Cole Allen, 31, a computer scientist from Torrance, California, charged a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Saturday evening and shot a Secret Service agent in the vest before being apprehended. President Trump, the First Lady, and VP Vance were rushed from the ballroom. Allen was found carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, and faces federal charges including assault on a federal officer.
A new Fox News poll conducted April 17–20 shows 73% of voters rate the economy negatively and 56% say Trump's policies are hurting it, with his overall approval at 42%. Democrats hold a 5-point edge on the generic House ballot (48–43), with inflation and the economy cited as the top issues by 43% of voters. Seventy percent say the economy feels like it's getting worse, matching a record high.
The 2026 National Defense Strategy, released Friday, elevates homeland defense above all other missions for the first time, warning that adversaries can now strike U.S. territory directly. The strategy calls for expanded missile defense, counter-drone systems, and cyber capabilities, while identifying China as the primary strategic competitor. The Pentagon also stressed rebuilding the domestic industrial base for semiconductors, rare-earth elements, and munitions production.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner traveled to Islamabad Saturday for another round of negotiations with Iran, with Vice President Vance on standby to join. Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in Pakistan but Tehran has been hedging on full participation, demanding the U.S. lift its port blockade as a precondition. The fragile ceasefire holds only until Iran delivers a unified proposal to revive talks.
Ethnic Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front and members of al-Qaeda–linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin launched a wave of coordinated attacks across Mali on Saturday, setting off hours of fighting with the country's military junta. The assault marks a significant escalation in the West African nation's ongoing insurgency.
United Nations officials warned that shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten one-third of the global fertilizer trade and could trigger a broader food crisis unless shipments resume quickly. The warning compounds an already dire outlook: the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises found that conflict, drought, and shrinking aid will keep hunger at critical levels, with the World Food Program forced to cut rations in nearly half its operations.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg said NATO may need to be replaced entirely, arguing the alliance has shown itself to be ineffective during the Iran conflict and that member nations have failed to meet their defense obligations. Kellogg called for a "brand new defense alliance" built around nations willing to contribute meaningfully. His remarks reflect growing frustration in Trump administration circles with allied burden-sharing.
A Media Research Center study examining Google News's top 20 morning stories throughout February found the platform displayed 314 left-leaning articles versus just 11 right-leaning stories — only 2.2% of coverage from conservative outlets. Apple News and Microsoft Start showed similar patterns. The FTC has warned Apple about potential consumer protection violations related to the suppression of right-leaning sources.
SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in a predawn mission, marking the company's 27th launch from Florida this year. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster was flying for the 26th time, continuing SpaceX's aggressive cadence of reusable rocket operations to expand its global broadband constellation.
Denver-based Fabled Voyages announced it will accept dogs up to 40 pounds and cats up to 20 pounds in passenger cabins, complete with onboard grooming and veterinary services. The move breaks with virtually every major cruise line, which bans non-service animals citing sanitation, allergies, and port regulations. Travelers are sharply divided — some call it long overdue, others warn it's a floating disaster waiting to happen.
