kilogram liquid payload, and covers about a 36-foot swath along terrain-following waypoints. A Ceres Air C31, the American-built platform pictured in The High Side’s report, carries a 31-gallon tank expandable to 40 gallons and can lift nearly 400 pounds. Fifteen of these machines operating in formation could blanket dozens of acres in a single coordinated run.
Lazarus’s description to The High Side, that a typical agricultural drone can “cover a large area in minutes, following GPS-guided paths,” matches the real-world workflow of every major Agras, XAG, and Hylio operator in the country. That is the entire point of the aircraft in farming. It also describes, almost exactly, what a bioterror dispersal platform would need to do.
The Theft Pattern Does Not Look Like Ordinary Crime
Commercial agricultural operators lose drones to theft occasionally, usually one or two units pulled from a barn or a trailer. Fifteen at once is an order of magnitude different. Spray drones of this class weigh between 90 and 170 pounds each with batteries. Moving fifteen requires a truck, a lift, advance reconnaissance of where the aircraft are stored, and a plan for what happens after. That is not a smash-and-grab for resale on Facebook Marketplace.
The FBI has not publicly named the victim operator, the specific make and model of the stolen drones, or the municipality in New Jersey where the theft occurred. That kind of information discipline suggests an active investigation with leads the bureau does not want to compromise, not a generic property crime being quietly worked at the county level.
The FCC Drone Ban Makes Replacement Nearly Impossible
Whoever lost those 15 aircraft is now caught in a regulatory trap DroneXL has been tracking for a year. On December 22, 2025, the FCC added all foreign-made drones and UAS critical components to its Covered List, blocking new equipment authorizations for DJI, Autel, XAG, and any platform built outside the United States. DJI controls roughly 80 percent of the U.S. agricultural spray drone market.If the stolen aircraft were Agras units, the victim cannot simply order replacements.
https://dronexl.co/2026/04/23/fbi-theft-15-agricultural-drones-new-jersey/
2/2
The Texas Farm Bureau warned in January that “limited availability of drones and parts could prevent farmers and ranchers from adequately managing pesticide and fertilizer use.” American-made alternatives from Hylio and Ceres Air exist but cost three to five times more than the Chinese hardware they replace, and production volume remains limited. A theft of this scale now carries a secondary cost that did not exist two years ago: the victim may not be able to rebuild the fleet at all.
The Counterterrorism Playbook Already Assumes This
Federal law enforcement has been treating weaponized consumer and commercial drones as a credible homeland threat for at least two years. In May 2025, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested a manwho flew a drone over the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command facility at the Detroit Arsenal to gather targeting intelligence for a planned ISIS attack. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said publicly in January 2025 that “the next point of attack will probably be the drones.”
The operational reality is even starker across the southern border. A University of Nebraska at Omaha research center documented 221 weaponized drone incidents in Mexico between 2021 and 2025, with 27 resulting in fatalities and 77 people killed. Cartel operators are already using modified commercial drones as weapons in conditions that mirror what a domestic attacker would face. The knowledge base and the hardware both exist.
DroneXL’s Take
I’ve been covering agricultural drones for almost a decade, and every time I watch an Agras T40 or T50 fly a field pattern,the same uncomfortable thought surfaces: this aircraft is optimized for exactly the kind of mission that keeps counterterrorism officials awake. The industry has always known it. So has the FBI.The question was when, not whether, someone would try to steal a fleet of them.
Here is what sets this case apart from the usual drone-terror speculation DroneXL has pushed back on for years. Most drone threat stories involve a hypothetical attacker who buys one DJI Mini at Best Buy and straps something to it. Those scenarios are mostly noise. Fifteen industrial spray drones lifted in a coordinated operation is not noise. That is capacity, and it exists in the wrong hands right now, somewhere in the continental United States, with no public answer from the bureau about where.
Two predictions with timeframes. Within 60 days, the FBI will issue a joint bulletin to the agricultural drone industry, pesticide applicator associations, and Part 137 operators urging hardened storage requirements and immediate theft reporting. Within six months, at least one member of Congress will use this case to argue for mandatory registration and serial-number tracking of any drone with a payload capacity above 20 pounds. Whether those measures actually reduce the threat is a separate question. The political response will happen regardless.
The larger lesson for the industry is that the FCC’s rushed foreign drone ban just collided with a homeland security crisis in a way no one planned for.
Farms that relied on Agras fleets for legitimate work now have a harder time rebuilding after a theft than the thieves have using the stolen equipment. That is the definition of policy working backwards.
https://dronexl.co/2026/04/23/fbi-theft-15-agricultural-drones-new-jersey/
(One would think a new product would be assessed by law enforcement before it ls approved to sell.)
US politics & policyAdd to myFT
US health secretary’s son launches investment fund tied to health movement
Child of Robert F Kennedy Jr seeks $100mn in capital raise while touting links to ‘policy initiatives in government’
A son of US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr islaunching a fund to invest in healthcare companies, touting his ties to his father’s “make America healthy again” movement (Maha) and backing groups that could benefit from it,according to an offering document obtained by the FT. (Hey FT check out all Congress and Senate member families! Idiots)
William Finbar “Finn” Kennedy is =+seeking to raise $100mn for the fund, Victura Ventures, targeting early-stage growth companies involved in healthcare AI, consumer health and other health technologies==, the document said. The fund is named after a sailboat owned by former President John F Kennedy, his great uncle.
The fund already has about $70mn in commitments. “Healthcare is entering a rare convergence,” it said. “Victura is built to capture this moment.”
Kennedy’s foray into healthcare investing marksthe latest example of the cosy relationship between the Trump administration and close associates who have sought to capitalise on it.
