They gotta add that fake MKUltra happy music to make you think he's not a psychopath.
Philippine politician wanted by ICC makes escape after gunshots in Senate
A tense standoff involving Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa took another dramatic turn on Wednesday evening (13 May), when gunshots were heard inside the Senate building in Pasay City.
The incident unfolded while dela Rosa was staying in the Senate under protective custody, after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents tried to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC)-related arrest warrant on him earlier in the week.
Dela Rosa is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant in connection with its investigation into the drug war carried out under former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Inquirer, the first two gunshots were heard at around 7.46pm along a second-floor corridor.
More gunfire followed shortly after, causing journalists and camera crews covering the standoff to flee the area.
Some of the shots reportedly sounded like they may have come from automatic weapons.
The gunfire reportedly lasted for less than three minutes.
After the incident, the affected area was sealed off as officials prepared to inspect both the Senate building and the adjacent Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building.
The gunfire came two days after dela Rosa returned to the Senate on Monday (11 May), after reportedly being absent from the chamber since 10 Nov 2025.
His return proved politically significant. Dela Rosa cast the decisive vote in a leadership shake-up that removed Vicente Sotto III as Senate President and installed Alan Peter Cayetano in the role.
Following the attempted service of the ICC-related warrant, Cayetano placed dela Rosa under Senate protective custody.
The ICC warrant had reportedly been issued under seal in November 2025.
After the gunshots were heard, dela Rosa and several allies posted on Facebook suggesting that the Senate was under attack.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, sister of Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, posted a series of short videos with alarming captions.
One alleged that NBI agents had been ordered to arrest dela Rosa “even if someone dies”, while another claimed that those inside were “being fired at”.
However, PhilStar reported that there was no indication the gunshots were directed at any individual.
In a separate post, Marcos also claimed, without basis, that people were “drilling into the walls of the Senate” after drilling noises were reportedly heard near doors connected to the GSIS parking area.
Early reports linked the gunfire to a possible fresh attempt to arrest dela Rosa.
However, officials later denied that there was any arrest operation at the Senate that night.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said there was no instruction to arrest dela Rosa and denied that NBI agents were present at the Senate during the incident.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who arrived at the scene at about 8.30pm, said his role was to help secure the Senate and protect those inside.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr also denied that government forces were behind the gunfire.
In a video statement, he said the armed uniformed personnel seen in footage were police and Marines assigned to the area, while armed individuals in civilian clothes were from the Senate’s internal security team.
Marcos added that there was no order to arrest dela Rosa that night, and said the incident would be investigated by the Senate and police.
Senate Secretary Mark Mendoza initially suggested that the gunfire may have been meant to distract Senate personnel after unidentified people were seen nearby.
After an on-site investigation, Remulla said the first shot had been fired by the Senate’s Sergeant-at-Arms as a warning.
Unidentified individuals then reportedly fired shots into the air.
No gunshot casualties were reported, and officials said those inside the Senate were safe.
By Thursday (14 May), dela Rosa was no longer inside the Senate building.
Cayetano said the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms had reported that dela Rosa and Senator Robinhood Padilla left the premises at around 2.30am.
He said dela Rosa appeared to have left out of concern for other people’s safety.
Cayetano added that he last saw dela Rosa late on Wednesday night, and only learned the next day that the senator had left.
https://mustsharenews.com/gunshots-philippine-senate/
Controversy Erupts Over Alleged CIA Action at ODNI, Claims of 'Raid' Debunked
A report claiming the CIA conducted a raid on Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard’s office sparked widespread discussion on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, only to be walked back after clarification from Gabbard’s team.
The story gained traction after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) appeared on NewsNation and stated that the CIA had gone to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to pull documents.
Fox News host Jesse Watters later amplified the narrative, describing the incident as a CIA raid on Gabbard’s office. However, Gabbard’s office has since debunked the characterization of a raid.
According to a senior Trump administration official who spoke exclusively with me, the actual events unfolded differently. Last fall, the CIA did visit the ODNI to retrieve certain documents. The official emphasized there was no raid.The visit is part of a broader, year-long standoff between the CIA and the ODNI. The official said the CIA has been blocking the transfer of specific responsive documents to Gabbard’s team. Among the materials the source believes are being withheld are documents related to COVID-19.
Gabbard’s team has requested documents, and responsive materials are being blocked, the official said.
The tensions highlight ongoing friction between intelligence agencies as the Trump administration works to gain access to sensitive records. No further details on the specific documents or the reasons for any delays have been publicly released by either agency.
I have reached out to Gabbard’s team for comment on this matter.
https://independentnewsroom.com/p/exclusive-controversy-erupts-over-alleged-cia-action-at-odni-claims-of-raid-debunked
Julio Rosas
@Julio_Rosas11
Heated exchange between Rep. Jordan and Fairfax Attorney Descano over Descano's campaign promise to take immigration status into account during criminal proceedings.
Descano: "That's not my policy…that is a campaign statement!"
Jordan: "When you make campaign statements, those aren't true? You're not being honest with your voters?"
https://x.com/Julio_Rosas11/status/2054953783428260302
8% of people on electronic monitoring in Cook County are AWOL, chief judge's report shows
One in 12 accused criminals in Cook County's electronic monitoring program are currently AWOL, according to a new report from the county's chief judge.
The report from Chief Judge Charles Beach's office says there are 3,048 people in Cook County who are on electronic monitoring while they face criminal charges, and 8% of them are unaccounted for, either because they've missed curfew for three or more hours, the battery on their monitoring bracelet – which they are required to charge themselves – has died, or has otherwise lost connectivity.
This matters because warrants can be issued for their arrest for failing to comply with the terms of their electronic monitoring.
