Trump News for Friday, May 8, 2026

I Reached Out To The White House Counterterrorism Czar For Comment. He Lashed Out On X.

Hannah Allam, Techdirt

This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Counterterrorism czar Sebastian Gorka is one of the most controversial figures in the Trump administration, a gate crasher in the buttoned-up world of national sec…

Trump Media, Parent of Truth Social, Reports Q1 Sales of $871,000 and $405.9 Million Net Loss

Todd Spangler, Variety

Trump Media and Technology Group, operator of the social media platform Truth Social, reported a massive net loss for the first three months of 2026 and less than $1 million in total sales. For the first quarter, TMTG generated net sales of $871,200, up 6% ye…

Hovering objects and flashing lights: what we learned from UFO documents released by the Pentagon

BBC News

The US has published transcripts, video clips and audio recordings about unidentified flying objects, also called unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Trump administration targets 12 foreign-born Americans for denaturalization

Laura Romero, Abcnews.com

The Trump administration is seeking to revoke the citizenship of 12 foreign-born Americans who officials say committed crimes that qualify them for denaturalization.

Pentagon Releases UFO Files That Go Back to the Apollo Moon Missions

Alan Boyle, Alan Boyle (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/cosmiclog), Universe Today

The Department of Defense has released a fresh batch of images and transcripts relating to reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, formerly known as UFOs, including pictures and descriptions from NASA's Apollo missions to the moon.

Virginia Supreme Court Thrusts America Into Worst-Case Gerrymandering Scenario

Alexis Romero, Slate Magazine

In a 4–3 vote on Friday, the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down the gerrymandered electoral map that Virginia voters approved just a few weeks ago.

The GOP’s Stunningly Swift Gerrymandering Drive

Russell Berman, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic

It took barely a week to wipe a majority Black district off the map.

Intel Reportedly Lands a Chip Deal With Apple Thanks to Trump

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

The chip giant will reportedly manufacture some chips for Apple devices after reaching a preliminary agreement.

Laura Fernandez sworn in as Costa Rica’s new president

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Fernandez enters office with her right-wing party holding an absolute majority in the legislature.

Once Again, Trump Looks To Get Out Of Paying E. Jean Carroll By Having The DOJ Substitute In For Himself

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

Not this again. For many years now there have been a series of ongoing lawsuits between E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump, involving a variety of issues, but mainly whether or not he sexually assaulted her back in the 1990s and, separately, whether he defamed …

UFO files spanning decades are released by Defense Department

Bill Chappell, NPR

Cold War reports of mysterious rotating saucers; recent sightings of metallic elliptical objects floating in mid-air. Those and other reports of unidentifiable anomalous phenomena or UAPs — the military's term for UFOs — are described in documents released Fr…

Can You Find the UFOs in These Newly Released Pentagon Videos?

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Watch every video released in the Trump admin's first big dump.

Big Finance Might Be Dooming the SPLC — Even Before Its Day in Court

Rainey Reitman, The Intercept

Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Vanguard are tamping down on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s donations, acting as the government’s de facto censors. The post Big Finance Might Be Dooming the SPLC — Even Before Its Day in Court appeared first on The Intercept.

Tentative trial date set in James Comey's 'seashell' case

Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

James Comey is tentatively set to stand trial on July 15 on charges that he allegedly threatened to kill President Trump by posting a photo of seashells on a beach.

DeFi Visa Card Takes Our Casino Economy to the Next Level With ‘Buy Now, Pay Maybe’ Scheme

Rhett Jones, Gizmodo.com

It's just innovation upon innovation.

ASEAN leaders adopt measures to ease economic pain caused by Iran war

Daniel Khalili-Tari, Al Jazeera English

The bloc currently imports more than half of its crude oil from the Middle East.

