Morning Announcements

Today's Headlines: Kash Patel is having a rough week — Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent him an alcohol screening questionnaire asking how many drinks he has per day and how often he can't remember the night before.. On the Iran front, the "ceasefire" is doing ceasefire things: Iran seized two more ships and fired on three others, though the White House says it doesn't count because they weren't American or Israeli ships — so apparently it's only a war if we say so. Believe it or not, a War Powers resolution failed for the fifth time, with the Senate voting 51-46 to reject. The Secretary of the Navy was also ousted — not a huge loss given he was a campaign donor with no military experience who appeared on Epstein's flight logs — but perhaps not ideal timing during an active naval conflict. Elsewhere in chaos, Georgia Rep. David Scott passed away at 80, making him the fifth member of Congress to die in the past year and a half, tipping the House balance further toward Republicans; a Republican-appointed judge voided Virginia's newly approved redistricting map the day after voters approved it; Truth Social replaced CEO Devin Nunes — who was paid $47 million while the company earned $4 million — with someone described as a "corporate babysitter"; and condom prices are going up 30% because of the Iran war, which is somehow both funny and bleak. Climate scientists are warning that the Atlantic Ocean's key current system is closer to collapse than previously thought, and a UN report found that climate change is driving surges in gender-based violence globally. In tech and surveillance news, unauthorized users on a private Discord server guessed their way into Anthropic's restricted Mythos model; Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan is apparently running a full surveillance operation on fans, employees, and former players; Palantir's CEO dropped a 22-point manifesto about AI weapons and Silicon Valley's "moral debt"; and Sam Altman's eyeball-scanning startup falsely claimed a partnership with Bruno Mars, which Bruno Mars and Live Nation immediately denied.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Axios: Longtime Democratic Rep. David Scott dies at 80

CNN: Tazewell County judge bars certification of Virginia redistricting results; state AG promises appeal

NBC News: Democrats want FBI Director Kash Patel to fill out alcohol use screening test

WSJ: Iran War Live News Updates: Three Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz, Escorting Two to Its Coast

CNN: US Navy Secretary Phelan ousted as naval blockade of Iran continues

WSJ: Senate Rejects Fifth Attempt to Curb Trump’s War Powers

People: Condom Prices to Rise by 30% as a Result of Iran War, Says CEO of World’s Largest Manufacturer

MS Now: Devin Nunes steps down as CEO of Trump’s media company

The Guardian: Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought | Oceans

United Nations: Climate crisis driving surge in gender-based violence, UN study finds | UN News

Bloomberg: Anthroopics Mythos Model being Accessed By Unauthorized Userses

Wired: The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine

Business Insider: Palantir's summary of CEO Alexander Karp's manifesto is generating buzz. Read the 22 bullet points.

Wired: Sam Altman’s Orb Company Promoted a Bruno Mars Partnership That Doesn't Exist

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Today's Headlines: Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned ahead of her expected expulsion vote — apparently getting kicked out by your colleagues is a bridge too far even for someone who funneled FEMA money into her own campaign — and all eyes are now on whether Revenge Porn Cory Mills follows suit. On the Iran beat, Trump blinked again and extended the ceasefire at the last minute after mediators in Pakistan asked him to hold off, while JD Vance's peace trip to Islamabad was postponed indefinitely. Elsewhere in war news, Pete Hegseth announced the military will no longer require troops to get the flu vaccine, citing "medical autonomy," because apparently that's where we are. In the financial crimes corner, the BBC published an analysis finding the Trump administration is likely engaged in insider trading tied to major political events — multiple traders won millions of dollars just before Trump made market-moving announcements. Meanwhile, Trump's preferred Fed Chair replacement Kevin Warsh told his confirmation hearing that Fed independence "means everything" to him, which is exactly what someone who doesn't mean it would say. In other financial ethics news, an investigation found the Noems were carrying up to $3.25 million in debt while Bryon Noem was sending tens of thousands to fetish models, which Kristi claims blindsided her. The Gates Foundation is cutting 500 jobs because Bill Gates hung out with Jeffrey Epstein, but on a brighter note, the House Oversight Committee and FBI are both investigating the 11 suspiciously dead and missing nuclear scientists — reassuring, except the FBI is run by Kash Patel. In genuinely good news, two new pancreatic cancer drugs showed remarkable results in early trials, with one mRNA vaccine keeping most responsive patients alive for six years. And finally, Virginia voters approved a new congressional map that could net Democrats four additional House seats ahead of the November midterms — possibly the last effective redistricting before the election.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

