Three-time Trump voter scorches 'worst president ever'

Story by Isabel Keane

A former MAGA loyalist called CSPAN to scorch President Donald Trump, calling him the “worst president we’ve ever had,” and that he “doesn’t even try to hide his corruption anymore.”

The caller, who identified himself as Thomas from Hawaii, told CSPAN host Taylor Popielarz that he voted for Trump three times — in 2016, 2020 and 2024 — but now regrets it.

“It’s hard for me to say this, but I think if I can open up about it, it might help others,” Thomas began, noting that he had long wanted to believe Trump was “the real deal” even though he had doubts about him based on what he knew about him as a businessman.

“Now I regret my support for him, and I should’ve known better,” he continued. “He’s making it plain as day. He’s a con man, a liar, doesn’t keep his promises. He’s in office all for himself and he doesn’t even try to hide his corruption anymore.”

The former supporter then torched Trump as “the worst president we’ve ever had and the most corrupt president we’ve ever had.”

“I know it’s hard, it took me a while to be able to say that. Very difficult when you commit yourself to believing in somebody,” he added.

'The scale is staggering': Zoe Lofgren pulls back curtain on Clarence Thomas receiving $2.4 million in gifts while serving as justice

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on May 21, 2026, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) called out Clarence Thomas for receiving more than a hundred gifts worth over $2.4 million while serving as a Supreme Court Justice.

In numbers: Donald Trump’s war costs more than $29bn in three months

Story by James C. Reynolds

The conflict in the Middle East is entering its fourth month with negotiators yet to make a breakthrough, which would pave the way for an enduring peace.

Both sides have been back and forth with revisions of draft agreements to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and lift the dual blockades, allowing for more comprehensive talks on the central nuclear issue.

But the effects of three months of conflict have been seismic, with an estimated 7,000 people killed in the region, major disruption to the global economy and more than a million people displaced from their homes – without delivering on any of Donald Trump’s stated objectives.

And while the Pentagon has priced the conflict at around $29bn, analysts say the true cost could swell to $1 trillion once hidden costs are tallied.

The financial cost of war

Jules Hurst III, the chief financial official for the Pentagon, said on 12 May that the US war on Iran has cost around $29bn so far, an increase of $4bn from the end of April due to repair and replacement costs, as well as the “general operational costs to keep people in theatre”.

The Pentagon has been reluctant to share a detailed breakdown of costs, but the latest figures yield a mean average spend of $386.67m per day – quite a departure from the $2bn a day the Pentagon was said to be spending in March, according to Republican lawmakers.

Professor Linda Bilmes, senior lecturer in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, told The Independent that the reported upfront costs are just the “tip of the iceberg”.

Report: 42 aircraft were destroyed or damaged in Operation Epic Fury

Story by Josh Pepito

A congressional report released this month put a number on what the U.S. military has lost since launching Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, 2026: at least 42 aircraft, ranging from stealth fighters to surveillance drones. The Congressional Research Service compiled the tally from public statements and news reports, noting the count could still rise. The Pentagon has yet to publish its own comprehensive accounting of combat losses.

What Is Operation Epic Fury?

Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting military infrastructure and missile facilities. The opening phase of the war killed several senior Iranian officials. Combat activity slowed during an April ceasefire, though some strikes resumed afterward. The Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan research arm of the Library of Congress, describes conditions as still fluid. Lawmakers have since pressed Pentagon leaders for clearer answers on costs, timelines, and outcomes.

The $29 Billion Price Tag

During a May 12 congressional hearing, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III testified that the cost of military operations in Iran had reached $29 billion. According to Hurst, much of the increase came from updated estimates on equipment repair and replacement. That figure does not include damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East hit by Iranian retaliatory attacks. The financial scale of the conflict has sharpened pressure from lawmakers who want greater transparency on what the war has cost, and what it has achieved.