Trump tells aides to prepare for extended Iran blockade - WSJ

Summary

• At a White House state dinner on Tuesday US President Donald Trump said Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, adding that King Charles agreed with his position.

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday the department expanded sanctions targeting what it described as Iran’s “shadow” financial and trade networks, including banking channels, cryptocurrency access, oil shipping fleets and procurement operations.

• Iran’s government spokeswoman said on Tuesday there was “no problem” in the country’s decision-making process for talks with the US.

• Iran’s digital darkness entered its 60th day on Tuesday, with the public largely cut off from the global internet, monitoring group NetBlocks said.

8 hours ago

Iran calls US seizure of ships ‘piracy’ in letter to UN

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations accused the United States of “piracy” over the seizure of Iranian vessels and urged the UN Security Council to condemn Washington’s actions.

In a letter to the UN secretary-general and Security Council, Amir Saeid Iravani said the US seizure of the MT Majestic and MT Tiffany and the confiscation of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian oil amounted to unlawful coercion, interference in international trade and the illegal seizure of property.

Iravani said the seizures violated the UN Charter, international law and the law of the sea, and argued they could create “a dangerous precedent” that would undermine the rule of law internationally.

12 hours ago

US sanctions campaign targets Iran’s banking, oil and crypto networks

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday the departmentexpanded sanctions targeting what it described as Iran’s “shadow” financial and trade networks, including banking channels, cryptocurrency access, oil shipping fleets and procurement operations.

The measures also target intermediary buyers of Iranian crude, including Chinese “teapot” refineries, which he said help sustain Tehran’s oil exports, Bessent posted on X.

"Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, is soon nearing storage capacity, which will force the regime to reduce oil production, resulting in an additional approximately $170 million per day in lost revenue, and causing permanent damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure. Treasury will continue to exert maximum pressure and any person, vessel, or entity facilitating illicit flows to Tehran risks exposure to US sanctions," he added.

The Treasury Department, through Economic Fury, has targeted Iran’s international shadow banking infrastructure, access to crypto, shadow fleet, weapons procurement networks, funding for terrorist proxies in the region, and independent Chinese “teapot” refineries that support…

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 29, 2026

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604194357

==FCC orders early license review of Disney-owned ABC stations

MEDIA. 1/2==

FCC launches review of Disney broadcast licenses years ahead of schedule

PUBLISHED TUE, APR 28 20263:16 PM EDTUPDATED

KEY POINTS

• The Federal Communications Commission has called on Disney to file for renewal of its ABC broadcast station licenses early, citing concerns around Disney’s DEI policies.

• The FCC sent its initial inquiry to Disney for its DEI efforts in March 2025.

• The move comes as ABC faces renewed backlash from President Donald Trump this week following comments made by comedian Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump.

==The Federal Communications Commission is seeking an early review of Disney’s

broadcast station licenses following concerns around the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to a letter from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Tuesday==.

The letter orders the company to file for early renewal for ABC-owned television stations and notes the action is related to an investigation into Disney’s DEI efforts, which began last year.

ABC-owned station licenses were originally up for renewal between 2028 and 2031.

Disney confirmed on Tuesday that it received the FCC’s order initiating an accelerated review of its licenses.The FCC said in the letter that Disney now has 30 days — or until May 28 — to file for the renewals.

“ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public‑interest programming,” Disney said in a statement.“We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels. Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”

The FCC’s move to require early renewals from Disney comes as ABC faces renewed backlash from President Donald Trump this week following comments made by comedian Jimmy Kimmel in an opening monologue for his late night TV show that airs on ABC’s network.

Trump revived his push for ABC to take Kimmel off the air after the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” referred to First Lady Melania Trump as an “expectant widow” during the show last week, days ahead of an alleged assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

However, the FCC, the federal entity that regulates the media and telecommunications industry, began investigating Disney’s stations last March for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules regarding its prohibition on unlawful discrimination.

Since beginning its investigation, the FCC said that “Disney’s ABC has purported to respond” to two inquiries.Still, the agency said that it has determined further action was “appropriate.”

The order lists eight stations subject to the early renewal — three in California, as well as others in Illinois, New York, Texas, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — all of which are owned and operated by Disney. The call for early renewal does not affect Disney’s affiliates, which are operated by broadcast station owners like Nexstar Media Group.

Disney is not the only media company subject to an investigation surrounding its DEI efforts.