WaPo: House Democrat resigns ahead of possible expulsion vote over alleged financial crimes

NYT: Iran War Live Updates: Uncertainty Surrounds U.S.-Iran Talks as Cease-Fire Nears End

Axios: Vance's Pakistan trip postponed indefinitely as Iran boycotts peace talks

AP News: Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says

BBC: The insider trading suspicions looming over Trump's presidency

WSJ: Kevin Warsh Hearing: Trump's Nominee Pressed on Disclosures, Fed Independence — Live Updates

Atlanta Blackstar: ‘Should Be in Prison!’: Kristi Noem Dragged Into Another Public Embarrassment as Report Exposes Jaw-Dropping Debt Tied to Her Husband — and Now Everyone’s Asking the Same Questions

WSJ: Gates Foundation to Cut 20% of Staff, Review Epstein Ties

CNN: At least 10 scientists tied to sensitive US research have died or disappeared in recent years, sparking federal investigation

WSJ: New Drugs for Pancreatic Cancer Show Remarkable Promise for Deadly Disease

NYT: Election Live Updates: Virginia Passes New Map, Lifting Democrats' Midterm Chances

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Today's Headlines: Kash Patel responded to bombshell reporting about his drinking and incompetence by filing a $250 million defamation suit against The Atlantic — can’t wait for discovery then, Kash. Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer became the third Trump Cabinet member to resign in just a few months, notable mostly because all three have been women while the actual disasters remain firmly in place. On the foreign policy beat, the Iran ceasefire expires tomorrow at 8pm with Trump calling renewal "highly unlikely," JD Vance and crew headed to Islamabad anyway, and oil prices already on the rise. Back home, the House Ethics Committee is mulling expulsion votes for two Florida representatives — one facing sexual misconduct and illegal contract charges, the other caught steering COVID relief funds to her own campaign. In economic news, the Trump administration quietly launched a portal for the 330,000 businesses that overpaid on illegal tariffs to apply for refunds, with no apparent plan for the ones that already went under because of them. Over in Silicon Valley, Amazon invested another $5 billion into Anthropic while California simultaneously filed an antitrust suit against Amazon using the company's own emails as evidence, and Apple tapped 25-year veteran John Ternus as its next CEO, a man described as competent and affable, which feels like a low bar that is nonetheless refreshing. And finally, a bankruptcy judge is the only thing standing between The Onion and its dream of owning Infowars — which would be the most perfect ending to the Alex Jones saga anyone could have written.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

CNN: FBI director Kash Patel files $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic

WaPo: Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will resign amid misconduct allegations

The Hill: Ethics panel reveals it’s conducted 20 sexual misconduct investigations into lawmakers since 2017

Politico: House Ethics panel issues rare statement committing to helping secure a sexual harassment-free workplace - Live Updates

Axios: House barrels toward rare double expulsion votes

WaPo: Iran talks on shaky footing after U.S. seizure of ship in Strait of Hormuz

AP News: Oil prices rise and US stocks give back a bit of their record-breaking rally

Politico: Hungary must arrest Netanyahu if he visits, Magyar says

Wired: The Weird, Twisting Tale of How China Spied on Alysa Liu and Her Dad

Axios: What to know about tariff refund site that launches Monday

Mashable: Amazon colluded to make competitors raise prices, California lawsuit says

