Real News No Bullshit

According to Chinese state-controlled media: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned President Trump that if Taiwan is “mishandled,” the United States and China “will clash, or even come into conflict, pushing the entire relationship into a very dangerous situation.”

Trump-Xi Meeting update: The Trump-Xi meeting has ended. It lasted roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes. According to the White House Press pool: “The pool’s entry to the temple complex was delayed by nearly half an hour by a lengthy and increasingly intense discussion between US and Chinese officials, after Chinese security refused to allow a Secret Service agent accompanying the pool to enter the temple compound with his weapon. A compromise was eventually found.”

Trump-XI Meeting update: According to the White House pool, "CEO’s Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and Tim Cook were spotted leaving the front entrance of the Great Hall of the People." Reporters shouted questions about how the meetings are going. Elon said the meetings are "wonderful." When asked what had been achieved, Musk said: “Many good things.” Apple's Tim Cook gave a peace sign, then the thumbs up NVIDIA's Huang said, “Meetings went well. Mr. Xi and President Trump were incredible.”

US News: Two men from New Jersey have been sentenced to multiple years in prison for helping North Korea infiltrate over 100 American companies by posing as remote IT workers. Some shit you should know before you dig in: A few years back, the DOJ warned that North Korea was deploying thousands of trained IT workers to fraudulently obtain remote jobs at American companies using stolen identities, fake websites, and US-based middlemen. Here’s how it works: they obtain stolen American identities, land remote IT jobs, and rely on handlers inside the US to receive company laptops, set them up with remote access software, and maintain the illusion that the worker is stateside. The money flows back to North Korea to fund the regime’s weapons programs, with individual workers earning up to $300,000 a year and the operation generating hundreds of millions collectively for entities like North Korea’s Ministry of Defense. What’s going on now: The DOJ has announced that Zhenxing “Danny” Wang, 39, and Kejia “Tony” Wang, 42, were sentenced this week in federal court for running laptop farms out of their New Jersey homes as part of the North Korean IT scheme. The two were paid roughly $700,000 for their services while funneling over $5 million to North Korea’s weapons programs. Federal agents raided eight locations across New Jersey, New York, and California in October 2024, recovering over 70 laptops. The operation used stolen identities of at least 80 Americans to land jobs at over 100 companies. In one case, an overseas operative remotely accessed a California defense contractor’s files and stole export-controlled data tied to AI-powered military equipment. Eight other defendants in the scheme remain at large, and the State Department announced Wednesday it is offering up to $5 million for information leading to the disruption of financial networks tied to the case. Danny was sentenced to seven years in prison, and Tony received nine. In a statement, US Attorney Leah Foley said, “This case exposes a sophisticated scheme that exploited stolen American identities and US companies to generate millions of dollars for a hostile foreign regime.”

US News: A government contractor who had full access to a sensitive weapons facility has gone missing in New Mexico, making the 10th person with connections to US defense or space research to die or go missing in recent years. Getting into it: Steven Garcia, 48, was last seen on surveillance footage leaving his Albuquerque home on August 28, 2025, wearing a green camouflage shirt and carrying a handgun. Police warned at the time that he may have been a danger to himself, though a source speaking to the Daily Mail pushed back on that, describing Garcia as “a very stable person.” Garcia worked as a property custodian at the Kansas City National Security Campus’s Albuquerque facility, which manufactures about 80% of all non-nuclear components used in the US nuclear weapons, a position that required a top security clearance. His disappearance has drawn comparisons to that of retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, who walked out of his Albuquerque home in February. McCasland left behind his phone and took only a .38-caliber revolver. He was in charge of the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (a base long rumored to house extraterrestrial debris from the Roswell crash) and oversaw classified space weapons programs. These two cases follow others that are raising questions. They include: • Anthony Chavez & Melissa Casias: Both New Mexico residents with ties to Los Alamos National Lab & disappeared under near-identical circumstances in 2025. They were last seen leaving their homes on foot without their wallets or phones. • NASA scientist Monica Jacinto Reza disappeared while hiking in California in June 2025. • Two NASA JPL researchers (Michael David Hicks 59 & Frank Maiwald 61) died in 2023 & 2024 under circumstances that were never publicly explained, with no autopsies performed. • Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair was shot dead on his front porch in February 2026 (a man who had a past of trespassing on his property was charged with that murder). • Nuclear fusion researcher Nuno Loureiro was killed at his Boston-area home in December 2025 by a former classmate from Portugal who later died by suicide.

