Saturday, April 4, 2026: “Eagle Down: US F-15E Shot Down Over Iran, Pilot Missing as April 6 Deadline Looms”

Your daily America First news brief. Madison Levant breaks down what matters.Breaking news dominates today’s episode. An American F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron was shot down by Iranian air defenses over western Iran – the first manned US aircraft lost to enemy fire in this war. One crew member was rescued by Black Hawk helicopters flying low over hostile territory in broad daylight, but the weapons systems officer is still missing behind enemy lines. Iran’s IRGC is hunting for him with a $60,000 bounty. An A-10 Warthog was also lost during the rescue mission, and two Black Hawks took fire. Iran has officially rejected ceasefire talks through Pakistan, calling it a dead end. The April 6 ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is just 48 hours away. Trump told NBC News the shootdown won’t affect negotiations: “It’s war.” Meanwhile, DHS shutdown hits Day 49 as Trump signs an executive order to pay all federal workers, bypassing Congress for the second time in a week.“New satisfying episodes daily. Subscribe and stay ahead of the news.”