THE BEGINNING OF THE END: British Cabinet Ministers Turn on Starmer Over His Mishandling of the Mandelson Vetting Crisis
April 23, 2026
PM Starmer in the House of Commons – Wiki Commons
Starmer’s premiership is all but over.
The stain of a Jeffrey Epstein association is nearly impossible to wash away, and in the case of former British ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, the disgraceful status is even transferable to third parties, like Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer insisted on appointing Mandelson to the ambassadorship, even after he flunked the vetting process.
With the release by the US DOJ of the ‘Epstein files’, Mandelson fell in flames, was even arrested, and is now under investigation over suspicion of gross misconduct in public office.
As for Starmer, he is devoting all his energy – Britain be damned – to maintain his grip on power.
Starmer ignored cabinet secretary warnings and skipped security clearance for Peter Mandelson before ramming him through as US ambassador.
“Senior government sources told The Telegraph that the ‘wheels have stopped turning’ in No 10 and ‘there is a sense that it’s over now’.
A minister who has publicly supported Sir Keir said their colleagues were ‘furious’ about the Mandelson saga and the open briefing war between Downing Street and the Foreign Office.
Several of Sir Keir’s ministers, including Ms. Reeves, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting and David Lammy, accused the Prime Minister of creating a ‘them and us’ split between ministers and officials in Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.”
Keir Starmer has now sacked everyone involved in Mandelson’s appointment – Chris Wormald, Morgan McSweeney, Olly Robbins.
But Starmer was ultimately the one who approved it. He’s got no one left to sack. It’s time for him to take responsibility. He should go. https://t.co/KDLG1wHaMI
Labour MPs are now skeptical over whether Starmer can survive the expected defeat in next month’s local elections, in which they are expected to lose hundreds of council seats in England and control of the Parliament in Wales.
“A senior government source said: ‘The wheels have stopped turning. The question is no longer whether things can go on. It’s a question of when people move’. They said the two names under discussion to replace Sir Keir were ‘always Wes [Streeting] and [Angela Rayner]”, but there was debate about ‘who would move first’, adding: ‘There is a sense that it’s over now’.”
BREAKINGKeir Starmer messaged Lord Mandelson the night before US ambassador announcement to say he was ‘looking forward to working together’https://t.co/KSpENK33yY
Federal Government Accepts Complaint Against Connecticut’s DCF — On the Eve of Thursday’s Floor Debate
April 23, 2026
BREAKING: Federal Government Accepts Complaint Against Connecticut’s DCF — On the Eve of Thursday’s Floor Debate Republished with permission from AbleChild On Thursday, Connecticut lawmakers take to the House floor … Read more
WATCH: Steve Hilton NUKES Katie Porter During California Gubernatorial Debate with a Brilliant One-Liner After Hearing the Grade She Would Give Gavin Newsom On Homelessness
April 23, 2026
Steve Hilton, second from left, buries Katie Porter, far right, after hearing the grade she would give Gavin Newsom on homelessness. Credit: Fox 40 Sacramento screenshot
California GOP Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton had a shining moment during last night’s debate when notorious Democrat and law professor Katie Porter decided to go soft on failed Governor Gavin Newsom.
As The Los Angeles Times reported, two Republicans and four Democrats faced off in a feisty debate Wednesday night in the People’s Republic of San Francisco.
The debate quickly turned personal with candidates on both sides attacking each other on wealth, experience, and race. Then, it took a big turn when the moderator asked each candidate the grade they would give Newsom for his work on homelessness.
As TGP readers know, California has the worst homelessness and affordability crisis in America, thanks to oppressive regulations and insane taxes. Things have continued to worsen under Newsom despite his promises to build more homes.
But Porter, who claims to be a tough grader, told the moderator she would give Newsom a ‘B’ for his work on homelessness. She said that the problem is simply not easy to solve, and Newsom deserves “credit” for pointing out the issue.
Upon hearing this, Hilton nuked Porter for giving Newsom a good grade. He told her he would love to be in her class if you can get a ‘B’ for bombing so badly on the job.
Maybe Porter is not such a tough professor after all.
WATCH:
Democrat Katie Porter told the debate moderator she’s a “notoriously tough grader” — then proceeded to give Gavin Newsom a ‘B’ on homelessness.
Republican Steve Hilton could not believe what he just heard and he ROASTED her on the spot.
MODERATOR: What grade would you give him on homelessness? And what, if anything, would you do differently?
PORTER: I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give a him a ‘B’ on homelessness. I don’t think this has been an easy problem to solve, but I do give him a lot of credit for calling attention to the problem.
When he campaigned 8 years ago, he was talking about housing when nobody else was.
HILTON: I’d love to be in your class, Katie, if you get a ‘B’ for what Gavin Newsom’s done on homelessness!
