More than 250 journalists, including Dan Rather and Sam Donaldson, have signed an open letter demanding that the White House Correspondents’ Association turn this Saturday’s dinner into a stage for a direct, “forceful” confrontation with President Donald Trump.

The letter, sent to the WHCA on Monday, calls on the organization to use the podium at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner to deliver a “forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment.”

“Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press,” the letter says.

The letter reads in part:

We understand that some journalists plan to wear pocket handkerchiefs or lapel pins with the words of the First Amendment. And continuing in that spirit, we believe the White House Correspondents Association should take stronger action by issuing – from the podium – a forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment and a pledge to continue upholding such a critical cornerstone of our democracy. Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.

We also urge the WHCA to reaffirm, without equivocation, that freedom of the press is not a partisan issue and that the Association will not normalize this behavior but instead fight back against any officeholder who has waged systematic war against the journalists whose work the dinner celebrates.

The signatories include journalism groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Coalition for Women in Journalism, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, along with dozens of individual reporters.

The letter accuses President Trump of attacking the press through defamation lawsuits against media outlets, showing favoritism toward conservative voices, actions by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, and his decision to pardon January 6 Capitol rioters, which they claim sends the message that “attacks on the press will be forgiven.”

Former CBS anchor Dan Rather explicitly urged the Beltway press corps to “forcefully demonstrate opposition” to the president at the event.

Many journalists attending the black-tie event also plan subtler acts of protest, like wearing lapel pins or pocket handkerchiefs emblazoned with the text of the First Amendment.

President Trump is scheduled to attend the dinner. He previously boycotted the event, citing unfair treatment by the press.

In a recent Truth Social post, Trump said he is now looking forward to it and hopes it will be “something very special.”

This letter comes during a time of record-low trust in the media.

Gallup polling last year found that only 28% of Americans have a great or fair amount of trust in mass media, with even lower numbers among Republican voters.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is supposed to celebrate the First Amendment and journalism, yet here is a large group of so-called “objective” reporters openly plotting political theater against a sitting president they despise.

The post Over 250 Journalists Sign Letter Demanding ‘Forceful’ Protest Against Trump at White House Correspondents’ Dinner appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Singer D4vd was charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez on Monday.

D4vd, David Anthony Burke, was finally arrested last week for the brutal murder of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered, decomposing body was discovered rotting inside the front trunk of his Tesla.

Los Angeles Police Department officials confirmed last Thursday that the 20-year-old Houston-born singer was taken into custody without bail in connection with the September 2025 slaying of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The teen’s remains, wrapped in cadaver bags, partially frozen, decapitated, and hacked into pieces, were found by horrified first responders responding to reports of a foul odor emanating from an abandoned, dented Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills.

D4vd allegedly began a sexual relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez when she was only 13.

Celeste was last seen in Southern California in 2024 after reportedly telling family members she was going to meet D4vd.

The victim’s mother had previously spoken out, raising questions about any possible relationship or grooming involving the young singer and the missing teen. Yet, the Los Angeles DA’s office delayed its investigation for several months.

D4vd’s attorneys said their client is innocent and did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

“Let us be clear — the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,” the lawyers said, according to AP.

The Associated Press reported:

Singer D4vd has been charged with murder in the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered and decomposed body was found in September in his apparently abandoned Tesla, prosecutors said Monday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said the 21-year-old D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, was charged with first-degree murder; lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14; and mutilating a body in the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. She was reported missing by her family in 2024, when she was 13. Authorities say she was 14 when she died.

The murder charges included special circumstances — lying in wait, committing crime for financial gain and murdering the witness in an investigation — that could carry the death penalty. Prosecutors haven’t announced whether they will seek it.

BREAKING: Singer D4vd has been charged with the murder of a 14-year-old girl who authorities say was found dismembered in his Tesla. https://t.co/SdedX9HPsS

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 20, 2026

The post Singer D4vd Charged with Brutal Murder of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas Hernandez Who Was Found Dismembered in His Tesla appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin delivered a powerful warning to voters with just one day remaining before tomorrow’s critical special election referendum. Democrats are spending a staggering $70 million to “fool, trick, and deceive” Virginians into approving a radical constitutional amendment that would impose one of the most partisan gerrymanders in the nation.

The Democrat-backed constitutional amendment would let the Democrat-controlled General Assembly ram through a brand-new congressional map right now, mid-decade, outside the normal 10-year census process.

If it passes, the current six Democrat and five Republican delegations will get wiped out and replaced with a rigged 10 Democrat to one Republican gerrymander that experts call one of the most brazenly partisan maps in the nation.

That would deliver Democrats a net gain of four U.S. House seats heading into the 2026 midterms.

Youngkin appeared on Fox News on Monday to urge Republicans to submit their ballots.

“We have what is assessed as the fairest map in America… six Democrats and five Republicans, but it’s fair. [Democrats] want to override it… turned into the most gerrymandered map in America today… Vote NO tomorrow,” Youngkin said.

Youngkin added that Democrats have poured $70 million, more than they spent on the last governor’s race, into a massive ad blitz “to try to fool, trick and deceive Virginians.”

A “NO” vote, Youngkin says, is a vote for the fairest map in America.

WATCH:

HOLY CRAP! If Virginians don’t storm the polls tomorrow, Democrats will succeed in creating the most blue Congressional gerrymandered map in AMERICA

Current map: 6 Democrats — 5 Republicans
New map: 10 DEMOCRATS — 1 REPUBLICAN

GLENN YOUNGKIN: “This is going to be close. They… pic.twitter.com/kUOY7JF7xS

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 20, 2026

The official ballot question reads:

“Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?”

Democrats, including Barack Obama and Gov. Abigail Spanberger, have framed this brazen move as “restoring fairness” and a response to Republican-led redistricting in other states.

In reality, this is a blatant power grab to lock in supermajorities before the 2026 midterms and beyond.

The proposed map packs Republican voters into one ultra-safe district while carving up the rest to create safe Democratic seats across the board.

Share this information widely and make sure every Virginia voter you know gets to the polls.

The post Youngkin Torches Dems on Fox News: ‘They Poured $70 Million’ to Fool Virginians into a 10-1 Gerrymander Power Grab, ‘Vote NO Tomorrow!’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.