The man accused killing Chicago police officer John Bartholomew was among those considered AWOL from electronic monitoring when he allegedly robbed a dollar store last month before he was arrested and was taken to Swedish Hospital for a medical scan, where he allegedly shot Bartholomew and his partner.
Earlier this year, Beach told CBS News Chicago about changes that have been made to electronic monitoring in Cook County since his office took over responsibility for the program from the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
Now, if someone on electronic monitoring is somewhere they're not supposed to be for three hours or longer, that will trigger a "major violation." Previously, the threshold for a major violation was 48 hours.
Those alerts will then go before judge handling that violator's case on a 24/7 basis, whereas before that turnaround time was only happening on weekdays.
If a judge issues an arrest warrant in response to a major violation, the Cook County Sheriff's Office has agreed to expedite service of the warrant, and the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk's Office has agreed to place that case on the judge's court call within 24 hours.
"Ultimately, that is what we're doing right now, is making things work faster or bringing people back to court quicker. We're evaluating things quicker," Beach said.
That doesn't always work, though, for people who are AWOL, like Alphanso Talley, who was arrested without his monitoring bracelet before he allegedly shot and killed Officer Bartholomew.
"The reality is is that the electronic monitoring system will tell us if the person is wearing the band, where they're at every minute of the day, every minute. So it's a fair way of keeping track on someone until they cut the band, remove the band, mess with the band, and then you can't," Beach said in February.
Beach has promised to update the data in the report on the county's electronic monitoring system, but when CBS News Chicago tried to get to the bottom of who has gone AWOL, his office said they'd get back to us shortly. That was around 10:50 a.m., but his office has not provided answers as of 5 p.m.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/electronic-monitoring-cook-county-awol-chief-judge-report/
Fox News
@FoxNews
A judge in Cook County, IL revealing that authorities have lost track of hundreds of individuals on ankle monitors currently awaiting trial - nearly 10% of the whole program.
Officials warning the current system has serious flaws, citing cases where monitored individuals ignored violations and went on to commit violent crimes,
https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2054923857002140093
Gunther Eagleman™
@GuntherEagleman
🚨 THIS CANT HAPPEN! Cook County, Illinois just admitted they LOST TRACK of 243 criminals on ankle monitors, including 21 MURDERERS and 13 attempted murderers.
One of them was out on monitoring when he shot and killed a police officer and injured another during an armed robbery last month.
The Cook County State’s Attorney actually said the quiet part out loud: “Current safeguards fall short, especially when electronic monitoring is available for those charged with heinous crimes.”
No kidding.
https://x.com/gunthereagleman/status/2054902219191759010
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano testifies on Capitol Hill | FOX 5 DC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PkyTdtcFKQ
China will work behind the scenes to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Bessent says
-China will use its influence on Iran to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday.
-“China has a much bigger interest in reopening the strait than the U.S. does,” the Treasury Secretary said.
-China is the largest oil importer in the world, with much of its crude coming from the Middle East.
China will use its influence on Iran to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview Thursday.
“It’s very much in their interest to get the strait reopened,” Bessent told CNBC’s Joe Kernen. “I think they will be working behind the scenes to the extent anyone has any say over the Iranian leadership.”
China is the largest crude oil importer in the world. About 10% of its imports came from Iran and more than half came from the Middle East in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nearly all of Iran’s crude oil exports go to China, the Treasury secretary said.
“China has a much bigger interest in reopening the strait than the U.S. does,” Bessent told CNBC.
President Donald Trump held talks with President Xi Jinping during a two-day summit in Beijing on Thursday. A White House official said the leaders agreed Hormuz needs to reopen.
“The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,” the White House official said. “President Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use.”
Iran has blockaded the strait since early March in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that killed many of its leaders, including its head of state, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The blockade has cut off Persian Gulf oil exports to the global market, triggering the biggest supply disruption in history. Some 20% of the world’s crude oil transited through the strait before the war.
Tehran is now claiming control over the narrow sea lane, which has been a key sticking point in stalemated peace talks with the U.S. It has reportedly sought to implement a toll system for ships to cross Hormuz.
Chinese state media reports, however, did not specifically mention Hormuz as a topic of discussion between Trump and Xi. The leaders “exchanged views on major international and regional issues, such as the Middle East situation,” according to state news agency Xinhua.
The U.S. has imposed a blockade against Iranian ports in an effort to pressure Tehran into an agreement. No oil has been loaded at its main export terminal, Kharg Island, in the past three days, Bessent said. The U.S. believes Iran’s storage tanks are full, he said.
“None of the ships are getting out, none are coming in, so they’re not able to store oil on the water,” according to the Treasury secretary. “They’re going to start shutting down the production. We can see that’s happening from satellite photos.”
Bessent told CNBC that China is interested in buying more U.S. energy in response to the supply disruption in the Middle East. China and other nations are looking for more stable sources of energy, the Treasury secretary said.
The U.S. plans to ramp up oil and liquefied natural gas exports from Alaska, a natural place for China to import energy from, due to its geographic proximity, the Treasury secretary said.
“We think that not only China, but countries all around the world are going to look to diversify away from the Middle East for more stable sources of energy and what better place than the U.S.,” Bessent said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/14/china-xi-trump-iran-war-oil-strait-hormuz-bessent.html
New Hampshire woman says Planet Fitness canceled her membership after she reported man in locker room
A New Hampshire woman says Planet Fitness canceled her membership after she complained about seeing a man in the women’s locker room last month.
Judy Walcott, a longtime member of a Planet Fitness location in Concord, New Hampshire, told Fox News Digital she felt unsafe after encountering someone she believed was male in the women’s locker room near the shower area on April 11.
"I was shaking. Like I was actually trembling because it freaked me out that bad," she told Fox News Digital.