WSJ: Anthropic, Amazon Tighten Bond in $5 Billion Investment and Computing Deal

WSJ: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple Names New CEO

Mother Jones: The Onion Says It Has Again Struck a Deal to Take Over Infowars

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today's Headlines: FBI Director Kash Patel is apparently drunk a lot. The Atlantic talked to over a dozen colleagues, painting a picture of locked-office incidents, security detail struggling to wake him up, and a man who thought his login failing meant he'd been fired. His team reportedly requested a battering ram for his office door. Lawsuit for defamation to come. Meanwhile, 8 children were killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana — the deadliest in the US in two years. Victims ranged from ages 1 to 14, spread across four crime scenes. Good to know the FBI director is on it. The Iran "ceasefire" continues to ceasefire in name only. Trump threatened to bomb every bridge and power plant in Iran and Iran rejected the next round of talks. The ceasefire expires Wednesday. The current draft deal involves Iran surrendering enriched uranium for $20 billion in unfrozen funds. Gas is averaging $4.05/gallon and the Energy Secretary basically said "lol maybe next year" on when it'll drop below $3. Jared Kushner is negotiating the Iran deal while his investment firm is bankrolled by Iran's enemies. Rep. Jamie Raskin launched a House investigation and asked Kushner directly: whose side are you actually on? In other news, Eleven nuclear scientists with classified clearances have died or disappeared suspiciously since 2023 — more than half in the past year. Trump says he "hopes it's a coincidence." Ok.  On the lighter side of dystopia: Trump signed an executive order fast-tracking psychedelic drug research with Joe Rogan in attendance as spiritual inspiration. Caitlyn Jenner left a note for Trump at Mar-a-Lago about her passport — he hasn't called back. The Strokes closed their Coachella set with a video montage of CIA regime changes and footage of bombings in Gaza and Iran. And the NSA is quietly using Anthropic's AI while the administration simultaneously argues in court that Anthropic is a national security threat.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

The Atlantic: The FBI Director Is MIA

The Hill: Patel says he’ll sue Atlantic for defamation over report on heavy drinking

WaPo: 8 children killed in Louisiana shooting, police say

Axios: Trump says he'll send negotiators to Pakistan, Iran suspects trap

Axios: Scoop: U.S. considers $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal with Iran

Axios: Trump's energy boss: gas may stay above $3-per-gallon into 2027

MS Now: Iran negotiator or private investor? Raskin launches investigation into Jared Kushner.

The Guardian: Department of Justice investigating Eric Swalwell amid sexual assault allegations | House of Representatives

The Hill: Who are the missing or dead scientists with connections to government research?

Mother Jones: Podcasters, Presidents, and Psychedelics: How Joe Rogan Got Trump Into Ibogaine

People: Caitlyn Jenner Asked Trump for Help After His Trans Policies Created 'Safety' Issue with Her Passport. He Didn't Reply, She Says

Variety: The Strokes End Coachella Set With Video Condemning U.S. and Israeli Bombings in Iran and Gaza

