Former President Barack Obama is facing backlash for celebrating Virginia’s redistricting plan that looks an awful lot like gerrymandering. Despite being told how terrible the gerrymandering of districts is when it benefits the Republican Party, it seems that the Democrats have no problem with it when it works out in their favor. Obama took to social media Tuesday night to celebrate the state’s passage of a plan that will give the Democratic Party all but one of its 11 districts. Look: Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 22, 2026 “Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back,” he wrote. For reference, the current breakdown gives the state a 6-5 split that narrowly favors the Dems. It seems that was too risky for the party, which opted for a map that makes it 10-1. Republicans argued against the narrative that the people of Virginia support this: Every time a democrat says they’re “fighting for democracy” it really means that as soon as they take power again they’ll do everything they can to attack, imprison and permanently silence their opposition. And they do. Meanwhile Republicans play to lose. https://t.co/snpoiHRkhF — Savanah Hernandez (@Savsays) April 22, 2026 You’re an unconscionable liar, Obama. You just disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of voters. Disgusting. https://t.co/lbrYEWkbTh — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) April 22, 2026 “Congratulations, Virginia, you just disenfranchised virtually every Republican at the congressional level—democracy!” https://t.co/FC98aCo8GZ — Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 22, 2026

Futures Rise After Trump Extends Ceasefire Even As Brent Tops $100 Futures are higher with earnings in full swing and AI winners soaring. Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran just before its Taco Tuesday expiration, while maintaining a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, after plans for peace talks fell apart. Still, the market doesn’t seem too concerned about the lack of a resolution, and is instead focused on a Tasnim report that Iran had received “some signs” the US was ready to break the blockade. As of 8:00am, S&P futures were up 0.6%, rebounding from two days of declines; Nasdaq futures gained 0.7% with all Mag 7 names trading higher in the premarket. The VIX traded around 19. Overnight, Brent briefly climbed above $100 a barrel as talks earmarked for Islamabad failed to take place, leaving the Strait of Hormuz mostly shut. Tensions escalated as Iranian tankers tested a US blockade and the UK Maritime Trade Operations said two ships came under fire. Treasuries rose across the curve, with the 10-year yield dropping two basis points to 4.27%. The dollar eased 0.1%, while Bitcoin headed for the highest level since February and gold/silver rebounding from yesterday’s weakness. There is nothing on the macro calendar but we will have another busy day with earnings: TSLA is expected to report after market-close today. In premarket trading, Mag 7 stocks are again all higher (AMZN +1%, META +0.7%, MSFT +0.7%, GOOGL +0.7%, TSLA +0.6%, AAPL +0.4%, NVDA +0.6%) Cryptocurrency-linked stocks rally alongside Bitcoin and risk assets more broadly. Adobe Inc. (ADBE) rises 2% after saying it will buy back as much as $25 billion of its stock. Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) gains 2% after boosting its adjusted earnings per share forecast for the full year. ASM International (ASM) NV hit a high in Amsterdam on strong orders for the

Psychedelic Stocks Just Went Mainstream Submitted by QTR’s Fringe Finance Donald Trump just did something that would have sounded borderline impossible a couple of years ago: he signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research and access to psychedelic therapies, backing it with $50 million in federal funding and directing regulators to remove barriers that have long kept this entire category stuck on the sidelines. This has been a key prediction in my thesis for psychedelic stocks that I’ve laid out over time. First, in January 2025, calling the psychedelic names “stocks to watch” for the year. Then, in July 2025, urging patience in these positions: Being Early—And Patient—In Psychedelics Then again naming psychedelic names to my “stocks to watch” for 2026 and even going so far as to name the sector my “best idea” for 2026: My “Best Idea” Sector For 2026 Today I’ll discuss what, for me, remains the most prudent way to get and keep long-term exposure to the sector, and where I think things go after this morning’s rally. Trump’s administration framed the move as part of a broader attempt to confront the mental health crisis, particularly among veterans, while signaling that agencies like the FDA should dramatically speed up review timelines for promising treatments. The focus, at least initially, includes ibogaine, a compound with a controversial safety profile but growing interest for its potential in treating addiction and trauma. Alongside him were figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Joe Rogan, both of whom have been outspoken advocates for these therapies, underscoring how quickly this conversation has moved from the fringe into the mainstream. There are still real concerns from scientists about safety, trial rigor, and whether the process could move too fast, but the direction is unmistakable: the federal government is no longer ignoring psychedelics, it is actively engaging with them.