WASHINGTON (AP) — Southern Poverty Law Center says it faces criminal investigation by Justice Department over past use of paid informants.

Bosnian Serbs Wield Islamophobia to Gain Support for Secession In U.S. and Israel meetings, Bosnian Serb leaders used anti-Muslim rhetoric to gain support for their ethno-nationalist separatist project.

Russian-backed Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, ousted from office last year, has nevertheless extended his hostile campaign against #Bosnia’s Muslim community.

Ben Gerstein outlines the rhetoric, including in recent meetings in the U.S. and Israel:
www.justsecurity.org/136681/bosni...

It's Time to Drag Pete Hegseth's Bigoted Pastor and Expose Trump's Failed Iran War Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth believes he's on a mission from God and supports an American Crusade. His pastor, Doug Wilson, demands Christian domination. Well, I would like to retort.

It's Time to Drag Pete Hegseth's Bigoted Pastor and Expose Trump's Failed Iran War

Pete Hegseth believes he's on a mission from God and supports an American Crusade. His pastor, Doug Wilson, demands Christian domination. Well, I would like to retort.

open.substack.com/pub/thelefth...

This is very good definitely worth a listen! Tim Miller’s expression - priceless! 💙

(Plunder) America First: The Grand Strategy of Donald Trump There is no coherent plan. There's only an industrial-scale smash and grab.

“(Plunder) America First: The Grand Strategy of Donald Trump”
open.substack.com/pub/gregolea...

Love this idea - Gen Z! 💙

The next generation will inherit & shape U.S. democracy

That's why we @democracydefendersfund.org are looking for young voices w/bold ideas

10 finalists will win The Future of Democracy Prize: $1,000 & national publication

Submit by 4/30 👉 democracydefendersfund.org/future-prize

U.N. Counterterrorism Strategy Requires Global South Civil Society Amid the current strategy review, the U.N., member states, and NGOs must deepen civil society’s role, especially from the Global South.

The U.N. is conducting its latest review of its #counterterrorism strategy, first adopted 20 years ago.

Ambika Satkunanathan outlines why and how the system must deepen the role of #CivilSociety for an effective approach:

www.justsecurity.org/136236/un-co...

Two CIA officers die in Mexico accident after counternarcotics operation The U.S. spy agency has significantly expanded its international antidrug work under President Trump and CIA Director Ratcliffe.

Surprise!

washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/21/cia-mexico-accident-counter-narcotics/?itid=hp_alert

The Meta Oversight Board’s Advisory Opinion on Global Community Notes Rollout: Another Check on Platform Power? A recent Meta Oversight Board Advisory Opinion marks a positive step in tackling misinformation and protecting digital rights on social media.

The #Meta Oversight Board issued an advisory opinion on expanding the platforms’ “community notes” programs beyond the US.

@yohannes-ayalew.bsky.social & @mariaosullivan.bsky.social break down the Board’s recommendations & potential implications for human rights protection in the digital age:

Notably, this incident does not correspond to any of the videos posted online by SOUTHCOM.

Early Edition: April 21, 2026 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours.

Today's news roundup:
-Scam messages offering ships safe transit through Hormuz
-Trump’s Board of Peace held talks with UAE's DP World over Gaza reconstruction
-Japan to sell more weapons abroad
-Patel sues The Atlantic over article claiming excessive drinking
👇
www.justsecurity.org/136780/early...

DOJ’s First ‘Weaponization’ Report Is a Bust The document purports to show bias under the Biden administration—and fails spectacularly.

“A new DOJ report claims to show bias under the Biden administration—and fails spectacularly,” @qjurecic.bsky.social argues.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Kash’s Complaint As he said he would on Sunday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation case against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick this morning over a story that characterizes him as an incomp...

FBI Director Kash Patel’s defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic explained: joycevance.substack.com/p/kashs-comp...

Amazon 'strong-armed' Levi's, Hanes to hike prices on rival sites, California DA says Amazon allegedly coerced major vendors into convincing rival retailers like Walmart, Target and Home Depot to raise prices

www.cnbc.com/2026/04/20/c...
Amazon pressured major brands like Levi Strauss & Co and Hanes to inflate prices of listings on rival online marketplaces as part of wide-ranging price-fixing scheme, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

The End of the Argument ad Orbánum America is more resilient than the pessimists think.

