A gunman broke through security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and had written a manifesto. Authorities are investigating the attacker’s possible motives, which seemed to target President Donald Trump and his senior staff.
Key Facts
The incident happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC.
The attacker penetrated a security perimeter at the event.
The gunman had written a manifesto before the attack.
Investigators are still examining why the attacker targeted President Trump and his aides.
BBC State Department correspondent Tom Bateman was present during the event and has shared details.
The event’s security procedures are under review following the incident.
The podcast Americast covered this story with interviews and analysis.
President Donald Trump was inside and the main focus of the attack.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Leonie Hughes grew up in a difficult home with domestic abuse and responsibilities beyond her years. Despite being expelled from school and facing many challenges, she worked hard, eventually studying law and becoming a barrister, inspiring many with her story.
Key Facts
Leonie Hughes grew up on a council estate in north-west London with a mother who suffered domestic abuse.
At age 11, she took on the role of caretaker for her baby sister.
She was expelled from school at 15 due to disruptive behavior caused by trauma and neglect at home.
Instead of attending a school for disruptive students, she studied in the local library and was allowed to sit for exams.
She completed a BTEC Business course and then A-levels, becoming deputy head girl at her school.
Initially interested in becoming a personal trainer, she chose to study law to prove doubters wrong and support her family’s reputation.
Hughes was the first in her family to attend university, moving to Manchester in 2015 to study law.
Her story has been widely shared on social media, receiving support for overcoming adversity to become a barrister.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Sasse, a former Nebraska senator diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, spoke about Congress's focus on small political battles instead of big issues like artificial intelligence and the future. He urged lawmakers to be more thoughtful and productive, suggesting changes like a bigger House of Representatives to better represent people.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given 3-4 months to live, but has since received extra time thanks to prayer and an experimental drug.
Sasse criticized Congress for being stuck in partisan fights and not addressing major long-term problems.
He highlighted artificial intelligence as a key issue Congress is ignoring, believing it will drastically change the economy and work.
Sasse thinks politicians focus too much on pleasing small groups and social media encourages stubbornness instead of learning.
He proposed expanding the House from 435 to 2,000 members, so representatives serve fewer people each.
Sasse wants the Senate to focus on serious debates and avoid petty conflicts.
He worries about the survival of the U.S. republic in the future unless people engage in thoughtful discussion and build strong communities.
Sasse sees AI as both exciting and dangerous because it will make many tasks cheaper but also disrupt jobs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator, was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and is now living longer than doctors expected thanks to a new drug in a clinical trial. He reflects on his life, encourages more honest self-reflection, and calls for serious national discussions about important issues like artificial intelligence and the future of work.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer in late 2023.
Doctors initially gave him three to four months to live, but he has already outlived that estimate.
He is participating in a clinical trial for a drug called daraxonrasib, which blocks a defective gene that causes cancer cells to grow.
The drug has reduced Sasse’s tumor size by 76% and lowered his pain levels.
Recent drug trial results show patients live about 13 months on daraxonrasib versus six months on chemotherapy.
Sasse is a former Republican senator from Nebraska who resigned in 2023 to lead the University of Florida.
He urges Congress to focus less on political fights and more on long-term challenges like AI and changing job markets.
Sasse calls for Americans to strengthen their local communities rather than fixate on national political divisions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Sasse, a former senator from Nebraska, talked about America's past and future in an interview with Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes. He is currently battling metastatic pancreatic cancer, a serious form of cancer that has spread in his body.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse is a former U.S. senator from Nebraska.
He has metastatic pancreatic cancer, which means the cancer has spread to other parts of his body.
Sasse gave an extended interview to Scott Pelley on the TV program 60 Minutes.
The interview discussed lessons from America's history and ideas about its future.
The extended interview aired on April 26, 2026.
The version available in the article is a shortened form of the full interview for clarity.
CBS News provided the interview video and article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, is dying of pancreatic cancer but is using his remaining time to talk about important issues like rebuilding communities, regulating artificial intelligence, and fixing politics. He believes Congress is not addressing big future challenges like changes in work caused by technology.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse is 54 years old and has pancreatic cancer.
A new drug treatment is giving him more time to share his thoughts.
Sasse is a conservative Republican known for independent thinking.
He has a PhD in American history and once criticized senators for not doing their job.
He wants to focus on big topics like community rebuilding and AI regulation.
Sasse says Congress ignores major issues like the future of work and national security.
He believes technology will change jobs drastically and Congress isn’t prepared.
Sasse served as a college president before becoming a senator in 2014 and stayed connected to his home state by working local jobs during Senate breaks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator who is dying of cancer, shared his thoughts in a 60 Minutes interview. He talked about America's future and emphasized the importance of faith, community, and family.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse is a former U.S. senator.
He is currently facing a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Sasse used the interview to discuss deeper topics beyond politics.
He reflected on the future of the United States.
Sasse highlighted the roles of faith, community, and family in life.
The interview was featured on the television program 60 Minutes.
The content was available through CBS News and their app.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A gunman attacked the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where President Donald Trump, the first lady, and other officials were present. Security quickly evacuated everyone after shots were fired, and investigators are studying the motive behind the attack by a 31-year-old teacher from California who targeted the Trump administration.
Key Facts
The attack occurred last night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C.
More than 2,500 guests, including President Trump, the first lady, the vice president, and cabinet members, attended the event.
Shots were fired near the event, causing guests to take cover and security to respond immediately.
The alleged gunman is a 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California.
The attacker sent a "manifesto" to his family before the incident, stating he targeted members of the Trump administration.
The gunman’s family had previously reported concerns about his behavior to the police.
President Trump said he was not worried during the incident and described the attacker as a troubled individual.
Security evacuated the president and vice president quickly, within seconds to a safe location.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump spoke about his experience at the White House Correspondents' Dinner during a 60 Minutes interview. He described a situation where a gunman rushed toward the ballroom but said he was not worried and praised the police for their response.
Key Facts
President Trump gave an interview on the TV show 60 Minutes in 2026.
He talked about the White House Correspondents' Dinner event.
During the event, a gunman charged toward the ballroom.
President Trump said he was not worried during the incident.
He praised law enforcement officers for their quick actions to handle the situation.
The interview was shown on CBS News.
The event took place while President Trump was in office.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump's Justice Department is pressing a group called the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit that blocks building a $400 million ballroom at the White House site. The government argues that a shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner showed the current venue is unsafe, and the new ballroom would improve security for future events.
Key Facts
The shooting happened outside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday.
The dinner was attended by about 2,300 people, including President Trump.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December to stop Trump's plan to build a ballroom where the East Wing of the White House used to be.
The ballroom construction costs $400 million and is mostly funded by private donations, but public funds are used for security upgrades and a bunker.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate say the Hilton is too small and unsafe for events with the president.
The Justice Department gave the preservation group a deadline to drop their lawsuit by Monday morning or face court action.
Some Republican lawmakers support the ballroom, calling it a security necessity.
Even some Democrats, like Senator John Fetterman, said the ballroom would be useful for important events and improve safety.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A tornado-producing storm struck northern Texas, killing at least two people and causing major damage to homes. Emergency crews are working to clear debris and help residents despite power outages and blocked roads.
Key Facts
The tornado hit Runaway Bay and Springtown, two towns northwest of Fort Worth, Texas.
One person died in Runaway Bay, and another died near Springtown.
The storm caused significant damage to many homes and displaced at least 20 families.
An EF-2 tornado with winds up to 135 mph touched down in Runaway Bay.
An EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph was confirmed near Springtown.
The tornado moved slowly southeast around 10 p.m. Saturday, passing west of Fort Worth.
Widespread power outages are affecting many residents in the affected areas.
Emergency responders face challenges due to blocked roads and downed power lines.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has done very few interviews with national media in 2025, preferring to avoid mainstream press and only speaking with outlets she trusts or on safe topics. Her team says she is cautious and uses her strong social media presence instead of traditional interviews, though some Democrats worry this strategy could hurt her in the long run.
Key Facts
AOC has given only three national media interviews in 2025.
She mainly talks to ideologically sympathetic reporters or on politically safe subjects.
AOC has a large social media following, with 9.6 million Instagram followers.
She is cautious about handling national media and avoids frequent interviews.
Some Democratic operatives think avoiding the press might harm her media skills.
Her approach contrasts with other potential 2028 Democratic candidates who do many interviews.
AOC’s chief of staff says she answers questions daily and is accessible to reporters in Capitol Hill.
This strategy differs from that of Senator Bernie Sanders, who often engaged with press during campaigns.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Investigators are examining anti-Trump feelings as a possible motive for a man who tried to attack the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where President Donald Trump and senior officials were present. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, wrote a manifesto listing Trump administration members as targets and expressed anger about their actions.
Key Facts
The attacker tried to enter the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, where President Trump and top officials were attending.
The suspect is Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California.
Allen wrote a manifesto listing Trump administration officials as his main targets.
He sent his family writings expressing anger about the administration about 10 minutes before the shooting.
The manifesto calls Allen the "Friendly Federal Assassin" and explains his reasons for the attack.
Allen traveled from California to Washington, DC, and stayed at the hotel hosting the dinner.
Authorities confirmed Allen legally bought weapons in California and stored them at his parents’ home without their knowledge.
Officials are investigating the shooting as a possible assassination attempt on President Trump and other officials.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
This year’s White House Correspondents' Dinner weekend highlighted big changes in Washington’s news scene, with new and smaller media companies hosting many events and drawing corporate sponsors. President Trump attended the dinner for the first time in years, leading to increased presence of Republican officials at various gatherings.
Key Facts
Many startup news outlets under 10 years old, like Axios and Semafor, hosted parties and events during the dinner weekend.
Corporate sponsors such as Boeing and Amazon supported these newer media events.
Traditional news outlets like The Washington Post and Paramount/CBS scaled back or changed their usual party formats.