Axios: Scoop: NSA using Anthropic's Mythos despite blacklist

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Trump announced a 10-day Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, claimed the Iran war is "going swimmingly," and said Iran agreed to hand over nuclear material — which Iran has not confirmed. The head of the International Energy Agency warned Europe has roughly six weeks of jet fuel left due to the Strait of Hormuz situation, with possible flight cancellations and energy shortages ahead. Congress failed for the third time to pass a War Powers resolution to curb the Iran war, this time losing 214-213. At $10 billion a week, the White House budget director refused to say how much the war will cost, explaining that costs "fluctuate." It was a full day of congressional hearings. RFK Jr. faced the first of seven back-to-back days of testimony. Trump nominated an actual doctor — a 24-year public health veteran — to lead the CDC, which is genuinely surprising. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll testified that he pushed back against Hegseth's general-firing spree, with Republicans on the committee taking his side. Pete Hegseth quoted Pulp Fiction instead of the Bible at a Pentagon prayer service. Budget director Russell Vought testified that DHS is "disintegrating." ICE deported 442,000 people last year, but only 38% had any kind of criminal record — pending charges included.Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal ICE agent with assault for pointing his gun at drivers on a state highway — the first case of its kind, with 17 more incidents under review. An 86-year-old French widow of an American military veteran has been in ICE detention since April 1st, after missing an immigration appointment while settling her late husband's estate — reportedly tipped off by his son over an inheritance dispute. A judge blocked above-ground construction on Trump's White House ballroom pending congressional authorization, though underground bunker work continues. His 250-foot DC arch cleared a federal design review despite massive public opposition. Spirit Airlines could liquidate as early as this week. United Airlines' CEO pitched Trump on merging with American Airlines — which would control nearly 40% of the global airline market. Democrats won New Jersey's special election by 59 points.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NYT: Pope Leo, Amid Standoff With Trump, Says ‘Woe to Those Who Manipulate Religion’

Axios: Trump announces 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

WSJ: Cease-Fire Between Israel and Lebanon Takes Effect

WaPo: Trump says Iran agrees to hand over ‘nuclear dust’

AP News: AP Exclusive: Europe has 'maybe 6 weeks of jet fuel left,' energy agency head warns

Axios: House hands Trump a win with failed Iran war powers vote

The Hill: Cease-Fire Between Israel and Lebanon Takes Effect

CNN: Public health veteran is Trump’s pick to lead CDC as administration shifts tone on vaccines

WaPo: Republicans back Army Secretary Dan Driscoll amid clash with Hegseth

The Hill: Hegseth shares air rescue group’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ prayer at Pentagon service

The Hill: White House budget director Vought declines to tell senators cost of Iran war

The Hill: White House OMB Director Russell Vought: DHS ‘disintegrating’

Axios: ICE deported 442k people in fiscal year 2025

The Hill: France calls on US to release 86-year-old widow of veteran detained by ICE

NYT: ICE Agent Charged With Assault After Motorists Say He Brandished Gun

NYT: Judge Again Halts Aboveground Construction on Trump Ballroom

WaPo: Trump’s 250-foot arch receives early design approval as public pans it

CNBC: Spirit Airlines could liquidate as early as this week, sources say

The Guardian: United Airlines CEO reportedly pitched merger with American, sparking competition fears | Business

NYT: Analilia Mejia, a Progressive Democrat, Wins Mikie Sherrill’s House Seat

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Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Hungary's newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar revealed that Orban's government had been financing CPAC for years — and will no longer do so. JD Vance, meanwhile, told a Turning Point USA crowd that cutting Ukraine aid was one of the administration's top achievements, called Russia's invasion "haggling over a few square kilometers," and told reporters that the Pope should stick to theology and leave policy to politicians. The Pope is currently in Cameroon fighting corruption and attending peace talks. Meanwhile, the Iran ceasefire expires April 21st — less than five days away. U.S. officials claim they're "moving closer to a framework agreement," while Treasury Secretary Bessent previewed the backup plan: a "financial equivalent of a bombing campaign" on Iran through sanctions on countries doing business with Iranian-linked entities, including the UAE and China. In other news, LiveNation and Ticketmaster were found by a jury to be an illegal monopoly that engaged in anticompetitive conduct harming consumers, artists, and venues. Stock dropped 5%. Damages to be determined. The Swalwell scandal expanded to a second DA investigation, this time in Los Angeles, following Lonna Drewes' allegations. CNN published an investigation into a website with 62 million monthly visitors — more than Gmail — hosting tens of thousands of videos of men sharing advice on drugging and assaulting partners. RFK Jr.'s private journals revealed he once stopped on the highway to cut the penis off a dead raccoon to "study later." And finally, AllBirds is pivoting from shoes to AI infrastructure under the name NewBird AI and the founder of SantaCon was arrested for wire fraud after allegedly siphoning hundreds of thousands in charity donations into a personal slush fund for luxury vacations and fine dining.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: 

