The Frontier

A shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, requiring the President, Vice President, and senior officials to be rushed off stage.

The gunman, Cole Allen, used a makeshift shotgun and also possessed a handgun and knives. One Secret Service agent was hit in a bulletproof vest and transported to the hospital, remaining unharmed.

Cole Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, is a Caltech mechanical engineering graduate and former NASA JPL intern. He donated $25 to Act Blue in 2024 for "Harris for President."

Allen traveled from Los Angeles to D.C. via train, passing through Chicago, and booked a room at the Washington Hilton in April, checking in with weapons in his luggage.

The Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, controversially labeled the incident a "massive security success story," arguing the suspect barely breached the perimeter.

Multiple witnesses, including Simone Sanders, reported a significant lack of standard security protocols, such as un-barricaded driveways, absent ID checks, and an unsecured hotel lobby.

Congressman Mike Lawler criticized the security, noting no photo ID requirements, unverified attendee lists, and no magnetometers before the ballroom, despite Secret Service acting swiftly.

President Trump linked the shooting to the need for a large, secure ballroom on White House grounds, which he claims is under construction and faces a lawsuit from a dog walker.

The Washington Hilton was also the site of President Reagan's 1981 assassination attempt, adding a surreal and shocking dimension to this recent security incident.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phalin amid a massive naval blockade of Iranian ports, part of a month-long campaign to remove some 34 top officials Hegseth perceived as disloyal.

Axios reported John Phalin's firing stemmed from his refusal to follow orders and conflicts with Pete Hegseth, who saw Phalin's direct access to President Trump as a threat to his authority.

The administration named Hung Cao, a former Senate candidate who lost to Tim Kaine and campaigned on fighting 'witchcraft' in Virginia, as John Phalin's replacement for Navy Secretary.

Saagar and Krystal criticized President Trump for inventing 'fake concessions' from Iran, such as claiming he secured the release of eight women, despite human rights organizations reporting no imminent executions and some women already released a month prior.

Drop Side reported Iran would only resume talks if Trump extended the ceasefire and ended the naval blockade, with Pakistani mediators expecting the blockade's lift.

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessed Iran retains thousands of missiles and UAVs, contradicting White House claims that the US military decimated Iran's capabilities in 38 days and annihilated its navy.

CSIS estimates indicate the Iran War expended significant portions of US munitions, including 50% of FAD interceptors, 50% of Patriot interceptors, and 30% of Tomahawk missiles.

Saagar argued the 38-day Iran War set the US military back at least five years, cost hundreds of billions, and depleted critical munitions, making the US vulnerable in future conflicts.

CBS News reported that approximately half of Iran's ballistic missile stockpile, 60% of its Revolutionary Guard naval arm, and two-thirds of its air force remain operational despite US and Israeli campaigns.

The Intercept reported the Pentagon erased around 15 wounded US troops from the Iran War casualty list, which Krystal believes reflects the American public's low tolerance for military pain and signals a US loss in the conflict.

President Trump ordered the US Navy to 'shoot and kill' small Iranian boats and triple mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz, likely in response to a Pentagon assessment that clearing the strait could take up to six months.

Saagar projected that a six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz could cause oil prices to hit $250-300, gas prices to reach $6 per gallon, and lead to blackouts and rationing in Asia.

Tracy Alloway of Odd Lots reported food company costs jumped almost 8% year-over-year in March, up from 4.2% in February, driven by higher fuel prices, with further increases expected from fertilizer and plastics.

United Airlines' CEO stated fares may need to rise 20% to offset surging jet fuel costs, while Lufthansa cut 20,000 flights, saving 40,000 metric tons of fuel, as Europe faces critical jet fuel shortages.

The Trump administration is reportedly nearing a deal to loan Spirit Airlines $500 million and take a significant stake, as the carrier struggles with surging jet fuel prices, exacerbated by its blocked merger with JetBlue.

Aluminum faces a 'black swan supply shock' due to the Iran War, threatening industries like transport and construction, as the Middle East accounts for roughly nine percent of the estimated global supply, or seven million metric tons annually.

Saagar explains Anthropic's Mythos AI model can identify and exploit vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure like banks and power grids, raising concerns about its potential for misuse.

Anthropic decided not to widely release its powerful Mythos model, sharing it only with eleven US organizations and Britain, triggering global alarm over potential security risks.

The Bank of England governor warned Mythos could "crack the whole cyber risk world open," while Canada's finance minister compared its threat to closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Saagar notes Bloomberg reported Mythos was accessed by an unauthorized Discord hacker collective, highlighting concerns about the model's security despite Anthropic's precautions.

Krystal rejects the idea that AI companies exaggerate dangers for marketing, pointing to global alarms from banks and intelligence agencies as proof of genuine concern.

