The Common Ills: 2026

Friday, May 08, 2026

Isaiah's latest THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Has Pete Got A Deal For You." Pete Hegseth begs, "I need $1.5 trillion dollars. If you give me that, I can continue to use racism and sexism to discriminate against Americans in uniform. And, good news, its only going to take $125 million of that to change our name from the Dept of Defense to the Dept of War!" Isaiah archives his comics at THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS.

The Snapshot

Friday, May 8, 2026. Chump's dementia receives more attention, Chump and Pete Hegseth continue to persecute Senator Mark Kelly, an Epstein and Chump exhibit goes up in NYC, and much more.

Chump. Is he all there? Is he fading? Is the dementia worsening? William Vaillancourt (DAILY BEAST) notes:

Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, appearing on The Daily Beast Podcast, said the 79-year-old president seems to be “more senile” now than he was during his first term.

“I’m no doctor. I’m no psychologist. I’m no child psychologist, which might be more appropriate for the president,“ Moulton told host Joanna Coles. ”But he definitely seems to be getting worse. He really seems to be getting worse. He seems to be getting more senile. I mean, you don’t talk about cognitive tests a lot if you’re not taking cognitive tests, and you only take cognitive tests if your doctors are concerned about your cognitive abilities.”

“Everyone declines, whether we like it or not, at that age... I think it’s just that much more dangerous,” Moulton explained. “Most people can see that Donald Trump is dangerous—that he’s dangerous for our troops, for our country, for our economy, for our national security. I mean, there’s a long list. But he definitely seems more dangerous now than he was even in his first term.”

Catherine Bouris (DAILY BEAST) adds:

California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a unique challenge to Donald Trump after the president went on a bizarre tangent in public once again.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump interrupted his address to explain the difference between “sea” and “see.”

“Drug traffic coming into our country is way down,” he said. “By sea, by ocean, by water. A lot of people say, ‘What do you mean by sea? Is it see, like vision?’ No, it’s sea, S-E-A,” he continued, spelling the word out loud.

Responding to the odd interlude in an X post, Newsom expressed concern that “Little D’s” brain was in decline.

“‘LITTLE D’S’ BRAIN IS DECLINING RAPIDLY IN REAL TIME,” Newsom wrote in Trump’s own all-caps style.

“TODAY HE WAS CONFUSED BY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘SEE’ AND ‘SEA.’ VERY SAD!”

Newsom continued to discuss the president’s health concerns, referencing reports that his aides feel anxious about the growing signs that his health is in decline.

“HIS HANDLERS ARE TERRIFIED AND DESPERATELY TRYING TO HIDE IT FROM THE PUBLIC. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THE TRUTH,” he wrote, before issuing a challenge for the president to agree to a live cognitive test on national television.

“FOX NEWS CAN HOST,” Newsom suggested. “SEAN ‘SLUMPY RATINGS’ HANNITY WOULD BE PERFECT. I’LL EVEN LET HIM GIVE ‘LITTLE D’ THREE LIFELINES!”

Outlining the parameters for the test, Newsom said that it would take place during primetime, and that no teleprompters or notes would be allowed.

“‘PERSON, MAN, CAMERA, TV, SQUIRREL, ELEPHANT, GIRAFFE,’” he added. “LET’S SEE WHO PASSES!!!”

Trump boasted last week that he could correctly identify pictures of animals, including a squirrel, as part of a cognitive test.

It's scary to realize how far gone his brain is and how close he is to the nuclear codes. It's scary to grasp how far gone he is and that he's made the decision to start the war with Iran and made the decision to continue the war. Max Burns (THE HILL) offers:

Does anyone in America know what President Trump is doing in the Strait of Hormuz? Does Trump himself know?

On Sunday, he boldly announced “Project Freedom,” his scheme to escort commercial ships through the shuttered strait. He then swiftly reversed course just two days later, declaring that the strait would remain closed, even as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was selling Project Freedom to the press. As Hegseth touted a plan that no longer existed, Trump again changed his timeline for ending his increasingly unpopular war in Iran.

Trump’s impulsive and contradictory actions in Iran have confounded his generals, his Cabinet and the public since the war began 10 weeks ago. Trump is now so bogged down that he is confounding himself, too. It is time for Congress to exert some constitutional authority and wrap this debacle up before regular Americans endure even more financial suffering.

He doesn't know what he's doing. That's why he's offered so many differing reasons for the war. It's why he blows hot and cold on it, why he says it's too hard and he needs a break. He's not up to the job because he doesn't have the mind for it. He gets louder and he bellows but that's all that happens. TACO. NACHO. He doesn't have the mind anymore. It's gone.

Senator Mark Kelly continues to be persecuted by Chump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Kelly, along with other members of Congress, taped a PSA explaining that those enlisted did not have to follow an illegal order. This is a part of training. But it upset Chump and Hegseth (Hegseth had made similar statements when he was on FOX "NEWS" about how troops did not have to obey illeal orders). For a number of reasons, the court system sided with Kelly; however, Hegseth and Chump refuse to let it go.

Mike Scarcella (REUTERS) reports:

A U.S. federal appeals court at a hearing on Thursday appeared skeptical that the Trump administration’s could legally punish Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly over public remarks he made urging service members to refuse unlawful orders.

Members of a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit expressed criticism of the government’s efforts to censure Kelly, a retired Navy captain and Arizona Democrat, over more than an hour of questioning.

"These are people who serve their country. Many of them put their lives on the line," Circuit Judge Florence Pan told a Justice Department lawyer. "You're saying that they have to give up their retired status in order to say something that is a textbook example — taught at West Point and the Naval Academy — that you can disobey illegal orders?"

Matt Naham (LAW & CRIMES) adds:

On the heels of a ruling in the court below that practically begged Hegseth to stop threatening the First Amendment rights of millions of military retirees to punish his boss' political rival over a video, the D.C. Circuit heard the DOJ's best pitch on Thursday for reviving the disciplinary action.

U.S. Circuit Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson, Florence Pan, and Cornelia Pillard, respectively appointed by Presidents George H.W. Bush, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama, formed the panel, a fact that Law&Crime pointed out after Hegseth finally filed the promised appeal of his loss. Despite technical difficulties with the court's publicly posted audio stream, Pillard and Pan's grilling of a DOJ attorney was enough to glean which way the wind is blowing.