The New Republic: Hungary’s New Leader Reveals Viktor Orbán Was Paying CPAC

Yahoo: Vance calls end of Ukraine aid 'one of the proudest' achievements of Trump administration

NYT: Vance Says Pope Leo Should Be More Careful When Talking About Theology

AP News: Pope demands the 'chains of corruption' be broken during visit to Cameroon

WSJ: LIV Golf Facing Imminent Closure as Saudi Backers Weigh Pulling Funding

Axios: U.S. and Iran inch toward framework deal to end war, U.S. officials say

AP News: From dropping bombs to pressuring banks: US pivots to economic warfare on Iran

The Hill: Los Angeles DA says Swalwell under investigation

CNN: Exposing a global ‘online rape academy’ that is teaching men how to abuse women and evade detection

NY Post: RFK Jr. once chopped off a dead raccoon’s penis to ‘study later’ while on a family road trip

NBC News: Live Nation illegally monopolized ticketing market, jury in antitrust trial finds

AP News: Allbirds, a former Wall Street darling fallen on hard times, looks to AI for its future

ABC7 NY: SantaCon founder accused of siphoning charitable funds for NYC holiday bar crawl for his own use

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Israel and Lebanon held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington yesterday, hosted by Marco Rubio at the State Department. Hezbollah refused to participate and kept firing. A second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations could restart in Pakistan within days, according to Trump — who has never overpromised anything. The Trump administration eased sanctions on Venezuela the day after Chevron quietly struck an oil production deal there. And the administration formally informed Congress that Cuba has contributed up to 5,000 soldiers to Russia's war in Ukraine, which feels like the beginning of a regime change justification tour. Meanwhile, Pam Bondi skipped her congressional subpoena yesterday — the one requiring her to testify about her handling of the Epstein files. House Oversight Democrats threatened to charge her with contempt of Congress, punishable by up to a year in prison. A fourth accuser came forward against Eric Swalwell at a press conference, describing being drugged and raped at his hotel room in 2018. According to People magazine, over 30 women have made similar allegations. A 20-year-old Texas man was arrested after throwing an incendiary device at Sam Altman's San Francisco home, then attempting to attack OpenAI's headquarters with a chair while saying he wanted to "burn it down and kill anyone inside." He was carrying a document expressing views opposed to AI executives. Attempted murder and arson charges filed. A federal judge blocked Indiana's law banning student IDs at polling places, protecting an estimated 40,000 voters ahead of the May 5th midterm primary — ruling there's zero evidence student IDs have ever caused electoral confusion or fraud. A new long-term study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that drinking fluoridated water has no effect on IQ or brain function, which RFK Jr. will absolutely ignore.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

AP News: Lebanon and Israel hold first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington

CNN: Live updates: Trump hints US-Iran talks could resume over next two days

Axios: Scoop: U.S. eases bank sanctions amid Venezuela's economic woes

Axios: Scoop: US suggests Cuba complicit in helping Russia fight Ukraine

The Independent: Pam Bondi could face contempt charges over Epstein testimony after failing to show up for deposition

NYT: A New Accuser Says Eric Swalwell Sexually Assaulted Her

People: Influencer Who Helped Break Eric Swalwell Sex Scandal Says At Least 30 More Women Have Shared Stories of Alleged Misconduct

CNN: Suspect in attack at Sam Altman’s house charged with attempted murder and attempted arson 

Democracy Docket: In major win for voters, judge blocks Indiana GOP’s student ID ban

NBC News: Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function, long-term study shows