Walcott said she reported the incident to a young employee at the front desk, who told her there was nothing staff could do because it was company policy. She claims the employee did not check the locker room while she was present.
She said she raised the issue again, four days later, with another staff member because she had safety concerns, but she said the employee called her "transphobic" instead of looking into her claims.
"She showed concern until I started telling her that there was a creepy guy in the ladies' shower on Saturday, nobody checked him out… then before I could say anything else, she interrupted me, telling me she ‘thought’ she knew who I meant and what a wonderful woman that is," Walcott told Fox News Digital.
She said the conversation went downhill from there, alleging the staff member did not address her concerns and instead "repeatedly" called her "transphobic" before she decided to walk away.
A couple of hours later, Walcott said, the gym's manager called her to tell her that her membership had been canceled for a "policy violation."
"So I asked her what policy did I violate? I didn't violate a policy, I asked about one. She didn't answer me," Walcott said.
Walcott said she later checked her account online and saw that she had been charged for another month. She also said she found a "Member cancellation or freeze form" in her account that requested cancellation, dated April 15.
A copy of that document, which Fox News Digital cannot authenticate, shows an April 15 cancellation request with a request effective date of May 16. In the comment field, the form says, "Nondiscrimination Trans."
Walcott alleged the cancellation form was submitted without her authorization and said she believes her signature was forged.
Walcott said that after seeing she had been charged for an additional month in the days following this incident, she returned to the gym on April 17 to use the remainder of her membership. She said the manager again told her the membership had been canceled, and the two argued over whether she was owed a refund.
Walcott claims the manager told her she was "not getting a refund" before calling the police.
When officers with the Concord Police Department arrived, Walcott was given a warning not to trespass on the property.
"So she takes a form, signs my name, charges me money, extends my membership, and then calls the cops on me. Like, what the hell? I feel like I live in an upside-down land," Walcott said.
A copy of the document, labeled "order to stay off property" and reviewed by Fox News Digital, appears to show an officer’s signature, the gym location and an April 17 date.
Concord Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that Walcott "was formally trespassed from Planet Fitness, 89 Fort Eddy Rd" on April 17.
Walcott said that a few days before the incident she had emailed Planet Fitness headquarters asking about its transgender policy but said she received no response.
She has since reached out to the New Hampshire Attorney General's office to report the incident and intends to file a consumer complaint.
Walcott says she's speaking out because she believes the Planet Fitness policy is unfair to women.
"What does it take? Are we being sacrificed in the name of inclusion?" she asked.
Planet Fitness says on its website that members who identify as transgender "may use Planet Fitness locker room facilities, bathrooms, showers, and all other facilities/programs separated by sex based on their self-reported gender identity; these facilities include bathrooms, showers, and all other facilities separated by sex. Wherever possible, Planet Fitness clubs should maintain private changing areas in each locker room for the comfort of all members and team members."
The company also says it aims to provide an "inclusive gym environment" where members feel they belong.
Planet Fitness corporate headquarters did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails from Fox News Digital requesting comment.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/new-hampshire-woman-says-planet-fitness-canceled-her-membership-after-she-reported-man-locker-room
Fox News
@FoxNews
NEW: President Trump reveals to @seanhannity that Chinese President Xi Jinping has committed to withholding military equipment from Iran following their high-level discussions.
Trump noted that while China continues to purchase Iranian oil, Xi expressed a strong desire to see the Strait of Hormuz remain open and free of interference.
"He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement… But at the same time, he said you know they buy a lot of their oil there and they’d like to keep doing that. He’d like to see Hormuz straight opened."
The full interview airs tonight at 9pm ET.
https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2054953269319929883
Greg Price
@greg_price11
Cato guy: "One in five Fairfax residents is someone who could be deported or lives with them."
Totally normal that 20% of the largest county in Virginia could be deported.
https://x.com/greg_price11/status/2054948633443717622
Eric Daugherty
@EricLDaugh
🚨 NOW: Outrage is erupting after the LARGEST K-12 book publisher in America Scholastic has been exposed for running ANTI-ICE books for CHILDREN — such as a little Mexican girl coming to America and realizing it's "stolen land"
The books also make the name "Donald Trump" synonymous with "fascism" 🤯
"They have to come here and reconquer."
"Why should they assimilate? No, they should not. They, in fact, should grab the land and make sure they take the land back."
Freaking ridiculous. Our education system is CORRUPTED!
https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2054597590948208729
Pope Leo XIV Awards Top Diplomatic Honor to Iran’s Ambassador — Mid-War
The American pope named Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of Pius IX in the same week Donald Trump declared the ceasefire “on life support” and accused Leo of wanting Tehran armed with nuclear weapons.
Pope Leo XIV has named Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari, Iran’s ambassador to the Vatican, a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of Pius IX, according to a certificate dated May 8 and signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope’s Secretary of State.
The honor raises the Iranian envoy to one of the most senior classes of the highest active papal order, founded in 1847 by Pope Pius IX and conferred today on senior diplomats and heads of state.
By itself, the award is not unusual. By Vatican custom, the Grand Cross is ordinarily conferred on resident ambassadors to the Holy See after roughly two years in post, and Mokhtari presented his credentials to Pope Francis in December 2023 — two and a half years before Cardinal Parolin signed this certificate.
But Iranian state media is not treating this as a routine retirement honor. PressTV and the West Asia News Agency are running the certificate alongside images of Mokhtari with Pope Leo XIV, framing the medal as a counter-signal from an American pope to a wartime American president — a quiet diplomatic verdict on Donald Trump’s bombing campaign against Iran
The timing is for them the story.
