Trump’s Portrayal of the War in Iran Collides With Reality
President Trump is framing the ongoing Iran war as a finished "regime change" victory, claiming the new leadership is "pretty reasonable." Analysts, however, argue that the conflict has actually bolstered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and left the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, largely unseen, indicating continuity rather than reform. Trade through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, and Iran’s nuclear stance has not softened. Trump’s narrative clashes with on‑the‑ground realities, raising questions about U.S. credibility.
Prosecutors Make Surprise Visit to Fed as Pirro Defends Investigation
The Justice Department, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, conducted an unannounced inspection of the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion renovation site, intensifying a criminal probe into Chair Jerome Powell. The probe coincides with President Trump’s campaign to replace Powell, naming Kevin...
Rubio Hosts Israel and Lebanon for Rare Meeting Shadowed by U.S.-Iran War
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted a rare in‑person meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials at the State Department on April 14, 2026. The two sides discussed a shared objective of disarming Hezbollah, though no concrete agreements were reached and Israel...
Israel and Lebanon Talk, but Fighting Continues
Israeli and Lebanese officials held their first direct talks in decades, agreeing to continue negotiations aimed at ending hostilities with Hezbollah. Despite the diplomatic overture, both sides launched strikes, highlighting Lebanon's limited control over the Iran‑backed militia. The broader Middle...
Israelis Don’t Feel Much Like Victors in War With Iran
The 40‑day conflict between Israel and Iran, alongside ongoing fighting with Hezbollah, ended without achieving the strategic goals set by Israeli leaders. While senior Iranian officials and military targets were eliminated, Tehran’s regime remains intact, its nuclear program only delayed,...
Mamdani Plans to Open First City-Owned Grocery Store in East Harlem
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that New York City will build a city‑owned grocery store at La Marqueta in East Harlem, allocating roughly $30 million for the project. The store is the first of a promised network of five public supermarkets—one in...
What Now? Vance Leaves Iran Talks Without a Deal.
Vice President JD Vance ended a 21‑hour negotiation with Iran without securing a nuclear agreement, leaving the Trump administration without a clear path forward. The White House now confronts two stark choices: resume protracted talks or restart military strikes that...
Navy Warships Cross Strait of Hormuz to Clear Mines, U.S. Says
U.S. Navy destroyers entered the Strait of Hormuz, destroyed an Iranian surveillance drone, and began a mine‑clearing operation. The maneuver coincided with high‑level U.S.–Iran negotiations on an extended cease‑fire. Officials say the action demonstrates the waterway can be safely transited...
Judges Fired After Blocking Deportations of Pro-Palestinian Students
The Justice Department dismissed two immigration judges, Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, after they ruled against high‑profile deportation cases involving pro‑Palestinian students Rumeysa Ozturk and Mohsen Mahdawi. The firings, part of a broader purge of dozens of judges, underscore the...
U.S. Intelligence Shows China Taking a More Active Role in Iran War
U.S. intelligence agencies say China may have shipped shoulder‑fired MANPADS missiles to Iran and is allowing firms to export chemicals, fuel and components usable in weapons production. While the shipment has not been definitively confirmed and no evidence shows the...
USPS Is Running Out of Money. Here’s How It Could Affect Your Mail.
The United States Postal Service announced a 5% increase in stamp prices and a temporary halt to payments to a government retirement fund as it faces a looming cash shortfall. Postmaster General David Steiner warned that without drastic action the...
How Lu Xun, a Famous Chinese Writer, Became a Cute Communist Mascot
China’s most celebrated modern writer Lu Xun, once a fierce critic of tradition and imperialism, is being recast in his hometown Shaoxing as a friendly Communist mascot. Plastic souvenir magnets, cartoon murals and other merch depict him in a softened, approachable...
Why Opening the Strait of Hormuz Won’t Immediately Lower Gas Prices
The New York Times explains that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, gasoline prices will not fall right away. While the waterway carries roughly 20% of global oil shipments, damage to dozens of Gulf refineries, pipelines and export terminals...
Iran War Drives Deeper Oil Shock Than Prices Reveal
The Iran‑Israel conflict has pushed the physical spot price of crude to a record $145 a barrel, more than double the level before the Feb. 28 attacks, while the widely quoted Brent futures linger around $109. The widening gap between futures...
Why Investing in Wind and Solar to Avoid Gas Shocks Hasn’t Added Up for Some
Europe’s aggressive rollout of wind and solar has not uniformly shielded countries from soaring gas‑driven electricity prices. Germany now boasts more renewable capacity than Spain, yet its wholesale power costs still surge when natural‑gas prices spike. By contrast, Spain’s electricity...
‘I’m Fed Up.’ Frustrated With Trump, Starmer Embraces Other Allies.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pivoting away from a strained U.S. relationship, intensifying ties with European allies and Gulf states. After a fragile cease‑fire in the Iran conflict, he embarked on a three‑day tour of Saudi Arabia, the United...