FBI Raids Office Of Dem Politician Instrumental In Redrawing Virginia Voter Maps… With Fox News In Tow

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Maybe this isn’t just another vindictive prosecution by the Trump administration. But we’re going to need a lot more evidence to the contrary to abandon this conjecture: The FBI searched the Virginia state Senate leader’s hometown office and her neighboring c…

Apple, Intel Have Reached Preliminary Chip-Making Agreement

BeauHD, Slashdot.org

Apple and Intel have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement (paywalled; alternative source) for Intel to manufacture some chips used in Apple devices, after more than a year of talks and pressure from the Trump administration. It's still unclear which App…

Barack Obama in the Trump Era

The New Yorker

The reporter Peter Slevin asks the former President the question on many Democrats’ minds: Why isn’t he doing more in a time of crisis?

The Truth Is Still Out There

Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic

Why Americans remain convinced that the government is hiding an alien conspiracy

ABC and Disney accuse Trump admin of violating First Amendment rights

Lauren Feiner, The Verge

ABC is accusing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of violating its First Amendment rights by making "major shifts in policy and practice" that the network claims will chill free speech. The network is asking the FCC to "affirm its long-standing appr…

Apple and Intel have reached a deal to produce future chips: report

Ryan Christoffel, 9to5Mac

Reports have been building about Apple potentially partnering with Intel to produce future chips, and according to The Wall Street Journal, a deal has officially been reached. more…

“When it finally happens”: The weaponization of euphemism in MAGA’s shadow

Troy Farah, Salon

Social media openly longs for the death of an individual who is hardly ever named

See the Pentagon’s new UFO image release

Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American

The Pentagon has started releasing files related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), also called UFOs. Here are the images released so far

CIA reportedly delivers unwelcome reminder that Iran is tougher than Truth Social thinks

Jason Weisberger, Boing Boing

A former State Department official says the Trump White House was apparently caught off guard by a CIA assessment concluding that Iran can absorb far more military and economic punishment than administration officials expected, and can still stand up to US ag…

Tennessee GOP Moves to Decimate Black Voting Power After Supreme Court’s Blessing of Jim Crow

Natasha Lennard, The Intercept

With the Supreme Court blessing racial gerrymandering, Tennessee’s GOP rushed to eliminate the state’s only majority-Black congressional district. The post Tennessee GOP Moves to Decimate Black Voting Power After Supreme Court’s Blessing of Jim Crow appeared …

Administration eyeing $400M settlement from TikTok for DC 'beautification': Sources

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

The administration is nearing a $400 million TikTok settlement over alleged children's privacy violations, which would fund D.C. "beautification" projects, sources say.

As Iran war continues, people across the US are feeling a strain from high gas prices

Will Lennon, Abcnews.com

"This is not the way I thought my retirement was gonna turn out," one said.

Who is Going to Tell Trump He Caused a Diet Coke Shortage?

Claire Guinan, Jezebel

The gas prices soaring through the roof is one thing, but no Diet Coke? That’s grounds for rebellion. What do we look like, some Diet Pepsi drinkers?

Trump Is ‘Bored’ With the War He Started

Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic

He wants out, but Iran could likely keep going for months.

Court To DOGE Bros: Asking ChatGPT ‘Yo, Is This DEI?’ Is Not Proper Legal Process & Also A First Amendment Violation

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

Back in early 2025, DOGE bros Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh were handed multiple government roles with a simple mandate: go find the woke stuff and kill it. Fox and Cavanaugh had zero relevant experience for any of it — at one point Cavanaugh, a twenty-someth…

ABC Says FCC’s Equal Time Crackdown On ‘The View’ Poses A Chill To Its First Amendment Rights

Ted Johnson, Deadline

ABC said that the the FCC’s efforts to restrict political candidates from appearing on shows like The View amount to a violation of its First Amendment rights, pushing back on Trump-appointed Brendan Carr‘s efforts to use his regulatory authority to threaten …

Why Rupert Murdoch is asking Donald Trump for help fighting the NFL

Peter Kafka, Business Insider

Rupert Murdoch's Fox depends on the NFL for ratings. And he's worried that streaming deals will give the NFL even more leverage.

