Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as oil prices rise
Fourteen days in, the world is left with a dangerous combination: rising oil prices, rising casualties, and still no clear answer about how this war ends or what victory even means.
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Oversight panel demands interview with former Epstein prison guard
The House Oversight Committee is requesting an interview with a prison guard who was on duty the day Jeffrey Epstein died as part of its broader investigation into the sex offender’s death. “Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents
Trump officials erupt at CNN over report on surprise over Strait of Hormuz closing
White House officials on Friday lambasted CNN for reporting that suggested the U.S. was caught off guard by Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to a surge in gas and oil prices globally. CNN reported that the Pentagon and the National Security Council
Trump, Hegseth raise questions over well-being of Iran leader
12:30 Report is The Hill's midday newsletter. Subscribe here. 🦞 Plus: Pentagon spent millions on lobster, luxury food in September {beacon} Happy Friday the 13th! Tomorrow is Pi Day! How are you celebrating? I’m always looking for pie recipes.🥧 In today's issue: 6 U.S.
Trump: Putin may be helping Iran 'a little bit'
President Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin “might” be assisting Iran in its military operations against the U.S. in a new interview that aired on Thursday. “I think he might be helping them a little bit, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?” the
New strategy, same watchdog: Congress still has a role to play in PEPFAR’s transition
Congress must ensure that the transition of PEPFAR to full partner country ownership is data-driven, includes input from civil society partners, and is ambitious yet attainable, in order to continue its success in saving lives and ending HIV/AIDS.
Trump Team Spirals Over Damning Report on Bungled Iran War Planning
The Trump administration and its fellow Republicans are going nuts over a CNN report that the White House didn’t adequately plan for Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called the report “ fundamentally unserious ,” openly welcoming the day the
House GOP Summons Epstein Prison Guard to Testify
A prison guard on duty during Jeffrey Epstein’s death has been asked to testify to the House Oversight Committee. Tova Noel is scheduled to appear for a transcribed interview on March 26, as part of the panel’s ongoing investigation into the alleged sex trafficker. Noel and
One year later, ICE is still ignoring court orders to release my cousin
Leqaa, who came to the U.S. from Palestine 10 years ago on a student visa, marks one year in ICE detention today.
Trump Seems to Be Selling National Security Briefing Details to Fans
The president is leveraging his position as commander in chief for another moneymaking scheme. An eyebrow-raising fundraising email was circulated Thursday by a Trump-affiliated super PAC, promising supporters a “National Security Briefing Membership” in exchange for their
Spicer: High gas prices this summer would 'spell trouble' for GOP
Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer warned that a hike in gas prices this summer resulting from the U.S. military operations in Iran could “spell trouble” for Republicans in the midterm elections. In an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo on Thursday, the former
Trump’s Lead Epstein Investigator Benefits From Limiting Probe
Jay Clayton, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the District of Southern New York, has been tasked with investigating “people and institutions” tied to Jeffrey Esptein—but he himself has financial ties to the very Wall Street banks and firms under scrutiny, The Lever reported
Pence: MAGA Republicans ‘overwhelmingly supportive’ of Trump Iran operation
Former Vice President Pence on Thursday said Republicans loyal to his former boss, President Trump, are “overwhelmingly supportive” of the U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran. Pence told NewsNation’s Leland Vittert on “On Balance” that he favors the U.S. finishing “the job
What will Democratic naysayers do if Trump's Iran war ends well for the US?
Democrats have predicted that President Trump's war against Iran will end in disaster, but if it does end well, they will have to face their own potential disaster of having declared the war a mistake and failure.
Florida passes voter measure modeled after SAVE Act
Florida state lawmakers on Thursday passed a voting requirements bill modeled after the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which has become President Trump's top legislative priority. House Bill 991 passed the state House by a 77-28 vote, hours after
Bice declines to run for Oklahoma Senate seat
Oklahoma Rep. Stephanie Bice (R) said Friday she would not run for the Senate after President Trump tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to run the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and set off a scramble among Oklahoma Republicans. “After prayerful consideration, I
Honduran man accused of shoving 2 onto NYC subway tracks was deported 4 times: DHS
A Honduran man accused of shoving two people onto the subway tracks in Manhattan over the weekend has been deported four times and sneaked back into the country a fifth time, immigration officials said Thursday.