A Record Jump in U.S. Gasoline Prices Is Squeezing Consumers
U.S. regular gasoline prices jumped 25% from February to March, reaching $3.64 per gallon, the steepest monthly percentage gain since the Energy Information Administration began tracking data in 1990. The surge is linked to heightened geopolitical risk from the ongoing...
A ‘Messy’ Cease-Fire, and a 15-Year Sentence for the ‘Ketamine Queen’
The United States and Iran entered a tentative cease‑fire after Israeli strikes in Lebanon sparked a volatile standoff, leaving Iranian civilians grappling with uncertainty and economic strain. In a separate high‑profile case, a dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen” received...
Clean Energy Team Wins Salt River Project Election in Arizona
A slate of liberal candidates running as the Clean Energy Team secured an eight‑to‑six majority on the board of Arizona’s Salt River Project, the state’s largest public utility. The victory, driven by support from the Sierra Club and actress Jane Fonda,...
Artemis II Astronauts Get a Break After Journey Around the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II mission, aboard the Orion capsule dubbed Integrity, has left lunar orbit and is now on the homeward leg, traveling at roughly 1,475 mph and currently 223,429 mi from Earth. The four‑person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut...
Trump Backs Down, but Questions Remain Over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
President Trump escalated rhetoric on April 7, demanding Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, then backed down after a Pakistani‑mediated cease‑fire halted hostilities. The temporary truce restored oil, fertilizer and helium flows, calming markets that feared a global recession. However,...
Iran War Timeline: Key Moments and Attacks In U.S. and Israel’s Campaign
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and causing a disastrous mis‑targeted attack on a girls’ elementary school that killed at least 175 children. Iran responded with missile...
DOJ’s Civil Rights Division Investigates Cassidy Hutchinson, Who Testified Against Trump
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, accused of lying to the Jan. 6 congressional committee. The probe was triggered by a referral from a Trump‑aligned congressperson and represents an atypical...
Why Trees Are Key to Russia’s Spring Offensive in Ukraine
Russia is launching a spring offensive in Ukraine, banking on fresh foliage to mask infantry from pervasive drone surveillance. Legacy Soviet windbreaks now serve as tactical corridors, allowing Russian troops to move in small groups under tree cover. Ukrainian forces...
Want to Change? Maybe Stop Trying So Hard.
In a guest essay, Benoit Denizet‑Lewis argues that the booming self‑improvement industry overstates personal willpower, suggesting that lasting change depends more on interpersonal dynamics and mystery than relentless self‑optimization. Drawing on decades of therapy, addiction treatment, and observations of wellness...
Are These Crumbling New York City Housing Projects Worth Saving?
New York City plans a $1.2 billion demolition and reconstruction of the Fulton and Elliott‑Chelsea public housing complexes, replacing 17 aging brick buildings with six new high‑rise towers. The proposal adds nine mixed‑income structures that would contain roughly 1,000 affordable units...
Missing Airman Raises Concerns That Iran Could Gain Leverage Over the U.S.
On April 4, 2026 a U.S. fighter jet was downed over Iranian territory, leaving one crew member missing. American forces launched a two‑day search while Iran’s military and state media also pursued the airman, even offering a public reward. The incident revives...
Rival Nations Seize On Choke Points to Counter Trump
President Trump’s confrontational trade and military policies have prompted rival nations to exploit strategic choke points, threatening U.S. economic stability. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted shipments that carry about 20% of the world’s oil, driving up...
Who Is Todd Blanche, Trump’s Acting Attorney General?
Todd Blanche, longtime Trump defense lawyer, has been appointed acting attorney general after President Trump abruptly dismissed Pam Bondi. Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general, overseeing day‑to‑day Justice Department operations following Trump’s re‑election. He defended Trump in three of...
C.D.C. Pauses Testing for Rabies and Pox Viruses
The CDC announced it is temporarily suspending testing for rabies and pox viruses, including smallpox and mpox. The pause stems from a severe staffing shortage, with the rabies team reduced to a single expert and the pox‑virus team slated to...
Trump Administration Scales Back Plan to Dismantle Consumer Protection Bureau
The Trump administration has filed a court request to dismiss over half of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s remaining staff, scaling back from earlier plans to cut 90% and shut down the agency. Acting director Russell Vought, who halted most...
Tech Bros Hacked Their Diets. Now You May Be Doing It, Too.
The New York Times notes that biohacking has shifted from a niche hobby of wealthy tech insiders to a mainstream DIY wellness movement. Americans are now using affordable diet hacks—such as superfood supplements, glucose monitors, and bullet‑proof coffee—to experiment with...
They’ve Been Accused of Running a ‘Covert’ Operation in Greenland. It’s No Secret.
Denmark’s intelligence service accused three Trump‑linked Americans of running covert influence operations in Greenland, prompting Copenhagen to summon the senior U.S. diplomat in protest. The two most likely subjects, former Green Beret Drew Horn and Arctic adviser Thomas Dans, denied...