Sons of President Donald Trump and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick have invested in cryptocurrency businesses as Trump has promoted alternative currencies. Donald Trump Jr has joined the board of 1789 Capital, a fund founded by pro-Trump donors in 2023. At least four of 1789’s portfolio companies have won contracts from the Trump administration. 1789 has also invested in big government contractors, such as Anduril and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
In a statement to the FT,Finn Kennedy said he was inspired to launch the fund after his own experience with chronic pain, and to help corporate entrepreneurs.
“My objective with this fund is to supportthe founders building better healthcare and turn some of the painful parts of my experience into something positive,” the statement said.
Born in November 1997, Finn Kennedy is a child of RFK Jr and Mary Richardson, who passed away in 2012. He was an investor with 8VC, an Austin-based fund founded by Palantir founder Joe Lonsdale. While he has worked in venture capital and technology, it was not clear how much experience he had in the healthcare industry. 8VC declined to comment.
The Health and Human Services Departmentsaid Kennedy adheres to all ethics and confidentiality requirements. “He regularly consults with the Office of the General Counsel and its ethics attorneys to ensure full compliance with these obligations.”
Victura is focusing on opportunities stemming from “policy initiatives in government” and Maha, which RFK Jr started and blends healthy eating with concerns about vaccines. The document references a 2025Maha conference in Washington that featured RFK Jr and vice-president JD Vance and also touted start-up health businesses as well as Google and Walmart.
Finn Kennedy is also listed as a board member of MAHA Holdings, a business with little public information about its operations. Speaking at the Maha event in Washington last year, Kennedy did not mention a fund, but highlighted healthcare start-ups FitOn, Whoop and Nourish.
Legal experts said the investment fund did not appear to violate conflict-of-interest guidelines. “Unless secretary Kennedy was providing non-public information to his son in order to get ahead of the newsof what the administration was doing, then all of it is within the colour of the law,” said Danielle Caputo, senior legal ethics counsel at the Campaign Legal Center.
https://archive.is/Y1I5s
White House mulls using Defense Production Act in Spirit Airlines takeover. 1/2
Updated on: April 24, 2026 / 6:48 PM EDT
The Trump administration is exploring using the Defense Production Act as part of a strategy to save the beleaguered Spirit Airlines, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.
President Trump is open to some type of federal action, several sources told CBS News, and he has said publicly he'd "do it to save the jobs."
Spirit has declared bankruptcy twicein the past two years, after the Department of Justice blocked a merger with JetBlue during the Biden administration. The Iran warhas been driving up jet fuel costs for all airlines and earlier this month, creditors expressed serious doubts Spirit could remain viable.
The Defense Production Act is an emergency power typically used to compel private sector companies to prioritize government contracts and increase supplies of critical goods.
It also includes providing loan authority to private firms for national defense, potentially a lifeline for the airline.
The strategy would be subject to approval from Spirit's creditors, two of the officials told CBS News.
The Office of Management and Budget has explored what a federal bailout of Spirit Airlines would look like and has discussed possibilities that would include Commerce Department and Pentagon involvement.
The government would lend Spirit $500 million at a reasonable interest rate, and become the top debtor in the bankruptcy pecking order. The loan would be protected by Spirit assets that would exceed the government's costs, and would provide taxpayers with a warrant — the right to own 90% of the company after it emerges from bankruptcy.
The Pentagon would use Spirit's excess capacity for transporting troops, military cargo or other missions, sources told CBS News.
The airline would then likely be sold to another carrier.
The threat of Spirit Airline's liquidation came as a result of the carrier skipping an interest payment, CBS News has learned.
That missed payment came to light during a bankruptcy hearing Thursday and was confirmed to CBS News by sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations. By missing that payment, it put Spirit into a potential default on its debtor-in-possession agreement with creditors.
Creditors have a seven-day window to initiate a default action, and this prompted Spirit's attorney to warn that the airline may only have days left to operate.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-mulls-using-defense-production-act-in-spirit-airlines-takeover/
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While Spirit has about $250 million in cash, that money is restricted because creditors have a lien on it, the bankruptcy hearing revealed. Unless given access to those funds, Spirit's cash on hand is running low.
The government has presented Spirit creditors with a term sheet, and is communicating with individual creditors about the proposed deal that would make the U.S. government the senior bondholder, sources said.
"President Trump has openly expressed his interest in helping Spirit Airlines, and the Administration continues exploring possible options to ensure the airline remains in operation for its passengers and employees," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement provided to CBS News Friday evening. "Any reporting, however, about the mechanism or structure of any deal between the federal government and Spirit Airlines, unless officially unveiled by the Administration, should be regarded as speculation."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the White House have advocated for proceeding, arguing that if the government isn't involved, the company would likely be liquidated and its jobs lost. Spirit directly employs about 7,500 people, according to an airline spokesperson.
The stance has put Lutnick at odds with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy who argued against it, saying that this move could create a political problem and would prolong what is seen as inevitable with a financial failure for the airline.
Trump officials generally agree that it would be preferable to avoid letting an American company go out of business during the war with Iran, especially as fuel prices keep rising.
Mr. Trump said Thursday of Spirit, "They have some good aircraft, some good assets."
Spirit doesn't own all of its assets outright, one official said. At the end of 2025, Spirit owned 48 planes and leased 83.
In early April, Spirit and United Airlines executives approached White House officials, with part of a liquidation plan that would include selling Spirit's "slots" at Newark Airport, a United hub. Slots are scheduled times for airlines to take off or land at a given airport.
Trump officials rejected that idea. The federal government owns slots, which would be preserved to make Spirit more attractive for a future owner, one of the sources said.
The president has voiced interest. "They have some very good slots too, which are pretty valuable," he said this week.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-mulls-using-defense-production-act-in-spirit-airlines-takeover/