Trump Removes Sanctions on Russia to Help Oil Flow Amid Iran Conflict  —  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it was “unfortunate” that the move could benefit Russia, but maintained that it was only for the short term.  —  The United States on Thursday temporarily lifted sanctions …

Trump administration underestimated Iran war's impact on Strait of Hormuz  —  The Middle East Donald Trump Oil & gas Economy  —  The Pentagon and National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to US military strikes …

Vance was ‘skeptical’ voice in White House on Iran strikes … A second senior Trump official said “his role is to provide the president and the administration, you know, all points of views of what could happen from many different angles and, you know, he does that.  But once the decision has been made, he's fully on board.”

6 Killed in Crash of U.S. Refueling Plane in Iraq, Military Says  —  The crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, U.S. Central Command said.  All six crew members died, it said, bringing the number of U.S. service members killed in the Iran conflict to at least 13.

Consumer Prices Rose in January, Before Iran War Added Price Pressures  —  The economy also grew more slowly at the end of 2025 than first thought, revised data showed.  —  Economic growth was slower at the end of 2025 than data first showed and inflationary pressures persisted at the start of this year …

Dark money group offers influencers $1,500 for posts attacking Chicago Democratic primary candidate  —  Progressive House candidate Kat Abughazaleh told MS NOW the secretive campaign is “filled with false and defamatory claims.”  —  A week out from a crowded and contentious Democratic primary …

What we know about the armed attack on Michigan synagogue  —  Police responded to reports of an active shooter opening fire on Thursday at Temple Israel, a reform synagogue located in the Detroit suburbs.  —  Investigators said a man armed with a rifle drove into the building before security guards shot and killed him.

MAGA's Indiana retribution campaign heats up  —  With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco, Irie Sentner and Makayla Gray  —  On today's Playbook Podcast: Adam and Megan Messerly discuss President Donald Trump's high-cost, low-stakes political revenge campaign in deep-red Indiana, and how VP JD Vance really feels about the Iran war.

I graphed every president's approval rating during “rally around the flag” events  —  Donald Trump launched airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026.  In the two weeks since, I've already written about how the public opposed the strikes from the start and how nearly every poll on the war so far confirms this trend.

Hegseth: Strait of Hormuz Is Open  —  The Strait of Hormuz is open for transit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.  “The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping,” he said.  “It is open for transit should Iran not do that.”

Cuban President Acknowledges Talks with the Trump Administration  —  Facing a massive energy crisis and increasing protests on the streets, the Cuban government acknowledged that it had entered into negotiations with the Trump administration.  —  With oil running out and the nation increasingly plunging …

The Secret Police Playbook  —  Since the Pendleton Act of 1883, the U.S. federal government has rested on a simple promise: professionalism, merit-based recruitment, independent oversight.  Over time, U.S. federal law enforcement became a global reference point—effective, technically sophisticated …

How a Catch-a-Predator Sting Nabbed a Right-Wing Hatemonger  —  Was Jake Lang evaluating a teenage girl for a bikinis-and-burkas protest?  Or was something more lecherous at play?  —  ∙ Paid  —  Welcome back to False Flag! … ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS HATEMONGERS on the far right appears …

Why China could emerge a winner from Trump's global energy shock  —  China's evolution into an “electrostate” may help insulate it from spiking oil prices.  —  As the threat of strikes by Iran forces oil tankers destined for Asia to idle in the Persian Gulf, some top Republicans have declared …

Fox News correspondent backs Voice of America during awards reception  —  A Fox News Channel correspondent expressed her support for hundreds of journalists who were laid off from the Voice of America (VOA) last year, the outlet where she began her broadcast career more than three decades ago.

Thursday in America  —  Justice Amy Coney Barrett was in conversation with the Chief Justice's Counselor, Judge Robert M. Dow Jr. (we discussed Judge Dow and the role of the Counselor here), at the 2026 Supreme Court Fellows Program Annual Lecture at the Library of Congress today.

The Trump Administration Floats a New Way to Humiliate the Legal Profession  —  For presidents, broadly speaking, lying is not against the law.  For lawyers pursuing a president's agenda, however, it's a very different story.  —  Like all other lawyers licensed to practice in the United States …