Europe Outraged as Trump Delivers Russia a Big Win Amid Iran War
European leaders are incensed after President Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil to remedy oil costs after his war on Iran sent prices per barrel skyrocketing. “We think that’s wrong,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said . “There is currently a price problem,
Trump’s warmongering in Iran will not make America secure again
Donald Trump promised to avoid “forever wars.” It remains to be seen whether Iran will become one. However, there’s not much difference between forever wars and the continuous wars Trump has conducted in his second term.
US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq: What to know
An American refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq on Thursday afternoon killed all six of the U.S. service members on board, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed Friday morning. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but Centcom said the crash was “not due to
Democrats file war powers resolution to prevent Trump from attacking Cuba without approval
Senate Democrats have filed legislation that would stop the U.S. from going to war with Cuba without congressional approval as President Trump has threatened a “takeover” of the country. Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) and Adam Schiff (Calif.) on
GDP Growth Shrank Dramatically Under Trump—While Inflation Rose
U.S. economic growth at the end of 2025 was half as strong as previously estimated. Between October and December, America’s gross domestic product grew just 0.7 percent, revised down from 1.4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Friday. This new number
Senate Democrat links budget cuts to Iran school bombing
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who served on the National Security Council during the Obama administration, said the missile strike on an elementary school in Iran may have been the result of Trump administration budget cuts. Kim told CNN in an interview Thursday that Secretary of
Putin's prize: The oil price-spike
The hefty increase in the price of Urals oil will continue to ease pressure on the Russian defense budget.
Hegseth Bars Reporter Who Revealed Aides’ Reaction to Dead Troops Quip
Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon is once again cracking down on the journalists who cover it. The Atlantic ’s Nancy Youssef disclosed Friday that she had been barred from the day’s press briefing, along with a cadre of photographers. The revelation came days after Hegseth’s aides
Hegseth Goes Off on CNN—and Cheers Planned David Ellison Takeover
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took some pot shots at the media Friday during a press conference and openly salivated over the coming right-wing takeover of CNN. Hegseth railed against what he described as biased and intentionally misleading graphics and headlines on news
War and Football? What Kind of Sick Mind Thinks That Video Is Cool?
You’ve surely seen or read about the video the White House put out last week that interspersed bombing footage from Iran with punishing hits from NFL and college football games, over AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” You can see it here . You will also see that it was posted on X from
Trump’s Inner Circle Is Divided Over Iran War
Vice President JD Vance appears desperate to create daylight between himself and Donald Trump’s disastrous war in Iran, as the president’s inner circle starts to split over the conflict. Two senior administration officials who spoke with Politico Friday painted an image of a
White House rips CNN for broadcasting statement from Iran leader
The White House and several Trump administration officials blasted CNN over the network’s coverage of ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran and its broadcasting of statements from the country’s new supreme leader. On Thursday, the network broadcast a statement issued
Jordan on gas prices spiking amid Iran conflict: 'We can live with that'
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Thursday said Americans "can live with" higher gas prices, a surge that's a result of the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran. Jordan told CNN's Kasie Hunt that Americans have the "common sense" to "understand that to stop this regime that
Cuban president confirms talks with Trump aides
Cuban President Manuel Díaz-Canel on Friday confirmed that his government is holding talks with the Trump administration to address “bilateral differences” and identify “areas of cooperation.” President Trump has tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk with Cuban
Measles is the imminent threat America should be concerned about
One can rightfully ask whether the idea of federal support for emergency economic issues should also apply to the costs associated with measles.
Pete Hegseth Admits They’re Using AI in Iran War
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth admitted that the U.S. military is using “every tool of AI” in the war on Iran. “Every tool of AI, of cyber, of space, EW, counter-UAS, you name it—we’re employing it. Blinding, confusing, and deceiving our enemy. Because we know who the good guys
Live updates: Hegseth says US, Israel have hit 15K Iranian targets; Air Force crash kills 6
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine briefed media about the military operation in Iran on Friday morning, the second this week. It came after a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq on Thursday, killing all six U.S. service members onboard.
