Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 - Kash Patel Alcohol Test, VA Redistricting Drama, Iran Keeps Seizing Ships, Condoms Are Getting Pricier

Today's Headlines: Kash Patel is having a rough week — Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent him an alcohol screening questionnaire asking how many drinks he has per day and how often he can't remember the night before.. On the Iran front, the "ceasefire" is doing ceasefire things: Iran seized two more ships and fired on three others, though the White House says it doesn't count because they weren't American or Israeli ships — so apparently it's only a war if we say so. Believe it or not, a War Powers resolution failed for the fifth time, with the Senate voting 51-46 to reject. The Secretary of the Navy was also ousted — not a huge loss given he was a campaign donor with no military experience who appeared on Epstein's flight logs — but perhaps not ideal timing during an active naval conflict. Elsewhere in chaos, Georgia Rep. David Scott passed away at 80, making him the fifth member of Congress to die in the past year and a half, tipping the House balance further toward Republicans; a Republican-appointed judge voided Virginia's newly approved redistricting map the day after voters approved it; Truth Social replaced CEO Devin Nunes — who was paid $47 million while the company earned $4 million — with someone described as a "corporate babysitter"; and condom prices are going up 30% because of the Iran war, which is somehow both funny and bleak. Climate scientists are warning that the Atlantic Ocean's key current system is closer to collapse than previously thought, and a UN report found that climate change is driving surges in gender-based violence globally. In tech and surveillance news, unauthorized users on a private Discord server guessed their way into Anthropic's restricted Mythos model; Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan is apparently running a full surveillance operation on fans, employees, and former players; Palantir's CEO dropped a 22-point manifesto about AI weapons and Silicon Valley's "moral debt"; and Sam Altman's eyeball-scanning startup falsely claimed a partnership with Bruno Mars, which Bruno Mars and Live Nation immediately denied. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: Longtime Democratic Rep. David Scott dies at 80 CNN: Tazewell County judge bars certification of Virginia redistricting results; state AG promises appeal NBC News: Democrats want FBI Director Kash Patel to fill out alcohol use screening test WSJ: Iran War Live News Updates: Three Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz, Escorting Two to Its Coast CNN: US Navy Secretary Phelan ousted as naval blockade of Iran continues WSJ: Senate Rejects Fifth Attempt to Curb Trump’s War Powers People: Condom Prices to Rise by 30% as a Result of Iran War, Says CEO of World’s Largest Manufacturer MS Now: Devin Nunes steps down as CEO of Trump’s media company The Guardian: Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought | Oceans United Nations: Climate crisis driving surge in gender-based violence, UN study finds | UN News Bloomberg: Anthroopics Mythos Model being Accessed By Unauthorized Userses Wired: The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine Business Insider: Palantir's summary of CEO Alexander Karp's manifesto is generating buzz. Read the 22 bullet points. Wired: Sam Altman’s Orb Company Promoted a Bruno Mars Partnership That Doesn't Exist Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices