Month: April 2026

Tensions between President Trump and Fed. Reserve Chair Jerome Powell are intensifying ahead of a key leadership deadline at the Federal Reserve, with the president warning he could remove Powell if he does not step aside when his term as chair ends May 15.

Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business, Trump said, “Then I’ll have to fire him,” adding, “If he’s not leaving on time — I’ve held back firing him. I’ve wanted to fire him. But I hate to be controversial. I want to be uncontroversial.”

While Powell’s chairmanship expires in mid-May, his role as a Fed governor runs through 2028. He has indicated he may remain on the board—and potentially serve temporarily as acting chair—if a successor is not confirmed in time. “That’s what the law calls for. That’s what we’ve done on several occasions,” Powell said, while also noting, “I have no intention of leaving the board until the investigation is well and truly over with transparency and finality.”

Trump has nominated former Fed official Kevin Warsh to take over, but the confirmation process has stalled. Senator Thom Tillis has pledged to block progress until a Justice Department investigation into the Fed’s costly headquarters renovation is resolved.  The renovation—now costing billions more than initially planned—has become a central flashpoint. Trump has repeatedly demanded scrutiny, saying, “What they’ve done to that, so it is probably corrupt, but what it really is is incompetent, and we have to show the incompetence of that.” He also questioned the scale of spending, asking, “Don’t you think we have to find out what happened there?” Federal officials have attributed the overruns to unexpected issues like asbestos, soil contamination, and water table complications.

The investigation itself has faced setbacks. A judge rejected an attempt by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to subpoena Powell, citing a lack of evidence. Some lawmakers from both parties have also expressed skepticism about any alleged wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, legal experts note that removing a Fed chair is not straightforward. Under current law, a president can only dismiss a Federal Reserve official “for cause,” typically meaning serious misconduct—something Powell has not been found to have committed. Any attempt to oust him could trigger a prolonged legal fight. The uncertainty is further complicated by Trump’s ongoing push for faster interest rate cuts, a stance that has clashed with Powell’s more cautious approach. While Trump remains confident Warsh will ultimately take over, the combination of legal hurdles, political resistance, and the ongoing probe suggests the transition may be anything but smooth.

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A federal jury has concluded that Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster unlawfully maintained monopoly power in the ticketing business, capping off a closely watched antitrust trial that spanned several weeks and involved testimony from numerous witnesses.

The lawsuit itself traces back to earlier claims that Live Nation’s dominance harmed fans, artists, and venues alike. Although parts of the case were narrowed before trial, key issues—particularly around ticketing and major concert venues—remained central. The case, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice along with dozens of states, centered on allegations that the company controlled key parts of the live entertainment ecosystem, including ticket sales, concert promotion, and major venues. Jurors ultimately agreed that this level of control crossed legal boundaries.

State attorneys argued that the company’s dominance led to higher fees for fans, limited touring options for artists, and pressure on venues to stick with Ticketmaster. They also pointed to Ticketmaster’s commanding presence in the market, claiming it handled the vast majority of ticketing for large concert venues and accusing the company of reinforcing its position through long-term exclusive deals and tactics that discouraged venues from working with competitors. During closing arguments, attorney Jeffrey Kessler urged jurors to rely on practical judgment, telling them, “You’re New Yorkers. I trust that you know when someone is blowing smoke or being straight with you. Apply your common sense. It’s time to hold them accountable.”

Live Nation pushed back, arguing that its scale reflects decades of growth and competition rather than illegal conduct. Attorney David Marriott acknowledged the company’s size but maintained that success alone does not violate antitrust laws. “We are the biggest entertainment company and ticketer in the country. We’re not hiding from that fact,” he said, adding that being large is not unlawful and insisting the states failed to prove monopolistic behavior.

The verdict lands amid an unusual backdrop: a separate settlement reached between Live Nation and the Justice Department just weeks earlier. That agreement required the company to make changes such as limiting certain fees, loosening exclusive ticketing arrangements, and selling off a number of amphitheaters. It also included a substantial financial penalty. While federal officials said the deal would expand competition and lower costs, many state attorneys general declined to join it and continued pursuing their own case.

