Good morning. The news is already moving at breakneck speed. Overnight, federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the chair of the Federal Reserve, triggering a major escalation in Washington. A key swing Republican senator has now announced he will block all future Trump nominations to the Federal Reserve, citing the overtly political nature of the investigation. At the same time, Donald Trump declared himself the “acting president” of Venezuela, while deadly crackdowns on protests in Iran continue to intensify.
Last week was relentless, and everything suggests this week will be even more consequential. I am working around the clock to deliver verified information the moment it breaks.
I do not soften facts or avoid hard stories. I report them plainly and directly. That independence is intentional. I will continue pushing for accurate, timely, and accountable journalism that serves the public, not power. If you believe this work matters, I ask you to stand with me and support my reporting by subscribing. I am not stopping.
Here’s what you missed:
Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell over his June testimony about a $2.5 billion headquarters renovation, prompting Powell to say the probe—led by the Department of Justice—is politically motivated pressure tied to interest-rate disputes with President Donald Trump, raising alarms among investors and lawmakers about Fed independence. This is Powell’s response:
Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he will oppose all current and future Federal Reserve nominees from President Donald Trump until the Justice Department investigation involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved, arguing the probe threatens the independence of the Federal Reserve.
Tillis’ stance is significant because he is a swing vote on the closely divided Senate Banking Committee, Powell’s chair term expires in May 2026 amid Trump’s criticism over interest rates, Powell claims the investigation is retaliation for monetary policy decisions rather than his 2025 testimony on Fed building renovations, and Trump denies exerting improper legal pressure, saying rates—not politics—are the real issue.
Fox Business has confirmed that Trump is set to interview Rick Rieder of BlackRock as a potential replacement for Jerome Powell, whose term ends May 15, making Rieder the fourth and final finalist alongside Kevin Warsh, Kevin Hassett and Christopher Waller as Trump prepares to name the next chair of the Federal Reserve.
Trump denied any role in the Department of Justice investigation after subpoenas were issued to the Federal Reserve, in an interview with NBC.
Overnight, Donald Trump declared himself to be the “Acting President” of Venezuela in a Truth Social post:
President Donald Trump threatened to block ExxonMobil from investing in Venezuela after CEO Darren Woods called the country “uninvestable” due to weak legal protections, undercutting Trump’s push for U.S. oil companies to pour billions into Venezuela’s energy sector following the U.S.-backed removal of Nicolás Maduro.
Kenny Callaghan, a gay pastor in Minneapolis, says federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pointed a gun at his face, handcuffed him and put him in the back of an SUV during protests after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good; he was released after about 30 minutes without charge and was told by an agent, “You’re white anyway. You wouldn’t be any fun.”
Trump said Iran has reached out to negotiate amid a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests that activists say has killed more than 500 people, but warned the U.S. is weighing “very strong options,” including possible military action, as Iranian leaders signal openness to talks while threatening retaliation if attacked.
Police in Los Angeles detained a man after a U-Haul truck sped through an anti-regime protest supporting the people of Iran, striking one person without serious injuries and prompting demonstrators to chase and attempt to attack the driver, as tensions around Iran’s deadly crackdown on protests spill into U.S. cities.
Axios has confirmed that Senator Elizabeth Warren is reemerging to shape the Democratic Party’s post-2024 direction, planning a major speech urging Democrats to embrace an economically populist, anti–wealth-elite agenda rather than courting rich donors, as she backs progressive candidates, raises money for state parties, and seeks to influence the party’s ideology ahead of the midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
According to the Guardian, Malaysia temporarily blocked Grok, the AI tool developed by Elon Musk’s xAI and embedded on X, citing its ability to generate fake, sexualised images, following a similar ban by Indonesia amid growing global regulatory backlash.
According to NBC, A wave of first-time megadonors with significant business or legal interests before the federal government gave millions to President Donald Trump’s super PAC MAGA Inc. after his 2024 win, including major tech and sports executives such as Greg Brockman of OpenAI, Palantir CEO Alexander Karp, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, as well as donors linked to TikTok’s parent ByteDance and families facing criminal cases.
Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola announced she is running for the U.S. Senate in Alaska, giving Democrats a major boost in a difficult midterm map as they try to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, positioning herself as an outsider focused on cost-of-living and local issues while emerging as the party’s strongest chance to make the traditionally red state competitive.
The Guardian has confirmed that nearly 15,000 nurses are set to strike across major New York City hospitals including Mount Sinai, Montefiore and NewYork-Presbyterian, threatening widespread disruptions during a severe flu season as nurses demand better staffing, safety protections and limits on AI use, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency and urge last-minute negotiations.
Good news:
A train-loving couple, Mark and Carol Benson, spent 30 years restoring the derelict Ebberston Station in North Yorkshire, transforming the former rail stop into a unique lodging where visitors can stay in converted vintage train cars and a restored ticket office, preserving a piece of England’s railway history.
After losing his close friend in the September 11 attacks, David Sylvester embarked on a 25-year global journey that evolved into giving more than one million hugs across 42 countries, discovering that deep human connection and physical touch helped him—and countless others—process grief, heal trauma, and rebuild a sense of hope and shared humanity.
A new low-cost generic version of a leading cystic fibrosis treatment will soon be released by Beximco, slashing annual costs by about 99% compared with the patented drug sold by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and putting life-saving care within reach for thousands of patients worldwide, especially in lower-income countries.
A new study from Newcastle University found that just 10 minutes of intense exercise can trigger molecular changes in the bloodstream that suppress bowel cancer growth and boost DNA repair, with researchers showing exercise-conditioned blood altered the activity of more than 1,300 genes linked to cancer, metabolism and inflammation, findings published in the International Journal of Cancer.
See you soon.
— Aaron