US News: A 20-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home. Getting into it: According to authorities, Daniel Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home just after 3:30am on April 10, setting the front gate on fire before fleeing on foot. Less than an hour later, he showed up at OpenAI’s headquarters, smashed the glass doors with a chair, and told security he came “to burn it down and kill anyone inside.” Police arrested him on the spot and found a three-part manifesto titled “Your Last Warning” that called for violence against AI executives and included their names and home addresses. One section of his manifesto was a letter addressed directly to Altman. He wrote, “If by some miracle you live, then I would take this as a sign from the divine to redeem yourself.” His hit list extended beyond Altman, naming Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg as targets. Daniel had been writing about his views publicly for months on a Substack account, describing AI as an “existential threat to humanity.” Altman addressed the attack in a blog post hours later, posting a photo of his husband and toddler. He wrote, “Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me.” He added, “Fear and anxiety about AI is justified...but we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally.” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Monday that Daniel faces two counts of attempted murder and nine additional charges at the state level, with penalties ranging from 19 years to life. He appeared in court Tuesday, was ordered held without bail, and is due back in court May 5. US Attorney Craig Missakian suggested additional charges could be coming. He said, “If the evidence shows that Mr. Moreno-Gama executed these attacks to change public policy or to coerce government or other officials, we will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism.”

US News: Major tech companies in the US are now beginning to take action against accounts posting AI-generated content and “propaganda” about the conflict with Iran. What X just did: X is suspending creators from its revenue-sharing program for 90 days if they post AI-generated videos of the conflict without disclosing that the content was generated by AI. X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, said the policy was aimed at “maintaining authenticity of content” and preventing manipulation of the program, adding that “the financial incentive to spam on X will decline enormously over the next 30 days.” The policy has already claimed some casualties, with conservative influencers (including Dom Lucre) losing his payouts after posting an AI-generated video that he claimed showed Iran’s new ayatollah walking into a briefing room with military officials. What YouTube did: YouTube cracked the whip on Explosive Media’s channel, which has gone viral for posting Lego-style AI-generated videos that often make fun of President Trump. The group specializes in animated videos depicting Trump as childish and erratic (one clip shows him with an oversized yellow head and a flaming backside holding a sign that reads “VICTORY! I am a loser,” another shows him hurling a chair at US military figures while Iranian generals press a button labeled “Back to the Stone Age.”) It should be noted that Explosive Media has consistently claimed to be an independent operation, but its own head, who identified himself only as “Mr. Explosive,” admitted to the BBC that the Iranian government is a client of his company. This all comes as there have also been AI-generated images meant to boost US morale around the conflict, including a fake rescue photo that fooled multiple US officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott reposted an AI-generated image on X depicting the rescue of a US airman from Iran, captioning it “This is so awesome.” The image showed smiling service members in military gear holding an American flag inside what appeared to be a rescue aircraft. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and New York Rep. Mike Lawler shared the same image. As of now, meta has not announced any changes.

World News: Iran and China have condemned a US naval blockade on Iranian ports and parts of the Strait of Hormuz that went into effect Monday. Some shit you should know before you dig in: The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical trade routes, moving a significant chunk of the world’s oil. Trump’s blockade targets all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, while also covering parts of the strait itself (though the US says it won’t stop ships passing through to non-Iranian ports). A ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran went into effect last week and has been fragile, but the blockade is making some question if it will last. Last weekend, talks in Pakistan between the US and Iran went to shit after Iranian officials refused to meet Trump’s core demand of walking away from its nuclear program. Shortly after, Trump announced the blockade (which went into effect today). What’s going on now: General Reza Talaei-Nik, a spokesman for Iran’s Defense Ministry, has warned that Trump’s blockade will “escalate the crisis and instability in global energy security,” adding that Iran “will not allow any interference or aggression by US or other foreign forces” in the strait. Iran’s military also warned that if the security of its ports is threatened, “no port in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea will be safe.” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also weighed in, warning that Trump’s move “is not in the common interest of the international community.” Some analysts say the blockade could be a tactic by Trump to pressure China into making Iran agree to walk away from its nuclear program. It’s no secret that China has significant leverage over Iran (they are the largest buyer of Iranian oil). Notably, Iran had been letting Chinese vessels pass through the strait during the conflict. That’s no longer the case (within minutes of the blockade taking effect a Chinese oil tanker "Ostria" turned away from the strait). As of now, the White House has not commented. Trump did warn today that any Iranian fast boats that approach the blockade will be “immediately ELIMINATED.”

