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Timeline, map and video show gunman accusation press dinner featuring Trump

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The gunman who stormed the checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner clearly targeted President Donald Trump and administration officials, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on April 26.

The suspect was seen on security video carrying a shotgun, handgun and knife and appears to have passed a security guard at a checkpoint inside the Washington Hilton Hotel, according to the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

Shots were fired and chaos erupted when the suspect was tackled upstairs in the hotel ballroom where the event was being held. A Secret Service agent wearing a bulletproof vest was shot and killed. He was hospitalized but was later reported to be in good condition. There were no other injuries.

Shortly after the dinner began, shots were heard, and President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other officials quickly evacuated to safety.

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The arrested suspect has not been formally identified by authorities, but a federal law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told USA TODAY that the suspect is Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI, Secret Service and other agencies.

Timeline: History of filming

(All times are Eastern and approximate)

2pm: The hotel is closed to the public in preparation for the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

8pm: The event will begin. There are over 3,000 people in the ballroom.

8:16pm: President Trump and the first lady will enter the banquet hall and be seated with other officials.

8:36pm: An armed suspect charges a Secret Service checkpoint in the lobby outside a hotel ballroom. Closed-circuit television footage shows him running past a security guard with his weapon drawn. A bullet is fired. Secret Service agents tackle and arrest the suspect.

Mr. Trump, the first lady and other officials quickly move from the banquet hall to a safe location. Dinner guests crawl under the table.

Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll later said the suspects were in possession of a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

8:55pm: Hotel staff instruct people in the banquet hall to leave.

Just before 9 p.m., CBS News’ Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, addressed the rest of the crowd. “Our programs will be temporarily restarted.”

9:17pm: President Trump said on Truth Social: “The D.C. Secret Service and law enforcement did a great job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter was arrested and I said, ‘Let the show go on,’ but the law is completely in place. We will be guided by law enforcement, who will make a decision soon. Regardless of their decision, the night will be much different than planned. And, frankly, we will have to do it all over again.”

9:24pm: Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a post on X that the shooting occurred near the dinner party’s main magnetometer inspection area. Magnetometers are used as metal detectors.

9:36pm: “Law enforcement has been asked to leave the premises in accordance with protocol and will respond immediately. We will be holding a press conference within 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, Vice President and all members of the Cabinet are in good health. We will speak within 30 minutes. We have spoken with all event personnel and will reschedule within 30 minutes,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. day to day. ”

9:45pm: Trump leaves the hotel.

10pm: President Trump arrives at the White House.

10:29pm: President Trump posted CCTV footage and a photo of the suspect on the hotel floor on Truth Social.

10:30pm: Trump posted a second photo of the suspect sitting on the floor on Truth Social.

10:31pm: President Trump appeared in the White House briefing room to talk about the incident and said how shocking it was.

How will the shooting suspect be charged?

The suspect is scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court on April 27 on charges of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm during assault, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia.

How did the suspect get into the hotel?

Carroll said investigators believe the suspect was a guest at the hotel. This allowed him to enter the hotel during dinner. It is not yet clear when the suspect checked in.

Upon entering the hotel, dinner guests had their tickets checked at multiple points to access the ballroom.

  • Paper invitations were given to event staff.
  • Guests walked through a magnetometer, a metal detection device operated by the Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration.
  • Event staff inspected the bags brought by attendees.

Once Trump was seated at the head table, no other people were allowed in the area. Security video released by President Trump appears to show the suspect running past officers removing metal detectors.

According to U.S. News, the Secret Service created President Trump’s personal safety zone around the perimeter of the head table and the table itself. Armed Secret Service personnel were stationed nearby.

Contributions Rebecca Morin, Spencer Elliott, Michael Collins, Josh Meyer, Sarah D. Wyer, Nick Penzenstadler, Carissa Wadick, Bert Jansen, Zach Anderson, Francesca Chambers, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Maureen Grope, Aisha Bagchi, Ralphie Aversa, Sean J. Sullivan USA TODAY

SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. Reuters

The FBI is investigating the White House dinner suspect across the country. who is he?

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Cole Thomas Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, is accused of traveling across the border by train and telling his family he was a “friendly federal assassin.”

WASHINGTON — He is a Caltech graduate and former Teacher of the Month. He created video games and developed a prototype emergency brake for a wheelchair.

Cole Thomas Allen, 31, is now the suspect in the April 25 shooting at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and is accused of traveling across the border by train and telling his family he was a “friendly federal assassin” targeting administration officials, according to authorities, including senior law enforcement officials.

“As for why I did this, I am a citizen of the United States. What my agents are doing reflects on me, and I will no longer allow pedophiles, rapists, and traitors to paint their crimes on my hands,” Allen wrote in a letter to his family, published by the New York Post and confirmed by USA TODAY.

Police said Allen took a train from Los Angeles, checked into a hotel in Washington, where the Black Tigers were being held, and opened fire outside a dinner attended by President Donald Trump and other federal officials.

The attack disrupted one of Washington’s major social events, which annually brings together the nation’s most powerful figures and the journalists who cover them. Security guards quickly whisked Mr. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to safety as other guests in tuxedos and evening gowns ducked under tables for cover at the podium in the huge ballroom.

The day after the shooting, a team of about 12 people camped across the street from a beige two-story Torrance, Calif., home linked to Allen. Neighbors did not answer the door, but curious pedestrians slowed to get the camera’s view.

Vinh Tan, a professor of computer science at California State University, Dominguez Hills, told USA TODAY in an email that he took several classes with Allen while he was earning his master’s degree. He described him as a polite, soft-spoken, and attentive student who frequently emailed him with academic questions.

“I am very shocked to see this news,” Ms Tan wrote.

Police are currently looking into details about Allen and his motives. The FBI Los Angeles field office served a court-approved search warrant at Torrance’s home just hours after the shooting, FBI Los Angeles spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. She did not comment on what was found in the home or how it was related to the suspect.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspects appeared to be targeting Trump and members of his administration. Blanche said on “Fox News Sunday” and NBC News that investigators are looking into the suspect’s emails and other posts. He did not elaborate on what had been revealed so far.

Federal authorities lead investigation

The FBI is leading the criminal investigation and the Secret Service is focusing on the suspect’s behavioral profile, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation on both coasts told USA TODAY. That includes what prompted the suspect, what brought him to Washington, and whether there are any copycats who might try to follow suit, as is often the case after presidential assassination attempts, officials said.

The Secret Service and other agencies that prepared the subpoena are focused on determining how the suspect booked a room at the Washington Hilton, less than three miles north of the White House, for the night of the annual dinner.

Allen sent a note to his family via text or email before the celebration, saying he intended to try to kill Trump administration officials, a senior law enforcement official told USA TODAY. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation, said authorities have already interviewed Allen’s brother and at least one other family member.

In a letter published by the New York Post that Allen planned to send minutes before the shooting, officials said, he outlined “goals” that included “administrative officials … being able to prioritize from highest to lowest.”

So far, one law enforcement official said, it’s not a single thing that’s unsettling the suspected shooter, but rather a confluence of circumstances, including the Iran war, domestic politics and the Trump administration’s stance on LGBTQ issues. The official told USA TODAY that the FBI discovered other writings by Allen that the agency is currently reviewing, including some in which he expressed sympathetic views on transgender issues.

Based on findings so far, authorities are broadening the pool of people interviewed to include more family members and Allen’s co-workers to build a comprehensive profile of the suspect, officials said.

The official said Allen did not specifically mention Trump by name in his book.

President Trump told Fox News that the suspect’s posts, reviewed by law enforcement, show him to be a “troublesome individual” motivated by religious hatred. Trump said his family had expressed concerns about him to law enforcement before the correspondents’ dinner shooting.

“If you read the manifesto, this man is a sick man,” Trump said. “He hates Christians, that’s for sure. He hates Christians, that’s hate.”

Allen’s social media footprint provides some insight into his background. When he donated $25 to then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, he listed his employment as a teacher. He is registered to vote in California with “no party preference.”

Allen posted on LinkedIn that he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017 and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025.

Caltech spokeswoman Kathy Svitil confirmed the records of an undergraduate named Cole Allen, who graduated in 2017, but declined to release further information.

California State University Dominguez Hills spokeswoman Lily McKibbin said the student, Cole Allen, will graduate with a master’s degree in 2025, but declined to confirm that he was the identified suspect in the shooting.

His LinkedIn profile shows he is an adjunct instructor at C2 Education, a national tutoring and college counseling provider in Torrance. In December 2024, C2 named him “Teacher of the Month” and posted a photo on the group’s social media.

Before taking that job, Allen listed his occupation as a self-employed video game developer. A PC game he developed was associated with his name and posted on Steam for download.

Before that, Allen said he worked as an engineer for Pasadena, Calif.-based IJK Controls for a year. Prior to that, he was a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn.

In 2017, Allen spoke to KABC-TV about a prototype he developed for emergency braking on wheelchairs.

“Wheelchair brakes tend to lock the wheels, but they don’t fix the chair to the ground. But with this device, you can prevent the chair from skidding at all,” he told the TV station.

Shooting raises security questions

The Washington shootings have also raised questions about whether more safety precautions should have been taken at dinner parties.

President Trump said at a White House press conference shortly after the shooting that the hotel was not a “particularly safe building” and that the lack of security underscored the need for plans to build a banquet hall on the White House grounds.

New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who attended the dinner, told CNN that the hotel’s security measures were “woefully inadequate.”

Hotel management confirmed to USA TODAY that Allen had booked the room and was staying there the night of the event. The Secret Service, working with local police, conducted an on-site investigation of the vast complex and established a security perimeter to prevent suspicious persons from accessing the president and other VIP attendees.

By booking a hotel room, Allen had access to nearby high-profile events without a ticket. However, he still could not enter the ballroom area where the event was taking place. Only ticket holders could pass through the magnetometer to reach that point.

Authorities are not allowed to conduct background checks on everyone who was staying at the hotel on the night of the dinner unless they have reason to believe they are committing a crime or about to commit a crime, said a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The official cited privacy concerns and other legal restrictions.

On Saturday night, April 25, a security officer confronted the suspect in the lobby before he entered the Washington Hilton ballroom. The suspect was killed minutes before the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner began, but no one in the ballroom was injured. Police said the Secret Service agent was shot outside the banquet hall but survived because of the bulletproof vest he was wearing.

Criticism of the Secret Service’s efforts to secure the building was unwarranted, law enforcement officials said, given that the suspect was arrested shortly after sprinting through the magnetometer and that he never approached Trump or other VIPs at the banquet hall.