"I mean, this is really basic," Pillard told the government. "You are not disagreeing that the video at issue that is the fulcrum of this case, Senator Kelly never says the words disobey lawful orders, right? I mean, that's uncontroversial. I understand you have a whole theory, but he doesn't say that, right?"

"Not in isolation, expressing —" the DOJ lawyer began to answer, before agreeing the judge was "correct."

In the lead-up to oral arguments, Kelly filed a brief recounting how President Donald Trump accused him and five other Democrats — Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. — of engaging in "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" when they appeared in a video in November, condemned lethal military strikes on alleged drug smugglers' boats in international waters, and stated, "you can refuse illegal orders."

[. . .]

All along, Kelly said "you can refuse illegal orders" referred to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and Pillard picked up on it.

"He says you have a duty to disobey unlawful orders, right? That is something that is taught at Annapolis to every cadet, right?" the judge asked.

The DOJ shot back that the "only reason" Kelly said what he did was because the sitting senator and astronaut had a "specific intent to influence active duty service members" and that "Captain Kelly was not purporting to give a speech in Annapolis on military law."

"How do we know that?" Pillard followed up.

Because Hegseth said so, the DOJ replied.

Because crazy Hegseth with his multiple marriages and screwed up view of Christianity said so?

Hegseth is crazed and insane. A FOX "NEWS" weekend host who found a fool in Chump who would support him. Hegseth's in over his head. He was the one who should have been fired for Signal-gate. Every week since then, he's made one blunder after another. Sometimes he's made them daily.

Going after Mark Kelly was a huge mistake. Kelly doesn't back down. And now that's something the entire nation understands, that Kelly's a fighter. It's raised his political profile and might even land him in the White House. Leo Shane III, Connor O'Brien and Lisa Kashinsky (POLITICO) report:

On the campaign trail, Kelly has amassed a war chest that has fueled talk of a presidential bid. He kicked off the year by hauling in roughly $13 million in the first quarter of 2026.

Kelly has said he’ll “seriously consider” mounting a candidacy in 2028. He was on the short list of running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful run against Trump in 2024. She eventually chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

“He’s got the backstory. He’s a hot commodity right now,” said Pete Giangreco, a longtime Democratic strategist who has worked on multiple presidential campaigns. “He’s done it in a way that has excited the base of the party but is also a talking point that can win a general election because this is about courage and standing up for the Constitution and making sure we have a military that is not politicized.”

Another Democrat in the video, Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, is also weighing a run for the party’s presidential nomination. Slotkin serves with Kelly on the Senate Armed Services Committee and is a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official.

For decades, sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was best buds with Donald Chump. Epstein is dead now but his connection to Chump remains stronger than ever. While the American people have demanded the Justice Dept release The Epstein Files, while Congress passed an act requiring the documents be released in full, Chump has refused to release them all. Former US House Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene was told by Chump that she had to back off the call to release the files because, if they were released, people he knows would be hurt.

An exhibit has opened up in NYC utilizing documents that have been released. Lisa Rubin (MS NOW) reports:

On a quiet block in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood, an Epstein-focused “reading room” is set to open to the public on May 8. Part public art exhibit, part “library,” it houses more than 3,400 physical volumes that together contain every document published by the Justice Department in response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The sheer immensity of the release is evident as soon as you walk in; it’s a powerful visual that is all but lost by virtue of the fact that the millions of documents were released online and mostly live there. It is not known if there is any other public place where every page of the release has been compiled.

The space also features a symbolic tribute to survivors and detailed timelines that cover an entire wall.

Clio Chang (CURBED) adds:

A reading room containing all 3.5 million pages of records related to Jeffrey Epstein that were released by the Department of Justice opens Friday in a Tribeca gallery. (You have to RSVP for the address, it seems.) The by-appointment-only pop-up is being put on by a nonprofit called the Institute for Primary Facts and will also include a timeline of Epstein and Donald Trump’s relationship. Thusly named the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, the project is part art installation, part museum exhibit, and part cursed archive where the only reading materials are emails to and from Jeffrey Epstein.

Clio notes that the museum exhibit will be open until May 21st. MILITARY.COM notes:

The title itself is deliberately provocative. The Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room places Trump’s name alongside Epstein’s, reflecting the exhibit’s focus on their documented social relationship and the public records associated with it.

[Spokesperson David] Garrett said the Institute expected the exhibit to raise larger questions about power, accountability and whether the law applies equally.

"We hope and believe that the Epstein case is unique," he said. "The ages of the victims and the unbelievable number of crimes is hard to imagine. We hope and believe that the public will demand transparency and accountability.

"If achieved, we think this moment can provide hope to future generations that the rule of law still exists in America, and that it is applied equally, even to the rich and powerful."

This week also saw Epstein's colleague, friend and business partner Howard Lutnick be interviewed by the House Oversight Committee. He was not put under oath despite the fact that it's the lie the Secretary of Commerce told last fall that necessitated him appearing before the Committee. Media reports yesterday quoted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stating, "Look how they are dodging and avoiding and refusing to really investigate Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein." Trina pointed out last night:

Hillary is 100% correct. She is not someone who met with Epstein but she was forced to testify. Under oath. And she was filmed. Melania Chump knows Epstein. Hillary, if she did meet him, met him at a White House event where he was one of many people present. This was known. Bill Clinton knew Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton did not. Our current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick knew Epstein and visited Epstein island. But he wasn't video taped and he wasn't put under oath. And he had lied to the American people claiming that he and his wife, in 2005, went to Epstein's NYC home and left so creeped out that they decided never to have anything to do with him. And that was that. Until a few months later when some of The Epstein Files came out and we learned that Lutnick lied. Six or so years after that tour of the home, And they'd talked and e-mailed since that home tour as well. He's a liar. And he went before them a liar but James Comer -- Gomer Pyle -- refused to put him under oath or to video tape.

Another Epstein story gaining traction this week has been the relese of a note said to have been written by Jeffrey Epstein shortly before he died. Kevin Reed (WSWS) reports:

A purported suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein was released Wednesday by US District Judge Kenneth Karas in connection with the separate case of Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s former cellmate, after a request from The New York Times.

The note remains unauthenticated with multiple outlets reporting that neither the Justice Department nor the court has verified that Epstein wrote it, and the BBC noted it has not been verified. The note is also not clearly a “suicide note” in any conventional sense—it is a scrawled, hard-to-read hand-written message on lined paper, without a signature, and its meaning is uncertain.

