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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday granted its first authorization for fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes aimed at adult smokers, signaling a notable change in federal policy following sustained lobbying from the vaping industry directed at President Donald Trump.

The move is expected to draw strong criticism from public health advocates and parent groups, who have long argued that flavored products fuel underage vaping. The decision comes, however, as teen vaping has fallen to its lowest level in a decade and as manufacturers have pressed the Republican administration to ease restrictions.

Companies in the vaping sector have consistently argued that e-cigarettes can reduce the harms of traditional smoking among adults, which is linked to roughly 480,000 deaths annually in the United States from cancer, lung disease, and heart disease. Although these battery-powered devices have been sold since 2007, their reputation has been overshadowed by widespread use among middle and high school students.

The newly authorized products include flavors such as mango, blueberry, and two menthol options. Glas Inc., a vaping company based in Los Angeles, said it plans to sell them under the names Gold, Sapphire, Classic Menthol, and Fresh Menthol, according to the FDA announcement.

Until now, the FDA had limited approvals to tobacco- and menthol-flavored vaping products. Most authorized e-cigarettes have come from major companies, including Juul and Altria.

Officials emphasized that Tuesday’s action does not constitute an endorsement of vaping products. The agency reiterated that the Glas devices are intended solely for adults seeking to quit or reduce cigarette use.

The FDA pointed to the company’s digital safeguards, saying they reduce the likelihood of underage access. Users must verify their age using a government-issued ID on a smartphone, and the devices can only function when connected via Bluetooth to that verified phone.

The agency’s decision is likely to serve as an important precedent, according to anti-tobacco advocates. “a key test case,” said Kathy Crosby of the Truth Initiative.

“Ultimately, it’s critical that we remain vigilant in protecting young people, including closely monitoring the use of authorized products,” Crosby said in an emailed statement.

During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to “save” vaping and received support from e-cigarette companies, retailers, and users.

Under President Joe Biden, the FDA rejected more than one million applications for flavored vaping products, particularly those resembling candy or fruit, as part of a broader crackdown credited with reducing youth vaping following its surge in 2019. During his first term, Trump imposed initial restrictions on flavored e-cigarettes and raised the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

In recent months, vaping and tobacco policy have not been at the forefront of the agency’s agenda under FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who has instead focused on other issues, including COVID-19 vaccine policies, eliminating artificial food dyes, and accelerating approval of certain new medications.

Industry groups, including the Vapor Technology Association, have recently met with administration officials to push for expanded approval of flavored products.

In March, the FDA issued its first formal guidance on flavors, indicating that options such as menthol, coffee, mint, and spice may have a role in attracting adult smokers. At the same time, the agency reiterated concerns about sweeter flavors—such as fruit, candy, and dessert—that tend to appeal to younger users.

Despite regulatory efforts, most American teenagers who vape continue to use unauthorized fruit- and candy-flavored products, according to government data. Although these items are technically illegal, they remain widely accessible, often sold as inexpensive disposable products imported from China.

The United States has surpassed Saudi Arabia as the world’s leading exporter of crude oil over the past nine weeks, driven by disruptions to Middle Eastern shipments caused by Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a report by Bloomberg News, the U.S. delivered more than 250 million barrels of crude oil to international buyers during that period, drawing from both production sites and storage reserves, effectively serving as a “lifeline for global consumers.”

At the same time, the report warned that “record American exports also come with warnings that this supply cushion is rapidly being pushed to its limits.”

“Many energy experts are questioning how long shipments can be sustained at such levels. US domestic inventories are quickly depleting, with total oil and fuel stockpiles drawing down for four straight weeks to below historical averages. Meanwhile, America’s oil producers are struggling to keep up,” Bloomberg said.

The sharp increase in exports has also contributed to higher gasoline prices across the United States, creating a potential political challenge for President Donald Trump, who has highlighted the country’s export strength as “amazing” and beneficial to the economy.

“We have more oil production right now than at any time in history. And if you take a look at the ships, they’re all coming up to Texas, Louisiana, Alaska,” Trump gushed on Friday.

The administration has also drawn attention to gasoline prices, recalling the spike to $5.00 per gallon following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With current prices averaging about $4.40 per gallon, the direction of fuel costs—and whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens—could influence the outcome of the November midterm elections.

Over the longer term, shifting demand patterns—particularly from traditional Middle Eastern buyers such as Japan and Southeast Asia—could work in America’s favor, provided U.S. producers can meet those needs. Analysts cited by Bloomberg noted that some Asian buyers may be nearing the end of their stockpiles, potentially fueling a surge in demand that could prove difficult to satisfy given current U.S. supply constraints.

Domestic oil production is already operating close to its maximum capacity, though experts differ on where that ceiling lies. Since the onset of the Hormuz crisis, U.S. reserves have declined by roughly 52 million barrels, reducing available supply should demand spike further. Some analysts have also cautioned that logistical systems—such as pipelines and port facilities—may face strain before production levels themselves reach their limit.

Bloomberg noted that the surge in American exports during March and April was made possible by the widespread adoption of fracking and the shale oil boom, which ultimately led to the lifting of export restrictions in 2015 and positioned the U.S. as a dominant player in global energy markets. This transformation has also expanded Washington’s foreign policy options, reducing reliance on overseas oil sources.

Trump expressed confidence that the U.S. energy sector can continue meeting international demand without significantly raising prices at home.

“Everybody was wrong. They thought that energy would be at $300, right? Three hundred dollars a barrel. And it’s, like, at $100, and I think it’s going down,” he said Monday at a White House small business summit.

“I see it going down very substantially when this is over,” he continued. “I think very rapidly too at levels that you’ve never seen, because there’s there’s a lot of energy out there. Ships all over the world that are loaded up with it. They can’t do much with it because they got kidnapped by a pretty evil place, but we’re taking care of it.”

However, the New York Times reported that fewer U.S. drilling rigs are currently in operation compared to the start of the conflict with Iran, and Energy Department forecasts suggest that total domestic production in 2026 may fall below 2025 levels. Much of the industry’s long-term investment planning predates the current crisis.

Oil executives are reportedly wary of rapidly expanding production capacity, fearing that if tensions ease and Middle Eastern supplies return to the market, prices could drop sharply, leaving them with costly overproduction.

For this reason, major firms such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron have held back on expanding output, citing both market caution and concerns about their assets in the Middle East. Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner described this approach as the “discipline” needed to play the market over the long term.

By contrast, ConocoPhillips has moved forward with increased production plans for the remainder of 2026, including the addition of a new drilling rig in the Permian Basin spanning Texas and New Mexico.

