INFLATION RISES, FDA QUITS, 1st AMENDMENT TEST, & BRITISH INFIGHTING

Happy Wednesday, Filter News Community Members!

It’s Wednesday, which means our Weekly Filter podcast dropped this morning. We covered the newly released Alien documents, the full history of the Iran/US conflict, the Virginia Gerrymandering case, Conspiracy Corner with 11 missing scientists, and set the stage for this week’s match-up between the US and China.

Make sure you give it a listen and let us know what you think in the comments.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoAU9CiC3qM

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wviXDTS1QJXkIkw5R2KLl

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aliens-are-real-iranian-history-is-confusing-virginia/id1893229295?i=1000767511903

Now let’s get into today’s top stories…

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Consumer Price Index report on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, showing that US consumer prices rose 0.6% in April from March and climbed 3.8% on an annual basis — the highest inflation rate since May 2023.

The monthly 0.6% increase matched economist expectations, while the 3.8% annual figure came in slightly above the consensus forecast of 3.7%. Prior to the US war with Iran, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2026, annual inflation had stood at 2.4%.

Energy prices were the dominant driver of April's increase, accounting for more than 40% of the overall monthly CPI gain, according to the BLS. Energy prices rose 3.8% in April and are up 17.9% over the past year. Gasoline prices increased 5.4% in April and are 28.4% higher than a year ago. The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.50, according to AAA. Before the war began in late February, crude oil was trading at approximately $67 a barrel; that price rose to $100 a barrel last month. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for energy shipments, has been disrupted by the conflict.

Food prices rose 0.5% in April and are up 3.2% from a year ago. Grocery items specifically rose 0.7% for the month. Beef and veal prices were up 2.7% in April and are 14.8% higher than a year ago. Fruit and vegetable prices rose in April and are up 6.1% year over year. Tomato prices rose sharply for the second consecutive month.

Airline fares rose 2.8% in April and are up more than 20% from a year ago. Electricity prices rose in April and are up 6.1% year over year. Housing costs (shelter) rose 0.6% in April, double the pace of March. Both sources attributed part of the shelter increase to a statistical adjustment related to the government shutdown in fall 2025, during which the BLS was unable to collect housing price data for October, resulting in an artificially lower shelter reading that was corrected in April's report. The shutdown lasted 43 days.

Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.4% for the month and 2.8% annually — both figures above economist predictions of 0.3% and 2.7% respectively.

Annual inflation-adjusted average hourly wage growth turned negative in April for the first time since April 2023. Paychecks grew 3.6% from a year ago while prices rose 3.8%.

The Federal Reserve voted to hold interest rates steady at its meetings in January, March, and April. The Fed's next meeting is set for June. Kevin Warsh, nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, was expected to be confirmed to the role during the week of May 12, 2026. The April jobs report showed 115,000 jobs added, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.3%.

The left argues that the inflation surge represents a direct hit to household budgets that goes beyond energy prices, with wages now failing to keep pace with price increases for the first time in three years. CNN cited a new CNN/SSRS poll finding that 77% of Americans — including a majority of Republicans — say President Trump's policies have increased the cost of living in their communities. Left-leaning sources also emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz disruption has choked off supply of materials beyond oil, including fertilizers, aluminum, and helium, and that rising inequality has left lower- and middle-income households disproportionately strained, with Federal Reserve Bank of New York data showing increased consumer loan delinquency rates, particularly on student loans.

The right argues that the inflation picture carries important caveats suggesting resilience in the broader economy. The Washington Examiner noted that used car prices are down 2.7% from a year ago, offering some relief for consumers. Fox Business highlighted that the April jobs report showed hiring picking up from near-stagnant 2025 rates and that businesses are generating robust profit growth, with one analyst noting tax refunds have benefited many consumers this spring. Right-leaning sources devoted more attention to the political implications for President Trump heading into the midterm elections, noting his economic approval ratings have fallen since taking office, while also framing the Kevin Warsh Fed confirmation as a key development likely to shape upcoming rate decisions.

