Hi Dip Fam,
Breaking down a big news day: the U.S. Navy boarded an Iranian cargo ship amid Strait shutdown, allegations about FBI Director Kash Patel’s conduct draw a $250 million lawsuit, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
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Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1980, a woman crossed the Boston Marathon finish line first and was declared the winner, only to be stripped of the title eight days later for what reason? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: shortcut)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Iranian vessel intercepted as ceasefire ends. 🌐
Big Tobacco warns Tucker over claims. ⚠️
FBI Director faces drinking and conduct allegations. ⚖️
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
POLITICS
🌐 U.S. Navy Boards Iranian Cargo Ship as Ceasefire Expires and Strait Closes
The U.S. Navy boarded the Iranian cargo ship Touska in the Arabian Sea after it allegedly attempted to breach the American blockade, escalating the conflict as the ceasefire expired. Twenty-five vessels had been turned back before the Touska; the Navy fired on its engine room after a 6-hour warning period.
Iran has since closed the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, threatening global oil supply chains. Oil prices jumped 5% overnight, and Asian markets are already absorbing the shock.
The gaps: The U.S. negotiating team is three people: Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner. When the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was negotiated, it involved 200 diplomats and experts. European officials are already warning the deal could lead to longer-term instability and complications.
CRAZY SH*T
🤯 Tucker Carlson Got a Cease-and-Desist, Then Launched His Own Nicotine Brand
Philip Morris sent Tucker Carlson a cease-and-desist after he called their Zyn nicotine pouches “life-saving” and attributed unverified medical benefits to nicotine. Carlson’s response: launch a competing brand, ALP Nicotine Pouches, which drove 63% sales growth for his partner company.
Carlson is part of a broader MAHA influencer wave: fitness trainer Jillian Michaels has claimed nicotine treats ADHD and prevents Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, while multiple podcasters run paid affiliate campaigns making similar claims. Zero scientific studies back nicotine as a treatment for any of those conditions.
The trend: Nicotine pouch use among youth quadrupled between 2022 and 2025, per CDC data, and teen use doubled in a single year, per Stanford Medicine. The brain does not finish developing until age 25.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Health Hype
Multiple media figures and online influencers are promoting nicotine and wellness-adjacent products as having health or performance benefits, often alongside affiliate links, sponsorships, or equity stakes. The trend extends beyond high-profile commentators, reflecting a broader ecosystem where creators and influencers blend product promotion with health-related claims that are not always clinically verified or consistently regulated across platforms.
Who should be primarily responsible for ensuring health claims made by influencers are accurate?
LAW & ORDER
⚖️ FBI Director Kash Patel’s Drinking Reportedly Interfered With His Duties
The Atlantic published an investigation citing more than 24 current and former officials alleging FBI Director Kash Patel is “erratic, frequently absent, and prone to heavy drinking.” Security staff reportedly struggled to wake him on multiple occasions, and officials once requested breaching equipment to reach him behind a locked door.
Trump has remained publicly supportive of Patel’s restructuring work but has reportedly complained about his TV preparedness and investigative pace. DOJ ethics rules prohibit habitual alcohol use, and the inspector general has flagged that off-duty drinking creates foreign coercion vulnerability.
The response: Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic, requiring proof of actual malice. Discovery will involve depositions from the 24-plus officials cited in the report.
Fun Facts
🎵 Music: “Happy Birthday to You” was under copyright for nearly 80 years, meaning every film appearance technically required royalty payments. A court ruled the copyright invalid in 2015. The most expensive song at every party, finally free.
🌋 World Records: The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was so loud it circled the Earth four times and was heard 1,900 miles away, making it the loudest sound in recorded human history. Still louder than your neighbor’s subwoofer.
🌍 Geography: At their closest point, Russia and the United States are less than 3 miles apart, between Big Diomede Island and Little Diomede Island. They are also 21 hours apart in time zones. Neighbors, technically.
🤯 WTF: Fredric Baur, the chemist who helped develop the iconic Pringles can, once told his family he wanted to be buried in one after his death. When he passed away in 2008, his family briefly considered the request before honoring it in a symbolic way.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
Taking the subway
On April 21, 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the Boston Marathon finish line first and was declared the women’s winner with what would have been a historic time of 2:31:56. She had jumped onto the course from the subway about half a mile from the finish. No one remembered seeing her during the first 25 miles, she showed no signs of exertion, and she could not name her split times. Eight days later, she was disqualified. The true winner, Canadian runner Jacqueline Gareau, was declared champion.
Poll Results From April 17, 2026
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Show Notes
Looking for more specific details on each story? Click here for the full show notes for yesterday’s PDS episode.
Over and Out...
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