During a recent CNN town hall in New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump continued to make baseless claims about the 2020 election being rigged. Trump lost the election fair and square to Joe Biden, with Biden earning 306 Electoral College votes to Trump's 232 and receiving more than 7 million more votes than Trump. The Trump campaign and senior officials in his administration found no evidence of widespread election fraud. Trump also claimed that voter ID is not required in US elections, which is misleading. While some states do not require IDs to be shown at polling places, voters in other states are required to present some form of identification before casting their ballots. Most Democrats have been against stricter voter ID laws because they could disenfranchise voters without access to necessary identification, not to illegally obtain votes. Finally, there is no evidence for Trump's claim that 51 intelligence agents impacted the outcome of the election. Trump was likely referring to a letter signed by former intelligence agents weeks before the election, but this letter did not indicate that agents had affected the election outcome.

House Republicans released a report detailing records of $10m in payments to members of the Biden family from foreign entities. They allege that the family sought to enrich themselves using the Biden name and that the president was involved. The report does not provide explicit evidence to back up these claims or imply that the conduct was illegal. It details various companies and financial records linked to Joe Biden's family members, including his son Hunter Biden and daughter-in-law Hallie Biden, with records of bank transactions tied to Romania and China acquired through subpoena. Representative James Comer has faced party pressure to reveal findings from the House Oversight Committee's ongoing inquiry into the Biden family since he pledged to investigate "influence peddling" by Joe Biden's family in January. The White House called the report "baseless innuendo" and said that Comer had "hidden information from the public to selectively leak and promote his own hand-picked narratives as part of his overall effort to lob personal attacks at the President and his family."

US Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican known for fabricating key parts of his life story and campaign, has been arrested on federal criminal charges. Before an expected court appearance, Santos surrendered to the authorities and was charged with fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. According to the indictment, Santos lied about his finances and deceived supporters that they were donating to help his campaign when he was using the funds for personal expenses, debts and luxury items. He is also accused of claiming unemployment benefits while running for Congress and employed as a regional director of an investment firm. After being elected to Congress last fall, questions were raised about Santos' personal history, financial standing and campaign spending. He had told people that he was a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker with a sizeable real estate portfolio, among other things. In reality, he neither worked at the big financial firms he had claimed nor attended college. Santos' arrest is seen as a reflection of the state of the Republican Party today and how it has turned electoral politics on its head.

Kouri Darden Richins, a 33-year-old mother of three, has been charged with aggravated murder and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute after allegedly killing her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Eric was found dead at the foot of their bed in Kamas, Utah, last March. Kouri published a book on coping with the loss of a loved one just one year later. Prosecutors allege that Kouri murdered her husband after he removed her from his will and life insurance policy, telling his sister that he wanted to get a divorce. Eric's death was due to a fentanyl overdose, and Kouri allegedly attempted to change the life insurance policy to make herself the lone beneficiary. Court documents show that Kouri contacted a drug dealer, whom she inquired about for “prescription pain medication for an investor who had a back injury,” later asking for “some of the Michael Jackson stuff,” referring to propofol. She remains in custody, and her attorneys have not commented on the charges.

George Santos, a New York congressman, has surrendered to federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and lying to the House of Representatives. Santos faces seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. US Attorney Breon Peace said the indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations. The allegations, according to the indictment, said that Santos schemed to defraud his candidacy supporters by setting up an unnamed company, misleading them that it would be used to support his candidacy, and spending thousands of dollars on his personal expenses, including luxury designer clothing and credit card payments. Santos, if found guilty, will be punished for his repeated dishonesty and deception to enrich himself, as per Peace's statement. Santos’s indictment emphasized lying to supporters, fraudulently inducing donations, and then using them for personal gain, causing disappointment among his constituents.

