Wednesday Afternoon Updates: Fake Deals, Rigged Markets, and a Convenient FBI Raid — 5/6/26

Hi all, Ben here. It’s Wednesday. A lot happening today, so let’s get into it.

Here are the stories we’re tracking:

• The Axios Iran “deal” report that Iran immediately called fake — and the $920 million in oil shorts placed 70 minutes before it published

• Trump threatening Iran with escalated bombing in the same breath he’s claiming to want peace

• The FBI raiding Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas’s office — with Fox “News” conveniently already on scene

• Howard Lutnick getting grilled behind closed doors over his Epstein ties

• The FBI opening a leak probe over an article critical of Kash Patel

• A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship raising alarm at the WHO

• The death of CNN founder Ted Turner at 87

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers for helping to grow this platform. If you’re already a Meidas+ paid Substack subscriber, thank you. If not, consider stepping up now and join us today to support our unapologetic reporting.

Now let’s get into all the details.