MagazinAisle

Author: rb809rb

  • 3 things to watch in Spurs-Trail Blazers Game 4

    Dylan Harper scores a playoff career-high 27 points, including 22 in the second half, of the Spurs Game 3 victory.

    • Download the NBA App

    The Portland Trail Blazers don’t have much time to mull their Game 3 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

    Game 4 is an early afternoon start Sunday in Portland, less than 48 hours after the Spurs took a 2-1 series lead with a 120-108 victory Friday night.

    San Antonio won without center-forward Victor Wembanyama, who requires medical clearance to play after sustaining a concussion in Game 2, and San Antonio burrowed through a 15-point second-half deficit thanks to impressive scoring from 20-year-old rookie guard Dylan Harper (27 points) and 21-year-old second-year guard Stephon Castle (33 points).

    Will the Spurs take a 3-1 series lead? Will the Blazers tie the series? Will Wembanyama play in Game 4 Sunday (3:30 ET, ESPN)?

    Here are three things to watch in Game 4:

    1. What is Wembanyama’s status for Game 4?

    Even if Wembanyama, 22, wants to play and says he can go, it’s not his decision. After a concussion, a player must be symptom-free and go through a series of tests and physical exertion steps and get clearance from a doctor and the NBA’s director of the concussion program before returning.

    Wembanyama, the Kia Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists Kia MVP this season, set a franchise record for points in a playoff debut with 35 in San Antonio’s Game 1 victory.

    The Spurs await his return with patience. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama is progressing but would not speculate on his availability, citing the detailed return-to-play process.

    2. Blazers must avoid a letdown

    Portland led 82-67 with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter. With 5:48 to go in the fourth, San Antonio owned a 108-96 lead. During that stretch, Portland was 6-for-23 from the field, missed its six 3-point attempts, Deni Avdija was 0-for-4, Jrue Holiday — who otherwise had a terrific game with 29 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals — was 1-for-4 and Jerami Grant was 0-for-3.

    The Trail Blazers couldn’t do much to slow the Spurs, who shot 13-for-19 from the field and 7-for-9 on 3-pointers. Harper scored 20 points during that run, and 20-year-old rookie Carter Bryant was on the court for the entire stretch, contributing offensively and defensively. He finished with an impactful three points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

    Harper also had 10 rebounds, becoming the youngest guard to record a double-double in a playoff game. Per the Spurs, Harper was the first rookie with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in a playoff game since 1987. Harper and Castle also joined Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the only duos in NBA history, age 21 or younger, to score 25 or more points in the same playoff game.

    3. Can Avdija produce more offensively?

    After scoring 30 points in Game 1, Trail Blazers All-Star Deni Avdija had 14 points in Game 2 and 19 points in Game 3. Of those 19 points, 12 came on free throws, and he was 3-for-15 from the field and scored eight points in the second half and three in the fourth quarter.

    The Spurs have made shooting difficult for him, especially in the paint, where Luke Kornet was waiting to alter Avdija’s shots at the rim. Avdija was 2-for-10 on shots in the paint as San Antonio played a physical game and used multiple defenders on him.

    * * *

    Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

  • Trump evacuated from White House correspondents’ dinner after shots fired

    Trump evacuated from White House correspondents’ dinner after shots fired

    BREAKING,

    The US president was escorted out of the event at a Washington, DC, hotel by Secret Service agents.

    Published On 26 Apr 2026

    United States President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington, DC, after shots were fired outside the event.

    Trump was rushed out of the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening after gunshots were heard outside the ballroom where the president and the first lady had been seated before the start of the annual media gala.

    Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he and his Cabinet were safe, and that he would give a news conference from the White House shortly.

    “The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” Trump said.

    “We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”

    Trump also hailed the US Secret Service and local law enforcement.

    “They acted quickly and bravely,” Trump said, adding that he had recommend that the event continue as planned but would defer to law enforcement.

    The US Secret Service said the shooting had occurred at a “screening area” and that one individual was in custody.

    “The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,” the agency said.

    Footage from the scene showed Trump and attendees taking cover behind their table after shots rang out, as people yelled “Get down!” and “Stay down!”

    Trump was then rushed away from the scene by Secret Service agents, after which heavily armed agents surrounded the table.