{Matzav.com}

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on Israel to immediately free activists detained during last week’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, sharply criticizing the Israeli government’s actions.

Da Silva focused his remarks on the continued detention of Thiago Avila, a Brazilian citizen who participated in the flotilla effort to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. He used social media to condemn the situation, describing the detention as a violation of accepted international standards.

“Maintaining the imprisonment of Brazilian citizen Thiago Avila, a member of the ‘Global Sumud’ flotilla, is an unjustifiable action by the Israeli government,” he wrote.

Israeli naval forces stopped the flotilla last Wednesday after it set sail from multiple countries, including Turkey, Spain, and Italy. The effort involved more than 100 boats and roughly 1,000 participants, who said they intended to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The interception took place near the Greek island of Crete, about 600 miles from Gaza’s shoreline. Israeli officials said that, as in previous flotilla incidents, the vessels were not carrying “humanitarian aid” as organizers had claimed.

Da Silva argued that the circumstances surrounding the interception elevate the issue to one of international concern.

“The situation causes great concern and should be condemned by all,” the President wrote, asserting that stopping the flotilla in international waters constituted a breach of international law.

His demand followed a similar appeal from Spain, which has also called for the release of one of its citizens, Saif Abu Keshek, who was detained during the operation. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has stated that both Abu Keshek and Avila are affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, an organization sanctioned by the United States due to alleged ties to Hamas. The detainees are expected to remain in Israel at least until May 10.

Referencing Spain’s position, da Silva emphasized a joint stance between the two countries.

“Therefore, our government, along with that of Spain, which also had a citizen detained, demands that they receive full security guarantees and be immediately released,” he wrote.

Da Silva’s remarks reflect a broader pattern of criticism toward Israel, standing in contrast to his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, who maintained strong support for the Israeli government. Last August, Israel’s Foreign Ministry declared da Silva persona non grata following repeated criticisms.

Tensions escalated further in 2024 when da Silva drew a comparison between Israel’s actions in Gaza and those of Nazi Germany during World War II.

“What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not war. This is genocide. It is not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It is a war between a trained military against women and children. What is happening in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian people has not happened at almost any other time in history. In fact, it only happened once; when Hitler decided to kill the Jews,” the Brazilian President charged.

Following those remarks, Brazil’s ambassador to Israel was summoned by Israeli officials for a reprimand, and da Silva was formally labeled persona non grata.

In response, da Silva later announced that Brazil would recall its ambassador from Israel and summon Israel’s ambassador in Brazil for its own reprimand.

Despite the diplomatic fallout, da Silva reiterated his stance, writing on X, “What the Israeli government is doing is not war, it is genocide. Children and women are being murdered.”

{Matzav.com}

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With the Memorial Day weekend approaching and the busy summer driving season about to begin, rising gasoline prices are emerging as a potential political challenge for President Donald Trump and Republicans heading into the November midterm elections. Analysts warn that unless tensions in the Middle East ease, fuel prices in the U.S. could climb to record levels.

According to GasBuddy, the national average price for gasoline reached $4.52 per gallon as of Tuesday evening. Prices first crossed the $4 mark in late March, a level not seen since August 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Prices vary significantly by region, with California posting the highest statewide average at $6.14 per gallon, GasBuddy reported.

The spike in gasoline prices has followed a sharp rise in crude oil markets, driven largely by concerns over disruptions in the Persian Gulf. The global Brent crude benchmark has increased by 58% since the conflict began.

“The Strait of Hormuz shutdown continues to slowly push oil and gasoline prices higher, but we’ve also seen refining issues that have enhanced some of those increases,” GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said.

Additional supply pressures emerged last week when BP’s refinery in Whiting, Indiana—capable of processing 440,000 barrels per day—temporarily shut down part of its operations due to a power outage. The company later confirmed that operations had resumed.

“If the Strait ⁠of Hormuz does not open, I would expect that gas prices this summer would ⁠probably stay above $4.50 a gallon,” De Haan said.

Before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passed daily through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy markets.

Morgan Stanley analysts noted that U.S. gasoline inventories are being depleted more quickly than usual for this time of year. Their projections suggest stockpiles could drop below 200 million barrels by late August, approaching historically low summer levels.

Government data showed that U.S. gasoline inventories declined by more than 6 million barrels last week, bringing total stocks to 222.3 million barrels as of April 24—the lowest level since December and more than 2 million barrels below the five-year seasonal average. Meanwhile, demand averaged 8.95 million barrels over four weeks, reflecting a 1% increase compared to the same period last year.

Morgan Stanley added that consumer demand has remained steady even with prices above $4 per gallon. “It is not driving the draws but it’s also not soft enough to slow the supply-driven stock draws.”

U.S. gasoline futures were trading at approximately $3.64 per gallon.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has privately acknowledged to close associates that the country’s economy is on the brink of total collapse, warning that even if international sanctions are lifted, billions of dollars in American assistance would still be required to stabilize the nation, according to a report aired Tuesday evening.

The remarks, reported by Channel 14, reveal a far more dire reality behind the scenes in Tehran than what is publicly presented. Pezeshkian, who is associated with Iran’s reformist camp, reportedly expressed deep concern about the country’s future, stating that key systems have already broken down and that rebuilding them would be extremely difficult even under improved conditions.

“Without American assistance – we will not recover”

According to the report, the Iranian president told those close to him that the only viable path out of the severe economic crisis is reaching a political agreement that would allow for active financial support from the United States. Without such aid, Pezeshkian warned, Iran will be unable to recover from the economic damage it has suffered in recent years.

His comments come amid growing internal tensions within Iran’s leadership. Senior figures in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and hardline factions are reportedly pushing for increased military escalation against Western and regional powers. At the same time, Pezeshkian and his allies have attempted to restrain such moves, fearing the economic and international consequences. These divisions have become more visible in connection with recent attacks in the United Arab Emirates, where competing approaches within the leadership have come to the surface.

Deepening Rift in Iran’s Leadership

The president appears to recognize the severity of the country’s economic situation and is signaling that without a significant shift in foreign policy and improved relations with the West, Iran will struggle to survive economically in the long term. The country has been grappling for an extended period with soaring inflation, high unemployment, and a sharp decline in the value of its currency, all of which have fueled social unrest and protests nationwide.

Reports from Iran International indicate that Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are working together in an effort to remove Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from his position. The two accuse Araghchi of acting as a subordinate to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi and of taking direct instructions from him regarding negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, bypassing the authority of the president.

U.S. Sanctions Taking a Heavy Toll

The American sanctions campaign appears to be having a significant impact. According to reports, Iran has been forced to return aging oil tankers—some decades old—to active service in order to cope with a growing storage crisis. One tanker, 29 years old and long inactive, has reportedly been redeployed near Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub.

