Keeping up with the news these days can feel a bit like drinking from a fire hose.

One of the latest examples involves testimony before the House Oversight Committee concerning Jeffrey Epstein — and whether President Trump ever had financial interactions with him.

Richard Kahn, one of Epstein’s executors, was recently brought in behind closed doors to testify before the committee. According to Committee Chairman James Comer, Kahn stated he was unaware of any payments made to Trump or his family. That’s significant because critics have repeatedly tried to link Trump to Epstein.

Kahn was the fifth witness questioned on the matter. Democrats appear determined to keep digging until they strike something — anything — connecting Trump to Epstein, while managing to get little else accomplished, like passing a budget.

Remember Tiffany Henyard, the former Democrat mayor of Dolton, Illinois, once dubbed “America’s worst mayor”? That’s quite a title considering the competition in nearby Chicago.

She has now resurfaced as a Republican candidate running for office in Georgia after relocating there. Georgia voters would do well by becoming familiar with her history before heading to the polls.

Last week a federal appeals court granted the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court order blocking deportations of illegal immigrants to third countries.

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden appointee, had ruled the process violated due process protections, arguing that individuals should only be deported to the country they originally came from — even if they entered the United States illegally.

So let’s get this straight. A sitting president cannot deport individuals who entered the country illegally because one unelected federal judge says the process violates their rights. Wait -someone here illegally has rights?

Who could have seen this coming?

Wealthy individuals and major corporations are leaving high-tax “blue states” for lower-tax “red states.”

Exxon Mobil left New Jersey for Texas. Public Storage, Yamaha, Chevron, PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX relocated from California to Texas. Starbucks is shifting from Washington to Tennessee. Hedge-fund giant Citadel left Illinois for Florida. Even Playboy moved from California to Florida. Hugh must be rolling over in his grave.

Billionaires are doing the same.

Howard Schultz (Starbucks) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) moved from Washington to Florida. Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Elon Musk (Tesla), and Sergey Brin (Google) all left California.

Blue states floating “exit taxes” can’t be far behind.

CNN recently reported that the Arizona State Senate complied with a federal subpoena regarding its review of the 2020 presidential election in Maricopa County. The review verified that Biden won the state.

The CNN reporter also wrote that Trump had “baselessly claimed” the election was stolen from him.

Baselessly? That’s quite a word choice for someone claiming to practice objective journalism.

Much of the debate has centered on Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, an ally of the late Senator John McCain. Johnnie Mac famously voted against repealing parts of Obamacare in a dramatic Senate vote, sauntering onto the floor and turning his thumb downward.

After the 2020 election, Bowers refused requests to overturn or decertify Arizona’s electoral results.

All of which felt like grandstanding — more about personal politics than policy. I live and vote in Maricopa County. Many here remain convinced that the Arizona election was manipulated.

Did anyone watch the Oscars this year?

Me neither…again.

But then I read this: some nominees receive “swag bags” reportedly valued at around $350,000.

Among the items included this year:

• Access to a $9 million luxury villa in Costa Rica

• A luxury Arctic villa stay in Finland to view the northern lights
• A seven-day wellness retreat in Southern California
• A ten-day retreat at a Sri Lankan resort
• A Danucera Sculpt & Lift facial treatment
• A skincare set from Instytutum
• Liposuction
• Teeth whitening
• A $25,000 facial rejuvenation procedure
• Custom residential interior design services
• A complimentary prenuptial agreement from a divorce attorney
• Dark chocolate pretzels topped with edible gold crystals
• A luxury cannabis gift set
• “Body-supportive” underwear
• A gold-plated cryptocurrency wallet

Suppose I could slip a few copies of my novels into those swag baskets next year?

Finally, did you know there was technically a fifth member of the rock band The Who — at least for one night?

During a 1973 concert in San Francisco, drummer Keith Moon collapsed onstage after ingesting horse tranquilizers. The band suddenly needed a drummer.

Nineteen-year-old Scot Halpin climbed onto the stage and finished the concert with the band. He was promised $1,000 for the experience but reportedly never received it.

Not quite rock-and-roll fame — but still less bizarre than politics.