(No war until June? The Saudis do not want to get hit by Iranian missiles. They have told Trump to
hold off on the war until the annual Muslim pilgrimage (the Hajj) is over on May 30th. But return flights
do not begin June1st.)
(The Saudis have allowed the US to park their KC 135 rfeueling jets on their airbases. If they tell the Americans
to go, the war is over permanently.)
‘Trump appears to be backing away from deal.’ U.S. is backing away from Iran deal — Issues with Lebanon ceasefire and unfreezing of assets. ‘How does this make sense at all.’
US President Donald Trump is backing away from the deal with Iran, likely under extreme internal pressure, an Al Jazeera reporter said on X citing two sources.
Less than 24 hours after optimism emerged around a possible Iran-US memorandum, negative vibes are already surfacing.
A well-informed Iranian source tells me there are signs of U.S. retreat on two central issues: the mechanism for unfreezing Iranian assets, and the scope of a ceasefire in Lebanon.
According to the source, the memorandum includes a Lebanon ceasefire framework, but Israel is reportedly uncomfortable with the arrangement and is pushing Washington to include language allowing it to carry out military operations in Lebanon under the justification of responding to “any threat.” Iran is rejecting that formulation and insisting on a sustainable and lasting ceasefire.
Tehran has informed all mediators, including Pakistan, that it will not sign the memorandum unless all clauses are fully agreed and guaranteed. Pakistan reportedly suggested moving forward with agreed sections while postponing contentious points, but Iran rejected that approach, insisting the disputed clauses are fundamental and non-negotiable.
The overall picture suggests Tehran increasingly views Washington as backing away from earlier understandings reached through mediators.
https://citizenwatchreport.com/trump-appears-to-be-backing-away-from-deal-u-s-is-backing-away-from-iran-deal-issues-with-lebanon-ceasefire-and-unfreezing-of-assets-how-does-this-make-sense-at/#more-221871
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Amaryllis Fox Kennedy is leaving two senior positions in the Trump administration: Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Policy and Capabilities at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and Associate Director for Intelligence and International Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Her resignation, effective in mid-May 2026, marks her departure from active government service, though she intends to retain her seat on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
Reports indicate her decision was partly driven by a disagreement with President Donald Trump’s military involvement in Iran, although Kennedy publicly cited family priorities and a desire to return to the private sector in her internal communications. She is the daughter-in-law of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a close ally of DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
(From Brave Browser AI Leo)
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Major COVID fraud mastermind sentenced to 42 years
Aimee Bock just got 42 years in federal prison for running the massive “Feeding Our Future” COVID fraud scheme.
Prosecutors said hundreds of millions meant to feed children were stolen through fake meal claims, including kids who never even existed. Bock still insists she was framed and didn’t know what was happening, but the court clearly wasn’t buying it.
Aimee Bock sentenced to 500 months in Feeding Our Future fraud case
The founder of a nonprofit that’s become synonymous with fraud in Minnesota was sentenced Thursday to 500 months in prison — nearly 42 years — and ordered to pay $243 million in restitution.
https://citizenwatchreport.com/major-covid-fraud-mastermind-sentenced-to-42-years/
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Turkey police stormed the headquarters of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, on Sunday after members had occupied the building for three days.
Officers reportedly used tear gas and rubber bullets to force their way inside. Human rights groups and international observers are calling it a major escalation in Turkey’s political crackdown, warning that the government is steadily weakening what remains of the country’s democratic opposition.
Turkish riot police storm opposition offices after leaders ousted
Turkish riot police forced their way into the headquarters of the country’s main opposition party on Sunday, days after a court dismissed its leadership.
Clouds of tear gas billowed outside the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building in Ankara, where party members had blocked the entrances with a makeshift barricade.
Footage from the scene showed those inside shouting and throwing objects towards the entrance, and police being sprayed with hoses.
Party leader Özgür Özel had vowed to defy an appeal court decision on Thursday which declared his election null and void, in a move further cementing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s grip on power.
The court decided that Özel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroğlu, a 77-year-old party veteran who was defeated by Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election.
https://citizenwatchreport.com/turkish-police-storm-opposition-offices/#more-221980
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Thomas Massie Vows to Read Redacted Names in Epstein Files on House Floor Before Leaving Congress, Says Todd Blanche and Kash Patel “Perjured Themselves”Jordan Conradson
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/watch-thomas-massie-vows-redacted-epstein-names-house/
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Child Safety Groups Urge FTC To Investigate Roblox
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
Two child safety groups filed a complaint against online interactive gaming platform Roblox with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on May 20, alleging that children face sexual and financial harm on the platform.
Filed by nonprofits National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and Fairplay, the complaint claims that certain Roblox features are "developmentally inappropriate for the platform's massive young user base and pose a substantial risk of harm." Such features include engagement-maximizing design features, a complex virtual currency system that can result in more user spending, and chat and communication features that expose children to sexual exploitation.
These components "capitalize on young users' developmental vulnerabilities, exploit their desire for authentic self-expression, monetize their lack of impulse control, and turn in-game purchasing power into a form of social status," the complaint states.
"At the same time, the voice and text chat features that make the platform social repeatedly expose children to sexual content and harmful adults, resulting in sexual exploitation and abuse."
According to the complaint, Roblox requires users to be at least 5 years old to open an account.
https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/child-safety-groups-urge-ftc-investigate-roblox
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Grand Marshal Caitlin Clark is in the House
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/grand-marshal-caitlin-clark-is-house/
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Fellow Race Car Drivers Honor Kyle Busch on Lap 18 of Indy 500 (VIDEO)
Race car drivers honored Kyle Busch on Sunday on lap 18 of the Indy 500 in a nod to his number.
Two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch passed away on Thursday.
He was only 41 years old.
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the Busch family said on Saturday.
Race car drivers on Sunday paid tribute to Kyle Busch.
The Indy 500 held a moment of silence for Kyle Busch on lap 18.
Based on the total tax burden rankings from 2025/2026 data, the states with the highest overall tax burdens are:
Hawaii (13.3% - 13.5%)
New York (12.4% - 13.0%)
Vermont (11.1% - 12.8%)
New Mexico (10.8%)
Maine (10.0% - 11.0%)
Illinois (9.9% - 12.0%)
Maryland (9.7% - 11.3%)
New Jersey (9.5% - 12.2%)
Oregon (9.5% - 10.8%)
Rhode Island (9.3% - 10.8%)
(Esso's state of Indiana ranks as number 14)
The states with the lowest overall tax burdens are:
Alaska (4.6% - 4.9%)
New Hampshire (5.4% - 6.8%)
Florida (6.3%)
Tennessee (6.2% - 6.3%)
Wyoming (6.1% - 6.7%)
Nevada (6.6%)
Texas (6.7% - 7.7%)
South Dakota (6.4% - 7.4%)
Note that property taxes are a major component of local tax burdens. States like New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Vermont often have the highest effective property tax rates, which drive up their total burden despite varying income and sales tax structures.
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494