President Donald Trump described Iran’s economic condition in stark terms: “The naval blockade, to a certain extent, is more effective than the bombings. The Iranians are choking – like a fat pig. And it’s going to get worse for them.”

His comments come as the United States and Israel continue close security coordination regarding potential actions against Iran.

President Calls for Immediate Energy Cuts

Amid the worsening economic situation, Pezeshkian has also issued an unusual direct appeal to the Iranian public, urging citizens to immediately reduce electricity and energy consumption. While officials have publicly claimed there is no current shortage in Tehran, the president indicated that the country’s infrastructure is under deliberate attack by the United States and Israel.

Pezeshkian’s statements suggest that even at the highest levels of Iran’s leadership, there is a growing recognition that the situation has reached a critical point, and that without major external intervention, the country lacks the economic tools necessary to halt its continued decline.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police have recommended that prosecutors file serious homicide charges against the driver accused of fatally striking 14-year-old Yosef Eisenthal z”l during a protest in Yerushalayim, according to a report aired Tuesday evening on i24news.

Authorities say the driver, Fakhri Khatib, 49, of East Yerushalayim, should be charged with causing death intentionally or through extreme indifference, one of the most severe categories of homicide offenses under Israeli law.

The recommendation was submitted to the Yerushalayim District Attorney’s Office following the conclusion of a months-long investigation that included witness testimonies, video footage, and forensic evidence. Prosecutors will now review the material before deciding whether to file an indictment. Additional offenses attributed to the driver include assault causing injury and reckless driving.

Newly released footage from the moments leading up to the incident sheds light on the chaotic scene prior to the fatal collision. The video shows Yosef Eisenthal standing near the bus while several youths gather around it. One teenager is seen climbing onto the bus and spitting toward the driver, while another pulls at the windshield wipers. Others can be heard calling to take a fire extinguisher. In the background, rhythmic chants and a countdown are audible, after which the driver appears to accelerate into the crowd, striking Yosef as he clung to the front of the vehicle.

Another teenager was injured by a lift at the rear door of the bus that had been left open, and three additional pedestrians, all around 15 years old, sustained light injuries. Yosef reportedly held onto the front of the bus in an attempt to find a moment to jump to safety, but the driver continued traveling at high speed along Shamgar Street for several hundred meters. At one point, the boy lost his grip, fell, and was run over beneath the bus.

The fatal incident occurred in June during a protest against the draft of yeshiva students. Yosef, a resident of the Ramot neighborhood, had latched onto the bus as it passed through demonstrators and was killed in the ensuing events. The driver was arrested at the scene and claimed during questioning that he had been attacked by rioters and accelerated in response. Reports also indicate that he had contacted police shortly before the incident, stating that he was under attack and felt threatened.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is now using artificial intelligence to identify and stop potential acts of violence, including planned school shootings, as part of a wider push to modernize federal law enforcement operations.

“AI was never used at the FBI till we got there,” Patel said. “I’m using it everywhere.”

Speaking Monday in an interview on Sean Hannity’s podcast, Patel explained that the FBI has incorporated AI into its investigative systems to handle the large volume of tips it receives each week. He described the move as a major shift from how the agency previously operated.

Patel said the technology has already played a role in preventing several potential attacks, including a suspected school shooting plot in North Carolina and another planned incident in New York.

In those cases, he said, incoming tips were quickly processed with the help of AI tools, enabling agents to identify credible threats and respond without delay.

He added that the bureau has been working more closely with private technology companies, noting that some of the intelligence used in these efforts has come from firms developing AI systems.

The comments come as the FBI seeks to improve its public standing after years of political criticism and declining trust.

During the Biden administration, the agency faced scrutiny from Republican lawmakers and others over its handling of politically sensitive cases, as well as accusations of bias.

Now operating under leadership aligned with President Donald Trump, the bureau is emphasizing technological advances and successful prevention efforts as part of a broader attempt to restore public confidence.

Officials say the growing reliance on AI-based threat detection is intended to position the FBI as more proactive, efficient, and responsive in addressing safety concerns.

While Patel described the technology as a significant step forward in preventing violence, the expanded use of AI in law enforcement is expected to face continued scrutiny from civil liberties groups concerned about surveillance, data privacy, and the risk of bias in automated systems.

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{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that the “Operation Epic Fury” phase of the confrontation with Iran has concluded, marking a transition to a new stage centered on securing shipping routes and assisting stranded civilians.

Speaking during a briefing at the White House, Rubio said the operation achieved its primary objective, explaining that Iran’s capacity “to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear program was wiped out. That is a very substantial achievement and that was the purpose of this operation from day one.”

He added that the initial phase is now complete, stating, “The operation is over. Epic Fury, the president notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it. We are now onto this project of freedom.”

BREAKING: Secretary Marco Rubio STUNS the press pool at the White House by announcing the Operation Epic Fury phase of the Iran conflict is now OVER.

RUBIO: “So their ability to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear program was wiped out.”

“That is a very… pic.twitter.com/6GNDVeBrpo

— Overton (@overton_news) May 5, 2026

Addressing diplomatic efforts, Rubio said any future agreement must go beyond uranium enrichment and deal with remaining nuclear materials. “As far as a negotiation is concerned, I think the president has been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be, not just enrichment but what happens to this material that is very deep somewhere that they still have access to it they ever wanted to dig it out. That has to be addressed and that is being addressed in the negotiation,” Rubio stated.

Rubio also elaborated on “Project Freedom,” a newly launched initiative announced by President Donald Trump aimed at escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and restoring safe passage for commercial traffic.

He described the mission as a humanitarian effort, saying its goal is “to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries that are trapped and left for dead in the Persian Gulf by the Iranian regime.”

Rubio sharply criticized Iran’s actions in the region, calling the blockade of the strait “not just criminal,” but “desperate and destructive,” and describing it as “piracy.”

Highlighting the global implications, he warned that “Nations from around the world, the overwhelming majority of whom are not even engaged in any military hostilities, are now at risk, not just of losing their cargo, but the lives of their own citizens, because of this blockade,” and noted that vessels could soon run out of essential supplies, including food and drinkable water.

Emphasizing the civilian toll, Rubio said, “These are innocent bystanders. These are countries and ships that have nothing to do with any of this, and nonetheless, are being caught in the middle of it and being held hostage, merely because Iran can do it. Just as the regime brutally slaughtered tens of thousands of its own citizens for the crime of peaceful protest.”

He added that ten civilian sailors have already died due to the blockade and related attacks, and said several countries have requested U.S. help in freeing their ships.

