Tuesday, April 28, 2026
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I’m a professional political writer: PJ Media pays me to analyze politics, culture, news, and entertainment. Our business relationship isn’t complicated: I write it, and PJ Media publishes it.
But it’s a high-risk job on all sides. When you opine about controversial topics like race, gender, public policy, and war, you’ll inevitably offend someone. (And not always deliberately!)
Question: If I write something that millions of PJ Media readers find offensive, disgusting, and gross, whose fault is it?
Maybe it’s the audience’s fault. If you guys misinterpreted what I wrote, then I’m blameless. Hey, that’s on you people. Can’t blame me for the misinterpretations of others. Right?
Wrong!
It’s my fault.
Consumer Confidence Defies Expectations, Rises in April as Labor Market Outlook Brightens
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: U.S. President Donald Trump waves to the media after walking of(Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
John Carney28 Apr 202670
4:30
Consumer confidence rose in April to the best level of the year, as consumers took a more optimistic view of the jobs market and their income prospects.
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index climbed to 92.8 from an upwardly revised 92.2 in March, handily beating the consensus forecast of 89 in surveys of economists conducted by both Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.
The Expectations Index
Lame-duck Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made a stunning about-face after the federal raids on Minnesota day care centers Tuesday — after previously denouncing fraud investigations as “white supremacy.”
FBI Director Kash Patel, however, quickly hit back after the failed 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee appeared to take credit for the federal operation.
In a thread on X, Walz said he was putting criminals “on notice” and said the FBI was working with state officials. “Come again? This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under
Agriculture Secretary claims review found
thousands of people on food stamps drive
luxury vehicles replies
thousands of people on food stamps drive
luxury vehicles replies
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that a recent review found thousands of Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in just one state are actually driving luxury vehicles.
Rollins did not identify the state, except to say it was led by a Republican, but said a scrutiny of the federal food stamp program uncovered that thousands of people who are getting the benefits in that one state are also rolling to stores in Bentleys and Teslas.
The study, conducted by the Foundation for Government Accountability, connected 14,000 luxury vehicles to food stamp enrollees, with Lexus being the most common brand.
WASHINGTON — King Charles III on Tuesday reaffirmed the United Kingdom and the United States’ long “special” relationship, calling it a "story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership" born out of "bitter divisions of 250 years ago." In a rare speech to Congress, the king marked the landmark anniversary of America's independence from British rule, and he nodded to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who addressed the Congress from under the same “watchful eye of the Statue of Freedom above us” 35 years ago.
“The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its heart, a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership,”
President Trump hailed “the two most exceptional nations the world has ever known” as he and First Lady Melania welcomed the Royal couple to the White House on Tuesday morning for the first full day of the state visit marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla arrived at the White House on Tuesday morning as invited guests of U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, met by an impressive display of martial music, an honour guard of U.S. troops, and the executive mansion draped in American and British flags.
President Donald Trump welcomed King Charles to the White House, calling it an “honor” and “tremendous privilege” to host the royals.
Trump noted in his remarks the irony of honoring the British king to mark the 250th anniversary of the country, calling American patriots who gained independence in 1776 heirs to the United Kingdom.
“American patriots today can sing ‘my country ‘tis of thee, great land of liberty’ because our colonial ancestors first sang ‘God Save the King,’” the president said.
Trump hailed the U.S. and U.K. militaries for fighting together
The spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Defense has said that the United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policies to independent nations, adding this reality has been demonstrated to the world.
Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik, speaking upon arrival in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ meeting, stressed the importance of continuing the strong path of Iran’s armed forces and the exemplary resistance of the Iranian people on the international stage. Talaei-Nik considered Shanghai Cooperation Organization, given its importance and impressive geographical and demographic
Iran used a Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense meeting in Bishkek to signal that it is ready to share military experience and defense capabilities with other SCO members, giving a sharper geopolitical edge to the gathering hosted by Kyrgyzstan under its current chairmanship of the bloc. The meeting of SCO defense ministers opened on April 28 at the Ala-Archa state residence in Bishkek. Defense officials from the organization’s member states attended, along with SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev. Kyrgyzstan’s Defense Minister Ruslan Mukambetov chaired the session. In a statement, Talaei-Nik said Iran was ready to share its defense weapons capabilities and experience with “independent countries,” especially SCO member states.
The State Department is rolling out limited-edition U.S. passports to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The new passport designs, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, prominently feature President Donald Trump's image on the inside cover. Mock-ups show Trump's image surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence and American flag along with the president's signature in gold. Another page features the famous painting of the founding fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The passports, which are set to be released this summer, are part of the Trump administration’s broader "America250" celebration,
David Brooks has a lot of nerve
replies
When I write about politics, or the pope, or abortion, or immigration, I expect to get a lot of blowback from people who disagree with me.
It comes with the territory, that territory being opinion writing.
I have a thick skin, and forge ahead with my views on everything from papal infallibility to Taylor Swift's universal and incomprehensible appeal.
Which is why I’m prepared to hear complaints for calling out the hypocrisy spewing from The Atlantic’s David Brooks and his much younger second wife.
Brooks is a man who makes mashed potatoes look ethnic, he is so suburban, preppy and white. I don't mean "white" as in Caucasian. I mean the color.
Breaking: The Virginia Supreme Court Just
Dropped a One-Sentence Hammer on Dems'
Gerrymander Scheme replies
Dropped a One-Sentence Hammer on Dems'
Gerrymander Scheme replies
Just one day after the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCOVA) heard oral arguments about the legality of the legislative process used by Democrat lawmakers to get last week's redistricting/gerrymandering referendum in front of voters, the court on Tuesday shut down efforts by Attorney General Jay Jones to certify the results of that referendum.
At the heart of Tuesday's order was the RNC v. Koski case, which RedState's Jennifer Oliver O'Connell reported on last week.
On Wednesday afternoon, Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. ruled that Tuesday's referendum is unconstitutional and issued an injunction preventing the certification of the election maps.
Why Dems LOVE to Stoke It
replies
There is a pattern now. Not an accident. Not a coincidence. A pattern.
Say something reckless, watch the temperature rise, act surprised when something breaks—and then, because apparently nothing was learned, do it again.
If that sounds harsh, just look at what happened this week.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said something that shouldn’t even be controversial: rhetoric matters. When people in positions of power constantly frame their opponents as existential threats or enemies, they aren’t calming anything down. They’re pouring fuel on it. That’s just reality.
But instead of taking the hint—maybe dialing things back even a notch—House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries went the other direction entirely. He leaned in.
The State Department said Tuesday it is "taking action" against dozens of entities and individuals behind Iran’s covert financial network, thereby cutting off billions of dollars to the Iranian regime.
The actions are part of the United States' maximum pressure campaign against Iran in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran in February, which killed multiple Iranian leaders.
The State Department said it is taking action against 35 individuals and entities helping Iran, including banking networks that enable the transfer of tens of billions of dollars to help Iran evade sanctions.
Grand jury indicts ex-FBI boss James Comey
on charges related to photo alleged to
threaten Trump replies
on charges related to photo alleged to
threaten Trump replies
ederal grand jury in North Carolina on Tuesday indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges related to his posting of a photo of shells on a beach with the inscription "86-47" that prosecutors alleged was a threat to President Donald Trump.
The charges will be unveiled at a DOJ news conference at 4 p.m. ET, officials said.
It is expected that one of the charges will fall under a statute that prohibits a person from "knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office —
In their attempt to get President Donald Trump killed, Democrats are hitting zero. You might think that’s a glib way to put it, but how else can you explain the repeated attempts to inspire someone to kill the president and the deflated “we have to condemn all political violence” that inevitably follows? It’s performance art – they have to pretend to be shocked that someone acted on what they’d been openly hinting they’d like to have happen, because otherwise the next person might not be inspired by their rhetoric to pick up the mantle and try to finish the job.