All four articles drew from the same primary source — the BLS Consumer Price Index report released May 12, 2026 — and showed strong agreement on every core figure: the 3.8% annual rate, the 0.6% monthly gain, the 2.8% core rate, the energy sector's 40%-plus share of monthly gains, the $4.50 average gas price, the shelter adjustment tied to the government shutdown, and the Fed's rate-hold history. Minor differences in how specific sub-category figures were cited (some sources rounded slightly differently) did not produce contradictions. The shared facts in this report can be treated with high confidence. The divergence lies almost entirely in emphasis, framing, and which economists each outlet chose to quote — not in the underlying data.

Left-leaning:

— LEFT-1: NPR | https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5818279/inflation-cpi-gas-prices-housing-fuel-iran-war

— LEFT-2: CNN | https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/12/economy/us-cpi-inflation-april

Right-leaning:

— RIGHT-1: Washington Examiner | https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/finance-and-economy/4563753/inflation-april-iran-energy-prices/

— RIGHT-2: Fox Business | https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/cpi-inflation-april-2026

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary resigned on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, ending a tenure of approximately 13 months at the agency. Kyle Diamantas, the FDA's deputy commissioner for food, was named acting commissioner following Makary's departure.

President Donald Trump addressed the resignation as he departed the White House for a trip to China, telling reporters: "He's a great doctor, and he was having some difficulty, but he's going to go on and he's going to do well." Trump later posted on Truth Social: "I want to thank Dr. Marty Makary for having done a great job at the FDA. So much was accomplished under his leadership. He was a hard worker, who was respected by all, and will go on to have an outstanding career in Medicine."

Before leading the FDA, Makary was a surgeon and health policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The Senate confirmed him as FDA commissioner on March 25, 2025. His tenure was marked by mass layoffs, significant senior leadership turnover, and repeated conflicts with pharmaceutical companies, patient advocacy groups, and political factions within the Republican coalition.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. played a role in Makary's departure, with administration officials telling reporters that Kennedy pushed for the resignation. Makary faced pressure from multiple directions during his time at the agency: anti-abortion conservatives were frustrated that the FDA did not move to restrict telehealth prescriptions of the abortion pill mifepristone, and vaping industry executives pressed the White House over Makary's handling of flavored e-cigarette authorizations. The agency did authorize the first fruit-flavored e-cigarettes in the week before his resignation, but that action was not sufficient to preserve his position.

Diamantas is an attorney. A permanent replacement will need to be nominated by Trump and confirmed by a majority vote in the Senate.

The left argues that Makary's tenure was defined by a broader erosion of scientific independence at the FDA. NPR and PBS reporting emphasizes that virtually all senior career officials resigned, retired, or were forced out during the first year of the second Trump term, and that the FDA's credibility with the pharmaceutical industry was damaged by unpredictable regulatory decisions. Left-leaning sources highlight that Dr. Makary's deputy, Dr. Vinay Prasad, was pushed out twice for clashing with rare disease communities and drugmakers, and that many of Makary's initiatives were never enshrined in federal rulemaking, leaving them easily reversible. These sources also note that Prasad claimed in an internal memo that the FDA had linked COVID-19 shots to the deaths of 10 children without publishing supporting evidence, and that a dozen former FDA commissioners issued a joint denunciation of the agency's vaccine overhaul plans.

The right argues that Makary's resignation was primarily driven by his failure to satisfy the pro-life movement on the abortion pill mifepristone, and that his exit represents an opportunity to realign the FDA with Trump's conservative health agenda. Fox News reporting frames Secretary Kennedy as the decisive force behind the resignation and notes explicitly that there was "no bad blood" between Makary and the White House. Right-leaning sources give prominent attention to statements from Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and anti-abortion groups such as Live Action and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, who viewed Makary as an obstacle to rolling back Biden-era abortion access rules. Fox News also highlighted that Diamantas previously removed himself from a case representing Planned Parenthood citing his pro-life beliefs, a detail framed favorably by White House officials.

All four sources confirm the core facts: the resignation date, Makary's tenure length, his background at Johns Hopkins, Trump's public statements, Kennedy's role, and Diamantas's appointment as acting commissioner. The overlapping core is solid. The score is held back by meaningful divergence in emphasis — left-leaning sources focus on institutional damage and scientific credibility, while right-leaning sources center the story on the abortion policy conflict and the pro-life reaction. Neither side fabricates the basic facts, but each frames the cause and significance of the resignation quite differently. Readers can trust the shared facts above with reasonable confidence; the "why" behind the resignation remains genuinely contested.