    Al Jazeera producer Chris Sheridan said he heard what he believed to be five gunshots outside the ballroom.

    “We could smell the powder. We immediately dove to the ground. It was directly behind me,” Sheridan said.

    “I couldn’t tell how many feet away, but it was definitely behind the doors to the entrance to the ballroom.”

    More to come…

  • White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: President Trump and First Lady Evacuated After Shots Fired; Trump to Hold Press Conference as He Vows to Reschedule

    White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting: President Trump and First Lady Evacuated After Shots Fired; Trump to Hold Press Conference as He Vows to Reschedule

    The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was turned upside down Saturday night as a gunman was taken into custody after shots were fired near the ballroom at the Washington Hilton. President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other administration officials were evacuated by the Secret Service after the shots disrupted the annual gala fundraiser event.

    President Trump and first lady and numerous cabinet officials were swiftly evacuated from the event as the shooter was tackled by law enforcement. On a night that was to mark Trump’s first time at the WHCA dinner as president, the commander-in-chief ended it with plans for an impromptu White House briefing that is expected to take place after 10 p.m. ET.

    After about an hour of confusion within the ballroom, WHCA president Weijia Jiang, of CBS News, came to the podium with tears in her eyes to tell the attendees to leave the ballroom. And she also informed members of the association of the President’s plan to hold a press briefing at the White House within 30 minutes. “That is not a joke,” Jiang deadpanned.

    Jiang added that Trump “insists that we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days,” Jiang said. “He wanted to continue desptie the news but has to follow security protocol,” she said. Jiang noted that journalism is a profession designed to rise to the occasion in a crises.

    “On a night when are thinking about those freedoms and the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are,” she siad. “I saw all of you reporting and that’s what we do. So thank god, everybody’s safe. Thank you for coming together tonight, and we’ll do this again.”

    Trump’s statement issued on his Truth Social platform also laid out his determination to proceed with the event.

    “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the statement read.

    Earlier in the night, after he’d been removed from the ballroom, Trump issued a message stating his hope to go back to the Hilton to finish the night as planned. In that statement, Trump addressed the extraordinary brush with violence: “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,” the President stated.

    CNN’s Wolf Blitzer reported on-air that he heard the gunshots and was thrown to the ground by police for safety. Blitzer said he saw the gunman “shooting randomly” and saw him being tackled by police. He was ushered into a restroom for safety by police. Blitzer said he heard at least six dozen loud “booms.” Blitzer said he left the ballroom to use the restroom. As he walked back to his table, he suddenly heard “a whole bunch of gunshots and someone firing. The next thing I saw were a lot of police officers and other law enforcement grabbing [the gunman] and getting him to the ground.”

    Shortly after 9 p.m. ET, WHCA president Weijia Jiang told the crowd that the program would continue despite the commotion caused by the incident and Trump’s swift departure. However, by 9:20 p.m. ET it was clear that security was clearing out the ballroom, indicating that the event had been formally scrapped.

    The situation sparked immediate on-the-ground reporting from journalists across the media spectrum who took to social media platforms to deliver urgent reports.

    ABC News’ Rachel Scott called the situation “terrifying” and described the confusion as attendees suddenly looked up to see Secret Service personnel swarming the president. And it all happened “as [WHCA] members here in this ballroom ducked for cover,” Scott reported on Instagram.

    CSPAN coverage indicated that just as guests were finishing the salad course of the dinner, the dais for the event was abruptly cleared out and many of the several thousand attendees of the event dove under tables amid concerns about a major security breach. Witnesses told CSPAN that they heard yelling from the back of the ballroom before the Secret Service swept into the room. On CSPAN’s coverage around the 8:40 p.m. ET mark, shouts of “USA, USA” can be heard from the back of the ballroom.

    The scene outside the Washington Hilton earlier in the night was tense, with protestors chanting about U.S. action in Iran as attendees entered the hotel. Multiple layers of security with Washington, D.C. streets around the hotel closed off and tickets were required to move past several checkpoints in the hotel and facility.

    After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded. CNN, CNBC, CSPAN and other outlets delivered the news of what just happened in the ballroom in telephone interviews with startled journalists who were on site.

