A massive liberal donor network is planning to spend “ten of millions” of dollars on new media to counter conservatives. Democracy Alliance, founded in 2005 to pool liberal funds, spent most of 2024 trying to flip House seats in New York and California. The group has spent $2 billion on electoral campaigns, media outlets, and think tanks since its creation. But following the new media success of conservatives, the group is shifting its strategy to developing alternative media, Semafor first reported. “It became crystal clear after 2024 that we collectively had relied too much on forms of media that were not reaching people,” Pamela Shifman, president of Democracy Alliance, told Semafor. “Too much focus on paid advertisements, too much focus on broadcast television, and that is simply not where the majority of people consume their news.” The 2024 election cycle – during which President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance made huge gains through appearances on podcasts — convinced liberal donors to change their strategy. “Donors are more fired up, are more clear about the stakes, and more ready to go all in to defeat authoritarianism,” Shifman said. “Because it is more than just about one election, right? It is about defeating authoritarianism.” An internal memo recommended donors invest in Democracy Alliance’s new media fund, which would promote organizations such as More Perfect Union, an advocacy journalism nonprofit. The fund would also help liberals break into predominantly conservative spaces, such as Make America Healthy Again influencing, Semafor reported. In 2024, President Donald Trump went on a variety of podcasts, including those hosted by Joe Rogan and Theo Von, for interviews that got millions of views. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic nominee, attempted to counter by going on podcasts such as Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy,” but her efforts failed to sway voters. “The right has spent decades cultivating and organizing young people,” the memo, which was shared with Semafor, said. “They build relationships through culture and community — and engage in politics after. We can’t cede these voters. It’s time for progressives to invest heavily in our own trusted messengers who can meet young people where they are — both online and in-person.” Shifman told Semafor the problem has been progressives’ messaging strategy. “That is not why we are losing, because the Democrats are too ‘woke,’” Shifman said. “Our strategy really is about meeting people where they are. And we also need to have a vision of what we are going to do to improve people’s lives.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used social media to effectively reach voters, she said. “I live in New York, and I saw the Mamdani campaign use media and tactics that reached people, that spoke to people, that resonated with people, and that was joyful and positive and compelling,” Shifman said. “It doesn’t have to be negative to reach people.” Despite Mamdani’s ability to reach people and sell a message, his administration has stalled as he’s been forced to beg for more money to fund his socialist agenda.

Viral plane freakouts might finally be getting grounded. Airlines have watched passengers turn midair moments into content for years. Now one major carrier is making it clear the camera party is over if it is aimed at crew. British Airways has updated its passenger rules to crack down on people filming staff without permission. The airline warns the behavior could lead to serious consequences, including removal from a flight, long-term travel bans, or even legal trouble. The policy draws a clear line. Recording, photographing, or livestreaming crew members without consent now counts as “unacceptable behavior.” That places it alongside other disruptive conduct that can escalate quickly. It does not take much for a normal moment on a plane to end up online. What starts as a routine interaction can quickly turn into a viral clip without the full context. Passengers who cross the line could be removed mid-journey, barred from continuing their trip, or reported to authorities. If a situation forces a diversion, the airline says the passenger responsible may have to cover the costs, which can add up quickly. On the other hand, do not get it twisted. Passengers can still brag to their social media followers about the trip. So go ahead and snap photos of your meal, the view outside your window, or that first-class seat. Because if you didn’t post it these days, did it even happen? The rule also reflects how quickly technology is changing the cabin. Devices like smart glasses and action cameras make it easier to record interactions without drawing attention, raising new concerns about privacy for crew members doing their jobs. The airline has not pointed to any single incident behind the change. Instead, the update signals a broader effort to get ahead of a growing trend. Here is why it matters. What used to be a forgettable moment can now follow someone forever. Airlines are stepping in before every awkward exchange turns into the next viral clip. British Airways is not alone. Other carriers, including Qantas, KLM, and Virgin Australia, have introduced similar restrictions in recent years. The timing is notable. British Airways is expanding onboard Wi-Fi, including plans for faster satellite-based service, which will make live-streaming more accessible during flights. Airlines appear to be preparing for the risks that come with that shift. The airline also reiterated other behaviors that could lead to consequences. These include ignoring crew instructions, interfering with their duties, or acting in a way that disrupts other passengers. The message is straightforward in the end: just sit back and enjoy the flight.