I realize I’m a cynical person – always have been,
Greg Gutfeld absolutely nailed it when he talked about Cole Allen, the suspect arrested for the third failed assassination attempt on President Trump.
Allen's manifesto made it very clear that he was targeting the President and members of his Cabinet. Despite the Left insisting there isn't violent rhetoric coming from their side, it's a problem.
And Greg Gutfeld spelled it out perfectly. [Tweet, video] (Snip) "I disagree with Jessie. This guy did hear voices. They were Tim Walz's, they were Ted Lieu's, they were Brandon Johnson's, they were CNN's, they were 'The View,' they were MS NOW,"
If former FBI Director James Comey thought he was out of legal trouble, think again: he has just been indicted by the Justice Department. Details are limited, but this is happening, with Fox News reporting that it originates from his 2025 Instagram post, in which he seemingly called for the assassination of President Donald Trump, who avoided another incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday. Cole Allen, 31, attempted to storm the Washington Hilton ballroom with a shotgun and other weapons, aiming to target Trump and his top officials.
In a social media post, Comey took a picture of ‘8647’ in seashells,
A federal judge in Maryland has sided with a group of immigrants from countries flagged for terror risks and national security threats, blocking USCIS from pausing their green card applications.
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Judge George L. Russell III, an Obama appointee, issued a sweeping preliminary injunction on Friday, blocking USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow from enforcing two key Policy Memoranda (PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194) that placed adjudicatory holds on green card (Form I-485) applications from nationals of dozens of “Countries of Identified Concern.”
Ongoing Netflix-Paramount Drama: When
the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Hire Lobbyists
to Cheat replies
the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Hire Lobbyists
to Cheat replies
About 100 years ago, the great Calvin Coolidge famously announced that “the business of America is business” (or words to that effect). Of course, nowadays, we’d have to say, “the business of America is business, unless you lose, then you can manipulate the government to get what you want.” Late last year, Netflix announced its intent to buy Warner Bros. for $83 billion, which would gain them the Hollywood mainstay’s library of intellectual properties ranging from Batman and Harry Potter to CNN and Discovery. When I opined about this here a few months ago,
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday called some of the principal Democrats who have recently been inciting their mindless minions to violence against President Donald Trump and his supporters, and it was a beautiful thing to see. But Leavitt likely knows that the hate-filled left is unlikely to be chastened, and even less likely to change its ways. For leftists, political power is their religion. Murdering their foes in pursuit of that power is no sin; it’s more like a sacrament.
(Snip) "And so many mentally perturbed individuals are led to believe these words are true, and then are inspired to act on it.”
In the coming months, millions of Americans will gather with their loved ones to celebrate the semiquincentennial anniversary of the United States. Given the generally abysmal state of American history education, not to mention the media’s and academia’s relentless smearing of the Founding, one wonders just how many Americans will be able to articulate what exactly the Fourth of July is commemorating. For those in need of a lucid and succinct refresher on the founding principles of the country, Matthew Spalding has recently published an excellent and timely primer on the Declaration of Independence, The Making of the American Mind.
Security guards are being told not to stop shoplifters over health and safety fears despite a crime wave sweeping the country. The Telegraph has the story.
Union bosses are telling their members to “watch, report and be an expert witness for police”, but are explicitly ordering them not to intervene against theft.
The Security Industry Federation (SIF) has told its members, “do not put yourselves in harm’s way for those who may not support you afterwards”.
The union’s General Secretary Daniel Garnham said that while this diktat went “against the instincts and principles of many good security professionals… someone else’s stock is not more important than your safety, your career or your licence”.
Europe is economically dependent on the United States, not on Russia.
Russia, for its part, mainly sold hydrocarbons such as oil and gas — 85% of its oil exports to the EU before 2022 — and bought almost nothing from Europe. Europeans have therefore been in a position of unilateral dependence -- not supposed "interdependence."
Most European states possess no aircraft carriers, no missile defense, and no supply fleet. Europe seems only to have funds for endless welfare benefits handed out to migrants who seem committed to transforming Europe into the extremist, third-world countries that they left.