Krystal argues that powerful AI models, unlike medical drugs, lack federal scrutiny, contrasting the rigorous approval process for pharmaceuticals with the hands-off approach to AI development.

Krystal advocates for a presidential advisory body to establish transparent review standards for powerful AI models, arguing against developers solely determining their safety for global impact.

Saagar recognizes Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's credibility for prioritizing AI safety, noting his refusal of Pentagon demands and the company's research into model vulnerabilities.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wilds to discuss AI, including Mythos, even though the Trump administration blacklisted Anthropic's Claude AI model.

Krystal observes that societal impacts of technology, like the iPhone's widespread adoption taking four years until 2011, suggest AI's full effects will also unfold over time.

Krystal, having owned an iPhone 4 sixteen years ago, voices skepticism about technology's promises of improvement, stating she is not "better off" with a smartphone.

Saagar warns a major cyber incident impacting digitally-reliant banking systems could destabilize the global financial system and erode public trust in monetary security.

Krystal emphasizes that AI's ability to perfectly spoof voices will escalate existing spam call and text issues, making individuals, especially public figures, vulnerable to sophisticated financial scams.

Saagar reports that Kalshi identified three instances of political insider trading, with candidates in Minnesota, Texas, and Virginia primaries betting on their own election outcomes.

Saagar describes how a person used a hairdryer to manipulate a Paris airport weather sensor on Polymarket, winning $34,000 by artificially raising the temperature to 22 degrees Celsius twice.

Krystal challenges the "societal utilitarian benefit" of prediction markets like Kalshi, asserting they primarily enable speculative betting without offering broader public utility.

Krystal criticizes the Trump administration's removal of the $25,000 cash limit for day traders, citing empirical data that most retail traders are financially "wiped out" within two to three months.

Krystal notes the $25,000 day trading limit was implemented after the 1990s dot-com crash, when numerous retail investors lost savings, underscoring the purpose of consumer protection rules.

Krystal contends that the "democratization of finance" offered by platforms like Robinhood and Kalshi primarily enriches the companies through transaction fees, while most individual consumers lose money.

Saagar asserts that human psychological vulnerabilities, particularly the "get rich quick" desire, are easily exploited by addictive platforms, underscoring the need for consumer protection.

Krystal explains that casinos and social media companies purposefully study and integrate "dopamine cycles" into their products to addict users and facilitate continuous monetary extraction.

Krystal emphasizes that money problems are the leading cause of divorce in North America and a significant factor in suicides in the US, linking financial distress to severe personal consequences.

Saagar introduces Mark Moran, a Virginia US Senate candidate who switched from Democrat to Independent, as one of the individuals identified by Kalshi for insider trading on his own race.

Mark Moran claimed he intentionally bet $100 on himself on Kalshi to expose corruption and insider trading on prediction markets, citing potential manipulation on Polymarket's New York City mayoral race.

Krystal finds Mark Moran's explanation plausible, suggesting his $100 bet effectively achieved his goal of gaining attention as an unknown independent candidate.

Krystal asserts Kalshi's slow detection of Mark Moran's insider trading shows enforcement challenges, particularly in monitoring related parties like consultants or family members.

Saagar announces the opening of TMZ's DC bureau, welcoming co-managing editor Jacob Wasserman to discuss the outlet's plans for covering politics in Washington.

Jacob Wasserman states TMZ has covered politics for years, featuring politicians on "TMZ Live" and capturing images of figures like Lindsey Graham and Robert Garcia, predating its DC bureau.

Jacob Wasserman explains TMZ's DC bureau began after Harvey Levin encouraged audiences to submit photos of politicians during recess, sparking a substantial public engagement.

Tucker Carlson apologized for advocating for Donald Trump, expressing torment over his role in Trump's election and acknowledging misleading his audience, particularly concerning the Iran war.

Florida State Representative Randy Fine, who called Tucker Carlson "the most dangerous anti-Semite in America" last October, noted Carlson has since lost significant credibility within the Republican Party.

Jacob Wasserman explains TMZ selects stories by tracking online trends, aiming to blend traditional journalism's fact-checking with a TikTok-like social media connectivity.

Jacob Wasserman clarifies TMZ pays for photos and videos, akin to other news outlets using Getty images, but emphasizes they do not pay for information, relying on reporting and FOIA requests.

Jacob Wasserman reports that members of Congress from both parties have shown "incredible" reception to TMZ, often engaging happily, despite occasional resistance from staff.

Jacob Wasserman indicates TMZ is investigating a sensitive story concerning Congressman Max Miller's custody battle over an injured child, whose mother is Senator Bernie Moreno's daughter.