Chaos at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner: a gunman sprints past security with a rifle, Secret Service swarms the ballroom, Trump and Melania are rushed to safety, and the entire glittering event is locked down. Jennifer was just in that same ballroom months ago — she breaks down the terrifying scene, the security nightmares she witnessed firsthand, and why it’s finally time to BUILD THE BALLROOM on White House grounds (Missouri’s own Will Scharf is in charge of the project and a judge is currently blocking it).St. Louis legend Ray Hartmann — founder of the Riverfront Times, 40-year TV fixture, and one-of-a-kind character — was killed in a freak highway crash this week. Jennifer pays tribute and is joined by Scott Faughn to remember him.
Plus:
- The Southern Poverty Law Center is hit with an 11-count federal indictment for wire fraud, false statements to banks, and money laundering — accused of secretly paying $3M+ to informants inside the very hate groups they told donors they were fighting.
- Golden Cabinet updates from D.C. (including Acting AG Todd Blanche right after the WHCD chaos).
- Two huge immigration court wins.
- Criminal docket round-up.
- Fresh scoops from the RNLA policy conference in the nation’s capital.
On this date in history, Melania Trump turns 56 — Happy Birthday to the First Lady! Listen now — commercial-free podcast drops this afternoon. Subscribe, share, and follow @esqonfire
. We’re in this together. Cheers to the Golden Age!