New U.S. Missile Hit Iranian Sports Hall and School, Analysis Shows
On Feb. 28, the Pentagon deployed a newly developed Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) in an attack near Lamerd, Iran, striking a sports hall and adjacent elementary school. Visual evidence examined by The New York Times and weapons experts shows the missile detonated above...
A Toothless Iran? Missile and Drone Strikes Show It Can Still Inflict Pain.
Iran has conducted a series of missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, striking a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia, a port in Oman, Kuwait International Airport, and an aluminum plant in Abu Dhabi. The assaults injured dozens...
A Downturn in Las Vegas Could Signal Tough Times for the Nation
Las Vegas is experiencing a noticeable dip in overall visitor traffic, even as high‑roller and VIP activity stays robust. Casinos have shuttered card rooms, and restaurants are cutting hours to cope with reduced discretionary spending. The slowdown is linked to...
Cannonball with Wesley Morris: ‘Love Story’ Is Actually a Horror Story
Ryan Murphy’s new series “Love Story” reframes the 1990s romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette as a psychological horror tale. In a conversation on “Cannonball,” Wesley Morris and NYT culture editor Sasha Weiss dissect how the show humanizes the tabloid couple, explores...
D.H.S. Funding Lapse Leads to Longest Partial Shutdown in History
A budget impasse that began in February has escalated into the longest partial shutdown in U.S. history, leaving the Department of Homeland Security without funding for over a month. The shutdown, which targets only agencies caught in the funding dispute,...
G.O.P. Senator Weighs Forcing Congress to Vote to Authorize the Iran War
Senate Republican Lisa Murkowski is drafting a formal authorization for the use of military force (FOUA) against Iran, aiming to compel Congress to vote on the war. The move reflects growing GOP frustration with the Trump administration’s secrecy over objectives,...
Asia Is Getting Crushed Between Oil Prices and the Dollar
Asian economies from India to South Korea are feeling a double squeeze as oil prices spike and the U.S. dollar reaches its strongest level against regional currencies in two decades. The war in the Middle East has choked the Strait...
Iran’s Attacks Force U.S. Troops to Work Remotely
Following a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks on U.S. installations across the Middle East, the Pentagon has ordered thousands of American service members to abandon their bases and operate from makeshift locations such as hotels and office spaces....
Minnesota Prosecutors Sue to Access Evidence in Shootings by Agents During Immigration Crackdown
Minnesota prosecutors filed a lawsuit demanding access to evidence from three ICE shootings that occurred during an immigration‑enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis this year. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot while protesting, and a Venezuelan man...
Covid Relief Loans Are Haunting Small Businesses
The federal Covid‑relief program offered 30‑year, low‑interest loans that many small businesses, like Georgia blueberry farmer Chris Towns, accepted to stay afloat. Towns borrowed $125,000 initially and later $495,000, but soaring labor, fertilizer costs and severe weather have left him...
Trump’s Threat to ‘Obliterate’ Iran’s Power Stations Could Constitute a War Crime, Rights Experts Say
President Trump warned he would "obliterate" Iran's power stations within 48 hours unless the Strait of Hormuz was fully opened, extending the deadline to Friday. Human‑rights experts say deliberately targeting civilian energy infrastructure could constitute a war crime under international...
Saudi Leader Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been urging President Trump to keep the United States engaged in a military campaign against Iran, describing the conflict as a historic opportunity to reshape the Middle East. In recent calls, MBS argued that...
College Graduates Are Facing the Grimmest Job Market in Years
College graduates are confronting the toughest spring job market since the pandemic, with the unemployment rate for 22‑to‑27‑year‑olds climbing to 5.6%, above the overall 4.2% rate. More than 40% of employed graduates now hold positions that do not require a...
A Deadly Collision at LaGuardia Airport, and Trump Postpones Strait of Hormuz Deadline
An Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots. The crash forced an immediate shutdown of all flights at the busy New York hub while emergency crews worked to secure...
When Voters Worry About ‘Affordability,’ Many Point to Health Care
Voters who cite affordability as their top worry are overwhelmingly pointing to health‑care costs, according to recent polling. The trend has prompted Democrats to reframe their health‑care narrative around price rather than access, using the issue to energize their base....
Trump Is Finally Eyeing an Exit From Iran. But Will He Take It?
President Trump signaled a possible wind‑down of U.S. military operations against Iran, yet many of his original war aims remain unmet. He publicly claimed the U.S. is “obliterating” Iran’s missile and defense capabilities while simultaneously posting that the mission is...
Internet Blackout Keeps Iranians From Reaching Loved Ones During Nowruz Holiday
Iran’s government has imposed a nationwide internet blackout that began three weeks ago, coinciding with the Nowruz holiday. The shutdown blocks social media, messaging apps, VPNs and satellite connections, leaving over 90 million citizens unable to communicate with family. Travel restrictions...