Plus: A risky FISA reauthorization, regal quips about torching the White House, the world’s tightest tax breaks, and more…
Ex-Fauci aide indicted. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against David Morens, a former adviser to Anthony Fauci, accusing him of sidestepping federal transparency rules while quietly pushing to restore funding for controversial coronavirus research during the height of the pandemic.
The Reason Roundup Newsletter by Liz Wolfe Liz and Reason help readers interpret the day’s headlines each morning.
In a series of rather blunt emails discussing the origins of the virus, Morens directed colleagues to reach him through his private Gmail to dodge FOIA requests and suggested he could relay information to Fauci via private channels.
Senior advisor to Anthony Fauci finally charged for concealing federal records following a criminal referral from former House COVID Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup.
“I can either send stuff to Tony on his private Gmail [sic], or hand it to him at work or at his house,”… https://t.co/upwvBonbSo
— Alina Chan (@Ayjchan) April 28, 2026
In another missive, Morens asserted that he’d “learned from our FOIA liaison how to make emails disappear after I’m FOIA’d but before the search begins.”
Morens’ frequent correspondent in these messages was Peter Daszak, the former leader of the now-dormant EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that had received Fauci-financed support to study bat coronaviruses in Wuhan, China.
“These allegations reflect a profound breach of trust at a moment when the American public depended on responsible science,” stated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
As subsequent probes have revealed, EcoHealth Alliance was utilizing federal funds to carry out gain-of-function research—altering viruses to increase their virulence—at the Wuhan Institute of Virology up until the pandemic’s eve, and possibly in violation of federal restrictions on funding such work.
EcoHealth Alliance’s funding was cut by the Trump administration in April 2020. The nonprofit and Daszak were both barred from receiving federal funds late in the Biden administration over transparency shortcomings.
In emails to Daszak (referred to in the DOJ indictment as Co-Conspirator 1), Morens vowed to “protect” him and to relay information between him and Fauci.
According to the indictment, Daszak also unlawfully gave Morens wine in exchange for his advocacy on his behalf.
FISA reauthorization in doubt. A House vote to renew the soon-to-expire law that enables federal intelligence agencies to monitor the communications of foreigners and the Americans they speak with was postponed from yesterday to today amid a broader debate over adding privacy protections to the statute.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) authorizes the government to intercept communications of foreign targets without requiring a traditional warrant from a judge.
Privacy advocates argue the statute creates a glaring exception to the Fourth Amendment by permitting federal intelligence bodies to read communications of Americans who are in contact with targeted non-citizens.
The law is due to lapse on Thursday. For weeks, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La.), pressed by President Donald Trump, has sought a “clean” three-year reauthorization of FISA.
That push faces resistance from bipartisan advocates of privacy who want concrete warrant requirements added before reauthorization. As CBS noted, a proposed compromise bill with extra privacy safeguards last week did not include warrants, and it failed to win sufficient conservative support.
Scenes from Washington, D.C.: King Charles III was in the capital yesterday, performing the usual duties of a visiting constitutional monarch. He addressed Congress, tended a beehive on the White House lawn, and joked about the British burning the place down in a past conflict with the United States.
NOW: King Charles gets a laugh at the White House State Dinner.
“I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing, Mr. President, following your visit to Windsor Castle last year.”
“And I’m sorry to say that we Brits, of course, made our own modest attempt at real… pic.twitter.com/0V2HdHvi44
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 29, 2026
Perhaps the takeaway is to forgive and forget. Given enough time, national grievances can turn into punchlines. Or perhaps monarchs and leaders generally only charm when they lack real power to impose their will.
QUICK HITS
- Trump and Iran exchange threats about potentially sealing off the Strait of Hormuz.
- What’s the choice: tax relief for boat owners, law enforcement, or sellers of New Jersey souvenirs?
is there like a competition in congress right now to see who can propose the most narrow tax credit pic.twitter.com/xVlf9MROcH
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) April 29, 2026
- Nigel Farage says his home was firebombed.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump is telling aides to gear up for a prolonged blockade against Iran.
- Federal agents conduct raids in Minnesota as part of a crackdown on Medicare fraud.
