Good evening, everyone. There is a lot to cover this afternoon. Articles of impeachment have been filed against Pam Bondi. Some airports may begin shutting down as the government shutdown escalates. The SAVE Act is in serious trouble, lacking enough Senate support to pass. At the same time, Russia is increasing its support for Iran in the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, new data shows CBS Evening News ratings are dropping sharply as independent media continues to surge. We are doing this differently, and we are doing it better. Why? Because we answer to you.
And our work is being noticed. Today, our exclusive reporting from October of last year was confirmed: A U.S. Marine Corps investigation found that a rare “one in a million” malfunction caused an artillery shell to detonate midair during an October 2025 Camp Pendleton demonstration, sending shrapnel onto Interstate 5 and striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles. We reported it first. No one believed us. We were just proven right.
I remain independent because I refuse to answer to powerful donors, corporate interests, or political pressure. My accountability is to you, the readers and subscribers who believe journalism should hold power to account.
Here’s the news:
- Rep. Summer Lee has introduced articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging a wide range of misconduct including defying congressional subpoenas to release unredacted Epstein files, violating federal law, misleading Congress and the courts, and abusing prosecutorial authority. The resolution also accuses Bondi of politicizing the Justice Department by targeting political opponents, dismissing cases involving allies, and retaliating against officials and journalists, as Lee and several Democratic co-sponsors argue her actions undermine the rule of law and warrant removal from office.
- House Oversight Chair James Comer has subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify under oath in an ongoing probe into the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein investigation, citing concerns about potential mismanagement and failure to comply with transparency laws. The move follows bipartisan frustration over heavily redacted files and escalates congressional scrutiny, even as the DOJ calls the subpoena unnecessary and offers briefings instead.
- Senior Justice Department officials are set to brief a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the Capitol on the handling and release of Epstein-related documents, as congressional scrutiny intensifies over transparency and the DOJ’s actions.
- A group of more than three dozen House conservatives has staged a revolt against their own party leadership by voting down even routine, bipartisan legislation to pressure the Senate into taking up the SAVE Act, openly defying Speaker Mike Johnson, disrupting the House’s normal legislative process, and signaling they are willing to block all Senate-originated bills—including “must-pass” measures—until their demands are met.
- A prolonged government funding standoff has led to a mounting workforce revolt among TSA officers, who have been working without pay for weeks and are increasingly calling out or quitting, severely straining airport security operations. Absentee rates have surged far above normal levels, causing long screening delays and operational disruptions at major hubs, while officials warn that if the situation continues, staffing shortages could force the closure of some smaller airports—especially as travel demand ramps up during the busy spring season.
- The Senate narrowly voted 51–48 to open debate on the SAVE America Act, but some Republicans showed internal division: Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted against it, Sen. Thom Tillis missed the vote after opposing it, and Sen. Mitch McConnell—who doesn’t support the bill—only voted to proceed as a procedural courtesy, highlighting fractures within the GOP despite overall backing for the legislation.
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard responded to Joe Kent’s resignation in protest of the Iran war:
- According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia is significantly ramping up its military and intelligence support for Iran by sharing satellite imagery and upgrading drone capabilities, enhancing Tehran’s ability to target U.S. forces and sustain operations in the region. The cooperation reflects a deepening strategic partnership, with Moscow aiming to keep Iran engaged against U.S. and Israeli forces while prolonging a conflict that benefits Russia by diverting Western attention and creating military and economic advantages.
- Iranian state media has confirmed that top security official Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran, marking the first acknowledgment from Iran after earlier Israeli claims and signaling a major escalation in the conflict with the loss of one of the country’s most senior leaders.
- According to the Washington Post, the U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, deployed in operations against Iran, is set to make a temporary port stop after a significant onboard fire injured nearly 200 sailors with smoke exposure, disrupted living quarters, and took hours to contain, impacting its operational readiness during the ongoing conflict.
- Rep. Pat Ryan sharply attacked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of increasingly erratic behavior, blaming him for the deaths of 13 Americans, and calling for him to be held accountable.
- French President Emmanuel Macron rejected claims by Donald Trump that France would help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating France would not participate in such operations and signaling a split with the U.S. over how to respond to escalating tensions in the region.
- Iran confirmed the killing of Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in an اسرائیلی strike, marking one of the highest-level assassinations of the war, as regional tensions escalate with ongoing missile exchanges, heavy civilian casualties in Lebanon, and warnings from the UN that Israeli strikes on civilian areas may constitute war crimes.
- The conflict is widening politically and militarily: Trump is pressuring but also criticizing NATO allies for not joining U.S. efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, key partners like France are refusing involvement, internal dissent is growing in the U.S. (including a senior resignation), and Iranian leaders warn the strategic waterway will not return to normal conditions.
- Ireland’s leader Micheál Martin publicly pushed back on Donald Trump’s criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a White House meeting, diplomatically defending Starmer and Europe while avoiding confrontation, highlighting growing transatlantic tensions over the Iran war and NATO.
- Arizona has escalated its crackdown on prediction market platform Kalshi by filing its first-ever criminal charges, accusing the company of operating an unlicensed gambling and election betting business, as part of a broader, multi-state legal battle over whether such platforms fall under federal financial regulation or state gambling laws.
- A federal judge ordered a sweeping reversal of Kari Lake’s dismantling of Voice of America, mandating the reinstatement of about 1,000 employees and rebuking her for disregarding congressionally mandated legal requirements. Read the full order here.
- According to Axios, Senator Ruben Gallego is pressing the Energy Department for details on potential releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as gas prices rise, highlighting growing political pressure in Washington over the domestic impact of the Iran war on energy markets.
- According to NBC, an Amtrak train carrying over 100 people collided with an 18-wheeler near Houston, prompting an emergency response and passenger evacuation, though only minor injuries were reported, the train did not derail, and officials contained a fuel spill with no broader public risk.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
Loading comments...