President Trump praised the Secret Service’s quick actions to stop the gunman from entering the banquet hall.

“They stopped him cold,” he said in an interview on Fox News.

Allen himself commented on hotel security in a letter published in the New York Post and seen by USA TODAY.

“I walked in with multiple weapons, and not one person considered me a potential threat,” he wrote, according to a letter published by the New York Post.

“Security for the event is all outside and focused on protesters and those currently arriving. No one seems to be thinking about what might happen if someone checked in the day before.”

Contributed by: Christopher Cann, Chris Kenning, Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY

A Beginner’s Guide to Acadia National Park

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Visitors to Acadia National Park can explore more than 47,000 acres of mountains, beaches, and horse trails.

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Acadia is one of America’s most visited national parks each year, and it’s easy to see why.

“It’s absolutely stunningly beautiful,” said Perrin Doniger, vice president of communications and marketing for Friends of Acadia, an independent nonprofit that has supported the park for 40 years.

“The granite mountains jut out from the ocean, so you have a vast and beautiful view,” she added. “The winding nature of the Maine coast provides some very unique views of both sunrise and sunset on the East Coast.”

That’s not all Acadia has to offer.

position

Most of Acadia is located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island and is accessible by road. However, the intentionally less developed Schoodic Peninsula is located on the mainland.

There is also part of the park on Ile Haut, which can be accessed by third-party ferry, and there are also several remote islands that can be visited on commercial boat tours.

why is it important

There are 63 officially designated national parks in the National Park System.

Acadia was the first permanent one east of the Mississippi River and remains the only one in the Northeast. It was also “the first national park created from private land gifted to the public through the efforts of conservation-minded citizens,” according to the park’s website.

Long before that, it was the ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki people, who have managed this land since time immemorial, Amanda Pollock, deputy director of Acadia Interpretation, told USA TODAY in an email. According to the park, these tribes include the Halton Tribe of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Tribe, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Motakokumik, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Shipaiq, and the Penobscot Indian Tribe.

Acadia also protects more than 47,000 acres of land that is home to a variety of wildlife, including peregrine falcons, whose populations the park has helped restore.

“(It’s) a really unique place ecologically because there’s a lot of overlap in species, plants and animals, like the northern climate and the southern climate, and Acadia is kind of the intersection of those,” Doniger said.

What to see today

Dramatic seaside cliffs, tranquil ponds, and scenic mountain views greet visitors. Additionally, more than 240 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage trails, gifted by John D. Rockefeller Jr., are still available for horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and pedestrians.

On the east side of Mount Desert Island, popular attractions include Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, and Thunder Hole. The west side of the MDI includes Bass Harbor Head Light Station, the sea wall, and more.

“One of Acadia National Park’s most unique attractions is the Carroll Homestead. This small, unassuming cabin offers a glimpse into what life was like on Mount Desert Island 200 years ago,” Pollock said. “Built by the Carroll family in 1825, this homestead tells the story of hardworking settlers who cultivated the land and raised their families in this rugged coastal environment.”

Ask the locals

Parking is very limited in this area, but the free Island Explorer shuttle stops throughout the park and surrounding community. Without leaving Mount Desert Island, visitors can take a shuttle to Bar Harbor and enjoy a variety of restaurants, inns, and tourist services.

plan your visit

best time: Early fall is one of the best times of the year to visit this park. The summer crowds have subsided, but everything is still open and the colorful fall foliage is at its peak.

Doniger is also enjoying winter in the park. “We’ve had some great snow in Acadia this year, and one of the activities of Friends of Acadia is a volunteer group that grooms Bashamichi ski trails for skate skiing and classic cross-country skiing,” she said. “This is going to be a truly magical time.”

Business hours/admission fee: The park is open year-round, but many areas are closed seasonally, including the visitor center, campgrounds, Echo Lake and Lakewood beaches, Jordan Pond House, and various roads. Pollock noted that the park’s Sand Beach Entrance Station is staffed year-round and supports staffing of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center during the winter months. Trenton’s new Acadia Gateway Center opens for peak season. Travelers should check the park’s website for location-specific operating details.

For U.S. residents, park admission is $35 per private vehicle. New this year, nonresidents ages 15 and older will be charged an additional $100 per person unless they have an America the Beautiful Public Lands Pass. It costs $250 for non-residents.

Plus, visitors who want to drive a Cadillac Summit Road from May 20th to October 25th requires timed entry reservations for $6 per vehicle.

directions: There is a small airport within 15 minutes of the park, Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport. Operated by JetBlue in partnership with Cape Air. The next closest airport is Bangor International Airport, which is just over an hour’s drive from Acadia.

learn more: For more information, visit nps.gov/acad.

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Even so, Pavia’s non-selection is worth noting. He becomes the first Heisman Trophy finalist not to be selected in the NFL draft since Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014.

Many believed that despite being a physical outlier, these traits would make Pavia stand out as a late-round pick. In the end, he didn’t get that chance and is now looking for it as an undrafted free agent.

Diego Pavia’s landing site

baltimore ravens

The Ravens only have two quarterbacks on the roster: Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Pavia will get a chance to develop as a third-stringer, and his mobility will make him a solid fit behind the veteran duo.

buffalo bills

detroit lions

Pavia’s toughness and exacting style of play could be a perfect fit for the culture Dan Campbell has built in Detroit. The Lions will reportedly sign Illinois quarterback Luke Altmaier as an undrafted free agent, but will likely also bring in Pavia to compete for a third-string role behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater.

tennessee titans

need

QB selected in 2026 NFL Draft

A total of 10 quarterbacks were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Two of the players, Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, were first-round picks, and the remaining eight were selected in the third round or later.

Below is the complete list of quarterbacks to be drafted in 2026.

  • Round 1, Pick 1
  • : Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
  • Round 3, pick 65
  • Round 3, pick 76: Drew Aller, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Round 4, pick 110
  • Round 5, pick 178
  • Round 6, pick 182
  • Round 7, pick 223: Ahsan Kaliakmanis, Washington Commander
  • Round 7, pick 234: Behren Morton, Texas Tech University
  • Round 7, pick 249: Garrett Nussmeyer, Kansas City Chiefs

‘Super Agent’ Michael Glanz spotted eating in aftermath of DC shooting

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The man seen in a viral video of the aftermath of the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has been identified as Creative Artists Agency agent Michael Glanz.

CNN’s report on the shooting showed Glantz calmly eating a salad before a man allegedly stormed into the Gala security checkpoint with multiple weapons before gunshots rang out.

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter identified Glanz from footage on social media and described him as a “super agent.” Glantz told TMZ on April 26 that she felt safe in her room at the Washington Hilton because of the heavy police presence.

“You don’t see something like that happen every day,” he told TMZ.

The entertainment news outlet reports that Glantz is repped by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, who told USA TODAY that he was “feet away from the gunman” outside the ballroom when the shooting occurred. “It was scary and it was so loud. The cops were on top of him and then on top of me to protect me,” Blitzer said.

The suspect has not been formally identified by authorities, but a federal law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told USA TODAY on April 26 that the suspect was identified as Cole Thomas Allen.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on April 26 that the 31-year-old suspect will be charged with multiple charges related to the April 27 shooting.

In an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Blanche said law enforcement is still gathering information about how the gunman obtained the gun found at the scene and that the suspect is “not actively cooperating” with authorities.

One Secret Service agent was injured in the shooting, but has since been released from the hospital.

Contributed by Terry Collins and Will Carless, USA TODAY

What is a Retirement RMD? Avoid common mistakes that can cost you

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Fines are a multibillion-dollar business for the IRS.

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Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and traditional IRAs allow you to deduct contributions from your taxable income, but they don’t completely avoid taxes. When you make withdrawals in retirement, you are responsible for paying them on the back end.

To prevent people from not making withdrawals and avoiding paying taxes, the IRS introduced Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). For Americans born between 1951 and 1959, RMDs begin in the year you turn 73. The RMD age limit for people born after 1960 has been increased to 75 years.

For the first year, you must take your RMD by April 1 of the following year. If you turn 73 this year, you have until April 1, 2027 to take your RMD. For biennials, you must take your RMD by December 31st (even if you delay your first RMD until April).

There is a reason why minimum distributions are “required” and you may be penalized without realizing it. Here’s how to get around it:

How to calculate RMD

One of the first mistakes people make is not knowing how much to withdraw. Here are three steps to calculate the numbers:

  1. Check your account balance at the end of the previous year. For this year, the balance will be as of December 31, 2025.
  2. Look for the life expectancy factor (LEF) that matches your age and marital status (these are provided by the IRS).
  3. Divide your account balance by your LEF.

For LEF, if you are single, married to someone within 10 years of age, or married to someone who is not the sole beneficiary of your IRA, use the Uniform Life Table. Everyone else uses the joint lifespan and final survivor expectation tables.

Consider someone who has $1 million in a retirement account at the end of 2025 and uses the Uniform Lifetime table. RMDs for ages 73 to 80 are:

year life expectancy coefficient Minimum distribution required
73 26.5 $37,736
74 25.5 $39,216
75 24.6 $40,650
76 23.7 $42,194
77 22.9 $43,668
78 22.0 $45,455
79 21.1 $47,393
80 20.2 $49,505

Table by author. RMDs are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Most major platforms also offer RMDs, but they do not automatically transfer funds. Regardless, you are responsible for it. Some people take their full RMD at the beginning of the year and make do with it, while others treat it like a paycheck and “pay it themselves” monthly, quarterly, or whatever works best for them.

The easiest way to avoid missing out on RMDs is to take the money in a lump sum and call it a day, but some people prefer to leave the money invested and let it grow (though it can also decline).

Losing your RMD is not an easy mistake

If you do not receive an RMD, you will be subject to a penalty of 25% of the amount not withdrawn. For example, if you were supposed to withdraw $40,000 and could only withdraw $10,000, the penalty would be $7,500 (25% of $30,000).

If you receive a qualifying RMD within two years of the due date, the penalty can be reduced to 10% of the amount not withdrawn. In this case, the fee will be reduced to $3,000.

RMD fines are big business for the IRS. They cost people a total of $1.7 billion annually, according to Vanguard research. The company also said 7% of people with Vanguard IRAs missed their RMDs in 2024 and paid an average penalty of more than $1,100.

Accidents happen, and some are more costly than others.

