Saturday, April 25, 2026
US brings back firing squads to deter ‘barbaric crimes’
The Justice Department has also reintroduced lethal injections to ‘deliver justice’ for victims and their families. There are three inmates on federal death row
A lethal-injection chamber at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla
Matt Mills McKnight/REUTERS
Keiran Southern, West Coast Editor, US
Friday April 24 2026, 7.37pm BST, The Times
The US Justice Department has said it is reintroducing firing squads and readopting the lethal injection as part of an effort to strengthen the federal death penalty.
President Trump reintroduced federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, after what had been a pause of almost two decades.
President Biden then implemented a death-penalty moratorium and before leaving office commuted the sentences of 37 of 40 death-row inmates to life without parole.
The US Justice Department has said it is reintroducing firing squads and readopting the lethal injection as part of an effort to strengthen the federal death penalty.
President Trump reintroduced federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, after what had been a pause of almost two decades.
President Biden then implemented a death-penalty moratorium and before leaving office commuted the sentences of 37 of 40 death-row inmates to life without parole.
Friday, April 24, 2026
The Minnesota Files: Unpacking the Bombshell Allegations of Medicaid Fraud and Political Power
Characters Charlotte Liam
Tháng Tư 23, 2026
In the rapidly evolving landscape of 21st-century media, the traditional gatekeepers of information are increasingly finding themselves challenged by an agile, technologically savvy force: the citizen journalist. Among this new vanguard of independent investigators stands Nick Shirley. His recent podcast revelation regarding the alleged misappropriation of billions in Medicaid funds in Minnesota has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, signaling a potential turning point in how constituents view the relationship between federal funding and local oversight.
According to Shirley, what began as a routine investigation into financial irregularities has morphed into a sprawling, high-stakes exposure. At the center of his allegations are two of Minnesota’s most prominent political figures: Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Shirley’s claims, characterized by their specificity and boldness, paint a picture of a calculated scheme, a “scam” that he asserts the perpetrators believed would remain forever buried beneath the bureaucratic layers of government.
This article explores the gravity of these allegations, the mechanism of the reported fraud, and the broader implications of Shirley’s findings for the current political climate.
Tháng Tư 23, 2026
In the rapidly evolving landscape of 21st-century media, the traditional gatekeepers of information are increasingly finding themselves challenged by an agile, technologically savvy force: the citizen journalist. Among this new vanguard of independent investigators stands Nick Shirley. His recent podcast revelation regarding the alleged misappropriation of billions in Medicaid funds in Minnesota has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, signaling a potential turning point in how constituents view the relationship between federal funding and local oversight.
According to Shirley, what began as a routine investigation into financial irregularities has morphed into a sprawling, high-stakes exposure. At the center of his allegations are two of Minnesota’s most prominent political figures: Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Shirley’s claims, characterized by their specificity and boldness, paint a picture of a calculated scheme, a “scam” that he asserts the perpetrators believed would remain forever buried beneath the bureaucratic layers of government.
This article explores the gravity of these allegations, the mechanism of the reported fraud, and the broader implications of Shirley’s findings for the current political climate.
How RFK Jr. Is Influencing America's Vaccine Playbook
Since taking the helm of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has both backed vaccination as a public health tool and taken steps to undermine it.
By Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Senior Writer
April 23, 2026, at 11:51 a.m.
ILLUSTRATION BY USN&WR | SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES
Since his confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has toed the line between backing vaccination as a preventive public health tool and making statements or overseeing developments that threaten to undermine that tool.
Here's a look at notable vaccine-related moves and remarks made by Kennedy or under his authority since he was sworn in as head of HHS in February of 2025.
Jump to a section:
Changing Vaccine Policy
Replacing the Panel That Recommends Vaccines
A Federal Study of the (Debunked) Link Between Vaccines and Autism
Re-examining the Childhood Vaccine Schedule
Vaccine Official Shakeups
Conflicting Comments on the Measles Outbreak
Cutting Research and Delaying Studies on Vaccines
Plan to Shake Up Vaccine Injury Program
Childhood Vaccine Task Force Revival
Thursday, April 23, 2026
TRUMP & THE SUPREME COURT - 04.23.2026 Chris Pinto
NOISE OF THUNDER RADIO - 4.23.2026
Today's Show: TRUMP & THE SUPREME COURT
Chris discusses the ongoing controversy between President Trump and the U.S. Supreme Court that continues to oppose the policies of the Trump administration. Is it just a coincidence that the court's rulings seem to be in favor of the Vatican's political policies of globalization? Could it be because we have a Catholic dominated Supreme Court? Yet Trump himself chose three of the judges who now oppose him, and the president has lashed out at Leonard Leo, the former Vice President of the Federalist society. Why? Because it was Leo ... a Knight of Malta ... who advised him on which judges to pick. Was Trump manipulated by the Vatican and powers of Rome?