    Most of journalism’s top players were in attendance at the annual fundraiser event. Versant CEO Mark Lazarus, ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic, “Good Morning America” executive producer Simone Swink and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott are among the notables who were seen at pre-parties on Saturday.

    Among the Trump administration officials attending the event were Vice President JD Vance, White House deputy chief of policy Stephen Miller, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, and Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA. There were numerous reports that Kirk was seen to be visibly shaken by the incident, which comes seven months after her political activist husband, Charlie Kirk, was shot during an appearance at a Utah university.

    The Trump administration’s strong showing at the event is in sharp contrast to his actions in his previous time in the White House. The 2026 dinner marks Trump’s first time attending the event, which traditionally features a comedian who roasts the president and Washington establishment. This time around the WHCA booked mentalist Oz Pearlman as the celebrity performer. Pearlman was seen making the rounds with top journalists prominently in the live coverage of the event before the disruption.

    Trump has had a contentious relationship with mainstream journalist since his political ambitions took off in 2015. Since his return to the White House, the Trump administration has been aggressive in challenging journalism conventions, and the President has not let up on his attacks on the integrity and competence of mainstream journalism. Trump has also engaged in litigation with ABC News, CBS News and the Wall Street Journal, among others.

  • ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ Broadway Review: Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer Lead Stellar Cast

    Nearly 40 years after its debut, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” has returned to Broadway. The second installment in legendary playwright August Wilson’s “The Century Cycle,” “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, grapples with Black life in the decades after Emancipation. Directed by Debbie Allen, the emotionally gripping play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house. There, Seth Holly (Cedric the Entertainer) and his wife Bertha (Taraji P. Henson in her Broadway debut) welcome boarders searching for salvation, freedom from the oppressive South and new opportunities in the North. However, when a stoic drifter named Herald Loomis (Joshua Boone) and his young daughter, Zonia (Savannah Commodore) arrive on their doorstep, the Holly’s world turns on its axis. Stunningly depicted and gorgeously acted, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” is a deeply grounded production about identity, home, love and how the horrors of slavery, racism and injustice continue to reverberate through time and across generations, impacting us all.
    ​
    “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” opens in Pittsburgh in 1911. Seth, a craftsman, has just arrived home from his overnight shift making pots and pans at a factory. As Bertha whips up breakfast for their boarders, the couple peers out of the window, watching Bynum Walker (a fantastic Ruben Santiago-Hudson) dance with the pigeons and riffle through Seth’s vegetable garden. A formally enslaved man and known conjurer, Bynum has his eccentricities, but Bertha and Seth mostly let their long-standing boarder be. As the morning progresses, the audience is introduced to the other boarders living at the Hollies’ home. There’s Jeremy Furlow (Tripp Taylor), a young guitarist who recently moved from South Carolina and has found a job laying roads for $8 a week. Also, there is Rutherford Selig (Bradley Stryker), a white trader who comes in once a week to buy and sell pots and pans for Seth.
    ​
    Despite external stressors, including the racism that Jeremy and Seth both endure at work and the uncertainty surrounding Bynum’s rhymes and riddles, the Holly’s boarding house is full of love, warmth and joy. David Gallos’s scenic design showcases a modest but welcoming home where Bertha’s biscuits bake in the oven, a box of dominoes lies tucked on a side table, and warm coffee heats on the stove. However, the atmosphere – and the lightning by Stacey Derosir shifts after Herold arrives at their doorstep, requesting a room and the whereabouts of his estranged wife, Martha (Abigail Onwunali).
    ​
    Bertha is immediately enamored with Zonia and eagerly takes her under her wing. Yet, Seth and Bynum are skeptical of Herold, whose torment and anguish cloaks him better than his long grey coat. While the older men are fairly certain they know the woman Herold is seeking, they decide it’s in their and Martha’s best interests to remain silent.
    ​
    As the play continues, Herold becomes increasingly obsessed, desperate to connect to the man he once was. Meanwhile, the boarding house buzzes around him. Despite facing his own injustices, Jeremy is mostly focused on chasing skirts and finds himself entangled with two women. Mattie Campbell (Nimene Sierra Wureh) enlists Bynum’s services, desperate for some root work to get her man to return to her. Instead, she finds Jeremy to keep her company. Contrastingly, Molly Cunningham (Maya Boyd) has shed any vestige of her life in the South. Decedantly dressed, in stunning dresses by Paul Tazewell, she looks ahead, determined that neither a man nor the color of her skin will hold her back. She is immediately dazzling to Jeremy, who has already hooked his wagon to Mattie. Meanwhile, Zonia makes a new friend in a neighborhood boy, Reuben Mercer (Jackson Edward Davis). Their joyous innocence depicts the newest generation of Black Americans who won’t contend with enslavement but will be forced to confront the terrors of Jim Crow.
    ​
    The audience also learns the reasons behind Herold’s torment. In addition to his wife vanishing, he was illegally captured by Joe Turner, the brother of the governor of Tennessee, and forced to work on a chain gang for seven years. The enslavement and separation from his family warped his mind. For Herold, Joe Turner has entirely stripped him of his sense of self.
    ​
    Just as it did when it first debuted on Broadway in 1989, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” remains timeless. Though she doesn’t have much to do, Henson and the rest of the cast, including the younger actors, are exceptional. Bursting with heart and humor, the production showcases all of the intricacies and beauty of Black American life, the never-ending costs of slavery, racism and discrimination and how Black people flourish and move forward despite it all.

