Wendy Greenlaw

Millions of Americans rallied in cities and towns across all 50 states on Saturday as part of nationwide “No Kings” protests opposing President Donald Trump and what organizers described as his increasingly authoritarian agenda. While final turnout figures have not yet been confirmed, organizers estimated that as many as 9 million people could have participated, potentially making it the largest demonstration yet in the growing protest movement. The flagship rally in Minneapolis drew an estimated 200,000 people, featuring speeches from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ilhan Omar and actress Jane Fonda, along with a performance by Bruce Springsteen.

The Minneapolis gathering was one of more than 3,300 events held nationwide, with aerial footage showing massive crowds in major cities including Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Diego. Demonstrations also appeared in smaller communities such as Arvada, Colorado; Madison, New Jersey; and St. Augustine, Florida, with additional solidarity events reported in London and Madrid. The protests mark the third major wave of “No Kings” demonstrations, following earlier nationwide rallies last year that drew roughly 5 million and 7 million participants. The White House dismissed the events, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson calling them “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” that only reporters care about.

Up to 9 million join nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests opposing Trump policies ...

A government watchdog group is urging federal regulators to investigate a series of suspiciously timed bets placed on prediction markets shortly before the Trump administration’s military actions against Iran. In a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Public Citizen said several large wagers were made in the hours leading up to the February 28 attack, sharply shifting the odds on outcomes tied to Iran’s leadership.

According to reports, some anonymous bettors reaped six-figure profits on platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi after correctly predicting developments tied to the conflict. One account reportedly made more than $553,000 shortly before Iran’s supreme leader was killed in an Israeli strike, while crypto analytics firm Bubblemaps identified multiple users who collectively earned about $1.2 million betting on the timing of U.S. strikes.

Public Citizen is asking regulators to determine whether any bettors had insider knowledge of the military plans. The issue has also drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, with Sen. Chris Murphy calling the situation “insane” and pledging to introduce legislation to ban political prediction betting tied to events like war....

Speculation in Washington has grown over whether President Donald Trump might pursue a military intervention in Venezuela. Analysts say that is unlikely — not because of humanitarian concerns, but because the administration appears to be relying on a strategy it views as less risky: intensified economic pressure.

Venezuela has endured years of U.S. sanctions targeting its economy, particularly its oil sector, the country’s primary source of revenue. Despite those measures, the government has continued exporting oil through alternative channels. Critics argue the Trump administration is now attempting to shut those pathways down.

Rather than launching a military operation that would face public opposition and congressional scrutiny, the administration has tightened restrictions on Venezuelan oil exports. Humanitarian groups warn the move could deepen shortages of food, medicine, electricity, and other essentials funded by oil revenue....

The Justice Department on Tuesday released a previously undisclosed FBI report documenting a tip submitted in October 2020 that included unverified allegations involving then-President Donald Trump and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The report was made public as part of the DOJ’s ongoing release of Epstein-related records. It summarizes claims from at least two individuals concerning an alleged incident said to have occurred in the 1990s. The allegations were not verified, and there is no public record indicating that law enforcement substantiated or pursued them.

According to the FBI report, the tip originated from an individual identified as a limousine driver in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The driver recounted a conversation that took place on Christmas Eve in 1999, during which the driver told a passenger about a prior encounter involving Trump in 1995, when the driver said he transported Trump to Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport....

Vice President JD Vance drew criticism this week after publicly boasting about completing a 90-minute training session with Navy SEALs, an episode that sparked ridicule online and prompted sharp commentary from political observers.

In an op-ed published Tuesday in The New Republic, journalist Edith Olmsted characterized Vance’s appearance with the elite military unit as performative, describing it as a “cosplaying adventure.” Olmsted questioned the timing of the high-profile display, suggesting it may have been motivated by recent political pressures, including shifting poll numbers and the vice president’s efforts to consolidate support within conservative circles.

Shortly after completing the training session at Naval Base Coronado in California, Vance posted on social media that he planned to share photos from the experience. Online reaction to the announcement was swift, with critics mocking the spectacle. Vance later followed through, posting several images showing him jogging, carrying a heavy log, and climbing an obstacle-course cargo net alongside service members....