Former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to the national stage with a swipe at President Donald Trump, calling him a “mob boss” before breaking into a lame impersonation during a speech at the National Action Network Convention.

A 20-year-old man was arrested after threatening to burn down the headquarters of artificial intelligence company OpenAI and chucking a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home early Friday morning. San Francisco police said officers were called to investigate a fire at a home in North Beach around 4:12 a.m. local time and discovered that a male suspect had thrown an incendiary device at the house, sparking a fire at a gate outside the home. The suspect fled the scene on foot, but he was found by police around an hour later outside of OpenAI’s headquarters, where he was threatening to start another fire and burn the building down. The San Francisco Police Department said the 20-year-old, who has yet to be identified, was taken into custody “immediately” after officers recognized him as the person who ran from officers after throwing a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home. “Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt,” OpenAI said. “We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation.” As of late Friday morning, charges against the suspect were still pending, and the San Francisco Police Department said the investigation remained “open and active.” Altman, a central figure of the AI boom, lives in a mansion in the San Francisco neighborhood of Russian Hill. The AI executive bought the massive home for $27 million in March of 2020, according to the San Francisco Standard. Altman lives in the home with his husband and a baby boy whom they acquired through a surrogate mother in February of 2025. Altman has faced criticism in recent years for rapidly pushing forward with AI development as some industry experts express concern about a lack of guidelines around the technology. Altman was fired by the OpenAI board in 2023 after accusations that he was not open or honest in his communications, especially with regard to AI safety. Altman, however, was reinstated as CEO after backlash from OpenAI employees and investors. Altman and OpenAI have also been sued by Elon Musk, who helped start OpenAI, but then left the company’s board in 2018 over conflicts with his own pursuit of AI development. Earlier this week, Musk revised his lawsuit against OpenAI, demanding that Altman be removed as CEO and seeking to force the intelligence giant to end its for-profit structure and return to its nonprofit roots. Musk has alleged that Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman “manipulated and misled” him into providing roughly $38 million in seed funding between 2015 and 2018, based on assurances that OpenAI would remain a nonprofit dedicated to open-source artificial general intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

WASHINGTON—During a January meeting at the Pentagon, Vatican officials met with U.S. military leaders and discussed key national security objectives for the United States, according to a senior War Department official with direct knowledge of the meeting. Months later, the Free Press published an “expose” describing a reportedly contentious January meeting between a Vatican diplomat and Pentagon principal, as rumors of a rift between Washington and Rome have swirled. But the Vatican, the Pentagon, and the American Ambassador to the Holy See all say the meeting was cordial and respectful. The parties involved have all made a public show of being friendly. And the contentious topic at the heart of the fracas — Pope Leo XIV’s criticism of military strikes in Iran — seems not to have come up at all. So, what really happened? The principals at the meeting were Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio — functionally ambassador — to the United States. Both Colby and Pierre had staffers with them, The Daily Wire has learned. American officials conveyed the administration’s position and intentions on Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries, and listened to the Vatican’s views on these topics. “It was an attempt to engage seriously and respectfully with the Holy See’s position on matters relevant to the Department of War,” a War Department official who was inside the room for the January 22 meeting told The Daily Wire. Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby had a substantive, respectful, and professional meeting with Cardinal Pierre, the then-Papal Nuncio, and his team on January 22, 2026. During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of… pic.twitter.com/McI0sB2wKC — DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) April 9, 2026 “We naturally, at the Department of War, in the Policy office, wanted to have a respectful discussion with the Vatican,” the official said. “Part of the role of Policy, in the Department of War, is to have dialogue between other nations on military matters.” This is a stark contrast to The Free Press’s April 6 report that the Pentagon had summoned Pierre to the meeting, during which Colby and others chastised the cardinal and insisted that the United States “has the military power to do whatever it wants — and that the Church had better take its side.” Citing unnamed sources, the story also notes that Colby invoked the Avignon Papacy, a period in the 14th century in which the Holy See moved from Rome to France, where a series of popes were largely bent to the will of the French monarchy. Mattia Ferraresi, the freelance contributor who authored The Free Press piece, suggested the Avignon Papacy reference was a veiled threat that the United States was willing to use its military power to “dominate the papal authority.” Ferraresi, who told The Daily Wire on Friday he stands by his reporting, also casts Colby as belonging to “a cadre of Catholic and ostensibly dovish officials” allied with Vice President JD Vance “struggling to reconcile their isolationist instincts with the aggressive posture of a president who, within a single year, has bombed eight countries — with no sign of stopping.” The Avignon Papacy storyline was amplified by Democrat