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With that, here’s the news:
Iran v. Israel (and the United States?)
Donald Trump reviewed military options against Iran but is holding off for now, waiting to see if Tehran de-escalates its nuclear activities.
Senior U.S. officials are preparing for the possibility of a U.S. strike on Iran in the coming days, with some discussions focusing on a potential weekend operation, Bloomberg reports.
As Trump weighs joining Israel’s strikes on Iran, his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has been in direct talks with Iran’s foreign minister, seeking to arrange further U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Bloomberg reports Trump’s rhetoric on Iran has hardened as allies, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, warn Tehran is nearing nuclear capability, with Graham urging military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Donald Trump says the Wall Street Journal has no idea what his thoughts are concerning Iran.
A US official told Axios that Trump’s patience with Iran is "running thin every minute that passes."
Iran launched a new missile attack on Israel, heavily damaging a hospital in the south; Iran claims its target was a nearby military-linked technology park.
In response, Israel struck Iran’s Arak nuclear facility, though no significant damage was reported.
Israel’s defense minister vowed to intensify strikes on Iran, saying its supreme leader "cannot be allowed to continue to exist."
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar restricted personnel from Al Udeid Air Base and urged Americans in Qatar to remain extra vigilant.
Iranian police arrested 24 people accused of spying for Israel and attempting to damage the country’s image, according to state media.
Lithuania will evacuate diplomats’ families and non-essential staff from Israel after an Iranian missile strike hit Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan neighborhood, its foreign ministry announced.
Non-Iran News
NBC reports Trump’s new $499 smartphone will likely be manufactured in China.
A CBS News investigation found that two-thirds of counties losing FEMA storm prep funds backed Trump in the 2024 election.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink entered the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 7th District, aiming to unseat GOP Rep. Tom Barrett after resigning in protest of Trump’s policies.
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady at 4.50%.
The Trump administration is cutting funding for the Trevor Project’s national LGBTQ+ suicide hotline, which will shut down in 30 days, forcing callers to seek help elsewhere.
Home goods retailer At Home filed for bankruptcy, citing high debt, tariff pressures, and slowing consumer spending; a deal with lenders will erase most of its $2B debt and provide $200M in new funding to keep operations running during Chapter 11.
Moises Sotelo, a respected Oregon vineyard worker and small business owner, was detained by ICE during a pre-dawn raid, leaving his family, church, and local wine industry reeling.
Friends and colleagues condemned the arrest as “inhumane,” highlighting the heavy reliance of U.S. agriculture on undocumented immigrant labor.
ICE raids on farmworkers are intensifying nationwide, with reports of masked, unidentified agents conducting workplace arrests under Trump’s aggressive deportation policies.
The State Department will require foreign students applying for educational and exchange visas (F, M, J categories) to unlock their social media profiles for vetting, allowing diplomats to review online activity for hostility toward the U.S., terrorism support, or antisemitic conduct.
Critics say the expanded screening, part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, may target opposition to Israel’s Gaza war and singles out Chinese students amid broader geopolitical tensions.
Bloomberg added more funds to a super PAC backing Cuomo, bringing his total contribution to $8.3 million, according to POLITICO.
A SpaceX Starship exploded during a routine test in Texas, with officials citing a “catastrophic failure” as the rocket prepared for its 10th flight at Starbase.
A new report warns that climate misinformation—driven by fossil fuel interests, politicians, and online bots—is increasingly obstructing climate action and turning the crisis into a catastrophe.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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