Author: Darnell Thompkins

Federal prosecutors in Virginia have reopened an inquiry into whether former FBI Director James Comey leaked classified material, focusing on his relationship with Columbia law professor Daniel Richman and raising the prospect of a third DOJ indictment. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia have revived an investigation into whether James Comey disclosed classified information to a friend and longtime confidant, Daniel Richman. Officials say the probe centers on documents Comey shared with Richman, who previously held a security clearance and badge access at the FBI. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has been holding meetings about the matter in…

Japan and Australia have recommitted to deeper cooperation across energy security, defense and critical minerals as disruptions linked to the Iran war threaten global supply chains. Japan and Australia are sharpening their partnership to protect supply lines and keep energy flowing to allies and markets. Leaders from both countries agreed to broaden work on energy security, defense cooperation and securing critical minerals. This move responds directly to growing instability tied to the Iran conflict and its ripple effects on trade and resources. The emphasis on energy security is practical and urgent, not just diplomatic. Australia can expand reliable supplies while…

Two U.S. service members were reported missing Sunday in Morocco, during major annual American military exercises in western Africa, Pentagon officials said. The Department of Defense confirmed the report and said steps were underway to locate the missing personnel. The announcement came amid a large, routine training event that brings U.S. forces together with regional partners for interoperability and readiness drills. Officials described the exercise as a major, recurring operation focused on coordination and joint procedures in western Africa. Pentagon spokespeople said search and recovery teams were activated quickly after the missing report was filed. U.S. military leadership emphasized coordination…

An attorney for the Trump administration told a U.S. District Court Friday evening that FEMA has started offering new appointments to disaster workers whose contracts the agency did not renew in January, reversing a controversial decision that prompted a coalition of labor unions, scientific groups and local governments to sue the administration. The announcement landed in court paperwork Friday evening, and it changes the immediate landscape for dozens of field staff and specialists. For many, this move will mean a return to work or at least the possibility of reappointment after weeks of uncertainty. The timing and the reversal have…

Colombian superstar Shakira is slated to perform a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night, an event Rio officials expect will attract roughly 2 million people to one of the city’s most famous seaside stretches. Shakira’s decision to play a free show on Copacabana Beach sets the stage for a massive public gathering in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night. City officials have put the expected turnout at approximately 2 million people, a figure that ranks the event among the largest crowd estimates for public concerts. That scale will shape how authorities, residents and visitors…

U.S. prosecutors have indicted the governor of Sinaloa and nine other officials on drug trafficking charges, prompting a temporary resignation and renewed scrutiny of corruption at the state level. The development landed hard and fast: federal prosecutors in the United States announced criminal charges tied to drug trafficking that name the governor of Sinaloa and several of his associates. That kind of accusation from U.S. authorities against a sitting regional leader is rare and consequential. It raises immediate questions about how cartel influence and official misconduct intersect in northern Mexico. The governor of Mexico’s northern Sinaloa state said that he…

The Department of War has announced the Trump administration will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany after German leaders declined to support U.S. efforts related to the conflict with Iran, especially around securing the Strait of Hormuz. The decision to pull roughly 5,000 service members is framed as a direct response to Germany’s reluctance to contribute to regional security while expecting the United States to shoulder the burden of deterrence. From a Republican perspective, this is about making allies carry their share of defense responsibilities instead of relying on American boots and American money as a default. The move also…

After the Supreme Court’s recent decision, Republicans and analysts are recalculating how many House seats could swing away from Democrats over the next two election cycles, weighing legal fallout, state map rewrites, incumbent matchups, and the political environment heading into 2026 and 2028. On May 1, 2026 the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that instantly shifted the landscape for congressional maps and campaigns. “The Supreme Court’s ruling could be a game changer for both 2026 and 2028.” That line captures the immediate political buzz, because the decision affects how states redraw lines and how voters in key districts will…

The 76-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, the longest funding lapse in U.S. history, is over. The funding lapse strained critical operations, left thousands of employees in limbo, and exposed how fragile government services can be when Congress and the White House fail to reach an agreement. Now that funding has resumed, Republicans are pushing for accountability, clearer priorities, and stronger protections for border and homeland security missions. This shutdown lasted 76 days and it highlighted a breakdown in Washington’s ability to fund core national security functions. Negotiations broke down over competing priorities and spending plans, and those…

Democrats do not moderate. They will not moderate. They will not ‘move to the center.’ There will be no course correction. The Democratic Party has shifted sharply left in policy and messaging, and that shift looks deliberate and durable. They have embraced a coalition of activists, donors, and primary voters who reward bold progressive stances over compromise. The result is a party that frequently prefers purity tests to pragmatic governance. On issue after issue, Democrats keep moving toward more expansive government programs and cultural prescriptions rather than retreating to the middle. From expansive spending plans to aggressive regulatory agendas, the…