Donald Trump’s Exchange With A Female Journalist Is Going Viral Because Of What He May Have Said Under His Breath

Matt Stopera, Buzzfeed

"But it's the left who needs to tone down their rhetoric?"View Entire Post ›

Pentagon releases trove of new UFO files, but skeptics aren’t impressed

Adam Kovac, Scientific American

The Pentagon’s first UFO file release includes photographs, videos and documents gathered as part of an effort that spans several governmental offices and agencies, including the FBI, the White House and NASA

Being “Pro-Transgender” Now Makes You a Terrorist, According to Trump Administration

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

The admin's plan says it will "neutralize" and "cripple" what it calls "radically pro-transgender" groups. Congrats, you're a terrorist.

‘Make up their own minds’: Pentagon releases first tranche of UFO files

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US President Trump ordered the release in February amid renewed public interest; critics claim distraction.

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting plan in US

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Virginia's top court blocks redistricting plan, handing Republicans a key win before crucial midterm elections.

Putting His Name on Chuck Schumer's UFO Homework Won't Save Trump's Failing Presidency

Jacob Weindling, Jezebel

Nothing is ever straightforward in this realm, but if there is any clear takeaway from today's document dump, it's that there isn't anything remotely compelling enough in it to distract people from $5/gallon gas or the rest of the raging tire fire that is Tru…

Trump Throws Temper Tantrum When Asked About Gas Prices

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

Donald Trump either can’t or won’t face the music.The president exploded at a Black female reporter Thursday who dared to question why he was so focused on his expensive Washington vanity projects while the rest of the country struggles to fill their gas tank…

Virginia Supreme Court overturns Democrats' redistricting measure

Oren Oppenheim, Steven Portnoy, Abcnews.com

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday overturned the state's redistricting ballot measure.

Gold, gold, and more gold: All of the decor changes Trump has made to the Oval Office

Talia Lakritz, Business Insider

President Donald Trump continues to redecorate the Oval Office. He's added numerous gold furnishings, some taken from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Surprise! Two Most Powerful Men in America Can't Stop Being Awful to Women

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

Amid Hantavirus Panic, the Ivermectin Super Fans Are Back

Austin Campbell, The Intercept

Those who cheered ivermectin as a Covid-19 treatment are now making unsubstantiated claims about its use against hantavirus. The post Amid Hantavirus Panic, the Ivermectin Super Fans Are Back appeared first on The Intercept.

Court rejects Virginia redistricting in a blow to Democrats' counter to Trump, GOP

Larry Kaplow, NPR

Virginia voters approved redistricting that could help Democrats pick up four House seats. Democrats said it was to counter the gains that Trump and the GOP have picked up in Republican-led states.

Donald Trump Just Declassified Over 100 High-Security Classified Documents About UFOs and Aliens

Holden Desalles, Thoughtcatalog.com

The directive came from Trump on February 19, ordering the Secretary of War and federal agencies to identify and release files on “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, unidentified flying objects, and any and all other information c…

Inside GAWKER's Legacy: Stories, Scandals and Lasting Impact...

Frank DiGiacomo, Hollywood Reporter

Their weaponized wit made enemies, minted stars and helped define the internet as we know it. A decade after Peter Thiel engineered the site’s spectacular collapse, Nick Denton’s diaspora is still shaping media — and haunted by what happened.

How the Pope Connects War, Immigration, and Abortion

Luis Parrales, The Atlantic

It all comes down to a particular stance on life.

WATCH: What to watch this weekend

ABC News, Abcnews.com

ABC News' Will Ganss breaks down the new movies and shows to look out for this weekend.

Italy-US ties strained as pope and Iran war dominate talks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Rome balances US ties with domestic pressure as the Iran war strains the alliance and fuels economic fallout.