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Trump awarded Israel Prize in absentia for ‘special contribution to the Jewish people’ at annual ceremony
Live Update
From the Liveblog of Wednesday, April 22, 2026Today, 6:47 pm
US President Donald Trump is awarded the Israel Prize, the country’s highest honor, in absentia, at the annual Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem.
Trump was informed in December by Education Minister Yoav Kisch that he would be awarded the Israel Prize in the category of “special contribution to the Jewish people.”
Kisch signed an Israel Prize certificate in honor of the US president yesterday, declaring in a video sent to the press that he didn’t think there was “any other person who can mark such amazing achievements and a wonderful connection to the Jewish people except for Trump at this time.”
A highlight reel of Trump’s pro-Israel actions during both terms of his presidency is played at the ceremony, including footage from the announcement of the Abraham Accords in 2020, his speech in the Knesset in October last year, and his many meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the past decade.
The president is expected to visit Israel in the coming months and will be formally presented with the award at an in-person ceremony then.
Sam Sokol contributed to this report.
The War Report - Part 2
Volume 45 Issue Four April 2026
Last Trumpet Ministries ∙ PO Box 806 ∙ Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
The War Report - Part 2
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” - Mark 13:33
The United States and the State of Israel are once again at war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Given the fluid nature of the conflict, it is uncertain what the future may hold. By the time this issue is in your hands, the war may be over, or it may have expanded. This special edition of the Last Trumpet is titled “The War Report - Part 2” because it is a natural sequel to the July 2025 issue, published shortly after the conclusion of the Twelve-Day War last year. If you have not read this previous issue, we are happy to mail you a copy free of charge. It is also available on our website. Our goal in this issue is to report, as accurately as possible, what happened, not to tell you what to think. Nevertheless, these events are already reshaping history and have the potential to change the world forever.
Maximum Pressure
Iran’s ambitions to develop nuclear technology have long been a point of contention with the United States and the State of Israel. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S.-Israeli alliance is highly skeptical of this claim. Shortly after American President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, he made Iran a top priority. On February 4, 2025, Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum promising to restore “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic of Iran. An accompanying press release published by the White House insists that “President Trump will not tolerate Iran possessing a nuclear weapons capability, nor will he stand for their sustained sponsorship of terrorism, especially against U.S. interests.” (1)
Just days after Trump signed his memo reasserting his focus on Iran, a piece by the Wall Street Journal was published on February 12, 2025, which indicates that the State of Israel was seriously considering military action against Iran. The piece quotes Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz as saying, “Iran is more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities. We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal—to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel.” (2) Thus, we see that the concerns about Iran’s nuclear program are rooted in a fear that Iran might use nuclear weapons to destroy Israel. Given that Trump has positioned himself as a staunch ally to Israel, many wondered at the time if the United States would assist its partner in the Middle East with its operations against the Iranian regime.
The Vatican vs. Mar-a-Lago
ByKevin Gallagher
Pope Leo XIV is making it impossible to reconcile MAGA politics with Catholic faith.
Within the US Catholic church, Leo’s interventions may decisively undercut those who have argued for a “seamless garment” of Catholic faith and MAGA politics. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images)
Jacobin‘s special spring issue, “Teen Jacobin,” is out now. Follow this link to get a discounted subscription to our beautiful print quarterly.
“Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.” As thousands of believers filled St Peter’s Square in the Vatican for the rites of Palm Sunday this year, Pope Leo XIV chose to include in his homily these words that God speaks at the beginning of the Book of Isaiah. In the context of his brief homily, it was the last of several Bible verses Leo chose to illustrate the idea of “Jesus, King of Peace.” But in the context of the Trump administration’s ongoing war on Iran, it was immediately understood as a direct rebuke to a prayer service led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon a few days earlier, in which he had besought the Almighty for “overwhelming violence.”