Chicago officer Areanah Preston was fatally shot on her way home, and it took over 30 minutes for first responders to find her, according to reports. While the city’s gunshot detection technology, ShotSpotter, picked up the sound of gunfire, police officials didn’t respond until 20 minutes later when Preston’s Apple Watch detected a car crash in the area. By the time a traffic police officer arrived, it had been 30 minutes since the ShotSpotter alert. Preston was still alive, but succumbed to her injuries later. The delay in responding to a serious offense within a police officer’s vicinity has caused concern, as Chicago has been battling a surge in crime that has seen several police officers getting killed on duty or off. While police officials are yet to provide an explanation for the delay, it is believed the alert may have been overlooked, leading to a potential backlog of emergency calls. Four men have been charged with the murder of Officer Preston.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia's Wagner Group, has publicly criticized President Vladimir Putin and top Russian military officials in recent days. Wagner Group has acted as a mercenary front for Putin's military goals and is responsible for the shelling and rocket campaign in the contested eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. As international attention on Wagner Group grows, several European countries are moving toward designating the group as a terrorist organization. It is unclear how Prigozhin's current conflict with Putin and the Russian military will pan out, as he escalates his rhetoric and threats even as criticism of Putin mounts. In his latest video, released May 10th, Prigozhin refers to a "happy grandpa" whose weapons "kill our soldiers," which some observers interpret as a direct criticism of Putin himself. Prigozhin denies criticizing Putin but has been recording graphic and expletive-laden videos accusing senior generals of denying his forces necessary supplies. The battle for Bakhmut has taken on a symbolic significance for both Russia and Ukraine, with high numbers of troops and casualties on both sides over a relatively small strategic value.

Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch national from Aruba, will be temporarily extradited from Peru to the United States to face extortion and wire-fraud charges. Van der Sloot was indicted in 2010 in connection with the disappearance of Mountain Brook teen Natalee Holloway in Aruba. The accused will be brought to face the charges in Birmingham, by federal court, as soon as he arrives in the United States. Peru today issued an executive order for the temporary extradition of van der Sloot; the US attorney's office declined to comment on the case. On his arrival, van der Sloot, who is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence in Peru for the 2010 murder of Lima college student Stephany Flores, will be arraigned in court to face the charges related to the alleged extortion of the Holloway family for money in exchange for details of Holloway's disappearance. Van der Sloot has always denied any involvement in Natalee's death and was never charged with her murder despite having been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

Former President Donald Trump’s CNN town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire was supposed to attract a large viewership, however, he was unaware it would become a platform where he would be confronted about the recent Manhattan federal jury verdict. This verdict found him liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll. Although Trump’s team expects the issue to be brought up on either CNN or future Fox News appearances, they view the town hall as a prime opportunity to reach a national audience and fundraise.

The Carroll verdict has stirred questions about Trump’s electability, along with the response to Trump’s unrepentant attitude in the town hall. Trump refused to accept his loss in the 2020 elections and praised the mob of his supporters who participated in the Capitol riot of January 6th, 2021. His brazen comments on the riot stirred controversy and inspired fears to those who doubt his willingness to accept peaceful transfers of power.

Throughout the town hall, Trump laughed and mocked Caroll’s claim of sexual abuse and steadily tried to discredit her case that awarded her $5 million in damages. Trump’s appearance on the show gave him an opportunity to build a better relationship with CNN. However, it appears the town hall could prove to be another nail in the coffin for Trump’s reputation.

As the US inches closer to a potentially disastrous default on its debts, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republican leaders are set to meet with President Biden on Friday to discuss an end to the impasse. Republicans have said that they would tie spending cuts to raising the debt ceiling, which would cause significant problems for Biden's initiatives. The GOP passed a bill in April that would raise the debt ceiling but attached numerous other provisions that would freeze government spending and gut many of Biden's signature programs. The government could run out of funds as early as June 1st. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned CEOs of the "catastrophic" impact of a default, which would likely trigger a devastating recession and kill millions of jobs. President Biden has insisted that he won't negotiate any spending cuts with GOP leaders until the debt limit is raised. As the deadline approaches, the question arises, what happens if the US defaults on its debt? The impact would be catastrophic, and it's uncertain how long a potential recession could last. One thing's for sure, allowing the US to default on its debts is not an option.