The text appears to read, in substance: “They investigated me for month— found nothing!!! So 15 year old charges resulted. time to say goodbye. No fun—not worth it!!” Other fragments from the same document include awkward, partially illegible phrases such as “It a treat be able one’s to say” and “Watch me to—Bust cryin.”

This language leads to the first obvious question: if the note is real, why was it never formally authenticated, and if it is not authenticated, why should it be treated as proof of Epstein’s state of mind just before his death on August 10, 2019?

Tartaglione claims he found the note after Epstein’s first alleged suicide attempt in July 2019, when the two were sharing a cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan. According to reports, Tartaglione later said he discovered it tucked into a book, and his attorneys told the court they believed Epstein wrote it based on Tartaglione’s account and other writings found later in the cell.

But that explanation raises another obvious question: Why would an alleged suicide note be left in a book in a cell shared by a man then facing murder charges, and why did it not surface publicly until Tartaglione talked about it years later?

In other Epstein news, Johanna Berkman (GUARDIAN) reports:

Lawyers for Leon Black, the billionaire investor who has been accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a teenage girl inside Jeffrey Epstein’s New York townhouse in 2002, reached out to a powerful federal judge in 2024 to raise doubts about the alleged victim’s claims, a Guardian investigation has found.

The move set off a months-long court proceeding, which was conducted outside public view and led the US district judge Jed Rakoff to reverse a $2.5m award that had been granted to the alleged victim in a separate Epstein-related class action lawsuit, according to court records. She was later given a much smaller settlement in the class action case.

Jane Doe, as she is known in court filings, has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and raped by Black when she was a teenager more than two decades ago.

The Guardian’s investigation is revealing new details about the private communications in Black’s legal campaign, which undermined Doe in her civil lawsuit against the Wall Street billionaire.

In a recent court order, Doe faced a significant setback when Jessica Clarke – the federal judge presiding over her civil lawsuit against Black – sanctioned Doe and her former lawyer for “serious, sanctionable misconduct in this case”. Judge Clarke said Doe’s former lawyer had “repeatedly lied to the court and opposing counsel”, and directed her client to destroy a social media account. Doe was sanctioned for having “falsified” some sonogram images that appeared in personal journals, which were submitted to the court as evidence of her abuse by Epstein.

However, it was not a complete victory for Black, as the judge also ruled that the high-stakes lawsuit could proceed.

Black, the 74-year-old former Apollo Global Management CEO, paid Epstein $170m, according to an investigation by the Senate finance committee, which he says was for tax and estate planning. Black has denied allegations that he raped or ever met Doe, who is now 40 years old. He has never been charged with any crimes in connection to Epstein or otherwise.

The Epstein scandal has prompted questions about why the accused sex trafficker’s elite circle of friends and associates has not faced greater scrutiny. That may change. Black is due to testify before the House oversight committee on 26 June, according to a person familiar with the matter, as part of the committee’s investigation into, among other things, Epstein’s sex-trafficking rings. He is also facing questions from the Democratic senator Ron Wyden, who claimed in a recent letter to Black that the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice “remove any lingering doubt” as to whether Black was “connected to women in Epstein’s network” and alleged that “powerful associates in the US and abroad were surveilling and paying off women on [Black’s] behalf”.

Next month, in NYC, there will be an event. Charisma Madarang (ROLLING STONE) reports:

In an evening of solidarity, Hollywood leaders will come together on Sunday, June 14, in New York City for Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment.

Jane Fonda, Bette Midler, Joy Reid, Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, Sasha Allen, and Broadway Inspirational Voices are set to appear and perform at the event, which will span 90-minutes and be available to stream online for free. National partner organizations and local civic groups will also host watch parties across the country. All proceeds from the event will go toward the work of the Committee for the First Amendment, which was revived in 2025 by Fonda and other members in the entertainment industry during the first year of the second Trump administration.

"Music has long been a tool to stand up to authoritarianism, and I am honored to spend the evening with these fiercely committed, talented, and brilliant people to celebrate our First Amendment rights," Fonda said in a statement. "As we continue to watch bad faith leaders take more and more power, it is critical that we gather together, raise our voices collectively, and stand united against this administration - and have some fun while doing it."

Rufus Wainwright posted the following to FACEBOOK:

On June 14th, I'm joining Jane Fonda and a number of incredible artists at Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment to Town Hall in New York City and I need you there.

The First Amendment is not a given. It has to be defended, again and again. I am so proud to share the stage with Bette Midler, Patti Smith, Joy Reid, Sasha Allen, and more extraordinary artists who believe that free speech is worth fighting for.

Music has always led the way when freedom is on the line. Come be part of that tradition on June 14th. And if you can't make it to New York, gather your friends and host a watch party.

All proceeds from this concert go directly to support the work of the Committee for the First Amendment. Get your tickets now at www.riseupsingout.com. Let's fill that room together.

Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:

Last year Trump fought to defund the Legal Services Corporation entirely, House Republicans fought to cut the program nearly by half; Murray protected nearly all of the funding in the bills she negotiated that Trump signed into law

Just last week, House Republicans passed a bill out of committee to cut funding for LSC by more than half and President Trump’s budget once again calls to defund the program entirely; As Murray gears up to once again protect LSC funding she will hear from Northwest Justice Project clients and lawyers about the important nonpartisan work this funding supports

Civil legal aid also has a dramatic return on investment; every dollar spent on legal aid generates an average of seven dollars in economic benefits.

ICYMI: Murray Secures $540 million for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

Seattle, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion with lawyers whose work is supported by Legal Services Corporation (LSC) grants and client storytellers who have benefitted from that work.

Senator Murray was joined by Abigail Daquiz, Executive Director, Northwest Justice Project (NJP); Karla Carlisle, Managing Attorney, NJP Tri-Cities and Walla Walla Offices; Christy, Client; Jennifer Budinick, NJP Attorney, Veterans Unit; Alan Myers, Client; David Tarshes, former NJP Attorney; Anita Belcher, Client; and Will Gunn; Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for LSC.

“In this country—our courts and laws are meant to be a great equalizer, but we can only live up to that promise of equality when cost is not a barrier to justice,” said Senator Murray. “The funding from the Legal Services Corporation helps organizations like Northwest Justice Project keep that promise and live up to the values that make America great, helping tens of thousands of people every year. The Northwest Justice Project is a lifeline for farmworkers being denied fair pay, domestic violence victims trying to protect themselves and their families, seniors facing an unfair eviction, and so much more. President Trump already tried to completely defund federal legal aid last year—I stopped him. Trump wants to defund legal aid again and House Republicans are pushing to cut existing funding by more than half—that’s simply not going to happen on my watch. I’ll be ripping up Trump’s budget and writing a new one, one that invests in legal aid and protects this absolutely essential lifeline for working people.”

