“What’s happening??” It was Elizabeth Mitchell, the Daily Signal’s White House reporter. She was seated next to me at Saturday evening’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. There was urgency and confusion in her voice. Our table was to the right of and somewhat back from the dais, where President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang of CBS News were seated, along with others. Elizabeth was looking in that general direction. I was looking at my salad. I turned toward her as she spoke. In a split second, before I tried to see what was happening, I knew, or at least feared, that something was very, very wrong. I had been a White House reporter for many years, from the second term of Bill Clinton to the first of Trump. I know very well that “what’s happening?” is not a question you need to ask at a presidential event. Because, there is a plan, worked out days, weeks, or even months in advance, and everything always proceeds calmly according to plan. Surprising things may be said at a White House event—although even that was fairly unusual before Trump— but nothing surprising ever happens. The night had seemed about the same as the dozen or so White House Correspondents’ dinners I had attended in the past, except for the massive security presence, which has grown around presidential events consistently since 9/11. Outside the venue was a vast Praetorian Guard of police and roadblocks, inside a proliferation of law enforcement, including Secret Service, who were somewhat identifiable even in their tuxes, intently surveying the area and looking incongruously unsociable. A lot of this event is not as glamorous as you’d think. It doesn’t particularly need to be on your bucket list. You might find yourself chatting amicably with a celebrity, especially when Democrats have the White House, and Hollywood descends on the party. I had crashed several pre-dinner cocktail parties that were onsite at the Washington Hilton, known archly among veteran journalists as the “Hinckley Hilton,” since that’s where John Hinckley tried to kill Ronald Reagan. These are all jammed with sweaty journalists and their guests, done up in tuxedos and dresses, climbing over each other to try to get to the bar. Kind of like a penguin colony diving into the ocean. I was mainly seeking bourbon sours and hors d’oeuvres, which tend to be better than the dinner itself. Not this year, though, because the main plate would be “Prime Chateaubriand & Maine Lobster.” I hadn’t been to one of these events in a number of years, and I was delighted to find that the bartenders’ arms had stiffened significantly, with my second bourbon sour amounting to more of a bourbon with a splash of sour. So I was in pretty good spirits, pun intended, by the time we were ordered to wander over to the ballroom for dinner. Everything proceeded as planned. The president was introduced to the glorious notes of Hail to the Chief, played in person by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Next was The Presentation of Colors, one of my favorite parts, in which the flag of each armed service is marched over to the president as the sublime Trio Section of the National Emblem is played. Our salads, bread, and bottles of red and white wine had preceded us at the table, and we began to eat and drink to the clatter of silverware and the patter of light conversation. “What’s happening??” I turned to the middle of the room and saw people starting to lower themselves instinctively to avoid danger. Everything had been perfectly normal, and now nothing was normal at all. There was some kind of general commotion in the middle of the room, and someone went racing from the back directly toward the dais. That must be it, someone is speeding toward the president to try to kill him, I thought. I looked over at the dais, but there was suddenly no one seated at the head table, as if the thing had been decapitated. The runner had disappeared into the activity in front of the dais, where tuxedoed Secret Service were leaping across tables and chairs. I thought they were subduing an attacker, but it turned out they were mainly trying to both get in front of the main table and start removing Cabinet secretaries in the line of succession. People in military uniforms materialized out of nowhere on the dais and trained their rifles on the crowd in case a bad guy popped out. The room faded to silence. Many guests ducked under tables, but while there was fear in some faces, there was also a notable and admirable absence of panic. Instinct from my reporting years kicked in and I started taking video and stood up to get a better view. Moments after the president was evacuated from the White House Correspondents Association dinner, and everybody ducked under tables. pic.twitter.com/lSRWLkIdFX— Keith Koffler (@keithkoffler) April 26, 2026 Someone burst through the silence defiantly proclaiming, “God bless America” and trying to get a “USA! USA!” chant going, but everyone else realized that was a dumb idea while the Secret Service was trying to do its job, and he and one or two others quickly stifled it. Soon, the silence rose to a murmur, and guests were just standing or sitting and waiting to be told what to do. People a thousand miles away watching the news began to know more than we did, texting us information, some of it wrong. “There was an explosion.” “One assailant was shot and killed, another taken to the hospital.” No explosion, no one killed. There were shots, and some in the room had heard them. I didn’t. And then, a waiter blankly came by to start clearing the salads. As if absolutely nothing had happened. I guess people seemed like they were finished with their salads. He soon disappeared. We were told to stay, the event would continue. That seemed quite unlikely. A little later, we were told to leave. And we did.