Top conservatives in the United States seem to agree. Some went to X (formerly Twitter) to express their dismay, including Fox News host Brian Kilmeade.
https://www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leo-xiv-awards-top-diplomatic
Coca-Cola to shut down California plant after 114 years
After more than a century, Ventura is set to lose one of its oldest businesses.
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling announced on May 8 in a WARN notice that it will shut down its Ventura plant permanently on July 10.
The closure will impact 85 employees.
“We regularly assess our locations, products and services to ensure we can continue driving sustainable growth and innovation across our business,” a spokesperson for Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling wrote SFGATE via email Tuesday. “As such, we have announced the closure of our Ventura Distribution Center and the transfer of operations to our other Southern California facilities.”
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling confirmed the last day of operations will be Friday, July 10, along with the number of employees impacted.
“Eighty-five is the correct number of employees affected by the shift in operations,” the spokesperson wrote. “Most (78) will be reassigned to other RCCB facilities. Additionally, affected employees have the option of applying for any open roles for which they are qualified within RCCB and our sister companies.”
The closure will bid farewell to the city’s long-tenured relationship with Coca-Cola, which dates back to the early 20th century.
“Two of the nation’s top soft drink bottlers and dispensers, Coca-Cola Bottling company and Nehi Bottling company, operate modern plants here,” the Ventura County Star reported on May 2, 1953. “At peak operations, their combined 23-hour output can reach 3,500 cases of soft drinks.”
The history of soda production and distribution in Ventura, even in the 1950s, was remarkable. “The soda pop business is by no means new to Ventura, Coca-Cola opening its first bottling plant here in 1912 at a spot just off Front street now the scene of U.S. 101 highway Meta street cut-off,” the Star reported in 1953. “The plant later moved to 77 W. Main Street and in 1937 to a new and modern plant at the corner of Seward avenue and Thompson boulevard was opened.”
A Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling spokesperson told SFGATE the facility’s most recent use is as a distribution center. According to the WARN notice the jobs to be eliminated at the Ventura site include drivers, fleet mechanics, merchandisers and customer growth representatives.
“Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling has been part of Ventura’s business community for decades, and any change that affects local jobs is difficult for our community,” Ventura City Manager Bill Ayub wrote SFGATE via email on Wednesday. “The facility and its employees have contributed to Ventura’s economy and workforce for generations, and we appreciate the company’s longstanding presence in Ventura.”
Ventura isn’t the only California city reeling from a recent Coca-Cola plant closure. Last April, the Coca-Cola plant in American Canyon announced its closure. Laying off 135 employees, that plant shut down in August.
That same month, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling closed down its Salinas plant after more than 70 years, noting it would consolidate operations with a nearby plant in San Jose, impacting 81 employees and leaving a historic building empty.
“You know, we would have preferred San Jose consolidated into Salinas, but that’s not the way it works,” Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue told KSBW-TV at the time of the closure. “Having said that, we do believe it’s an attractive facility. I know at least three parties that have expressed interest in the facility, so we’re certainly encouraged by that.”
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling’s spokesperson said the company expects the transition “to better position us for long-term growth and enhanced service for our customers and consumers.”
“As always,” their email concluded, “we’ve communicated this important update to our employees and stakeholders.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:20 p.m., May 14, 2026, to include more information about the Ventura Coca-Cola facility’s most recent use, as well as a statement from the city of Ventura.
https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/coca-cola-plant-shutdown-22255959.php
UK health secretary resigns, setting up a potential Labour leadership challenge to Keir Starmer
LONDON (AP) — Efforts to unseat British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from within his own party broke into open rebellion Thursday, with one potential rival resigning from the Cabinet and two others positioning themselves for a future leadership challenge.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting became the first senior minister to quit Thursday in what was seen as a precursor to challenging Starmer’s leadership. He said he had lost confidence in Starmer, who should not serve out the rest of his term.
“You have shown courage and statesmanship on the world stage — not least in keeping Britain out of the war in Iran,” Streeting wrote in an excoriating resignation letter. “But where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
But Streeting stopped short of saying he was the best candidate to lead the party at the next election due by 2029, suggesting Starmer should step aside to allow a “broad” field of candidates to debate the future of the party.
Starmer is under growing pressure to step down after disastrous results for his Labour Party last week in local and regional elections. The election drubbing cemented doubts among many party members about Starmer’s judgment, vision and leadership ability — a brutal indictment on a leader who returned Labour to power in July 2024 after 14 years in opposition.
Starmer responded in a generous letter to Streeting, saying he was “truly sorry” to see him leave the government and praised his stewardship of the state-run National Health Service.
Making no reference to Streeting’s criticisms, Starmer laid out his hope the two “can work together to show that Labour in power can address the problems our opponents exploit, can install hope where they want despair, and can bring people together where they want division.”
Starmer moved quickly to replace Streeting, appointing James Murray, formerly a Treasury minister, to the health portfolio.
If Starmer doesn’t step down, any challenger would need support from a fifth of Labour lawmakers, or 81, to trigger a leadership contest.
For days, Streeting had been expected to launch a bid Thursday, but the wording of his statement stoked speculation he doesn’t have enough votes yet, or that he is giving Starmer a chance to announce his resignation on his own terms.
Another likely challenger, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, said Thursday that she had reached an agreement with authorities to clear up questions about her taxes that forced her to leave the Cabinet last September. Rayner told the Guardian newspaper that Starmer should “reflect on” his position, adding that she was ready to “play my part” in any leadership election if Streeting triggered a contest.
A third rival, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is ineligible for the leadership because he doesn’t have a seat in Parliament, but on Thursday afternoon a Labour lawmaker said he would step aside to make room and Burnham said he would seek permission from party to enter a special election. He could then mount a leadership challenge if elected.
“I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years,” Burnham said on X. “I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics.”