In FY26, Senator Murray protected $540 million for LSC and rejected President Trump’s proposal to completely defund the largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. Murray also beat back efforts by House Republicans to cut LSC funding by nearly half and made sure the FY26 appropriations bill included a provision to permit LSC recipients to operate with boards of directors that include more fiscal experts and community representatives—something Senator Murray has long advocated for. This change allowed LSC grantees to diversify their boards to include those with accounting, fundraising, and other kinds of expertise.

Just last week, House Republicans passed a bill out of committee that would cut LSC funding by more than half. LSC provides funding and support to legal aid organizations across the country to ensure Americans have the critical legal support they need to protect their families, advocate for veterans, prevent homelessness, and access their benefits. The primary responsibility of LSC is to manage and oversee the congressionally appropriated federal funds that it distributes in the form of grants to local legal services providers, which in turn give legal assistance to low-income clients in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. LSC grantees have served over 6.4 million people, including 1.9 million who resolved housing, family, or other life-changing legal problems, and more than 30 million individuals used grantees’ online legal tools, websites, and self-help resources to navigate legal issues. Civil legal aid also has a dramatic return on investment; every dollar spent on legal aid generates an average of seven dollars in economic benefits.

“Federal funding for civil legal aid is the foundation for our ability to serve our communities—to ensure that a mom facing eviction has someone in their corner, that veterans who have served in this country can access the benefits they have earned, and ensures that safety is possible for survivors of domestic violence. Northwest Justice Project is the LSC grantee in Washington State and we take that responsibility very seriously, making sure that this investment is effectively used to serve our community. Thank you, Sen. Murray for being a champion for civil legal aid funding—so we can continue to show up for our clients,” said Abigail Daquiz, Executive Director, Northwest Justice Project.

“My attorney managed the chaos of my divorce, the connection for legal help with the protection order, and navigated the hurdles of coerced debt and terrible credit that my marriage had left me with, causing housing burdens… I am here today to say thank you. Thank you for giving me my life back. Because of NJP, I am not just a survivor; I am a mother with a home, a future, and a fresh start,” said Christy, a NJP client who with her two young children had fled an abusive partner.

“After more than a year of diligent work, NJP did what I couldn’t do alone. I was awarded a 50% disability rating. These weren’t ‘handouts’—they were the benefits I had earned over decades of service,” said Alan Myers, a NJP client, and a veteran who had served for 25 years and sustained service-related disabilities, including partial blindness, hearing loss, and spinal fracture. Yet he was told by the Veterans Administration that he would not qualify for benefits.

“If NJP needs anything, I will be there to help. It still blows my mind that I was able to be represented by great attorneys and actually get a favorable outcome. It was amazing. Truly amazing,” said Anita Belcher, a NJP client whose paycheck was suddenly garnished by 50% without notice.

NJP is Washington’s largest publicly funded legal aid program and provides legal representation to tens of thousands of low-income Washingtonians each year for critical legal matters including family safety, housing rights, wage theft, access to healthcare, education, and more. NJP is the sole LSC grantee in Washington state. LSC provided about $11 million to NJP in FY25, which was 18% of their total annual budget. They also received about $2 million in other federal funding, meaning 21% of their total budget in 2025 was from the federal government. Over one million people visit their website, washingtonlawhelp.org, to access free legal resources annually. Across Washington state, they have 20 physical offices and about 340 staff, including nearly 200 attorneys. In 2025, NJP direct legal services benefited 31,206 Washington residents, including more than 800 veterans, 2,929 older Americans, and thousands of domestic violence survivors. However, in Washington close to one million residents qualified for assistance.

Services provided include a toll-free referral and intake hotline called CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education Advice and Referral) that lets clients ask questions and get advice over the phone, the Washington Law Help public website that hosts free legal resources and self-help materials, and they coordinate volunteer attorney programs to ensure equal justice for people unable to afford an attorney. In addition to 20 offices statewide, specialized units serve farmworkers, Native Americans, veterans, and provide eviction and foreclosure defense.

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And let's close with this from THE BLACK COMMENTATOR:

BlackCommentator.com

May 7, 2026 Issue 1086

The Black Commentator

Issue #1086

is now Online

May 7, 2026

Read issue 1086

Our email address is BlackCommentator@gmail.com

Our voicemail number is 856.823.1739

The following sites - plus Marcia's "The hole in Chump's excuse for his hand" and Stan's "DAREDEVIL: REBORN" -- updated:

Trump PANICS at 1 AM as DUBAI UNDER ATTACK?!!

NEVER BEFORE SEEN EPSTEIN INFO RELEASED!

🚨Stephen Miller RUSHES To Military Base As Legal Charges EXPLODE

I’m SICK Of Joe Rogan And You Should Be Too

MAGA Has Hantavirus MELTDOWN As Trump Causes PANIC

Democrats renew calls to reform Supreme Court: ‘Fundamentally out of step’ with Americans

Andrew Weissmann: FBI Dir. Kash Patel has a 'fundamental misunderstanding of his role'

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING IN THE CLOWNS (BLACK MAGAs)!

Trump's Epstein death mystery deepens: Ari & reporter who broke jail note bombshell

A Conversation with Barbara Hershey, 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival

Thursday, May 07, 2026

Epstein jail note revealed after 7 years?! Melber’s definitive breakdown on Trump DOJ death mystery

SCOTUS and DOGE in HOT WATER over SECRET DATA SEIZURE?!?!

'Really, really squeezed.' CEOs sound alarm over weakening consumer spending

Trump DOJ Suddenly APOLOGIZES to COURT and BEGS FOR MERCY!!!!

‘Picked the WRONG GUY’: Sen. Kelly HOLDS STRONG against Trump and Hegseth in court SHOWDOWN

'Just the latest HUMILIATION': Nicolle reacts to Rubio's Pope Leo CLEANUP VISIT after Trump attacks

Did the Supreme Court STEAL the NEXT Election??