Left-leaning:

— LEFT-1: NPR | https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5819722/fda-commissioner-makary-resigns

— LEFT-2: PBS NewsHour / Associated Press | https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/ap-report-marty-makary-resigning-as-trumps-fda-chief

Right-leaning:

— RIGHT-1: Fox News | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-fda-boss-resigning-admin-taps-next-acting-leader

— RIGHT-2: Newsmax | https://www.newsmax.com/politics/marty-makary-resignation-fda-commissioner/2026/05/12/id/1256021/

The Justice Department issued subpoenas to the Wall Street Journal and its reporters on 2026-03-04, seeking records related to the paper's coverage of the U.S. military campaign against Iran. The subpoenas were issued in connection with a Journal article published on 2026-02-23 that described warnings from General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other Pentagon officials to President Donald Trump about the risks of a military campaign against Iran. President Trump launched a joint military offensive with Israel five days after that article was published.

Dow Jones & Company, which owns the Wall Street Journal, responded with a statement saying the subpoenas "represent an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering" and that the company would "vigorously oppose this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting." Dow Jones chief communications officer Ashok Sinha issued that statement.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement that prosecuting leakers is an administration priority. "Any witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material," Blanche wrote. The Justice Department separately stated: "In all circumstances, the Department of Justice follows the facts and applies the law to identify those committing crimes against the United States."

The Journal subpoenas are part of multiple leak investigations being conducted by the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of Virginia, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. While leak investigations are common, subpoenas directed at journalists are described as exceedingly rare. The Trump administration canceled a Biden-era policy that had placed strict limits on leak investigations targeting reporters.

In a separate but related matter, U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga barred the DOJ from searching the electronic devices of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, ruling she was shielded by the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. Natanson had been in contact with Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones before he was arrested and indicted on charges of unlawfully obtaining and sharing classified materials.

Trump has publicly stated that journalists who do not identify their sources could face jail. "We're going to go to the media company that released it, and we're going to say, 'national security; give it up or go to jail,'" Trump said. Blanche seconded that position at a news conference, stating: "If it means sending a subpoena to the reporter, that's exactly what we should do and that's exactly what we will be doing."

The left argues that the subpoenas represent a dangerous escalation in the Trump administration's effort to chill press freedom and punish constitutionally protected newsgathering. Left-leaning sources emphasize statements from press freedom advocates, including PEN America journalism and disinformation program director Tim Richardson, who said the investigations "need to stop." They also highlight Trump's praise for the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon in January, framing the administration's posture toward the press as broadly punitive.

The right argues that the DOJ's actions are a law enforcement response to the illegal leaking of classified material that endangers national security and the lives of U.S. soldiers. Right-leaning sources provide additional context about the administration's broader campaign against leaks, including the indictment of a former Fort Bragg soldier for leaking classified information about Delta Force, and note that the DOJ has framed the subpoenas as targeting criminals rather than reporters. The Washington Examiner also contextualizes the subpoenas within a pattern of media-related lawsuits brought by Trump, including a $15 billion defamation suit against the New York Times and a $10 billion suit against the BBC.

All four articles agree on the core facts: the March 4 subpoena date, the February 23 article subject matter, the Dow Jones response statement, Acting Attorney General Blanche's public statements, and the broader context of the administration's anti-leak campaign. The high overlap on names, dates, and direct quotes gives readers strong grounds to trust the shared facts above. The score falls short of 100% mainly because some details — such as the Eastern District of Virginia conducting multiple parallel investigations — came only from sourced reporting in the right-leaning GV Wire article (originating from the New York Times), and could not be independently confirmed across all four outlets.