Labor activists in Savannah, Georgia, are organizing a May Day protest encouraging community members to step away from work, school, and shopping for a day as part of a broader national demonstration tied to International Workers’ Day.  Organizers are calling on residents to close businesses, skip school, and avoid shopping on May 1 as a visible show of solidarity action. Why Call for Protest?  May Day Savannah organizers say the protest is a response to what they describe as increased pressure on immigrant communities and economic instability facing working people in a system that “puts profit over people.”  Lauren Nowak is an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, one of the groups organizing this year’s May Day strike. She told The Daily Signal, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are used to terrorize communities, divide workers, and suppress organizing efforts.”  “Working-class people are being forced to pay for crises they did not create, and that contradiction is pushing more people toward struggle,” Nowak said.  What Is May Day?  May Day is the informal name for International Workers’ Day, which began in 1889 as an annual observance tied to labor activism. It was established at an international workers’ congress in Paris with the help of labor, socialist, and Marxist parties. The day historically called for ending seven-day workweeks and securing eight-hour workdays.  Nowak said this holiday “has always been about the power of the working class to challenge exploitation,” adding that its legacy is especially relevant today amid rising costs and deepening inequality.  However, what began as a movement focused on workers’ rights and safety has evolved over time into a pageant for socialism and communism. Nicole Huyer, senior research associate in the Heritage Foundation’s Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, said May Day, which once emphasized worker dignity and safe conditions, “has transitioned into an ideologically left-wing movement that no longer fights for workers—it just creates disruptions.”  Economic and Community Impact  Businesses are invited to participate by closing for the day, reducing business hours, posting May Day window signs, and sharing public statements on social media.  Nowak said the goal of the protest is “about building unity, raising consciousness, and taking steps toward a society where the working class holds power.”  Huyer said that instead of promoting class division, the focus should be on “policies that reward work and protect American families and interests [that] will incentivize long-lasting productivity gains reflected in future wages and the standard of living.”  She said it’s counterproductive to allow children to miss a day of education and for workers to lose a day’s wages. “We can do two things at once: ensure workers’ rights and safety and recognize that billionaires and large firms are invaluable job creators for the economy and society.”

Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, and national champion from the Indiana Hoosiers, was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night. He was projected to be the sure pick for the Las Vegas Raiders but rather than be in Pittsburgh for the big night, he decided to remain at home with his family in Coral Gables, Fla. Most likely, this was due his mother’s continued battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mendoza received the call about his selection and was emotional as he remained seated to embrace his mother and his father. This witness was powerful for me as someone who has followed Mendoza’s game this year, but especially as someone who has followed his witness and faith this past season. When he won the Heisman Trophy in 2025, Mendoza’s first words were to give glory to God, the One who has given him the opportunity and blessing. His words were humble and focused on the support of his family and team, not himself. In January 2026, he won the national championship. The day before the game, he was asked why he speaks so much about his faith, and he gave this response: “In today’s day and age, it can be very discouraging to talk about your faith, especially on national television,” he said. “However, I always want to stay true to myself and true to my authentic self. So, I know God has gotten me to this point, and I owe so much to Him. So I really can’t thank Him enough, and I give Him all the glory because He’s meant so much to myself and to my teammates and my family throughout this journey. Without Him, I would not be here. I wouldn’t have this opportunity that I have today without Him.” It is clear that Mendoza’s willingness to speak about his faith and his overall character was passed down from his parents. At every game, no matter the accolade or the importance of Fernando’s achievement, his father remains seated next to his wife (often in a wheelchair) as they both clap and cheer for their son. It could be the game-winning throw or the defining scramble for a touchdown in the most important game of his son’s life—Fernando’s dad remains seated to cheer with his wife. That type of intentional and sacrificial love is what Mendoza has learned throughout his entire life. His attention to detail, desire to be a team player, and willingness to give credit to everyone but himself are learned traits that flow from the Christian faith of his family. This past week, he was the biggest name in the NFL. Along with his name comes the name of God, whom he gives all the glory to each step of the way. God was praised Thursday night at the NFL Draft on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aq95G2U9kn— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) April 24, 2026 It’s a beautiful thing to watch the growing number of other young men taking the same path on their draft day and with their lives. Jordyn Tyson is a wide reciever from Arizona State who was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 8 overall pick. After he was chosen, he fell to his knees in prayer and thanksgiving before rising to the stage to receive his hat and jersey from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. In an interview directly after his selection, Tyson said: “I’m just so thankful, so blessed. The Lord’s doing work on me and He’s not done. We’re going to keep this thing rolling. I’m going to give Him my all, and that’s all I can do.” The 11th overall pick, Caleb Downs (safety from Ohio State) said: “First of all, I just want to say thank God. Without Him none of us would be here. Just thankful for my savior, Jesus Christ.” Downs even chose the Christian song “King of Glory” by CeCe Winans as his walk-up song. Ty Simpson (QB from Alabama), who was selected as the 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams, also gave all the glory to his Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The 20th overall pick, who landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, was Makai Lemon. He said simply: “I’m just so blessed right now. I just praise the Lord for every moment.” A compilation of these players’ words was made by Sports Spectrum. They continue to provide powerful and poignant reporting on the intersection of faith and sports. The stage for a growing number of athletes is becoming not just about showcasing their talent, but an avenue to proclaim who God is and how much He loves us. Seeing these young men speak so boldly and comfortably can serve as a reminder to all disciples to be willing to speak their faith in the open. The result will be a refining of our own faith and a spreading of the gospel far and wide. Because no matter who gets selected where, we are all chosen to follow Him. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal.

THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—President Donald Trump explained to “The Sunday Briefing” co-host Jacqui Heinrich why the Secret Service insisted he return to the White House after a gunman allegedly targeting his administration was thwarted Saturday night. Trump initially declared in a Truth Social post that he intended to return to the stage and that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner would continue despite the shooting, before making a second post 19 minutes later announcing that he was returning to the White House after law enforcement agencies asked him to leave “consistent with protocol.” Trump explained the rationale behind the decision to Fox News’ Heinrich, who is on the board of the White House Correspondents’ Association, the group that hosted the event where the incident took place. “I was taken by your response immediately after it happened. You said we’re going to continue the night, we’re not going to let this person derail our plans for the evening,” Heinrich, who appeared on stage with Trump during the dinner, told Trump over the phone. “Had you been told very quickly that there was no additional threat in the room? Is that why you felt comfortable proceeding if Secret Service allowed that to happen?” “Well, I hated a guy like this, sick, bad person. I hated somebody like that changing the course of our country … where you’d have all of these people, important people, not important people, all of these people gathered, record crowd … but that all of these people would have to leave. It’s just for what? For one nut? For one guy?” Trump responded. “That is really, I mean, look … he’s a very disturbed person, so I really wanted to go and I really wanted to, but the protocol was no.” Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign, went into further detail about why the Secret Service invoked protocol after he and other top administration officials were hustled from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton. Trump’s right ear was grazed by a bullet when a gunman fired shots during a rally at Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 of that year, while a Secret Service agent stopped Ryan Welsey Routh, who was waiting while Trump was playing a round of golf in Florida just two months later. “You know, once those doors were open, that room was sealed, and once the doors were open because people were pouring in and there were police and they were Secret Service and they poured in a lot of them, but once those doors are open, it breaks the seal,” the president said. “And when they explained it, you know, maybe it’s possible somebody, if it were more than one person, somebody could have come in.” “I really wanted to do it that night, even if we stayed late into the night. But we did the right thing and we came back to the White House, we did a news conference and explained what happened and now we’re doing it a little bit more by talking to you, but we did the right thing,” Trump added. Originally published by The Daily Caller News Foundation.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has halted payments to more than 400 hospices in Los Angeles and across California, with the estimated fraud being greater than $600 million, according to the anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance.  Sheila Clark, CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association, is questioning how these alleged instances of fraud have slipped through the cracks. “How do you put a hospice in a burrito stand in California? How do you put a hospice in a tire store? That all had to be vetted through licensure, certification, and accreditation,” Clark said during a House of Representatives hearing on April 21. California hit a new low today.. Sheila Clark, President and CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association revealed there are literally BURRITO STANDS that are listed as Certified Hospice Facilities “How do you put a Hospice in a burrito stand in… pic.twitter.com/IihXHiO1DB— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) April 22, 2026 According to City Journal, a public policy magazine published by the Manhattan Institute, California has lost “at least $180 billion to fraud.” While this amount of money is not attributed solely to hospice fraud, Californians such as Sheila Clark blame this level of alleged fraud on lack of oversight.  “California is the clearest current case study of what happens when oversight weaknesses are exploited at scale,” Clark said. In an interview with The Daily Signal, California Policy Center Vice President of Government Affairs Lance Christensen said City Journal’s reports of fraud are “probably underestimated.” “It’s probably higher than that. But it’s hard to nail down because nobody goes through to actually validate most applications,” he said.  Christensen continued, “When they do find fraud, they know that it’s going to cost more money to recuperate that money. Then you also have a lot of contractors who have learned how to game the system.” He added that once individuals find easy targets for fraud, they take full advantage of the system. “And right now, we’ve discovered that’s hospice fraud,” Christensen said.  In an interview with Fox News, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli called California “the kingdom of fraud.” “Nobody is minding the shop. The money just goes out the door—no checking, no vetting. California has a responsibility to make sure the money is going to the intended recipients.” On Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reported that $6,000 was being paid out by the government for hospice patients that allegedly did not exist. We have not gotten one call from a congressperson or a patient. Why? Because those hospices did not exist. They were signing up patients … and charging us $6,000 a month for that patient.”  DISTURBING: The Biden Administration opened the door to fraud.@SecKennedy describes how @HHSgov recently uncovered monstrous fraud at hospices in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/USzM6ZXCGp— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) April 22, 2026