Rubio characterized Project Freedom as limited in scope, calling it a “defensive operation” in which American forces would only respond if attacked.

Earlier Tuesday, President Trump issued a warning to Iran, saying it “should wave the white flag of surrender” as U.S. operations continue to weaken its ability to threaten maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who wouldn’t, when your military is totally gone?”

He further claimed Iran’s remaining capabilities are minimal, stating the country has been reduced to using “peashooters.”

Trump also asserted that “nobody’s going to challenge the blockade” of Iranian shipping.

However, he declined to define what actions would constitute a breach of the ceasefire, even after Iran launched cruise missiles and attack drones at the United Arab Emirates.

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy cruised to a decisive win in the Republican primary for Ohio governor, defeating businessman Casey Putsch and advancing to a competitive general election matchup against Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, with early polling suggesting a close contest in November.

Ramaswamy entered the race with significant momentum following his 2024 presidential campaign and quickly established himself as the leading candidate. His campaign was further strengthened by endorsements from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Vance traveled to Ohio on Tuesday to cast his vote for Ramaswamy, offering a final show of support as voters headed to the polls.

Ramaswamy ran on a platform aligned with traditional Republican priorities, focusing on reducing regulations, lowering taxes, and taking a tougher stance on crime.

He also highlighted education as a central issue in his campaign, pledging to strengthen academic standards and improve the performance of public schools across the state.

His opponent in the primary, Casey Putsch, is known as an online provocateur as well as a car designer and engineer, and had criticized Ramaswamy in part over his Hindu faith.

Further down the ballot, Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) advanced without opposition in a special Senate primary and will now face former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in the general election, a race Democrats view as one of their strongest opportunities to gain a seat.

Brown, who led the Democratic field, was challenged in the primary by first-time candidate Ron Kincaid.

Attention now turns to the general election, where both the gubernatorial and Senate races are expected to draw significant financial investment from both parties.

In the governor’s race, recent polling shows Acton mounting a strong challenge against Ramaswamy, with the Republican holding only a narrow advantage—about one percentage point—according to the latest RealClearPolitics average.

Democrats have sought to erode Ramaswamy’s support among Republican voters by highlighting his company’s conduct during the pandemic.

Acton previously served as Ohio’s health director, gaining statewide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic as she worked alongside outgoing Gov. Mike DeWine (R) in shaping the state’s response.

In the Senate race, surveys indicate a tight contest between Husted and Brown, though Husted currently maintains a modest lead of 2.6 percentage points based on the RealClearPolitics aggregate.

Brown was defeated in his 2024 reelection bid by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), marking the end of his tenure as the last Democrat holding statewide office in Ohio at the time.

Democrats are hoping Brown’s previous success in statewide races, combined with expectations of stronger turnout this cycle, could position him for a return to the Senate.

Ohio remains one of several key battlegrounds Democrats are targeting as they look to flip control of the Senate, alongside Maine, North Carolina, and Alaska.

The party is also keeping an eye on longer-shot opportunities in Texas, Iowa, Florida, and Mississippi. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

{Matzav.com}

A group of House Democrats is urging the Trump administration to publicly acknowledge Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons program, a move that would abandon decades of U.S. policy but confirm what has been an open secret among intelligence officials since the late 1960s.

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio obtained by The Washington Post, more than two dozen lawmakers, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro (Texas), say Washington’s silence on the program is indefensible amid the war in Iran and the acute threat of military escalation.

“The risks of miscalculation, escalation, and nuclear use in this environment are not theoretical,” the lawmakers wrote. “Congress has a constitutional responsibility to be fully informed about the nuclear balance in the Middle East, the risk of escalation by any party to this conflict, and the administration’s planning and contingencies for such scenarios.”

“We do not believe we have received that information,” the lawmakers wrote.

The concerns about nuclear escalation are shared by some inside the Trump administration, who say Israel’s red lines may not be adequately understood, said U.S. administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

Israel does not acknowledge its nuclear weapons program – built in secret beginning in the late 1950s – and has no publicly stated doctrine on how it might use such weapons.

The letter is the latest sign of a shift in the Democratic Party’s approach to Israel amid growing frustration over the country’s killing of civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon and its high-profile lobbying in Washington for the war in Iran.

Avner Cohen, a leading historian on Israel’s nuclear program, said the letter breaks a taboo that has endured for more than half a century.

“This is something that people did not dare do before,” said Cohen, a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and author of the book “Israel and the Bomb.”

“Even raising these questions publicly is a departure from a bipartisan norm,” he added.

The origin of U.S.-Israeli silence on the nuclear issue dates back to an informal agreement between President Richard M. Nixon and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in 1969, when Washington effectively accepted Israel’s policy of nuclear ambiguity and agreed to shield it from international scrutiny, Cohen said.

“Israel alone could not have maintained this policy over decades without the United States,” he said.

The letter’s authors argue the policy now undermines U.S. credibility, as Washington seeks to limit the nuclear programs of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates without acknowledging the nuclear weapons program of their neighbor Israel.

“We cannot develop coherent nonproliferation policy for the Middle East … while maintaining a policy of official silence about the nuclear weapons capabilities of one party central to the ongoing conflict,” the lawmakers wrote.

The State Department did not respond to a request for comment on the policy. The Israeli government also did not respond to a request for comment.

Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the nonprofit Arms Control Association, said Israel’s position is “strongly against changing the status quo.”

“Nonrecognition allows the Israeli government to redirect attention at other countries in the region who are pursuing nuclear activities that could lead to nuclear weapons,” he said.

In March, Castro asked the State Department’s top arms control official, Thomas DiNanno, to describe Israel’s nuclear weapons capability during a public hearing and DiNanno declined. “I can’t comment on that specific question,” he said.

Castro, in an interview with The Post, said the United States “shouldn’t refuse to disclose this information about a foreign nation simply out of courtesy when there’s so much at stake for our own service members, our economy and our country.”

U.S. officials speak candidly about the nuclear weapons programs of Britain, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, North Korea and China, and Israel should be no different, Castro said.

The push for transparency by Democrats reflects a deeper soul-searching on Israel that is happening within the party, said Jeremy Shapiro, a former Obama administration official.

Last month, a record 40 Senate Democrats voted to block weapons transfers to Israel. According to the Pew Research Center, 80 percent of Democrats now view Israel unfavorably up from 53 percent in 2022.

“Many, perhaps most Democrats, at this point want to see fundamental changes in the U.S.-Israeli relationship,” Shapiro said. “The first change that these Democrats want to see is for the U.S. to hold Israel to the same standards as other countries on issues such as nuclear weapons.”

