DOJ Watch: April 22, 2026 — SPLC Indictment Leads Week of Federal Enforcement
From the Southern Poverty Law Center wire-fraud indictment to narco-terrorism charges against alleged Sinaloa Cartel leaders, a roundup of the week at DOJ.
Federal Register Watch: April 22, 2026 — Trump Order Accelerates Psychedelic Therapies; CFPB Ends ECOA Disparate-Impact Liability
A psychedelic-therapy executive order, a CFPB rule removing disparate-impact liability from ECOA, a reopening of the oil-and-gas NESHAP, a proposed easing of credit-union-to-bank merger rules, and a $2.04B rail safety…
SEC Watch: April 21, 2026 — CVB–Heritage Merger Closes, SoundHound Swallows LivePerson
Tuesday's SEC EDGAR intake: a completed $20B regional bank merger, SoundHound's acquisition of LivePerson with a parallel debt restructuring, a Driven Brands Nasdaq deficiency notice, and a micro-cap serial-financing pattern…
Morning Wire: April 22, 2026 — Pentagon Unveils $1.5T Budget as Iran Talks Stall
Pentagon's record $1.5T FY27 budget request, an 11-count SPLC indictment, fresh Iran sanctions, and a stalled Islamabad ceasefire round lead today's briefing.
Afternoon Wire: April 21, 2026 — Iran Ceasefire Clock Ticks as House Barrels Toward Expulsion Vote
Vance departs for Islamabad as the U.S.-Iran ceasefire nears expiry; House Ethics weighs expulsion of Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick; courts roundup and Thursday's Israel-Lebanon talks.
Spending Watch: Week of April 21, 2026 — Pentagon Awards $13B+ as Improper Payments Hit $162B
The Investigative Journal’s weekly survey of federal obligations, grant flows, and oversight findings — drawn from primary sources on USAspending.gov, the Department of War’s daily contracts wire, agency press rooms,…
Belt & Road Watch: April 2026 — Tazara Revival and the New Shape of Chinese Overseas Capital
Chinese BRI engagement rebounded to $213.5B in 2025, but the composition has shifted toward mining, EVs, and digital infrastructure. This month's tracker covers Tazara Railway, the $24B port network, Laos's…
Goliath Falls: Anatomy of a $328 Million Crypto Ponzi and the Republican Donor Network It Infiltrated
Federal prosecutors charged Christopher Delgado with a $328 million crypto Ponzi that funneled stolen funds into Florida Republican political committees.
Capitol Watch: April 21, 2026 — Senate Opens DHS Budget Battle
Senate Republicans move to unlock $70 billion for immigration enforcement via reconciliation as the DHS shutdown enters its 10th week; Armed Services Seapower probes unmanned vessels; Oversight subpoena standoff with…
DOJ Watch: April 21, 2026 — Half-Billion in Health-Care Fraud, Espionage Conviction, and Russian Router Takedown
Federal prosecutors this week logged more than $500 million in health-care and COVID-19 fraud actions, an Aetna Medicare Advantage settlement, an economic-espionage conviction, an Espionage Act leak prosecution, and a…