  • Ripple Says Multi-Asset Stablecoin Rails Are Becoming Critical for Global Payments

    Ripple Says Multi-Asset Stablecoin Rails Are Becoming Critical for Global Payments

    Stablecoin payments are moving rapidly into multi-asset infrastructure as volumes climb across global markets. Ripple says institutions that chose infrastructure already operating across assets, rails, and markets are better positioned as adoption consolidates.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Ripple says institutions are adopting multi- stablecoin strategies as cross-border settlement demands keep expanding globally.
    • Markets using $RLUSD, $USDC, and $USDT show payment infrastructure must support flexible asset choices.
    • Regulatory frameworks like MiCA may require institutions to use compliant assets, stablecoins, and fiat together.

    Stablecoin Payments Pressure Banks to Adapt Faster

    Global payments infrastructure is undergoing a shift as institutions adopt multi- stablecoin strategies across cross-border markets, driven by differing corridor requirements, counterparties, and regulatory conditions. This transition reflects how settlement assets now vary by region, requiring platforms capable of handling multiple stablecoins and fiat simultaneously.

    In its April 24 insight, Ripple stated:

    “Global stablecoin transaction volume hit $33 trillion in 2025, larger than global credit card volume. The institutions moving most of it aren’t betting on a single asset.”

    “They’re operating across $RLUSD, $USDC, $USDT, EURC, and local-currency stablecoins simultaneously, because different corridors, counterparties, and regulatory environments call for different assets,” Ripple detailed, emphasizing that institutions are no longer relying on a single asset, instead using multiple stablecoins across corridors, counterparties, and regulatory environments.

    It added that the GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, accelerated infrastructure timelines, placing early adopters ahead while others face pressure as volumes consolidate and relationships form. Ripple noted that $33 trillion reflects settled activity already flowing through live platforms, highlighting the cost of delayed adoption. It also stated: “This is not a future state, it is how payments are already operating today.”

    Multi-Asset Settlement Becomes Key for Enterprises

    The insight emphasized that the stablecoin market has already shifted toward a multi-asset structure, with settlement assets varying across regions and counterparties. It explained that platforms limited to a single asset face structural limitations, as enterprise clients increasingly operate with different stablecoin preferences shaped by custody, banking relationships, and regulation. The analysis pointed to regulatory frameworks such as MiCA in Europe, which may require specific compliant assets, reinforcing the need for infrastructure capable of supporting multiple tokens. Ripple described asset-agnostic design as a core requirement, enabling settlement across stablecoins and fiat simultaneously to reflect real-world payment flows across global markets.

    AMINA Bank’s Chief Product Officer said: “Our clients need payment infrastructure that can handle both fiat and stablecoin rails simultaneously, but traditional correspondent banking networks weren’t designed to support this.” Ripple highlighted that its payments solution supports multi-asset settlement with integrated custody, liquidity, and conversion, already operating across financial institutions globally. It also detailed $RLUSD’s regulatory positioning and adoption across institutions. The company concluded:

    “The market has already moved. The institutions that win won’t be the ones that chose the right stablecoin. They’ll be the ones that chose infrastructure already operating at scale across assets, rails, and markets, without needing to rebuild as the ecosystem evolves.”