The U.S. executive branch under both political parties has maintained the secrecy policy, but there have been recent discussions among Trump administration officials about what might trigger an Israeli nuclear response and concerns that the threshold may be lower than Washington previously assessed, U.S. officials said.

“There is a low boil of unease about Israel’s nuclear program and what could compel them to use nuclear weapons short of facing a WMD attack,” said an administration official.

A scenario gaining fresh scrutiny among U.S. officials involves Israel’s air defenses becoming overwhelmed by missile or rocket fire from its neighbors. Whether Israel would resort to a nuclear response when faced with an unusually high civilian death toll has been discussed “frequently,” said the administration official.

In March, Iranian missiles hit the cities of Dimona and Arad, near Israel’s main nuclear research facilities, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. The Iranian counterattack did not cause a radioactive incident but exposed gaps in Israel’s vaunted air defense system.

The Democrats’ letter to Rubio requests detailed information about Israel’s nuclear program, including the level of its enrichment capabilities, where fissile material is produced and whether Israel has relayed to the U.S. its red lines for using nuclear weapons in the current conflict.

Castro said that he plans to make the Trump administration’s response public when he receives it. If certain answers can be revealed only in a classified setting, he could be amenable to that, the congressman said, but he won’t relent on the fundamental question of whether Israel has a nuclear weapons program.

“That’s not something that should be kept secret to the world,” he said.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · John Hudson 

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States is temporarily halting “Project Freedom” operations in the Strait of Hormuz, citing what he described as meaningful advances toward a potential agreement with Iran, while maintaining the broader naval blockade.

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

The Pentagon has described Project Freedom as a defensive mission designed to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels navigating the narrow and strategically vital waterway in the Persian Gulf.

Trump’s decision came after a noticeable uptick in maritime traffic through the strait, with at least 11 ships successfully passing through within a 24-hour span under the initiative, a significant increase compared to just two vessels the previous day.

Before the suspension was announced, Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the operation as a global service, aimed at assisting sailors who had been stranded due to Iran’s control over the strait.

Rubio said nearly “23,000 civilians from 87 different countries” have been “trapped inside the Gulf, and left for dead in the Persian Gulf by this Iranian regime” since the war broke out on Feb. 28.

He also indicated that the U.S. military campaign against Iran, conducted under Operation Epic Fury, has concluded as attention shifts to maritime security and diplomatic efforts.

“The operation is over,” Rubio said. “We’re done with that stage of it. Okay, we’re now on to this Project Freedom.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Rubio described the diplomatic process with Tehran as slow and cumbersome, pointing to the structure of Iran’s leadership as a major obstacle.

“It’s been challenging to deal with them diplomatically because, for example, an offer will be made and then it takes 5 or 6 days to get a response because you have to get it through the whole system,” Rubio said.

“They have to find the supreme leader wherever he hides. They got to get him to sign off. And that’s their system. Their system has always been multilayered in this way,” he added.

Rubio suggested that while Iran may appear capable of absorbing pressure, there are limits to how much strain it can endure.

He said the regime may seem as though it does “have a high pain threshold,” but emphasized that they “don’t have an unlimited pain threshold.”

Trump has consistently maintained that any agreement with Iran must prevent the regime from continuing to enrich or possess uranium that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

He has also insisted that the United States must be permitted to remove approximately 1,000 pounds of uranium believed to be stored deep underground, following last summer’s Operation Midnight Hammer airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The rodent-borne hantavirus is suspected in an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean in which three passengers have died within three weeks.

The World Health Organization said two cases of hantavirus had been confirmed and that there are five suspected cases. Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the Hondius expedition ship, said one passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and two crew members aboard the vessel have respiratory symptoms.

There are 87 surviving passengers and 61 crew members aboard the vessel, representing almost two dozen countries.

Although hantavirus is normally linked to exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces, in rare cases it can spread between people, as WHO officials believe may have happened in the case of the Hondius. Here’s what to know about the disease.

What happened aboard the ship?
The Hondius, a polar-rated expedition ship, set off from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 for a journey across the South Atlantic, with an itinerary including such remote and ecologically diverse locales as Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and Ascension Island.

Details released by Oceanwide Expeditions and the WHO show an alarming timeline of events beginning about a week later.

The illnesses began April 6, when a Dutch man developed fever, headache and mild diarrhea. He died April 11 after developing respiratory symptoms, but no microbiological tests were performed, the WHO said. His wife, who was experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, accompanied his body as it was brought off the ship on St. Helena, a remote island territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. She was flown to a hospital in Johannesburg, where she died April 26. Her case was confirmed as a hantavirus infection on May 4, the WHO said.

Aboard the ship, a British man reported shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia on April 24, and on April 27 he was medically evacuated from the South Atlantic island of Ascension to South Africa, where hantavirus was identified. That man is in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition, Oceanwide Expeditions said Monday.

On Saturday, a third passenger died, a German national with pneumonia-like symptoms that began April 28. The cause has not been identified.

Of the passengers, 19 are British, 17 are American, 13 are Spanish and eight are Dutch. More than half of the crew members are Filipino nationals.

What is hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illness and death. They are spread mainly by rodents and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is more common in the Western Hemisphere, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which is found mostly in Europe and Asia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both are severe and potentially deadly.

It can be contracted by contact with droppings from infected rodents, commonly through inhalation when entering or cleaning unventilated areas. Person-to-person transmission is rare but has occurred in a species of the virus called the Andes virus that has been found in Argentina, where the cruise began.

In a briefing Tuesday, WHO infectious-disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said authorities believe that the hantavirus aboard the Hondius is the Andes virus and was spread by human-to-human transmission among close contacts. She said WHO’s “working assumption” is that the initial patient and his wife came into contact with the virus before joining the ship in Argentina, noting that “we don’t have a full picture yet.”

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms typically start to show between one and eight weeks after first contact with the virus.

HPS affects the lungs and can cause fatigue, fever and muscle aches initially, followed by coughing and shortness of breath. Once inhaled, the virus can reach the lungs and infect cells that line tiny blood vessels in the lungs, allowing fluid to enter and making it difficult to breathe, according to the American Lung Association.

Thirty-eight percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms die of the disease, according to the CDC.

HFRS is less deadly but still serious. It affects the kidneys and causes headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, nausea and blurred vision. Later symptoms include low blood pleasure, internal bleeding and kidney failure. Fatality rates vary between less than 1 percent and up to 15 percent.