401(k) and IRA RMDs are treated differently

If you have multiple 401(k)s (this is common for people who change jobs throughout their careers), you’ll need to take separate RMDs from each account. You cannot combine totals and receive RMDs from either account. Even if you withdraw more than expected from one 401(k) and not the other, you will be charged a penalty.

On the other hand, if you have multiple traditional IRAs, you can combine them all to calculate your RMDs and get your total RMDs from a single account.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Oz Perlman, who was shot at at the White House press dinner, made a major revelation

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The Mentalist said the security for the dinner, which was attended by President Donald Trump, was not what he expected for such a high-profile event.

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Oz Perlman revealed the trick he was playing when gunshots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

“The night went very well. I warmed up the crowd, the vice president liked my show, and I was talking to the press secretary,” he told USA TODAY. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt is soon to give birth to her second child with husband Nicholas Riccio. “The challenge was to figure out the name of the unborn child’s daughter,” Perlman recalled.

The Mentalist did just that. He flipped the notepad over to reveal the name Vivian.

“I never intended to share this with the world. The important thing is not to ‘catch’ her. But I told her and she said it was okay to share,” he says. “‘This is a historic moment,’ she told me. When it happened, she said, ‘I don’t know how on earth you guessed my daughter’s name.'”

In his text, Mr. Levitt acknowledged that Mr. Perlman’s account was accurate.

“The timing was insane,” he added. “Just like when I was exposed, that was the exact moment when things happened in the room. So you can see the reaction to my trick was at its peak: the ‘Ah!’ reaction. And things quickly turn into shock and pain. ”

Soon, he was on the ground with President Donald Trump. “I’ll never forget seeing his face from a foot away,” he says. “This photo will stay in my heart forever. I wish I had had Metaglass on so I would have had that photo.”

He says he can’t find the words to characterize the president’s response. “I saw people who were surprised at how quickly and suddenly the Secret Service acted.”

Oz Perlman says security at White House press dinner was not as tight as other red carpet events

Perlman noticed a difference in the security at the hotel compared to other red carpet events she has attended. “I can’t speak to what was or wasn’t done, but there was certainly ease of movement,” he says. “We weren’t restricted to the same level as other events. There’s usually one checkpoint after another.”

He didn’t see anything particularly concerning, but he did note that access to the venue was not restricted. “I saw the makeup and hair people arrive an hour early. Hindsight is always 20/20. I never felt unsafe, but there wasn’t the same intense checks that I’ve had on other red carpets like the Golden Globes, where there were three or four checkpoints and barcodes being scanned, not just paper tickets. There was a real buzz of security around the venue.”

He praised the work of the Secret Service. “The Secret Service moved incredibly fast. Anyone who says it was a failure is ridiculous. It was a success and there were no deaths. There will always be criticism.” They were soon taken backstage and the scene descended into “chaos.”

Did Perlman, as a mentalist, foresee the tragedy that was about to occur?

“I’ve seen the memes and jokes write themselves. As a mentalist, I’m going to spend the rest of my life thinking that I never thought that would happen,” he says, lighthearted about the online chatter, saying he should have predicted what happened. “First, I’m not a psychic, and I wish I were. Second, my job is not to assess security threats. I entertain and create memorable events.”

Now that everyone is safe and the adrenaline rush is over, he can look back on that night with a little more perspective. “Bittersweet is how I would describe it. When you go through something like this, it’s surreal when it happens. You feel like you’re in some kind of movie. There’s a sense that I’m okay, my wife is okay, and of course the president is okay.”

His first fear was not that it was a gunman, but that it was a bomb. “I was bracing myself because I thought the room was going to explode,” he says. His wife was across the room. “Her seat was pretty bad,” he says, but he planned to move her to the center of the room during the performance. “That would have been the worst possible position. She would have been in the middle of the podium at the show. So that was a silver lining,” he says.

He admitted that he was thinking about the shows he had scheduled. “That’s what I really wanted people to talk about,” he says. “The best show of my life.”

Perlman says he will be back for the postponed event

The Mentalist has not balked at the idea of ​​returning to the dinner, but President Trump has said he wants to reschedule the dinner within 30 days. “For sure,” he says, but admits logistics are an issue. “This is a huge event to hold in 30 days. If I could move earth, water, and oceans, I would too.”

He would probably change the great show he had planned. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do exactly the same show. I think it’ll be similar, but it won’t be the same. We’ll have to score different points,” he says.

“We have to prove to terrorists and assassins who believe that violence is the answer that they can’t win,” he says. “No events? No football games? No, you have to live your life. It was such an honor to celebrate the First Amendment and freedom of the press and everything that dinner stands for.”

Contributor: Brendan Morrow

Severe weather is expected in areas across the United States. Look where.

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Severe weather is expected to spread across much of the country through the first half of next week, potentially causing everything from flash floods, tornadoes and hail to high winds, wildfires and snow.

A “very active spring weather pattern” is expected for the central United States through Sunday, April 26, and into early next week, according to the National Weather Service, with strong winds and large hail threatening Kansas and Oklahoma.

“A complex weather scenario is unfolding today and into tonight, making the threat of very large hail and tornadoes more certain across Kansas tonight,” the NWS Storm Prediction Center posted on Sunday. “A conditional serious threat will extend south into Oklahoma.”

Flash floods threaten Midwest

Excessive rain can also lead to flash flooding. Sunday advisories are in effect for eastern Kansas, western Missouri, southern Iowa and Nebraska. On Monday, April 27, eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, including urban areas around Chicago, faced a “slight risk of excessive rainfall,” the NWS reported.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydinowski said Monday’s danger zone stretches about 1,000 miles from Mississippi to Wisconsin, with the “greatest threat of damaging storms” over the St. Louis area.

The NWS has also issued a winter weather warning for mountain ranges in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, where some high-elevation areas could see half a foot to a foot of snow.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo, Colorado, predicts “winter weather will rapidly arrive late (Sunday night) into Monday morning with a mix of fog, freezing drizzle, and light snow.” Commuters should use caution Monday morning as ice is expected to build up on roads.

Tornado warning until Monday

Sunday’s storm system is expected to move east into Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and other areas in the central Mississippi Valley by Monday, April 27, bringing the potential for “large hail, strong to strong winds, and strong tornadoes,” the NWS said.

“Some particularly dangerous, long-track tornadoes are possible,” the Weather Channel noted. In another post on April 27, the magazine added, “Tornado intensities can reach up to EF3 or higher, and the threat continues throughout the night, so people facing a severe threat need a reliable way to receive alerts at bedtime.”

Oklahoma is still recovering after a series of tornadoes injured 10 people and damaged multiple homes Thursday, April 23, across Braman and Enid, home to Vance Air Force Base.

In a post on X at the time, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt urged residents in affected areas to “watch the weather, follow local warnings, and evacuate immediately if directed.”

Extreme fire danger also plays a role

Meanwhile, eastern New Mexico and far western Texas are also under very dangerous fire weather warnings. Low humidity and high temperatures, along with wind gusts up to 90 mph, are expected to continue into Sunday night.

The red flag warning will remain in effect until 9 p.m. local time Sunday, according to the ABC affiliate in Amarillo, Texas.

As inflation returns, should you consider I-bonds?

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Savers spooked by the recent stock market downturn and soaring inflation may want to take a look at I Bonds.

Anyone who drives past a gas station will see prices skyrocketing, and depending on how the Iran war unfolds, inflation could even heat up. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched an unexpected wide-ranging airstrike against Iran.

The “I” in Series I savings bonds stands for inflation. The idea is to use an I Bond to protect your savings from inflation. The overall interest rate on an I bond may rise or fall every six months after you purchase the bond, based on changes in inflation.

I-Bonds can be used partly as emergency savings and partly as a conservative holding for investors who want to protect a portion of their portfolio from dramatic stock market declines.

Inflation rate reached highest level in two years

For months, I’ve heard savers say they’re more likely to let go of the high-yield I bonds they bought years ago than buy new bonds. After all, inflation has fallen significantly since peaking at a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022.

And that story probably would have continued if not for the latest inflation shock.

However, given the recent spike in inflation, savers may still reconsider selling these I bonds. And if you perhaps need to release some I bonds to cover the bills, you should be especially careful to make sure you are releasing the right bonds.

“People were definitely losing interest in I bonds,” said David Enna, who founded Tipswatch.com and regularly tracks government bonds adjusted for inflation.

All that has changed in recent weeks as inflation accelerated.

On Friday, April 10th, we got our first glimpse of the latest inflation picture when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Consumer Price Index for March.

Over the past 12 months, consumer prices have risen quite sharply to 3.3%. In contrast, CPI rose 2.4% in February compared to the same month last year.

Gasoline prices in March rose 18.9% over the past 12 months. Fuel oil prices rose 44.2% year-on-year, according to details in a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released on April 10.

Gasoline prices rose 21.2% from the previous month.

This sudden spike in inflation and concerns about future price increases for all types of goods will likely give inflation-linked U.S. savings bonds a bit of a boost in the near term.

Enna says if you buy an I Bond between May and October, you’re talking about an estimated annual interest rate of 4.26% that applies for the first six months.

All I-bonds will benefit from inflation-related interest rate changes in the coming months.

For example, in 2022, I-bond interest rates skyrocketed, causing so much excitement that the TreasuryDirect.gov website even experienced intermittent slowdowns during a last-minute rush to buy I-bonds at that time.

The annual interest rate for I bonds purchased from November 2022 to April 2023 was 6.89%. This interest rate applies for the first six months after purchasing the Series I Savings Bond. The same bond with a fixed rate of 0.4% now has a six-month annualized rate of 3.53%.

Those who follow I bonds like Ena know that the March CPI, typically released in April, is an important piece of the puzzle in estimating the new interest rate that will apply to I bonds purchased between May and October.

“March inflation marks the end of a six-month series that resets floating interest rates on I-bonds on May 1,” Enna wrote recently. He noted that the new I-bond rates starting in May will be based on non-seasonally adjusted inflation rates from October 2025 to March 2026.

New interest rates for savings bonds are announced on May 1st and November 1st of each year.

Reasons why bond interest rates are on the rise

There are two components to an I-bond. A fixed interest rate over the 30-year life of the savings bond, and a variable interest rate that adjusts every six months after you purchase the I-Bond. If you purchase an I Bond in June, the floating rate will adjust in December.

Before the Iran war began in late February, Enna didn’t have high expectations for I-bond rates. In fact, he expected interest rates on I bonds to drop considerably.

Before the Iran war, Enna said he would have confidently told savers that the floating interest rate on I-bonds was likely to fall to about 2% on May 1 from the current 3.12%. This variable interest rate is important to anyone who owns an I bond, regardless of when it was purchased.

