Rick Adelman, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and one of the NBA’s all-time winningest coaches, has passed away. He was 79. His cause of death has not been disclosed. Adelman, who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, is the father of Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman. “Rick Adelman was one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA. Following his NBA playing career, Rick turned to coaching where his leadership, innovation and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over his nearly 30-year run,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He was a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game, and an even better person. I send my deepest condolences to Rick’s family and many friends throughout the league,” he added. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of former NBA player, head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Adelman: "Rick Adelman was one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA. Following… pic.twitter.com/O8ciXfIg7R — NBA (@NBA) June 2, 2026 ESPN shared further: Only four other coaches — Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Jerry Sloan and George Karl — coached more games and had a better winning percentage than Adelman, who took the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals twice and also was head coach in Sacramento, Houston, Minnesota and Golden State. “Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community,” read a statement from the coaches’ association, which honored Adelman with its Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. “Rick Adelman’s NBA coaching career has been highlighted by innovation, integrity and excellence,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said when the NBCA presented that award three years ago. “His teams always played to their strengths, and Rick always found subtle ways to reinvent NBA basketball to help his players thrive. His quiet, unassuming nature belies his impact as one of the great NBA coaches of all time.” “Rick Adelman was one of the great basketball minds of his generation. In Houston he gave Rockets fans a 22-game winning streak and a memorable 2009 playoff run that pushed Kobe’s eventual champion Lakers to seven games. He coached with toughness, intelligence, and class. May he rest in peace,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) commented. Rick Adelman was one of the great basketball minds of his generation. In Houston he gave Rockets fans a 22-game winning streak and a memorable 2009 playoff run that pushed Kobe’s eventual champion Lakers to seven games. He coached with toughness, intelligence, and class. May… https://t.co/l50Xor358m — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 2, 2026 “The Portland Trail Blazers organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a franchise legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. Rick was one of the most influential figures in franchise history, a member of the inaugural 1970 team and integral coach throughout the 80s and 90s, guiding the team to Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. Rick’s basketball brilliance helped shape multiple eras of Trail Blazers basketball, earning the respect and admiration of the basketball community and cementing his legacy,” the Portland Trail Blazers wrote. “His thoughtful leadership, integrity, and kindness impacted all those around him on and off the court. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Adelman family, and all those in the world of basketball who were touched by his impact,” it added. The Portland Trail Blazers organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a franchise legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. Rick was one of the most influential figures in franchise history, a member of the inaugural 1970 team and integral coach… pic.twitter.com/wwKuKSXLFP — Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 2, 2026 “The Minnesota Timberwolves are deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman. Adelman served as head coach of the Timberwolves from 2011-14 and exemplified leadership, integrity and professionalism throughout his distinguished career. Serving as head coach for five teams over 23 NBA seasons, he became one of the game’s most respected and accomplished leaders, finishing 10th on the league’s all-time wins list. Adelman made a lasting impact on our organization, his players and the game of basketball,” the Minnesota Timberwolves stated. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to wife Mary Kay, the Adelman family and all who had the privilege of knowing him,” it continued. The Minnesota Timberwolves are deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman. Adelman served as head coach of the Timberwolves from 2011-14 and exemplified leadership, integrity and professionalism throughout his distinguished career. Serving as head coach… pic.twitter.com/SCD5EkF9Tt — Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 2, 2026 “The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world. During his eight seasons in Sacramento, he led the team to unprecedented success and helped create some of the most memorable moments in franchise history. For an entire generation of Kings fans, Coach Adelman represented the very best of Sacramento basketball, and he will be remembered for the way he inspired those around him – with humility, integrity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of teamwork. His leadership helped establish a culture that continues to resonate throughout our organization today,” the Sacramento Kings wrote. “Our thoughts are with Mary Kay, his family, friends, former players, and all who loved him,” it added. The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world.     During his eight seasons in… pic.twitter.com/nX0848kCW9 — Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) June 1, 2026 More from the New York Post: Adelman, drafted by the San Diego Rockets out of Loyola Marymount in 1968, played parts of seven NBA seasons for the Rockets, Trail Blazers, Bulls, New Orleans Jazz and Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He began his coaching career at Chemeketa Community College in 1977 before joining the Trail Blazers as an assistant in 1983. He took over as Portland’s head coach in 1989, leading them to the NBA Finals twice; they lost to the Pistons in 1990 and the Bulls in 1992. After he was fired in 1994, Adelman sat out a year before taking over the Warriors gig in 1995. He was fired after two disappointing seasons before getting the Kings job in 1998. The Kings went 16 years without a playoff appearance after Adelman left, and they haven’t won a playoff series since 2004.