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Congress is having a moment. Eric Swalwell resigned yesterday after the House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into harassment and rape allegations against him, and with an expulsion vote likely incoming. He called the allegations "false" while also admitting he made "mistakes" — a distinction he'll get to work out with the Manhattan DA. Republican Tony Gonzalez followed within the hour, announcing he's leaving Congress early after previously denying, then admitting, an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Two more members — Florida Republican Cory Mills and Florida Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick — are facing potential expulsion for sexual misconduct allegations and stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds, respectively.  In Iran war news, The U.S. military launched a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz yesterday with more than 15 warships, and Trump posted that any Iranian ships that come near it will be "immediately ELIMINATED" using the same methods used against drug dealers at sea — "quick and brutal." Peace talks with Iran remain stalled, though Vance spent Monday doing damage control press rounds claiming the U.S. "acquired some knowledge" about Iranian negotiating tactics. The gap between the two sides: Iran offered a 5-year nuclear suspension, the U.S. wants 20 years. Iran also wants the Strait back to what it was before the war — which, to be fair, is exactly what everyone wants. Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus healing a man resembling Jeffrey Epstein, called Pope Leo "weak on crime," and accused him of catering to the radical left. The post was deleted Monday after widespread backlash. Trump said he thought the image was of him as a doctor. He refused to apologize. He then ordered DoorDash to the Oval Office to promote his no-tax-on-tips policy, handed a woman in a DoorDash Grandma t-shirt a $100 bill, and called it a day. Tomorrow is Tax Day — the first since the Trump administration eliminated free tax filing, handing the business back to H&R Block and Intuit.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Axios: Eric Swalwell announces resignation from Congress

Axios: Tony Gonzales announces plans to quit Congress early

Click Orlando: What to know about US Rep. Cory Mills’ sex, financial misconduct investigations

WSJ: Iran War Live News Updates: U.S. Blockade of Strait of Hormuz Takes Effect

Axios: U.S. asked Iran to freeze uranium enrichment for 20 years, sources say

Axios: Trump unleashes tirade against "weak," "terrible" Pope Leo

AP News: Trump says he won't apologize to Pope Leo

AP News: Trump tips DoorDash driver $100 for delivering McDonald's to Oval Office

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Everything JD Vance touched this weekend turned to dust. Viktor Orban — MAGA's model autocrat and Putin's most reliable EU ally — was swept out of power in Hungary's election, with opposition leader Peter Magyar's Tisza party winning 135 of 199 parliamentary seats. Vance had flown to Budapest days earlier to campaign for Orban. Then Vance's Iran peace talks in Pakistan collapsed without a deal, and he left. Within hours Trump was threatening to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and bomb Iran's water treatment facilities, while Marco Rubio watched UFC with Trump and Joe Rogan in Miami. Iran said "if you fight, we fight." Meanwhile, the economy is quietly getting ugly. GDP growth in Q4 2025 came in at a 0.5% annualized rate. Inflation jumped to 3.3% in March — the highest in two years, up from 2.4% in February — driven largely by gas prices. Pawn shops across the country are reporting a surge in loan demand and customers selling valuables outright, with both major publicly traded pawn operators trading at five-year highs. The White House ballroom, meanwhile, will be built with $37 million in foreign steel donated by a Luxembourg company — right as Trump cuts their tariff rates in half. Trump has allegedly promised mass pardons to anyone who came "within 200 feet of the Oval." The White House called it a joke. In other news, A former Army employee was arrested and indicted for leaking accounts of sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Fort Bragg to a journalist — Kash Patel celebrated her arrest on Twitter as a warning to "would-be leakers." Anthropic is releasing its powerful new Mythos model — which can find security vulnerabilities human developers can't — to a coalition of 40 companies anyway. The FTC is suing three states for trying to regulate prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket using anti-gambling laws. And finally, Eric Swalwell dropped out of California's governor's race after CNN and the SF Chronicle reported misconduct allegations from four women, including two incidents of sexual assault. His staff quit, 45 former staffers signed a letter calling for his resignation, and the Manhattan DA opened an investigation. The House is reportedly considering a vote to expel him alongside Republican Tony Gonzalez. 

