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What Happened Today – April 27, 2026

Doug Burgum bribed two more wind energy companies today to switch to oil and gas.

The Interior Department that Burgum runs started cutting checks after federal courts stopped the Trump administration from killing offshore wind projects already in development. Today’s $885 million in taxpayer refunds came on terms that require every dollar to be spent on an LNG plant or an oil rig before the check clears.

A month ago, the same deal handed $928 million to a different company. A fourth is lining up next, and roughly $6 billion in offshore wind leases is still sitting on the table. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is investigating these reckless, unauthorized bribes. Call your representatives through 5 Calls and Resistbot and demand Congress ban them before they pay off another company.

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🚨 GovBrief Intensity Score 188
Extreme. History will remember.
Volume: Normal (13)
Severity: Moderate (2.38)
Defining Moments: 0
Previous 5 Days
🟡97|🔴145|🟠112|🟡104|🔴132
100 = normal day. Volume is headline count. Stories weighted by significance. Defining Moments are the ones history remembers.
Today's Quote
Our First Lady Melania is here. Look at her, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.
Jimmy Kimmel during a comedy routine on April 23, 2026.
Yesterday's Most Read

US Mint laundering Colombian cartel gold into 'American' coins for years despite 1985 ban, NYT investigation finds.

Today’s GovBrief News


Foreign Relations 1 of 13

King Charles becomes only the second British monarch to address Congress, describing US-UK relations as 'reconciliation and renewal' and meeting Trump at White House.

Iran war straining relationship

Source: The Independent

April 27, 2026

Foreign Relations 2 of 13

Rubio rejects Iran's offer to reopen Strait of Hormuz if US ends blockade and war, on Iran war day 61.

Proposal would defer nuclear program

Source: The Associated Press

April 27, 2026

Foreign Relations 3 of 13

US Embassy in Mexico orders government employees to avoid Reynosa near Texas border citing violent criminal activity and roadblocks.

Two CIA officers killed in Chihuahua earlier this month

Source: The Hill

April 27, 2026

Environment 4 of 13

Interior Department pays Bluepoint and Golden State Wind $885 million to surrender offshore leases in exchange for matching investments in fossil fuel projects.

Follows TotalEnergies $1 billion March deal

Source: NBC Los Angeles

April 27, 2026

Environment 5 of 13

White House withdraws nomination of Delaware North executive Scott Socha for National Park Service director after February nomination drew conservationist backlash over privatization ties.

Company tried; trademarking 'Yosemite National Park'

Source: SF Gate

April 27, 2026

Voting Rights 6 of 13

Florida Governor DeSantis releases redistricting map ahead of Tuesday special session that could flip four Democratic House seats and give Republicans 24-4 advantage.

Targets Soto, Castor, Moskowitz, Wasserman Schultz

Source: The Hill

April 27, 2026

Censorship 7 of 13

Trump demands Disney and ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel over Melania widow joke that aired two days before White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.

ABC previously suspended Kimmel in September

Source: Variety

April 27, 2026

Military 8 of 13

Defense Secretary Hegseth and Kid Rock take Apache helicopter ride one month after Hegseth shut down Army investigation into pilots flying over Kid Rock's home.

Pentagon cites Freedom 250th tour

Source: CNN

April 27, 2026

Justice Dept 9 of 13

National Trust refuses Justice Department demand to drop White House ballroom lawsuit, days after Saturday shooting cited as grounds.

June 5 oral arguments scheduled

Source: NBC News

April 27, 2026

Criminal Justice 10 of 13

Federal prosecutors charge Cole Allen with attempting to assassinate Trump at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner, citing manifesto targeting officials by rank.

Carried shotgun, pistol, and three knives

Source: CBS News

April 27, 2026

Immigration 11 of 13

ICE transfers detainees from overcrowded Mesa airport facility on Boeing 777 to New Hampshire detention center as Mirror documents 777-person peak in space rated for 203.

Designed to hold detainees under 12 hours

Source: The Arizona Mirror

April 27, 2026

Congress 12 of 13

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) confirms undisclosed medical issue caused his month-long absence from Congress amid razor-thin House majority.

Running unopposed in June 2 primary

Source: WPIX New York

April 27, 2026

Fighting Back 13 of 13

Wyoming judge blocks state's six-week abortion ban, citing voter-approved 2012 constitutional amendment that protects healthcare decisions.

Wyoming Supreme Court struck similar ban January

Source: The Associated Press

April 27, 2026

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