Friday, April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

Bondi dumped on ride to Supreme Court as Trump fumes over Epstein fallout, failure to prosecute enemies . . . Attorney General Pam Bondi's abrupt ouster came mid-limo ride with President Trump, who quietly told her, "I think it's time," after weeks of simmering frustration. Her 14-month tenure unraveled under pressure from the Epstein file controversy and failure to land prosecutions against political adversaries. An awkward Supreme Court appearance followed as Trump now weighs replacements, including Lee Zeldin, while testing interim leadership. Wall Street Journal

'Todd's sort of lead horse': Trump's former criminal defense lawyer ascends DOJ . . . Todd Blanche, a fierce Trump loyalist and former personal defense lawyer, is emerging as the leading pick to replace ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi, bringing a combative record that includes backing purges of career staff and pushing cases against perceived political enemies. Politico

Politics

Wealthy Donors Are Hiding Political Money in Secretive Nonprofits . . . The 10 largest midterm election donations, totaling nearly $300 million, reveal a startling trend: none come from individual donors. Instead, a web of obscure nonprofits funnels massive sums to PACs, keeping the original benefactors hidden. While using philanthropy for politics is generally illegal, loopholes let Democrat billionaires like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg anonymously bankroll campaigns, exposing a new era of undisclosed influence shaping American elections. New York Times

Cabinet shakeup looms as Trump targets Lutnick and Chavez-DeRemer . . . President Trump is eyeing further Cabinet upheaval, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the crosshairs amid reports of mounting frustration inside the White House. The warnings come just after the ousters of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, signaling a restless administration willing to reshuffle. No final calls yet. Politico

Trump targets Planned Parenthood funds with Protect Life Rule revival . . . The Trump administration signals a sharp pivot on abortion funding, quietly advancing a revived Protect Life Rule that would block Planned Parenthood from tapping federal Title X dollars. Despite extending Biden-era grants this week, officials appear to be setting up a broader cutoff through regulatory action. The move reignites a long-running funding fight, aiming to reroute taxpayer money away from providers tied to abortion services and toward alternative care options. Daily Signal

Trump releases budget plan to boost Pentagon and cut domestic spending . . . The White House unveiled a $1.5 trillion defense-heavy budget for 2027, nearly doubling last year's $839 billion, with $350 billion routed through reconciliation to skirt Senate hurdles. Proposed cuts sweep across civilian agencies, leaving mandatory programs untouched, as Trump prioritizes military might over domestic spending. The plan signals a dramatic shift in federal priorities. Washington Examiner

There will be no slowing of our expanding debt burder until we have a president who will lead on cutting entitlements. The case can be made, Americans understand we don't have unlimited funds.

Platner sparks outrage with old Reddit jabs at Jesus and Mary . . . Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner is under fire after a 2012 Reddit post resurfaced in which he called Jesus a "zombie" and the Virgin Mary a "skank." Platner, a former infantry and Marine veteran, apologized, but the remarks have become fodder for Gov. Janet Mills' campaign ads. The timing, days before Easter, has amplified backlash, with Republicans seizing on the comments to attack his credibility and character. Daily Wire

National Security

Iran Beefs Up Defenses, Recruits Children as It Prepares for Ground War . . . Iran is fortifying its main oil hub and reviving mass recruitment tactics as fears of a U.S.-led ground operation grow following President Trump's deployment of thousands of Marines and Airborne troops to the region. While no invasion is confirmed, Tehran is escalating threats across the Gulf and preparing for a grinding conflict designed to offset U.S. and Israeli air dominance by inflicting heavier casualties in a drawn-out fight. Wall Street Journal

Trump orders strikes on Iranian bridge, expanding targets to civilian infrastructure . . . President Trump has broadened U.S. strikes in Iran to include civilian infrastructure with potential military use, targeting the B1 bridge north of Tehran to disrupt missile and drone supply routes. Trump announced the hit on Truth Social with a dramatic video, signaling a new phase of aggressive action he calls the "period of Energy Plant destruction." Washington Examiner

The bridge would have been used to move troops.

Hegseth ousts top Army generals . . . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly forced Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to retire, cutting short his expected term through 2027, alongside two other senior generals, Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. The unprecedented shake-up, announced during ongoing U.S. operations linked to the war with Iran, underscores deep friction between Hegseth and Army leadership and signals a major realignment at the Pentagon's top ranks. Washington Post

Hegseth lifts ban on service members carrying personal firearms on base

International

Inside the world's fattest country - where 95% of residents are overweight and almost half have type 2 diabetes . . . Nauru, a 21-square-kilometre Micronesian island, sees fewer than 200 visitors a year, making it the world's least-visited country. Home to just 12,000 people, it can be circled by car in 30 minutes, yet over 90% of its population is overweight or obese. While its beaches and coral reefs offer postcard-perfect scenery, roughly 80% of the island remains uninhabited. Daily Mail

Why is there so little tourism when the food is obviously so good?

Money

U.S. jobs surge 178K as unemployment dips despite economic jitters . . . American employers added a robust 178,000 jobs in March, triple economists' expectations, lifting the unemployment rate to 4.3% after February's disappointing losses. The rebound comes amid lingering economic uncertainty from high interest rates, AI disruptions, and the war in Iran, which may yet cloud hiring. Associated Press

Not just gasoline: Rising costs from Iran conflict will impact food, plastics and electronics

The Wealthy Investors Who Powered Private Credit Are Rushing for the Exits . . . Investors are stampeding out of private-credit funds, and the cracks are widening fast. Blue Owl Capital revealed a staggering $5.4 billion in withdrawal requests, hammering key funds and exposing fragility in a sector once crowned Wall Street's new powerhouse. Rivals like Blackstone and Apollo are seeing similar pressure, with redemptions surging past limits. Nearly $14 billion in exit demands this quarter signals a sharp reversal. Wall Street Journal

You should also know

Marxist billionaire Neville Singham funds pro-CCP network from Shanghai . . . Neville Roy Singham, a wealthy Marxist activist and former U.S. tech entrepreneur, now based in Shanghai, runs a sprawling global network of pro-Chinese Communist Party sites and initiatives. Investigations reveal his operations collaborate with CCP-linked universities, propaganda outlets, and other China-based groups, using proceeds from his 2017 ThoughtWorks sale. Just the News

Guilty Pleasures

Students at Harvard, where more than half of them get an 'A,' in uproar over possibility of a 'B' . . . Harvard's plan to cap A grades at roughly 20% has ignited a campus backlash, with students fuming over a sudden crackdown after years of generous grading that pushed A's to 60%. Administrators say the move is needed to restore credibility and curb inflation, even as 94% of surveyed students oppose it. Students say the policy will spike stress and competition, while officials press ahead, framing it as a necessary reset to protect the school's elite reputation. Wall Street Journal

Their parents told them they were wonderful. It might be useful for them to learn that the world may have another opinion.

Help CTTN reach more people by forwarding it to your family and friends. Click below to write your message and share the signup link by email.