Conservative Blogger
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Report: US, Iran Closing in on One-Page Memo to End War
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The White House believes it is getting close to an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, Axios reported Wednesday, citing two U.S. officials and two other sources briefed on the issue. A Pakistani source involved in the peace efforts confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday that the sides are on the brink of an agreement. "We will close this very soon. We are getting close," the source said. The U.S. expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours, according to the report, which cautioned that nothing has been agreed yet but said this was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began. Among other provisions, the deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, the U.S. agreeing to lift its sanctions and release billions in frozen Iranian funds, and both sides lifting restrictions around transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Axios said. The one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding is being negotiated between U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
and several Iranian officials, both directly and through mediators, the report said. In its current form, the memorandum would declare an end to the war
in the region and the start of a 30-day period of negotiations on a
detailed agreement to open the strait, limit Iran's nuclear program and
lift U.S. sanctions, Axios added.
Iran's restrictions on shipping through the strait and the U.S. naval blockade would be gradually lifted during that 30-day period, Axios said, citing one U.S. official who added that if the negotiations collapse, U.S. forces would be able to restore the blockade or resume military action. Iran said earlier on Wednesday it would accept a peace deal only if it was "fair," after President Donald Trump paused a three-day-old naval mission tasked with reopening the Strait of Hormuz that had shaken the war's month-old ceasefire. |
What’s Next for Ilhan Omar After MN Democrats Shield Her from Fraud Probe—Federal Subpoena Looming?
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Minnesota Democrats on the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee circled the wagons to protect one of their own, blocking a subpoena for Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5) on Tuesday. The action, or lack thereof, prevents deeper scrutiny into the congresswoman's alleged ties to the massive Feeding Our Future scandal. Despite Republican control of the committee, the measure fell one vote short of the required two-thirds supermajority. Democrats, who claim they are actively rooting out fraud in the North Star State (they're not), uniformly opposed efforts to compel the Squad member to turn over documents and answer questions about her role in loosening federal nutrition program rules through the MEALS Act she sponsored in 2020. READ MORE: Rep. Ilhan Omar Pulls a 'Who Do You Think You Are' Moment As She Blows Off Minnesota Fraud Hearing Omar had previously been accused by the committee of having "ghosted" invitations to testify on the matter. Now, she has ignored a May 5th deadline for records related to the billions—Billions!—of taxpayer dollars meant for children's meal programs that instead went into fraudsters' pockets. Committee Chair Rep. Kristin Robbins (R) made clear that state-level options are now “fading,” but suggested the investigation into Omar's alleged and/or suspected role in this fraud won’t end here. Robbins said she plans to reach out to congressional Republicans about pursuing a federal subpoena, noting the fraud’s national implications as a federal program that was exploited. "I'll certainly talk to our friends in Congress to see if they would be willing to issue a subpoena. I don't know if they are, but they would have the same authority, and it's still relevant to them because it's a federal program that's been swindled," Robbins told Fox News Digital. "So I don't know if they would be willing to do it, but it's worth asking." The state representative wondered whether Omar's alleged role in the fraud would interest congressional Republicans. "They have so many investigations going on, I don’t know where this falls on the priority list," she said. Republicans in Congress, though, now have a duty to pick up the baton. With Omar as a sitting member of Congress and the scandal involving a federal program she helped weaken, GOP leadership should immediately pursue a federal subpoena and open a formal inquiry. Anything less would signal that even massive fraud against children’s nutrition programs gets a pass when a powerful Democrat is involved. With Omar as a sitting lawmaker, federal investigators have a “whole menu of legal options” at their disposal, according to Robbins. But it's not just Congress that should be looking into this. The Department of Justice must also have a keen interest in the fraud. Omar's name surfaced multiple times in trial exhibits from the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case. She promoted specific meal sites later tied to millions in fraudulent claims. And she has maintained ties to convicted players, including through campaign events at Safari Restaurant. Now, she's stonewalling all requests for communications and records. Why? |
CA Judge Allegedly Bypassed DA to Offer Pro-Hamas Professor a Sweetheart Deal for Killing Jewish Man
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More information has become available about what led to Loay Alnaji's
surprise guilty plea on Tuesday morning and a potential sentence, but that information leads to additional questions we're still running down answers for. Alnaji, readers will recall, is the pro-Hamas agitator and community college professor who killed a Jewish man, Paul Kessler, when the two were attending dueling protests on November 5, 2023. Alnaji crossed two eight-lane streets to confront Kessler, who was waving an Israeli flag on the corner of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Westlake Boulevard in Ventura County, CA. During that confrontation, Alnaji bashed Kessler's head with a bullhorn, causing Kessler to fall backward, striking his head on the concrete. Kessler's skull was fractured in the fall, and he died approximately seven hours later.