Pressure for Starmer to step aside has intensified since Labour suffered heavy losses in local and regional elections last week, underscoring voter frustration with a government that has failed to deliver on pledges to boost economic growth and improve living standards for working people.
A stagnant economy and stubbornly high inflation have made it difficult for Starmer’s government to deliver on the promises it made when winning a landslide election victory less than two years ago.
Starmer has vowed to remain in office, warning lawmakers that any leadership contest would destabilize the government when it should be focused on issues like the cost of living crisis and war in the Middle East.
The leadership wrangles overshadowed some positive news for the government.
Official figures showed the British economy grew 0.6% in the first three months of the year — more than had been anticipated and larger than the previous quarter, despite the negative impact from the Iran war. More growth means more tax revenues to fund Labour’s priorities and potentially lower borrowing.
Treasury chief Rachel Reeves said the figures showed her policies were working and the party shouldn’t put hard-won economic stability at risk “by plunging the country in chaos at a time when there is conflict in the world.”
Unlike the Conservative Party, Labour has never ousted a prime minister in midterm.
https://apnews.com/article/britain-politics-starmer-streeting-rayner-6bd359148664c9478ed01b36ebb6e37d
83-Year-Old House Democrat Is MIA – With No Explanation
Another member of Congress has been missing a slew of votes without much explanation.
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL), 83, has not voted in the House of Representatives since April 17, congressional reporter Jamie Dupree of the Regular Order newsletter noted on Wednesday night. Posting on Bluesky, he pointed out that Wilson had missed all 10 House votes on Wednesday and has now missed 43 consecutive votes.
Included in Dupree’s post were images posted on Wilson’s X account on Tuesday, but he noted something was amiss.
“Wilson’s X account this week sent out photos of a Service Academy day – but pictures from the same event were posted last October,” Dupree wrote.
“I was proud to host a Service Academy Day at FIU, bringing together representatives to share guidance with the next generation,” the congresswoman’s post stated, suggesting that the event had taken place that day or at least recently, and not eight months ago.
Wilson is not the only House member who has been missing lots of votes. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has been MIA since March. Kean’s office later issued a statement, saying the congressman is dealing with an unspecified “personal medical issue.” The congressman has yet to return to the House.
Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, where so far, four Democratic members have died this term.
Reps. David Scott (GA), Sylvester Turner (D-TX), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) all died during the 119th Congress. Scott was 80, while the other three lawmakers were in their 70s.
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/83-year-old-house-democrat-is-mia-with-no-explanation/
Protests flare in Havana as Cuba runs out of diesel and fuel oil amid US blockade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP7DSxBykBk
Dow jumps 370 points to recapture 50,000; S&P 500 posts first close above 7,500
Stocks were higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average retaking 50,000 after strong earnings from Cisco Systems and following a key meeting between U.S. and China.
The 30-stock index popped 370.26 points, or 0.75%, to end at 50,063.46. The S&P 500 climbed 0.77% and closed at 7,501.24, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.88% to 26,635.22. Those two indexes scored fresh all-time intraday highs and record closes.
Shares of Cisco surged 13% after the software giant posted third-quarter results and guidance that beat Wall Street’s expectations and announced it would be cutting almost 4,000 jobs.
“It’s hard to look past the robust earnings growth story,” William Merz, head of capital markets research at U.S. Bank Asset Management, told CNBC. He said that corporate fundamentals are “remarkably strong,” most notably for U.S. large-cap companies.
Cisco’s gain gave the Dow a boost, sending it to 50,000 during the session. The Dow also got a lift from Nvidia also advanced more than 4% after Reuters reported that the U.S. has cleared about 10 Chinese firms to purchase Nvidia’s H200 chip, though no deliveries have been made yet.
Cisco and Nvidia, as well as Amazon, have supported the Dow’s comeback — Cisco has soared 47% in the past two months, while Amazon and Nvidia has gained 28% and 30%, respectively. The run-up for the index comes even as the conflict in the Middle East persists, keeping inflationary fears among investors heightened as oil prices remain elevated.
Iran was a major topic of discussion during the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday, with the two sides agreeing that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, per a White House official.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/13/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
Honda just lost money for the first time in 70 years
The auto industry’s massive pullback from its electric vehicle plans has claimed another victim: Honda, which posted its first annual loss since 1955.
Honda and other global automakers downshifted their EV ambitions after the Trump administration changed US emissions rules and ended a $7,500 tax credit for American buyers. EV sales fell sharply after the tax credit went away in September, and the recent spike in gasoline prices has not sparked a significant increase in EV demand by US buyers.
Car companies had expected much stricter American emissions rules, leading them to invest billions of dollars to move towards an all-electric vehicle lineup sometime in the next decade. But the Trump administration scrapped the tougher emissions rules put in place by the Biden administration and eliminated massive financial penalties automakers faced if they violated emissions rules.
Those changes led automakers to return their focus on selling large gasoline powered trucks and SUVs, on which they made the most profit. But the shift has been costly to automakers, who have been forced to write down the value of their large-scale EV investments.
For its fiscal year ending in March, Honda reported it took a 1.6 trillion yen, or nearly $10 billion, hit to its earnings, wiping out what would have otherwise been a potential $7.4 billion profit for the year. Instead, it posted a net loss of 403.3 billion yen, or $2.6 billion.
Honda also indicated it expected an additional writedown on its previous EV investment in the current fiscal year, although not enough to cause another loss.
Honda’s results follow General Motors, which reported a $7.2 billion charge in 2025 for its pullback in EV efforts, while rival Ford announced a charge of $17.4 billion for the year and Stellatis, which makes cars in North America under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler brands, reported a charge of 25.4 billion euros, or $29.7 billion.
