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 U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has disrupted crude markets. The increase outpaced the price spikes seen after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The EIA now projects April’s average price could near $4.30 per gallon, with a yearly average of $3.70.
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...
U.S. Intelligence Saw No Change in Iran’s Missile Capabilities Before War
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA chief John Ratcliffe testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that Iran remains years away from fielding intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, directly contradicting a key Trump‑administration justification for...
In Tense Meeting, Dr. Oz Pressed Medical Societies on Trans Care for Teens
CMS head Mehmet Oz convened leaders of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Society of Plastic Surgeons for a closed‑door meeting on transgender medical care for adolescents. While the AMA and APA reaffirmed support for hormone therapy,...
In Iraq, the U.S. Tried to Bring Allies on Board. Not in Iran.
The 2003 Iraq invasion, though lacking UN approval, was framed as a collective NATO effort, with the Bush administration actively consulting allies, shaping public opinion, and securing congressional backing. In contrast, President Trump’s unilateral push toward war with Iran has...
The $500 Million Mystery Will, Signed by Ghosts
A seven‑page priority‑mail document arrived at a Reno law firm claiming to be the long‑missing last will of Tony Hsieh, the former Zappos CEO. Hsieh died in 2020 without a known will, meaning his $500 million estate would default to his...
State Department Cuts Price of Renouncing U.S. Citizenship to $450
The U.S. State Department announced a dramatic cut to the fee for renouncing citizenship, lowering it from $2,350 to $450 effective April 13, 2026. The reduction restores the 2010 fee level after a decade of criticism and lawsuits over the...
Trump and Rubio’s Vision of War: The Art of Destroy and Deal
President Donald Trump, once a self‑declared war‑payer, has pivoted to a hawkish stance under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio now directs aggressive campaigns targeting Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and other authoritarian regimes, blending Trump’s transactional style with neoconservative tactics. An...
Trump’s War Alliance With Israel Is Reshaping the Middle East. But It Carries Risks.
President Trump has become the first U.S. leader to commit the United States to a full‑scale joint war with Israel, deploying coordinated air operations and shared intelligence. The partnership creates a combined force with unprecedented technological firepower, marking a stark...
U.S. Trade Deficit Falls in January
The U.S. trade deficit shrank to $54.5 billion in January, a 25 percent drop from December. Exports rose 5.5 percent to $302.1 billion, driven by gold, computers and other precious metals, while imports slipped 0.7 percent to $356.6 billion. The narrowing gap appears amid a tariff...
The $11 Billion Cost for One Week of War, and a New ‘Millionaires’ Tax’
Pentagon officials disclosed that the first six days of the Iraq war have already cost more than $11.3 billion, driven largely by high‑priced munitions. The conflict has pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel, even after a coalition released record...
A Call for Reporting Tips Rankles Pentagon Officials
The Pentagon’s October‑2025 media policy classifies journalist solicitations as potential security risks, allowing the department to label reporters as "security risks" and revoke press credentials. A recent dispute arose when The Washington Post added a tip‑box on its site inviting...
Judge Is Skeptical of Penn’s Argument Against Trump Demand for List of Jews
A federal judge in Philadelphia appeared receptive to the Trump administration’s EEOC subpoena demanding the University of Pennsylvania provide names of its Jewish faculty and staff for an antisemitism investigation. The university has refused, labeling the request unconstitutional and unsettling...
How Long Will the Iran War Last? Trump Offers Conflicting Answers.
President Trump’s remarks on the newly launched U.S.-Israel war against Iran have been contradictory. He initially told the press the campaign would last four to five weeks, but subsequent statements have hinted at an open‑ended timeline until Tehran’s unconditional surrender....
San Francisco Bay Area Residents Weigh Possibility of BART Reductions
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) faces a funding crisis as ridership remains under half of pre‑pandemic levels, prompting officials to seek a new sales‑tax measure on the November ballot. Without the tax, the board warned it could implement drastic service...
Judge Halts Trump Administration Move to Restrict Immigration Appeals
A federal judge, Randolph D. Moss, issued an injunction halting the Trump administration's proposed rule that would automatically dismiss immigration appeals unless the Board of Immigration Appeals voted to reconsider within ten days. The court found the administration violated the...
The Bank Trump Is Relying On for Rare-Earth Minerals
The U.S. Export‑Import Bank has approved a historic $10 billion loan to fund Project Vault, a government‑backed effort to stockpile critical rare‑earth minerals. The initiative, complemented by $2 billion in private‑sector capital, seeks to diversify supply chains and curb dependence on China’s...
New Lawsuit Challenges Rubio’s Threats Against Foreign Tech Regulators
A lawsuit filed Monday challenges a State Department policy that barred visas for foreign experts who advocate stronger social‑media regulation. The policy, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, denied entry to five European scholars last year, labeling their work...