Kash Patel in the news as FBI director under scrutiny for recent firings and oversight; former acting ATF head, American lawyer, born 1980.
Recent violent incidents in the US, including a college shooting in Virginia and a synagogue attack in Michigan, are connected to Middle East conflicts. Perpetrators had terrorist backgrounds or links, raising security concerns as regional tensions escalate. Today’s date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026.
An unidentified police officer was shot in Washington, D.C., while working on an investigation. The officer was hit in the shoulder, airlifted to hospital, and is in serious but stable condition. Authorities are searching for two suspects, with federal support involved.
Alen Zheng, 20, allegedly planted an IED at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa on March 10. His sister Ann Mary Zheng, 27, helped him evade law enforcement after he fled to China. The device was later found in a secluded area. Both face federal charges; the brother remains at large.
On March 27, 2026, the pro-Iranian hacking group Handala Hack Team released personal emails and photos of FBI Director Kash Patel, dating from 2010 to 2019. The FBI confirmed the breach involved historical, non-governmental information and has taken steps to mitigate risks. The hack is linked to escalating US-Iran tensions and follows US domain seizures of Iranian hacker sites.
The war in Iran persists with ongoing airstrikes and missile launches. Intelligence indicates Iran has preserved a substantial number of missiles and launchers, including underground reserves, and remains capable of regional strikes. US and allied forces report extensive targeting of Iran’s missile production and storage facilities, while Tehran continues to deploy missiles and drones in the region.
Since March 2026, Iran-linked hackers have targeted US critical infrastructure by compromising programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in water, energy, and government sectors. The FBI, CISA, NSA, and others have issued urgent warnings about disruptions and financial losses. Separately, Russian APT28 has hijacked thousands of routers globally to intercept credentials, escalating cyber threats.
David Varela, a US Navy Reservist, has been detained in Hong Kong after fleeing the US to avoid charges related to the death of his wife, Lina Guerra Echavarria, whose body was found in a freezer in Norfolk. The case has prompted international extradition efforts and ongoing investigations into her death.
Shamim Mafi, an Iranian national and US permanent resident, has been held without bail in Los Angeles for allegedly brokering Iranian drones, bombs, and ammunition sales to Sudan. She faces up to 20 years in prison. Mafi reportedly operated through an Oman-registered company and maintained close ties with Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security while facilitating arms deals fueling Sudan's civil war.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted 43 individuals tied to the Mexican Mafia in a sweeping operation across Orange County, with cases spanning murder, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking. Authorities have seized firearms, cash and narcotics as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt the gang’s reach from prisons to the streets.
A man attempted to force entry into a Toronto synagogue during Shabbat, punching a father. The following day, a window was broken at a Jewish shop. Police are investigating, and recent antisemitic incidents have increased community fears amid a pattern of violence targeting Jewish sites across Canada.
Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been indicted on charges including unlawful use of confidential information, theft, and fraud after prosecutors say he placed bets on Maduro-related events on Polymarket, profiting more than $400,000 during Operation Absolute Resolve. The indictment links the trading to classified information and to efforts to conceal proceeds.
As of April 24, 2026, Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been charged with multiple felonies for using classified information from a US military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to place bets on Polymarket. He has reportedly profited over $400,000 and faces up to 60 years in prison. Authorities have highlighted the breach of trust and ongoing investigations.
The number of missing or dead scientists has grown to at least 12, with FBI and congressional investigations underway. Experts caution against drawing connections amid online speculation, while lawmakers and officials review potential links and motives behind the cases.
The Independent reports that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has been charged with attempted assassination of a president during the Washington, D.C. White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Prosecutors say he fired a shotgun toward a Secret Service officer amid the security disruption; a agent wore a ballistic vest and survived. Allen has agreed to remain in custody as he awaits trial. Prosecutors allege he took a self-portrait minutes before the attack and left messages signaling grievances over Trump administration actions.
The U.S. attorney’s office for New Jersey has charged four noncitizens who registered and voted in federal elections between 2020 and 2024, then submitted naturalization applications claiming they had never voted. Prosecutors say each participated in at least one federal election and misrepresented their status in naturalization filings.
President Trump has completed a two‑day state visit to Beijing with US business chiefs, holding talks with Xi Jinping on trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI. Leaders have agreed to set up trade and investment councils; Trump has touted unspecified "fantastic" deals including a reported 200‑plane Boeing order while Chinese statements remain cautious.
Courts and lawmakers are negotiating mid-decade redistricting amid a Supreme Court ruling that weakens the Voting Rights Act. Alabama and Florida are among states revisiting congressional maps, with August special primaries and a looming federal review of district lines.
