Trump News for Thursday, April 23, 2026

Feds Arrest Soldier Who Allegedly Made $400,000 on Maduro Kidnapping Polymarket Bet

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

“Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York.

US soldier charged with using Polymarket to bet on Nicolas Maduro abduction

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The suspect, 38-year-old Gannon Ken Van Dyke, allegedly made $400,000 from insider knowledge of the Venezuela attack.

This Photo Of Donald Trump Dressed As A King At A Florida Grocery Store Is Going Viral, And It's Really Something

Alana Valko, Buzzfeed

"Of all the dystopian simulations, we're stuck in a horror written by Adam Sandler."View Entire Post ›

U.S. Soldier Charged with Using Classified Info to Profit from Prediction Market

Justice.gov

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Kash Patel, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field…

Eric Trump-backed robot startup lands $24M Pentagon deal...

Madison Colombo, Fox Business

Eric Trump-backed robot startup lands $24M Pentagon deal... (Second column, 2nd story, link) Related stories:U.S. sailor en route to Strait of Hormuz sidelined by monkey attack... New Era and New Leadership: The Generals Running Iran...…

Trump’s big marijuana move

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is loosening restrictions on …

Brendan Carr’s war on wokeness targets inclusive children’s television

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

Under the guidance of consummate bully / chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC is taking steps towards cracking down on children's entertainment that in any way explores the complexities of gender identity. On Wednesday, the FCC's Media Bureau announced that it is s…

DOJ arrests soldier who made $400,000 betting on Maduro's removal: Sources

Katherine Faulders, Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, Alexander Mallin, Abcnews.com

Authorities have arrested an U.S. soldier involved in the capture of Nicolas Maduro for allegedly pocketing more than $400,000 by betting on his capture, sources say.

Pope decries migrants and refugees being treated ‘worse than house pets’

Adam Hancock, Al Jazeera English

Pope Leo has previously criticised Donald Trump’s US immigration policies, calling for better treatment of refugees.

War-driven demand boosts profits for weapons and aircraft manufacturers

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Boeing sees reduced first-quarter loss as defence earnings rise amid $2.3bn US Pentagon contract.

Trump says he is keeping Strait of Hormuz closed, not Iran

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump said he is the one keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, not Iran.

US sanctions Cambodian senator over purported scam network links

Brian Osgood, Al Jazeera English

US Treasury Department accuses Kok An and associates of using political influence to protect network of fraud centres.

Gamers Sue Nintendo to Get a Cut of Trump’s Tariff Refunds

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

Plaintiffs argue the company shouldn’t keep government refunds after raising prices on players.

US boards ship carrying Iran oil as Trump threatens mine-laying vessels

BBC News

Central Command said it has intercepted 33 vessels since imposing a blockade on ships coming to and from Iran.

Most Americans say there was not sufficient reason to start war in Iran: Polls

Emily Guskin, Abcnews.com

Just 26% say the US military action in Iran has been worth it.

Iran dismisses Trump’s claim of leadership rift, says nation is ‘one soul’

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Several Iranian officials share same message, emphasising what they call the 'iron unity of the nation and government'.

High gas prices are not saving Tesla. They are just slowing the bleeding.

Alina Maria Stan, The Next Web

Summary: US petrol prices passed $4/gallon for the first time in four years (+30% YoY), driven by the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption. Tesla delivered 358,023 vehicles in Q1 2026, up 6% against a weak comparison quarter but missing estimates by …

Donald Trump gets on the phone... with Sarah

BBC News

The president talks to Americast’s Sarah Smith about Starmer, the King and Iran.

US government watchdog to investigate Epstein files release

BBC News

The justice department's inspector general will review the withholding and overdue release of secret files.

Recruiting is up. Now the US military wants to grow the force by another 44,500 troops.

Kelsey Baker, Business Insider

The US military wants to add thousands more troops as recruiting rebounds and rising global demands stretch the force.

“Had To Triple Check”: Detail In White House Photo With Georgia Women’s Tennis Sparks Criticism

Analice Couto, Boredpanda.com

“Siri, show us misogyny,” a netizen quipped about the photo.

An Unsettling Anti-Slavery Memorial

Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic

One monument’s story shows just how quickly a nation’s ideals can erode.