REDSTATE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE: 'He Stalked Us' - Friend of Jewish Man Killed in California Says Pro-Hamas Group Targeted Them Videos From Pro-Hamas Rally Where Paul Kessler Was Killed Show Just How Vile His Attackers Are Alnaji's attorney, Ron Bamieh,
told the Ventura County Star that on Tuesday morning, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Derek Malan
offered Alnaji probation if he pled guilty and that the sentence would be one year in jail followed by three years on probation. However, according to the DA's office, "the court has indicated it is likely to place him on formal probation with up to 365 days in jail at the sentencing hearing on June 25. Bamieh further told the VC Star that Malan made the offer after "several meetings" with him and that, in his recollection, Malan said he'd determined that Kessler's death occurred when "two old guys had a dispute and an accident happened.” Bamieh added, "In light of the potential consequences of entering a trial and what could happen, we decided that the best course of action is to accept a probation offer and plead guilty today." His logic doesn't make sense, though, if what he said about Judge Malan's indicated sentence is true. Meaning, if Malan told Bamieh his take on the events in question and the sentence he'd be inclined to give, why would it matter if Alnaji pled guilty before trial or was found guilty of every single count by a jury? And at trial, it's possible the jury wouldn't find all of the enhancements or even find him guilty of both charges. It's unclear when those meetings took place and whether or not the District Attorney's office was involved; there are no docket entries reflecting any meetings. Both prosecutors and Kessler's family object to the proposed deal; Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said after Tuesday's proceedings:
It's also unclear when that offer was allegedly extended by Judge Malan. Malan only started handling the case on March 18, and Alnaji wasn't scheduled to be in court on Tuesday, but the docket entry in Alnaji's case for May 5 says, "Case calendared to 05/05/26 at 09:45 AM in Courtroom 48 for Miscellaneous Disposition." So, Alnaji was there to enter a plea, but the offer wasn't made until that time? That doesn't make sense. By reviewing the procedural history of the case, it's clear that Malan didn't want any members of the press in the courtroom on Tuesday morning, making it impossible for the public to know exactly what happened in a timely manner; journalists will now have to pay the official court reporter for a verbatim transcript since there was no notice given to the public - or even to one eyewitness, who only learned that the plea had been entered when we contacted him for comment.
So, what is that procedural history? Judge Ryan Wright presided over the case from the beginning until his death (at age 53) in September, 2025. At the time of his death, the case was set for trial on October 20, 2025. In January 2026, the parties appeared before Judge Anthony Sabo, the Supervising Criminal Judge, and a new trial date of February 18 was set. On that date, both parties requested a continuance to March 17, 2026. On March 17, Judge Sabo continued the proceedings to March 18, and that's when Malan first appears. The parties then discussed scheduling on the record, and a trial date of April 9 was set. On April 9, the trial was continued to May 14. Before every hearing and trial date, the docket reflects requests from news organizations to "photograph, record, or broadcast" the proceedings, but since Tuesday's proceedings were not calendared, the press wasn't there. Alnaji's been out on bond and getting paid, and was already scheduled to appear in court in nine days. There wasn't any reason for him to enter a guilty plea on May 5, unless they didn't want cameras or journalists there. Loay Alnaji criminal case docket as of May 5, 2026 by Jennifer Van Laar We also don't know what evidence Malan relied on when allegedly determining that Kessler's death was just an accident when two old dudes had a spat. Malan wasn't the judge during the two-day preliminary hearing, though he almost certainly had read the transcript, and he hadn't heard a substantive motion in the case before allegedly making an end-run around the DA's office and the victim to offer a probationary sentence for a violent assault resulting in death. While entering a guilty plea, Alnaji admitted the existence of three aggravating factors, but there are no mitigating factors alleged in the available records. We are working to obtain the transcript from Tuesday morning's hearing, the new information that was filed by prosecutors, and the Felony Plea Agreement Form, and we've reached out to all parties involved with questions and a request for comment; we'll report that information as we receive and analyze it. At the June 25 sentencing hearing, Judge Malan will hear victim impact statements and review a sentencing report on Alnaji, prepared by the probation department, before formal sentencing occurs. We anticipate that the courtroom will be full and that prosecutors and eyewitnesses will bring forward all possible evidence showing Alnaji is not just a mild-mannered computer science professor. |
Former Dem Operative Wrecks Lib Hopes Over VA's Gerrymandered Map
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Dan Turrentine
is another semi-defrocked political operative for the Democratic Party, mainly because he speaks his mind and isn’t afraid to call out the Democrats when they overreach. A former fixture on 2Way, he’s now co-hosting The Huddle with Sean Spicer and Rachael Bade.