A jury has found Former President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing advise columnist E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and has been ordered to pay $5 million in damages, even though the ruling most likely won't affect the 2024 election. According to recent reports, Trump's loyal supporters are still expected to vote for him, no matter what. Despite the damning verdict, his supporters don't seem to care about his inappropriate behavior. Trump has previously bragged in an "Access Hollywood" video tape that his celebrity status allows him to grab women whenever he likes. Although he dismissed his comments as "locker room talk", the allegations against him continue to pile up. Dozens of women have credibly accused Trump of similar behavior. This new evidence has added to the evidence against him and proves Trump to be a sexual abuser of women. However, the most recent verdict is unlikely to deter his loyal following. The aftermath of the verdict suggests that some Trump supporters are more interested in Trump's policies than his personal behavior. As the 2024 election draws closer, it appears that Trump's past conduct will not be enough to sway his followers.

Off-duty police officer, Areanah Preston, was shot in a shootout with robbers on her way home from work, despite Chicago's ShotSpotter alert detecting the barrage of gunfire. While the initial alert was picked up quickly, another alert from the officer's Apple Watch regarding a car crash wasn't reported for 20 minutes. After a traffic cop arrived at the scene, it was confirmed that the officer had been shot. Police have not provided any explanation as to why it took so long to respond to the shooting. Although several people were detained for questioning, no charges have been filed. Two men and three women were charged only with armed robbery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and another man was identified as a suspect in the officer's death. Preston was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center after a responding officer found her wounded near Avalon Park, where she later died due to multiple gunshot wounds in her chest.

Despite being a midseason acquisition for a relatively low price, Josh Hart has proven to be a key player for the New York Knicks. However, as the team faces elimination in the playoffs, some are questioning if the Knicks' reliance on Hart is also their downfall. Coach Tom Thibodeau has been criticized for trying to mold his gameplan around Hart instead of utilizing other players, such as Quentin Grimes. Despite this, Hart's value has continued to rise, with rumors suggesting he could be worth $15-18 million annually in free agency this summer. Despite this, analysts believe the Knicks and Hart are likely to reach a contract extension, providing some stability for a player who has bounced around several teams in the past. As the Knicks fight to stay alive in the playoffs, the question remains if Hart will be the key to a comeback or the factor that ultimately brings their season to a close.

Derrick Rose recently expressed his thoughts on possibly having his No. 1 jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls. Although he has not thought much of it, Rose acknowledged that the idea would be cool, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. At 22 years old, Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history and also won the Rookie of the Year award during his time with the Bulls. He hopes his career accolades are deserving enough for him to join the ranks of Bulls greats like Jerry Sloan, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen. Despite this, Rose is more focused on what he would say to the Chicago fans if the time comes for his jersey retirement ceremony. Rose played for the Bulls for eight seasons, taking them to seven straight playoff appearances, but unfortunately fell short of making it past the conference finals. Despite being plagued by knee injuries, Rose achieved much success with the Bulls and was a key player during his tenure in Chicago.

Jalen Brunson has been having an outstanding postseason, leading the Knicks in scoring and assists thus far. If Brunson manages to lead his team to two more playoff wins, he might be considered the organization's best player since Carmelo Anthony. Based on Basketball Reference's box plus/minus metric, which estimates a player's contribution to a team, Brunson is actually second to Bernard King in the Knicks' history. Even when compared to Julius Randle, this season's All-NBA performer for the Knicks, Brunson looks to have had the better individual season. The guard has a better points plus points generated by assists per game, fewer turnovers and more steals per game, and a better true shooting percentage. Brunson's overall command of the team throughout the playoffs has been impressive too, as he has been responsible for running the offense - assisting and scoring whenever necessary. The Knicks will be hoping that he remains fit for their remaining playoff games. In other New York news, both Brunson and Randle are ready to go for the upcoming Game 3, while there is hope that Ben Simmons will play for the Australian national team this summer.