With the jury now siding with the states, the decision marks a significant challenge to Live Nation’s business practices and raises the possibility of further changes to how concerts are promoted, ticketed, and experienced across the country.

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A chaotic scene unfolded Tuesday morning in Omaha when officers shot and killed a woman accused of attacking a young child during an apparent kidnapping attempt at a Walmart.

Authorities say the incident began shortly after 9 a.m. when a 911 call captured a disturbing moment. According to Deputy Police Chief Scott Gray, “Another voice could be heard in the background, saying, ‘Stop. Keep walking,’” indicating something was already wrong inside the store.

Police arrived minutes later to find a woman outside holding a knife to a 3-year-old child seated in a shopping cart. Investigators say the child had been with a caretaker when the suspect approached, produced a large knife, and forced them out of the store. Officers issued commands as they confronted the woman, but the situation escalated quickly. “The officers gave the suspect commands,” Gray said. “There is video that shows the suspects swiping the knife at the child, cutting him across the face.” At that point, at least one officer opened fire, killing the woman at the scene.

The child suffered cuts to the face and hand and was taken to a nearby hospital. Officials say he is expected to recover. Police believe the suspect acted alone and had no known connection to the child or caretaker. It also appears the knife may have been taken from inside the store. A motive remains unclear.

The Omaha Police Department confirmed no officers were hurt and described the situation as isolated, adding there was no ongoing danger to the public. A spokesperson for Walmart responded to the incident, saying, “violence like this is unacceptable,” and confirmed the company is cooperating with investigators.

The store was temporarily closed as authorities processed the scene, while nearby traffic was briefly disrupted. An investigation into the circumstances leading up to the attack is ongoing.

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A new allegation has emerged against Rep. Eric Swalwell, adding to the growing controversy surrounding the California Democrat. Previous reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailed other accusations from multiple women against Swalwell, with one former staffer alleging he assaulted her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent. Others accused him of inappropriate behavior, including sending unsolicited explicit material or engaging in non-consensual contact.

On Tuesday, Lonna Drewes publicly accused the congressman of drugging, assaulting, and choking her during a 2018 encounter at a hotel in California. Speaking at a press conference alongside her legal team, Drewes described how what began as a professional connection escalated into an alleged attack. Drewes said her decision to speak out now was partly motivated by others who have shared their stories, explaining she wanted to “stand with the other women who have come forward.”

Drewes said Swalwell had previously offered to help her expand her software business and invited her to attend a political event. Instead, she claims, he brought her to his hotel room under the pretense of retrieving paperwork. “I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine,” Drewes said. “When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated, and I couldn’t move my arms or my body.” She went on to say, “He raped me and he choked me,” adding, “And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness and I thought I died.” Drewes stated she had met Swalwell twice before, describing those earlier interactions as friendly. She emphasized that the encounter was not consensual, saying, “I would never have engaged in a consensual sexual encounter with Eric Swalwell.”

She did not immediately report the alleged assault to authorities or undergo a forensic exam, but said she confided in close contacts, documented the incident in a personal calendar, and later discussed it during therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut. Her attorney, Lisa Bloom, confirmed that they intend to file a report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and that Drewes is prepared to cooperate fully with investigators.

Swalwell had announced Monday that he intends to resign from Congress following the mounting sexual misconduct allegations and growing bipartisan calls for his removal, with his decision coming just one day after he halted his campaign for governor of California. In a statement posted on X, Swalwell apologized to those close to him while defending himself against key claims, writing, “I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me.” He also addressed efforts to force his removal, stating, “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

The House Ethics Committee confirmed it had opened an investigation into the accusations, though that inquiry will end once Swalwell officially leaves office. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had been preparing to push for an expulsion vote if he did not step down, later saying, “He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation.”

Swalwell’s resignation shifts the balance in the House, reducing Democrats’ numbers as Republicans gain ground, including the anticipated swearing-in of a new member. The timing of Swalwell’s departure remains unclear, as he must formally submit his resignation to House leadership. Under California law, Gavin Newsom will decide whether to call a special election to fill the seat. Because the vacancy comes late in the term and after the candidate filing deadline, he may also opt to leave the position unfilled until the next election.

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