Michelle Del Rey 🍋

ICYMI: Six former members of Homestead Heritage in Waco, Texas spoke with me about their experiences leaving the church as adults. The former members described it as a “cult” that limited their education, medical access and freedom independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…

Baaaaad news for DMV lawnmowers: you can rent adorable sheep and goats to do the job! axios.com/local/washingt…

The late Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette, has long been the subject of magazine covers, brand deals, and books—but the real story behind her life is even more delightfully absurd than it may seem, Chris Heath writes. theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/…

i'm warming up

"Reporters and editors who get their ideas from their social-media feeds — which is most of them, most of the time — can mistake a paid simulation of public interest for the real thing and then make it real by covering it. " vulture.com/article/social…

This is Natty. He's the first official team dog for the Washington Nationals. He makes his big-league debut on Friday and will learn basic skills and socialization with the team before he goes on to formal service dog training with Canine Companions. 13/10

New: UK prime ministers may change, but Larry the Cat rules Downing Street usatoday.com/story/pets-ani…

Scoop: Trump’s gold T1 phone will start shipping this week usatoday.com/story/tech/202…

Trump administration sued over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool usatoday.com/story/news/pol… via @usatoday

“At the morgue, the babies were brought in with their diapers and blankets and with their hospital ID bracelets still wrapped around their tiny ankles. The pathologists’ findings were like those you would typically see in ailing adults, not newborns.” propublica.org/article/more-p…

An 85-year-old Trump supporter moved from France to Alabama to marry her long-lost lover. When her husband died, she ended up in a messy inheritance battle -- and then arrested by ICE and deported. @porterthereport with the first interview: nytimes.com/2026/04/25/us/…

After a short lunch break (and geography lesson) DC public work crews have decide to replace the Australian flags with the British flag around the White House.

"Sheryl Cowan, 57, was making $272,000 a year as a senior VP at a U.S.A.I.D.-funded nonprofit when she was let go at the end of March 2025. Last month she had an online interview for a $19-an-hour job managing a Penzeys Spices store in Falls Church, Va." nytimes.com/2026/04/21/us/…

Now, here's something special: The Provincetown Independent, a high-quality local news outlet, is hiring a managing editor. Pay is $80k-$100k, and it comes with housing, subsidized by its nonprofit arm, as well as a chance to earn equity. #journalism cdn.provincetownindependent.org/2026/04/Provin…..

A rare and deadly “civil war” has broken out between two factions of chimps in Africa. on.wsj.com/48AuGRq

As part of preparations for America’s 250th anniversary, Interior is reviewing wildlife nomenclature to better reflect the nation’s history and character. Following this review, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) will be renamed the Liberty Bandit, effective April 1, 2026.

Some more cuteness

Us USA TODAY reporters shared photos of our dogs for National Puppy Day, featuring my foster puppy Arya usatoday.com/picture-galler…

Please consider adopting her from @HumaneRescue petfinder.com/dog/arya-3b585…

A gorgeous cherry blossom (I think) outside DC’s Polymarket bar

In a continued effort to be transparent as a department, we want to take a moment to reach the younger audience. Squad. The weather be on fleek tonight, fr. NGL, be low-key ratchet to get too turnt and get in trouble with us, fam. Skibidi.