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and former CEO of the blood-testing company, Theranos, is delaying her 11-year prison sentence. Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors by misleading them about the capabilities of Theranos' blood-testing technology which caused serious harm to some patients. She was also the youngest self-made billionaire for a time, when her company was valued at $9 billion.

However, just ahead of her initial requirement to start her prison term, she recently had her second child and is now allowed to delay the start of her sentence until after her appeal has gone through. Her lawyers are pushing for her guilty verdict to be overturned, citing perceived errors in the ruling.

Holmes gained an enormous amount of national profile from her work with the fraudulent blood-testing technology and even adorned magazines like Forbes, Fortune, Glamour, and The New York Times style magazine. Despite the numerous lives that have been negatively impacted by her fraudulent scheme, some observe, as Holmes is now seen living a lavish lifestyle prior to the verdict appeals, that she may be able to avoid time behind bars entirely.

The New York Knicks are facing a difficult road ahead after losing two of the first three games of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Miami Heat. The Knicks need to address two major issues: coaching and Julius Randle's lack of consistency. The Knicks' head coach, Tom Thibodeau, must adapt and make in-game decisions quicker to keep up with Erik Spoelstra's Heat. On the other hand, Randle must focus on playing within the team's system and avoid taking ill-advised shots. His questionable shot selection and inconsistency have been significant issues for the Knicks throughout the series.

The team must rely on better shot selection and execution, especially in the second quarter, where they've struggled the most. Players like sixth man Immanuel Quickley, who is doubtful for the next game, need to play better if they're healthy enough to suit up. The Knicks need a more disciplined approach from the coaching staff and players if they want to regain their footing and take back homecourt advantage in South Beach. Addressing these issues could help the Knicks turn this series around and avoid elimination in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced the company's plan to merge its streaming service, Disney+, with Hulu into one app. The shift to attach Hulu's general entertainment to the franchise properties of Disney+ is a reaction to the company's disappointing results in Q1 2023, which saw a 2% drop of subscribers to Disney+. The announcement comes after Iger had mentioned on previous occasion that everything, including Hulu, was up for discussion. The primary challenge now for Iger will be the ability to increase the company's subscriber base, which has been difficult to maintain for Disney+. As reported by Reuters, one rare success for Disney came from its theme parks division, particularly overseas. However, its broadcast and cable networks saw a decline in operating income and ESPN's separate reporting segment will need to show positive results to aid the company's bottom line. Comcast, which owns one-third of Hulu, will be the deciding factor in the final product, so it remains to be seen how the new app will be offered to viewers.

After going viral for displaying his undying passion during a recent Warriors game against the Kings, lifelong Warriors fan Christian Gamboa was gifted a pair of game-worn shoes by none other than Steph Curry himself. Gamboa, who waved his 2017 NBA Finals "strength in numbers" towel in the game, went on to attend the Warriors' Game 2 win over the Lakers at Chase Center, only to be gifted Curry's shoes after the game. Curry personally sought Gamboa out to deliver his gift, walking the floors in his socks after the game in search of the viral fan before having his security team track him down. Gamboa later expressed gratitude for the gift, calling it "a once-in-a-lifetime experience" and thanking his family for their support. With Gamboa's passion and energy becoming a key rallying point for Warriors fans this season, Curry's gift to the superfan further highlights the tight-knit relationship between the team and its supporters.

Austin Reaves, a former Oklahoma college basketball player who signed an undrafted, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021, received a compliment from Hall of Famer Gary Payton after a game following a poor performance. Despite initially being upset about the loss, Reaves reflected on the exchange and realized the significance of the validation from such an established basketball player and defender. Since averaging double digits in his final two seasons at Oklahoma, Reaves has found himself playing important and often heavy minutes for the Lakers due to his ability to perform in the clutch. During Game 4 of the best-of-seven series against the Golden State Warriors, Reaves broke out of a shooting slump to finish with 21 points. At only 24 years old, Reaves seems to be trending towards becoming a valuable role player for the Lakers in the future, with validation from Payton and other Hall-of-Famers to back up his progress.