US Department of Justice watchdog to probe release of Epstein files

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Lawmakers have accused the Trump administration of using heavy redactions to protect powerful figures tied to Epstein.

Trump Admin Accuses China of ‘Industrial-Scale’ Theft of AI Tech. What Does That Even Mean?

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

Wow. I didn't know that. What else can you say? I'm actually sad to hear that.

US Senate passes ICE funding resolution after ‘vote-a-rama’: What’s next?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Republicans take first step, but long road remains to break impasse over funding Donald Trump's immigration enforcement.

Kash Patel Is Using MAGA’s Favorite Tool to Muzzle the Free Press

Eoin Higgins, The Intercept

By suing The Atlantic for defamation, the FBI director is leveraging one of Trump’s legal tactics to tamp down free speech. The post Kash Patel Is Using MAGA’s Favorite Tool to Muzzle the Free Press appeared first on The Intercept.

Democrats want to ban ICE from turning warehouses into detention centers

Gaby Del Valle, The Verge

A bill introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from converting warehouses and similar buildings into immigrant detention centers, an attempt to slow President Donald Trump's mass deportations campaign. The Ba…

Spirit is broken

Darryl Campbell, The Verge

The bright yellow livery of Spirit Airlines may soon disappear from the skies. The country's seventh-largest airline has been in financial trouble for years: It hasn't turned a profit since 2019 and filed for bankruptcy twice in the last two years. Despite al…

WATCH: What does reclassification mean for marijuana users?

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A new order moves marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, putting state-licensed medical marijuana in the same category as some pain medications, ketamine and testosterone.

A top education official says student-loan forgiveness 'is not happening' — and borrowers should get ready for repayment

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

Undersecretary of Education Nicholas Kent said moving student-loan accounts to the Treasury and eliminating the SAVE plan will best serve borrowers.

Civil rights groups condemn Southern Poverty Law Center's indictment and prepare for legal fights

MATT BROWN, Yahoo Entertainment

The criminal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center this week was met with much outrage but little surprise from civil rights leaders, who have for...

JetBlue Sued for Allegedly Increasing the Price of Tickets Based on Personal Data

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The airline denies using surveillance pricing and says a recent viral tweet was a mistake.

US reclassifies some marijuana products as less dangerous drug

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Step is latest example of shift away from heavy penalisation that has given way to widespread legalisation efforts.

NASA Welcomes Jordan as 63rd Artemis Accords Signatory

Jennifer M. Dooren, NASA

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed the Artemis Accords Thursday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, becoming the latest nation to commit to responsible space exploration to benefit humanity.  “It is my privilege to…

The Kash Patel Fallout

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic

An interview with staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick about her reporting

ACLU, Amnesty lead 120 rights groups issuing US World Cup ‘travel advisory’

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Groups warn of 'deteriorating human rights' in call for US visitors' protection; White House decries 'scare tactics'.

People With MAGA Family, Friends, Or Coworkers — What Are They Saying About Trump Lately?

Victoria Vouloumanos, Buzzfeed

Are they doubling down, getting quieter, or starting to question things?View Entire Post ›

Can a mentalist trick Trump? Oz Pearlman will try in a room full of journalists

Rachel Treisman, NPR

The annual D.C. gathering of politicians and press will be headlined by a mentalist instead of a comedian. Oz Pearlman tells NPR he hopes to unify, delight and puzzle the crowd — but can't reveal how.

Trump tells US Navy warships to 'shoot' any Iranian boats laying mines as the mission to clear the Strait of Hormuz ramps up

Jake Epstein, Business Insider

The directive to turn its weapons on the boats adds a new element to the Navy's mine-clearing operations in the strait, which began this month.

US Going Deeper Into The Red Now That The IRS Is Sharing Tax Data With ICE

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

The government needs more funding than ever, which is kind of hilarious when you realize the Tea Party of the Obama era was the predecessor of this Big Government version of the GOP. The DHS can’t even get itself a budget at the moment. Sure, it will get some…

Writing About the FBI Director's Girlfriend Now Warrants an FBI Investigation

Danielle Han, Jezebel

The New York Times revealed this week that after they reported on Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, in February, he’s since used the bureau to try and pin a stalking charge on the reporter.