GM was still able to report a profit for the year, even with its charge. But the cost of pulling back on EVs also caused Ford and Stellantis to report net losses for 2025. Ford also expects additional charges this year.
Still, automakers haven’t dropped EV plans completely. There are still tougher emissions rules coming in Europe and Asia and perhaps in a number of US states, led by California, which has a regulation on the books that would ban the sale of new gasoline powered cars by 2035, although Congress has moved to block that ban from taking effect.
Automakers are also concerned about the rising competition from Chinese automakers, which are primarily selling EVs. Chinese automakers have relatively little presence in the American market as of yet.
https://lite.cnn.com/2026/05/14/business/honda-loss-ev-pullback-cost
UnveiledChina
@Unveiled_ChinaX
Marco Rubio just stood in Beijing, inside China, and told NBC News that US policy on Taiwan is unchanged. That is the statement. That is the signal.
Speaking to reporters after the Trump-Xi summit on May 14, Secretary of State Rubio was asked directly about Taiwan. His answer: "US policy on the issue of Taiwan is unchanged as of today and as of the meeting that we had here today. It was raised. They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position and we move on to other topics. We know where we stand. I think you know where we stand."
What that position means in practice: the US does not recognize Taiwan as independent but maintains unofficial ties, sells it weapons, and has committed under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with defensive arms. The posture of strategic ambiguity, deliberately leaving unclear whether the US would intervene militarily in a conflict, remains intact.
Beijing raised Taiwan. Washington repeated its position. Both sides moved on. That exchange, repeated at every major US-China summit for decades, is itself the message: this issue will not be resolved in a meeting room, and neither side is pretending otherwise.
The CCP wanted a different answer. It did not get one. In Beijing.
https://x.com/Unveiled_ChinaX/status/2054901273544266167
Former Newsom chief of staff pleads guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, submitting a false tax return and lying to federal investigators
A former political consultant for Democratic frontrunner for governor Xavier Becerra and ex-aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, submitting a false tax return and lying to federal investigators.
The consultant, Dana Williamson, was charged in a corruption scandal that shocked Sacramento. Following an investigation that included FBI wiretaps and seized communications, prosecutors accused Williamson of conspiring with Becerra’s longtime chief of staff Sean McCluskie and another Sacramento lobbyist to divert $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant state campaign account into McCluskie’s hands.
As part of the plea deal, Williamson, McCluskie and the other lobbyist jointly agreed to pay $225,000 in restitution to Becerra. Williamson also agreed to pay $500,000 in restitution to the IRS. Prosecutors have agreed to seek the standard sentencing for the fraud charge under federal guidelines, which is about 2.5 to 3 years.
Her attorney, former U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott, said he will argue against sending her to prison during a hearing scheduled for July that is likely to be delayed as Williamson recovers from a liver transplant.
Williamson’s plea comes just over two weeks before the primary election that will determine whether Becerra advances to the November election.
According to the indictment, the money was to help McCluskie follow Becerra to Washington when he was named U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration. McCluskie’s job there offered a lower salary, and he was splitting time between Washington and California, where his wife and children remained.
Prosecutors say the Democratic operatives charged Becerra’s dormant campaign account $7,500 to $10,000 a month under the guise of maintaining it for legal compliance, but instead routed it to McCluskie through a no-show job for his wife, in violation of federal laws prohibiting federal employees from being involved in campaign activities. The investigation was launched during the Biden administration and the scheme began prior to Williamson’s two years serving as Newsom’s chief of staff.
McCluskie and the other lobbyist, Greg Campbell, pleaded guilty to fraud in the case. Williamson also faced a variety of tax charges alleging she falsely deducted luxury goods and vacations as business expenses. She pleaded guilty to one of those charges.
The plea deal brings to a close a case that has loomed over Becerra’s recently revitalized campaign for governor. It’s unclear whether it will have any effect on the crowded race, in which Becerra is one of six Democrats vying for the seat that Newsom is vacating; two Republicans also are in the running.
The timing of the agreement is unusual. Federal prosecutors typically avoid pursuing political cases within 60 days of an election under a Justice Department custom designed to prevent interference that could advantage or disadvantage candidates. Voters have already begun turning in their ballots in the gubernatorial race.
Scott said he tried to delay until after the primary election, out of “an abundance of caution” to conform with the Justice Department policy, but prosecutors wanted to proceed Thursday.
“In my experience, that is something that is absolutely honored and bent over backwards to try to honor,” he said, adding that Williamson would “only be human if she felt that somehow this case was affecting” the election.
Lauren Horwood, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, noted that the charges have been public since November and said in an email that “no candidate running for governor has been implicated in any charging document.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson told U.S. District Court Judge Troy Nunley the plea was the result of months of negotiations between prosecutors and Williamson. Williamson had previously rejected one plea offer and made a counter-offer, Anderson said, calling the agreement the “most favorable” outcome for both parties. Prosecutors will drop 20 of the 23 charges Williamson faced.
Campbell and McCluskie are scheduled to be sentenced June 4, two days after the primary election.
Becerra was lagging in polling and fundraising until former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out over sexual assault allegations in early April, when he suddenly shot into the lead as anxious Democratic voters searched for a candidate to coalesce around.
Williamson’s case is one of several incidents opponents have seized upon in debates and negative ads to call into question Becerra’s judgment and fitness for executive office.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/05/california-newsom-chief-plea-deal/
Matt Van Swol
@mattvanswol
🚨WHAT ON EARTH?!!!
The Charlotte NC NAACP President says it's "seriously disturbing" that white people are being considered for interim mayor.
"Why would we replace the Black outgoing Mayor with a white person?"
https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2054912645174571382
How Russia Controlled A Huge Chunk Of Wyoming Uranium, And How Wyoming Got It Back
For nearly a decade, 100,000 acres of Wyoming’s uranium fields in the Powder River Basin — including 4.1 million pounds of U.S.-warehoused uranium — belonged to a Russian company called Uranium One.