Under Carr, who was appointed by Trump, the FCC also began investigations last year into Comcast,

the owner of NBCUniversal, as well as Paramount, prior to its merger with Skydance.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/28/fcc-begins-review-of-disney-broadcast-licenses-years-ahead-of-schedule.html

>>24553250

2/2

Following reports earlier Tuesday of the FCC’s intention to review ABC’s licenses early,FCC Commissioner Anna Gomezcalled the move “unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere,” in a post on X, adding that “this political stunt won’t stick. Companies should challenge it head-on. The First Amendment is on their side.”

First Amendment experts began to weigh in on the FCC’s latest move on Tuesday, raising similar points as to when “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was temporarily suspendedin September following comments the host made after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

At the time, Carr had suggested broadcast station licenses could be revoked in response.

“The FCC has no authority to cancel broadcasters’ licenses because of their perceived political views. But this isn’t just about the rights of Disney and ABC,” said Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in an emailed statement.

“President Trump is trying to consolidate control over what Americans see and hear on the radio, television, and social media. If he gets his way, we’ll have only government-aligned media organizations that broadcast only government-approved news and commentary. It would be difficult to imagine an outcome more corrosive to democracy or more offensive to the First Amendment,” Jaffer said.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/28/fcc-begins-review-of-disney-broadcast-licenses-years-ahead-of-schedule.html

Catherine Herridge

@C__Herridge

==While the @Comey

indictment is thin, it creates leverage and may be a holding charge==.

Timing: Comey indictment drops as former CIA Director Brennan investigation in Florida enters final chapter.

Brennan, a driving force behind the Russia collusion narrative, recently complained to MS NOW about alleged government weaponization now that he is a target.

“Part of this is to harass, to try to hurt individuals reputationally, professionally and financially.”

“We have people in government who seem to be so mean spirited that they try to hurt individuals, people, family and others."

Catherine Herridge

@C__Herridge

·

15h

.@Comey indicted 18 USC 871 (a)

Threats against the President

"…depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making

5:27 PM · Apr 28, 2026

https://x.com/C__Herridge/status/2049239216844931145

DOJ Indicts Former FBI Director James Comey for Threats to Harm President Donald Trump

April 28, 2026 | sundance |

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced today a two-count indictment against former FBI Director James Comeyfrom the Eastern District of North Carolinafor threats against President Donald Trump. [Indictment Here]

According to the Press Release: […] “The Indictment includes two counts, first in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871,alleging that James Comey, 65, knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States. This charge alleges that on May 15, 2025, by publicly posting an image over the internet via Instagramdepicting “86 47”, which a reasonable recipientwho is familiar with the circumstanceswould interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.

The Indictment also charges Comey in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), that=James Comey consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communication would be viewed as threatening violence, and that heknowingly transmitteda communication in interstate commerce that contained a threat to injure the person of another, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstanceswould interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to a person.” (SOURCE)

James Comey is charged with Threatening the President in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) and Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Additionally, similar to the criminal referral connected to former ICIG Michael Atkinson, today’s grand jury indictment creates a pressure point for ongoing DOJ investigations into additional related matters concerning FBI Director James Comey.

BREAKING NEWS: Acting AG Todd Blanche Announces Charges Against Former FBI Director James Comey

14:10

https://youtu.be/g5LcDZHAFEA

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/04/28/doj-indicts-former-fbi-director-james-comey-for-threats-to-harm-president-donald-trump/

>>24553340.

It sounds like many of the journalists at the briefing are trying to cast this charge of Comey as unfair. The media seem to not care Trump was seriously threatened by Comey, but if it was anyone else than Trump being threatened, it’s doubtful the media would continue their protection and bias in this matter. The TDS in the media is obvious, if it was Obama being exposed they’d be jumping to protect him.

I hope to God, Obama will be revealed as committing massive crimes against the USA, and charged with every one of them. It’s really time for him to get the Justice and Karma he deserves.

BOOOOOOOM!!!🎯🎯🎯

il Donaldo Trumpo

English believe Starma betrayed Trump and America!

0:45

https://rumble.com/embed/v76yfv4/?pub=4

THIS CHEEKY BASTARD OUTSPEECHED ME!!!😒🤣🤣🤣

il Donaldo Trumpo

KEK

0.40

https://rumble.com/embed/v76yfpy/?pub=4

WHEN YOU COME AT THE BOSS, YOU BETTER NOT MISS!!!

il Donaldo Trumpo

video :17 seconds

Is that you Q?

https://rumble.com/embed/v76ulpm/?pub=4