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Tulsi Gabbard Steps Down From DNI Role

Tulsi Gabbard is leaving the top of the U.S. intelligence apparatus, driven out not by politics but by a diagnosis. Her husband Abraham has been found to have an extremely rare form of bone cancer, and Gabbard told President Trump on Friday, in person at the Oval Office, that she cannot keep the job. Her last day is June 30, Fox News Digital reported.

“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she said, adding that she was “deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half.”

You can read more on the matter here.

What’s going on?

• Turkey Tightens Institutional Grip After Court Rules Erdogan Opposition Removal (theDeepDive)

• China’s Foreign Minister to visit Canada for the first time in 10 years (Globe)

• Wealthsimple’s USD Account Puts Pressure On Canadian Banks And Their Fees (theDeepDive)

• U.S. Warns of Growing Russian and Chinese Spying in Cuba (WSJ)

• CRTC Triples Streaming Levy to 15%, Targeting $2B a Year for Canadian Content (theDeepDive)

• WHO Raises DRC Ebola Outbreak Risk To “Very High”, Cases “Spreading Rapidly” (theDeepDive)

• NATO will spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defense, says Rutte, as Trump pledges 5,000 American troops to top spender Poland (CNBC)

• Fourteen Liberal MPs Warned Carney the Alberta Pipeline Deal Threatens Party Credibility (theDeepDive)

• Donald Trump lashes out at Republicans who oppose his ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund (FT)

• Smith Moves Alberta Toward Vote On Separation Process (theDeepDive)

What’s the latest?

• Trump President Donald Trump said he will skip the wedding of his son Donald Trump Jr. and socialite Bettina Anderson this weekend in the Bahamas due to ongoing tensions involving Iran and other government matters. Trump said he wanted to attend but felt it was important to remain at the White House during a critical period. Reports say the couple already legally married in Florida on Thursday ahead of the private ceremony.

• Real Estate: Slate Grocery REIT has formed a special committee to review strategic options after receiving an unsolicited proposal from affiliates of its external manager, Slate Asset Management. The committee will explore alternatives that could include maintaining the current structure or potentially selling the entire company. Management says the REIT’s real estate portfolio may be undervalued by public markets, though no deal or transaction is guaranteed at this stage.

• Politics: The U.S. says it suspended planned defence talks with Canada because of concerns that Ottawa is not moving fast enough to become a more credible military partner. Pentagon officials pointed to Canada’s delayed F-35 fighter jet review and the need to raise defence spending toward 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Prime Minister Mark Carney downplayed the move, saying Canada and the U.S. still maintain close defence cooperation through NORAD and other joint operations.

• Economy: Canada’s retail sales rose 0.9% in March, but economists say the increase was mostly driven by higher gasoline prices rather than stronger consumer spending. After adjusting for inflation, sales volumes actually fell, while core retail categories like food, clothing, and personal care showed weakness. Economists warn that persistently high oil prices tied to the Iran war could further squeeze households, keep inflation elevated, and complicate future Bank of Canada rate decisions.

• Markets: U.S. stocks moved higher Friday, putting the S&P 500 on track for an eighth straight winning week despite consumer sentiment falling to a record low. Strong corporate earnings from companies like Ross Stores, Zoom, and Workday continued to support the market, even as households worry about rising inflation and high oil prices linked to the Iran war. Investors remain cautious as higher bond yields and persistent inflation fears could keep the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates this year.

Why Copper Needs a Much Higher Price to Fix the Supply Problem

The stock market and stuff

• Former Samsung Semiconductor Chief Says China Could Break the DRAM Price Surge (theDeepDive)

• Why Starbucks Is Pulling Out Its Inventory AI (theDeepDive)

• Reddit stock drops almost 6% after Meta launches standalone app for online forums (CNBC)

• US Consumer Sentiment Hits All-Time Low as Iran War Drives Gas Prices Higher (theDeepDive)

In the juniors

• Great Pacific Gold Provides Wild Dog Project Exploration Update (JMN)

• Questcorp Wraps Expanded Drone Survey at La Union as Summer Drilling Approaches (theDeepDive)

• Scorpio Gold Drills 2.68 g/t Gold over 11.34 Metres from Surface Along the Zanzibar Trend, at Manhattan, Nevada (JMN)

FULL DISCLOSURE: Emerita Resources is a client of Canacom Group, the parent company of The Deep Dive. Canacom Group is currently long the equity of Emerita Resources. The author has been compensated to cover Emerita Resources on The Deep Dive, with The Deep Dive having full editorial control. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security.