That company was controlled by Russia’s state-owned Atomredmetzoloto, the mining arm of the Russia nuclear agency Rosatom.
It was a story that played out quietly at first in corporate securities filings and, eventually, federal approvals at the highest levels of American government.
All of that happened far from the in-situ uranium mines in northeast Wyoming.
In fact, no one visiting the site itself would have ever realized there was any Russian connection at all.
“They kept all the same people on the ground,” Wyoming Mining Association Executive Director Travis Deti told Cowboy State Daily. “It was Americans doing the work.”
The chapter raised few eyebrows in Wyoming at the time, but looks very different now that uranium is listed as a critical mineral and the United States is racing to rebuild its nuclear fuel supply chain.
read moar:
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/05/14/how-russia-controlled-a-huge-chunk-of-wyoming-uranium-and-how-wyoming-got-it-back/
U.S. Taiwan policies ‘unchanged’ after Trump-Xi meeting, Rubio says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2c5xLFZB0k
Amy Nixon
@texasrunnerDFW
We basically did NINJA loans again but this time with non-US citizens
Many homebuilders, such as Bloomfield Homes in Celina, TX offered access to FHA loans for H-1B visa holders through their preferred lenders until May of 2025, when Trump had HUD shut these lending practices down
Some of these FHA loans offered 100% financing through a combination of a standard FHA loan and access to State assisted first time homebuyer grants for the 3% downpayment
Yes, you read that correctly, your tax dollars funded home-buying grants for non-US Citizens during the Biden administration
Is it just a coincidence that home prices began falling at a rapid pace in Celina, TX almost immediately after Trump shut this program down?
How many people bought a brand new home with zero money down at peak 2022-2024 pricing?
You won’t see an impact at a national level, but you WILL see it in certain markets with a lot of H-1B tech workers and new construction.
https://x.com/texasrunnerDFW/status/2054563049281827232
Robert Sterling
@RobertMSterling
During the Biden administration, H-1B visa holders were buying houses with 97-100% financing. 97% would come from the FHA, with the rest coming from state first-time home buyer programs.
Zero money down. Thanks to programs that were supposed to be helping low-income American families buy their own homes.
FHA loans to non-permanent residents quickly grew to represent 6% of mortgage issuances. The percentage was undoubtedly higher in places like the DFW area, where H-1B visa holders are disproportionately concentrated.
I don’t have anything against people in America on H-1B visas. I’ve said it before—and I’ll say it again—that I’ve found many of them to be great people on an individual level, and I wish them all nothing but the best. Individual immigrants—especially those here legally—are not at fault for flawed US immigration policy.
But this might be the most radicalizing thing I’ve ever seen. Not only are American workers forced to compete for jobs, they’re also forced to compete in the housing market against people bringing 0-3% of a house’s cost to the closing table, versus the 10-20% most people have to pay.
First, companies import mass numbers of H-1B visa holders, largely in "back office" white-collar fields like IT and accounting. This essentially imposes a lower ceiling on domestic wages in these job categories.
Next, these workers—who are generally concentrated in certain geographic areas—create more demand for housing (especially in good school districts), driving up home prices and the cost of living.
Then, to top it off, they don’t even have to save up money for a down payment. They can close on a $500k house with $0-15k plus a 97% FHA loan. Meanwhile, ordinary American families are forced to come to with $50-100k for the same down payment.
I don’t care how you feel about Trump or what your preferred immigration policies are; there’s no defending this. It screws over hard-working American citizens several different ways over, and it’s yet another reason why I will always be glad Trump won and Kamala Harris lost in 2024.
https://x.com/RobertMSterling/status/2054585087669203372
Despicable crimes paid for couple's lavish lifestyle that they flaunted online while gold chain-wearing husband fleeced $1BILLION from taxpayers
A healthcare software company CEO was found guilty of fleecing around $1 billion of taxpayer cash in a 'cold, calculated' scheme, all while flaunting his and his wife's lavish lifestyle online.
Brett Blackman, 42, was convicted of fraud on Wednesday after he and co-conspirators conned Medicare patients with bogus prescriptions and unnecessary medical expenditures from around 2015 to 2020.
HealthSplash owner and CEO Blackman and his co-conspirators 'aggressively targeted hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries to get them to accept medically unnecessary products including orthotic braces, according to the Department of Justice.
'This illegitimate operation stole more than $1 billion from American taxpayers - including hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries. This was [a] cold, calculated, industrial-scale theft targeting the sick and elderly, coercing vulnerable people into buying unnecessary medical equipment,' the DOJ stated.
Blackman, a Kansas native, used Power Mobility Doctor Rx, LLC, which was acquired by HealthSplash in 2017, to generate false and fraudulent doctor's orders for durable medical equipment and prescriptions.
Blackman was accused of orchestrating a 'massive telemarketing scheme' that utilized foreign call centers and spam mailers to target senior citizens and defraud the government health care benefits programs, according to Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division.
'The beneficiaries were targeted to provide their personally identifiable information and accept braces, pain creams, and other items through misleading mailers, television advertisements, and calls from offshore call centers,' the indictment obtained by the Daily Mail said.
The scheme, described by the DOJ as one of the most 'egregious fraud schemes in Florida history,' saw doctors paid to sign orders and prescriptions 'without any meaningful interaction' or no interaction with the patient.
'Doctors signed these orders and prescriptions without regard to whether the equipment was medically necessary,' the release stated, adding that, in certain cases, the doctor would falsely claim to have performed in-person exams on the patient.