World News: The United States and Iran have failed to reach a deal after almost a day of direct talks in Pakistan. Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the US and Iran have their own demands on what it will take to end the conflict. The US entered talks with one core demand: a permanent, long-term commitment from Iran that it would not develop a nuclear weapon, hand over any enriched uranium they have, and not pursue the tools needed to build one quickly. Iran came in with its own set of demands, including maintaining some level of control over the Strait of Hormuz, the right to pursue “peaceful” nuclear energy, receiving payments from the US for damages sustained during the 6 week conflict, and a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanon. What’s going on now: In a notable development, Vice President Vance told reporters the two sides had failed to close the gap after 21 hours of negotiations. Vance said, “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America. So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement.” On the nuclear question specifically, Vance said Iran never committed to permanently giving up on a nuclear weapon. “The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” he said. “We haven’t seen that yet, we hope that we will.” Iran pushed back on that version of events. State-affiliated Tasnim News Agency said the talks collapsed because of US “overreach and ambitions,” and Iranian media claimed that Americans were making “excessive demands” so they could walk away. Iran’s government posted on X that “negotiations will continue despite some remaining differences,” and sources close to the Iranian delegation told Al Jazeera the ball is now firmly “in America’s court.” This all comes as the two-week ceasefire window is quickly running out. While speaking to reporters yesterday, Trump said, “Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” he said.

World News: Two US Navy destroyers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday to begin clearing Iranian mines from the critical waterway. Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through it, making it one of the most strategically important chokepoints on the planet. Iran effectively closed the Strait when the US-Israel conflict against Iran began (they mined the waterway and attacked some commercial vessels). That closure sent global fuel prices soaring and left hundreds of ships trapped in the Gulf. A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran was reached this week, with Iran agreeing to reopen the strait to commercial shipping (though the process has been slow). What’s going on now: US Central Command confirmed Saturday that the USS Frank E. Petersen and USS Michael Murphy (both guided-missile destroyers) transited the strait to begin setting conditions for mine-clearing operations. Additional US forces, including underwater drones, are expected to join the effort in the coming days. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper called it the beginning of “a new passage,” saying the US would share a safe pathway with the maritime industry soon. Iran’s military denied it, with a spokesperson for the IRGC saying that Iran’s armed forces still controlled the waterway. The IRGC followed that up with a threat, warning that any military vessels attempting to transit the strait would be “dealt with severely.” Trump weighed in on Truth Social twice Saturday, insisting Iran was “LOSING, and LOSING BIG” and framing the mine-clearing operation as a favor to US allies. “We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” he wrote. This all comes as Vice President JD Vance led a US delegation in Pakistan for face-to-face talks with an Iran. The talks did not lead to a deal (more to come soon).

US News: The Iranian government is now requiring oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz to pay a $1-per-barrel fee in cryptocurrency. Getting into it: Hamid Hosseini, a key official for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, said the toll would ensure weapons do not get smuggled through the strait during the ceasefire. According to Hosseini, ship operators must first submit detailed information about their cargo by emailing Iranian authorities before entering the strait. Once approval is granted, crews are given a very limited window to complete payment using digital currencies like bitcoin. The use of crypto is intentional, allowing Iran to collect funds outside of traditional financial systems and reduce the risk of interference tied to sanctions enforcement. Only after the transaction is verified are ships allowed to continue through the waterway. Iranian officials say the system isn’t just about revenue, but also about tightening control over maritime traffic during the ceasefire. They argue that tracking cargo at this level helps them monitor what is moving through the strait and reduces the risk of prohibited materials, including weapons, being transported during the temporary pause in fighting. This all comes as Politico is reporting that oil executives and industry groups are pissed and actively calling on the White House to do something. Industry leaders argue that a $1-per-barrel fee can quickly turn into a $2 million cost per ship when large tankers come through. They have also raised concerns about potential legal risks, noting that paying Iran, particularly through cryptocurrency, could expose companies to sanctions violations. There's also concern over the long-term precedent this system could create. If Iran is allowed to successfully charge for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, other countries controlling key maritime chokepoints could adopt similar measures. As of now, there has been no comment from the White House.