President Trump just made a major change at the top of America’s intelligence leadership. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William J. Pulte is now the surprise pick to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence after Tulsi Gabbard’s exit. This is a new chapter in the DNI succession story. Earlier reporting had pointed to Principal Deputy Director Aaron Lukas stepping into the acting DNI chair. President Trump went in a different direction. Fox News reported President Trump’s announcement and his Pulte quote this way: President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he is appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William “Bill” Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard. “William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,” Trump wrote. Trump said Pulte will remain FHFA director and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while serving in the intelligence post. “Congratulations to Director Pulte!” Trump added. Pulte was confirmed earlier this year to lead the FHFA, the agency that regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Trump also noted that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now oversee more than $10 trillion in assets, which he said was “a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago.” Pulte is set to succeed former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who last month announced her resignation from the post to support her husband following his diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. During her tenure, Gabbard led efforts to declassify a range of government records and pursued broader reforms within the intelligence community. Gabbard’s resignation is scheduled to take effect on June 30. If Pulte is later nominated to serve as director of national intelligence on a permanent basis, he would require Senate confirmation. The key detail is that Pulte keeps his housing role while taking the intelligence post. That gives him a rare dual-hat assignment across housing finance and national intelligence. Conservative reporter Eric Daugherty also highlighted Pulte’s recent pressure campaign against high-profile Trump opponents: JUST IN: President Trump names FHFA Director BILL PULTE as Acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard for now Pulte has GONE AFTER people Letitia James and Adam Schiff for fraud in recent months "William has deep experience managing the most sensitive… pic.twitter.com/kAE1qbB2NQ — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 2, 2026 That background is part of what makes the pick stand out. Pulte comes from housing finance rather than the intelligence bureaucracy, but President Trump is clearly putting a trusted administration figure into the acting DNI slot. Trending Politics noted why this announcement changes the earlier expected handoff: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence, a surprise pick to replace Tulsi Gabbard when she exits the administration at the end of June. Trump added that Pulte will remain in his existing posts. “During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Director Pulte!” Gabbard’s last day as director of national intelligence is scheduled for June 30. The move reshuffles leadership of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which coordinates the sprawling U.S. intelligence community and briefs the president on threats ranging from terrorism and hostile state activity to cyber operations and foreign influence. Pulte has not previously held an intelligence role. Still, Trump framed the appointment as a matter of trust and management, pointing to the FHFA portfolio and the size of the mortgage market under federal supervision. The decision also appears to override an earlier transition plan. Trump previously said Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would step in as acting DNI after Tulsi Gabbard’s departure. The White House did not immediately clarify when Pulte’s tenure would begin, whether Lukas will remain in his current role, or how duties will be divided during the handoff. Gabbard’s scheduled departure had already made the succession question important. The surprise is that President Trump reached outside the expected DNI chain for the acting role. The pick also landed immediately in market-focused political news feeds, which fits Pulte’s FHFA and Fannie/Freddie portfolio: TRUMP NAMES BILL PULTE AS ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE pic.twitter.com/HbboxyF6f7 — zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 2, 2026 The official Federal Housing Finance Agency profile lays out Pulte’s background and current portfolio: An official website of the United States government Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In this role, Pulte oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Before his appointment, Pulte had a longstanding career in homebuilding, housing products, and community development. In 2011, Pulte founded Pulte Capital Partners LLC, an investment firm that focuses on building and housing products. He also served on the board of Pulte Homes, a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest homebuilders in the country. Beyond business, Pulte is recognized for his philanthropy. Pulte founded the Blight Authority, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing urban blight in Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, and Pontiac, MI. Pulte also started Twitter philanthropy, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to numerous causes directly on Twitter (now X), and engaging millions of followers in the process. Pulte graduated from Northwestern University. The appointment gives Pulte a rare span of responsibility while Gabbard prepares to leave. It also sends a clear message that Trump intends to manage the DNI transition on his own terms. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

The White House wants you to see exactly what government health care fraud looks like once it gets cashed out. It looks like an eight-bedroom mansion, game-worn Kobe Bryant sneakers, original Mickey Mantle Yankees cards, and a garage full of luxury cars. All of it, federal prosecutors say, traces back to false claims billed to Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid. On June 2, 2026, the official White House Rapid Response 47 account posted CBS News video of the seized items and tied the case directly to President Trump’s fraud crackdown. An 8 bedroom mansion, game-worn Kobe Bryant sneakers, original Mickey Mantle Yankees cards — all purchased with your tax dollars. "He was living like a king off of us." The Trump Administration's war on fraud couldn't be more necessary. pic.twitter.com/bbJXsC6Xgd — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 2, 2026 The line that landed hardest came straight from the video: “He was living like a king off of us.” That man is Paul Randall, 66, of Orange, California. On April 7, 2026, the Justice Department announced that Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Randall admitted he caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal over an 11-month stretch from May 2022 to April 2023. Of that, prosecutors say Medi-Cal actually paid out at least roughly $178.7 million. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the case as part of President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud: A California man pleaded guilty yesterday to submitting nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims over an 11-month span to California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) for expensive prescription drugs that were medically unnecessary and, in many instances, not provided to the purported recipients. The Department of Justice announced this case and two others in support of President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud at a press conference in Washington today. “Thanks to the leadership of President Donald Trump, the Department, working closely with the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, is supercharging efforts to take down every fraudster and bring them to justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “In one day, the Department prosecuted the theft of a half-billion in taxpayer dollars. All those ripping off the American people are on notice.” “The defendant was a repeat fraudster who caused Medi-Cal, a program designed to help those in need, to be billed nearly $270 million for expensive and medically unnecessary medications,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He and his co-schemers stole over $178 million through false and fraudulent claims for these medications, lining their own pockets with public funds. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who defraud Medicaid and exploit taxpayer-funded benefit programs.” “This defendant used a public health program as his personal piggy bank,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “This guilty plea should send a message that this administration — consistent with the President’s war on fraud — will not turn a blind eye while criminals fleece taxpayers.” The mechanics are almost insulting in their simplicity. At the start of 2022, Medi-Cal temporarily suspended its requirement that providers get prior authorization for certain medications while it switched to a new payment system. Randall and his co-schemers drove a truck through that opening. Prosecutors say a nurse practitioner signed pre-filled prescriptions for 19 high-reimbursement generic drugs without ever meeting the patients or checking whether the medications were medically necessary. The U.S. Department of Justice laid out how the scheme worked and what the government has clawed back: According to court documents, Paul Randall, 66, of Orange, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 37, of Moreno Valley, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 58, of West Hills, exploited Medi-Cal’s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain medications at the beginning of 2022. Medi-Cal temporarily suspended the requirement as part of a transition to a new payment system. Using a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy, which Mekail owned, Randall and his co-schemers billed Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for purportedly dispensing high-reimbursement drugs containing cheap, generic ingredients that were manufactured in unique dosages, combinations or package quantities and were not included in the applicable maximum price lists that cap Medi-Cal reimbursements. In furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and thereafter paid illegal kickbacks to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for 19 high-reimbursement, non-contracted, generic drugs. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Randall received a portion of Monte Vista’s reimbursements from Medi-Cal, at times equaling approximately 40% of Monte Vista’s profit from the false and fraudulent claims. Randall admitted in his plea agreement that he caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal from May 2022 to April 2023, of which Medi-Cal paid at least approximately $178,746,556. Randall also admitted that he committed the offense while on release in another criminal case. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-schemers accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia. Read that again. A vitamin you can buy at the drugstore, plus a generic anti-inflammatory that runs a few bucks, billed back to taxpayers for thousands per prescription. Randall pocketed as much as 40 percent of the pharmacy’s profit from the fake claims, according to the Justice Department. He also admitted he pulled the scheme off while already on release in another criminal case. He is not the only one facing the music. Pharmacist Kyrollos Mekail and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson both pleaded guilty in related proceedings and are awaiting sentencing. Randall is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3 and faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. This is what the war on fraud actually buys when it works. It turns an abstract budget line into a seized mansion and a row of rare sports cards that the rest of us paid for. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

President Trump has appointed Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence. “William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Director Pulte!” he added. pic.twitter.com/1mj2cM0hO6 — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 2, 2026 Axios has more: Tulsi Gabbard announced her plans to depart the administration last month. An undeniable Trump loyalist, Pulte has been a frequent character in head-turning headlines of Trump 2.0 and is a ominpresent figure in the president’s orbit both in the White House and in Palm Beach, Axios’ Marc Caputo previously reported. Pulte sent the Justice Department a string of criminal referrals against Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell. After the exit of a career prosecutor who reportedly resisted charges against James, House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin slammed Pulte for “shamelessly” abusing “FHFA’s authority by selectively and vindictively investigating President Trump’s rivals.” Senate Democrats and the legislative chamber’s top Republican criticized Trump’s appointment. “We don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said, according to CNBC. “Bill Pulte is a partisan thug with no experience in intelligence. He is another unqualified Trump appointee that will make our country less safe. And you won’t hear a word from the Republicans who claim to care about national security,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. Bill Pulte is a partisan thug with no experience in intelligence. He is another unqualified Trump appointee that will make our country less safe.  And you won’t hear a word from the Republicans who claim to care about national security. https://t.co/sE6d9MYyZV — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 2, 2026 CNBC noted: Trump had previously announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would take over as acting DNI after Gabbard, who was slated to depart June 30. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for clarification on when Pulte’s tenure at DNI would begin, and whether Lukas would remain in his current role.

A divided federal appeals court handed down a split ruling on transgender military policy, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth answered with four words. See you at SCOTUS. On June 1, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decided Nicholas Talbott, et al. v. United States, No. 25-5087. The 2-1 panel kept the War Department blocked from removing transgender troops who are currently serving, while at the same time clearing the way for President Trump’s administration to keep enforcing restrictions on new recruits as the case moves forward. BREAKING: In a 2-1 ruling, a federal appeals court finds the Trump administration policy to ban transgender individuals from serving in the US military is unconstitutional. From Judge Roger Wilkins who wrote the majority opinion: "The Hegseth policy is both arbitrary and based… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 1, 2026 The case centers on Executive Order 14183, which President Trump signed on January 27, 2025, titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness. The court was also reviewing the implementing Defense Department guidance the opinion calls the Hegseth Policy, named for the former Defense Secretary now redesignated as Secretary of War. Judge Robert Wilkins announced the judgment. Senior Judge Judith Rogers concurred in part and dissented in part, and Judge Justin Walker dissented outright. The majority went out of its way to attack the administration’s policy as targeting a politically unpopular group, claiming the rule was driven by animus rather than military judgment. You can read the panel’s reasoning straight from the official opinion published by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit: In this litigation, the government has not attempted to defend or provide any factual basis for these disparaging characterizations of American citizens. Indeed, the government has not contested that the Plaintiff-Appellees who are currently serving have served honorably and pose no threat to national security, even though they happen to be transgender and have suffered from gender dysphoria. Instead, the government contends that this case is solely about whether, pursuant to the Hegseth Policy, the military can disqualify persons from military service because they have gender dysphoria, a mental health condition. But the record shows that the purpose of the Hegseth Policy is to target applicants and servicemembers who express what the Administration believes is a “false gender identity,” and the Policy goes far beyond disqualifying persons currently or recently suffering from gender dysphoria. Some of those disqualifications are completely unexplained and have no reasonable justification. The sharp contrast to the Mattis Policy, adopted in the first Trump Administration, which allowed servicemembers who were transgender or who had suffered from gender dysphoria to remain in the military, appears to be driven by the bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group: persons who identify as transgender. As such, at this preliminary stage, I conclude that the Hegseth Policy is both arbitrary and based upon animus, and for those reasons the Policy violates Plaintiff-Appellees’ constitutional right to equal protection of the law. These Plaintiff-Appellees consist both of active-duty service members and those desiring to enlist. Under the Hegseth Policy, those Plaintiff-Appellees currently serving in the military—who have been honorably serving for many years—now face expulsion. In a similar vein, in accordance with the Hegseth Policy, those Plaintiff-Appellees desiring to enlist and who have applied for admission to the military are now excluded from accession. As a result, and for separate reasons, Judge Rogers and I vote to affirm the District Court’s preliminary injunction enjoining the Hegseth Policy as it relates to those Plaintiff-Appellees already in the military, while Judge Walker and I vote to vacate the preliminary injunction as it relates to the Plaintiff-Appellees seeking accession into the military. That is the same reasoning Judge Walker rejected in dissent, arguing that courts lack the authority and the expertise to second-guess military decisions of this kind. He has a point. Setting the standards for who serves in uniform is the job of the commander in chief and the Pentagon, not a panel of appellate judges declaring a readiness policy unconstitutional. The split outcome means the practical effect lands in two parts. Currently serving plaintiffs cannot be removed at this stage. But the administration can continue restricting new accessions while the litigation plays out. Hegseth did not treat the ruling as the end of anything. He made clear the administration is taking the fight to the highest court in the country. See you at SCOTUS. https://t.co/BhLprXz5Im — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) June 1, 2026 The Supreme Court has already shown a willingness to let the administration enforce its military policy while challenges work through the lower courts, and Hegseth is signaling he intends to test that again. For now the question of who serves under President Trump’s readiness order is headed where Hegseth wants it, and the administration is preparing to make its case before the justices. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.