Leo may not have intended his words as a direct response to Hegseth — a pope hardly needs a special excuse to preach about peace at Easter time — but Leo did nothing to discourage that interpretation. A few days later, when asked about Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization, Leo unequivocally rebuked such threats as “unacceptable,” and directly asked that Americans call their congresspeople to demand an end to hostilities.
This was not the first time Leo had chosen to venture into American politics in this first year of his papacy. He had previously made public comments against the mistreatment of immigrants and against the occupation of Minneapolis. But this time, the Trump administration’s response has been far more aggressive. President Trump made a rambling late-night post on his Truth Social network to announce that “Leo should get his act together as pope”; Vice President J. D. Vance chided the Supreme Pontiff to “be careful” about what he says; and a whole series of lesser officials and right-wing media personalities lined up to denounce the pope’s statements.
When asked about these attacks by the press, Leo stated, “I have no fear of the Trump administration,” and he has gone on to show himself uncowed. At a recent prayer meeting on his tour through several African countries, Leo returned again to the theme of his Palm Sunday homily — this time not quoting the Bible but speaking in his own words: “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
The Religious Liberty Commission Chairman says "There is no Separation of Church and State in The Constitution"
The Religious Liberty Commission Chairman says "There is no Separation of Church and State in The Constitution"
April 16, 2026 Gerry Wagoner
The Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) is a federal advisory body established by the President via executive order in May 2025. It is chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (with Dr. Ben Carson as vice chair) and includes various faith leaders and public figures. Its job is to examine the foundations and current state of religious liberty in America, identify threats to it, and make policy recommendations to the White House—particularly on protecting free exercise of religion. This is something we can support. Maybe.
Recent concern stems from the commission's final hearing on April 13, 2026, at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. During that session, Chair Dan Patrick stated:“It is time to set the record straight:
“There is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state’ in the Constitution. For too long, the anti-God left has used this phrase to suppress people of religion in our country.”He and other participants argued that the phrase has been weaponized to restrict religious expression in public life, schools, government, and elsewhere, and that witnesses across the commission's hearings described it as eroding God-given rights. Patrick suggested recommendations like posting notices in schools and businesses affirming religious liberty protections while calling the separation idea “the biggest lie that’s been told in America since our founding.”
Constitutional Facts
It is true that the exact phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the U.S. Constitution. It originates from Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, where he described the First Amendment as building “a wall of separation between Church & State.”
The Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
This prohibits the federal government from doing two things:
- Establishing an official national religion (or compelling support for one).
- Prohibiting individuals or groups from freely exercising their religion.
Uproar after Iran named vice-chair of UN body promoting democracy, women’s rights
Critics say Tehran's vice-chair role on Commission for Social Development contradicts its record of brutalizing women and massacring civilians
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6389137835112
The Islamic Republic secured the post without objection, as the commission prepares to focus on democracy, gender equality, tolerance and non-violence. Chair: "I hear no objection" (Credit: UNTV)
UNITED NATIONS: Iran’s election as vice-chair of the United Nations Commission for Social Development is being slammed by human rights advocates and policy analysts, who have condemned the U.N.'s hypocrisy when it comes to its treatment of undemocratic regimes.
The leadership role was approved without objection during a meeting of the commission, where delegates adopted agenda items and organizational decisions by consensus.
The United Nations has faced continued criticism over its inaction towards the regime's violent crackdown against protesters in December and January. On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres faced criticism for congratulating Iran on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.
UN CHIEF BLASTED AS ‘ABJECTLY TONE-DEAF’ OVER MESSAGE TO IRAN MARKING REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY
The Islamic Republic secured the post without objection, as the commission prepares to focus on democracy, gender equality, tolerance and non-violence. Chair: "I hear no objection" (Credit: UNTV)
UNITED NATIONS: Iran’s election as vice-chair of the United Nations Commission for Social Development is being slammed by human rights advocates and policy analysts, who have condemned the U.N.'s hypocrisy when it comes to its treatment of undemocratic regimes.
The leadership role was approved without objection during a meeting of the commission, where delegates adopted agenda items and organizational decisions by consensus.
The United Nations has faced continued criticism over its inaction towards the regime's violent crackdown against protesters in December and January. On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres faced criticism for congratulating Iran on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.
