Good morning, everyone. We are witnessing something truly historic: for the first time in years, conservative, centrist, and liberal media outlets are united, standing shoulder to shoulder in defense of the First Amendment and rejecting the Pentagon’s new “reporter pledge,” a dangerous mandate that could criminalize journalism covering Defense Department activities.
Every major outlet, from The New York Times to Newsmax, has refused to sign. Only one network, OAN, has agreed. That alone tells you how serious this moment is.
This is a watershed test of press freedom in America. The media is finally drawing a line in the sand, saying: No more government overreach. No more threats to the free press.
Many of you have asked whether I would ever sign that pledge. Let me be clear: absolutely not. It would make the kind of reporting I do illegal, and with members of this administration already trying to silence me, I refuse to bend, to censor myself, or to surrender to intimidation.
Your support is what keeps this work independent, fearless, and free. Subscribe todayto help me continue reporting the truth, no matter who it challenges.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
Major U.S. news outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, Newsmax, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic are refusing to sign the Pentagon’s new press rules—introduced under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Trump administration—arguing they threaten First Amendment protections by requiring journalists to acknowledge vague restrictions on information access, which could result in their eviction from the Pentagon.
As of 5 PM today, the only news outlet that will be allowed to enter the Pentagon to cover the Department of Defense will be OAN, a far-right, Trump-allied news organization that often spreads conspiracy theories and falsehoods.
A new report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) warns that the right to protest is under sustained attack in Western nations—including the UK, US, France, and Germany—where governments have “weaponized” counter-terror and antisemitism laws to suppress pro-Palestinian demonstrations, censor dissent, and restrict civil liberties amid rising hate crimes and expanding police powers.
No Kings Day 2.0 is on the verge of breaking historic record this weekend despite attacks from Trump-aligned cabinet members who allege, without any proof, that the protestors attending this weekend’s events are associated with “Antifa” or are being “paid.”
Donald Trump woke up extremely upset at Time Magazine for using an unflattering image of him on the cover this morning:
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was caught on a hot mic at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt asking Donald Trump if he could meet his son Eric, raising questions about potential business links as the Trump Organization expands new projects in Indonesia; the exchange adds to scrutiny over Trump’s ongoing conflicts of interest between his presidency and global business ventures.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, facing federal fraud charges, defiantly vowed not to back down during her first public appearance since the indictment, warning against “powerful voices” that seek to “silence truth” and “weaponize justice,” and urging supporters to defend democracy and the rule of law.
After a deadly weekend that left 12 dead and at least 40 injured across South Carolina and Mississippi high school events, the U.S. total for 2025 mass shootings has climbed to 337, according to the Gun Violence Archive; officials condemned the violence as “senseless,” while experts warn that mass shootings have become a pervasive “American phenomenon,” with 1 in 15 adults having witnessed one firsthand and researchers calling for stronger support systems to address the nation’s enduring gun crisis.
Multiple U.S. airports—including those in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, Charlotte, Portland, and Buffalo—refused to display Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s video blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, citing laws against political messaging on public property; airport officials said airing the video would violate the Hatch Act and local regulations prohibiting partisan content, as travel disruptions mount amid unpaid TSA and air traffic staff.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Coast Guard members will still receive pay during the ongoing government shutdown, citing an unspecified “innovative solution” within DHS, after Trump directed the Defense Department to pay military personnel despite most federal workers missing paychecks amid continued congressional gridlock over funding.
China vowed to “fight to the end” after the U.S. accused it of trying to harm the global economy, escalating tensions in the renewed trade war sparked by Trump’s new 100% tariffs on Chinese exports and fresh U.S. duties on goods like furniture and timber; both nations have exchanged port fees and rare earth restrictions, casting doubt on a planned Trump–Xi meeting despite ongoing lower-level talks.
Senators Lindsey Graham and Mark Kelly remain at an impasse over the nearly two-week government shutdown, with Graham refusing to reinstate Obama-era healthcare subsidies demanded by Democrats.
Argentina’s libertarian president Javier Milei praised Donald Trump ahead of their first White House meeting, calling him a “dear friend” and “an example of leadership” for defenders of freedom.
Trump pledged to leverage his presidency to push Israel toward recognizing it has achieved its military goals and to usher in a new era of Middle East cooperation, potentially including peace with Iran.
Trump plans to posthumously award conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom today at the White House after Kirk was fatally shot last month while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Following the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, key issues—Hamas’ disarmament, Gaza’s governance, and reconstruction—remain unresolved; only four deceased hostages’ bodies were returned, families expressed anguish, and aid groups began reentering Gaza as the U.N. warned of massive destruction and humanitarian needs.
A new study in Annals of Internal Medicine found that private equity ownership of hospitals led to higher death rates among Medicare emergency patients—seven more deaths per 10,000—due to staff cuts, lower wages, and more patient transfers, with experts warning that profit-driven cost reductions are harming care and accountability remains limited because private equity firms are legally insulated from liability.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced a 2026 Senate run against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, positioning herself as Democrats’ best hope to flip the seat while pledging to serve only one term; her entry, encouraged by Chuck Schumer, sets up a generational and ideological primary battle within the Democratic Party as progressives rally behind Graham Platner, while Mills touts her statewide wins, record of standing up to Trump, and moderate appeal to Maine voters.
SpaceX successfully completed its 11th Starship test flight, launching from Texas and landing in the Indian Ocean as it prepares to debut an upgraded version of the rocket designed for future Moon and Mars missions; the flight tested heat shields, engine relighting, and water landings, marking key progress toward NASA’s 2027 Artemis lunar landing goal and SpaceX’s long-term interplanetary ambitions.
Instagram announced a major overhaul to make teen accounts function like a “PG-13” experience, introducing stricter age-gating, expanded blocked search terms, and limits on exposure to adult or risky content; the move follows public backlash and congressional scrutiny over teen safety, as Meta faces criticism for prioritizing engagement and profits over child protection.
Good news:
Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine developed the first fast-acting antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning, a protein therapy called RcoM-HBD-CCC that “cleans” blood in under a minute by binding and flushing out CO molecules without disrupting oxygen or blood pressure regulation; the breakthrough, published in PNAS, could transform emergency treatment and pave the way for use in respiratory distress, anemia, and organ preservation.
Francine, the beloved Lowe’s store cat from Richmond, Virginia, was found safe in North Carolina 17 days after accidentally boarding a delivery truck; after a viral search and community-wide effort involving drones, traps, and social media sleuthing, employees joyfully reunited with her and brought her home—now outfitted with a harness and tracker—as locals celebrated her return as a symbol of unity and kindness.
A pet tortoise named Mr. T was rescued unharmed after wandering onto train tracks at Bicester North Station in Oxfordshire; alert passengers notified Chiltern Railways staff, who safely retrieved and cared for the reptile before reuniting it with its owner, marking what workers called a once-in-a-career rescue and earning smiles across social media.