How common is it?
Hantaviruses are found all around the world, but outbreaks are rare. In 1993, a mysterious outbreak of severe respiratory illness originating in the Southwest killed about 30 people. The deaths were the first documented cases in the Americas of hantavirus disease in humans and triggered a public health response that has helped prevent other similarly sized outbreaks to date, The Washington Post reported.

Hantavirus was named as the cause of death for Betsy Arakawa, pianist and wife of actor Gene Hackman, last year.

There were 890 laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases in the United States between 1993, when the CDC began tracking the illness, and the end of 2023. More than 90 percent of those occurred west of the Mississippi River. It is commonly linked to people with occupational exposure, such as those working in construction, pest control, janitorial and agricultural work, the American Lung Association said.

Globally, there may be as many as 150,000 cases of HFRS each year, according to a review by the American Society for Microbiology.

Treatment options are limited, so the best protection against the illness is to avoid contact with rodents and to take care when cleaning their droppings, wearing a well-fitted N95 mask. Health officials also warn against vacuuming or sweeping contaminated areas to avoid releasing particles into the air.

What happens now?
The two symptomatic crew members are being prepared for medical evacuation to the Netherlands for treatment, Van Kerkhove said. Afterward, the ship will continue to the Canary Islands for a full investigation, including an assessment of the risk to the passengers on board. In the meantime, passengers are being told to stay in their cabins, with hygiene protocols in place.

Contact tracing is also being carried out for the passengers of the plane that carried the woman who died in Johannesburg. But Van Kerkhove said WHO assesses the overall risk to the public as low.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Sammy Westfall, Kendra Nichols 

Twenty percent of the world’s oil and gas production remains bottled up behind the Strait of Hormuz. In Asia, schools are closing. In Europe, flights are being canceled. In the United States, the pain is mainly felt at the gas pump.

As of Monday, the national average price hit $4.46, according to AAA, up from less than $3 before the war. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas projects that the cost of a barrel of crude oil could top $167, equivalent to at least $5 per gallon based on historical trends, if the Strait remains closed through September.

That might be conservative. Major banks, including Macquarie, warn that spot prices for crude may peak at $200 per barrel by early summer. Based on past energy shocks, that implies U.S. gas prices could crack $7 a gallon, potentially high enough to trigger a global recession.

“The market is saying that this will solve itself within a month,” said Lars Lysdahl, a partner at the Oslo-based consulting and research firm Rystad Energy, “which I don’t believe.” Even if the Strait reopens tomorrow, oil prices are likely to stay high until next year, perhaps longer. Damaged refineries and other infrastructure will take years to repair.

The middle of a global energy crisis is a good time to ask yourself: Should I break up with the gas pump for good? The surge in oil prices is shifting the math for EVs in ways that may change the next car you buy.

This wouldn’t be the first oil shock to transform personal energy decisions and reorder the global economy. The 1970s oil crisis created an enormous market for more-efficient cars that transformed the auto industry. Between 1975 and 1985, the average fuel economy of a new U.S. vehicle surged from roughly 13 to 21 miles per gallon, according to Environmental Protection Agency data, fueling the rise of Asian automakers that dominate global vehicle sales today.

Could rising gas prices spark a 1970s-era renaissance for ultraefficient vehicles like EVs? If you know where to look. The savings are real, just not evenly distributed.

Here’s how to never think about the Strait of Hormuz at the pump again.

Transition of power
Electric vehicles seem perfectly positioned to seize this moment. EVs have historically saved drivers around 60 percent per mile in fuel costs over gas-powered vehicles, based on U.S. government data from before the Iran war.

If prices reach $5.50 per gallon this summer, the premium is likely to jump to about 74 percent. That’s based on the calculation that every $10 increase in crude oil prices tends to be associated with a 25‑cent-per-gallon hike in U.S. gasoline prices, according to James Hamilton, a professor of economics at the University of California at San Diego. The current crisis could drive even higher increases, since disruptions can increase the premium for finished products such as gasoline.

For the average EV owner, that would be about $1,600 in annual fuel savings compared with a gasoline vehicle, up from about $550 at prices seen early this year, before the start of the war. Those figures are based on the average mileage of a U.S. driver from Kelley Blue Book, national average home electricity prices and fuel-efficiency estimates from the Department of Transportation.

Despite their higher sticker prices, EVs have generally been the smarter financial bet when you factor in fuel and maintenance savings. Federal incentives often closed the purchase price gap entirely. But Congress and the Trump administration eliminated those incentives in September – including the $7,500 new EV tax credit and $4,000 used EV credit – and rolled back the fuel-economy standards and California emissions rules that pushed automakers to expand their EV lineups.

After policy support collapsed, automakers pulled electric models from the market: At least 18 automakers in the U.S. canceled, delayed or scaled back EV plans over the past year. A 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles has kept cheaper options off American roads.

The upshot is that the sticker price of a new EV is now 13 percent more in the U.S. than for a comparable gasoline vehicle. (New owners may still save modestly over the life of a vehicle.) Unsurprisingly, Cox Automotive reported a 25 percent drop in sales of new EVs in March compared with the same month the year before.

Yet things look very different over on the used-car lot.

For buyers of used EVs, the electric future has arrived: Used EV prices now rival those of comparable used gasoline cars – and in recent months have fallen below the average used gas vehicle, according to data from Cox and iSeeCars. (In many other countries, new EVs have already crossed this threshold.)

Most used EVs are low-mileage vehicles, still under warranty and with minimal battery degradation. Recurrent Auto, a battery analytics firm, reports that EVs retain 95 percent of their original charging capacity after five years, on average. Prices should stay low: There are at least 600,000 more EVs coming off short-term leases over the next two years in the U.S.

Buyers are making the switch. In March, the first full month of the Iran war, used EV sales rose almost 28 percent year over year and by more than 50 percent over February, according to Cox. Interest in EVs and hybrids has ticked up on car-shopping platforms, reports Edmunds.

Gas prices alone, however, won’t be enough to persuade most buyers to go electric.

Sticker shock
Britta Gross, director of transportation at the Electric Power Research Institute, said volatility, not just high gas prices, is most effective at pushing drivers toward more fuel-efficient vehicles. Electricity has remained largely stable compared with the volatile oil market. “When the [gas price] line is going up and no one knows where it goes, there is a lot of interest in EVs,” said Gross, who spent nearly two decades as an executive at General Motors.

For most drivers, though, sticker price is still the biggest barrier to going electric. Forty percent of prospective buyers cite up-front cost as their primary obstacle to going electric, ahead of range anxiety and charging concerns, according to a 2024 YouGov survey. “People tend to severely discount the future savings,” said Robbie Orvis, who directs policy modeling for the energy and climate policy think tank Energy Innovation.

