Salem News Channel

Real Life with Jack Hibbs, May 10, 2026

Read More...

There's Only One Person to Blame For Spirit Airlines Shutting Down: Joe Biden

Read More...

What Happened to Tucker Carlson?

Read More...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles was upset that he didn't have plans for New Year's Eve and ranted about being angry at the world before the initial blaze was sparked, according to court documents filed by prosecutors. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. It began Jan. 7, 2025, in hillside neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu and killed 12 people. Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started a fire on Jan. 1 that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up a week later. Rinderknecht’s trial is set to begin June 8. His attorneys say he is being used as a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s failure to fully extinguish the earlier blaze. An outline of the prosecutors' strategy — with details about the defendant’s alleged state of mind on the night before the first fire began — appears in an April 29 pre-trial memo filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Witnesses reported that Rinderknecht had been driving erratically while on Uber routes around the Palisades on New Year's Eve, said prosecutors. His passengers described him as “angry, intense, driving erratically, and ranting about being ‘pissed off at the world,'" the memo said. According to court filings, Rinderknecht ranted to passengers about accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione, capitalism and vigilantism. In an interview with investigators on Jan. 24, when asked why someone might commit arson in the Palisades, Rinderknecht “responded that it would be out of resentment of the rich enjoying their money as ‘we’re basically being enslaved by them,’” and again referenced Mangione’s alleged crime, the documents said. In addition, prosecutors said Rinderknecht was distraught over a failed relationship and upset about thwarted plans for New Year's Eve. “My client maintains his innocence as he has from the beginning and we look forward to clearing his name at trial," Rinderknecht’s attorney Steve Haney said in an email Sunday. “The offered motive that my client started a fire on NYs Eve because he did not have date speaks for itself.” Haney held a news conference in March to call for Rinderknecht's release from jail in light of evidence he said shows he is not responsible for the blaze. Haney pointed to a deposition in which a firefighter testified that he noticed the ground was still smoldering from the fire on Jan. 2 and alerted a supervisors that there were hot spots. That testimony was gathered as part of a lawsuit filed by fire victims against the city. A battalion chief had testified that he walked the perimeter of the burn area four times throughout the day and ensured all hot spots were out. Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore, who was appointed in October, has said he is concerned about the differences in the firefighters’ testimonies and commissioned an independent report on how the Jan. 1 fire was handled. Haney has said this evidence was not available to the defense when Rinderknecht was indicted.

Read More...

The ceasefire in the Iran war faces its most critical moment yet as the United States begins efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, the U.S. launched "Project Freedom" to guide ships through the strait, calling it a humanitarian effort. Iran views this as a violation of the ceasefire. The U.S. says two U.S.-flagged ships have safely transited, but Iran warns that any foreign military force in the strait will be targeted. Already, the United Arab Emirates says it has come under attack for the first time since the early April ceasefire, and a British military monitor says two cargo vessels are ablaze.

Read More...

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Britney Spears has avoided jail time in a California driving under the influence case by pleading guilty to a lesser charge through her lawyer. Spears was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs following her March 4 arrest in Ventura County, where she lives. She didn’t appear in court Monday, but her lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, agreed on her behalf to what’s commonly known as a “wet reckless” guilty plea. This allows her to be sentenced to a year of probation, take a DUI class, and pay fines. The plea is standard for first-time offenders with low blood-alcohol levels. Spears was arrested after driving erratically. She checked in to a treatment center last month.

Read More...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortion is provided across the nation. The order issued Monday allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week. Most abortions are obtained with medication, normally mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol. The availability of those drugs has made abortion accessible to women in states with bans. Louisiana sued, saying mifepristone’s availability undermined the ban there.

Read More...

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A cruise ship with nearly 150 people aboard is waiting for help off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean after three passengers died and three others were left seriously ill in a suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus. The World Health Organization and the ship's operator reported the deaths and illnesses. The MV Hondius was on a polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica and several South Atlantic islands. A 70-year-old Dutch man was the first victim. His wife also died after being transferred to South Africa. The ship's operator says the body of a third passenger who died is onboard. A British man tested positive and is critically ill in a South African hospital. The ship was seeking assistance on Monday from Cape Verde, but officials say no one has been allowed to disembark.

