The CIA and U.S. military may have employed a secret, never-before-used technology to rescue the second American airman stranded behind Iranian enemy lines. On April 3, Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle during Operation Epic Fury, triggering a dramatic search-and-rescue mission to save the two crew members. The pilot was found and rescued in “broad daylight,” but finding the weapons systems officer (WSO) proved far more difficult. For nearly 48 hours, a “seriously wounded” American colonel evaded capture by scaling a ridge and hiding inside a mountain crevice as Iranian forces worked to close in on his position, The Daily Wire previously reported. President Donald Trump later described the mission as an “Easter Miracle,” according to NBC News. Speculation about how the United States ultimately located the airman has drawn attention online. The New York Post reported that the CIA used a classified system known as “Ghost Murmur” to detect the airman’s heartbeat from dozens of miles away. In a recent podcast, Joe Rogan and guest Duncan Trussell discussed the technology. “This is science fiction. This is full minority report, science fiction-level technology. We can find a guy’s heart rate,” Rogan said. “What sick f*ck invented this?” Joe Rogan: “CIA found the pilot who got shot in Iran by using classified tech called Ghost Murmur and AI that detects human heartbeats up to 40 miles away. What sick f*ck invented this. What else don’t they tell us?”pic.twitter.com/A3L9fge3CT — Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) April 9, 2026 “They find this guy’s … heartbeat, he’s hiding in some kind of crevice, and then they’re able to go extract him,” Trussell told Rogan. “Heartbeat says a lot about a person — are they sleeping? Are they like in good shape, bad shape? Bet you can learn so much from a heartbeat.” The classified technology “uses long-range quantum magnetometry to find the electromagnetic signal of a human heartbeat,” according to the Post, “and pairs the data with artificial intelligence software to isolate the signature from background noise.” “It’s like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert,” a source told the Post. “In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.” CIA Director Jon Ratcliffe did not confirm specifics, but referenced advanced capabilities during a White House press briefing, calling the tools used in the operation “exquisite” and unlike anything possessed by other intelligence services. He described the rescue as a “race against the clock,” comparing it to “hunting a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert.” Ratcliffe also said the CIA carried out a deception campaign to mislead Iranian forces searching for the downed airman, adding that U.S. intelligence indicates Iran was “embarrassed” and “humiliated” by the outcome of the mission. Not everyone is convinced of the government’s account or the powers behind the alleged technology. Scientific American, a popular science magazine, spoke to researchers with expertise in magnetic fields, who describe the story “as almost certainly not true,” claiming the described ability of Ghost Murmur “finds no support in decades of peer-reviewed physics.” Chad Orzel, a professor of physics at Union College, said to detect a heartbeat, a Ghost Murmur device would have to sort through more than the Earth’s natural magnetic field, but with “the heartbeats of the sheep and dogs and jackrabbits—whatever else is running around out there,” according to Scientific American. “Quantum atomic transitions obey classical antenna physics,” Hans G. Schantz, scientist and engineer, posted on X. “Vastly superior performance, such as that attributed to Ghost Murmur, defies the known behavior of quantum systems.” Quantum atomic transitions obey classical antenna physics. Vastly superior performance, such as that attributed to Ghost Murmur, defies the known behavior of quantum systems. https://t.co/1U0Ephx05z https://t.co/IAqdpGaHe3 — Hans G. Schantz (@AetherCzar) April 9, 2026 “Somebody yanking a reporter’s chain,” Orzel told Scientific American. “It could be a ‘snarky, clever way to say, ‘Of course, I’m not going to tell you how we figured this out.” The Daily Wire reached out to alleged Ghost Murmur developer Lockheed Martin, but we have received no reply as of publication. BREAKING

A U.S. appeals court on Friday declared unconstitutional a nearly 158-year-old federal ban on home distilling, calling it an unnecessary and improper means for Congress to exercise its power to tax. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled in favor of the nonprofit Hobby Distillers Association and four of its 1,300 members. They argued that people should be free to distill spirits at home, whether as a hobby or for personal consumption including, in one instance, to create an apple-pie-vodka recipe. The ban was part of a law passed during Reconstruction in July 1868, in part to thwart liquor tax evasion, and subjected violators to up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Writing for a three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Edith Hollan Jones said the ban actually reduced tax revenue by preventing distilling in the first place, unlike laws that regulated the manufacture and labeling of distilled spirits on which the government could collect taxes. She also said that under the government’s logic, Congress could criminalize virtually any in-home activity that might escape notice from tax collectors, including remote work and home-based businesses. “Without any limiting principle, the government’s theory would violate this court’s obligation to read the Constitution carefully to avoid creating a general federal authority akin to the police power,” Jones wrote. The U.S. Department of Justice had no immediate comment. Another defendant, the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Devin Watkins, a lawyer representing the Hobby Distillers Association, in an interview called the ruling an important decision about the limits of federal power. Andrew Grossman, who argued the nonprofit’s appeal, called the decision “an important victory for individual liberty” that lets the plaintiffs “pursue their passion to distill fine beverages in their homes.” “I look forward to sampling their output,” he said. The decision upheld a July 2024 ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in Fort Worth, Texas. He put his ruling on hold so the government could appeal. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