The Iran war price spike hasn’t changed this calculus. Deloitte’s recent survey of global auto markets suggests that EV market share plateaus at around 10 to 15 percent when EVs carry a price premium over comparable gas vehicles.

EV sales have historically surged under two conditions, says Lysdahl of Rystad: the arrival of low-cost Chinese EVs, or government incentives that offset the price premium for EVs.

Once EVs and hybrids reach price parity, new sales begin to overtake conventional vehicles within a matter of years, according to the International Energy Agency. PricewaterhouseCoopers, a consulting firm, predicts that vehicles with internal-combustion engines will fall to just one-third of new sales in the U.S. once EVs reach price parity. In Norway, where the government doubled down on incentives, 96 percent of new car sales are now electric.

The U.S. is choosing a different path, at least for now. While the price of electric passenger vehicles was expected to fall below that of comparable gasoline vehicles in the U.S. before the end of the decade, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, tariffs and political opposition have delayed that milestone. The destination, however, hasn’t changed.

“We are all going to EVs globally,” Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, a former chief global economist at Ford, told The Post last year. “It is just a question of when.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Michael J. Coren 

A California man accused of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been formally indicted on multiple federal charges, including attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to newly released court documents.

Prosecutors charged Cole Allen with four felony counts: attempt to assassinate the President of the United States, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, transporting a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. If convicted on the most serious charge, he could face a sentence of life in prison.

Authorities allege that Allen approached a security checkpoint armed with two firearms and several knives on an upper level of the venue, just one floor above where the high-profile dinner was taking place on April 25. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and senior members of the administration were attending the event at the time.

Federal officials say Allen began shooting and struck a Secret Service agent, who was protected from serious injury by a bulletproof vest.

Law enforcement officers apprehended Allen at the scene, and the event was immediately evacuated as a precaution.

Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, has not yet entered a plea in the case.

During a court appearance on Monday, the presiding judge expressed regret over the conditions of Allen’s detention, noting he had been held under strict restrictions while on suicide watch. The judge’s remarks came after defense attorneys argued that their client did not pose a physical threat to himself.

{Matzav.com}

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. mission to protect commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz would be temporary and other nations would soon have to take responsibility, emphasizing that the fragile ceasefire with Iran remained in place despite attacks on U.S. ships a day earlier.

Speaking at a briefing alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth said the United States had established a powerful “red, white and blue dome” over the strait as a “direct gift” to other nations to allow commercial ships to pass through.

“This operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury,” he said, using the Trump administration’s name for the war with Iran.

He described the effort to help commercial ships navigate the narrow strait as a “temporary mission” for U.S. forces. “We expect the world to step up at the appropriate time, and soon we will hand responsibility back to you,” he said.

Caine said that more than 22,500 mariners on more than 1,550 commercial ships are waiting to transit the strait and that U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the region, had established an “enhanced security area” on the southern side of the strait protected by U.S. forces.

Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times, seized two, and attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, Caine said – “all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations, at this point.”

The general characterized Iranian attacks so far as “below harassing fire right now; it feels like Iran is grasping at straws to try to do something across the southern flank” of the strait.

Hegseth added that the “ceasefire is not over.”

President Donald Trump, speaking later at the White House, declined to say what Iranian actions would constitute a ceasefire violation.

“Well, you’ll find out because I’ll let you know,” Trump said.

Trump, as he has in recent days, sought to downplay the significance of the unresolved conflict.

“You know, we had an all-time-high stock market today, despite that word, a little skirmish military,” Trump said. “I call it a skirmish because Iran has no chance.”

Caine and Hegseth said that the fast boats Iran used to try to attack the vessels were only using small arms, rifles or machine guns, but that Iran also fired small coastal cruise missiles, which did not hit the ships.

The defense secretary and general spoke to reporters just days after a deadline passed that by law required the White House to seek Congress’s authorization to continue to carry out strikes in Iran after 60 days of operations. Hegseth said that 60-day deadline did not apply because of the ceasefire.

“With the ceasefire, the clock stops,” he said. Democrats in Congress have contested the legality of that position.

Iranian officials on Tuesday accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire and warned of it becoming bogged down in the war, now in its third month. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that events in the strait “make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis,” adding that the U.S. should be “wary of being dragged back into quagmire.”

“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” he said, referring to President Donald Trump’s name for the U.S. mission to guide ships through the strait.

Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said a “new equation” in the strait is “in the process of being solidified” in a post on X on Tuesday. “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet,” he added.

On Monday, the U.S. said two of its destroyers, closely followed by two merchant vessels, came under attack during successful transits of the strait, which has remained effectively blocked to maritime traffic during the war.

Iran fired cruise missiles and drones at the U.S. naval and commercial vessels and sent fast boats after commercial ships, said Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command. Elsewhere in the region, the United Arab Emirates reported an Iranian assault on an energy hub that caused a fire, while Oman’s state media reported an attack in the country but did not identify a perpetrator.

South Korea said it was also investigating the cause of a fire in a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, after Trump said Iran was to blame.

Cooper insisted the U.S. had the upper hand and sought to differentiate U.S. actions from those of Iran. “The distinction from my perspective is crystal clear,” he said. “My operational assessment overall is that the U.S. military has the clear advantage.”

Trump also sought to assert U.S. military dominance following Monday’s attacks, saying that “one way or the other, we win” in comments to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. “We either make the right deal, or we win very easily from the military standpoint. We’ve already won that,” he said. The president also said the U.S. had “knocked out” Iran’s leadership teams since the war began. “They talk a lot differently when they’re talking to me than they talk when they’re talking to the media,” he said.

No new attacks were reported early Tuesday as Araghchi traveled to China for diplomatic talks and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Monday’s attacks. “It is absolutely essential that the ceasefire be upheld and respected, to allow necessary diplomatic space for dialogue leading to enduring peace and stability in the region,” Sharif said in a post on X.

U.S. efforts to help commercial ships transit the strait came after Trump said Project Freedom would begin Monday, while discussions to end the war with Iran remained underway. The critical waterway carried about 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies before the war began.

The president framed the mission as a humanitarian exercise, saying the U.S. had received requests for help from what he called “victims of circumstance” trapped in the area. “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully,” he said in a social media post.

Iran has repeatedly warned against U.S. intervention in the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations to open the narrow choke point have formed a central plank of discussions between the U.S. and Iran since they agreed to a ceasefire on April 7, which largely halted the fighting. Despite exchanging proposals and holding face-to-face talks, the two sides still face key sticking points that threaten both the ceasefire and the prospect of a more lasting peace.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Victoria Craw, Tara Copp, Dan Lamothe

Senate Republicans late Monday proposed $1 billion to pay for new White House security measures, with lawmakers and White House officials disagreeing over whether the legislation would cover President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, laid out a funding package for security upgrades related to the “East Wing Modernization Project,” the Trump administration’s name for its planned 90,000-square-foot project to rebuild the East Wing that Trump demolished last year.