Turrentine provided an update on the ongoing legal battle over Virginia’s gerrymandered maps, which were approved by a narrow margin in a referendum last month. The Virginia Supreme Court rejected the state's request for a stay, which wouldn’t have allowed the maps to be certified. The ball is now in the state supreme court’s dojo, and while there is no official opinion yet, the outlook doesn’t look good. Turrentine said that the lack of a decision last Friday sent things into a tailspin for those wanting this map, with the governor’s staff now criticizing the Democratic leadership in the legislature, saying they warned that such a push would not pass legal review. Turrentine’s source, who is close to the process and the people making these decisions, says we’ll see, but he estimates there’s less than a 50% chance this map will be approved.
Former VA Attorney General and DHS official Ken Cuccinelli had this thread on the topic. Tazewell refers to the county judge who issued the initial injunction on the map’s certification:
So, is a big win coming? Things look good, but let’s wait and see. |
Did This Democrat Mayor Abandon Her Town to Run for Congress?
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Paige Cognetti, mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania and a congressional candidate, has seemingly abandoned her duties in order to campaign for a promotion while simultaneously running for re-election. Cognetti’s official government X account, which had previously provided regular updates about public appearances and her work within the city, went an astounding 44 days without making a new post. Cognetti’s personal account, however, has showcased numerous public and media appearances during that time. The issue of Cognetti’s misappropriation of her time has gotten so out of hand that Democrats on the Scranton City Council have publicly called her out during meetings. According to Councilman Sean McAndrew, Cognetti’s office has been radio silent about working to implement a dedicated ambulance service for the town. “I ask for their concerns in writing,” McAndrew vented at the body’s March 28 meeting. “I can’t get it…I can’t even get an answer. It’s getting to the point where you can’t make this stuff up.” McAndrew further criticized Cognetti for having not addressed the ambulance issue in “seven years under this Mayor Cognetti administration.” Cognetti has previously come under fire for her choice to place herself above her constituents. She has been accused of already beginning the transition into the D.C. lifestyle while juggling two simultaneous election campaigns in an attempt to retain some sort of power. Similarly, she has faced criticism for taking campaign funds from a PAC heavily associated with disgraced Democrat Eric Swalwell. “Paige Cognetti is abandoning her post even sooner than expected as she leans into her political ambitions at the expense of the city who already elected her,” RNC Spokesperson Kristen Cianci told Townhall. “NEPA residents are getting a firsthand look at how Cognetti treats her constituents – like an afterthought at best and a steppingstone at worst. NEPA deserves real representation, and they have it in the form of proven fighter Congressman Rob Bresnahan.” |
Husted, Brown to face off in Ohio Senate special election to replace Vance
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Senator Jon Husted and former Senator Sherrod Brown have won their respective primaries in Ohio and will advance to the November general election to fill Vice President JD Vance’s former Senate seat for the remainder of the term. On Tuesday, Jon Husted (R-Ohio) advanced after running unopposed in the GOP primary, while Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) easily defeated Democrat challenger Rin Kincaid. At the time of reporting, with 19% of votes counted, Brown led with 93%, compared to Kincaid’s 7.5%.
This particular Senate race is an important one as it could decide which side of the aisle has control of Congress in President Donald Trump’s final two years in office. The seat is currently held by Jon Husted, who was appointed by Mike DeWine to temporarily fill the vacancy after JD Vance assumed the vice presidency in January 2025.
Vance was first sworn into the Senate in 2023 and only served a partial term, which would have ended in 2029 after six years. |
Rob Schmitt Slams Met Gala as Elitist Circus Out of Touch
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Rob Schmitt’s blistering take on the Met Gala didn’t come from nowhere — he called out what he sees as a dying, self-congratulatory industry and labeled the event a gathering of Hollywood weirdos more interested in spectacle than substance. That criticism landed because millions of Americans watch the red carpet now not for inspiration but for a parade of privilege that has lost touch with everyday concerns. Schmitt’s viewpoint is the kind of straight talk a lot of hardworking folks appreciate: why celebrate an elite party when Main Street is struggling? This year’s Met Gala, held on May 4, 2026, was billed around the Costume Institute’s “Costume Art” exhibition and presented as a celebration of fashion as fine art, a premise the fashion press happily analyzed down to the last stitch.
