Kitchen Briefs - April 16, 2026 PM

• The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has begun
• 10 people have disappeared or died in the past year and they all had access to U.S. nuclear and space secrets.
• A federal judge has halted construction on the White House ballroom above ground but says the bunker can still be constructed.
• Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director. She spent more than 20 year in uniform, including as rear admiral and chief medical officer of the Coast Guard.
• An arrest warrant has been issued for ICE agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. in Minnesota who pulled his gun on a driver.
• The DOJ has opened it’s own investigation into Rep Eric Swalwell
• Trump will hold a rally in Arizona at Dream City Church, in partnership with Turning Point USA. The venue was recently named in a lawsuit involving the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl by a staff member at an affiliated school.
• Speaking of Turning Point USA, Under The Desk News did a great deep dive into how they're trying to now infiltrate middle schools
• In good news, NPR has received two donations totaling $113M, one from an anonymous donor and the other from Connie Ballmer for $80M