Aggregator

The 30th Annual Webby Awards brought out stars like Kylie Kelce, Taraji P. Henson, and Don Lemon.

The gunman was seen in witness video firing shots indiscriminately from a long gun and erratically banging his weapon against a car as he walked down Memorial Drive in Cambridge.

The Navy’s Sixth Fleet shared an image of the Ohio-class submarine and its crew docked Sunday in Gibraltar, a British territory off Spain’s southern coast.  

Any hope that their awful start would last just a few weeks — as bad as that would have been — has been erased. 

California Mayor Indicted, Will Plead Guilty To Being CCP Agent

In a significant development announced today by the U.S. Department of Justice, Arcadia, California Mayor Eileen Wang has been charged with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government - the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Wang, 58, has agreed to plead guilty to the felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. She resigned from her position as mayor and Arcadia City Council member this afternoon following the unsealing of the case.

According to court filings and the DOJ’s Central District of California announcement, Wang and her former fiancé, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, operated the U.S. News Center, a website that presented itself as a news source for the local Chinese-American community. From late 2020 through 2022, they received and executed directives from PRC government officials - primarily via WeChat - to post pro-PRC propaganda. Examples include publishing pre-written articles denying forced labor or genocide in Xinjiang, editing content at the direction of Chinese officials, and sharing view counts and links in coordinated group chats. PRC officials reportedly praised the speed and effectiveness of the posts, with messages such as "So fast, thank you everyone" and "Great!"

Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang has been charged with violating 18 USC 951, acting in the United States as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China.

Wang appeared in federal court this afternoon for her arraignment. She agreed to plead guilty and resign from public office.… pic.twitter.com/toYWJ7htvG

— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) May 11, 2026

Wang did not register as a foreign agent with the U.S. Attorney General, as required by law, and failed to disclose on the website that certain content originated from or was directed by the PRC government. She was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022 (later becoming mayor on a rotating basis) with assistance from Sun, who worked on her campaign.

Linked to Previously Convicted Chinese Agent

Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, was sentenced in February 2026 to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in October 2025 to the same charge of acting as an illegal agent of the PRC. Prosecutors said Sun monitored the 2023 visit of Taiwan’s president to California, corresponded with Chinese officials, and helped promote PRC interests while supporting Wang’s political rise. A related figure, John Chen - a high-level PRC intelligence operative who had met Xi Jinping - was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in prison for acting as an illegal agent and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

DOJ officials framed the case as part of broader efforts to counter Chinese influence operations. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated: "Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy." FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky added that Wang "secretly served the interests of the Chinese government," warning that such actors "will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice."

🚨 Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang in California has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China in the United States.

Mayor Wang admitted to acting as a foreign agent from at least 2020 through 2022 - promoting PRC propaganda in the U.S. and acting…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 11, 2026 Pattern of CCP Links to Democratic Politicians

Wang’s case fits into a documented series of instances where Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence or influence operations have intersected with Democratic elected officials, particularly in California. While no widespread conspiracy has been proven, federal investigators and counterintelligence experts have repeatedly flagged "united front" work by the PRC targeting politicians, diaspora communities, and institutions.

Dianne Feinstein’s Longtime Staffer (2018 revelations): For nearly 20 years, a Chinese national served as Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) personal driver, office gofer, and liaison to the Asian-American community in her San Francisco office. The staffer reported local political information to China’s Ministry of State Security through the San Francisco consulate. The FBI alerted Feinstein around 2013 (while she chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee). She immediately fired the individual, who had no access to classified material according to her office. No criminal charges were filed against him or the senator. The story surfaced publicly in 2018 via the San Francisco Chronicle and Politico.

Rep. Eric Swalwell and Christine "Fang Fang" Fang (2020 reporting): Axios revealed that suspected Chinese MSS operative Christine Fang cultivated relationships with several rising California Democratic politicians, most notably Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA). Fang raised campaign funds for Swalwell’s 2014 reelection (acting as a bundler), helped place at least one intern in his congressional office, and interacted with him socially over several years. Reports indicated a possible romantic or sexual relationship, though Swalwell has neither confirmed nor denied it in detail.

Fang abruptly left the U.S. in 2015 around the time an FBI counterintelligence investigation into her intensified. Swalwell, who later joined the House Intelligence Committee, cooperated with the FBI, received a defensive briefing, and has stated he cut off all contact upon learning of concerns. No wrongdoing was attributed to him, but the episode drew intense scrutiny given his national security role.

Other historical cases include the 1990s "Chinagate" fundraising scandals involving Democratic National Committee figures and alleged PRC-linked donors during the Clinton administration, though those centered more on illegal campaign contributions than direct agent activity.