operative Christopher Hale, who suggested in now viral tweets that “many in the Vatican saw the Pentagon’s reference to an Avignon papacy as a threat to use military force against the Holy See.” In a statement, the Pentagon says Ferraresi’s characterization of the meeting was “highly exaggerated and distorted.” “It is not unusual for Mr. Colby to have meetings with ambassadors,” that official noted, referencing the suggestion that the meeting was unprecedented. “He has often, at least one or two meetings with ambassadors from other nations a week. It’s certainly not unusual that we meet with ambassadors on these matters.” “We invited them because we were interested in hearing the Vatican’s views,” the official explained, “and we wanted to convey the administration’s position, and intentions.” “We talked about key American security objectives. Venezuela had just happened. We talked about that. We talked about this administration’s approach towards Europe, and NATO, Latin America. Also Cuba, Venezuela; the Vatican’s obviously very active in both those nations.” Brian Burch, the United States Ambassador to the Holy See, spoke with Pierre on Thursday and shared their conversation in a public statement, saying that Pierre told him there was “no threat of Avignon” and that a “frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago.” It could be said the US-Holy See relationship is much bigger than mere diplomatic relations. It is rooted in a civilizational idea that the Catholic Church helped advance, which the U.S. proudly inherited, and carries forth today. https://t.co/V7rfCU1jIY — Ambassador Brian Burch (@BrianBurchUSA) April 10, 2026 “As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented,'” Burch said. “Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I was likewise not surprised when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting.” The cardinal and Burch have spoken regularly since Burch was nominated to become ambassador to the Holy See, Burch noted. “When we disagree, we have done so with sincerity and respect,” he added. “I believe the same could be said of his January meeting with Undersecretary Colby. It’s regrettable that some journalists and online agitators chose to exploit a routine meeting to sow division between the Holy See and the United States.” The Pentagon also characterized the meeting as “cordial,” “substantive, respectful, and professional” in a statement released Thursday — and called The Free Press report “grossly false and distorted.”  “They discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics,” the Pentagon statement said. “Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue.” And Vice President Vance, asked about the matter on Wednesday, told the press that he had not yet seen the reporting on the meeting: “I’d like to actually talk to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, and frankly, to our people, to figure out what actually happened.” Pope Leo has repeatedly weighed in on the conflict in Iran, expressing hopes that the United States and Iran can come to an agreement “in a peaceful way” and condemning President Donald Trump for warning that a “whole civilization” would be wiped out if Iran did not agree to a peace plan. But despite that criticism, both the White House and Vatican insist the parties have a positive relationship. “Catholic Americans resoundingly supported President Trump in 2024, and the president’s administration has a positive relationship with the Vatican, which was strengthened when Vice President Vance attended the Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass last year,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. “The President has done more than any of his predecessors to save lives and resolve global conflicts, and following the completion of his military objectives in Iran, he is hopeful that the agreement under discussion can lead to a lasting peace in the Middle East.” “We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See,” the Pentagon added. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni also denied the reporting, saying Friday that, “As confirmed by His Eminence Christophe Pierre … his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the papal representative’s regular mission and provided the opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.” “The narrative offered by some media outlets about this meeting is completely untrue,” Bruni added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the immediate expulsion of Spanish representatives from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat. The move serves as a forceful assertion of Israeli sovereignty against a nation the prime minister characterized as a serial defamer of the Jewish state. “Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us,” Netanyahu declared. “Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. Therefore, I have instructed today to remove Spain’s representatives from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel. Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region. I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/c95fTDNXkW — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 10, 2026 The expulsion from the CMCC is a significant blow to Spain’s regional influence. Established in 2025 as the “nerve center” for Gaza’s post-war stabilization, the Kiryat Gat facility coordinates international aid and monitors ceasefire compliance under the oversight of U.S. Central Command. By removing Spain, Israel has effectively stripped Madrid of its seat at the table in shaping the region’s future. The prime minister’s firm stance was echoed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar, who described Spain’s anti-Israel bias under President Pedro Sánchez as “obsessive” and “egregious.” He stated that for a long time, the Spanish government led by Sánchez “has been operating against the State of Israel in every way possible. Sánchez and his ministers level false blood libels against Israel and its army, defame and incite against Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The government of Spain has been attempting to harm us in international institutions, including