Then, again before the war, the Treasury would likely tinker with fixed interest rates, perhaps lowering them to 0.8% from the current 0.9%, he said. This fixed rate applies for the remaining term of the 30-year bond.

Anna said if these estimates hold true, the overall interest rate on I bonds issued between May and October would be around 2.81%, down from the current 4.03%.

“After the war broke out, real yields recovered quite a bit,” Enna said.

“Inflation was obviously very high. That drove up all these numbers.”

Enna now predicts that the new inflation-adjusted floating rate for the I Bond will be 3.34%, up from the current 3.12%. For I bonds purchased between May and October, he expected the overall interest rate to be 4.26% if the fixed rate remained at 0.9%, and he still expects that to be the case. The fixed interest rate is the same as that of I bonds purchased from November 2025 to April 2026.

All I-Bonds ultimately carry a variable interest rate of 3.34% per annum for six months. When the new floating rate starts for individual savers depends on the first month the bond was purchased. Please note that after purchasing an I Bond, the inflation rate will be adjusted every six months.

“Everyone wants to get their hands on an i-bond now. The question is when?” Enna said.

Enna argues that many people underestimate how effective I Bonds can be for part of your savings, especially your emergency savings.

“That cash is there, ready to spend, but always rising with inflation. It’s a very safe investment,” Enna said.

How do I buy I-Bonds?

Each year, savers can put up to $10,000 each into an electronic I Bond that is purchased and maintained on a federal government website called TreasuryDirect.gov.

Therefore, I-Bond enthusiasts try to determine the best time of the year to purchase I-Bonds. They often argue over whether fixed interest rates will go up or down when interest rates are announced on May 1st or November 1st.

According to Enna, it’s usually wise to buy I bonds later in the month. For example, if you buy an I bond on April 20th, you will earn interest for the entire month of April.

In contrast, it’s often best to sell during the first few days of the month. For example, if you redeem your I-Bond on April 20th, you will lose all the interest you paid in April.

Looking ahead, Enna said he expects the I-bond rate announced on November 1 to be a fixed rate higher than 0.9%, possibly in the 1% or slightly higher range.

It’s hard to know how much inflation will heat up

Mr Ena said it would be interesting to watch inflation trends over the next six months.

“We are entering a new era of inflation. It’s hard to predict and hard to know where it’s going,” Ena said. He acknowledged that he has always had trouble predicting inflation.

But now it’s clear that inflation is back in the spotlight.

“Inflation is high and will accelerate this year as the Iran war increases energy and other prices,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told USA Today Network’s Detroit Free Press.

Zandi said inflation, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index, is currently near 3% and will approach 4% in the second half of this year. The Fed’s inflation target is 2%.

Zandi expects inflation to rise thanks to higher energy prices, the continued impact of higher tariffs, and the expansion of AI, which many expect will initially contribute to inflation.

As for I-bonds, you still have a short window to buy them in April, for example around April 28th, before the new interest rates take effect.

Enna said investors who bought I-Bonds in April would see a six-month annualized return of 4.03%, followed by a six-month annualized return of 4.26%. In that case, he said, he could end up receiving an estimated 4.16% over 12 months.

However, keep in mind that the fixed interest rate on the I Bond may reset on May 1st and we won’t know until the Treasury makes an official announcement.

I Things to consider when selling bonds

However, if you are considering selling an I bond, check the interest rate you are receiving on that particular bond.

Paying attention to the fixed interest rate of I Bonds is something that novice savers don’t realize is important. After all, who would imagine that you would need a very detailed chart to explain which fixed rate applied to which batch of I-bonds issued at any given time? However, such charts exist online.

Oddly enough, I Bonds can carry any type of fixed interest rate over a 30-year bond life, depending on when you buy them. And the chart certainly spells it out in very small print.

Issued in September 1998, the 1st Series I Notes continue to carry a fixed interest rate of 3.4%. I-Bonds purchased from May 2000 to October 2000 have a fixed rate of 3.6%, which is the highest fixed rate ever offered for an I-Bond.

On the contrary, there is a long list of I-bonds issued in various years with a fixed interest rate of 0%.

For example, a fixed rate of 0% applies to the long term of I-bonds purchased from May 2020 to October 2022. In this case, you will only receive variable inflation for a specific six-month period.

In contrast, I bonds issued between November 2023 and October 2024 had a fixed interest rate of 1.3%.

Ideally, if you plan to cash out some of your I-bonds, you might consider selling the batch at a fixed rate of 0% and holding on to something that will continue to pay a fixed rate of interest no matter where inflation goes.

If you sell your I Bond before you have held it for five years, there will be a small penalty charge.

If you cash out your I Bond within five years, you lose the last three months of interest. The TreasuryDirect.gov site provides an example: “If you cash out your bond after 18 months, you’ll earn the first 15 months of interest.”

After five years, the interest penalty will disappear and the loan can be redeemed at any time, Enna said.

Cashing out a savings bond means that most people must report all the interest earned on the bond over time in the year they cash out the bond. For those converting large amounts of bonds into cash, consulting with a tax professional first to review your tax situation may be key.

“You will have to pay taxes when you redeem your money,” Enna said.

Enna personally sells her 0% fixed rate I-Bonds and reinvests them into higher fixed rate I-Bonds.

“There’s nothing left of them, but there are some 0.1% and 0.2% versions that could be rolled over,” he said.

The threat of inflation remains real, especially given the presence of petroleum derivatives in everything from medical equipment to textiles to furniture. And sure enough, we’ve been ordering quite a bit online lately and getting almost everything delivered. This can lead to all sorts of price increases.

Inflation causes pain on so many levels. But i-bonds could have a new lease of life as savers can get some protection from inflation.

Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompol: stompor@freepress.com. follow himr X @tompor.

White House dinner suspect was Caltech graduate

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The man suspected of opening fire at the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner appeared on Los Angeles TV news in 2017 demonstrating a prototype wheelchair.

Cole Thomas Allen, who has not been formally identified by authorities but whose identity was told to USA TODAY by a federal law enforcement official familiar with the investigation on April 26, appeared on a KABC-TV segment about an invention conference aimed at improving the lives of seniors.

Mr. Allen demonstrated a wheelchair emergency brake prototype he developed during the segment. USA TODAY has reached out to KABC-TV for comment.

Allen’s LinkedIn account shows a post that says he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017. Caltech spokeswoman Kathy Svitil previously acknowledged the records of an undergraduate named Cole Allen, who graduated in 2017, but declined to release further information.

Authorities allege Cole charged into the Washington Hilton security checkpoint with multiple weapons before gunshots rang out, injuring a Secret Service agent. President Donald Trump attended the dinner for the first time as president. The event was also attended by several distinguished guests, including Cabinet members and Vice President J.D. Vance.

Authorities say suspect is not cooperating

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on April 26 that the 31-year-old suspect will be charged with multiple charges related to the April 27 shooting.

In an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Blanche said law enforcement is still gathering information on how the gunman obtained the gun found at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and that the suspect is “not actively cooperating” with authorities.

Blanche told “Fox News Sunday” and NBC News that investigators are looking into the suspect’s emails and other posts. He did not elaborate on what authorities have revealed so far.

A senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation on both coasts told USA TODAY on April 26 that the FBI is leading the criminal investigation into the shooting, and the Secret Service is focusing on the suspect’s behavioral profile.

That includes what exactly triggered this man, what brought him to Washington, and whether there is a potential risk of additional attacks, as is often the case after a presidential assassination attempt.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity. He was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation involving federal authorities and police in Washington, D.C., where the suspect lived, and the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, California.

Possible triggers being considered include the Trump administration’s response to the Iran war, rising gas and other prices, or personal animosity toward the president’s administration, the person said. Sources told USA TODAY that for now, authorities don’t know the answers to those questions. But officials said the investigation is making progress, obtaining subpoenas and searching for digital evidence through such means as suspects’ phones and other electronic devices.

Michael Jackson movie’s amazing box office revenue revealed

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The Michael Jackson movie overcame poor reviews and production problems to achieve a record opening weekend box office.

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It’s a thriller!

Michael Jackson’s biopic “Michael” overcame poor reviews and production issues to achieve record opening weekend box office sales in Japan. The film, which stars Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the iconic singer, grossed $97 million domestically in its opening weekend, according to ComScore estimates released Sunday, April 26.

This is without a doubt the biggest opening weekend ever for a music biopic. The previous record was held by the 2015 NWA film Straight Outta Compton, which opened to $60 million domestically. Bohemian Rhapsody, starring Rami Malek as Queen singer Freddie Mercury, also premiered in 2018 with $51 million and has since gone on to collect more than $900 million worldwide.

Among the films released in 2026, “Michael” had the second-biggest opening of the year at the domestic box office, trailing only “Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and surpassing “Project Hail Mary.” The film grossed a staggering $217.4 million worldwide.

“Michael” covers the King of Pop’s life from the 1960s to the late 1980s, ending before he faced his first child molestation allegations. Puck and Variety reported that the film was originally planned to dramatize the story of Jackson being accused of molesting 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in 1993, which Jackson denied and the film portrayed Chandler as innocent.

But Pack reported that it was only after these scenes were filmed that producers discovered a legal agreement years ago that prohibited them from portraying the Chandler family in movies. This reportedly resulted in extensive reshoots, and the film’s third act had to be significantly reworked.

The final theatrical version focuses on Jackson’s musical success and difficult relationship with his father, Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo). This led to criticism that the film ignored most of the controversies of Jackson’s life and attempted to whitewash history.

“Michael” received mostly negative reviews, with critics claiming that the film lacked substance and had little to offer other than faithfully recreated music videos and concert scenes.

But a focus on Jackson’s music and a genuine celebration of his career may have been what fans were hoping for. So far, audiences seem to have embraced “Michael” differently than critics, giving it an average rating of A- in CinemaScore’s poll of moviegoers. Over the weekend, some fans shared videos of audience members turning the screening into a full-blown dance party, jamming along to Jackson classics in theaters.

With a strong opening, “Michael” is well-positioned to spawn a sequel, which is teased at the end of the film with text that reads, “His story continues.” But it’s unclear whether a potential second film will seek to acknowledge the abuse allegations against Jackson, including those that were at the center of his 2005 trial in which he was acquitted on all charges.