VIDEO: First Lady Melania Trump has just issued a public statement related to claims made about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Some takeaways: “I am not Epstein’s victim.” “Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.” “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims.” “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.” “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.” “I’ve never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time.” “To be clear, I’ve never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell.” “Fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now.” “Be cautious about what you believe: These images and stories are completely false.” “I am not Epstein’s victim, Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is detailed in my book, Melania.” Melania also called for congress to hold a public hearing got Epstein's victims so their claims can be entered into congressional record. This comes as author Michael Wolff currently has a lawsuit against Melania Trump after she threatened a $1 billion lawsuit against him due to his reporting and claims related to her alleged ties with Epstein. The threat of a lawsuit from Melania prompted Wolff to sue her, and he has said he looks forward to it because he can have questions asked to her and Trump under oath. Wolff also says that the statements Melania Trump claims to be defamatory were taken out of context and, in proper context, are protected opinion and hypothesis based on disclosed facts and broader context. Wolff filed the 15-page civil defamation suit in New York’s Supreme Court under the state’s anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to block lawsuits intended to silence speech. It should be noted that the first lady rarely delivers public statements like this, and there's been no recent news about her and Epstein.

Underreported: The FBI has warned that Iranian-backed hacking groups are ramping up (and carrying out) cyberattacks on critical US infrastructure, including water and energy systems. Some shit you should know before you dig in: Since the start of the conflict between the US and Iran, Iranian-linked hackers (particularly the Handala group) have ramped up attacks on the US, including a major cyberattack on Stryker (a leading American medical device manufacturer that produces surgical equipment, orthopedic implants, and hospital technologies used worldwide). The attack disrupted Stryker’s global operations by targeting its IT systems, forcing shutdowns of manufacturing, ordering, and shipping processes and impacting thousands of devices and employees. The same group also breached the personal email account of Kash Patel, releasing hundreds of emails and private photos online. What’s going on now: In a notable development, the FBI, CISA, and NSA issued an advisory warning that Iran-linked hackers are actively targeting critical infrastructure across the US. According to the alert, these groups are going after water treatment plants, energy facilities, and “government services.” The hackers are focusing on something called programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which are basically small industrial computers that control machinery (think pumps in water systems or equipment in power plants). By gaining access to these PLCs, attackers can change how machines behave. The FBI said the hackers have been manipulating system displays and control panels, which could trick operators into thinking everything is normal while processes are actually being altered behind the scenes. A key part of the attacks involves devices made by Rockwell Automation, a major company that builds these control systems. Officials said these attacks have already caused real damage, including operational shutdowns and financial losses, though they didn’t name specific victims. In response, agencies are urging companies to disconnect critical systems from the public internet, monitor activity logs for anything suspicious, and lock down device settings to prevent remote tampering.

Underreported: The DOJ has announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear before the House Oversight Committee to testify about its investigation into her handling of the Epstein files. Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Bondi was subpoenaed on March 17th by the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into the DOJ’s handling and release of files related to Epstein. Lawmakers on both sides sought her sworn testimony to better understand key decisions made by her, including how documents were reviewed, withheld, or disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Despite lawmakers on both sides moving forward with the subpoena, Committee Chairman James Comer had called on Republican members not to pursue the subpoena because Bondi indicated a willingness to cooperate. What’s going on now: The DOJ has informed lawmakers that Bondi will not appear for her scheduled deposition before the committee, arguing that her obligation to testify no longer applies since President Trump removed her from office. In a letter to Comer, Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis reiterated that position, writing that “because Ms. Bondi no longer can testify in her official capacity as Attorney General, the Department’s position is that the subpoena no longer obligates her to appear,” and asked that the subpoena be withdrawn. Lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have rejected that argument, insisting the subpoena applies to Bondi as an individual regardless of her current role. Rep. Robert Garcia said, “Now that Pam Bondi has been fired, she’s trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify,” adding, “Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not. She must come in to testify immediately.” Garcia also warned that “if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in Congress.” Some Republicans are also pissed, with Congresswoman Nancy Mace saying, “Pam Bondi cannot escape accountability simply because she no longer holds the office of Attorney General.” She added, “The American people deserve answers, and we expect her to appear as soon as a new date is set.”