Yet the production values and theatricality only reinforced for many Americans the sense that this is an exclusive art world ritual — gorgeous to behold for some, tone-deaf to most. When cultural institutions become more about Instagram moments than honest artistic dialogue, it’s fair to question their priorities. Across the media landscape there was pushback — not just from conservatives but from ordinary viewers who called the Gala a “freak show” and a spectacle divorced from reality. Voices on the right aren’t inventing this criticism; commentators and readers across outlets noted that the event looks increasingly like a theatrical world unto itself, an expensive pageant that alienates more Americans than it inspires. That backlash should be a wake-up call for organizers who think shock value equals artistic merit. If you watched the coverage, the night read like a masterclass in theatrical excess: silver ensembles, kinetic gowns, and moments clearly designed to “shut down the carpet” rather than honor craftsmanship. Fashion magazines and livestreams revel in the chaos because spectacle drives clicks, but spectacle isn’t the same as meaning or moral seriousness. The Met’s decision to lean into the viral and the bizarre may win attention from tastemakers, but it costs the institution credibility with ordinary Americans who are paying the cultural bills. Schmitt’s broader point — that Hollywood and
liberal elites have turned a once-respectable fundraiser into a
nightclub for the pampered — deserves to be heard without the usual
sneer from the other side. Conservatives should not be reflexive enemies
of art, but we must defend the idea that public cultural institutions
serve the public, not just the donor class and attention-seekers. When
expensive soirées become sanctuaries for out-of-touch virtue signaling,
it’s time to ask whether those institutions are accountable to the
nation or to a shrinking clique of influencers. The real question going forward is simple: do we let our cultural leaders continue to celebrate excess while Americans tighten their belts, or do we demand a return to standards that honor craftsmanship, community, and common sense? Rob Schmitt spoke for many when he called the Gala out — not from a place of envy, but from principle. Patriots who love this country ought to call out elitism where they see it and insist that national culture reflect the values of hardworking Americans, not the latest Hollywood stunt. |
Harris's Endorsement Fails to Rescue Bass from Polling Trounce
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Kamala Harris’s sudden, high-profile endorsement of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was supposed to be a political lifeline, but for many Angelenos it landed like a stone tossed into a sinking ship. Harris announced her support publicly on May 4, 2026, and Bass rushed to bask in the glow — a move that looks less like strength and more like panic from a mayor struggling to keep her political head above water. The headaches for Bass go far beyond endorsements; a recent poll showed she leads some challengers yet remains deeply unpopular with a majority of voters who blame her for the city’s crises after the Palisades wildfire and other failures. Voters still distrust City Hall’s handling of safety and disaster response, and that anger doesn’t evaporate because a national Democrat gives a thumbs-up. This is a real election, not a messaging exercise — the June 2, 2026 mayoral primary is bearing down, and Bass faces a fractured field including Nithya Raman, tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and even Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in last year’s deadly Palisades fire. Those challengers are seizing on tangible grievances — homelessness, public safety, burnt neighborhoods — while Bass’s campaign scrambles to spin endorsements into real votes. What conservative voters have known for years about national Democrats is playing out in miniature on the West Coast: presidential allies are not a remedy when local leadership is perceived as weak. Kamala Harris’s intervention may energize the left, but it also hands conservatives and independents fresh ammunition to argue that the political class is out of touch with people who lost homes, businesses, and peace of mind. Timing matters. With ballots already going into mailboxes across Los Angeles, a last-minute celebrity endorsement looks less like a course-correct and more like a desperate Hail Mary thrown after the clock started. Voters who have already penciled in their opinions aren’t swayed by insider endorsement lists; they want accountability at City Hall and a plan that actually fixes streets, shelters the vulnerable, and makes neighborhoods safe again. Conservative taxpayers watching this drama should be clear-eyed: this isn’t about party loyalty, it’s about results. For too long, career politicians have traded bold promises for photo ops with national figures while neighborhoods decay, and the people who pay the bills are the ones left paying the price. Replacing rhetoric with leadership is not a radical idea — it’s basic responsibility. If Angelenos want safer streets, fewer tent encampments where children are at risk, and honest stewardship of public funds, they’ll remember who failed them when the checks and balances matter most. The upcoming election is a chance for hard-working citizens to demand competence over celebrity and local solutions over national slogans; conservatives should press that advantage until Los Angeles is governed with accountability, not applause. |
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
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