  • White House Correspondents’ Dinner Postponed After President Evacuated Amid Shots Fired

    White House Correspondents’ Dinner Postponed After President Evacuated Amid Shots Fired

    President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed off stage and evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner after shots were reportedly fired at the Washington Hilton ballroom on Saturday night.

    Trump announced on Truth Social after the evacuation that he and Melania were safe, and that the event will be rescheduled within the next 30 days after law enforcement requested that attendees exit the premises.

    “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room,” he wrote. “The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

    President Trump and the First Lady were seated on the stage with the head of the White House Correspondents Association when the loud sounds were heard inside the ballroom. It was not immediately clear what the loud sounds that led to the evacuation were attributed to, but the president was removed from the dinner.

    Trump took to Truth Social after he was evacuated, writing, “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

    A source told CNN that Trump is safe, and that a shooter is in custody; the condition of the suspect is unknown. A White House official reiterated Trump’s sentiments to MS Now that the he is still planning to deliver his speech, though it’s unclear when he will deliver remarks.

    The program will reportedly resume, MS Now and C-SPAN both detailed on their broadcasts. Trump was attending the event for the first time since 2011.

    The room, which was filled with journalists, politicians, and celebrities, was not evacuated following the incident. Initial concern at the gala seemed to fade as security swept the ballroom and guests began to converse as they waited for any instructions.

    A news executive on the scene shared details from inside the venue with The Hollywood Reporter, noting, “We heard shots and people were huddled under the tables and threw themselves on the ground as soon as the shots rang out. But the band kept playing. There was a lot of panic in one corner of the room, and it seemed like in other corners no one could hear what was going on. Some people here really want to get the hell out, but at the moment they are blocking everyone from leaving.”

    The exec continued, “Everyone is in the phone right now but reception here is very spotty. There’s a pack of CNN reporters Huddled around [CNN chief] Mark Thompson, all of them on their phones. It’s like controlled pandemonium.”

    The Secret Service issued a statement confirming they are investigated the incident: “The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees. One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”

    On March 2, the president posted to his Truth Social account that this would be the year he would head to the Washington Hilton and step onto the stage in front of the people he has long referred to as the “enemy of the people.”

    “In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday,” he wrote, “And the fact that these ‘Correspondents’ now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country — the G.O.A.T., according to many — it will be my honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER OF ANY KIND, EVER!”

    Trump’s attendance at the event came with controversy as Dan Rather, the Society of Professional Journalists, and 350-plus other journalists and organizations signed a letter calling on the body to “forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press.”

    More to come.

  • ‘We Will See You in Court’: CFTC Defends Jurisdiction in Massachusetts Kalshi Case

    ‘We Will See You in Court’: CFTC Defends Jurisdiction in Massachusetts Kalshi Case

    CFTC escalates prediction market fight as state challenges intensify across the U.S. The Kalshi case in Massachusetts heightens tensions, with regulators warning states they will see them in court.

    Key Takeaways:

    • CFTC filing asserts exclusive authority over prediction markets, signaling federal dominance over state challenges ahead.
    • Massachusetts case involving KalshiEx highlights conflict where state enforcement threaten unified national derivatives oversight framework.
    • Mike Selig warns states challenging CFTC authority will face litigation, escalating tensions prediction market regulation.

    CFTC ASSERTS EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OVER PREDICTION MARKETS

    The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on April 24 submitted an amicus brief to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court asserting its exclusive authority over U.S. commodity derivatives markets, including event contracts commonly known as prediction markets. The brief relates to Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. KalshiEx LLC, No. SJC-13906.

    The filing indicated the Massachusetts case forms part of the CFTC’s broader push to defend its oversight of prediction markets against state-level challenges. The document detailed the history and structure of the Commodity Exchange Act and explained that Congress established a framework preempting state laws in CFTC-regulated markets. Congress created the agency in 1974 to build a uniform national system for futures trading after fragmented state oversight disrupted market development. Lawmakers also granted the CFTC exclusive authority over futures, options, and swaps traded on regulated exchanges, including event contracts tied to sports, elections, or weather.

    CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig remarked:

    “Some states continue to pursue ever-escalating, illegal enforcement actions against CFTC-regulated exchanges, despite rulings from multiple courts halting those efforts.”

    LEGAL CLASH WITH STATES THREATENS UNIFIED DERIVATIVES FRAMEWORK

    Recent legal actions highlight the escalating conflict. The CFTC has filed lawsuits against multiple states, including New York, while working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in broader challenges against state enforcement efforts targeting prediction markets. Courts have already intervened in some cases, including granting a temporary order blocking an Arizona criminal case against prediction market platforms. These developments reflect a growing federal push to halt state-level actions and reinforce a single regulatory framework as disputes over jurisdiction intensify across several states.

    The April 24 filing outlined that applying state gambling laws to swaps traded on CFTC-regulated markets would conflict with federal law and disrupt the uniform regulatory system established by Congress. It further warned that such actions could reintroduce fragmented oversight across jurisdictions.

    “Congress has entrusted the CFTC with the sole authority to regulate commodity derivatives markets, including prediction markets,” Selig further stressed, warning:

    “To any state that seeks to nullify federal law and seize authority over these markets, I say again: we will see you in court.”

    He also addressed the issue on social media platform X, commenting directly on the dispute and specifically naming Massachusetts: “Despite several court decisions blocking states from pursuing unlawful enforcement actions against CFTC-regulated exchanges, some states are still trying to encroach on the CFTC’s exclusive authority over prediction markets. Massachusetts, we’ll see you in court.”

  • ‘Spider-Noir’ Official Trailer Has Nicolas Cage Battling Brendan Gleeson’s Super Villain

    The official trailer for Prime Video’s Spider-Man-based drama series features a gumshoe Nicolas Cage facing off against Brendan Gleeson’s super villain.

    Marking the Oscar winner’s first leading TV series role, Cage plays Ben Reilly, an aging and down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero. In the new trailer (below), Reilly discovers his powers and faces off against an Irish crime boss (Gleeson), who is apparently Silvermane from the comics. The trailer was dropped in Mexico City for the pop culture festival CCXPMX26.

    The company has a unique presentation for the project: Spider-Noir will be available to stream in two different ways, in “Authentic Black & White” and “True-Hue Full Color” (the original comics were rather muted and monochromatic, but in color).

    The project is based on the comic Spider-Man Noir, but the project is considered a stand-alone story and not part of the Sony movies or the Into the Spider-Verse franchise.

    The full cast includes Lamorne Morris (Fargo), Li Jun Li (Sinners), Karen Rodriguez (The Hunting Wives), Abraham Popoola (Slow Horses), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin).

    Spider-Noir will premiere May 27, and the episodes will be dropped as a binge release.

    Spider-Noir is produced by Sony Pictures Television for MGM+ and Prime Video. Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag) directed and executive produced the first two episodes. Oren Uziel (The Lost City) and Steve Lightfoot (The Punisher) serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Uziel and Lightfoot developed the series with the team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal.

  • Donald and Melania Trump Evacuated From White House Correspondents’ Dinner

    Donald and Melania Trump Evacuated From White House Correspondents’ Dinner

    President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed off stage and evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner after shots were reportedly fired at the Washington Hilton ballroom on Saturday night.

    President Trump and the First Lady were seated on the stage with the head of the White House Correspondents Association when the loud sounds were heard inside the ballroom. It was not immediately clear what the loud sounds that led to the evacuation were attributed to, but the president was removed from the dinner.

    Trump took to Truth Social after he was evacuated, writing, “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

    The room, which was filled with journalists, politicians, and celebrities, was not evacuated following the incident. Initial concern at the gala seemed to fade as security swept the ballroom and guests began to converse as they wait for any instructions.

    The program will reportedly resume, MS Now and C-SPAN both detailed on their broadcasts. Trump was attending the event for the first time since 2011.

    A source told CNN that Trump is safe, and that a shooter is in custody. A White House official reiterated Trump’s sentiments to MS Now that the he is still planning to deliver his speech, though it’s unclear when he will deliver remarks.