World News: A top UN official has warned the United States that attacking civilian infrastructure in Iran could violate international law and risk being classified as war crimes. Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’ve been tapped out of the news recently, Trump has basically vowed to bomb all of Iran’s key infrastructure (specifically threatening to destroy bridges, power plants, and oil facilities) if Iran fails to meet US demands. These attacks could qualify as war crimes under the Geneva Conventions because intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure (or doing so in a way that causes disproportionate harm to civilians) is prohibited under international law. Critics argue that knocking out nationwide electricity or water systems would inevitably harm hospitals, food supply chains, and millions of civilians, making it difficult to justify as proportionate. There’s a counter argument to this, with some saying that many of these sites are “dual-use,” meaning Iran’s military relies on the same power grids and infrastructure, which could make them legally targetable if they provide a definite military advantage. Recently, the Pentagon adjusted its targeting strategy to expand its list of dual-use sites, which indicates that they’ve created the legal justification to move forward with strikes like this. What’s going on now: UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ office has warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure are not allowed under international law. In a statement, a Guterres spokesman said that “even if specific civilian infrastructure were to qualify as a military objective,” any strike would still be prohibited if it risks “excessive incidental civilian harm.” He added that whether such actions amount to war crimes “would have to be decided by a court.” This comes as US lawmakers are split on how to interpret Trump’s statements. Republican Senator Joni Ernst defended the idea, saying the infrastructure in question is “being used by the military, there’s no doubt,” framing it as part of “an ongoing operation.” Democrats have a totally different take, with Sen. Chris Van Hollen calling it a “textbook war crime.”

US News: President Trump has said the United States is considering imposing tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Getting into it: While speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday, President Trump was asked about Iran potentially charging ships for passage through the waterway, prompting him to respond, “What about us charging tolls? I’d rather do that than let them have them. Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won.” He reiterated the idea moments later, saying, “We have a concept where we’ll charge tolls,” framing it as a preferable alternative to allowing Iran to control access to the strait. Trump also downplayed Iran’s threats in the region, arguing, “The only thing they have is the psychology of, ‘Oh, we’re going to drop a couple of mines in the water.’” His comments come as Iran is reportedly already charging some ships for safe passage through the strait, with at least one vessel said to have paid around $2 million. The arrangement appears selective, with only certain ships, particularly from “friendly” countries, being allowed through, while many others are avoiding the route entirely. The emergence of competing toll concepts has raised concerns that such fees could become a lasting feature of global shipping. Given the strait’s critical role in transporting a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, analysts warn that normalizing transit charges could drive up global energy and shipping costs. Trump’s remarks also come amid a firm deadline he has set for Iran to agree to US terms, including fully reopening the strait to unrestricted oil traffic. He warned that failure to reach a deal by the deadline (8PM tonight) could result in strikes on key Iranian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants.

While speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump said the US will seek to identify a leaker who shared reports that a US crew member was still missing in Iran after another had been rescued. Trump said, “We will go to the media company that released it. And we’re going to say ‘national security, give it up or go to jail and you know who we are talking about.” Trump said Iran did not know that a second service member was missing until the leaker shared information. He said, “All of a sudden, they [the Iranians] know that there’s somebody out there. They see all these planes coming in. It became a much more difficult operation because a leaker leaked that we have one, we’ve rescued one, but there’s another one out there that we’re trying to get.”