Pentagon plays down Strait of Hormuz quagmire: 'Don't need to worry about it'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to play down the quagmire in the Strait of Hormuz that is pushing up global energy prices, telling reporters on Friday, “we have been dealing with it; don't need to worry about it.” Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine said the military was
Can Markwayne Mullin succeed as Homeland Security secretary?
President Trump's firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is welcome news, but unless Trump changes his harmful policies on immigration and other areas, the department will continue to be plagued by problems and Americans will suffer.
Report Reveals White House Winging It on Iran War as Death Toll Rises
The Trump administration seems to have been caught off guard by Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz, once again showing a glaring lack of planning. CNN reports that President Trump’s national security team wasn’t prepared for a worst case, but somewhat predictable
Watch: Trump Summons Bessent in Middle of Live Interview
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was abruptly yanked out of a Thursday interview with Sky News’s Wilfred Frost after President Trump demanded his presence in the Situation Room. Frost and Bessent were on camera and already into the interview when a staffer interrupted,
Transcript: Trump Outburst over Oil Shock Goes Awry as Advisers Panic
The following is a lightly edited transcript of the March 13 episode of the Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here . Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic , produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent. The global fiasco that
With the War in Iran, Trump Has Launched His Own Brand of Forever War
As the Iran war drags on and the death and devastation grow, I keep returning to a three-minute clip from a Republican presidential debate in February 2016. That debate took place a few days before Jeb Bush was set to hit the campaign trail for the first time with his elder
What Does Kristi Noem’s Firing Mean for a Hobbled FEMA?
In the days since President Trump announced that he was firing Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and replacing her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, much of the focus has understandably been on what this means for the brutal, chaotic, and lawless immigration
The Trillion-Dollar War Machine That Barreled Toward Iran
Donald Trump campaigned against “endless wars.” Yet in late February, he launched a war against Iran that has already killed over one thousand people , including at least 175 in a strike on a girls’ elementary school. It is also burning through staggering sums of public money.
Democratic Voters Don’t Want Vanilla Centrism
You can watch this conversation above, on Substack, or YouTube . I joined journalist Wajahat Ali’s Substack show The Left Hook . We discuss the policy differences between Democratic Party leaders and voters, including my recent article showing that moderate Democratic voters
Bush Sr. Solved the Acid Rain Problem. Trump Is Bringing It Back.
Images of black rain pelting one of the world’s oldest civilizations, after the United States and Israel bombed Iran’s oil depots this week, are tough to unsee. Many news outlets are calling it “acid rain”—a term that may understate the problem, since the smog caused by this
Trump Outbursts Over Oil Shock Go Off Rails as His Aides Quietly Panic
Donald Trump has been all over the place on the global oil shock created by his war amid Iran’s closing of the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this week, he angrily claimed that the price hikes are a small price to pay for world peace, adding: “ONLY FOOLS WOULD DISAGREE!” But on
One month later, White House and Democrats no closer to ending the DHS shutdown
Republicans hope longer wait times at airports will be the pressure point Democrats need to drop their immigration enforcement demands. Democrats aren’t giving up their fight.
US temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian oil amid Iran prices spike
The U.S. is temporarily removing sanctions on Russian oil currently stranded at sea, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced late Thursday — the latest move by the Trump administration attempting to stymie soaring energy prices amid the war with Iran. Bessent wrote in a post
DHS identifies suspect in Michigan synagogue attack
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified the suspect accused of attacking a synagogue in Michigan on Thursday as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a Lebanese citizen. DHS confirmed Ghazali's identity in a statement to The Hill. "He was born in Lebanon on January 4, 1985,"
Hegseth announces task force to ensure US war colleges are ‘effective’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday night announced the formation of a new task force that would conduct a review of U.S. war colleges to ensure they are "effective" and focused on core national security issues. Hegseth said the task force, which will be established by
Talarico: Attack on Iran girls' school 'makes me sick to my stomach'
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D) on Thursday slammed the U.S. military operation in Iran, saying the airstrike that hit a girls' school the first day of the offensive makes him "sick to my stomach." Talarico won the Texas Democratic Senate primary last week against