repeated – and unsuccessful – attempts to push sanctions against us in the European Union. During the war against Iran, it acted against our interests and against the interests of our ally, the United States of America.” For a long time, the government of Spain under @sanchezcastejon has been operating against the State of Israel in every way possible. Sánchez and his ministers level false blood libels against Israel and its army, defame and incite against Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The… — Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 10, 2026 Israeli MP Amichai Chikli delivered a more blistering rebuke: Let me remind you, Mr. Sánchez: Israel did not attack Lebanon, not on October 8 and not now. It was Hezbollah that opened fire in defense of its Iranian masters. Israel has no conflict with Lebanon. It is at war with the Iranian axis of evil, with Hezbollah, and with its enablers, including Maduro and you. You, Sánchez, chose to align yourself with this terror regime. By doing so, you have become a full partner in the oppression of the Iranian people and a full partner in the terror imposed by Hezbollah on Lebanon. And we will not forget how you cynically exploited the release of hostages, women and children, at the Rafah crossing to stage a public relations campaign for Hamas. Many European leaders are trapped in a profound moral vertigo that is dragging their nations toward the abyss. But in your case, this is not confusion. This is alignment. A deliberate alignment with Iran, with Hamas, with Hezbollah, with pure evil. There are no words to describe my contempt for you. You are a complete and utter zero. Pedro Sánchez will be remembered as the man whose face was etched by a terror regime that massacred tens of thousands of its own citizens onto a ballistic missile aimed at innocent civilians. Let me remind you, Mr. Sánchez: Israel did not attack Lebanon, not on October 8 and not… https://t.co/71hT00WQQq — עמיחי שיקלי – Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) April 9, 2026 This modern friction is viewed by many in Israel and elsewhere through the lens of Spain’s long and virulent history of antisemitism. For centuries, Spain has been a center of institutionalized Jewish persecution. History remembers the 1391 pogroms, in which thousands of Jews were murdered, and the infamous 1492 Alhambra Decree, which forced Jews into exile or forced conversion. Spain even pioneered “Limpieza de Sangre” (purity of blood) laws — a precursor to modern racial antisemitism — which barred those of Jewish descent from society regardless of their faith. In recent years, the Sánchez government has revived these tensions by permanently withdrawing its ambassador from Tel Aviv and leading the charge to recognize a Palestinian state. Critics argue that Spain’s current foreign policy is merely a modern iteration of its historical hostility. By expelling Spain’s representatives, Netanyahu has sent a clear signal: Israel will no longer tolerate “hypocrisy” from a nation with such a checkered past.

A Florida mother whose son was killed by an Iranian drone attack last month said she urged President Donald Trump to finish carrying out the military operation against Iran, adding that it is what her son “signed up for.” Donna Burhans, 67, suffered a parent’s ultimate nightmare when she learned that her son, 35-year-old Cody Khork, was killed on March 1 when an Iranian drone slammed into a command center in Kuwait just hours after Trump launched “Operation Epic Fury.” Despite her grief, Burhans told NBC News on Thursday that her son’s death is not on the president’s hands. “I wanted him to know that I do not blame him. I do not blame anything that’s happened for my son’s death,” she said, adding, “I told him to finish it. I said, ‘Go get ’em.’ This is what my son signed up for.” Khork was killed alongside five of his fellow Army reservists and is one of 13 U.S. servicemembers who have been killed during the Iran war. Six more U.S. troops were killed on March 12 when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. Another American soldier was killed in an Iranian missile attack on a Saudi air base on March 8. Cody Khork, Army Reserve After her tragic loss, Burhans said she spoke with Trump at the dignified transfer ceremony for her son and the five others who were killed in the Iranian attack. When Trump met with the families of the fallen U.S. troops at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on March 7, he was noticeably “distraught,” Burhans said. “He had his head down. And he was just a normal, caring person,” she said. “He wasn’t the president when he walked into the room. He was just there to tell us how sorry he was.” Burhans also told NBC News that she remains confident in Trump for his decision to attack Iran. “Trump knows what he’s doing. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s doing everything the way it’s supposed to be done,” she added. “I have my trust in him and God.” “It’s a long time coming. It should have been done a long time ago, and Trump is the only one man enough to stand up and do it,” Burhans said of the war with Iran. “They hate America.” After attending the dignified transfer in Dover, Trump said the families of the fallen troops all told him, “Make sure you win, sir.” “We will,” Trump added. “We’ve already won in many ways. But we haven’t won enough. We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long-running danger once and for all.” Earlier this week, Trump announced that the United States had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, arguing that the core objectives of the U.S. military operation had been achieved. Khork was a U.S. Army Reserve captain who enlisted in the National Guard after high school in 2009. He served in deployments to Saudi Arabia, Guantanamo Bay, and Poland before he was deployed to Kuwait. Army Lt. Col. Scott LaRonde, Khork’s ROTC commander at Florida Southern College, said Khork always looked out for cadets around him who were struggling to fit in. “He had that knack for reading people and helping them feel more comfortable,” LaRonde said, adding, “You walked away feeling better after five minutes with Cody.”