Also, an open question is whether “Michael” can overcome its negative reviews and become a contender for an Oscar in 2027. Musical biopics tend to do well at the Academy Awards, with films such as “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Elvis” and “Completely Unknown” garnering nominations in recent years. Malek won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as Mercury, while Austin Butler and Timothée Chalamet were nominated for their roles as Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan, respectively.

If Jaafar Jackson is nominated, he will join an exclusive club of actors who have won an Oscar for their first film.

Thom Tillis welcomes end of Jerome Powell investigation, supports Warsh

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Sen. Thom Tillis on April 26 welcomed the end of the criminal investigation into the current chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and said he stands ready to support the nomination of Kevin Warsh to the role.

Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, had denounced the investigation, announced in January, as a politically motivated move by the White House and a threat to the central bank’s independence.

The investigation was ostensibly about cost overruns in the Fed’s renovation projects, but many officials, including Mr. Tillis, believed it was a pretext. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressured Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, but Powell has refused.

“This is a question about whether the Fed can continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether monetary policy will instead be guided by political pressure and intimidation,” Powell said in a video recorded at the start of the investigation.

President Trump nominated Warsh, a former Fed director, in January, but Tillis said he would block the confirmation process until the investigation is complete.

On April 24, the Justice Department announced it was closing its investigation and directing the Fed’s inspector general to investigate cost overruns.

“I have been clear from the beginning: The Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Chairman Powell is a serious threat to the Fed’s independence, and it needed to be concluded before I could support Kevin Warsh’s confirmation,” Tillis said in a social media post on April 26.

“I take the Department of Justice at its word. The investigation is closed and any appeal of Judge Boasberg’s decision will be based on legal principles and not for the purpose of reissuing subpoenas,” he added. The investigation will only be resumed if a criminal complaint is filed by the inspector general.

Warsh appeared before the Senate Banking Committee on April 21 as the first step in the confirmation process. Tillis, a member of the committee, used his allotted time to criticize the White House’s pressure tactics.

The Fed’s Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled to meet on April 29th.

What we know about press dinner shooting suspect Cole Thomas Allen

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Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to USA TODAY that the suspect in custody is Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

The gunman who opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner took a cross-country train to the nation’s capital before checking into his hotel room, where he targeted President Donald Trump and senior administration officials in an attack, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Sunday.

Blanche and other officials did not release the name of the man detained in connection with the shooting. Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to USA TODAY that the suspect is Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Federal agents were seen flocking to Allen’s home in Torrance after the April 25 shooting.

Appearing on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Blanche said the suspect traveled from Los Angeles, stopped in Chicago, and then arrived in Washington, D.C., by train. He added that the attackers were believed to have been guests at the Washington Hilton, where the glitzy annual event was being held.

Authorities said the suspect, armed with multiple guns and knives, charged through a security checkpoint before shots were fired. Thousands of guests in tuxedos and gowns fell to the floor as First Lady Trump and senior administration officials were led away by Secret Service agents. One of the agents was shot by the assailants, but was protected by a bulletproof vest. There were no other injuries.

Blanche told NBC News that the gunman “intended to target members of the administration, possibly including the president,” adding: “We’re still investigating the motive, which will take at least a few days.”

Here’s what we know about the suspected shooter.

The gunman did not cooperate with investigators and will be arraigned on Monday.

Blanche said the suspect was not cooperating with the investigation as of Sunday morning.

Blanche told “Fox News Sunday” and NBC News that investigators are looking into the suspect’s emails and other posts. He did not elaborate on what authorities have revealed so far.

The gunman will be arraigned Monday on multiple charges, including assault on a federal officer and discharging a firearm with intent to kill a federal officer, Blanche said.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said she would not rule out additional charges, including terrorism-related charges.

“If there is something like that, we will find it and submit it,” she said.

Suspect acted alone, barely managed to cross security perimeter: officials

President Trump described the gunman as a “lone wolf” and said he was brought down by “very brave members of the Secret Service.” The president posted on his Truth Social account a video of a person rushing through a security checkpoint and another photo of a man lying on the ground with his hands tied behind his back.

Blanche said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that authorities “immediately subdued” the suspect after he was “shot several times.”

“Based on what we know from video surveillance and witnesses who were at the scene, it appears (he) just barely crossed the line,” Blanche said. The gunman did not arrive at the hotel’s International Ballroom, where a media gala was being held.

What we know about Cole Thomas Allen

Allen listed his job as a teacher when donating $25 to Kamala Harris in 2024. He is registered to vote in California with “no party preference.”

His LinkedIn profile shows he was a part-time teacher at C2 Education in Torrance, California. C2 is a national tutoring and college counseling provider.

Allen posted on LinkedIn that he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017 and a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. Caltech spokeswoman Kathy Svitil confirmed the records of an undergraduate named Cole Allen, who graduated in 2017, but declined to release further information.

California State University Dominguez Hills spokeswoman Lily McKibbin said a student named Cole Allen will graduate with a master’s degree in 2025, but declined to confirm that he was the suspect identified in the shooting.

“CSUDH unequivocally condemns this act of violence, as well as all forms of violence. Such acts betray our values ​​as a university and our commitment to promoting a safe environment for the campus community,” McKibbin wrote in an email.

In December 2024, Allen’s employer, C2, named him Teacher of the Month and posted a photo on the group’s social media. Before taking that job, Allen listed his occupation as a self-employed video game developer. A PC game he developed was posted on the website Steam for download in association with his name.

Before that, Allen said he worked as an engineer for South Pasadena-based IJK Controls for a year. Prior to that, he was a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn.

Melania Trump’s birthday falls after WHCA dinner evacuation

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  • Melania Trump will celebrate her 56th birthday on April 26th.
  • She left her mark on history as the only naturalized first lady.

Today, April 26th, is First Lady Melania Trump’s birthday.

On April 25, President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunshots were heard at the hotel where the event was being held, which the president described as a “pretty traumatic experience” for her.

Trump largely kept a low profile during his first year in the White House, but throughout 2026 he has been in the spotlight for his documentary, his surprise announcement on Jeffrey Epstein, and his historic appearance at the United Nations Security Council.

Melania Trump turns 56 this year. Last year, she attended Pope Francis’ funeral on her birthday. Here’s what you need to know about the first lady’s birthday.

What has Melania Trump done as first lady?

In 2025, Melania Trump made a brief appearance after defending the Take It Down Act, which was signed into law on May 19th. During the summer, she took a break from the public eye for nearly two months and appeared at an AI event in September. She continued to host many events on holidays as well.

But we’re seeing more of the 2026 first lady. She heavily promoted the documentary “Melania,” which was released in January. She recently made history as the first first lady to serve as President of the United Nations Security Council. She convened an international summit for future education initiatives, where she unveiled a humanoid robot that helps educate students.

In particular, her announcement at a press conference in which she denied any friendship with Mr. Epstein and called on Congress to hold hearings for survivors shocked the world.

As highlighted at the First Lady Luncheon on April 23, Melania Trump also recently met with members of Congress to discuss legislation to improve the foster care system.

The first lady posted an excerpt on social media from her memoir “Melania,” which tells the story of how she met her husband.

She said she met Donald Trump at the Kit Kat Club on a Saturday night in September 1998 while attending a party with friends.

“‘Hello, I’m Donald Trump,’ the man said as he sat down at my table. ‘Nice to meet you.'” I recognized the name and knew he was a businessman or celebrity, but I didn’t know much else. “He held out his hand to shake mine,” she wrote in the book. “His eyes were full of curiosity and interest, and he took the opportunity to sit down next to me and strike up a conversation.”

She also wrote that although she didn’t think much of him at the time because he was a beautiful date, she was “drawn to him by his magnetism.”

The two married in 2005 and had a child, Barron Trump, the following year.

Is Melania Trump a US citizen?

Yes, she is the only naturalized First Lady.

What is Melania Trump’s nationality?

Melania Trump was born in Slovenia.

How old is Melania Trump?

Melania Trump will turn 56 on April 26th, and Donald Trump will turn 79.

How tall is Melania Trump?

First Lady Melania Trump is 5 feet 11 inches tall.

Contributors: Jay Stahl, Christopher Cann, Rebecca Moerin, USA TODAY

Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), thread, blue sky and TikTok.

Tory Burch told women to be ambitious. These women then made millions

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Designer Tory Burch says of her success: “It was breathtaking in a hard and beautiful way.”

In December 2019, Kathy Abel was having a good time. She was trying to run two small businesses when her only employee, a part-time worker, emailed her to take a full-time job elsewhere.

Then the new coronavirus hit. Her mother was hospitalized during the first wave, and her father suffered a heart attack and was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

Her parents slowly recovered. Abel’s business did not immediately recover.

Clients at her PR marketing and consulting firm were paralyzed, not knowing when the world would open up. Her women’s outdoor apparel company, Wild Rye, also faced uncertainty. “We’ve received emails from retailers threatening to cancel large orders because they don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” she says. But as people began to escape their homes and go outside, equipment was needed and wild rye began to grow. Mr. Abel shut down his consulting business and gave it his all. The Idaho-based CEO now has 11 full-time employees and generated more than $4 million in revenue last year, despite the impact of tariffs.

Hard work, vision, and grit all got her there. And a little help from someone.

“Negativity is noise”

In 2017, Tory Burch participated in a sleek black and white ad campaign featuring celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jon Hamm and Gwyneth Paltrow. They weren’t modeled after her huge fashion line, known for its “preppy bohemian” style, double-T logo, ballet flats and tunics. The campaign was titled #EmbraceAmbition.

It was a kind of compensation. In an interview about her success, Birch was asked whether she would describe herself as ambitious (“in a very rude way,” she says now).

Birch demurred. When this article was published, a friend gave me simple feedback: “Great article, but I can’t shy away from that word.”

“The moment she said that, something switched in me. Of course we need to come together and follow through on our ambitions,” Birch said in a video call from her sunny office before boarding a plane to Paris.

Hillary Clinton had just lost the presidential election. There were questions about how ambitious women should or could be.

But Birch answered the phone. When she called people to ask them to join the campaign, “the response was overwhelmingly yes,” she says. “Everyone who called felt at the time that this was kind of like opening a door for them,” she says.

When it was announced, there were naysayers. “I’ve been very disliked in every aspect of this company,” she says. “My parents used the phrase, ‘Negativity is noise,’ and that really helped me.”

Birch also heard something else. I can’t even tell you how many people said, “[The campaign]really helped me think differently about my own life, my own journey, my feelings about what I’m doing and what I want to do.” ”

Abel remembered that. “I love that motto,” she says. “I grew up being an athlete, but I was also kind of a super nerd. I felt like I was made fun of because I was a hard worker and ambitious. So that really resonated with me.”