Not even Nixon would stoop so low

Brian Karem, Salon

Donald Trump's graphic display in front of children in the Oval Office should be the GOP's wake-up call

WATCH: Wisconsin organizations that helped remove 1,500 beagles speak with David Muir

ABC News, Abcnews.com

David Muir speaks with the two animal nonprofit organizations that helped remove the pups and shared their effort to get them adopted as the beagles head to some 40 states for their forever homes.

Ohio MAGA Rep. Max Miller is Apparently as Bad a Husband as a Congressman

Danielle Han, Jezebel

On Thursday, the Daily Mail revealed Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) has a history of abusing his ex-wife, Emily Moreno—daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno.

Trump takes his revenge on disloyal Republicans

BBC News

The US president targets his political enemies in Kentucky and Indiana

Appeals Court Kills FCC Effort To Acknowledge Racism In Broadband Deployment

Karl Bode, Techdirt

In late 2023, I wrote a feature for The Verge exploring the FCC’s attempt to stop race and class discrimination in broadband deployment. For decades, big telecoms have not only refused to evenly upgrade broadband in low income and poor areas (despite billions…

Fox News AI Newsletter: How Disney fans will experience AI

Fox News

New Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro outlined a new growth strategy, which includes a focus on investing in content as well as artificial intelligence technology.

What we know about Iran’s response to the latest US ceasefire proposal

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

Iran has not formally responded, but officials indicate a large divide remains between the two sides.

“We’re Not a Stupid Country” Says Secretary of State, Reassuringly

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

I think we can all agree with Marco Rubio that "We're not a stupid country" is the sort of thing a non-stupid country needs to say out loud.

U.S. intercepts Iranian attacks on 3 ships. And, what to know about hantavirus

Brittney Melton, NPR

The U.S. says it intercepted Iranian attacks yesterday targeting three Navy ships. And, what to know about the hantavirus outbreak that started on a cruise ship.

Miami host committee assured ICE will not be at World Cup games

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Rodney Barreto has received reassurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ICE would steer clear of World Cup.

Transcript: Trump Cornered as Damning Leaks Expose Fresh War Blunders

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, The New Republic

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the May 8 episode of The Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.The Washington …

The U.S. awaits Iran's response as the UAE reports another missile barrage

The Associated Press, NPR

The Iran war's shaky ceasefire was further strained on Friday as the United Arab Emirates responded to a missile and drone strikes.

Rubio meets Pope Leo: Can they heal White House-Vatican rift?

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

The State Department says Leo-Rubio meeting underscores 'strong ties', despite Trump’s recent attacks on the pope.

WATCH: CDC classifies outbreak as 'Level 3' emergency

ABC News, Abcnews.com

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated its Emergency Operations Center and classified the hantavirus outbreak as a Level 3 emergency, multiple sources told ABC News.

Tennessee GOP Erases State's Last Democratic, Black-Majority Seat in Shameless Power Grab

Danielle Han, Jezebel

The new map, which looks a whole lot like racial gerrymandering, comes a whole week after the Supreme Court hollowed out the last of the Voting Rights Act.

Trump’s $1.5 trillion military budget may be a solution in search of a problem

Russell Payne, Salon

Trump's proposed military spending surge could come at the cost of future healthcare funding

The Supreme Court Ends Multiracial Democracy as We Know It

The Intercept Briefing, The Intercept

As Tennessee eliminated its only majority-Black district, Ari Berman and Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson explain how SCOTUS enabled the right’s “power grab.” The post The Supreme Court Ends Multiracial Democracy as We Know It  appeared first on The Int…

Whirlpool keeps ending up on the wrong side of the economy. Now its stock is circling the drain.

jciolli@businessinsider.com (Joe Ciolli), Business Insider

The appliance-maker is being hit by seemingly every negative macro force at once.

Wall Street's 'Dr. Doom' economist lays out 4 scenarios for the Iran war and their impact on markets

jsor@businessinsider.com (Jennifer Sor), Business Insider

Oil prices could spike past $200 a barrel in the worst-case scenario, economist Nouriel Roubini warned.