Millions of student-loan borrowers are losing access to a key repayment option. A major private lender is stepping in.

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

Federal student-loan borrowers are losing the Grad PLUS program due to Trump's repayment overhaul. Private lender College Ave has a replacement.

Trump tells BBC that King's visit could 'absolutely' help repair relations with UK

BBC News

In a phone interview with the BBC's North America editor, the president discussed next week's visit and his relationship with the UK PM.

Trump Is Ready to Take Credit for Biden’s Loosening of Cannabis Restrictions

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Trump wants cannabis rescheduled in time for the midterms, even though Biden started the process and MAGA mostly still hates weed.

American eyes closer partnership with 'fiercely independent' Alaska Airlines, but not a merger

Edward Russell, The Points Guy

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom sees opportunity for an expanded partnership with Alaska Airlines.

US to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian boats laying mines in Hormuz, Trump says

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US says it intercepted another tanker carrying Iranian oil as Trump underscores alleged infighting within Iran's leadership.

The U.S. Wants To Cut NASA's Budget - Here's What It Would Actually Cost

staff@bgr.com (Aaron Greenbaum), BGR

The Trump administration has proposed making drastic cuts to the budget for NASA, but doing that would effect much more than that one organization.

Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $111bn takeover

BBC News

The approval came as Donald Trump is to attend a dinner with billionaire Paramount backers the Ellisons.

Trump administration officially reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as Schedule III

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American

The Trump administration said this move, which does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, is just the start of a process to reclassify the drug more broadly

SPLC indictment lends support to hate groups

Austin Sarat, Salon

For decades, the Southern Poverty Law Center has fought hate. Now the Justice Department wants it to stop

Trump Has Already Spent at Least $4.7 Billion Attacking Latin America

Nick Turse, The Intercept

It’s not cheap to attack Venezuela and capture its president or conduct dozens of strikes on civilian boats. The post Trump Has Already Spent at Least $4.7 Billion Attacking Latin America appeared first on The Intercept.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope trumps Trump cuts, is launch-ready ahead of schedule

Richard Speed, Theregister.com

Revolutionary telescope aiming for space after multiple near death experiences NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ready for launch ahead of schedule despite repeated attempts by both Donald Trump's first and second administrations to cut funding.…<!-…

US Senate passes $70bn funding plan for ICE, Border Patrol

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Senate votes 50-48 early on Thursday morning to advance the plan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump’s Cabinet firings reveal a teetering administration

Heather Digby Parton, Salon

The president's forced resignation of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is a reminder that old habits die hard

State-licensed medical marijuana reclassified as less dangerous drug

Liz Neporent, Mary Kekatos, Alexander Mallin, Abcnews.com

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on Thursday reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

Wireless Giants To Get Off The Hook For Spying On Your Daily Movements For Years

Karl Bode, Techdirt

There’s some endless, curious tensions within the corrupt Trump administration when it comes to their effort to completely destroy the government’s ability to hold corporations accountable for dodgy, nefarious, or even illegal behavior. Their own, lazy, circu…

The Download: introducing the Nature issue

Thomas Macaulay, MIT Technology Review

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Introducing: the Nature issue When we talk about “nature,” we usually mean something untouched by humans. But little of t…

WATCH: Daring rescue for 2 families stuck on cliff

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Authorities say two families were hiking along the coastline when the tide quickly came in, leaving them stranded along the rocky edge.

Trump orders US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

JON GAMBRELL, JAMEY KEATEN and AAMER MADHANI, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump said Thursday he has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the ...

Spirit Airlines Nears Bankruptcy Bailout From Trump Administration

Yahoo Entertainment

Tensions rise in two ceasefires in the Middle East. And, the Navy secretary ousted

Brittney Melton, NPR

Tensions are rising in the Middle East as shaky ceasefire agreements between the U.S., Israel and Iran, and Lebanon and Israel, are tested. And, the Secretary of the Navy is out of the role.

U.S.-Iran peace talks still in limbo after Iran seizes ships in the Strait of Hormuz

NPR Staff, NPR

President Trump told Fox News Wednesday that there was "no time pressure" on the ceasefire, which he has extended indefinitely.

How Iran raised Hormuz stakes by capturing ships

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

After the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28, Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz.