Blackman and his co-conspirators were accused of connecting pharmacies, DME suppliers and marketers with telemedicine companies that would accept illegal kickbacks and bribes 'in exchange for signed doctors' orders and took a cut for themselves in exchange for the referrals.
'The DME suppliers and pharmacies that were paying illegal kickbacks for these orders billed Medicare and other insurers for more than $1 billion,' the DOJ continued.
'Medicare and the other insurers paid more than $450 million based on these claims. According to evidence presented at trial, Blackman and his co-conspirators concealed the scheme through sham contracts and by manipulating the doctors’ orders to avoid Medicare audits.'
'Fraud of this magnitude drains vital resources and jeopardizes the care promised to our service members, retirees and their families,' Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service said.
Blackman was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statement in connection with health care matters.
His co-conspirator, 79-year-old Gary Cox, was convicted in an earlier trial and sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Blackman on the other hand faces at least 20 years in prison.
Cox was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, three counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and conspiracy to defraud the United States and make false statements in connection with health care matters, according to the DOJ.
Blackman is set to be sentenced on August 26, 2026, at 10am, according to online records.
The Daily Mail reached out to the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Office of the Attorney General, Blackman's Defense Attorney Jenny Wilson and attempted to reach Blackman's ex-wife for comment.
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15818851/crimes-lavish-lifestyle-husband-fleeced-bllion-taxpayers.html
Sikh man stabbed 18-year-old university student to death with an eight-inch ceremonial knife after claiming he'd been racially abused, court hears
A university student died after being repeatedly stabbed by a man armed with a Sikh ceremonial sword, a court heard.
Finance student Henry Nowak, 18, was on his way home from a night out when he was allegedly attacked by stranger Vikrum Digwa, 23, with the eight inch 'Shastar' blade.
Digwa was caught on camera saying 'I am a bad man' before the fatal attack, jurors were told.
He is now on trial accused of murder alongside his mother Kiran Kaur, 53, who is accused of assisting an offender.
Prosecutors said she went to the scene before running home with the knife to stash it among an 'arsenal of weapons' there. They both deny the charges.
The teenager went home at around 11pm and having 'drunk less than the legal limit to drive'.
After he was stabbed Mr Nowak tried to climb a fence to escape but Digwa was 'aggressively pursuing' him, leaving a trail of blood, the court heard.
Police were called to the scene but arrested Mr Nowak after Digwa claimed he had been racially abused.
Mr Nowak was then handcuffed before passing out and dying in the street a short time later.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg KC said: 'Put simply, Henry drowned in his own blood with his lung having been cut by the knife going eight centimetres into him.
'Vickrum Digwa raises the defence of self defence. He persisted that Henry perpetrated a drunken racist attack. He says he doesn't recall exactly how the fatal wound came to be inflicted.'
Opening the case on Thursday, Mr Lobbenberg told jurors that Mr Nowak's phone had captured the moment he met Digwa.
'Vikrum Digwa was carrying an extremely large knife in a sheath openly displayed over his clothing,' he told them.
'After he had been stabbed, Henry Nowak climbed on to a bin and over a fence to try and escape but he had already been fatally wounded and there was a blood trail on the street which demonstrates that he must have been stabbed before he climbed on to the bin and over the fence.
'Vikrum Digwa chose to aggressively pursue him.'
The prosecutor said a video of the incident was found on Mr Nowak's phone which was discovered in Digwa's pocket.
In the video, played to the jury, Mr Nowak can be heard saying 'Hello car' and singing to himself before yawning, with the footage then cutting to show Digwa walking away from him.
Mr Nowak is then heard saying: 'Innit bad man, what bad man. You're a bad man, say you're a bad man, go on.'
Digwa replied: 'I am a bad man' to which Mr Nowak replied: 'Are you a b…', before the footage cuts off.
Mr Lobbenberg said the defendant's father and brother went to the scene shortly afterwards along with his mother, who was captured on video footage taking the knife back to their family home.
The prosecutor said at the scene Digwa denied stabbing Mr Nowak and instead claimed he had been 'racially abused and attacked by a drunken man'.
Mr Lobbenberg said: 'He didn't seek help for the man he had injured with his sizeable knife, instead he accused him of being a racist and being drunk.'
He suffered four stab wounds including two in the back of his legs and one in his lung.
Analysis of the knife found blood and fatty tissue matched to Mr Nowak and hairs from Digwa as well as DNA from Kaur were on the sheath.
In the UK Sikhs are legally permitted to carry a Kirpan knife in public as it is protected under religious exemption laws.
The prosecutor said: 'Sikhism obliges male followers of the faith to carry and wear certain items, these include a wooden comb, a metal bangle and what is called a kirpan, a ceremonial knife.
'That small kirpan satisfies any religious obligation a Sikh may have to carry a blade and Mr Vikrum Digwa was carrying that under his clothing and around his neck.'
The court heard that following his arrest Digwa and his brother were transported in a police van and their conversation was recorded.
Mr Lobbenberg said: 'The two chose to talk to each other presuming they couldn't be heard. He told his brother he stabbed Henry three times. He didn't mention any racism or self defence.'
'Her son asked her to take his Shastar, which is the large knife. This was captured on phone footage which was being shot so it could be heard.
'It was stashed among an arsenal of weapons at the home. Analysis of the blade showed it had blood and fatty tissue on it. DNA showed it belonged to Henry. Hair belonging to Vikrum Digwa was found on the knife.'
'These are usually from two to nine inches. This blade is eight inches so can still be considered legitimate.
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15818111/Sikh-man-stabbed-18-year-old-university-student-death-eight-inch-ceremonial-knife-claiming-hed-racially-abused-court-hears.html
Cooked County
Watters: China has been ‘SALIVATING’ over THIS…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wksTnVvcYz4