Good morning, everyone. We have a very busy news update today. A new investigation reveals that fellow inmates of Ghislaine Maxwell were allegedly punished for speaking out about her preferential treatment in federal prison. Meanwhile, funding for Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom project is facing serious resistance from Republicans this morning. Trump also attacked a female journalist again, and not a single one of her colleagues stepped in to defend her. We are also learning more about how DOGE allegedly used race and other protected characteristics to carry out the largest grant cuts in the history of the National Endowment for the Humanities, along with much more.
A couple of notes on my end. First, I was disgusted watching other journalists stay silent while Trump attacked Rachel Scott. Watch the video for yourself. Journalists should never trade silence for access, but that is exactly what happened.
Second, this afternoon and evening I will be helping prepare members of Congress for upcoming Epstein depositions and interviews, so I may not have a full news update later today, but stay tuned.
Third, while scrolling social media today, I came across yet another dangerous AI-generated video impersonating me and falsely claiming I am a doctor giving medical advice. It’s clearly fake, but several people believed it. Here is the video:
Here’s the news:
The Virginia Supreme Court just struck down the newly drawn Congressional map that passed earlier in April. That means the state will remain a 6-5 Congressional state, and the new Democratic maps will not take effect. I will be back here shortly with my full analysis of the ruling. Here it is for you.
A CNN investigation found that inmates at a federal prison camp in Texas say they were punished after speaking publicly about convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell following her unusual transfer to a minimum-security facility. Several women described being reprimanded, transferred to harsher detention centers, or accused of threatening prison security after making comments to reporters about Maxwell’s presence and the special treatment she allegedly received.
The accounts are particularly troubling because prison consultants and former inmates said Maxwell’s transfer itself was highly atypical for someone convicted of sex trafficking crimes, fueling suspicions of preferential treatment tied to her relationship with deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein and her comments about Donald Trump. Critics say the reported retaliation raises broader concerns about free speech, transparency, and unequal treatment within the federal prison system.
Donald Trump’s ballroom funding is in trouble. Moderate House Republicans are reportedly warning party leadership and the White House that a proposed $1 billion allocation tied to securing Donald Trump’s planned ballroom project is politically toxic and may not have enough support to pass. One Republican lawmaker reportedly said, “A first-year poli sci major would know not to ask members to take this vote,” while another bluntly predicted, “There is no way in hell that this will get 218 votes on the floor.”
A federal judge ruled Thursday that Elon Musk’s DOGE “blatantly used” race, gender, and other protected characteristics to carry out the largest mass termination of federal grants in the history of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Judge Colleen McMahon found it especially troubling that DOGE staffers reportedly relied on DEI-related keywords and ChatGPT to target projects connected to Black history, Holocaust testimony, Native American experiences, women, and LGBTQ topics. The court said the process was unlawful, discriminatory, and far outside normal grant review procedures, particularly amid rising antisemitism and political attacks on academic and cultural programs. The ruling blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with the cuts and intensified concerns about ideological filtering and AI-driven decision-making in federal governance.
Justin J. Pearson delivered an emotional floor speech in the Tennessee State House condemning a new congressional map that will dismantle the state’s only Black-majority district. “Today, you will take the only Black-majority district from us,” Pearson said, before adding, “No matter what you do, no matter how much you try to break us and make us bend and quit — we will still be here.”
The exclusive we broke yesterday was much larger than expected. The cyberhack of Columbia was not just limited to Columbia University. We now know that a massive data breach targeting Instructure, the parent company of the widely used Canvas learning platform, has affected schools and universities nationwide. According to reports, hackers threatened to release stolen data unless institutions contact them before May 12, though highly sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and passwords does not appear to have been compromised. Exposed data may include names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages, raising concerns about phishing scams and targeted fraud against students and staff. Cybersecurity experts are urging users to remain cautious of suspicious emails and communications as schools continue assessing the scale of the breach. Our exclusive spread like a wildfire and has millions of views now.
