Independent News Drop

KELI From Inkwell, this is the Independent News Drop. It's Friday, May eighth. The time is four p.m. Central. I'm Keli, joined by Hast.

HAST Good to be here. We're following five stories this hour, starting with an update out of the Mediterranean.

KELI Greek authorities are continuing their investigation into an unmanned naval drone that washed up in the Ionian Sea earlier this week. The device was carrying what officials describe as explosives. Greek media outlets are reporting that the drone could be of Ukrainian origin or linked to the broader Russia-Ukraine conflict, though no formal attribution has been made yet. This is the second day of coverage on this story, and investigators say they're working to determine its source and how it ended up in Greek waters.

HAST In Washington, a federal appeals court appeared skeptical today of an argument from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding military retirees and their right to speak publicly. Hegseth has contended that retired military officers, including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, should be restricted from making statements he considers prejudicial to military order and discipline. The D.C. Circuit judges questioned whether the defense secretary has the authority to punish speech on those grounds. This case involves the scope of military authority over retired servicemembers' First Amendment rights, and it's a continuing story we've been tracking.

KELI One more on this. Hast, the temptation here is to read this story a certain way. What should listeners watch for?

HAST Right. The simple read is going to be that this is about free speech versus military discipline. The structural reality is that the outcome determines whether executive branch officials can unilaterally define which speech by citizens—even retired ones—constitutes operational harm. One fact: Kelly's statements were about military policy, not classified information. Watch for whether the court asks Hegseth's lawyers how that standard would apply to any retired officer who publicly disagrees with Pentagon decisions. If the court issues an injunction blocking enforcement, the simple read holds. If it doesn't, we're looking at a narrower ruling on standing or jurisdiction.

KELI So the mechanism here is the breadth of what counts as punishable speech.

HAST Exactly. Moving on. Costa Rica has a new president as of today. Laura Fernandez was sworn in this morning, entering office with her right-wing party holding an absolute majority in the legislature. That gives her significant room to advance her agenda without needing coalition partners or making major concessions to the opposition.

KELI In the Middle East, U.S. forces opened fire on Iranian oil tankers overnight in the Strait of Hormuz after what the Pentagon describes as an exchange of fire with Iranian forces. The incident happened amid broader tensions over shipping in the region. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported a separate Iranian missile and drone attack. There's considerable volatility around Hormuz right now.

HAST And Spain is preparing to receive a cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands. More than 140 passengers and crew are on board, and the vessel has been dealing with a hantavirus outbreak. Spanish authorities are readying evacuation protocols as the ship approaches port. Hantavirus is rare in cruise ship settings, so this is something health officials are watching closely.

KELI On this day in 1978, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, a feat many said was physiologically impossible.

HAST That's the Independent News Drop. We'll be back next hour. From Inkwell.