Susie Wiles Told the Cabinet to Quit Traveling Abroad

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Politico revealed that during a private Cabinet meeting in February, Wiles told officials that overseas travel should be only done when “absolutely necessary."

The Iran war is pushing Southeast Asia to debate the once unthinkable: Whether ships will need to pay to transit the Strait of Malacca

Angelica Ang, Yahoo Entertainment

Indonesia’s finance minister has floated the idea. Singapore and Malaysia are pushing back. Thailand sees an opportunity.

10 Friday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

The labor economics of ‘Alien’ — and its lessons for inequality on Earth. https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/04/14/g-s1-117075/the-labor-economics-of-alien-and-its-lessons-for-inequality-on-earth Nobody Cares: A bracing essay on why effort without…

What the U.S.-Iran War Means for China

Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker

Isaac Chotiner interviews Jonathan Czin, a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s China Center, about how the ties between China and Iran have been overstated, and what the conflict might mean for the future of Taiwan.

Who is John Phelan, the US Navy Secretary fired by Pete Hegseth?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Phelan's firing reveals turbulence in US military leadership amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.

No Fifa plans for Iran-Italy swap at World Cup

Dan Roan, Flora Snelson, BBC News

Fifa stands by comments made last week by president Gianni Infantino in which he said that "the Iranian team is coming, for sure".

India to Iran: How two wars shaped the rise of Pakistan’s Asim Munir

Abid Hussain, Osama Bin Javaid, Al Jazeera English

The war against India a year ago led to Munir's elevation to the status of field marshal. Now he's playing peacemaker.

Lebanon-Israel talks to resume in Washington amid shaky Hezbollah ceasefire

David Brennan, Abcnews.com

Israeli and Lebanese representatives are expected to convene again at the State Department on Thursday for the second round of historic direct talks.

Democrats dominate midterm fundraising, but Republicans have a huge cash advantage

Stephen Fowler, NPR

The latest campaign finance reports show Democratic enthusiasm in key House and Senate races, but national Republican groups have far more in the bank to potentially spend down the road.

Senate GOP is kickstarting budget reconciliation to fund ICE. Here's how that works.

Barbara Sprunt, NPR

After a historic partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, Congressional Republicans are looking to a budgetary tool called reconciliation which could enable them to fund immigration enforcement agencies without any Democratic support.

A looming crisis could limit some of your favorite AI tools

Brent D. Griffiths, Business Insider

These aren't isolated incidents; they're warning signs that getting the AI fix users crave will become harder to come by.

Iran war: What’s happening on day 55 after Trump extended ceasefire?

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Iran says it wants talks, but blames US “breach of commitments, blockade and threats” for stalling negotiations.

Trump administration flies 10-year-old back from Cuba amid custody fight

The Associated Press, NPR

President Trump's Department of Justice sent a plane this week to Cuba to return a 10-year-old from Utah who is at the center of a custody fight involving the child's gender identity.

Democrats up in Virginia, but US voters may pay price for redistricting war

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Experts say unprecedented flurry of tit-for-tat congressional redistricting risks surge in gerrymandering.

WATCH: Search underway for man that police say abandoned baby in Times Square

ABC News, Abcnews.com

The girl was left in her stroller just before midnight and appeared to be unharmed, according to police.

The Iranian women Trump ‘saved’ from execution are simultaneously real and AI-manipulated

Sarah Jeong, The Verge

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump claimed to have secured the release of eight Iranian women condemned to execution for protesting the regime. Only the night before, he had posted on Truth Social about the imminent executions of these women, quoting a scre…

Tesla Says EV Orders Benefitted From Soaring Gas Prices

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

Also, Musk owns up to a broken promise and vows to spend an unbelievably large amount of money to make up for it.

Nintendo Customers Sue for Share of Trump Tariff Refunds

Steven Musil, CNET

The proposed class action lawsuit says the company stands to benefit twice from the now-voided import duties.

Delays have kept new NSF grants to a trickle — that could be about to change

Dan Garisto, Nature.com

The agency is finally ready to distribute a spate of new grants, but it is also preparing substantial cuts to areas such as biological and social sciences.

Thousands of Harvard graduate students strike — bringing research to a halt

Humberto Basilio, Nature.com

Workers at the elite US university want higher pay, and ask for better protection for students at risk of deportation.