US, Iran clash in Hormuz as war escalates: What happened, why it matters

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

A ceasefire between the US and Iran has been in place since April 8. Both sides are yet to agree on a peace deal.

A top Wall Street firm has a new seasonal trading motto: 'Sell in July for a Big October Buy'

nbuchanan@insider.com (Naomi Buchanan), Business Insider

Oppenheimer's technical analysts coined "Sell in July for a Big October Buy" as a trading framework for investors in this year's election cycle.

UK identifies new suspected hantavirus case on remote island

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The UK confirms two British cases on board a cruise ship and a suspected infection on the Tristan da Cunha island.

What to watch for in high-stakes Trump-Xi meeting

Selina Wang, Abcnews.com

The backdrop for their meeting has flipped the leverage dynamic, experts say.

Trump's Truth Social lays bare narrow obsessions of an extremely online president

Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR

The bulk of the president's social media posts don't make news. But taken together they show what's on his mind as he leads the nation through war and domestic turmoil.

European countries emerge as NATO leaders as U.S. role recedes

Scott Neuman, NPR

President Trump's decision to leave NATO in the dark before launching strikes on Iran has inflamed tensions and is putting new urgency on rethinking the alliance.

Hasan Piker Is the Democrats’ New Man on the Trail, Whether They Like It or Not

Devin Thomas O’Shea, The Intercept

Insurgent candidates like Bush are tapping Piker as a campaign surrogate — but they still face an uphill battle to winning. The post Hasan Piker Is the Democrats’ New Man on the Trail, Whether They Like It or Not appeared first on The Intercept.

BBC Back At The BAFTAs: Network Nervously Preps For Biggest Test Since Film Awards, As Contract To Produce Live Show Runs Down

Max Goldbart, Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC’s biggest test since the BAFTA Film Awards has almost arrived. Sunday night’s BAFTA TV Awards come less than three months after the debacle at its sister event, when tourette’s campaigner John Davidson involuntarily yelled the N-word at the…

Southeast Asia’s leaders confront fallout from Iran war at ASEAN summit

Erin Hale, Al Jazeera English

Bloc is expected to call for deeper energy cooperation and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran war day 70: US, Iran trade fire in Hormuz amid ceasefire tensions

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Iran accuses US of breaching ceasefire near Hormuz as CENTCOM says forces responded to Iranian attacks.

Trump says ceasefire still in effect, but Iran ‘better sign agreement fast’

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump says the ceasefire with Iran is still in effect, despite clashes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Gary Snyder on How to Unbreak the World

Maria Popova, Themarginalian.org

"What we’d hope for on the planet is creativity and sanity, conviviality, the real work of our hands and minds."

Oil prices jump as US, Iran trade fire in Strait of Hormuz

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Brent crude rises amid clashes in critical waterway.

Trump says US-Iran ceasefire still in place after exchange of fire in Strait of Hormuz

BBC News

Iran accuses the US of violating the truce, alleging it targeted an oil tanker and carried out attacks on coastal areas.

Judge says DOGE grant terminations are unlawful and 'troubling'

Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency “blatantly used” race, gender and protected characteristics to execute mass termination of federal grants, a judge said.

As US and Iran weigh peace deal, stranded seafarers wait in limbo

Erin Hale, Al Jazeera English

Some 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Gulf amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Judge rules Trump administration's cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional

Yahoo Entertainment

Cuban official warns US on 'dangerous path' that could lead to 'bloodbath in Cuba'

Meredith Deliso, Abcnews.com

In recent weeks, Trump has said that Cuba's political system needs to change "dramatically" and has declared that the U.S. will be "doing something with Cuba very soon."

Iran war live: Trump says ceasefire still ‘in effect’ as Iran, US clash

Zaid Sabah, Nils Adler, Al Jazeera English

Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting Iranian vessels and carrying out strikes on coastal areas.