🚨Epstein Survivor REACTS to DAMNING Files Library

BREAKING: Kash Patel in PANIC MODE over leaks, orders POLYGRAPHS for dozens of staff members

Trump gets RUDE AWAKENING as Vegas TURNS AGAINST HIM!!!

NY Lawmakers RAMP UP PRESSURE on Epstein With MAJOR Legal Move

Trump FURIOUS as Gas Prices Threaten to TANK Presidency and Allies REJECT US Military

🚨 Trump Suddenly SHUTS DOWN PRESS BRIEF with BRAZIL PREZ!!!

Hegseth 'going to lose either way': Law Professor weigh in on legal fight with Sen. Kelly

Heilemann on BRUTAL new Trump polling: 'A triple crown of badness'

All HELL BREAKS LOOSE as Trump BANNED from ALL ALLIED BASES!!!

DAVE CHAPPELLE in His Own Words: Fame, Family & Finding Balance | IMO

'A lot of information' on Epstein 'that we still don't have': Top Oversight Dem

Bette Midler Read Melania's Old Interview Back On Live TV — Trump LOST IT On Truth Social

🚨 Lutnick THREATENED with Criminal Charges Over Testimony?!?!

Trump PANICS as CIA UNDERMINES HIM!!!

The Scam Continues... 60 Million Dollars Later and They Still Haven't Received Their Trump Phones!!

Trump DOJ Just ATTACKED Me?!

Trump LOSES IT as White House UFC EVENT is UTTER FAILURE!!!

Georgians, Down To The Front | It Is Now Within Our State Lines. Act Accordingly!!

Margaret Cho - Matteo Lane & Nick Smith - I Never Liked You 119

🚨TOTAL Chaos ENGULFS CAPITOL as GOP CLOSES DOWN Congress!!

The Snapshot

Thursday, May 7, 2026. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait tell Chump "NO!" forcing him to shut down Project Freedom, his war of choice continues to destroy the US economy, James Comer makes nice with liar Howard Lutnick, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer respond to Chump, Time Square sees a new billboard of Chump and Epstein with the tagline “What are these two hiding?" and much more.

Yesterday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee issued the following:

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep. Angie Craig, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Rep. Don Beyer Jr., Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, sent a letter to President Trump demanding answers on how his illegal war with Iran is driving up the cost of living for everyday Americans. Consumer prices have reached their fastest growth in almost two years as a spike in oil costs feeds into our economy, and the war has already cost taxpayers approximately $2 billion per day during the initial phase of attacks.

In the letter to President Trump, the Members wrote, “As your illegal war with Iran continues into its third month with on and off again negotiations and naval blockade, you have unleashed chaos, undermined our national security, and escalated the conflict by threatening war crimes including wiping out an entire civilization and destroying civilian infrastructure. It is clear that you chose to start your war without coherent or realistic strategic objectives, and with no plan to prevent Iran from expanding its strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz. The impacts of your war will be felt for years, and the consequences of your reckless decision to drag America into war are increasingly falling on the American public.”

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Can't argue with that. Kenneth Rapoza (MARKET WATCH) notes:

America is not starving. There’s plenty of beef, wheat and eggs. At the moment, food inflation is lower than core inflation, but Americans are still living with higher prices, up around 20% since 2022.

President Donald Trump is right when he says the U.S. doesn’t rely on the Strait of Hormuz for its agriculture needs. But Europe and Asia do — and so they will outbid American farmers for fuel and fertilizer, forcing food prices higher for everyone, including Americans.

Anyone who knows a farmer has heard stories of the “worst year ever” — but now American farmers are facing their most serious crisis since the 1980s.

Production costs were already rising before the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Many farmers are still waiting on loans, unable to lock in fertilizer prices before they spiked.

A newly released Farm Bureau survey of 5,700 U.S. farmers said 70% of farmers won’t be able to afford all the fertilizer they need this year. Many are reducing planted acres. This potentially means less food moving through the supply chain — and higher prices for what does make it to market.

Art Raymond (DESERT NEWS) adds:

While U.S. consumers are already navigating the household budget impacts of the Iran war at the gas pumps, they could also be facing a year or more of steadily increasing grocery costs if the Middle East conflict drags on.

That was among the findings of a Purdue University analysis that predicts the broad energy shock precipitated by a sustained war could add three to six percentage points to grocery inflation over the coming 12-18 months.

Cathy Bussewitz (INDEPENDENT) notes, "The price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. climbed 31 cents in the past week, spiking to an average of $4.54 per gallon Wednesday, a price 52% higher than before the war with Iran began, according to AAA data. The main reason drivers are paying more at the pump is because the war has stranded oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil normally passes." And Leroy Marion (AUTOBLOG) explains, "The Iran conflict is now hitting the auto industry far beyond fuel prices. According to a report from Nikkei Asia, aluminum prices in Japan have jumped more than 20 percent since late February amid major disruptions to supply chains across the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz remains heavily affected, making exports difficult, while some regional smelters have reportedly suffered damage during attacks."

The gas situation? Joe Perticone (THE BULWARK) has noticed a curious situation wherein rising gas prcies are causing smaller responses from certain politicians:

Rising gas prices often provide a convenient index for dissatisfaction with the current president, even if the increases have little to do with the administration’s policies.1 When a war breaks out in major oil- and gas-producing regions, prices go up. When gas prices rise, so do the anxieties of political candidates who belong to the party in power. And this year, that includes many Republicans whose campaigns are crucial to maintaining a GOP Senate majority.

At the onset of the Trump administration’s unilateral military action (war) against Iran, gas prices in the United States skyrocketed, which immediately spooked Republicans concerned with holding on to their Senate majority. In the two months since the opening of hostilities, prices have fluctuated in some states while continuing to climb in others, with those around the Great Lakes seeing particularly challenging increases.

“We’re gonna be fine, we got plenty of oil,” Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan, said in March. “You’ll get your oil, because we’re going to pump our oil right here in America, and we got plenty.”

Six weeks later, though, GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan reported gas prices leaping upward in several middle-American states. In Rogers’s Michigan, they went up 88 cents. In Ohio, they climbed 94 cents. In Wisconsin, 33 cents. And in Indiana, prices grew by a calamitous dollar and nine cents.2

On Thursday, Rogers addressed the issue once again. When Newsmax host Ed Henry asked the candidate, “Are you nervous . . . about these stubbornly high gas prices?” Rogers finally acknowledged the reality of higher costs at the pump:

Listen, high prices of anything hurt people in Michigan. . . . Iran is about stopping their nuclear program, stopping their ballistic missile program so they can’t hurt others. I think most Americans are there. We all want this to come to a quick end—I think including the president of the United States. The president’s also taking really direct actions to try to bring those prices down and I support those actions to bring those prices down. I’ll tell you this, Ed. I get around and talk to voters all around this state. The main thing about affordability is they do not trust Democrats.