29-Year-Old NASA Nuclear Propulsion Engineer Who Was Reported Missing Found Dead in Burned-Out Tesla Wreck
April 23, 2026
(Joshua LeBlanc/LinkedIn)
Another death is resurfacing amid renewed attention in what is becoming an alarming and disturbing pattern of “accidental” deaths involving America’s top nuclear and aerospace scientists.
A 29-year-old NASA engineer specializing in nuclear propulsion technology was found burned beyond recognition inside his charred Tesla after a fiery single-vehicle crash in rural Alabama last July.
According to Fox News, Joshua LeBlanc was a rising star at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, the heart of America’s space and defense rocket programs.
He specialized in nuclear propulsion technology, serving as team lead for NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) Instrumentation and Control maturation and later on the high-stakes Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) project, a nuclear thermal propulsion engine designed to revolutionize travel to Mars and beyond.
LeBlanc’s Tesla Model 3 was discovered burned beyond recognition around 2:45 p.m. on July 22, 2025, after veering off the road, slamming into a guardrail and several trees on Hill Road near Drummond Switch Cut Off Road in Walker County, about two hours from his Huntsville home.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency confirmed the vehicle erupted in flames, leaving little for investigators to work with.
But here’s where the story gets even more troubling, and raises serious red flags about potential foul play or a major cover-up.
LeBlanc’s family reported him missing at 4:32 a.m. that same day after he uncharacteristically failed to show up for work.
His blue 2021 Tesla Model 3 had been tracked sitting for four hours at Huntsville International Airport, just minutes from his apartment, before it headed out on rural backroads. His last known communication was early that morning. The body inside the vehicle was so badly burned that identification had to be confirmed through forensic sciences.
The family of Joshua LeBlanc, a New Iberia native and NASA electrical engineer, is searching for answers after his car was found abandoned and burned beyond recognition two hours away from his home in Huntsville, Alabama.
LeBlanc, 29, was reported missing earlier this week after he failed to show up for work Tuesday morning. According to family members, his last communication came at 4:32 a.m. that day.
[…]
By 2 p.m. Tuesday, the vehicle was discovered in Florence, Alabama, crashed and destroyed. A body was found inside, but according to family members, it was burned beyond recognition.
What has concerned his family even more are the details left behind. LeBlanc’s phone, wallet, and even his dog were still at his apartment. Family members said the unexpected detour and lack of communication do not match any of Joshua’s plans for the day.
Now, they fear he may have been abducted from his home.
LeBlanc joins the growing list of U.S. scientists involved in nuclear, aerospace, or defense research who have died or vanished under suspicious circumstances since 2022. Multiple victims had ties to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Others worked in plasma research, advanced propulsion, and high-security defense projects.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has publicly called the pattern “sinister.” Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) stated he “would not be surprised” if foreign adversaries like China, Russia, or Iran are actively targeting America’s top scientific talent.
The FBI is now leading a coordinated probe with the Departments of Energy and Defense.
In an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Patel revealed that President Trump was recently briefed on the cases and that the FBI is now centralizing the investigations across multiple jurisdictions to identify patterns, connections to classified material, and possible involvement by foreign actors.
“These missing and killed scientists and former professional members of the Department of Energy vary in a wide range, and we’re working most importantly with our state and local partners who have jurisdiction on each of these cases, whether they be a homicide or a missing person’s case; they have the evidence,” Patel stated.
Patel continued, “What we’re going to do is collectively pull it all into one place. We started this process last week, and then we’re going to look for connections, on whether there are connections to classified access, access to classified information, and or foreign actors, and then we will produce that information to the White House and the world because it’s of such great public importance. And if there are any connections that lead to nefarious conduct or conspiracy, the FBI will make the appropriate arrest.”
China’s Inability to Attract Foreign Students, Tourists, and Investment: A Steady Decline
April 23, 2026
Foreign national arrivals in China are down by about half from their pre-COVID peak. 来斤小仓鼠吧, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Since Xi Jinping came to power in November 2012, China has promoted itself as a destination for foreign tourists and international students. After peaking around 2018–2019, both categories have trended steadily downward and have not recovered to pre-COVID levels.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims 132 million inbound tourists in 2024. However, approximately 105 million, roughly 80%, came from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. These are residents of Chinese-administered or Chinese-claimed territories crossing an internal administrative boundary, many doing so multiple times per year for work, family, or shopping.
Stripping those out, China received 32 million genuine international visitors in 2024, a 51% decrease from the 65.7 million recorded in 2019 and a 10% decrease from 2023. Expanding visa-free access to 38 countries has failed to reverse the trend.
