#1Artemis II Astronauts Splash Down After Historic Moon Mission
NASA's Artemis II crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 5:07 p.m. PT on April 10 after a 10-day lunar flyby mission. The Orion spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere at roughly 25,000 mph and endured temperatures exceeding 5,000°F before an 11-parachute sequence slowed it to about 20 mph. It is the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years and keeps NASA on track for a lunar landing by 2028.
Source: [Fox News — Artemis II Splashdown](https://www.foxnews.com/science/artemis-ii-astronauts-splashdown-first-moon-mission-50-years)
#2Swalwell Scandal Deepens as Fellow Democrats Call for Him to Exit Governor's Race
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) faces mounting sexual misconduct allegations after a former staffer accused him of assault and unsolicited explicit messages, with CNN reporting three additional accusers. Nancy Pelosi and other California Democrats have called the allegations "indefensible," and Sen. Ruben Gallego has withdrawn his support. Swalwell denies all wrongdoing and has characterized the claims as politically motivated.
Source: [Fox News — Pelosi, CA Dems Slam Swalwell](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-california-dems-slam-swalwell-bombshell-sexual-assault-allegations-indefensible) | [Newsmax — Swalwell Denies Misconduct](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/eric-swalwell-nondisclosure-agreements-california/2026/04/07/id/1252145/)
#3Senate GOP PAC Launches $342M Strategy to Hold Majority in 2026 Midterms
The Senate Leadership Fund announced a massive $342 million spending plan aimed at defending and expanding the Republican 53–47 Senate majority heading into the midterms. Democrats are targeting seats in Maine (Susan Collins) and North Carolina (open Tillis seat), while recruiting heavyweights like former Sen. Sherrod Brown and NC Gov. Roy Cooper. NRSC Chair Tim Scott warned the party faces "stiff headwinds" but said expanding to 54–55 seats is within reach.
Source: [Newsmax — Senate GOP PAC](https://www.newsmax.com/us/senate-leadership-fund-pac-gop/2026/04/06/id/1251988/) | [Fox News — 10 Senate Races](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/10-senate-races-could-decide-control-chamber-2026-midterms)
---
**Top World Stories**
#4US-Iran Ceasefire Holds but Teeters on Multiple Fronts
The two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, brokered with the help of Pakistan, is technically holding but under severe strain. Iran committed to allowing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and two ships were spotted transiting Wednesday. However, Kuwait and the UAE reported intercepting 28 Iranian drones just hours after the deal was announced, raising questions about Tehran's commitment.
Source: [Fox News — Trump-Iran Ceasefire Live Updates](https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-us-iran-war-ceasefire-strait-hormuz-israel-live-updates-04-08-2026) | [Newsmax — Trump-Iran Ceasefire](https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/Trump-Iran-ceasefire-Strait-Hormuz/2026/04/08/id/1252168/)
#5Israel Pounds Lebanon With Heaviest Airstrikes of the War
Despite the broader US-Iran ceasefire, Israel launched its most intense strikes yet on Beirut and southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions. Iran has accused Israel of sabotaging the ceasefire negotiations by continuing operations in Lebanon, while VP Vance warned Iran it will "find out" Trump is "not one to mess around" if the deal collapses. Britain's foreign secretary called the strikes "deeply damaging" to regional stability.
Source: [Newsmax — Israel Pounds Lebanon](https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/israel-lebanon-airstrikes/2026/04/08/id/1252219/) | [Newsmax — Ceasefire Teeters](https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/iran-us-israel/2026/04/09/id/1252322/)
#6Markets Soar on Ceasefire News, Then Give Back Gains on Uncertainty
U.S. stock markets initially skyrocketed on the ceasefire announcement — the Dow surged 1,325 points (+2.8%), the S&P 500 leaped 2.5%, and the Nasdaq rallied 2.8%. Subsequent reports of Iranian drone attacks on Gulf states and Israel's escalation in Lebanon introduced fresh uncertainty into markets.
Source: [Fox News — Ceasefire Live Updates](https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-us-iran-war-ceasefire-strait-hormuz-israel-live-updates-04-08-2026)
---
**Science & Technology**
#7New Chip Design Could Slash Data Center Energy Use
Researchers at UC San Diego have unveiled a new chip architecture that rethinks how power is converted for GPUs, potentially making data centers far more energy-efficient. The design addresses one of the biggest bottlenecks in scaling computing infrastructure — power delivery and thermal management.
Source: [SciTechDaily](https://scitechdaily.com/)
#8James Webb Telescope Spots "Forbidden" Planet That Defies Models
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a planet that shouldn't exist according to current planetary formation models. The discovery is forcing scientists to reconsider fundamental assumptions about how planets form and survive in extreme environments.
Source: [SciTechDaily](https://scitechdaily.com/)
---
**Wildcard**
#9Texas Town "Bug Tussle" Loses Its Road Signs — Again
The Texas Department of Transportation has effectively cut off signage for the tiny town of Bug Tussle (population: 15) after more than 70 road signs bearing the town's name were stolen over the years. The irresistible name has made the signs a collector's item, and TxDOT has apparently given up replacing them.
Source: [Shepherd Express — News of the Weird](https://shepherdexpress.com/puzzles/news-of-the-weird/news-of-the-weird-week-of-april-9-2026/)
---