Well, Rogers sure doesn’t trust Democrats on affordability, at least. That might be why he framed the situation so differently when gas prices surged to four dollars per gallon during the Joe Biden administration.

“I’m not sure we can survive $3.99 a gallon going forward,” Rogers said in a 2024 video campaigning against Democrat Elissa Slotkin. “Listen, the [Democratic] agenda moving forward on gas prices is only gonna make that worse. We must get America back on track.”

Along with rising prices, another thing Americans are agreeing on with regards to Chump's war of choice is rhetoric. Conor Murray (FORBES) notes:

Most Americans disapprove of an image President Donald Trump posted that appeared to depict himself as Jesus, while many more had a favorable view of Pope Leo XIV’s calls for peace amid the Iran war, a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found, as Washington and the Vatican continue to fracture over the conflict.

The poll found 87% of Americans disapproved of the post Trump made on Truth Social last month that appeared to depict himself as Jesus, which sparked criticism and allegations of blasphemy, even from some on the right, though Trump said he thought the picture depicted him as a doctor.

Eighty percent of Trump 2024 voters and 79% of Republicans surveyed had a negative reaction to Trump’s Jesus post, the poll found.

Sixty-nine percent of Americans disapproved of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praying for U.S. troops to inflict “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

But Pope Leo’s call for Americans to contact their representatives and urge them to find a peaceful solution to the war in Iran earned a more positive reception, with 66% of poll respondents having a positive reaction.

87% disproved? Yeah and that number may climb higher. I said when the post was in the news that this was one of those things that people think about and in a week or two get angry about. You're just not used to seeing that kind of blasphemy and certainly from a president of the United States.

Yet Chump has not learned from this and continues to antagonize Pope Leo. Rhian Lubin (INDEPENDENT) recaps the latest:

In the latest saga between the president and the pontiff, Trump baselessly accused Leo of “endangering Catholics” by supporting Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

“I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people, but I guess, if it’s up to the Pope,” Trump said Sunday. “He thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

The Pope hit back at the claim Wednesday without directly referencing the president. “The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” he said. “If someone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully. For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point.”

ANSA adds:

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that people are free to criticise him but the flak should be based on the truth after President Donald Trump launched a new attack on him, saying his opposition to the United States and Israel's war against Iran was putting Catholics in danger. Trump, who last month said the pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy" following his criticism of the war, said at the weekend that Leo was "endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people" because "he thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon". The American pontiff, on the other hand, said the Catholic Church has been opposed to nuclear weapons under his leadership and long before. "The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace," Leo said outside the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo. "If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully.

On the topic of Chump's ongoing war, Simon Walters (INDEPENDENT) observes:

Not for nothing is Donald Trump known as the “TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) President”. He announces major decisions and issues dire threats on impulse or whim – and occasionally out of pure spite – and then scraps them.

But even by this own shameless standards Trump’s abandonment of his so-called Project Freedom to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is the granddaddy of all TACO somersaults.

The official White House version is that Project Freedom is being “paused” for “a short period of time” to see if a peace deal with Iran can be reached. “Great progress” has been made towards that end, claimed Trump, without a shred of evidence.

The president has performed so many U-turns and flip-flops he makes Sir Keir Starmer, criticised for more than a dozen policy climb downs, look like a model of constancy and resolution by comparison.

A more likely explanation is that he was told that Project Freedom never had a hope of working and was almost guaranteed to make the war much worse not end it. Experts were near unanimous in warning that it was likely to end the fragile ceasefire between the US and America and renew the ‘hot war’ between them.

Ben (MEIDASTOUCH NEWS) explained this morning that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia responded to Chump's Project Freedom by announcing that the US could no longer use their airspace or airbases.

Daniel R. DePetris (MS NOW) explains why Chump's Project Freedom was doomed from the start:

Unfortunately for Trump, it’s easier for the Iranians to keep the choke point closed than it is for the Americans to force it open. This is not because the Iranian navy is stronger or more capable than what the U.S. can field, or that Tehran’s coastal defenses are indefatigable, but rather because corporations tend to be risk-averse creatures that are sensitive to the threat environment. Most shipping companies are not going to risk their reputations, their very expensive wares and the lives of their employees if there is a decent possibility of getting hit by a missile or stopped by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The numbers bear this out — weekly passages through the strait reportedly dropped 11% over the past week, and only two U.S. merchant ships transited the area in the 24 hours Project Freedom was in effect.

In other news,

Henry Giardina (QUEERTY) notes:

Every week brings fresh disaster for the Tr*mp administration, but this week is already off to a galloping start in that area. We dealt with Pentagon Pete’s fury at being next on the chopping block, unless fellow screw-up Kash Patel beats him to the punch, and that’s to say nothing of RFK Jr.’s imminent departure from Tr*mpland, along with his MAHA base.

But that’s nothing compared to what just happened in Tr*mp’s home turf, where a massive billboard was just erected to once again draw attention to Tr*mp’s Epstein ties. The people haven’t forgotten, and Tr*mp’s Epstein problem is not going away despite his constant distractions, from Greenland to Venezuela to Iran.

The billboard features images of Tr*mp and Epstein appearing to look at each other with shifty eyes, accompanied by the text “What are these two hiding? Eyes on Epstein.”

But the real kicker?

The ad is placed smack in the middle of Times Square.

For all to see. Just like the friendship between Donald Chump and the late Jeffrey Epstein was out there for all to see for decades and decades. Going back to the 80s, the two were roll dogs, partners in crime, thick as thieves. And then they had a falling out. For years, Jeffrey Epstein abused and assaulted and trafficked people of age and underage. And it is people. Girls, women, boys, men. New Mexico findings in the last months have made that clear. Though some of the names of Epstein Island visitors made that clear before hand and there were at least four adult males who had stated that they were survivors. One of those, of course, has stated Chump assaulting him when he was a child.

Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick appeared before the House Oversight Committee. How well Lutnick knew Epstein has been in dispute because of the cute and self-serving narrative Lutnick told Miranda Devine last fall was contradicted by the release of some documents in The Epstein Files. Joe Sommerlad (INDEPENDENT) explains:

The secretary told Pod Force One presenter Miranda Devine in October last year that he had been a neighbor of Epstein’s in New York and once visited his Upper East Side brownstone in 2005 but was appalled when his host made a creepy comment about receiving “the right kind of massages” during a tour of the property.

“In the six to eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again,” Lutnick said.

However, the release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice in late December and January revealed that the men had remained in contact and appeared to have been in communication until at least 2018. Inclusion in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.

Lutnick subsequently told the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 10 that he and his family had had lunch with the billionaire on Little St James, his private Caribbean island, in December 2012.

They were also revealed to have been in business together. Alison Durkee (FORBES) notes:

The government’s January release of the Epstein files intensified scrutiny on Lutnick and led to some calls for him to resign, as documents showed communications and business deals between the two continuing as late as 2018—long after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution in 2008, and one year before his indictment and subsequent death in prison.

Those documents contradicted previous claims Lutnick had made, as the Commerce secretary said in October 2025 that after touring Epstein’s penthouse in 2005, he “decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.”

Lutnick's response when discovered was to lie. January 30th, Mike Baker and Michael Rothfeld (NEW YORK TIMES) reported:

Prominent people who were close to Mr. Epstein have been scrutinized in recent years for their visits to Little St. James, but Mr. Lutnick’s planned visit had not been previously disclosed. Reached by phone on Friday, Mr. Lutnick said he could not comment about the island visit because he had not seen the latest Epstein documents.

“I spent zero time with him,” Mr. Lutnick said. He then hung up.

The documents suggest the visit did occur.

On February 10th, Lutnick would admit before the Senate Appropriations Committee that he had stayed on the island with Epstein.

Despite that history of lying, he was treated like a Queen by the Committee Chair James Comer. For example, Stephen Groves (INDEPENDENT) reveals, "The interview was not being recorded on video, as the committee has done with depositions for others, including former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state. Comer said the decision not to video the interview, for which Lutnick volunteered, was keeping with the committee's practice." Per David Edwards (RAW STORY), it's worse:

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) was peppered with questions about why he let a member of President Donald Trump's cabinet give a deposition on Jeffrey Epstein without video recording it, while refusing the same opportunity to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton.

Comer Pyle refused to allow Bill and Hillary to appear without being recorded. Edwards report continues:

"Why just a transcript?" Pergram demanded to know.

"Do you have any concerns about the secretary's conflicting statements and why not do this as a videotape?" a second reporter pressed.

"Well, this is, you know, with this transcript, he's coming in voluntarily, first of all," Comer said in defense of the process. "So we didn't video, we don't video people that come in to volunteer."

In addition, he was not under oath and he was not deposed, he was interviewed.

Ana Swanson and Michael Gold (NEW YORK TIMES) report on the questioning:

According to two people familiar with his testimony, Mr. Lutnick said in his opening statement that he had met Mr. Epstein only three times: once for coffee and a tour of Mr. Epstein’s home in New York after they became neighbors, once when Mr. Lutnick and his family were invited to Mr. Epstein’s island and once to discuss a construction project on Epstein’s home in New York that might have had an impact on Mr. Lutnick’s residence.

After hours of questioning, Democrats told reporters that Mr. Lutnick did not admit to misleading Americans about his ties to Mr. Epstein, including when he said on a podcast last year that he was never in the room with Mr. Epstein again after their first meeting.

Speaking with reporters in the hallway outside the closed session, Representative Yassamin Ansari, Democrat of Arizona, said that Mr. Lutnick repeatedly characterized their interactions as “meaningless and inconsequential.” But, she added, she was not satisfied with his explanation as to why he visited Mr. Epstein’s island, particularly years after their first interaction, which Mr. Lutnick said made him and his wife uncomfortable.

[. . .]

The documents released by the Justice Department suggest Mr. Lutnick had another encounter with Mr. Epstein at his house in 2011, years after Mr. Lutnick claimed to have cut ties with him. The records also indicated that the men invested in the same privately held company together and dealt with each other on neighborhood and philanthropic issues.

Gloria Oladipo, Sam Levin, Shrai Popat, Lucy Campbell and Tom Ambrose (GUARDIAN) report:

Following closed-door testimony from Howard Lutnick before the House oversight committee on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Democrats called the commerce secretary’s performance “embarrassing”.

“If Donald Trump had seen the video transcript, he would have fired Howard Lutnick,” said congressman Ro Khanna, a progressive Democrat from California.

[. . .]

According to Suhas Subramanyam, a Democratic representative of Virginia, the commerce secretary said “he could remember nothing about the visit to the island. Couldn’t remember why he was there. Couldn’t remember anything he saw.”

Oversight Democrats also said that Lutnick did not answer their questions about whether he spoke with Donald Trump ahead of giving testimony before the panel today.

“I feel very comfortable saying that Howard Lutnick is a pathological liar who is enabling the most egregious cover-up in American history,” congresswoman Yassamin Ansari told reporters, while noting that the commerce secretary told lawmakers it was “inexplicable” that he visited Epstein’s private island. Lutnick described his encounters with Epstein as “meaningless and inconsequential,” Ansari added.

May 29th, Pam da Bimbo Bondi is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee after blowing them off in April. Monday, Democrats on the Committee issued the following statement:

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, wrote to Chairman James Comer after Oversight Republicans finally announced that Pam Bondi would testify in a transcribed interview before the Oversight Committee, just minutes after Oversight Democrats took action to hold Bondi in contempt. The letter raises concerns to Comer that Bondi’s testimony must be filmed and made available to the American people in the interest of transparency, that Oversight Republicans must enforce the Committee’s subpoena if Bondi refuses to fully cooperate, and raises concerns about the participation of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon as Bondi’s attorney. In March, the Oversight Committee secured a bipartisan subpoena forcing Bondi to sit for a deposition, which she skipped on April 14, 2026.

“Oversight Democrats kept the pressure on Oversight Republicans, and now we finally have a date for Pam Bondi to testify in front of the Committee. Republicans must make sure Bondi’s testimony is transparent and videotaped with a timely public release of the video, and we must enforce the subpoena if Bondi does not fully cooperate. Oversight Democrats refuse to let Bondi off the hook,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.