Left-leaning:

— LEFT-1: The Washington Post | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/12/justice-dept-subpoenas-wall-street-journal-escalating-investigations-into-media-leaks/

— LEFT-2: The Hill | https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5873861-wall-street-journal-subpoena/

Right-leaning:

— RIGHT-1: Washington Examiner | https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4564497/doj-subpoena-wall-street-journal-leak-classified-material/

— RIGHT-2: GV Wire (via The New York Times) | https://gvwire.com/2026/05/12/justice-department-subpoenas-wall-street-journal-in-leak-investigation/

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to resign on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, as calls for his departure intensified from within his own Labour Party following heavy losses in local elections held on May 8. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, Starmer said: "The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered. The country expects us to get on with governing."

The immediate cause of the pressure was the local election results, in which Labour lost more than 1,100 seats it had previously held across English councils. The right-wing populist Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, gained more than 1,400 seats. The Green Party gained more than 300 seats and the Liberal Democrats more than 150. The Conservative Party lost over 500 seats. In Wales, the pro-independence Plaid Cymru party won the most seats, ending Labour's long dominance there. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party secured a decisive victory.

At least 80 Labour lawmakers have publicly demanded that Starmer resign or set a timetable for his departure. Under Labour party rules, 81 members of Parliament — a fifth of the party's House of Commons contingent — must publicly back a single challenger to trigger a formal leadership contest. As of Tuesday, no candidate had issued a formal challenge.

Two junior ministers resigned on Tuesday. Miatta Fahnbulleh, minister of housing, communities and local government, was the first to step down, urging Starmer "to do the right thing for the country." Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, followed, writing in her resignation letter: "I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter." Health Secretary Wes Streeting, widely named as a potential successor, was expected to meet Starmer on Wednesday. Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is also frequently named as a possible contender but is not currently a member of Parliament. Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who left the cabinet last year over an unpaid tax bill, is also considered a potential candidate.

Starmer's political difficulties have been compounded by controversy over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.K. ambassador to Washington. Mandelson has ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Washington Examiner reported that Mandelson was subsequently fired. Starmer's leadership has also drawn scrutiny over the state of the British economy and rising government borrowing costs.

The left argues that the Labour crisis reflects broader structural shifts in U.K. politics rather than solely Starmer's personal failings, noting that the party is being squeezed simultaneously from the right by Reform UK and from the left by the Green Party, and that this fragmentation represents a historic breakdown of the traditional two-party system. Left-leaning sources also gave significant attention to the antisemitism surge that the government declared a "national emergency," framing it as a distinct policy challenge separate from the leadership question. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy's warning that the party's "navel-gazing" primarily benefits Nigel Farage received prominent coverage.

The right argues that Starmer's troubles are a direct consequence of his leadership failures, particularly on immigration policy, his poor personal relationship with President Donald Trump, and his refusal to allow U.S. warplanes to use British bases during the war against Iran — which Trump publicly criticized, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with." Right-leaning sources also highlighted that at least four Cabinet members, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, want Starmer gone, and gave prominent placement to a YouGov poll finding that approximately half of Britons believe Starmer should step down.

All four sources confirmed the same core facts: the May 8 election results, Starmer's refusal to resign, the resignation of Phillips and Fahnbulleh, the leadership threshold rules, the names of potential successors, and the Mandelson-Epstein controversy. Where the sources diverged, it was primarily in emphasis and framing rather than in direct factual contradiction. The score is held below 80% because the right-leaning sources introduced specific claims — the YouGov poll figure, the count of four Cabinet members seeking Starmer's resignation, and the Trump-Starmer tension over Iran bases — that were not confirmed in the left-leaning sources, and because the Examiner's assertion that Mandelson was fired was not matched by the other outlets. Readers can treat the shared facts above with reasonable confidence; the single-source claims deserve more caution.

Left-leaning:

— LEFT-1: PBS NewsHour (Associated Press) | https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-k-prime-minister-starmer-defiant-as-calls-for-his-resignation-grow

— LEFT-2: NPR | https://www.npr.org/2026/05/10/nx-s1-5817491/uk-elections-keir-starmer-resign-reform-green

Right-leaning:

— RIGHT-1: Fox News | https://www.foxnews.com/world/starmer-brink-uk-pm-fights-survival-party-takes-beating-local-elections

— RIGHT-2: Washington Examiner | https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4564219/starmer-resists-calls-resign-labour-party-lose-local-elections/