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: 

Time: Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Icon of the Far Right, Loses Election. Here’s What That Means

The Guardian: Israeli strike kills paramedic, says Lebanese Red Cross – as it happened | US-Israel war on Iran

FOX Business: US economy grew at 0.5% in fourth quarter

WSJ: Inflation Soared to 3.3% in March, Driven by Higher Gasoline Costs

Bloomberg: Pawn Shop Loans Spike As Gas Prices Weigh On Americans

Mother Jones: Trump: Buy American, Unless It’s for My Ballroom

WSJ: Trump Promises Mass Pardons to Staff Before Leaving Office

NYT: F.B.I. Arrests Ex-Army Employee Who Detailed Harassment to Journalist

PBS News: Anthropic's powerful new AI model raises concerns about high-tech risks

Axios: Feds sue three states over prediction market crackdowns

CNN: Eric Swalwell ends campaign for California governor after sexual misconduct allegations

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Melania Trump made an unannounced appearance in the White House foyer to deny any meaningful relationship with Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, call for public congressional hearings for survivors, and insist Epstein did not introduce her to Donald. Trump said he didn't know about the remarks in advance — his own communications team immediately contradicted that. Nobody knows anything, as usual. The timing is suspicious enough that theories are flying about what's about to drop. The Iran ceasefire is wobbling badly. Iran is still restricting Strait traffic to roughly four ships a day versus the pre-war average of 100, charging $2 million per ship in tolls payable in crypto or yuan, and accusing the U.S. of violating three ceasefire points. Trump posted at midnight threatening that if the agreement isn't fully complied with, "the shootin' starts bigger and better than anyone has ever seen." JD Vance flew to Pakistan to lead peace negotiations, blamed translation issues with Iranian negotiators for the "choppiness," and Israel kept striking Lebanon anyway. Republicans in Congress blocked a War Powers Act effort to stop the war — even as Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Alex Jones, and Candace Owens publicly turned on it, prompting Trump to call them "NUT JOBS."  The Free Press reported that back in January, a top Pentagon official summoned the Pope's U.S. ambassador and warned that the Catholic Church had better take America's side — and referenced the Avignon Papacy, the 14th century period when French royalty used military force to extort the Vatican, as a subtle threat. An 18-year-old USC student lost his eye at a No Kings protest after a federal agent fired a pepper ball into a group of demonstrators. U.S. fertility rates hit another record low in 2025. American Airlines raised checked bag fees to $50, $60, and $200 — another Iran war fuel cost passed directly to consumers. RFK Jr. announced a podcast. Artemis II splashes down tonight off San Diego.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

WaPo: Melania Trump denies close ties to Jeffrey Epstein in rare public statement

MS Now: Melania Trump denies all but “casual” ties to Epstein and Maxwell

Axios: Strait of Hormuz stays shut as Trump demands Iran stop tolls

The Hill: Trump tells Netanyahu to pull back on Israel’s barrage on Lebanon

Axios: Netanyahu announces negotiations with Lebanon after U.S. pressure

PBS: WATCH: Vance says 'ceasefires are always messy'

USA Today: Republicans block Democratic bill to end Iran war amid tenuous ceasefire

NY Post: Trump goes off on 'NUT JOBS’ Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, Alex Jones over Iran war criticism

Newsweek: Avignon Papacy Explained: What Reported US Threat to Pope and Vatican Means

CNN: USC freshman loses eye after being struck by federal agent’s projectile at Los Angeles ‘No Kings’ protest, attorney says

NYT: U.S. Fertility Rates Drop to Another Record Low

PBS: RFK Jr. says he's launching a podcast to expose 'lies' that have made Americans sick

Bloomberg: American Airlines Raises Bag Fees

NYT: NASA Prepares for Artemis II Splashdown After Historic Moon Flyby - The New York Times

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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