The Republican primary race between Rep. Thomas Massie and Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein in Kentucky's 4th district has become the most expensive U.S. House primary in history, with over $25.6 million in ad spending. The race features inflammatory accusations, AI deepfakes, and attacks from both sides. Pro-Israel groups are heavily spending against Massie, a frequent Trump critic and isolationist. The primary is scheduled for May 19.

Reports that President Trump authorized the firing of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary have created uncertainty at the agency, which regulates one-fifth of the U.S. economy. While Makary appeared to have survived late last week, the White House has not confirmed his status. The FDA faces challenges including staffing attrition, key vacancies, and high-profile decisions on experimental treatments. Analysts expect a potential replacement to be less disruptive and more pro-industry.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Senator Mark Kelly of divulging classified details from a Pentagon briefing on CBS's 'Face the Nation,' specifically about depleted US weapons stockpiles due to the war with Iran. Hegseth said the Pentagon's legal counsel would review Kelly's remarks. Kelly responded by pointing out that Hegseth himself had publicly discussed the same stockpile issues in a Senate hearing. The incident adds to an existing legal conflict between Kelly and the Pentagon over rank reduction and censure.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief, stated in an op-ed that Saudi Arabia refused to be drawn into an Israeli plan to provoke war between the kingdom and Iran. He credited Saudi leadership with choosing diplomatic resolution despite Iranian strikes on Saudi oil facilities and desalination plants during the US-Israel war on Iran, and noted that Saudi Arabia is working with Pakistan to prevent further escalation.

Healthcare cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and expired ACA subsidies are creating a political vulnerability for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska, where premiums have risen sharply. Sullivan has broken with his party on several healthcare votes recently, but Democrats argue the damage is done. Democratic challenger Mary Peltola is leading in recent polls and outraised Sullivan in Q1.

A heatwave is forecast across the western US and Mexico, with temperatures 10-15°C above average, prompting heat advisories in California and Arizona. Simultaneously, severe weather in South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape has caused flooding, mudslides, and infrastructure damage, with over 200mm of rain expected and one death reported. The event highlights concurrent extreme weather events affecting multiple regions.

Background: The Trump administration secured the release of approximately 500 political prisoners in Belarus through sanctions relief and direct talks with Lukashenka. Trump escalated his rhetoric, calling Lukashenka a 'friend' on Truth Social after a multi-country deal freed three Polish citizens from Belarusian detention and two Moldovans from Russian prisons. The deal included journalist Andrzej Poczobut, a Sakharov Prize laureate, as well as Grzegorz Gawel and a Belarusian intelligence officer; Poland sent three people in return. The release of Moldovans from Russian prisons suggests Lukashenka is acting as Moscow's broker. A White House or Mar-a-Lago meeting with Trump is under discussion. Despite the releases, 848 political prisoners remain in Belarusian jails as of May 2025, with 51 new designations in January 2026. Sanctions relief has not affected Belarus's hosting of Russian Shahed drone relays, tactical nuclear weapons, or the Oreshnik missile system. Belinvestbank, which finances artillery shell components and microelectronics for Russian cruise missiles, was granted US sanctions relief in March.

A University of Toronto research tool tracking cell phone activity reveals a 42% year-over-year decline in Canadian visits to major US metropolitan areas, far exceeding the 25% drop in official border-crossing data. The decline is attributed to Canadian anger over Trump administration tariffs, immigration enforcement, and threats to annex Canada, impacting tourism, business travel, and border-town economies. Cities like San Francisco, Houston, and Grand Rapids saw notable decreases, with the data also suggesting some Canadians living temporarily in the US may be returning to Canada.

The U.S. Air Force previously released an AI Hiring and Talent Development Plan to become an 'AI-first force.' Now, the service has assembled an 'AI Action Team' of about 100 personnel, led by CMSAF David Wolfe, to explore AI applications including automating portions of officer promotion board processes. The team, started in December 2024, aims to improve talent management by using AI to screen and rank candidates while keeping final decisions human. This initiative parallels similar AI integration efforts in the Army and Navy, and aligns with a Pentagon mandate to accelerate AI tool adoption across the services.