By comparison, the US received 72.4 million international visitors in 2024, up 9.1% from 2023 and reaching 91% of 2019 pre-COVID levels, more than double China’s genuine foreign visitor count. International visitors spent $253.9 billion in the US in 2024, approximately 27.5% above 2019 levels, while spending by foreigners in China has been steadily declining.
The decline in foreign students studying in China follows the same trajectory. Enrollment peaked at 492,185 in 2018, roughly double the figure from a decade earlier, with students from 196 countries and regions. By 2022, enrollment had fallen to 292,000. The most current data, published in April 2026 by China’s Ministry of Education, shows 380,000 international students enrolled for the 2024–2025 academic year, 23% below the 2018 peak. Of those, only 205,000 were pursuing degree programs, compared with 258,122 in 2018.
The financial performance of China’s airport stocks and travel retail sector provides a further indicator of the decline in overseas travel. Beijing Capital Airport, which trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has been loss-making for at least five consecutive years. In 2024, operating expenses of $808 million exceeded revenue of $756 million, producing a net loss of $191 million. The stock currently trades around $0.32, with technical signals rated Strong Sell across multiple timeframes.
Hainan Meilan Airport tells a similar story: the stock fell 35.79% over the past year to about $0.80 as of April 2026, while the company carries approximately $575 million in debt against only $6 million in cash and recorded losses of $49 million on revenue of $321 million. China Tourism Group Duty Free, the country’s largest travel retailer, has seen its A-share fall 83% from its February 2021 peak of approximately $55.70 to approximately $9.35. Loss-making airports and collapsed valuations in travel retail reflect investor expectations of a sustained shortfall in both domestic and international travel demand.
China’s internet censorship system, known as the Great Firewall, blocks platforms that form the basic digital infrastructure of daily life for most Western travelers. Platforms unavailable in China include Google services, including Gmail and Google Maps, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. In April 2024, the Cyberspace Administration of China ordered Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese App Store, and as of October 2024, over 16,000 apps were unavailable on Apple’s App Store in China out of 56,400 tested, including hundreds of VPN services.
Foreign news is equally restricted. Blocked outlets include the BBC, Bloomberg, The Economist, The Guardian, Le Monde, NBC, The New York Times, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, among numerous others. CNN International, BBC World Service, and Bloomberg Television are available only in certain diplomatic compounds, hotels, and apartment blocks, subject to blackout during segments authorities deem sensitive. Journalists from Bloomberg and the New York Times have been harassed, threatened, and denied visa renewals.
Foreign visitors can attempt to circumvent internet restrictions using a VPN, but this carries legal ambiguity and practical difficulty. VPN websites are blocked inside China, meaning the software must be downloaded and configured before arrival. Chinese authorities conduct random phone searches and may require visitors to delete VPN apps from their devices. Travelers entering Xinjiang have reported that authorities installed surveillance apps on their phones.
Even with a VPN installed, the government continuously updates its censorship technology to block VPN servers and protocols, meaning reliable access cannot be guaranteed. Cashless payment presents a further barrier. China’s two dominant payment systems, Alipay and WeChat Pay, were historically linked exclusively to Chinese bank accounts, leaving foreign visitors unable to pay at businesses that no longer accept cash. China has taken steps to address this since 2023, but the problem has not been fully resolved.
The decline in foreign residents and business travelers predates COVID and has accelerated since. Beijing’s long-term foreign resident population dropped 40% over the preceding decade, falling from 37,000 to 22,000, while Shanghai saw a 64% decrease in five years, from over 200,000 in 2018 to just 72,000 by 2023. Exit bans have compounded the reluctance of foreign business travelers. The US Department of State warned that the Chinese government arbitrarily enforces local laws, issuing exit bans on US citizens and other foreign nationals without fair or transparent process. Exit bans can arise from civil business disputes rather than criminal or national security matters and are imposed without advance notice. The affected person typically learns of the restriction only when prevented from boarding an international flight.
Apart from the money lost in tourism, foreign direct investment into China has declined for three consecutive years. Net FDI inflows plummeted from a peak of $344 billion in 2021 to $51.3 billion in 2023 and further to just $18.6 billion in 2024, the lowest level in three decades, while the US received $292 billion in FDI that same year, remaining the world’s top investment destination for the thirteenth consecutive year. FDI into China fell a further 9.5% in 2025, following a 24.7% decline in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of contraction. A senior analyst at the International Crisis Group noted that companies from Japan, several of whose citizens have been detained on espionage grounds, have already reduced the number of staff based in China.
The number of foreigners entering, visiting, or living in China has steadily declined and does not appear to be recovering. Meanwhile, Beijing is losing the consumption spending, tuition fees, and foreign investment that they used to bring with them.
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Starmer ignored cabinet secretary warnings and skipped security clearance for Peter Mandelson before ramming him through as US ambassador.
