The more wives, the bigger the government check. At least, that’s according to a little-known welfare rule tied to some polygamous households that is now paying out even more money this year. But there’s a catch. Well, a few. One, it’s not in America. And two: The policy is in the United Kingdom, where certain overseas polygamous marriages can still be recognized under limited circumstances tied to older parts of the benefits system. The marriages themselves cannot legally take place inside Britain. Instead, the rule applies to some people who were already legally married in countries where polygamy is allowed before later moving to the UK through separate immigration pathways. Even though the policy has existed for years, newly updated payment rates are suddenly bringing fresh attention to it online. Under updated government figures, qualifying households can now receive roughly $166 more per week for each additional spouse living in the home. The increase is part of Britain’s annual benefits uprating process tied to wage growth and inflation. Government officials also maintain that the number of people affected is believed to be relatively small. The controversy centers around how Britain handles certain foreign marriages already considered legally valid overseas. Parliamentary guidance published in recent years explains that while Britain bans polygamous marriages domestically, some foreign arrangements can still be acknowledged for specific administrative and legal purposes. That recognition can extend into portions of the welfare system. One detail fueling online backlash is that there does not appear to be a specific numerical limit on how many additional spouses could theoretically be counted under the older framework, though overall household benefit caps still apply. The debate has already drawn political scrutiny. Conservative lawmakers previously questioned why any part of the benefits system still accounts for polygamous households at all, especially as immigration and welfare spending remain major political flashpoints across Europe. British officials continue emphasizing that polygamy itself remains illegal inside the country. Still, the resurfacing of the little-known rule is quickly turning into another viral debate over immigration loopholes, government spending, and whether outdated welfare policies are quietly surviving long after most people assume they disappeared.

“It’s more than memorizing statistics and facts. It’s how you are able to absorb such knowledge that elevates your thinking above the noise of this world.” Erika Kirk delivers an emotional commencement speech Saturday at Hillsdale College, telling graduates that her late husband Charlie Kirk believes learning is about far more than facts, politics, or headlines. It’s about pursuing truth, defending liberty, and building a life rooted in purpose. Kirk, who now serves as CEO and chair of Turning Point USA following Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, speaks to Hillsdale’s graduating class during the school’s 174th commencement ceremony in Michigan. At times emotional and at times funny, the speech doubles as both a tribute to Charlie and a broader message about faith, family, responsibility, and what Kirk sees as a culture losing its direction. One of the most memorable moments comes when Kirk tells the story of their honeymoon, where Charlie still can’t fully disconnect from learning. “When we got married and we went to our honeymoon the next day, we decided for our honeymoon that it would be a disconnected honeymoon,” Kirk says. “Meaning no computers, no cell phones.” But Charlie still brings along what she jokingly calls a “bat phone” for emergencies. While the two are working out at the gym, Kirk suddenly hears Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn’s voice coming from across the room. “I walk over to him. Baby, what are you listening to?” she recalls. “He goes, I know. He was like, I’m almost done. He’s like, I have to finish just a few more lectures from Dr. Arn.” Kirk says Charlie constantly takes Hillsdale online courses and proudly screenshots every certificate of completion. “He really understood that this institution wasn’t normal,” she says. “It was something that elevated his thinking to be a thought leader and really become a serious person, not just a political talking head.” Throughout the speech, Kirk repeatedly points back to Charlie’s obsession with learning and his belief that education should shape how people think, not just help them memorize information. “I would say, I love learning from you,” Kirk says, recalling date nights where she would ask Charlie to explain the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, or Winston Churchill. “He just loved being able to share what he had learned in those moments,” she adds. Kirk also uses the speech to warn graduates about chasing comfort and easy living instead of purpose and meaning. “What you seek in life, you will get,” she tells graduates. “If you’re seeking the ugly, the conspiracy, the pain, you’ll find it. And if you’re seeking the good and the true and the beautiful, you will find that as well.” “You are not made for a life that asks nothing of you,” she adds. “You were made for something higher.” At several points, Kirk frames Charlie’s life as a blueprint for the graduating class, reminding students that Turning Point USA famously starts “in a garage in Lamont, Illinois” when Charlie is fresh out of high school with “no money, no connections, and no idea what he was doing.” But she says he never sees the mission as random. “He knew that with the Lord. That was his calling,” she says. Kirk closes the speech with a direct message to graduates about preserving the country they are inheriting. “Love your country,” she says. “Our country is not perfect, but my goodness is she good.” “And as you start day one as a graduate, build carefully, choose wisely,” Kirk adds. “And aim not at what is easy or immediate, but what is beautiful and true.”