This was one of the reasons she applied to the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program, which at the time offered $5,000 grants, networking, and other support to female founders. In the midst of a pandemic, a family health crisis, and the business challenges she’s facing, Abel thought she had another interview for the program. Birch then appeared on the screen and told the group that they had been chosen as fellows.

“It was just this moment where, okay, things are starting to look up,” Abel says. “This is exactly what I need, when I need it.”

“Keep going and get it done.”

Birch started her fashion line in 2004, but the industry has changed dramatically in the two decades since. Social media, fast fashion, e-commerce, supply chain disruption, the onslaught of AI, and other factors are making fashion even more difficult. This is despite cultural phenomena like The Devil Wears Prada and its long-awaited sequel making fashion more accessible and mainstream.

But for Birch, fashion has always been something of a Trojan horse. “My business plan was to build a global lifestyle brand to start a foundation,” Birch says. “I don’t know why I was so sure of that idea, but it just came to me instinctively.”

She said that with every pitch. One investor quickly shut her down. “He basically looked at me and said, ‘Don’t ever say that again.’ He didn’t position it as a charity, but he didn’t need to,” she recalls. He made it clear that business and purpose are incompatible.

That wasn’t the case back then. This was before Tom’s and Warby Parker, before Dove’s Self-Esteem Fund, before Tom’s and Warby Parker pledged to donate a pair of shoes or glasses for every shoe purchase.

Birch remained resolute. She launched her own fashion line, and five years later, before that, she says, “I honestly didn’t have any money” to launch the Tory Burch Foundation.

In its early days, the foundation provided mentoring, coaching, and low-interest small business loans. We started our fellowship program in 2015 and are quietly working with a small group of 10 entrepreneurs.

Now, Birch is beginning to understand the scale of what she first envisioned. Yes, she remains one of the few women at the top of a cutthroat industry that typically glorifies men (she’s been named to Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list six times). The company she founded is worth an estimated $3.2 billion.

But she always wants to focus on other founders. This year, the Foundation will add 120 Fellows. They announced a goal to add $1 billion to the economy through women entrepreneurs by 2030. Total to date: $342 million.

Ambitious? without hesitation. In a world where less than 2% of VC funding goes to women-led companies (and that number is shrinking, even though data shows women-led companies have higher returns on average), “we’re not making enough progress,” Birch says. “We just have to keep at it and get it done.”

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Pamela Anderson, Marcello Hernandez to appear at Tory Burch’s 2026 NYFW

Tory Burch presented her artful Fall/Winter 2026 collection surrounded by artwork at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York City.

From fashion to empanadas?

Pilar Guzman is the founder and CEO of Half Moon Empanadas in Miami. All they make is empanadas. “At the airport, it’s one product, one brand,” she says. She later added, as an example of her training as a 2021 fellow, “We’re also building something even bigger. We’re working to make empanadas an iconic part of America’s food scene, while also opening doors and supporting our teams and communities.”

Fellows often talk about the community they found through the foundation: other women who understand what it’s like to juggle a family and a startup. Women who know how difficult it is to raise funds. Women who understand how selling take-out food that can be eaten with just one hand to customers rushing through the airport can be a successful business.

Guzman had the receipt. She grew her business to $3 million in revenue. However, growth stagnated. “Very successful people have said to me, ‘It’s crazy to expand at an airport, Pilar, you’re crazy,'” she says. This year, she opened four new stores, including Boston Logan and JFK, has 200 employees (who she boasts pays nearly $10 an hour more than the industry average), and is on track to hit $30 million in revenue this year.

“Much of the ‘female empowerment’ positioning in the industry as a whole, and especially in fashion, is a marketing smokescreen for the empowerment label,” says Megan Mason, branding strategist and founder of Elle Collective. “Real economic impact requires a comprehensive and intentional architecture.”

The Tory Burch Foundation “absolutely” built it, she says. This fellowship focuses on early-stage businesses with a minimum of $75,000 in annual revenue. The intensive 12-month program includes a financial bootcamp to drive sustainable growth, guidance on designing a pitch deck, creating a target investor list, and assistance hosting a conference. To date, the company has 500 fellows and average annual revenue of more than $2 million, nearly 30% more than the average women-owned business, according to LendingTree data. (Entrepreneurs remain lifelong companions and are mentored at every stage of their company’s growth.)

“Torrey plays to his strengths. As an entrepreneur, he knows what it takes,” said Jason Kelly, author of “The New Tycoons” and co-host of The Deal. “There’s also a very strong flywheel effect because she’s building this great network of people who have a stake in each other’s success, which has a compounding effect. They’re given this opportunity and they’re going to pass it on to the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Beau Wangtrakuldee founded Philadelphia-based AmorSui after a chemical spill in the lab where he worked burned off his standard lab coat. Two years ago, she ended up needing a $25,000 loan after signing a $1 million contract with the VA. She received an interest-free loan from the foundation, which she helped finance, leading to an additional $5 million deal.

Entrepreneurs who participate in the program grow faster, exceed $1 million in annual revenue, 10 times the national average, and stay in business longer, according to the foundation. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of businesses are still in business after five years, compared to the national average of 50%.

Only recently has Birch, now the company’s executive chairman and chief creative officer, decided to open up more about the hard work he’s been through. So women like Kathy Abel, Pilar Guzmán, and Beau Wantrakurdi can see what’s possible. “The last 20 years have been 20 amazing years. Exhausting, challenging and sometimes brutal,” she says.

Six or seven years ago, she called an investor and was told to never confuse purpose with business. “I had just been to a Forbes event, and I said, ‘You know what? They said purpose and business go hand in hand.’ And he said, ‘Okay, what do you want?’ And I said, ‘Obviously, let’s check the basics.’

He sent a check that year and every year since.

Wendy Naugle is USA TODAY’s entertainment editor. Follow her on Instagram @wendy_naugle.

Should you max out your 401(k)? The answer may surprise you

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Everyone is different, and so is the decision to retire.

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There’s no denying the role 401(k)s have played in saving for retirement. For example, Fidelity Investments looked at its clients’ accounts in 2025 and found that 512,000 of them will become millionaires from 401(k) contributions alone. It’s only for Fidelity account holders.

In other words, retirement accounts play an important role in how ordinary Americans plan for their retirement.

A compelling case for getting the most out of your 401(k)

Here are some of the benefits of maxing out your retirement accounts.

  • Tax savings: Every dollar you contribute to your 401(k) reduces your taxable income for the year.
  • Employer matching: If your employer offers to match a portion of your monthly contributions, it doesn’t make much sense to leave that money on the table.
  • Forced discipline: Contributions to your 401(k) are automatic, so you don’t have the opportunity to spend your money any other way. Willpower is no longer required.
  • Tax-deferred compounding: Funds contributed to a 401(k) grow without having to pay taxes on interest, dividends, or capital gains, like taxable brokerage accounts.
  • Protection from creditors: 401(k) assets are protected from lawsuits, creditors, and even bankruptcy in most states.

You may not want to max out your 401(k)

There’s no denying that access to a 401(k) can help you build wealth, but the advice to “max out” your account may not be right for you. Here’s why:

  • Money is locked up: Funds contributed to a 401(k) generally cannot be accessed without penalty until age 59 1/2. With some exceptions, such as withdrawals for needy people, your money has been largely out of reach for decades.
  • Some 401(k)s are better than others. Each 401(k) plan runs under its own specific set of rules. If the 401(k) plan you’re offered offers decent investment options or high fees, your best bet may be to only contribute enough to qualify for a company match.
  • You may wish you had invested more in an after-tax account. After you retire, you may find yourself wishing you had made partial contributions to your 401(k). and Some of it goes into one or two after-tax accounts, from which you can someday withdraw it tax-free.

How to know if you should max out your 401(k)

Before deciding whether to make the most of your account, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Do you have high-interest debt you need to pay off? If you’re paying more on your debt than you’re earning in your investment account, it may be time to divert some of the funds you’re contributing to pay off that high-interest debt.
  2. Do you have an emergency fund? Ideally, you’ll aim to have an easily accessible emergency fund with enough funds to cover three to six months’ worth of expenses.
  3. Am I aiming for early retirement? If you plan to retire by age 59 1/2, you may want to divert some of the funds you would normally contribute to a 401(k) to an account that you can access penalty-free.

As with most things in life, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. What’s best for you depends entirely on the specifics of your current situation and your future needs.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Will GA be able to elect Democratic leaders in the midterm elections? Experts talk about the content of public opinion polls

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Georgia’s midterm election season is in full swing, with voters heading to the polls in next week’s primaries.

Early voting for the primary election begins April 27th, and Election Day is May 19th statewide. A marathon debate will be held over three days starting Sunday, giving candidates across the state a chance to make their final claims.

Dozens of seats, from governor to school board, will be on the ballot this year as the country’s political situation remains tense. Midterm elections are always a referendum on which party is in power, but this year, perhaps more than ever before, Republicans across the country will have to explain their low approval ratings in Washington, D.C.

In the Peach State, retired Brigadier General Sean Harris had the best performance in Democratic history in the recent runoff election in the 14th Congressional District, even if he didn’t deliver a victory in the deep red parts of the state. Trump-supporting Republican District Attorney Clay Fuller won the seat once held by controversial former MAGA star Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Harris’ near-success raises an important question for the rest of the state: Will Georgia lean blue in the midterm elections?

Georgia gubernatorial election poll

An Echelon Insights poll released April 21 showed Democrats leading in both Georgia primary elections.

In the gubernatorial race, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, will likely defeat Brad Raffensperger, Rick Jackson, or Bert Jones, with one of them likely to become the Republican candidate.

According to the poll, Mr. Bottoms won 49% of the vote compared to 43% for Mr. Jones, also beating Mr. Jackson by a tie. Mr. Raffensperger came in first with 46% of the vote to Mr. Bottoms’ 44%.

The poll did not compare the Republican candidate to other potential Democratic candidates, such as Jeff Duncan, Michael Thurmond, and Jason Esteves.

georgia senate polls

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking re-election unopposed in the primary for his U.S. Senate seat, but polls also show he has an edge over his Republican challenger in the general midterm election.

Against Buddy Carter, Ossoff won 52% to 43%. In the race against Mike Collins, Ossoff narrowly won with 51% of the vote to Collins’ 44%. The poll did not compare Mr. Ossoff to Mr. Kemp’s favored candidate, Derek Dooley.