In the letter to Chairman James Comer, Ranking Member Garcia wrote, “We understand that you have agreed to hold this as a transcribed interview, rather than a deposition. While we believe a deposition is the best available forum, as Chairman, this is your decision. However, if you choose to move forward with a transcribed interview, I am concerned with three aspects:

1. The videotaping of Ms. Bondi’s testimony. Ms. Bondi’s testimony must be filmed and made available to the American people.

2. Ms. Bondi’s willingness to provide substantive and complete testimony. If Ms. Bondi refuses to answer questions, we must compel her testimony. Ms. Bondi has been subpoenaed, and all questions posed by Members must be answered.

3. Harmeet Dhillon’s participation as Ms. Bondi’s attorney. Ms. Dhillon is a current DOJ employee, and her representation raises serious ethical concerns and conflicts of interest.”

On April 29, 2026, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and all Democratic Members of the Committee filed a resolution to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in civil contempt of Congress after she failed to appear for her legally-binding, bipartisan subpoena to be deposed on the Epstein investigation and the White House’s cover-up of the Epstein files. The resolution instructs the chairman of the Oversight Committee to file a lawsuit to compel Bondi’s testimony.

In March, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform secured a bipartisan subpoena for then-Attorney General Pam Bondi following a motion by Congresswoman Nancy Mace supported by all Committee Democrats, joined by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Michael Cloud, Rep. Scott Perry, and Rep. Tim Burchett. The bipartisan subpoena passed the House Oversight Committee 24 to 19. On April 14, 2026, Pam Bondi refused to appear for her deposition before the Oversight Committee, despite the lawful bipartisan subpoena the Committee issued. The subpoena remains legally binding, even after Bondi was fired. The subpoena followed the Department of Justice’s botched release of the Epstein files and the continued White House cover-up.

###

In other news of Epstein, Mike Vulpo (US WEEKLY) reports:

Senator Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries have responded to another AI image shared by President Donald Trump's White House.

On Tuesday, May 5, the official White House X account shared an AI photo featuring Schumer, 75, and Jeffries, 55, wearing sombreros and drinking margaritas near the United States–Mexico border. As part of the AI image, fake Schumer and Jeffries were seen smiling in front of a faux sign that said, "I love illegal immigrants."

"Happy Cinco de Mayo to all who celebrate!" the White House wrote via X on Tuesday.

Schumer responded with his own image of Trump, 79, posing next to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While the OG image is real, it was doctored to show both men wearing sombreros.

"Happy Cinco de Mayo, @WhiteHouse!" Schumer captioned the X post. House Minority Leader Jeffreies seemingly approved of the message when he shared his colleague's photo on his own profile.

Let's wind down with this from Senator Elizabeth Warren's office:

Questions come as Trump sons’ drone company Powerus receives new Air Force contract

Questions for Secretary Hegseth (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — In new Questions for the Record following last week’s Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about President Trump’s sons’ ties to defense contractors and how the DoD is handling these financial conflicts of interest. The questions come as a follow-up to last week’s hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and days after reports indicated that Powerus, a drone company backed by the Trump sons, had recently obtained a new Air Force contract.

Shortly after President Trump was elected to his second term, his son, Donald Trump Jr., announced he was joining venture capital firm 1789 Capital. After Trump Jr. joined the firm, the firm’s portfolio companies reportedly won more than $70 million worth of contracts from the Trump Administration, including:

$45 million awarded to Cerebras Systems in April 2025 to improve artificial intelligence chip connections;
$10.8 million awarded to PsiQuantum in April 2025 for quantum chips;
$4.9 million awarded to Firehawk Aerospace in August 2025 to develop rocket engines; and
$10 million to Vulcan Elements for magnets in 2025.

Several of the Trump Jr.-connected companies had never received such large DoD contracts prior to 2025. In early March, reports revealed that the Trump brothers are also investing in drone company Powerus, which is “vying to meet fresh demand from the Pentagon and fill a hole left by the administration’s ban on new Chinese drones in the U.S.”

In March, Senators Warren and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released answers from the Defense Department revealing that the Department seems to have no effective process in place to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption involving President Trump’s family and the Pentagon’s awarding of defense contracts. To date, Hegseth has not detailed any plan to protect the military’s contracting process against conflicts of interest.

These instances highlight Secretary Hegseth’s unwillingness to protect the military’s budget and contracting process from potential corruption. Senator Warren’s new Questions for the Record will require Secretary Hegseth to address these failures in writing.

Senator Warren’s questions for Secretary Hegseth include:

Justifications for loans and contracts offered to several companies in which the Trump family is financially invested;
Whether Donald Trump Jr. has held any role in vetting candidates for top Pentagon positions; and
Details of any conversations Secretary Hegseth had with the Trump family or their representatives regarding military contracts leading up to his confirmation.

Senator Warren has led the fight to root out corruption at the Defense Department:

In April 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Secretary Hegseth on allegations that Trump administration officials are engaging in possible insider trading by placing bets on the Iran War through prediction markets.
In April 2026, Senator Warren questioned Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg on his conflicts of interest, which may be enabling him, his immediate family, and his network of associates to benefit from secretive DoD contracting decisions related to its Golden Dome missile defense program. Senator Warren urged Feinberg to take immediate action to mitigate the conflicts.
In March 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) released a new response from DoD indicating that there are no effective processes in place to prevent possible conflicts of interest and corruption involving President Donald Trump’s family and the Department’s awarding of defense contracts. In a new letter, Senators Warren and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) pressed Secretary Hegseth on this failure and pushed for answers regarding Trump’s sons’ latest investment in Powerus, a drone company.
In January 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on potential conflicts of interest surrounding the awarding of multiple lucrative Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and loans to companies associated with President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
In July 2025, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), wrote to former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin seeking an explanation and further information on his recent decision to start a strategic advisory firm. Austin had publicly promised Senator Warren during his 2021 confirmation process that he would not become a lobbyist after his government service ended.
In July 2023, Senator Warren (D-Mass) wrote to then-Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Heidi Shyu, following reporting that DoD’s new Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) is relying on consultants who will continue to work for private defense consultants and defense investment companies. Senator Warren raised concerns that DoD lacked the necessary safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest in the OSC.
In June 2023, Senator Warren and then-representative Andy Kim (D-N.J.) reintroduced the Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act to limit the influence of contractors on the military and increase transparency over contractors and their interaction with DoD.
In December 2020, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Anti-Corruption & Public Integrity Act, to strengthen ethics laws and crack down on government officials’ conflicts of interest across the government.