Donald Trump made an unannounced visit last night to inspect renovations to a 2,000-foot reflecting pool project, where crews installed a bright blue liner to fix leaks he had previously described as “filthy.” The renovation reportedly cost about $1.8 million. It is the first time a presidential motorcade drove on the reflecting pool like this:
During an exchange with reporters, Donald Trump dismissed a question about focusing on infrastructure and development projects while gas prices were rising. Calling it “such a stupid question,” Trump responded combatively and added, “You can understand dirt better than I can baby but I don’t allow it,” in another attack on a female journalist.
Later in the exchange, Donald Trump appeared to refer to reporter Rachel Scott as a “bitch,” and not a single one of her colleagues stood up for her.
During the visit, Trump asked random construction workers if Iran should have a nuclear weapon:
When asked about the hantavirus outbreak, Donald Trump said he had been briefed and expressed cautious optimism that the situation was “very much we hope under control.” Asked whether Americans should worry about the virus spreading, Trump responded, “I hope not. We’ll do the best we can.” His comments came as health authorities continue monitoring the outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship and tracking potential contacts worldwide.
According to ABC News, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship as a “level 3” emergency response, which is the agency’s lowest level of emergency activation. The designation indicates the CDC is monitoring and coordinating its response to the outbreak, which has already resulted in multiple deaths and infections among passengers. Health officials continue tracking travelers and contacts across several countries, though experts emphasize that the overall risk of widespread transmission remains low. The outbreak has drawn international attention because the rare hantavirus strain involved may spread person-to-person in uncommon cases.
A flight attendant who had contact with passengers linked to the deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested negative for the virus, easing concerns that the disease may have spread beyond those directly on board. Health officials had been closely monitoring the attendant in the Netherlands after a sick passenger was removed from a flight traveling from South Africa to Amsterdam. Authorities continue tracing passengers worldwide, as the outbreak has already caused three deaths and several confirmed infections connected to the cruise. Experts and the WHO stress that the risk to the broader public remains low because hantavirus rarely spreads person-to-person and generally requires close contact.
A new suspected hantavirus case has been identified in a British national on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, linked to an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. So far, three people have died and four others are being treated in hospitals across Europe and South Africa, while health authorities continue tracing passengers and close contacts worldwide. Experts and agencies including the WHO and CDC say the risk of widespread contagion remains low, although the rare strain involved can spread person-to-person in uncommon cases. The cruise ship is expected to dock in Tenerife soon, and asymptomatic passengers are being monitored and advised to isolate after returning home.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted a short time ago, “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.”
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla warned, in an interview with ABC News, that the United States is on a “dangerous path” that could lead to a “bloodbath in Cuba” after repeated comments from Donald Trump about potentially taking over the country. In an interview with ABC News, Rodríguez said Cuba takes Trump’s military threats “very seriously” and would defend itself “to the very last consequences” if attacked. The remarks followed Trump’s recent statements suggesting Cuba could be “next” after Iran and references to sending the USS Abraham Lincoln near the island as part of a pressure campaign that already includes sanctions and economic restrictions. Rodríguez also said there has been “no progress” in ongoing talks with the United States and rejected any negotiations over Cuba’s political system or internal affairs.
A recent survey found that 11% of American adults say they personally know someone who has been detained or deported due to their immigration status, highlighting how immigration enforcement policies are directly affecting a significant number of people and communities across the United States.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to continue governing despite heavy losses for the Labour Party in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales. The results highlighted growing public dissatisfaction with Labour and the weakening of Britain’s traditional two-party system, as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party made major gains, especially in former Labour strongholds. Analysts described the outcome as a historic political shift, with voters increasingly turning to smaller and insurgent parties such as Reform, the Greens, and nationalist movements. While some Labour lawmakers are questioning Starmer’s leadership after policy reversals and declining popularity, allies argue replacing him now would create further instability.
See you soon.
— Aaron