Israel's Civil Aviation Authority chief Shmuel Zakay warned Transportation Minister Miri Regev that increased US military aircraft presence at Ben Gurion Airport is straining civilian operations, delaying the return of foreign carriers, raising ticket prices, and threatening the financial stability of Israeli airlines amid the ongoing war with Iran. Israir CEO Uri Sirkis reported that the airline is now permitted to park only four of its usual 17 aircraft at the airport overnight. Hotels in Eilat canceled reservations for hundreds of Israelis to accommodate US troops. The situation is linked to ongoing regional tensions following the US-Israel strikes against Iran on February 28 and the subsequent fragile ceasefire mediated by Pakistan.

Ukrainian defense startups are attracting significant US private investment and Pentagon interest, with companies like Swarmer and SkyFall winning competitions. However, US export control laws (ITAR) create months-long delays for licensing technology transfers, putting Ukrainian firms at a competitive disadvantage. Executives and analysts call for expedited processes or special status for Ukraine to facilitate faster collaboration and maintain US access to cutting-edge drone technology.

OpenAI had previously released GPT-5.5-Cyber to vetted cyber defenders for critical infrastructure security. Now, OpenAI has offered the European Commission access to a cybersecurity-focused variant of GPT-5.5, capable of identifying software vulnerabilities. The initiative, led by former UK finance minister George Osborne, who wrote to the Commission proposing access to the model to help protect EU institutions and critical infrastructure, contrasts with Anthropic's refusal to grant the EU access to its rival Mythos model, easing EU concerns about AI cybersecurity risks. The Commission and ENISA have confirmed contact with OpenAI, and discussions are ongoing.

A swarm of over 350 earthquakes, the largest a magnitude 4.7, struck near Brawley in Imperial County, California, starting Friday. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services is monitoring the situation. The USGS reported light to no damage, and 180,000 people reported feeling shaking. The area is prone to swarms due to the Brawley seismic zone.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its founder Charles Birnbaum filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., against President Trump's plan to paint the National Mall's Reflecting Pool 'American Flag Blue.' The suit alleges violations of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, arguing the project alters the historic character without proper consultations. The plaintiffs seek an emergency injunction to stop the renovation. The Interior Department defended the project as a visitor experience enhancement for the 250th anniversary celebrations.

In a Foreign Policy op-ed, Matthew Kroenig argues that Iran does not have a legal right to enrich uranium under the NPT, as the treaty does not mention enrichment and the technology is dual-use. He contends that the US should demand Iran permanently abandon enrichment, rejecting the JCPOA's temporary limits, and that fuel-cycle services can meet Iran's peaceful nuclear needs. The piece warns that allowing enrichment sets a dangerous precedent for other nations.

Background: Alberta separatists submitted over 300,000 signatures to force an independence referendum, while a separatist-linked group posted personal data of nearly 3 million voters online, prompting investigations and a court challenge. Today: The Centurion Project, a far-right separatist group, illegally accessed Alberta's official voter list containing personal data of 2.9 million voters. The database was used in a data-driven campaign app. Organizer Emmott Kelsey boasted the software was presented to Donald Trump's White House. Key figure David Parker, a veteran Alberta political organizer with ties to US far-right figures, previously faced fines from Elections Alberta. The list was originally provided legally to the Republican Party of Alberta and then improperly shared. Nearly 600 people accessed the list. Elections Alberta, the RCMP, and the privacy commissioner are investigating. The breach has raised fears of foreign interference, data security, and electoral integrity, with concerns that the data could be captured by US data brokers under less stringent privacy laws.

Several Democratic Senate candidates, including Reps. Haley Stevens (Mich.) and Angie Craig (Minn.), have accepted significant campaign contributions from donors and PACs linked to corporations that funded President Trump's White House ballroom project. Stevens has taken over $120,000, and Craig over $114,000 from such sources. Other candidates Chris Pappas (N.H.) and Josh Turek (Iowa) also accepted smaller amounts. This has drawn criticism from progressive primary challengers—Mallory McMorrow, Abdul El-Sayed, and Peggy Flanagan—who argue it undermines Democratic messaging against the ballroom and highlights corporate influence in politics. The controversy is playing out in key primary races in Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Iowa.

Andon Labs, a San Francisco-based AI safety startup, has deployed an AI agent named 'Mona' powered by Google's Gemini to manage nearly all operations of the Andon Café in Stockholm, except physical coffee preparation. The AI handles hiring, inventory, and supplier contracts but has struggled with profitability, overspending on supplies like 6,000 napkins and ordering irrelevant items. The experiment raises ethical concerns about AI in management roles, including accountability for errors and workplace norms, as the startup aims to stress-test AI agents in real-world business environments.