US News: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the Department of Justice needs to move on from the Epstein files controversy, despite ongoing criticism over incomplete disclosures and transparency concerns. Getting into it: In an interview with Jesse Watters, Blanche defended the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files while signaling a desire to close the chapter on them. He said, “The Department of Justice has now released all of the files with respect to the Epstein saga,” adding that he and former Attorney General Pam Bondi had already appeared before Congress to answer questions. He argued that “to the extent that the Epstein files were a part of the past year… they should not be a part of anything going forward.” Blanche also addressed speculation surrounding Epstein’s possible ties to intelligence agencies, dismissing the idea that the DOJ has evidence supporting such claims. “I have no idea if he was a spy… all I know is that we don’t have any evidence in the Epstein files that the FBI collected over 15 years that suggests that.” Blanche’s claim that all files have been released conflicts with the DOJ’s own statements. The department has said it reviewed more than 6 million pages of material but released roughly half, citing reasons such as duplicate records and images/videos of victims not suitable for public release. Critics argue that gaps remain, including missing pages and records that may reference high-profile individuals, raising questions about whether key information is still being withheld. Lawmakers from both parties have pushed back, with Rep. Robert Garcia calling the claim that all files were released “a lie,” arguing that withholding documents violates federal law. Rep. Thomas Massie warned Blanche he could face legal consequences if the remaining files are not disclosed within a set timeframe. Prior to becoming acting attorney general, Blanche served as deputy attorney general. Before that, he was President Trump’s criminal defense attorney.

US News: Pressure is growing on state and federal lawmakers to suspend gas taxes as many Americans continue to get wrecked at the pump by surging gas prices. Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you didn’t know, the federal government tacks on a 18 cent per gallon tax on gasoline and a 24 cent per gallon tax on diesel, which is intended to help fund national highway and infrastructure projects. On top of that, states slap on their own taxes and fees, which vary widely depending on where you are. For example, California has a base excise tax of about 70 cents per gallon (but when you include cap-and-trade costs, low carbon fuel standard fees, and other shit), the real total state-imposed tax lands around $1.30 a gallon. Illinois comes in at roughly 90 cents per gallon all-in, Pennsylvania sits around 80 cents per gallon, while Texas remains much lower at about 40 cents per gallon. What’s going on now: Some lawmakers at both state and federal levels are ramping up calls to suspend gas taxes as fuel prices surge and drivers feel the squeeze. The push comes as the national average for gas has climbed to $4.10 a gallon, with some states like California sitting at $5.92 a gallon. So far, only two states have taken action (Georgia moved first with a temporary suspension of its gas tax, while Utah approved a smaller, delayed reduction set to kick in later this year). Meanwhile, lawmakers in states like New York, California, Connecticut, and Maryland are actively pushing their governors for similar tax breaks as their consitituents continue to get pissed over the rising costs of gas. The pressure is also building in Washington DC, where Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have introduced proposals to suspend the federal gas tax through the fall. While only 18 cents, they argue that any relief is better than no relief right now. Here’s some data from AAA on gas prices in the state: California - $5.92 Regular, $7.67 Diesel Nevada - $5.04 Regular, $6.36 Diesel Texas - $3.84 Regular, $5.19 Diesel Oklahoma - $3.28 regular, $4.59 Diesel Florida - $4.20 Regular, $5.81 Diesel New York - $4.06 Regular, $5.90 Diesel

World News: Russia is sending a second oil tanker to Cuba after President Trump decided not to fully enforce an oil blockade imposed by his administration on Cuba. Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you haven’t been following along, Cuba has been under a shitload of pressure as the Trump administration intensified its embargo against the country. Shortly after the fall of Maduro, the US moved to cut off oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba. At the same time, Trump’s threats of tariffs led Mexico to halt shipments, effectively choking off oil that accounted for more than 80% of Cuba’s energy. Despite this pressure, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a shipment of Russian oil to Cuba (which came from a US-sanctioned ship). Three days before the ship was set to arrive, Trump announced that he would allow a Russian oil tanker to proceed to Cuba, saying “We don’t mind” Cuba receiving oil because “They have to survive.” Trump’s comments were a notable reversal from the administration’s earlier posture. Ultimately, the ship arrived in Cuba and delivered the fuel. What’s going on now: In a notable development, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilyov confirmed that a second tanker is now being prepared and loaded for a second shipment of oil to Cuba. While specific details about the vessel have not been disclosed, officials indicated that the vessel will follow the same route as the first shipment, which successfully delivered hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude earlier this week. That initial delivery marked the first major oil arrival in roughly three months. This comes as US policy related to Cuba’s oil embargo is a bit unclear. Although President Trump has appeared willing to allow countries to provide some oil to Cuba after Russia’s first move, his administration has not extended that same flexibility to other countries (most notably Mexico, which is seeking to resume shipments to the island). Last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US would evaluate oil shipments on a “case-by-case basis.” As of now, there has been no comment from the White House on the second oil shipment.