But Andra Gillespie, an associate professor of political science at Emory University, cautions against reading too much into the polls. In Georgia, only 407 people were surveyed, with a margin of error of 6.5 percentage points.

“The biggest problem with these polls is that the sample size is low, so with a 6.5 percentage point margin of error, someone would have to lead by more than 13 points to be able to statistically say they’re in the lead,” Gillespie said in an interview with USA TODAY. “If you’re looking for granularity, I think you need a larger sample size.”

That said, given the number of candidates and their name recognition on both sides of the ticket, the primaries in these two races are likely headed for runoffs, Gillespie said. If necessary, a runoff election will be held in June.

“When you have this many candidates, especially when so many candidates have that profile, there’s a very good chance that one of them won’t get 50% of the vote,” Gillespie said. “That means there are two options on the MAGA side and two options on the establishment side for the Republican vote.”

Gillespie said the Democratic Party has “very qualified candidates” who will divide Georgia’s liberal wing.

The special election was a ‘harbinger of Democratic enthusiasm’

While the vote count may not go well, Sean Harris’ turnout in Georgia’s 14th District earlier this month bodes well for Democrats across the state.

“I think the results are indicative of the mood and consistent with some of what people are seeing in some of the national polling that Democrats are more engaged in this election,” Gillespie said. “If there’s more excitement on the Democratic side, you’d expect turnout to go up and voter support for Democratic candidates to increase. After all, in midterm years, it’s not uncommon for the president’s party to lose seats in Congress, so I would expect Democrats to do better than in previous years…I think that bodes well for Democratic enthusiasm.”

The leading candidates in the gubernatorial race appear to be largely united on issues, supporting repealing the six-week heart rate bill, expanding Medicaid, and pausing the development of new AI data centers. But while each candidate has name recognition, each has issues that need to be addressed if they are to win over centrist Republicans.

Keisha Lance Bottoms was the mayor of Atlanta and had a lot of support in the metropolitan area, but she chose to serve only one term before serving in the Biden administration. Jeff Duncan also has a lot of support, but just four years ago, as a Republican, he served as lieutenant governor under Brian Kemp and supported an anti-abortion law that he now plans to repeal. Michael Thurmond has been in politics for decades, working in a variety of fields, but some worry that he doesn’t fit in with the new brand of the Democratic Party, which is ushering in a new generation of leaders. Jason Estevez has been gaining momentum late in the race, but it’s unclear if he has enough name recognition in the state to challenge the top three.

Ossoff is the incumbent in the Senate race and will run unopposed in the primary election with the United Democratic Party on his side. He is campaigning across the state, which Gillespie said is essential to winning. But he’s not just at odds with Republicans. He’s also trying to outperform past Democrats.

“In Sen. Ossoff’s case, the fact that he’s an incumbent may actually be an advantage for him, but he’s going to have to organize in the states and as part of that mobilization effort, part of his winning strategy, he’s going to do better than expected or outperform Kamala Harris and Joe Biden in some of the states that they were expected to lose,” Gillespie said. “So we’re not just winning in blue parts of the state; we’re actually outperforming in red parts of the state. What Sean Harris has done is conceptually prove that this is possible. Now we just need to scale it up and do it in every other Republican congressional district in the state.”

USA TODAY has reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comment on the race and is awaiting a response.

Republicans go back to basics

Republicans within the party and in the state are warning red candidates not to get too comfortable in Georgia.

Governor Kemp said in a recent interview that Republicans have a “tough cycle” ahead of them.

“I’ve been telling many Republicans, no matter who the president is, midterm elections with a Republican president are already tough enough and we’d better stay focused on 2026,” Kemp said. “If we don’t stay as focused as we were back (in 2018), we’re very close to winning again in the Georgia governor’s race and making a comeback in the Senate race, so that’s what we need to focus on.”

After leaving the Trump bubble, Marjorie Taylor Greene has also expressed her dissatisfaction with the party by speaking out about Epstein and the Iran war.

“We can’t afford to spend any amount of money to lie to voters and get them to vote Republican right now,” she wrote in an April 22 post on X in response to Democrats’ victory in Virginia’s redistricting. “If Trump and the Republican Party had made good on their promises, things would have been different.”

Bert Jones and Rick Jackson are both vying for MAGA votes in the gubernatorial race, but only one has the president’s support. Both candidates, who have been leading the Republican Party in polls so far, are spending much of their political capital competing against each other to avoid a runoff.

Governor Kemp’s endorsement has done little to help Derek Dooley, who is trailing Buddy Carter and Mike Collins in the Senate race. While their campaign is primarily focused on the upcoming Democratic race this summer, they are also targeting Ossoff’s voting record and the recent TSA disruption at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

But Republicans are clinging to many of the same talking points they used in the 2020, 2022 and 2024 elections.

“Jon Ossoff was an ally of lawbreakers, fought for men in women’s sports, and tried to block the largest middle-class tax cut in history,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Hall told USA TODAY in an email. “Keisha Lance Bottoms defunded the police, closed small businesses, and pushed Joe Biden’s radical agenda. The Democratic Party brand is a toxic, failed disaster, and Republicans are looking forward to forcing these crazy businesses to respond to their extremism.”

Gillespie said that among the Republican base, that’s not really the issue in the primary or general election. Let’s talk about the president.

“I think Bert Jones is not just a staunch ally of Trump, but a loyal ally of Trump. So it’s strange that he would try to soften himself. It doesn’t fit his brand, and I don’t think it’s part of his DNA,” Gillespie said. “I think the really interesting strategy is Rick Jackson’s, because he’s new to politics. I’m curious to know whether aligning so squarely with the MAGA platform was a strategic or advantageous choice for him.”

Eileen Wright is an Atlanta Connect reporter for USA Today’s Deep South Connect team, covering the Georgia midterm race. X Find her at @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

Ranking 10th biggest stolen base and best value

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  • Several teams found potential bargains on Days 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
  • Injuries and physical measurements were factors that led to some prospects being taken out of the draft.
  • CB Keonte Scott, selected by the Bucks, may be the biggest bargain of this draft.

The 2026 NFL Draft still feels fresh, but some teams must have come out of the exercise confident they’ve unearthed the latest big bargain. However, only a handful are proven correct.

Making big hits on the second and third days of the draft and generating substantial surplus value could be a fast track to revamping a roster and becoming one of the league’s top contenders. But in reality, a select few players provide the huge returns that every franchise seeks in their selections. Still, this year’s event featured several choices that stood out for their potential payoffs.

Here are the 10 biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.

There is plenty of depth at center this year, with at least four players ranked as close candidates to be starters early in their careers. Two of them, Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter, were eliminated in the second round. Lou hung around much longer, despite not being noticeably behind either player in any phase. The torn anterior cruciate ligament he sustained in October likely weighed on his draft stock. The Bengals could ask veteran Ted Karras to mentor Lue before taking over the Auburn product as Joe Burrow’s pivot long-term.

9. Emmett Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (5th round)

It was a tough year for the running back group, taking just three in the first three rounds. Johnson was one of the backs who was viewed with skepticism until the Chiefs called up the Nebraska standout midway through Day 3. For runners who don’t have a breakthrough strategy, it may not be easy to achieve great results. But Johnson has the size to evade and barrel through would-be tacklers at point-blank range, and he’s comfortable taking on the heavy workload of a pass catcher. The Chiefs would be wise not to overload Kenneth Walker III, who is used to operating in a timeshare from his time in Seattle, with new talent. That could mean quite a few chances for Johnson early on.

8. Joshua Josephs, Delaware State, Washington Commanders (5th round)

It’s hard to find an edge rusher with enough athleticism to be a real factor in putting pressure on the quarterback after Day 2. Joseph could also be considered an exception. The 6-3, 242-pound edge rusher troubles opposing blockers with his long arms, is quick off the line of scrimmage, and can overwhelm opponents early on. He has little consistency in actually making his way to quarterback and requires a plan built on more than just determination. However, managers could slowly bring him in behind Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, with the latter potentially being replaced after this season.

7. Jayshawn Barham, LB, Dallas Cowboys (3rd round)

Barham offered a less straightforward projection than many of his peers due to his size (6-4, 240 pounds) and limited usage at edge rusher until his final season at Michigan. But what was immediately apparent was his overall talent for creating chaos. Upon transferring to Maryland, his intensity instantly increased and he was able to quickly get to quarterbacks and ball carriers. The Cowboys will start him at off-ball linebacker, where his responsibilities will certainly be more complex than just finding and chasing the ball. But it may not be long before defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants to get more reps for a player who can be a mainstay in opposing backfields.

6. Kyle Lewis, LB/S, Miami Dolphins (4th round)

Louie doesn’t fit into the typical position bucket, so some creativity will be required to get the most out of the 6-0, 220-pound hybrid defender. But for a team with patience and defensive vision, the Pitt product could be a versatile coverage asset and all-around playmaker. The Dolphins are building a team from the ground up, so new head coach Jeff Hafley will be able to find a way to unlock Louie’s dynamic abilities according to his plans.

5. Chandler Rivers, CB, Baltimore Ravens (5th round)

A modest 5-10, 185-pound frame appears to be the only thing standing in the way of Rivers’ professional prospects. But aside from playing against huge targets, experienced and savvy cornerbacks can handle just about anything thrown at them. A move to this slot should alleviate the biggest concerns about his game. In Baltimore, that could mean learning under four-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey as a rookie before potentially replacing him in 2027.

4. Keith Abney II, CB, Detroit Lions (5th round)

With a plethora of talented cornerbacks still available early in the third day, Abney and several other talented coverage players paid for the buyer’s market. His size may have played a big role in his evaluation, and some teams must have doubted whether he could hold up on the outside. However, quarterbacks who target Abney do so at their own peril. His 12 pass breakups last season proved how easily he can find the ball whenever tested. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Shepard should appreciate his versatility, instincts and physical ability.

3. Emmanuel Preignon, G, Jacksonville Jaguars (3rd round)

The Jaguars’ general manager is the one who engineered one of this year’s more bizarre draft classes, with some head-scratching moves filling the team’s efforts on Days 2 and 3. Still, few would argue with Pregnon’s choice. A sixth-year senior who transferred from USC after starting his career at the University of Wyoming, the 6-4, 314-pound blocker blossomed into an All-American last season. His age and pedestrian athleticism will put him behind top-35 draft picks like Olaiba Vega Ioane, Kieran Rutledge and Chase Visontis. But Preignon is adept at picking holes in ball carriers and is more than capable as a pass protector. He could be a high-end starter, responding to interest in continuing to strengthen Jacksonville’s ground game.

2. Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins (3rd round)

Bell might have had a strong claim to the first round if not for the torn ACL he suffered in November. Instead, his wait was extended until the end of the second day. At 6-2, 220 pounds, he has drawn comparisons to AJ Brown, which are lofty but not unfounded. Like the bulky former Mississippi State receiver, Bell’s usage at Louisville (which consisted primarily of drags and slants) obscured his true ability as a downfield weapon. If he can regain his explosiveness and become a more accurate and sensitive route runner, he could be a nightmare matchup for the Dolphins’ offense, which is starting from scratch.

The Auburn transfer’s breakout season in Miami helped fuel the Hurricanes’ surprising run to the national championship game. But in this year’s draft, Scott seemed to be down for his age — he turns 25 in August — and has only played one year as an elite player. He eventually found the right role from the slot where his talents as an agent of chaos played out, and his best work came as a blitzer. The Buccaneers have cycled through several nickel options in recent years, but the addition of Scott could allow them to move Jacob Parrish to the outside to anchor the secondary. And Todd Bowles’ scheme should allow him to continue producing splash plays at an incredible rate.

Longevity influencer Kayla Barnes-Lentz follows this strict routine

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AUSTIN — Overhead lights and lamps in homes change from bright yellow to soft orange. Every room features custom furniture that is free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Other features include a hyperbaric chamber, a PEMF machine, a sauna with built-in red light therapy, a home gym, and a cold plunge pool. Air purifiers protect the occupants of your home from all harmful substances that enter from the outside. Say what you like about longtime entrepreneur Kayla Burns-Lentz: This woman is methodical.

The 35-year-old is the most publicly measured woman in the world and has developed a cult following as the first woman to undergo an ovarian biological age test. Her ovaries are 30, not 35, thank you.

After living on a diet of Pop Tarts and toaster strudel, Burns-Lentz chose to study nutrition in college. Although she didn’t graduate, that didn’t stop her from learning all she could about how to live a healthy lifestyle, including earning certifications and growing her business, Burnslenz said. She opened her clinic LYV in Ohio in 2018 (retiring in 2025), aiming to improve health metrics in the process. Research doesn’t necessarily support everything she does, and some experts worry that her legion of fans may be misled by the data she shares widely.

Burns-Lentz has equipped LYV with a medical team that strives to give patients a deeper look into their health than a typical doctor’s visit. Bowel exam, advanced thyroid panel, total toxin test. She was the clinic’s first patient. And she began publishing her results in 2019.

“I said, ‘Guys, why don’t we develop the most science-backed protocol for longevity?’ Essentially, that’s what I was thinking about: How healthy can I make myself?” she says.

She discovered some differences early on that distinguish her personal data from previous studies conducted on men. For example, calorie restriction disrupted menstruation.

“For the first time, I had irregular periods. My thyroid started to fail. I ended up being prescribed thyroid medication. So I took a step back and thought, ‘Okay, wait a second, this doesn’t seem right,'” she says.

Burns-Lentz’s experience is not surprising. For example, two-thirds of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease occur in women, but they are not proportionally represented in research. As of 1993, women were only required to participate in clinical research, not to mention that only 1% of federal funding went to women-specific research outside of cancer. It’s the Wild West for women’s health and longevity, and Burns-Lentz is at the helm.

“We live in exciting times.”

Reading the complete Barnes-Lentz protocol is like trying to read a dictionary from A to Z at once. There’s nothing left to take in all. However, you can certainly pick and choose which factors to focus on, such as what scans she recommends, what supplements or prescriptions she takes, and a general picture of her daily life.

If you read too quickly, you may miss important medical disclaimers. “This website, including the experimental results presented, is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services,” it says. “The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Persons seeking medical advice should consult a qualified physician.” Other longevity practitioners, including Brian Johnson, have posted similar messages on their sites. She also emphasized that she prioritizes the basics of sleep, exercise, stress management, nutrition, and connection over many devices.

A snapshot of her protocol: She wakes up naturally at 5 a.m. every day, takes a body composition test, then works out and does red light therapy in the sauna. Breakfast follows. She rotates what she eats, but it always includes fermented foods, proteins, vegetables, and a Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt bowl. Her plates sometimes include eggs, salmon, vegetables, arugula, and spinach. She mixes collagen peptides and countless fibrous seeds in a yogurt bowl. She strives to get 40 grams of fiber per day and 60 grams of protein from breakfast alone.

After starting work at noon, she goes for a walk, puts on a red-light laser cap, and spends an hour in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. She starts making an organic dinner around 2 or 2:30 p.m., eats at 3 p.m., takes her evening supplements, and is in bed by 8 p.m. (she has an entire room in her home dedicated to supplements, but she emphasizes that she doesn’t take them all). My stomach rarely grumbles, but if it does in the evening, I drink plain or carbonated water.

Barnes-Lentz posts all her results, but that doesn’t mean every woman’s results mirror hers. She credits her ovarian age with lowering her ovarian age to longevity efforts, in which she and her husband, Warren Lentz, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment and tested its effectiveness at Timeless Biotech, the company she advises.

How does an ovarian age test work? “It requires some standard biomarkers that we had access to, but now we have machine learning capabilities,” she says. These biomarkers include lean body mass, height, weight, and onset of first menstrual cycle, as well as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen levels.

Research has not yet confirmed that lowering your biological age in any organ can help you live longer. But this data means Burns-Lentz can consider interventions to improve her health. While she can’t pinpoint the exact reason why her ovarian age is so low, she says, “Now that we have that baseline, we only have one additional intervention (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) besides the basic lifestyle,” so she may be able to understand what effect it has had on her body when she reexamines her body next month. Burns Lentz and her husband hope to have children someday.

But what exactly does this information tell us? “While her followers believe that her ovaries are five years younger as a result of her protocol, that causal inference is completely unfounded by the data,” says Dr. Eric Berdin, president and CEO of the Buck Institute on Aging. “The science of ovarian aging deserves serious research investment. What it doesn’t pay for is anecdotes fabricated as evidence by large platforms.”

That said, “we doctors who are busy with work may not be able to do the great job she does in spotlighting preventive medicine,” says the osteopathic internist, who also specializes in lifestyle medicine and emergency medicine, and “particularly infertility medicine. When there’s so much buzz about ovaries, you might not be able to do the great job that she does of really starting a conversation that makes people go, ‘Oh, you should think about how fast your ovaries are aging.’

“Things like this are completely normal to me.”

Barnes-Lentz has built a cohort of physicians, nutritionists, and other health care providers to help inform protocols and consult with specific physicians about specialized treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, peptides, and therapeutic plasma exchange.

She earns money from affiliate links on her website and charges $19 a month for a private membership that allows her followers to ask questions directly about the protocol. However, she is not the source of income for the family.

She and her husband co-own a sauna company, Heavenly Heat Saunas. Before their first date, she asked him to undergo a myriad of tests, as well as a biomarker screening.

“If a man is going to take a stool sample for you, he’s going to cooperate long-term,” she joked during a panel discussion at SXSW in March. They had their first date in a multi-person hyperbaric chamber. She said clearly: Do you really want to come in? If pressure is applied, it will not be able to move for a while. He was down, but four months later, in 2023, they got married. She wants to live as long as he did, preferably well into her 100s.

Tests never stop in the home they share. Gadgets are spilling out of the cabinets. The toilet is equipped with a device that photographs all fecal and urine deposits. “By the way, this kind of thing is very normal for me,” she added.

Many people ask Barnes-Lentz if she is having fun or enjoying life. She must be very miserable, they think. But she says that’s not the case.

“Who decided that fun meant staying out until 3 in the morning?” she wondered during the panel discussion. “Who decided that alcohol was the only way to celebrate? Who decided this?”

Donald Trump’s surreal White House press conference after the shooting

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The president and reporters were all dressed up for a party at the Washington Hilton. They ended up at the White House trying to make sense of another story of shocking political violence.

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WASHINGTON – One of the year’s most elegant and highly anticipated parties, with speakers and interrogators in tuxedos and evening gowns, took on a surreal appearance in the White House press briefing room, turning it into a crime scene instead.

President Donald Trump, wearing a black tie, was evacuating the Washington Hilton when a gunman opened fire outside the banquet hall that houses some of America’s highest levels of power and influence. Safely back in the White House, the president was flanked by Cabinet members who typically meet during business hours to discuss tougher issues like tariffs and farm policy.

Vice President J.D. Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin joined President Trump on stage in the briefing room. First Lady Melania Trump was flanked by Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Reporters rushed in from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to find women in colorful satin gowns and men in black bow ties and shiny tuxedos scrambling to make sense of a shocking new story of political violence in a country where it has become all too common.

“I saw a lot of tuxedos and beautiful dresses. It was a little different night than I expected, but I’ll do it again,” the president said.

President Trump said the police officer who was injured in the attack but was saved by a bulletproof vest is “doing well” and in good condition.

“He was shot at close range with a very powerful weapon. The vest did its job,” Trump said.

Trump added: “I spoke with the police officer and everything is going well.” “He’s doing great. He’s very energetic. And we told him we love him and respect him. He’s a very proud man. He’s proud of his work.”

The press briefing room where President Trump spoke was named after President Ronald Reagan’s press secretary, James Brady. Mr. Brady and Mr. Reagan were both shot in 1981 at the same hotel that Mr. Trump had just left.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been postponed. President Trump claimed there would be another party in 30 days, bigger and better than ever.

“I’m ready, I’m willing, I’m capable,” Trump said. “I don’t know if I’ll be as rowdy as I plan on being,” he said of his traditionally humorous speech.

Trump was shot in the ear during a 2024 campaign rally. Another would be the assassin who was arrested after stalking him on his golf course. Reporters asked whether it was possible to lower the temperature of political debate.

President Trump said that while politics is a dangerous profession, he lives a “very normal life considering it’s a dangerous life.”

“I think we’re handling it as well as we can,” President Trump said. “I’m not a basket case. I take it for what it is. I’m doing it for my country.”

The president said when he first heard it, he thought a tray had fallen. A loud bang caused the crowd to duck under the table.

Trump was seated on a raised podium but was quickly removed. He said he wanted to return to continue the dinner, but the event was ultimately canceled. Law enforcement said they immediately took the suspect into custody.

“It’s always a shock when something like this happens, and that will never change,” Trump said. “I heard a noise and thought it was Tray.”

“It was quite far away, but it was a gun,” he added.