Guidance memo on who can get free tickets to White House UFC Fight: "Ticket recipients are required to meet the DOW waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55, as well as all service specific physical fitness test requirements," one of the memos sent to service members says, using the Pentagon's preferred acronym for the agency. read more
Patrick Wintour, The Guardian: The far shorter Middle East war has rapidly revealed the strategic weakness of US firepower in an interconnected world. In scale, of course, the current conflict does not match the Vietnam war, which went on for years, led to the deaths of 58,220 US soldiers, and is often perceived as the totemic and unmatchable example of US hubris. By comparison with the Vietnam odyssey, Iran feels more like a day trip. But in terms of consequence, it is still possible that the "excursion" will prove to be the bigger geopolitical turning point for the unrivalled superpower, the moment when the US will have to concede it mishandled a war not just because it had no convincing battle plan, but also no grand strategy to match how the contemporary world works. In an interconnected world, Trump believes progress is achieved through conflict, not cooperation. read more
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Kennedy Center from temporarily closing its doors for a yearslong renovation and said its board violated the law when it added President Donald Trump's name to the historic performing arts venue. read more
The bill, an urgency measure, becomes effectively immediately -- just in time for California's Tuesday primaries. California Governor Gavin Newsom repeatedly derided Donald Trump as he signed an election bill on Wednesday, saying stronger guardrails are needed in the wake of a "delusional" president. read more
President Trump said on Friday that he's convening his national security team in the White House Situation Room to make a final decision about the agreement reached between U.S. and Iranian negotiators. read more
The pouches - flavored Blue Raspberry and Fruit Punch - weren't nicotine. The event is hosted by Wip, a start-up behind flavored "energy pouches." The products are part of a fast-growing category of caffeine pouches marketed as a trendier, cheaper and more discreet alternative to coffee, energy drinks and pre-workout powders. In recent months the pouches, which have circulated in social media mentions for some time, have been popping up more frequently in the wellness sphere and in social settings. Though many brands, including Wip, say these products are intended only for adults, experts who study adolescent behavior have noted that as more young adults talk about these pouches on and offline, they're entering the teenage lexicon as well.
The Stanford Daily and two international students are asking a federal judge to prevent immigration removals and visa revocations solely on the basis of protected speech. read more
attackofthefanboy.com read more
A Democratic National Committee staffer has taken a "I said what I said" stance in continuing online feud with White House adviser Stephen Miller. read more
There are strategies to improve healthcare, but US isn't trying them. read more
A wave of new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is being built across drought-stricken parts of the U.S., raising concerns about water supplies as the country faces its driest start to a year since 1910. read more
The Empire State's first female governor, Kathy Hochul (D), signed into law a set of sweeping protections for immigrant New Yorkers, including a ban on law enforcement officers wearing masks and a measure barring local police statewide from enforcing civil immigration laws. One law also bars ICE agents from entering so-called "sensitive locations," such as churches, schools, and polling places; another law allows individuals to sue ICE for alleged constitutional violations.
NYSP = 5,110 personnel; 1,000 in NYSP Bureau of Criminal Investigationread more
Our long national nightmare may be coming to an end: The White House and Iran are reportedly closing in on a deal ... read more
Five people have died and nearly three dozen have been injured after a bus in the US state of Virginia struck six vehicles, police say. read more
JD Vance was savagely booed immediately after joking "I'm the Vice-President. You can't boo me," while addressing the ~900 graduates of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. read more
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is moving to have his wife, Christie, hired as a Special Government Employee (SGE) which would allow her to fly free with him on federal flights. read more