The Miami Heat, who are trailing the New York Knicks 2-1 in the second-round playoff series, have added Bam Adebayo to their injury list. Although Adebayo is not actually injured, he is wearing a protective compression shirt, and the NBA mandated that he be put on the injured list. The Heat have reportedly not ruled out the possibility of trading Adebayo in the offseason. Adebayo, who had been considered untouchable, had an inconsistent playoff season, averaging just 17 points and eight rebounds on 47 percent shooting from the field. Fans are questioning if the Heat would actually consider such a trade. If Adebayo is available, it would open up many more trade possibilities for the Heat. Miami was relying on Adebayo to become a superstar beside Jimmy Butler, who has been exceptional in the playoffs. If the Heat manage to win Game 4 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, the question remains: what will the team do in response to Adebayo's playoff performance? Only time will tell if Adebayo's future with the Miami Heat is secure or uncertain.

The Golden State Warriors lost their second straight game in their second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers as they struggled to perform in clutch situations. In contrast, the Lakers with seasoned moves clutch onto games and not only held off Stephen Curry, they also gained a 3-1 series lead with two-in-a-row wins. One star player making defensive stops and an emerging player contributing offensively, both added icing to the Lakers' success. In a do-or-die situation, the Warriors are expected to bounce back. The Lakers will brace themselves for a showdown in San Francisco for Game 5 on Wednesday. Yet, the Lakers hold an advantage created by workouts with their players impersonating the Warriors in practice sessions. Ahead of the playoffs, the Lakers prepared with Dru Anthrop, the video coordinator to practice against the Warriors. Anthrop's familiarity with Warriors games made it easier to replicate the stars' moves in practice. The Lakers, with four championship runs in six NBA Finals appearances, intend to win the 2023 title.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the defending champs, Golden State Warriors, with a victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-finals. The Lakers are now leading the series 3-1 and are likely to progress to the next stage of the playoffs. Hollywood's famous celebrity and Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" star, Chris Pratt, attended the game and was greeted by LeBron James with a warm embrace. The Lakers crowd was ecstatic as the team excelled, taking a lead of one game over the Warriors.

Stephen Curry played well but lacked support from his teammate Klay Thompson, who struggled throughout the game. Several other notable celebrities were also present to witness the thrilling game, including Kim Kardashian, Jake Nicholson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Flea. As the Lakers hold a firm grip over the Warriors, the Dubs may lose their championship reign, much to Dub Nation's disappointment. With LeBron James leading from the front, the Lakers seem to be on their way to another NBA Championship.

As the Golden State Warriors face elimination in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, the question looms whether this could be the final game with the team's Big Three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green playing together. However, head coach Steve Kerr seemed to dismiss such a suggestion, emphasizing that he has never entertained that thought and that the trio has "lots to give for years to come." If the Big Three's era does end, it would be considered too soon by some fans, just a year after the team's championship win. With Draymond Green the youngest of the trio at 33, and both Curry and Thompson turning 35 soon, the Warriors' aging core could face more questions about their future if they lose to the Lakers. While Curry and Thompson have contracts beyond this season, Green has a player option that could make him a free agent this off-season, giving rise to speculations about his potential departure from the team. Nevertheless, the Big Three has been considered as one of the most successful trios in NBA history, having won four championships as part of six trips to the NBA Finals in the past nine seasons.

The defending champions, Golden State Warriors, are one loss away from losing their 19-0 streak of playoff series wins in the Western Conference since 2014. This season, their fate hangs in the balance as the Lakers' 3-1 lead gives them a strong chance of progressing to the West Finals and ending the Warriors' dynasty. To make a comeback, Golden State needs to win the next three games against LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who have been dominating the series with their superior defense. The Warriors' slump in shooting and turnovers have hampered their chances. However, the Warriors have faced a similar scenario before in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, where they came back from 3-1 down against OKC and won the series. Head Coach Steve Kerr expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back: "You go home, take care of business, get a win, and the momentum is right back in your favor." Nevertheless, the Warriors will need all hands on deck to attempt a comeback as they head into Game 5 on Wednesday night with their season and dynasty on the line.