Maine Democrat Graham Platner, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Maine, faced backlash for his Nazi-symbol tattoo and several nasty social media posts — and during a recent interview, he attributed both on the “culture” that he was exposed to while serving in the United States military. Platner, who served both in the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, got the tattoo covered up after the initial public outcry, appeared on “The Takeout with Major Garrett” — and he argued that the “hyper-masculine” culture in the infantry had “colored” his perspective in the past. WATCH: In response to controversy surrounding a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and comments he made previously on Reddit, Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner says “much of it was because of the culture I had come out of.” “When I left the military, I came out of a… pic.twitter.com/C069CLxuDb — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 10, 2026 “Graham, there have been a lot of things said about you. Things that you have written on Reddit, a tattoo you had and a controversy around that, and I want to ask you this, because I don’t think it’s been put to you this way before: Is there anything you’ve done or said that you regret that did not come from the stresses you internalized from Post-Traumatic Stress itself? That is to say, is PTSD the explanation for everything, or did you also just make some additional human errors that you want to explain or contextualize?” “I’ll be up front,” Platner said, adding that he’d never blamed his past behavior solely on the fact that he’d been diagnosed with PTSD. “When I left the military, I came out of a hyper-masculine, hyper-violent place. I did four tours in the infantry. We have a crude sense of humor in the infantry. We certainly have a, I would say, narrow view of a lot of topics, and that colored my opinions and my beliefs,” Platner continued. He went on to claim that it wasn’t until he got out of the military and spent time with different people that his thoughts and opinions began to change over time. Platner went on to say that he didn’t believe his past opinions were related to his combat service necessarily, but said that “much of it was because of the culture I had come out of, and over the years in between, I’ve met a lot more people, had a lot more experiences, learned a lot more about the world, and my opinions have changed with it.” Platner is currently polling well ahead of Governor Janet Mills (D-ME). Whoever wins the primary will face incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) in November’s general election.

Senior staff members for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), both in his congressional office and at his gubernatorial campaign office, quit en masse on Saturday as several former staffers accused him of sexual misconduct and even rape. The senior staffers from both the campaign team and Swalwell’s congressional team released a joint statement saying that they were standing with the former staffer who accused the congressman of rape, and that they intended to stand for any other women who had come forward as well. Swalwell’s congressional & campaign senior staff are out with a new stmt “We’re horrified by the recent reporting in the San Francisco Chronicle and by CNN” “The behavior detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays… pic.twitter.com/Ho9NqkQqin — Brennan Leach (@brennanleach) April 11, 2026 “As leaders of teams working for Eric Swalwell, we’re horrified by the recent reporting in the San Francisco Chronicle and by CNN,” the statement began. “We stand with our former colleague, and the other women who have come forward. We believe you should stand with them too.” “The behavior detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians,” the statement continued. The staffers acknowledged that only senior staff members were represented, and noted that some junior staffers might not have the financial freedom to simply walk away from the job — and asked the public not to judge them too harshly if that were the case. “Any decision of staff members to remain in their roles in the interim should not be viewed as support for Eric Swalwell,” they wrote. “We, more than [Swalwell], understand that we have obligations to the people we lead and to the constituents of California’s 14th Congressional District. Those of us that remain on staff do so for the sole purpose of ensuring that as many of those obligations are fulfilled as possible,” they concluded. Swalwell released a video statement early on Saturday fighting back against the allegations he said were “flat false.” Just hours later, however, a video began circulating that showed the California congressman forcibly kissing a woman who was reportedly a sex worker. Since the first accusations were made public on Friday, a number of prominent lawmakers have withdrawn their support for Swalwell ahead of the gubernatorial primary — and several have called on him to withdraw from the race entirely.

Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is facing mounting political and legal pressure as a video has surfaced showing him forcibly kissing an alleged sex worker and multiple allegations of sexual misconduct trigger a criminal investigation and threaten to derail his campaign for governor of California. The new video circulating on social media, first posted Saturday by Martin Shkreli, shows Swalwell in an intimate setting with a woman identified by a source as a sex worker. The footage, which the source claims was taken inside Swalwell’s home, shows the two kissing on a bed. The authenticity of the video and the identity of the woman have not been independently verified, and Swalwell has not commented on the video. I heard about these videos a few months ago. And I know they’ve been confirmed as authentic… https://t.co/yMTVuJoZMY — Brent Scher (@BrentScher) April 11, 2026 The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has opened an inquiry into accusations that include an alleged sexual assault in New York City in 2024. In a statement first obtained by NBC New York, prosecutors urged “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations” to come forward, directing them to the office’s Special Victims Division and emphasizing a “trauma-informed, survivor-centered” approach. A former staffer first came forward Friday with an allegation of sexual assault stemming from a 2024 incident in New York City, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Within hours, three additional women publicly accused him of a range of misconduct, including unwanted advances and the alleged sending of unsolicited explicit images, dramatically expanding the scope of the controversy. Swalwell has denied all allegations. “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false,” Swalwell said in a video posted Friday. “They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.” His attorney, Elias Dabaie, described the accusations as a “coordinated effort to undermine his candidacy,” adding, “We believe those allegations are baseless and continue to seek the truth.” But the political fallout has been swift and severe. Once seen as a serious contender to replace Gavin Newsom, Swalwell’s campaign has been thrown into turmoil. Senior staffers have resigned, key endorsements have been withdrawn, and prominent Democratic allies have begun publicly distancing themselves. Within days of the reports surfacing, the endorsements page on Swalwell’s website was taken down after major backers, including organizations and elected officials, pulled their support. Labor unions and political groups have also distanced themselves. Top House Democrats, including Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) issued a joint statement calling for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid, but notably stopped short of demanding he resign from Congress. “Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next Governor,” the three leaders said. “This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously.” They added: “We commend the courageous women for sharing their experiences. In this and all circumstances, we must ensure that those who come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment are heard and respected. All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.” Former Representative and fellow Democratic candidate for California Governor Katie Porter on Friday took to Bluesky, saying,  “In light of the allegations of sexual assault, Eric Swalwell should resign from Congress and end his campaign for public office. But those decisions do not absolve him of taking responsibility for his misconduct, especially when he has attempted to silence and retaliate against these victims” No current Democratic congressman has called for Swalwell’s resignation. On the Republican side, however, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) posted on Saturday that she plans to introduce a motion to expel Swalwell from the House. “There’s a fork firmly implanted in him,” California Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio told The New York Times. “It’s over.” Swalwell, 45, has represented a Bay Area district since 2012 and built a national profile through frequent cable news appearances and a short-lived presidential campaign in 2019. His gubernatorial bid had been gaining traction in a crowded primary field ahead of the June 2 election. Now, with ballots set to go out within weeks, the race has been upended. In the video addressing the allegations, Swalwell acknowledged personal shortcomings, but maintained his innocence. “I do not suggest to you in any way that I’m perfect or that I’m a saint,” he said. “I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife.” He also apologized directly to his family. “To her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position,” he said. This is far from the first time Swalwell has found himself in hot water. The congressman was previously linked to a suspected Chinese spy named Fang Fang, who fundraised for his re-election campaign in 2014 and allegedly placed an intern in his orbit. Despite his defiance, the combination of a criminal investigation, multiple accusers, and political support vanishing in a matter of hours has left Swalwell’s campaign and career almost certainly collapsed, with increasing calls for him to step aside from the governor’s race and for now, slowly, from Congress as well.