UN CHIEF BLASTED AS ‘ABJECTLY TONE-DEAF’ OVER MESSAGE TO IRAN MARKING REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY
Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of a "grave betrayal" at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 24, 2025, in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters)
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz criticized the development, writing on X: "Yet another reason why we are not a member of, nor do we participate in, this ridiculous ‘Commission for Social Development.’"
Monday, April 20, 2026
My response to Joanna de Bruyn's "Epstein, Iran, 250 years, Heritage Foundation Connected"
Mrs. Joanna de Bruyn my hope is that you accept my observation of your presentation as constructive criticism, and forgive me for pointing out a few oddities.
You began your presentation mentioning "Epstein, Iran, 250 years, Heritage Foundation Connected", and associated all these with Trump, the American Empire, and the United Nations, all these nexuses make sense. Eventually, you ended up focusing on the United Nations and your recent appeal for the GCSDA Corporation (501C3) to divest itself from that World Government (U.N.) behemoth.
My question to you is where have you been for the last 30 years that you failed to notice that your fellow Austrailian Russell Standish's son and GEORGETOWN UNIV. (Juris Doctor) ALUMNUS, James D. Standish was an official representative to the U.S. Government and Liaison for the GCSDA to the United Nations in New York & Geneva?
Besides these violations of 2nd Corinthians 6:14, Bert B. Beach, John Graz, and Ganoune Diop have all been the church’s liaison to the United Nations, while being president/secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), and SIMULTANEOUSLY secretaries of the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions, an offshoot of the World Council of Churches (WCC).
So, why are you waking up now regarding this ECUMENICAL duplicity within the GCSDA Corporation?
The Adventist Movement is the CHURCH, not the General Conference of Seventh day Adventist.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Acts 17:24.
God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.
The Upward Look, p.315.
How an Adventist Health Food Company Is Leveraging AI to Share Its Message
24 Feb 2026
Australia and New Zealand’s Sanitarium is making the most of new technologies.
Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review
Todd Saunders (right) and Rachel Glasbergen, from Sanitarium Australia and New Zealand, share how the company is resorting to AI tools to share its message across. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant strides in images and video during the past couple of years, and the Sanitarium Health Food Company in Australia and New Zealand is tapping into some of those new possibilities, according to the company executive general manager Todd Saunders. In a presentation during the 2026 Adventist Health Food Association (AHFA) Conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Saunders and Rachel Glasbergen, who leads The Alternative Dairy Company for Sanitarium, shared how the company is leveraging AI use to streamline the company ads across platforms and what they have learned along the way.
In their February 10 presentation, Saunders and Glasbergen highlighted the opportunities, challenges, and possibilities of AI in the area of marketing and advertising. They did it by sharing some case studies based on their experience of The Alternative Dairy Company, a brand under Sanitarium that produces specialized, barista-grade plant-based milks, including oat, almond, soy, and coconut. Designed for cafés, their products are crafted for superior frothing and latte art, and in many cases use locally sourced ingredients.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant strides in images and video during the past couple of years, and the Sanitarium Health Food Company in Australia and New Zealand is tapping into some of those new possibilities, according to the company executive general manager Todd Saunders. In a presentation during the 2026 Adventist Health Food Association (AHFA) Conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Saunders and Rachel Glasbergen, who leads The Alternative Dairy Company for Sanitarium, shared how the company is leveraging AI use to streamline the company ads across platforms and what they have learned along the way.
In their February 10 presentation, Saunders and Glasbergen highlighted the opportunities, challenges, and possibilities of AI in the area of marketing and advertising. They did it by sharing some case studies based on their experience of The Alternative Dairy Company, a brand under Sanitarium that produces specialized, barista-grade plant-based milks, including oat, almond, soy, and coconut. Designed for cafés, their products are crafted for superior frothing and latte art, and in many cases use locally sourced ingredients.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Mamdani, Obama meet for the first time at Bronx Child Care Center
FULL VIDEO: Mamdani, Obama meet for the first time at Bronx Child Care Center
Eyewitness News ABC7NY
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent part of his Saturday in the Bronx with young school children - and former President Barack Obama.
Both Obama and Mamdani spoke after the mayor's historic election last year, but the event at 'Learning Through Play Pre-K Center' is the first time they have met face-to-face. They spent their time reading children's books, reading and getting to know each other.
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