Implications and Context

While we can't imagine there are any American mayors of Chinese cities - U.S. intelligence agencies have long warned that the CCP employs sophisticated, long-term influence operations to shape narratives, gather political intelligence, and cultivate relationships with American elites - especially in states with large Chinese-American populations such as California. These efforts often involve ostensibly independent media, community organizations, and political operatives who do not register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

Wang’s guilty plea - following Sun’s conviction - represents one of the most direct recent examples of an elected U.S. official admitting to covertly advancing PRC interests while in or seeking public office. Her resignation and the DOJ’s swift action underscore federal prosecutors’ focus on holding accountable those who "act only for the people of the United States," as Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg put it.

Critics argue these cases reveal insufficient vetting of political aides, campaign staff, and even romantic partners in an era of aggressive CCP espionage. Supporters of the implicated politicians emphasize that most relationships began innocently and that no classified information was compromised in the Feinstein or Swalwell matters.

As of this writing, Wang is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in the coming weeks. The case will likely fuel renewed debate in Washington and Sacramento about foreign influence transparency laws, campaign finance rules, and counterintelligence screening for candidates and staffers.

Tyler Durden Mon, 05/11/2026 - 20:05

The United Arab Emirates had carried out military strikes against a key Iranian oil refinery just as President Trump declared a cease-fire last month, according to a new report.

If you live in a big city in a blue state, the cheapest gas around might be just over the state line.

The Lakers will try to avoid being swept by the Thunder in tonight's Game 4.

Pedro Almodovar makes beautiful films — and he also makes asinine, out of touch statements.

Mandani says he's waiting for the state to decide how it'll fill the $5.4 billion shortfall in his plan — even though it's beyond obvious that it won't.

Trump is a businessman who sees matters of policy from a business perspective. So it’s no surprise that his attacks on his enemies, and America’s, operate along economic lines.

These are insults, not sincere negotiations; they think this president is as much of a sap as Barack Obama.

He qualified for the PGA by eagling the final hole of the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes. So, Gabriele knows pressure.

The Knicks will have at least a full week before starting the Eastern Conference finals — the earliest that series will start is Sunday. 

A conversation with Keegan Bradley will never leave you wanting for more emotional transparency, and this is a rarity.

Magician Denis Behr. German. In NYC now. Pay attention. Word is he’s the world’s best in card tricks.

Iran Executes Top Young Aerospace Scientist, Alleging CIA & Mossad Ties

Iran has executed 29-year-old aerospace engineer Erfan Shakourzadeh on Monday on espionage charges despite his protestations that authorities tortured him into giving a false confession, according to a prison note published before his execution, as recounted in Western press reports.

Iranian judiciary's Mizan Online website announced and confirmed the execution, describing that he was hanged after being convicted for allegedly collaborating with the CIA and Israel's Mossad intelligence service.

Various human rights organizations have rejected the validity of the charges, and have decried his execution, having for weeks raised the alarm that he was on death row.

Shakourzadeh studied electrical engineering at the University of Tabriz before graduating top of his class in the master's program in Aerospace Engineering and Satellite Technology at Iran University of Science and Technology.

He was a leading young specialist in the field and worked at a scientific organization focused on satellite technology before intelligence agents from the elite IRGC arrested him in February 2025. So the case predates the current war, but is highly significant amid the US pressure campaign.

State Mizan agency went on to allege that Shakourzadeh was "a joint CIA and Mossad spy," stating that he had been recruited "as a project and due to his expertise."

CBS has said he's the latest death in a growing list of espionage cases:

He is the fifth person to be executed on espionage charges since the beginning of the war in late February.

Authorities have also since then executed 13 men charged over January protests, one more over 2022 demonstrations and 10 accused of links to banned opposition groups, according to IHR.

President Trump had weeks ago personally highlighted that eight women protesters were also set to be executed, but that he intervened with Iranian officials and threatened more military action, effectively stopping it.

However, Trump's claims have been largely debunked. It has been confirmed that at least one among the eight is real and is likely in prison, but other details concerning the group of women have not been established or else outright disproven.

Iran executed Erfan Shakourzadeh, a 29-year-old aerospace engineering master's student at Iran University of Science and Technology who worked on satellite projects.

He was convicted of espionage for the CIA and Mossad, accused of sharing classified satellite data, employee… pic.twitter.com/q1C1kFHl0g

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 11, 2026

But it does remain clear that Iran has been busy hunting down alleged collaborators, also after Mossad and Israeli officials have time and again openly boasted that they are working with individuals and networks on the ground inside Iran.

Tyler Durden Mon, 05/11/2026 - 19:40

The in-house production “Giants Life” revealed draft-night video of an unidentified team calling Joe Schoen to offer a trade.

Gavin Newsom has become President Donald Trump’s critic-in-chief. What Newsom is not, however, is the affordability-in-chief for California.

Democrats are all about defending democracy. Until they lose. Then they want to change the rules. Here in California, the Democrats have loved the “jungle” primary, where all of the candidates compete in a common pool, and the top two advance, regardless of party. Often, it’s two Democrats.  And as Adam Schiff showed in 2024,...