•Federal Reserve Under Investigation – The Justice Department has opened a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage fraud tied to property filings in Georgia and Michigan. A sitting Fed governor facing grand jury subpoenas raises questions about independence, accountability, and political optics.

•McDonalds Takes on Tipping – The fast-food giant is pushing to end the sub-minimum tip wage model, arguing it distorts competition and fuels “tip creep” across the industry. 

•Naval Base Becomes Immigration Hub – The Pentagon approved Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago as a staging point for ICE operations despite pushback from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. 

•U.S. Strikes Venezuelan Drug Syndicate – A U.S. strike in the southern Caribbean killed 11 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua Syndicate, signaling a new era of treating cartel-linked traffickers as military targets. 

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.