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Hi Dip Fam,
From federal pressure campaigns to foreign policy deadlock, here’s what’s leading today: the DOJ probe into Fed Chair Powell finds essentially no evidentiary basis, an alleged assassination attempt near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has renewed questions about event security, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 59 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
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Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1967, which world heavyweight champion refused military induction, losing his title and boxing license overnight? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: Louisville born)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
DOJ closes Powell investigation. 📜
Shooter charged near Correspondents’ Dinner. ⚠️
Trump rejects Iran’s peace offer. 🌐
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
LAW & POLICY
📜 DOJ Terminates Fed Chair Probe After Judge Finds No Evidence of Crime
The DOJ terminated its criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell about two weeks before his term expires on May 15. A federal judge had already blocked the probe’s subpoenas, finding no meaningful evidence of crime and substantial evidence the investigation served as a political pressure campaign.
The probe centered on a $2.5 billion Fed renovation that ran over budget, though a 2021 Inspector General review had already found no wrongdoing.
The leverage: Senate Majority Leader Thom Tillis blocked Trump’s Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh from advancing until the probe ended. Warsh’s Banking Committee vote is now scheduled for Wednesday. Senator Elizabeth Warren has publicly described Warsh as a hand-picked rate-cutter expected to deliver lower interest rates.
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LAW & ORDER
🏛️ Officials Acknowledge Security Failures at Correspondents’ Dinner
Cole Thomas Allen, 31, a Caltech-educated video game developer from Torrance, California, has been federally charged in connection with what officials are calling the third alleged assassination attempt on President Trump, near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Trump was unharmed.
The dinner was not designated a National Special Security Event, and a Washington Post report found no clear security responsibility for thousands of attending guests. Speaker Mike Johnson described the event’s security as lacking.
The dispute: Administration officials described Allen as anti-Christian, but multiple acquaintances confirmed he regularly attended church and his writings engaged with Christian scripture. Republicans cited a $25 Democratic campaign donation and protest attendance as indicators of political radicalization. Democrats broadly condemned the violence.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Dinner Defense
The Correspondents' Dinner was not designated a National Special Security Event, leaving security responsibility for thousands of guests without clear definition. Supporters say layered protections worked. Critics say the absence of a formal designation created gaps that should not have existed.
Should high-profile political events like the White House Correspondents' Dinner automatically receive the highest federal security designation?
WORLD NEWS
🌐 Trump Pulls Negotiation Team From Pakistan While Iran Courts Russia
Iran offered to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifted its naval blockade, requesting nuclear talks proceed separately. Trump called the terms insufficient and withdrew his negotiating team from Pakistan, leaving the path to de-escalation unclear.
International inspectors confirm Iran currently holds roughly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium, enough material for up to 100 nuclear weapons. Nearly all of it accumulated after the U.S. exited the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The clock: Analysts estimate the regime can hold on for 3 to 6 more months under current pressure, with domestic inflation projected at 49%. Iran’s foreign minister has separately met with Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Iran’s meeting with Putin signals it is actively building leverage beyond any U.S. talks.
Fun Facts
🍅 Food: Medieval Europeans believed tomatoes were poisonous, which delayed their adoption as food for centuries. Pizza took a bit longer.
🌍 History: The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 after a miscommunicated press announcement led people to believe border crossings were open immediately. One confused press conference, one reunified Germany.
📉 Economy: The Great Depression caused global trade to fall by more than 50% within just a few years. Economic collapse moved fast.
🤯 WTF: Some gecko species shed their entire skin and eat it within minutes to recycle the nutrients. The process takes less time than most people spend deciding what to eat. Zero waste, maximum discomfort.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
Muhammad Ali
On April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army at a Houston processing station, citing his Muslim faith and opposition to the Vietnam War. He was immediately stripped of his world heavyweight title and banned from boxing for more than three years, and later faced a five-year federal prison sentence that the Supreme Court ultimately overturned. His refusal became one of the defining acts of athlete activism in American history.
Poll Results From April 24, 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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