“The U.S. is more resilient than the pessimists think,” @EliotACohen argues—and Viktor Orbán’s defeat is a lesson “for those who saw in Orbán’s Hungary America’s future or even America’s present.”

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Kash’s Complaint As he said he would on Sunday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation case against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick this morning over a story that characterizes him as an incomp...

FBI Director Kash Patel sued the Atlantic & a reporter for defamation, alleging they recklessly disregarded truth in suggesting FBI officials are concerned his drinking compromises his ability to do his job. Here’s the breakdown you need to understand the complaint. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

Friends and Foes A not-to-be missed Main Justice episode with a very special interview

Friends and Foes
open.substack.com/pub/weissman...

Terrific podcast! Great guest, Sunita Doddamani and amazing hosts! Thank you Andrew and Mary. 🙏💙

I repeat:

Take away his phone

Hungary’s PM-elect Peter Magyar says he would enact an ICC arrest warrant for Israeli PM Netanyahu and detain him on arrival.

The election winner said Hungary would stay a member of the International Criminal Court which his predecessor Viktor Orban began withdrawing from last year.

Wouldn’t Congress want an explanation?

hmmm…

Jenna Bush Hager Sits Down With Former US Presidents YouTube video by TODAY

The promise that America was before deranged voters and non-voters destroyed our democracy and livability and installed 47. youtu.be/beBLyZ1lojQ?...

WisDems 2026 Convention We can't wait to see you June 13 and 14 in Madison. Register today!

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Help us make the dream a reality. Join us at convention on June 13 and 14th!

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Plenty of criticism on the right of the #SCOTUS leaker and the Times’s reporting, but has anyone actually responded to the argument that Roberts’s assessment of “irreparable harm” and his refusal to balance the equities is completely inconsistent with his subsequent behavior in all the Trump cases?

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA No. 25 CR 693 v. MICHAEL RABBITT, et al. Judge April M. Perry GOVERNMENT'S UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO SUBMIT GRAND JURY TRANSCRIPTS FOR IN CAMERA REVIEW The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, by its attorney, ANDREW S. BOUTROS, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, respectfully submits this unopposed motion for an extension of time until April 23, 2026, to provide the relevant portions of the grand jury transcripts to the Court for an in camera review. On April 8, 2026, defendants filed their motion to compel disclosure of the grand jury transcripts. Dkt. 118. On April 9, 2026, this Court directed the government to respond or, in the alternative, provide the relevant portions of the transcripts to the Court for an in camera review by April 20, 2026. Dkt. 119. The government respectfully requests an extension of time until no later than April 23, 2026, to provide the Court all relevant portions of the transcripts as outlined in the defense motion, for an in camera review. This extension will allow the government the opportunity to obtain all relevant transcripts to provide the Court, which it has been seeking to obtain. The government has conferred with all defense counsels and they do not object to this request.

In the Chicago protesters criminal case:

1. Defendants' request grand jury transcripts on April 8.

2. Order on April 9 that DOJ has until April 20 to respond or submit relevant docs for court's review by April 20.

3. On April 20, DOJ asks for an extension until April 23.

Thanks for reporting Kristy! She should have never been hired in the first place. Only “The Best People” for sure‼️

NEW: Trump’s scandal-plagued Labor Secretary is resigning.

Two weeks ago, I asked why Trump hadn’t fired her. ⬇️

Not only didn’t Trump fire her, today the White House said she’s “done a phenomenal job.”

The bar isn’t low — it’s gone.

Ahead of midterms, Trump’s DOJ is targeting voting in three of the most pivotal swing-state counties "They're basically acknowledging they got nothing," one elections expert said. "It's going to be used for propaganda and PR. And DOJ's law enforcement powers aren't supposed to be used for propaganda ...

With the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) last week demanding 2024 election records from Wayne County, Michigan, the Trump administration is now aggressively targeting the voting process in perhaps the country’s three most pivotal voting jurisdictions. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...