President Donald Trump attended the dinner for the first time in years.
Several Republican officials attended events as guests of news organizations.
CBS News’ parent company Paramount hosted a dinner honoring President Trump, which DOJ officials attended.
Some events were hosted by partisan outlets, showing increasing political divisions in the news industry.
Talent agencies like CAA and UTA have become more active in Washington due to more opportunities for journalists on multiple platforms.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A gunman tried to break through security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner near the Washington Hilton, exchanging gunfire with Secret Service officers and injuring one officer. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was carrying multiple weapons and wrote a manifesto targeting President Trump and his administration. Former President Barack Obama called for calm and urged rejection of political violence after the incident.
Key Facts
The shooting happened just after 8:30 p.m. outside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, traveled to Washington D.C. several days before the attack and was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives.
Allen tried to pass through the security magnetometer and exchanged gunfire with Secret Service officers.
One Secret Service officer was hit in the chest but survived because of a bulletproof vest.
Allen wrote a manifesto calling himself a “friendly federal assassin” and aimed to target officials in President Trump’s administration.
The FBI and Secret Service are investigating Allen’s background, motives, and communications.
The attack is being treated as an attempted assassination directed at President Trump.
Former President Obama urged people to reject violence and praised the Secret Service for their courage.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An intruder at the recent White House Correspondents' Dinner caused a security breach that made officials question whether the event should continue at the Washington Hilton. President Donald Trump said the dinner will happen again in 30 days, but some media leaders doubt it will be the same as before.
Key Facts
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is a long-standing event that brings together politicians, journalists, and guests at the Washington Hilton.
An intruder caused a security scare at this year’s dinner, forcing secret service agents to quickly remove some cabinet members.
The Washington Hilton's basement ballroom, where the dinner takes place, holds over 2,000 people sitting very close together.
Security only checked guests before they entered the basement; the hotel’s upper floors were open to the public without special security.
Many guests at the event, including CEOs and diplomats, come with their own security teams.
Poor cell phone and Wi-Fi service in the ballroom made communication difficult during the incident.
Over recent years, government buildings have tightened security, but public venues like the Hilton are still easier to access.
President Trump attended this dinner for the first time while in office; he has attended smaller press events in public venues before.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh said that Congress needs to improve security for lawmakers after a shooting happened at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. He expressed this view during an interview on NewsNation’s program “The Hill Sunday.”
Key Facts
Rep. Abe Hamadeh is a Republican from Arizona.
The shooting took place at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Hamadeh called for Congress to take stronger security measures for lawmakers.
The comments were made during an interview on the show “The Hill Sunday” on NewsNation.
The issue discussed relates to the safety of government officials during public events.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Florida lawmakers are preparing to meet in a special session to discuss new congressional district lines. The potential changes may be challenged or blocked, creating uncertainty for current officeholders and election candidates.
Key Facts
Florida’s congressional district boundaries might change soon.
Lawmakers will have a special session starting Tuesday to talk about redistricting.
This session is Florida’s last chance for Republicans to redraw the House districts.
The possible new map could be rejected or stopped by courts.
Candidates and current officials do not yet know which districts they will be in.
The redistricting process affects how people are represented in Congress.
The uncertainty is causing confusion for those running for or holding office.
Redistricting happens regularly to reflect population changes after the census.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article shares the experiences of parents in Wales struggling with poverty and the rising cost of living. It highlights how many families, including single parents, rely on support from relatives and community programs to cope. Poverty affects about a third of Welsh children and has remained a problem for decades despite government efforts.
Key Facts
Rebecca, a single mother in Wales, struggles to provide for her three-year-old daughter due to poverty and relies on help from her own parents.
Danielle, another mother, often has to choose between emergencies and her children’s after-school activities because of limited money.
About 32% of children in Wales live in poverty, the highest rate in the UK.
The target to end child poverty was dropped by the Welsh government in 2016.
The Children's Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, urges the next Welsh government to bring back the goal to eliminate child poverty.
Cifuentes has seen families living with very low incomes and children struggling to afford school lunches and transportation.
Political parties in Wales propose measures like more free childcare and financial support for low-income families to ease living costs.
The upcoming Senedd election has different party plans to address poverty and the cost of living in Wales.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from California, was arrested after shooting a law enforcement officer at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. He has been linked to a political group called The Wide Awakes, which is named after a historical political movement from the 1860s.
Key Facts
Cole Tomas Allen is from Torrance, California, and was arrested after shooting an officer at an event in Washington, DC.
He faces charges including using a firearm during a violent crime and assault on an officer with a weapon.
Allen was connected to a political group called The Wide Awakes, originally a Republican group supporting Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s.
He legally purchased a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol in October 2023 and a shotgun the previous year.
Allen has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech and worked as a tutor and video game developer.
His sister reported that he made radical statements and spoke of a plan to fix national problems.
Authorities are investigating his motives, including a manifesto he left that ranked potential targets.
Allen traveled from California to Washington, DC, by train and stayed at a hotel near the event.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
