Live Results: Virginia redistricting special election There aren’t any candidates on the ballot in Virginia’s statewide special election on Tuesday, but the contest could still decide control of the closely divided U.S. House this fall.

#Politics

With two-thirds of the ballots counted in the #Virginia redistricting election, NO is winning 51.3% - 48.7%.

www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

#Politics #Trump

From #AP: The latest AP-NORC Center poll shows historically bad numbers for Trump. He's -40% on the economy.

Pour yourself your favorite beverage and enjoy.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Space Investment Quarterly Reports | Space Capital Drill into the data for the space tech economy including each company in the Space Capital Portfolio with the Space Capital Space IQ: Space Investment Quarterly Report.

#Space #NASA

I find Space Capital a great resource for in-depth analysis of the #NewSpace commercial space industry. For those in the space biz, I strongly recommend downloading their quarterly reports.

www.spacecapital.com/space-iq

Return to Launch The rise of Cape Canaveral’s “second space age” and the nation’s expansion of spacefaring initiatives in the twenty-first centuryReturn to Launch is ...

#Space #NASA

For those who've been interested in ordering my #Florida space history book, the publisher is running a Spring 25% discount. My math says $38.00 x .25 = $9.50 discount.

Order at the link. Thanks for your consideration and support.

floridapress.org/978168340656...

#Politics #Florida

From the Wall Street Journal via Archive.ph.

*****

Florida’s migration patterns are changing dramatically. Residents in their prime working years are heading to other states, often citing affordability concerns.

archive.ph/WCo3I

#Space #NASA #Politics

103 retired astronauts just announced the creation of a political non-partisan organization called Astronauts for America.

"We are committed to science, evidence-based decision-making, public service, and the rule of law."

www.astronautsforamerica.org

A renewed threat to JPL as the Trump administration tries again to cut NASA The cuts, proposed in the Trump administration's 2027 budget request to Congress, would pose further challenges to the venerable La Cañada Flintridge facility and its space missions.

#Space #NASA #Politics #Trump

“It has had a steady stream of employee departures in recent months, and those left have been scrambling to court outside funding from private investors ..."

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

The visionaries As always, if you find value in this work I do, please consider helping me keep it sustainable by joining my weekly newsletter, Sparky’s List! You can get it in your inbox or read it on Patreon…

new toon!
www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...

#NewGlenn

From #BlueOrigin on Zombie Twitter:

*****

NG-3 Update: We have confirmed payload separation. AST SpaceMobile has confirmed the satellite has powered on. The payload was placed into an off-nominal orbit. We are currently assessing and will update when we have more detailed information.

#Space #SpaceCoast

This sunrise photo was supposed to have a #NewGlenn launch in it, but #BlueOrigin delayed 40 minutes, so I went cycling. That'll teach 'em.

Live: Blue Origin launches its third New Glenn rocket carrying BlueBird 7 satellite YouTube video by Spaceflight Now

#Space #SpaceCoast #CCSFS

#BlueOrigin is targeting 6:45 AM EDT for the third launch of its #NewGlenn rocket. The payload is the AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite. The window is open until 8:45 AM EDT.

Watch live at Spaceflight Now.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew-r...

Tesla Tales International conflicts might have buyers reconsidering electric cars even without a tax credit.

#Politics #Trump #Tesla

My latest Substack looks at how the Iran war is reviving the moribund EV industry even though Trump killed the tax credit last year.

Read "Tesla Tales" at the link for free. Please consider signing up for a free subscription.

weboughtatesla.substack.com/p/tesla-tales

#Space

Just awakened to a #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Starlink launch from #CCSFS.

Phonies, Fakes, and Frauds The Artemis II mission is an opportunity for moon landing deniers to seek attention. Don't give it to them.

#Space #NASA

My latest #Substack looks at moon landing deniers and how to deal with them.

Read "Phonies, Fakes, and Frauds" for free at the link. Also please consider signing up for a free subscription.

wordsmithfl.substack.com/p/phonies-fa...

Swalwell resigns seat in Congress ahead of expulsion threat, citing 'mistakes' Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned his congressional seat under intense pressure from lawmakers of both parties after several women accused him of sexual misconduct.