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said the solution to shrinking portion sizes is simple: just ask for more. The exec addressed the issue during an appearance this week on Yahoo! Finance. Customers have been complaining for months that fast food burgers are smaller, pre-packaged snacks have less food, and burritos from Chipotle aren’t as stuffed as they used to be.  “If you want more, you should ask for a little more,” the fast food exec said. “I promise you, there’s never a team member on that line that is going to say no to you.” “We will continue to put heaping spoonfuls of food in bowls and burritos,” Boatwright continued, adding that the company is focused on both portions and food quality.  “It has always been our brand ethos, and it is still to this day,” he insisted. “We serve big, beautiful bowls and burritos. No questions asked.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Yahoo Finance (@yahoofinance) The CEO further pushed back on claims that Chipotle employees were “skimping” on portion sizes. “I tell my team all the time, ‘put as much food in that bowl and burrito as you possibly can,'” he told Yahoo! Finance. “‘I want the consumer to tell you, ‘it’s too big.'” “We’re about abundance, we’re about value,” he went on. “Value equals benefit over price.” The exec also claimed to be “absorbing” the cost of inflation rather than passing it on to customers. He told the outlet that Chipotle is pleased to offer “an affordable price point for all walks of life, and we’re for everyone. We want everyone to have access to wholesome, nutritious food.” Commenters were skeptical that restaurant workers would be willing to increase portion sizes without charging them extra.  “Save this video [for] every time you walk in,” one commenter wrote. “He said if you want more, they will give you more, but will also charge you more,” another comment said. “Bro … have you been to Chipotle,” a third person chimed in. “Straight lies they will 100% charge you double each time you say more,” yet another commenter agreed. Others brought up the common complaint that delivery portions are rumored to be much smaller than those being served inside the restaurants, a problem that wouldn’t be solved by Boatwright’s suggestion to “ask for more.”

Iran keeps finding out the hard way that President Donald Trump’s foreign policy playbook does not leave a lot of room for stalling, bluffing, or endless empty negotiations. As the regime weighs whether to respond to Trump’s latest nuclear proposal, officials and defense experts are openly warning what comes next if Tehran tries to drag this out too long: more crushing economic pressure, expanded military strikes, and a systematic dismantling of Iran’s ability to threaten the region. Speaking Saturday morning to reporters, our commander-in-chief said he expects to hear from Iran “very soon” regarding the latest United States peace proposal and suggested Tehran still “very much” wants to reach a lasting agreement. The president sounded cautiously optimistic but also made clear he is watching closely to see whether Iran is serious or simply trying to buy time, a tactic the regime has used throughout Operation Epic Fury. “We’re getting a letter [from Iran] supposedly tonight, so we’ll see how that goes,” Trump told reporters Friday evening from his golf club in Virginia. When asked whether Iran could be intentionally dragging out negotiations, Trump responded bluntly: “I don’t know. We’ll find out soon enough.” That uncertainty is exactly why the situation still feels like it could explode at any moment. Behind the scenes, negotiators are reportedly trying to piece together a preliminary framework tied to Iran’s nuclear program and possible sanctions relief. But former military officials say neither side actually trusts the other. Meanwhile, the pressure campaign on Tehran has not exactly disappeared. Just days after Iran launched missiles toward the UAE’s Fujairah Port, United States forces struck Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz. Officials insist the operation did not officially restart the war or end the ceasefire, but it sent a very clear message that America is still holding the bigger stick. And according to defense experts, Trump is intentionally keeping Iran guessing about how far he is willing to go. If negotiations collapse, experts say the U.S. would likely begin by targeting the systems Iran relies on to intimidate the Middle East and threaten global shipping lanes. That includes ballistic missiles, Revolutionary Guard infrastructure, command centers, naval attack boats, and air defense systems. One major target would almost certainly be Iran’s fast attack boat fleet in the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has long used to harass oil tankers and pressure the global economy. At the same time, Trump appears to be tightening the economic screws even further. Some experts say a maritime blockade alone could slowly suffocate Iran’s oil exports and leave the regime economically cornered within months. Others warn that if Iran refuses to deal, the next phase could become much more painful. Trump has already warned Iran that America could target key energy infrastructure and export hubs if Tehran continues pushing toward a nuclear weapon. The contrast with previous administrations is hard to miss. Instead of pallets of cash, endless appeasement, and weak red lines, Trump is signaling that Iran has two choices: negotiate seriously or watch America squeeze the regime even harder from every direction possible.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is getting roasted online after an obscene verbal slip-up during a live mayoral debate became one of the night’s most viral moments. The awkward exchange happened while Bass was defending her administration’s handling of the catastrophic Palisades fires that devastated parts of Los Angeles earlier this year. “Was that a mistake?” the moderator immediately asked as Bass stumbled through the response. Attempting to explain problems with the city’s emergency response, Bass appeared to accidentally say “fire f*cks” instead of “fire trucks” before quickly correcting herself. Karen Bass makes obscene gaffe during live LA mayoral debate https://t.co/vgEXB5WlmC pic.twitter.com/Gyp1EMAF3U — California Post (@californiapost) May 7, 2026 Clips of the moment spread rapidly across social media, where critics mocked the mayor for looking flustered and unprepared during one of the most high-profile debates of the race so far. The gaffe came during an especially rough night for Bass, who repeatedly found herself on defense over Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis, public safety concerns, and the city’s wildfire response. Several moments during the debate saw Bass interrupted or forced into lengthy explanations as challengers pressed her on the city’s ongoing problems. Much of the criticism centered on Bass attempting to blame former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley for staffing issues during the deadly fires. Bass argued that firefighters had been sent home before conditions spiraled out of control — a claim that immediately sparked backlash online from critics accusing the mayor of trying to shift responsibility. The debate quickly turned combative as frustration over the condition of Los Angeles dominated the discussion. Questions about rising crime, drug addiction, homelessness encampments, and taxpayer spending repeatedly put Bass on the defensive throughout the night. Political observers noted that Bass often appeared tense and struggled to regain control during several exchanges as the audience reacted loudly to attacks over the city’s decline. The viral debate performance now adds even more pressure to Bass as anger continues to build over the direction of Los Angeles ahead of the June 2 mayoral election.