Read More...

This is the same pattern conservatives have warned about for years: the Democratic Party’s steady march toward extremism.

Read More...

Personal attacks on Tucker miss the point entirely. He is not anti-Israel; he is America First. His recent New York Times interview highlighted the real frustration driving this shift: the country’s demographic changes are happening too fast, but even more pressing is the profound economic betrayal young people feel.

Read More...

Welcome to Salem News Channel (SNC), your source for conservative news, in-depth analysis, and straightforward commentary on the stories shaping America. We cover U.S. politics, breaking news, and cultural issues with a focus on facts, accountability, and independent thinking. Subscribe for daily updates and stay informed. New videos daily! #ConservativeNews #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary

Read More...

Welcome to Salem News Channel (SNC), your source for conservative news, in-depth analysis, and straightforward commentary on the stories shaping America. We cover U.S. politics, breaking news, and cultural issues with a focus on facts, accountability, and independent thinking. Subscribe for daily updates and stay informed. New videos daily! #ConservativeNews #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary

Read More...

Welcome to Salem News Channel (SNC), your source for conservative news, in-depth analysis, and straightforward commentary on the stories shaping America. We cover U.S. politics, breaking news, and cultural issues with a focus on facts, accountability, and independent thinking. Subscribe for daily updates and stay informed. New videos daily! #ConservativeNews #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary

Read More...

A group of more than 1,500 landlords is seeking up to $1.5 billion from the federal government, arguing that the COVID-19 eviction moratorium caused significant financial losses. The lawsuit claims the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention policy violated the Fifth Amendment by taking private property without just compensation. The case stems from a pandemic-era order that temporarily halted evictions nationwide. Plaintiffs argue the industry suffered tens of billions of dollars in losses overall, while the government has defended the policy as a public health measure. The outcome could have major financial implications for federal liability tied to pandemic emergency actions.

Read More...

Former FBI Director James Comey says he will fight a federal Justice Department indictment accusing him of making threats against President Donald Trump. The case centers on an Instagram post showing seashells arranged as “86 47,” which prosecutors say was interpreted as a threat against the president. Comey has denied any intent to threaten Trump and says the message was political in nature. He has not yet entered a plea in the case and is expected to challenge the charges in court. The Justice Department maintains the investigation includes evidence beyond the social media post. The indictment has intensified political debate, with Comey’s legal team arguing the case is a retaliatory prosecution.

Read More...

President Donald Trump says a new batch of UFO-related files will be released “very soon,” calling them “very interesting.” The announcement comes as the Pentagon continues a years-long, congressionally mandated effort to declassify records involving unidentified aerial phenomena and reports of unusual aircraft near military installations. Some lawmakers have pushed for greater transparency, saying the public deserves more information about sightings reported near U.S. military bases.

Read More...

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to his spokesperson. The 81-year-old was admitted for an undisclosed medical issue. His spokesman is asking for prayers but has not provided additional details about his condition or how long he has been hospitalized. Giuliani rose to national prominence as “America’s Mayor” following the September 11 attacks. In later years, he became a polarizing political figure as an adviser and personal attorney to President Donald Trump.

Read More...

Federal prosecutors say new evidence shows a Secret Service agent was struck by buckshot fired by the suspect accused of trying to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Officials say the round hit the agent’s bullet-resistant vest during the April 25 incident at a Washington hotel. The suspect was injured during the confrontation but was not shot. The agent survived the attack. Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Read More...

Two U.S. service members are missing in Morocco after going on a recreational hike following military exercises, according to U.S. Africa Command. Officials say the disappearance occurred near a training area in the country’s southwest. A large search and rescue operation is underway involving multiple countries, aircraft, and ground teams. The incident comes during African Lion, the U.S. military’s largest exercise in Africa, which involves more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.

Read More...

The United States has launched “Project Freedom” to guide stranded commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, establishing a new security zone and warning of possible mines in the waterway. Iran has responded by saying any foreign military presence in the strait will be targeted. The narrow shipping route handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil, making it a critical global energy chokepoint. The move comes as ceasefire talks remain stalled and no peace agreement has been reached, with tensions continuing to disrupt maritime traffic and global energy markets.

Read More...