An illegal immigrant was found guilty in a 2025 attempted knife attack at the Israeli embassy in London. A jury found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed articles May 1. Abdullah Albadri, 34, tried to scale the fence around the embassy before armed diplomatic protection officers arrested him April 28, 2025, according to the BBC. “Why are you stopping me from making crimes?” Albadri asked the officers when they detained him. An investigation after the attack found that Albadri wanted revenge against the Israeli government over the war in Gaza, according to the Metropolitan Police. “I want to do something to stop the war,” Albadri told the officers who arrested him. He had arrived in the U.K. just 16 days before the attack, crossing the English Channel from France by small boat. It was the second time he’d illegally entering the country in the same manner in four years, the BBC reported. Albadri said during the trial that he is a member of the Bedoon tribe and grew up in Kuwait. He spent five years in prison in his home country after becoming an activist. He first entered the U.K. in August 2021 via small boat and claimed asylum. He claimed he took a truck that he thought was going to Manchester, but instead ended up in France. He returned to the U.K. on April 12, 2025, where he spent almost two weeks homeless in London. Twelve days after his arrival, he began looking for the location of the Israeli embassy and looked up information about “suicide among enemies,” according to the BBC. Albadri had copied a verse titled “the benefit of martyrdom,” which was found on him when he was arrested. He also wrote a note and sent a picture of it with a knife to his mother. “I will attack in the way of Allah and for the sake of being free from humiliation in this world,” Albadri wrote in the note. He also messaged his mother, “I chose the path of martyrdom.” Albadri then traveled across the city to the Israeli embassy in Kensington Gardens. He was wearing a red and white Arabic scarf, which covered his face except for his eyes — which were hidden by sunglasses. When Albadri reached the embassy, he saluted two officers and then attempted to scale the fence. The officers pulled him off the fence and pinned him to the ground. Five officers, one in plainclothes, detained and handcuffed him. “I want to make a crime inside there. Why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping me from making crimes?” he asked the officers. “Why didn’t you let me in? And then do what you want to do?” Authorities believed that, based on the evidence collected and his statements at the time of his capture, Albadri might have been hoping to get shot by the officers in “suicide by cop.” Albadri is set to be sentenced at a later date.

President Donald Trump came clean to supporters in Florida on Friday, admitting that First Lady Melania Trump does not like it when he dances to The Village People’s 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.” Trump, speaking at The Villages retirement community, referred to the disco tune as the “Gay National Anthem” and said that his wife felt it was “unpresidential” that he insisted on dancing to the upbeat tune at every opportunity. President Trump says First Lady Melania Trump dislikes his dancing to ‘YMCA’: “She hates when I dance to what’s sometimes referred to as the ‘gay national anthem.'” pic.twitter.com/qREkTLPhZ5 — CSPAN (@cspan) May 1, 2026 “She hates when I dance, too, at the end,” Trump said with a smile, prompting laughter from the audience. “She hates when I dance to what’s sometimes referred to as the gay national anthem. You know that? She hates it.” “You know, that song was No. 5, 32 years ago, and it went to No. 1, 32 years later,” the president asserted — although when the song was first released in 1978, it ultimately landed at Number 2 on the Billboard charts. It first hit Number 1 on the charts in 2024, during the presidential campaign. “There’s never been anything like it. It never hit No. 1. It was No.5, 32 years ago. And it went No. 1 for months during the last months of the game,” Trump added. “We love that song,” Trump said of his supporters. He continued: “But she goes, ‘Darling, please –’ you know she’s a very elegant woman – she goes, ‘Darling, please don’t dance. It’s not presidential.’ I said, ‘It may not be presidential, but I’m leading by 20 points in the polls or something.” Trump has been dancing to the disco beat on rally stages across the United States for years — and has inspired many to follow suit. Even NFL players have taken to doing “The Trump Dance” to celebrate after major plays.

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher pulled no punches in an interview with Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), grilling him about his recent Trump-like behavior and the billion-dollar black hole that is California’s proposed high-speed rail system. Maher spoke to the California politician — who is term-limited out of his current office and widely expected to run for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination — and pressed him on his record in The Golden State. WATCH: