Blog

Apple Adds Age Verification to Digital ID in Wallet, Moves Beyond TSA Airport Checkpoints

Apple just turned on the next phase of its Digital ID rollout and the framing in the company’s support documentation is almost casual. The passport-derived credential in Apple Wallet can now be used to confirm a user is over 18 when creating an Apple Account, updating iOS, adjusting safety settings, or downloading apps rated 18+. No press release accompanied the change, by the way.

The understated rollout undersells what is actually happening. Apple, like Google, Meta, Discord, and every other consumer-facing platform of significant size, is racing to operationalize digital identity infrastructure to meet a wave of age-verification mandates landing across the US, UK, EU, and Australia.

The companies did not invent this demand; lawmakers did, but the response is arriving faster than the laws themselves, and the architecture being built right now will outlast any specific statute that prompted it.

The UK’s Online Safety Act is already forcing platforms to verify ages with documented credentials.

Discord attempted its own age-verification rollout earlier this year, paused after backlash, and has continued reworking the system. State laws in the US are moving in the same direction with Texas, Louisiana, Utah, and a growing list of others passing mandates that target app stores, social platforms, and adult content sites.

Federal proposals keep recycling similar models. The European Union is preparing its own age-verification framework. Australia has already legislated a social media ban for under-16s.

The platforms doing the verifying have a choice. They can build the credential infrastructure themselves, license it from third-party vendors who upload your passport to their servers, or hand the job to the operating system that already lives on your phone. Apple’s Digital ID, and Google’s parallel work on digital credentials in Android, are bids to be the third option. They are also bids to be the default option, because once an OS-level identity wallet exists, regulators tend to treat it as the natural place to plug in.

Keep reading

Recording of Phone Call Reveals Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Was Warned About Danger of Wildfires Before Her Trip to Ghana

A newly resurfaced recording of a damning phone call has revealed that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was warned about the potential for the dangerous and destructive wildfires that swept through southern California more than a year ago.

She had all of this information before she left the country for a trip to Ghana. She went anyway.

It’s just another reminder of how incompetent Bass is as a mayor. The people of Los Angles were doomed before the fires even began.

PJ Media reports:

In the leaked audio, Bass was reportedly talking to John Alle, a local resident and property manager in the Santa Monica and Westlake areas. Alle himself confirmed this here.

Reports are that Elle called Bass on Jan. 4, 2025, warning her about the risks tied to the weather, the wind, and dry conditions. In the call, Alle said he tried to convince Bass not to leave for Africa, but in the secretly recorded audio, she told Elle she had no intention of canceling her trip in spite of all his warnings.

To be sure, we have not been able to verify with 100% certainty the validity of this leaked audio, but it is worth noting that neither Bass nor her office has disputed the call’s authenticity and the content of the audio.

This is the transcript of the call:

Bass says, “The situation is very dangerous, and I would never do… I will take the criticism before I do a publicity stunt, and frankly a press conference at this point in time would just be publicity.”

Elle interrupts with, “I think my neighbors, property owners, and the residents – 41,000 people live within a square mile here. Two families share a one-bedroom apartment…”

Bass then says, “But they wanna hear that something is gonna be done.”

Elle replies, “They want to know it’s recognized.”

Bass then gets creepily cryptic, “Exactly, but if I have a choice between that and compromising something, I just have to go along with it. It’s not my area of expertise. I wanna make sure that you are safe. And hopefully you can read in between the lines. But I would just appreciate… and it’s hard for me to tell you this, but um, hold tight. You will understand soon.”

The two then indicate they now understand each other, and Bass then adds, “And when I am able to talk, I will be happy to go into great detail.”

Elle reminds Bass, “You’ve got me on the street, and you’re welcome to call me at any time, I’ll call you right back.”

On the matter of her plans to travel to Ghana in the midst of this crisis, Bass tells Elle, “Just in terms of my trip, just so you know I’m missing two work days. That’s it. And if President Biden extends an invitation, I took it.”

Keep reading

Former Epstein Employee Accused of Kidnapping at Little St. James

Police found two men stripped and bound in separate incidents on Little St. James Island in recent weeks, both allegedly at or near the former island home of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein without permission, according to court records posted Monday.

Longtime Epstein property manager Ann Rodriquez was charged with kidnapping, assault and destruction of property for allegedly aggressively boating after two men on jet skis, forcing one man to strip and be hog-tied at gunpoint.

Agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Virgin Islands Police Department descended on the island March 1 when the man’s brother fled on a Jet Ski to alert authorities.

The brothers were attempting to film a documentary about the island when Rodriquez and other men, not named in police reports, allegedly sped up. Rodriquez allegedly leveled a handgun at one man while shouting, “I will kill you,” according to court records. She allegedly ordered the man to swim to her boat, where he was made to kneel with his hands over his head. The other brother filmed part of the encounter and then, fearing he was next, sped away to summon police.

Authorities arrived to find the victim hog-tied naked in the back of the boat, according to court records.

Rodriquez had allegedly rifled the victim’s bag and thrown memory cards containing drone footage of the island into the sea. The handgun turned out to be a BB gun designed to look like a Glock 19, with no orange safety markings. Police found two more similar weapons on the island, according to court records.

Rodriquez, who identified herself as still the property manager of Little Saint James Island, now owned by billionaire investor Stephen Deckoff, told police uninvited visitors frequently approached the island to obtain social media content.

Keep reading

China Blocks Meta’s $2 Billion Acquisition of AI Startup Manus

The Chinese government has officially blocked Meta’s planned $2 billion acquisition of Manus, a Chinese-founded AI startup, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing technological rivalry between the United States and China.

CNBC reports that China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) foreign investment review arm issued a decision on Monday to block the sale of Manus to Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. The regulatory body ordered all parties involved in the transaction to unwind the acquisition, effectively terminating the deal that was announced in late December.

Manus emerged as a prominent player in the AI sector when it launched in March of last year with an AI agent designed to autonomously perform complex tasks. These capabilities include writing research reports, preparing presentation slides, and building websites. The launch garnered significant attention from Chinese state media, which celebrated it as the country’s latest breakthrough AI product. This recognition came on the heels of Deepseek’s AI model launch, which had previously caused substantial fluctuations in major United States technology stocks.

Early versions of Manus were developed by Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology, a Chinese startup founded in 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal. Following its launch, the AI company made a strategic decision to relocate its headquarters and top engineers from Beijing to Singapore. This move aligned with a broader trend among Chinese AI firms seeking to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape between the United States and China. By establishing operations in Singapore, these companies believe they can circumvent some of the tensions between the two superpowers while gaining access to Western AI models and potential investors.

According to the Financial Times, the NDRC had initially approved Manus’ relocation to Singapore. However, complications arose when Meta and the startup failed to inform Chinese authorities before finalizing their acquisition agreement in December. This appears to have triggered the subsequent regulatory scrutiny and ultimate rejection of the deal.

The Chinese government’s response to the Meta-Manus transaction was swift and decisive. In January, mere days after the two companies publicly announced the acquisition, Chinese officials launched an investigation into potential national security concerns and possible export control violations. The probe intensified last month when the NDRC reportedly summoned the startup’s co-founders, Xiao Hong and Ji Yichao, to meet with its officials to discuss the acquisition details. Both co-founders were subsequently instructed not to leave China until the regulatory review concluded.

In a statement to Breitbart News, a Meta spokesperson wrote: “The transaction complied fully with applicable law. We anticipate an appropriate resolution to the inquiry.”

This regulatory intervention occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over advanced AI technologies. The timing is particularly notable as it comes just weeks before President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing for a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The upcoming meeting takes place amid an ongoing trade war and escalating geopolitical tensions between the world’s two largest economies, with artificial intelligence emerging as a central battleground.

Keep reading

John Hinckley Jr., the Man Who Shot Reagan at the WHCD Hotel, Weighs in on Latest Assassination Attempt — Says It Was ‘Spooky’ to Find Out It ‘Took Place at the Same Hotel as Mine Did’

John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton in 1981, has weighed in on Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which took place at the same hotel.

Speaking to TMZ, Hinckley said the recent shooting attempt was “spooky” because it occurred at the same venue where he carried out his 1981 attack.

Hinckley stated that the Washington Hilton “is not secure” and urged the hotel to stop hosting major high-profile events “because bad things keep happening there.”

TMZ reports:

Hinckley kicked off our convo by telling us he first learned about the WHCD shooting when a newsflash came up on his phone and he turned on the TV to watch some of the coverage. He said it was “spooky” to find out the WHCD shooting “took place at the same hotel as mine did.”

Hinckley is now calling on the hotel to stop holding events there “because bad things keep happening” and “it’s just not a secure place to hold big events.”

To illustrate his point, Hinckley described what happened back in ’81 when he showed up at the hotel to shoot Reagan. He said back then, the security was “lax” too … because he was able to sneak into a crowd of reporters waiting outside the hotel for Reagan to exit after delivering a speech. He said Secret Service agents never checked whether he was a reporter during their sweeps.

If they had, Hinckley said he would have bolted because he was not a journalist, had no press credentials and his devious plot would have likely been exposed. As a result, history might have turned out very differently.

Hinckley had carried out the 1981 shooting that wounded Reagan and three others in an attempt to impress actress Jodi Foster.

Keep reading

Ion Clock Experiments Reveal Time Can Go Quantum

Few concepts in physics are as familiar, yet as enigmatic, as time. In Einstein’s theory of relativity, time is not absolute: its passage depends on motion and gravity. But when combined with quantum physics, this relativistic form of time becomes even more counterintuitive. According to quantum theory, the flow of time itself may exist in a genuine quantum superposition, ticking faster and slower at the same time. Now, a new paper titled Quantum signatures of proper time in optical ion clocks, published on April 20, 2026 in Physical Review Letters, the premier physics research journal, shows that this striking possibility may soon be tested in the laboratory.

In this work, a team led by Assistant Professor of theoretical physics Igor Pikovski at Stevens Institute of Technology, in collaboration with experimental groups of Christian Sanner at Colorado State University and Dietrich Leibfried at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), explores quantum aspects of the flow of time and how they can be accessed with atomic clocks. Their results suggest that the same quantum technologies being developed for next-generation clocks and quantum computers may soon probe something far more fundamental: When a clock’s motion obeys quantum mechanics, its movement can exist in superposition, and with it the recorded passage of time itself. This is analogous to Schrödinger’s famous thought experiment, where the counterintuitive nature of quantum superposition is illustrated by a cat being both alive and dead; here it is the passage of time itself that is in superposition, like a cat that is both young and old at once.

“Time plays very different roles in quantum theory and in relativity,” says Pikovski. “What we show is that bringing these two concepts together can reveal hidden quantum signatures of time-flow that can no longer be described by classical physics.” 

Keep reading

Wisconsin High School Teacher Placed on Administrative Leave After Whining That Shooter Failed to Assassinate President Trump

A social studies teacher at Kaukauna High School has been caught openly lamenting that the latest deranged assassin didn’t manage to take out President Donald Trump.

Patrick Meyer, identified as the taxpayer-funded educator pushing his anti-Trump venom on social media, posted a now-deleted rant on X following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

According to screenshots shared by Libs of Tiktok, Meyer wrote:

“I am not impressed with recent presidential assassins. It’s f-king embarrassing. Booth, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Oswald must all be spinning in their graves! MAGAA (make Americans great assassins again)! Sad!”

U.S. Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI) responded on this outrageous tweet:

“This type of disgusting rhetoric has no place in our society and does not represent our values in #WI08. It is not the example that our teachers should be setting for Northeast Wisconsin students.”

Keep reading

Quebec counsellor faces disciplinary complaint over faith-based practice

A Quebec sexologist is facing disciplinary proceedings after offering counselling services that combined professional guidance with Christian teachings, according to lawyers representing her.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said it is supporting Maryse Gaudet-Lebrun, who was served with a formal complaint on Dec. 23, 2025.

Gaudet-Lebrun, based in Montreal, holds qualifications in sexology, social work and health sciences, and is a member of the Quebec Order of Sexologists, the body that regulates licensed practitioners in the province.

The complaint reportedly challenges videos on her website in which she discusses sexuality alongside Christian teachings, prayer and biblical principles. It also alleges she promoted heterosexual sexuality within marriage and used a spiritual approach in her counselling practice.

Gaudet-Lebrun primarily serves clients who share her Christian faith and has said she aimed to provide counselling that aligns with both professional standards and clients’ religious beliefs.

Constitutional lawyer Olivier Séguin said the case reflects wider concerns about the reach of professional regulators and the role of religion in client relationships.

Gaudet-Lebrun said the complaint was deeply distressing and that legal support had been significant for her.

The matter is expected to proceed with expert reports, clarification of allegations and preparation for a disciplinary hearing.

Keep reading

Louisiana Democrat Mayor Indicted on Medicaid Fraud Charges

A Louisiana Democrat Mayor was indicted on Medicaid fraud charges.

Winnsboro Mayor Alice Wallace was indicted for Medicaid fraud in a $75,00 benefits scheme.

Wallace said she will be “vindicated” in a lengthy social media post.

“The devil is trying to embarrass and discredit leadership to possess power again through those who know nothing,,that way they can run it!!” Wallace wrote in a Facebook post.

The Shreveport Times reported:

Winnsboro Mayor Alice Wallace said that she will be “vindicated” of Medicaid fraud charges in a Facebook post following her arrest April 21 by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill with the town’s mayor’s election three weeks away.

Wallace is charged with six counts of government benefits fraud in what Murrill described as a Medicaid fraud scheme in which the mayor is accused of illegally securing $75,000 in benefits from 2021 through 2026.

Wallace declined to comment when reached by USA Today Network by phone April 22, but an April 21 post on her Facebook page said, “They just energized Team Wallace…”

“It’s election time; what else you got! I’m still standing!!” the post said.

Per the Louisiana Attorney General’s office:

LBI found that Wallace fraudulently received Medicaid benefits for herself and a dependent between 2021 and 2026. Wallace did not report to LDH a change in household income, failed to disclose her marital status, and intentionally misrepresented the availability of health insurance provided through her employers.

Agents found that Wallace failed to notify LDH that she was employed from 2021 through 2022, where she received a salary and was offered health coverage insurance. From 2022 through 2026, Wallace was employed by the Town of Winnsboro, Louisiana, as the elected Mayor, and did not report to LDH that employment, income, or availability of medical health coverage as required.

LBI’s investigation revealed that Wallace and her dependent continuously utilized Medicaid program benefits from 2021 through 2026, while she received a salary that would have made her ineligible to receive benefits from the State of Louisiana and the LDH programs. The LDH Medicaid Fraud Division found that Wallace fraudulently received benefits for a combined loss of claims of approximately $75,000.00.

LBI obtained an arrest warrant for Alice Wallace through the 19th Judicial District Court of Louisiana, in that she intentionally committed:

6 Counts – LA.R.S. 14:70.9 – Government Benefits Fraud

Wallace was arrested for knowingly concealing and failing to disclose material facts affecting her and her dependents’ continued eligibility to receive benefits from the Louisiana Department of Health Medicaid program. Those six counts pertain to the years of 2021 through 2026, in which Wallace was known to be employed, received an income, failed to disclose that income as required, and continued to receive benefits.

“Our Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has arrested Winnsboro Mayor Alice Wallace for 6 counts of Medicaid fraud in a $75,000 benefits scheme,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said.

“It doesn’t matter who you are—if you defraud the hardworking taxpayers of Louisiana, you’re going to jail,” she said.

Keep reading

Failed Trump Assassin Actually Made One Good Point In Otherwise TDS Riddled Manifesto

The would-be assassin who tried to gun down President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner accidentally landed one undeniable truth amid his unhinged anti-Trump tirade: the security surrounding the event was, once again, dangerously, almost criminally, lax.

Cole Allen, the 31-year-old California teacher charged in the April 25 shooting at the Washington Hilton, sent a manifesto to family members just minutes before opening fire. In it, he dubbed himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and vented raw hatred at the Trump administration. Yet buried in the rant was a crystal-clear observation about the event’s pathetic protection for the President, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and the rest of the presidential line of succession all gathered in one room.

The assassin’s own words on security laid it bare. “Security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before.”

“Like, if I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce in here and no one would have noticed shit,” he also wrote, adding “I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.”

“I had instead expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo,” he also remarked.

He wasn’t alone in noticing. Multiple high-profile attendees at the glitzy dinner confirmed the exact same failures.

Keep reading