The proposed legislative text says the money would be used for both aboveground and underground security features that the administration has declined to fully detail. The text explicitly says the money could not be used for “non-security elements” of the project, a reference to Trump’s planned ballroom.

“This bill does not fund ballroom construction,” Grassley spokeswoman Clare Slattery said in a statement. “It provides funds for Secret Service enhancements that will ensure all presidents, their families and their staffs are adequately protected.”

The legislative proposal comes amid a legal battle over whether the project can proceed, with U.S. District Judge Richard Leon last month ordering a halt to aboveground construction on the ballroom unless Congress authorizes the project, saying that work related to national security can continue. An appeals court panel has stayed Leon’s order while it considers the case.

Construction on the project continues apace. Photos taken in the past week show crews have erected a concrete structure topped with columns of exposed rebar, used to reinforce pillars that will support additional floors.

White House officials said Tuesday that the legislation, if enacted, would authorize the entire project – including the aboveground ballroom.

“Congress has rightly recognized the need for these funds,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement, citing the high-profile incident last month when a gunman stormed through the security checkpoint outside the White House correspondents’ dinner. “The proposal would provide the United States Secret Service with the resources they need to fully and completely harden the White House complex, in addition to the many other critical missions for the USSS.”

The legislation would be included in the Senate’s planned budget reconciliation bill, which can be enacted with a simple majority, bypassing any potential filibuster and eliminating the need for Senate Republicans to court Democratic votes.

Before it advances, the Senate parliamentarian will review the White House security proposal to ensure it complies with rules limiting what can be included in reconciliation bills. Only provisions related to spending or generating revenue can be included.

The larger proposed reconciliation bill also includes $38.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $1.5 billion for the Department of Justice, and $5 billion for other border security, immigration and law enforcement efforts.

It would allow the administration to use the money through the end of September 2029, ensuring the agencies are funded through the end of Trump’s term.

White House officials have previously maintained that the ballroom, which Trump has said could cost $400 million, would be entirely funded by private donors and not come at taxpayers’ expense. Republicans on Tuesday said that security measures for the project should not be the responsibility of private donors, and they expect their proposal would provide sufficient funds to secure the facility.

Trump has argued that the ballroom itself is a needed national security measure so he and future presidents can safely entertain VIP guests, a message increasingly echoed by his allies in Congress after last month’s incident. Justice Department officials last week asked Leon to dissolve his order blocking construction, citing the shooting at the correspondents’ dinner in a rambling legal filing that read like one of Trump’s Truth Social posts.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization that sued the administration in December to block work on the project, has been skeptical of the security rationale. Lawyers representing the National Trust, a nonprofit charged by Congress with protecting historical buildings, noted that Trump continues to live at the White House and entertain foreign dignitaries despite the administration’s claims that the current situation poses a security risk.

“Your assertion that this lawsuit puts the President’s life at ‘grave risk’ is incorrect and irresponsible,” Gregory Craig, a Foley Hoag lawyer representing the National Trust, wrote to Justice Department lawyers last week. “Simply put, this case does not jeopardize the President’s safety in any way.”

Democrats argued Tuesday that the proposal illustrates that Republicans are out of touch with voters’ needs, highlighting the broadly unpopular ballroom. Fifty-six percent of Americans oppose Trump’s decision to tear down the White House’s East Wing to make way for his planned ballroom, funded by about $400 million in private donations, while 28 percent support the project, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted last month.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, said in a statement that Republicans “are ignoring the needs of middle-class America and instead funneling money into Trump’s ballroom and throwing billions at two lawless agencies.”

The legal fight over the ballroom’s construction, which initially focused on whether Trump had authority to pursue the project, has increasingly revolved around arguments about national security and the president’s safety. Since litigation was filed nearly five months ago, Justice Department lawyers have argued that work must continue on national security grounds, saying that any pause could imperil Trump, his family and White House staff. They have said the proposed building is designed to defend against “hostile attacks via drones, ballistic missiles, bullets, biohazards” and other potential threats while Trump has said crews are building a “massive complex” of secure underground facilities beneath it.

Leon has been unpersuaded, ruling twice that the administration has failed to justify the national security reasons for why the ballroom is needed immediately.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Dan Diamond, Jonathan Edwards, Riley Beggin

Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined U.S. efforts to secure maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz during a White House press briefing Tuesday, describing a mission focused on protecting commercial vessels and rescuing thousands of civilians stranded in the region.

Rubio, who delivered the briefing in place of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, spoke at length about “Project Freedom,” the U.S.-led initiative designed to counter Iranian threats against shipping lanes. He said the operation’s objective is “to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries that are trapped and left for dead in the Persian Gulf by the Iranian regime.”

He sharply criticized Iran’s actions in the waterway, calling its blockade of the strait “not just criminal,” but “desperate and destructive,” and labeling it “piracy.”

Rubio warned that the consequences extend far beyond the immediate conflict, noting that “Nations from around the world, the overwhelming majority of whom are not even engaged in any military hostilities, are now at risk, not just of losing their cargo, but the lives of their own citizens, because of this blockade,” he said, adding that ships could soon run out of basic supplies such as food and potable water.

Emphasizing the humanitarian aspect, Rubio said, “These are innocent bystanders. These are countries and ships that have nothing to do with any of this, and nonetheless, are being caught in the middle of it and being held hostage, merely because Iran can do it. Just as the regime brutally slaughtered tens of thousands of its own citizens for the crime of peaceful protest.”

He further stated that ten civilian sailors have already died due to the blockade and related attacks, and that several countries have requested U.S. assistance in freeing their vessels.

Rubio described Project Freedom as a limited military effort, saying it is a “defensive operation” in which U.S. forces will engage only if fired upon first.

Addressing regional tensions, Rubio also commented on the situation in Lebanon, stating that “there’s no problem between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government. Israel doesn’t claim that any land in Lebanon belongs to them.”

He identified the Iran-backed Hezbollah as the central issue, saying, “They terrorize and attack Israelis, but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the Lebanese people. The reason why Lebanon gets attacked by Israel is because of Hezbollah, because Hezbollah is hiding in some house, launching rockets against Israelis.”

Rubio said Israel’s military actions are aimed at countering those threats and reiterated that the broader objective is the disarmament of Hezbollah.

{Matzav.com}