Mysterious Scientist Deaths, Hunter Biden In Hiding, Gabbard on Impeachment | 4/17/26 FIRST LOOK

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1:17Good morning, everybody. It's Friday, April 17, 2026. and this is First Look. We've got a packed and pretty wild show for you this morning. Here's what we're tracking. The White House now investigating a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances involving U.S. scientists tied to nuclear and space programs. New bombshell claims from Tulsi Gabbard alleging Trump's 2019 impeachment was built on a manufactured narrative. And later, Hunter Biden's financial situation under scrutiny, as reports claim he's hiding out in California while claiming to be broke and living abroad. Let's get into it. We start with a story that the White House itself is calling pretty serious stuff.

2:06The Trump administration is now looking into a series of disappearances and deaths involving U.S. scientists and government employees, many of whom had access to highly classified nuclear and space programs. President Trump was asked about it directly and said, I hope it's random, but we're going to know in the next week and a half. Pretty serious stuff. So what's raising eyebrows here is not just the number of cases, but who these people were. Over the past two years, multiple individuals connected to sensitive national security work have either disappeared or died under unusual circumstances.

2:44Take Neil McCasland, a retired Air Force major general who led major research labs tied to space and defense. He vanished in February, leaving behind his phone, glasses, and devices at home. But his boots, wallet, and even a firearm were missing. Then there's Monica Jacinto Reza, a NASA-linked aerospace engineer working on advanced rocket materials. She disappeared while hiking in California, literally vanished within moments while walking behind a friend on a well-traveled trail. Stephen Garcia, a contractor tied to the U.S. nuclear weapons infrastructure, also disappeared, leaving behind his phone, wallet, car, and keys.

3:30Authorities initially suggested mental health concerns, but others pushed back, saying he was stable. And it doesn't stop there. Melissa Casillas, who had security clearance at Los Alamos, vanished. Her phones were found wiped clean. Anthony Chavez, another Los Alamos veteran, disappeared from his home with no signs of struggle. Jason Thomas, a biotech executive, was later found dead after going missing, though officials say no foul play is suspected. Then you have outright killings. Carl Grillmair, a NASA-affiliated astrophysicist, was shot and killed outside his home, with a suspect later arrested.

4:11Nuno Leraro, a leading MIT physicist working on fusion energy, was killed in connection to a broader attack tied to a former acquaintance. And even in cases without clear causes, like longtime NASA engineer Frank Maywald, questions remain. Now, to be clear, experts say there's no confirmed connection between these cases. A Harvard physicist even cautioned against jumping to conclusions, saying these scientists worked in very different fields, and there's no evidence of a coordinated effort. But still, when you have multiple individuals tied to highly sensitive programs disappearing, dying, or being targeted, it's enough for the White House to take a closer look.

4:56Now to a major political development and a claim that could reopen one of the biggest stories from Trump's first term. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says the 2019 impeachment of Donald Trump was based on a manufactured conspiracy. This week Gabbard released documents suggesting that the process that led to impeachment was flawed from the very beginning, and she's now referred the matter to the Justice Department for further investigation. At the center of this is the whistleblower complaint that triggered the impeachment. That complaint alleged Trump pressured Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden's family and threatened to withhold military aid.

5:38But according to Gabbard, there's a major issue. The whistleblower did not have firsthand knowledge of the call. And yet the intelligence community inspector general at the time, Michael Atkinson, still deemed the complaint credible and urgent. Gabbard says he never even sought a transcript of the call to verify the claims. Instead, she says, he relied on a small group of sources, many of whom were already known to oppose Trump, before passing the complaint along to Congress. Her conclusion? That the process was essentially rubber-stamped and that the inspector general failed in his duty to properly vet the claims.

6:17She called it part of what she described as the deep state rot within the intelligence community. Now, it's important to remember how this played out. Trump was impeached by the House in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but was later acquitted by the Senate in early 2020. At the time, Trump maintained he did nothing wrong. Now, years later, Gabbard is saying the entire process may have been built on a fundamentally flawed foundation. And with the case now referred to the Justice Department, this story may not be over. And finally, a story involving the former first son that's raising eyebrows.

6:58New reports claim Hunter Biden is currently hiding out at a luxury estate in California, while telling creditors he's broke and living abroad. According to sources, Hunter has been staying at an 8 ,000 acre estate in Santa Ynez, about two hours north of Los Angeles. At the same time, his lawyer has claimed in court filings that he's living in South Africa and has no money to pay his debts. Sources are calling that story a ruse. And the debts are substantial, between 15 and 17 million dollars owed to a major DC law firm. More than$5 million owed to his longtime associate, Kevin Morris, and about$1 million owed to his former art dealer.

7:42So we're talking over$20 million total. Now the legal fight is heating up. That D.C. law firm is demanding access to Hunter's communications with friends and political donors, trying to recover what they say they're owed. Meanwhile, questions are swirling about his finances. Despite claims of being broke, he was recently spotted at a high-end Easter gathering at the estate of a wealthy entrepreneur alongside members of the Biden family. And there's more. His Malibu rental home was damaged in wildfires and is reportedly unlivable, adding to the confusion about where he's actually residing. There are also reports he may be joining a traveling event circuit, even appearing at something called a Channel 5 carnival and talent show.

8:30And then there's his artwork. Once sold for high prices, largely based on his name recognition, some gallery insiders now say the value has dropped significantly. One dealer said bluntly, the appeal was tied to his position as the president's son, not the art itself. This means Hunter has no buyers, no easy cashflow, and no more safety net. He isn't just in trouble, he's completely screwed. That's your first look for this Friday, the stories you need to know as you start your day. We'll keep tracking all of this and bring you more as it develops. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your morning with First Look.

9:11We'll see you next time.

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