    On March 2, the president posted to his Truth Social account that this would be the year he would head to the Washington Hilton and step onto the stage in front of the people he has long referred to as the “enemy of the people.”

    “In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday,” he wrote, “and the fact that these ‘Correspondents’ now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country — the G.O.A.T., according to many — it will be my honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER OF ANY KIND, EVER!”

    Trump’s attendance at the event came with controversy as Dan Rather, the Society of Professional Journalists, and 350-plus other journalists and organizations signed a letter calling on the body to “forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press.”

    More to come.

  • President Trump, Melania Trump and Others Evacuated From White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Shots Fired

    President Trump, Melania Trump and Others Evacuated From White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Shots Fired

    The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was halted Saturday night as President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated by the Secret Service after gunshots were heard in the ballroom at the Washington Hilton.

    CNN reported that a shooter is in custody and that Trump and other admininstration officials in attendance were safe.

    CNN, CNBC and other outlets reported that gunshots were heard, prompting the operation to extract Trump and other administration officials who were attending the event.

    CNN’s Wolf Blitzer reported on-air that he heard the gunshots and was thrown to the ground by police for safety. Blitzer said he saw the gunman “shooting randomly” and saw him being tackled by police. He was ushered into a restroom for safety by police. Blitzer said he heard at least six dozen loud “booms.” Blitzer said he left the ballroom to use the restroom. As he walked back to his table, he suddenly heard “a whole bunch of gunshots and someone firing. The next thing I saw were a lot of police officers and other law enforcement grabbing [the gunman] and getting him to the ground.”

    Shortly after 9 p.m. ET, WHCA president Weijia Jiang told the crowd that the program would continue despite the commotion caused by the incident and Trump’s swift departure. However, by 9:20 p.m. ET it was clear that security was clearing out the ballroom, indicating that the event has been formally scrapped.

    The situation sparked immediate on-the-ground reporting from journalists across the media spectrum who took to social media platforms to deliver urgent reports. ABC News’ Rachel Scott called the situation “terrifying” and described the confusion as attendees suddenly looked up to see Secret Service personnel surrounding the president. It all happened “As [WHCA] members here in this ballroom ducked for cover,” Scott reported on Instagram.

    CSPAN coverage indicated that just as guests were finishing the salad course of the dinner, the dais for the event was abruptly cleared out and many of the several thousand attendees of the event dove under tables amid concerns about a major security breach. Witnesses told CSPAN that they heard yelling from the back of the ballroom before the Secret Service swept into the room. On CSPAN’s coverage around the 8:40 p.m. ET mark, shouts of “USA, USA” can be heard from the back of the ballroom.

    The scene outside the Washington Hilton earlier in the night was tense, with protestors chanting about U.S. action in Iran as attendees entered the hotel. Multiple layers of security with Washington, D.C. streets around the hotel closed off and tickets were required to move past several checkpoints in the hotel and facility.

    After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded. CNN, CNBC, CSPAN and other outlets delivered the news of what just happened in the ballroom in telephone interviews with startled journalists who were on site.

    Most of journalism’s top players were in attendance at the annual fundraiser event. Versant CEO Mark Lazarus, ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic, “Good Morning America” executive producer Simone Swink and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott are among the notables who were seen at pre-parties on Saturday.

    Among the Trump administration officials attending the event were Vice President JD Vance, White House deputy chief of policy Stephen Miller, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, and Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA.

    The Trump administration’s strong showing at the event is in sharp contrast to his actions in his previous time in the White House. The 2026 dinner marks Trump’s first time attending the event, which traditionally features a comedian who roasts the president and Washington establishment. This time around the WHCA booked mentalist Oz Pearlman as the celebrity performer. Pearlman was seen making the rounds with top journalists prominently in the live coverage of the event before the disruption.

    Trump has had a contentious relationship with mainstream journalist since his political ambitions took off in 2015. Since his return to the White House, the Trump administration has been aggressive in challenging journalism conventions, and the President has not let up on his attacks on the integrity and competence of mainstream journalism. Trump has also engaged in litigation with ABC News, CBS News and the Wall Street Journal, among others

    More to come