The Duanae Lester Show

May 05, 2026

1-9am

SEGMENT 1

SEGMENT 1.1: 15 MIN__________________________

Trump opens Hormuz under fire with ‘Project Freedom’ as Iran warns of attacks

The U.S. operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is unfolding under fire, with American forces intercepting Iranian missiles and drones and destroying attack boats targeting commercial shipping as they begin moving vessels through one of the world’s most critical waterways.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited the strait under the effort, dubbed “Project Freedom,” even as Iranian officials rejected the claim as “baseless” and warned that any foreign military presence would be attacked.

Ceasefire tested as Iran warns US the fight over Strait of Hormuz hasn’t ‘begun yet’

President Donald Trump warned Iranian forces would be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if they targeted US ships.

• Ceasefire tested: Iran’s parliament speaker says the US and its allies have jeopardized secure shipping after a day of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, adding “we have not even begun yet.” President Donald Trump declined to say, when asked, whether the ceasefire remains in place, and Israel is coordinating with the US for a potential new round of strikes, a source said.

• UAE under fire: The United Arab Emirates, a US ally, defended itself against Iranian strikes for the first time since the ceasefire began in early April, with one drone attack causing a fire at a major oil port.

• Economic impact: Oil prices are falling today, but remain above $100 a barrel, amid tensions as result of actions on the waterway, but stock markets look set for a better day after losing ground yesterday.

What It Is

Trump announced Project Freedom in a Sunday post on Truth Social, saying that other countries had asked the U.S. to help free their vessels “locked up in the Strait of Hormuz.” Trump framed it as a “humanitarian gesture,” saying the ship movement was “merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong.”

SEGMENT 1.2: 5 MIN_____________________

Markets
pril was a strong month for investors. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq each posted their best monthly performance in five years, and earnings season has been largely impressive — especially from the big tech names. That’s the kind of backdrop you want heading into summer.

Kevin Warsh was confirmed by the Senate Banking Committee to replace Jerome Powell as Fed Chair when Powell's term expires May 15th. Powell announced he'll stay on as a Fed governor. The 8-4 vote to hold rates at the last FOMC meeting — the most divided since 1992 — tells you there's real disagreement inside that building about what comes next. Warsh's first moves as Chair will be worth watching.

SEGMENT 1.3: 15 MIN ______________________

State Rep Cathy Jo Loy

SEGMENT 1.4: 5 MIN___________________________

And don’t we just love technology. 61% of us believe that having a good knowledge about today’s technology is important. Well, then how do we explain this?

• 29% of us believe that “cloud computing” involves a real cloud.

• 11% think HTML is a sexually transmitted disease.

• 27% believe a gigabyte is an insect.

• 15% think software is comfortable clothing.

• 12% believe that USB is an acronym for a country.

• 18% believe Blu-ray is a sea animal.

SEGMENT 2

SEGMENT 2.1: 15 MIN______________

NEWT GINGRICH AND RACHEL PETERSON: Washington must act to stop massive government fraud

From fake meal programs in Minnesota to Medicaid payments for the deceased, systemic failures cost taxpayers

When my team at Gingrich 360 looked into the widespread corruption in Minnesota, we were shocked by how much fraud and corruption there was. We have posted a paper on our findings.

A February 2025 Department of Health and Human Services audit of Colorado’s Department of Health found that the state’s Medicaid program made at least $7.3 million in payments on behalf of deceased enrollees.

The time has come for Congress and state legislators to prioritize preventing government fraud before it occurs.

Writing in code to avoid FOI Requests - Instead of writing Planned Parenthood which got $90B in cofiv loans, they would write Bhengazi.

Jon Ossoff silent on SPLC indictment after taking more than $700K from affiliate of indicted group

The DOJ charged the Southern Poverty Law Center with bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in April

Paying extremists groups - its a racket.
The Department of Justice brought criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center in April for allegedly defrauding its donors by secretly transferring money to extremist groups with the goal of infiltrating and monitoring their activities.

Ossoff, the most vulnerable Senate Democrat running for re-election in 2026, is endorsed by the law center’s 501(c)(4) arm. The group contributed more than $700,000 to his campaign account in 2020, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.

Between 2014 and 2023, the Alabama-based organization paid more than $3 million to informants belonging to the United Klans of America, the Aryan Nation and other neo-Nazi groups, according to the 11-count indictment, which included charges of bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. The group allegedly concealed the payments by setting up bank accounts under fictitious names and did not inform federal law enforcement about their activities.

One informant, who the law center paid more than $270,000, was a member of an online group that helped plan the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to the indictment.

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