The investigation into former CIA director John Brennan has gained momentum, with FBI agents interviewing current and former CIA officers about Brennan’s role in producing a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that referenced the Steele dossier. Prosecutors are examining whether Brennan gave false testimony to Congress and how the dossier influenced the report.
Trump has arrived in Beijing with a tech-focused delegation for talks with Xi Jinping. Ratner accompanies the trip to scout for Rush Hour 4 filming locations, while executives from major tech firms are present. The discussions centre on trade, Iran, and Taiwan, with some hints about potential film projects pending outcomes.
Embattled Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has prompted a push by two supervisors to vacate the office if he does not resign by a Tuesday deadline. The dispute centers on alleged false testimony about his law enforcement record and a past suspension in El Paso, with supporters saying the records are irrelevant to his duties.
Since mid-May 2026, Republican-led Southern legislatures have been moving to redraw U.S. House maps after a Supreme Court ruling weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act. Federal judges in Alabama have blocked a new map, South Carolina lawmakers have stalled a Trump-backed redistricting push, and Tennessee and Louisiana have enacted plans that would dilute Black-majority districts.
Gunfire near the White House has prompted a security lockdown as responders have engaged a suspect. A bystander has been wounded and the suspect has been killed by law enforcement. President Trump has not been reported harmed and remains at the White House. Journalists on scene have described a chaotic scene and accounts indicate multiple gunshots.
The FBI has fired several analysts linked to the 2023 Richmond memo amid a broader personnel purge under Director Kash Patel, amid congressional criticism and ongoing debates over the bureau's actions during the Biden era.
Vance Boelter has pleaded guilty in federal court to murdering Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. A sentencing date has not been set; prosecutors say the Department will not seek the death penalty under a proposed plea agreement. Boelter was captured the day after the shootings in Green Isle.
The Guardian, Independent, and NY Post report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general. Blanche, who has been acting AG since April, would require Senate confirmation. Reports describe his role in pursuing cases against Trump’s rivals and in high-profile DOJ actions, including a controversial fund related to Trump allies that was later axed.
Trump has changed his approach in South Carolina’s governor race, endorsing both Evette and Wilson in the runoff while momentum appears to push Wilson ahead in early polling. Evette and Wilson advance after Evette led in the first round, with Trump signaling continued interference in the primary dynamics.
FBI officials have arrested five individuals in a multi-state plot involving explosive-laden drones aimed at buildings near a major event on the White House grounds. Investigators say a sniper team and a second wave were planned to capitalize on mass panic. Several suspects traveled between Cincinnati, Fredericksburg and Ohio as the case unfolded.
Administration officials are bracing for intensified scrutiny as Haberman and Swan’s Regime Change book recounts secret Situation Room discussions. Leaks and a Justice Department memo have intensified tensions within the White House over Epstein files and the Iran policy, with MAGA allies demanding full transparency.
Handala says it has had months of access to FBI FPV drone footage and suspects, claiming to have breached U.S. security for the World Cup; SITE disputes the authenticity of some evidence and notes a video was created for a separate surveillance project. The FBI is deploying drones to protect World Cup venues as cyber threats loom amid tensions with Iran.
Police are in a standoff with a suspect after a shooting near a Midland veterinary hospital. Authorities report multiple injuries and a confirmed fatality as the scene remains active this morning. Dozens of officers and armored units are on site, with hospital staff treating victims.
Recent mayoral runoff in Frisco, Texas, pits Mark Hill against Rod Vilhauer. Hill vows unity and business-friendly governance, while Vilhauer pushes hard-right rhetoric, including anti-Shariah statements. The race underscores the city’s demographic shifts and the tension between inclusive growth and cultural-political backlash.
The FBI has said it learned on June 10 of a potential plot targeting the UFC event on the White House South Lawn and has arrested multiple people in a multistate operation. Officials say the arrests stopped "allegedly planned attacks" before they could be carried out; specific charges and full details are pending unsealed filings.
Federal lawsuits allege state health officials and a vendor misrepresented transition plans for New York’s Medicaid home-care program, seeking to root out alleged mismanagement and fraud. The actions involve Public Partnerships LLC and state health leadership, with DOJ pursuing a receiver and court-ordered oversight. The case broadens scrutiny of Medicaid spending and contractor practices.
A hospital shooting in Wilmington has been reported around 3:30 p.m. Local officials say the attack appears targeted and isolated. The second victim’s condition remains unclear as police search for a suspect who remains at large. Emergency operations were diverted to keep patients and staff safe while the lockdown was lifted late Tuesday night.