#Politics #California

From @latimes.com: Rep. Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

The United States of Anxiety As always, if you find value in this work I do, please consider helping me keep it sustainable by joining my weekly newsletter, � Sparky’s List! � You can get it in your inbox or read it on Patreon,

oh hey it’s a wacky new cartoon of no particular relevance to anything this morning www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...

Swalwell "suspends" campaign for governor's race following allegations of sexual assault, nude photos The one-time frontrunner faced numerous calls to step down.

#Politics #California

BREAKING from #LATimes: Rep. Eric Swalwell ends his California governor campaign after allegations surface of sexual assault and nude photos.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Stephen Lillie on the return of the Artemis II crew – cartoon After experiencing the ‘overwhelming emotions’ of their moon fly-past, the astronauts find it’s back to business as usual at home with Trump

#Politics #Trump #Space #NASA #Artemis2

From editorial cartoonist Stephen Lillie at @theguardian.com.

theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Live updates: Trump says U.S. will blockade Strait of Hormuz after peace talks fail Follow live coverage from NBC News of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz, Israel-Lebanon updates and Trump's comments.

#Politics #Trump #Iran

From @nbcnews.com: Trump says he'll blockade the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks fail with Iran.

Comment ... He really has no clue what to do. Besides, Iran is already blockading the strait.

www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/l...

Space-to-Space Call: NASA's Artemis II Astronauts and the International Space Station YouTube video by NASA

#Space #NASA

For all the firsts achieved with #Artemis2, my personal favorite is the Artemis II crew talking to the #ISS crew while both were in space.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfmG...

SpaceX Falcon 9 Cygnus Launch and Landing, Amateur Smartphone Video, April 11, 2026 YouTube video by Space SPAN (Space Policy and News)

#Space #NASA #SpaceCoast

Here's my amateur smartphone video of this morning's #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch -- and landing! -- at Cape Canaveral.

Be sure to wait until the end for the twin sonic booms. It takes a while for the sound to arrive.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7obY...

#Space #NASA #SpaceCoast

Photos of this morning's #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch and landing. The final photo is on approach to landing at Launch Complex 40, where it launched eight minutes before.

NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 Launch YouTube video by NASA

#Space #NASA

We have a #SpaceX launch coming up at 7:41 AM EDT. The payload is the Northrop Grumman Cygnus commercial cargo spacecraft.

The F9 is coming back to land at Cape Canaveral, so we should get twin sonic booms.

Watch live on the NASA YouTube channel.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i9Y...

#Space #NASA #ISS #Cancer

No one has yet to find a "magic bullet" cure for cancer, but the ISS has been successful in helping pharmaceuticals develop more effective cancer treatments.

CASIS reports on nanomaterials that are advancing cancer treatments.

issnationallab.org/press-releas...

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Comes Home (Official Broadcast) YouTube video by NASA

#Space #NASA #Artemis

NASA's live broadcast of the #Artemis2 #Orion reentry and splashdown is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM EDT / 3:30 PM PDT. Watch live on the NASA YouTube channel.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfhD...

"In a 2003 CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey, support for launching a new program to send astronauts to the moon was 22 points lower if the phrase 'spending billions of dollars' was mentioned in the question."

www.cnn.com/2026/04/09/s...

JD Vance reacts to report US official issued threat to Vatican ambassador Vance said he wanted to speak to all involved, after Pentagon officials reportedly lectured the Vatican's US ambassador.

#Politics #Trump

From #Newsweek: The Pentagon has threatened Pope Leo and the Vatican, warning the Catholic Church needs to take the side of the US military in the #Iran war.

The pope reportedly has cancelled a US visit in response.

www.newsweek.com/jd-vance-rea...

The Center of Attention An estimated 400,000 people came to Brevard County to witness the Artemis II launch from Kennedy Space Center, one of the largest crowds since Apollo.

#Space #NASA #SpaceCoast

About a half-million came here to watch the #Artemis2 launch. My latest #Substack looks at visitors coming here over the decades for space spectaculars.

Read for free at the link. Please consider signing up for a free subscription.

www.thespacepundit.com/p/the-center...

Yeah, Al Jazeera is implying that Israel might sabotage the whole thing to prod Trump and the US to keep doing their dirty work.

#Politics #Trump #Iran

The White House Zombie Twitter account just posted this image. Conditions an agreement on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.